10. "Mama's SOng" by Carrie Underwood
Fair warning: There are very few genres with more odes to mothers than country, so we’ll go ahead and kick off the list with Carrie Underwood’s tribute, “Mama’s Song.” Carrie Underwood released this single after her marriage to hockey player Mike Fisher. The song is an assurance to her mother that Carrie didn’t just up and marry the first guy to come along; she made sure she said “yes” to a man that her mother would approve of and love as her own son. The music video is a beautiful and touching look at what her wedding day might have looked and felt like to her mother and proves that no matter how old you get, your mom will always be your mom. |
9. "Dear Mama" by Tupac Shakur
One of Tupac Shakur’s best-known and most-heartfelt tracks, “Dear Mama” holds nothing back. It looks at how hard it can be for all the moms out there, especially those raising kids who don’t always appreciate or listen to them. Tupac doesn’t hide the truth – He openly discusses his mother’s jail time, addiction, and financial issues while also revealing his own downfalls, proudly proclaiming that “through the drama I can always depend on my mama.” Perhaps the strongest line in the song declares that “For a woman, it ain’t easy to raise a man.” This one’s for the struggling moms who we can never truly pay back for all they’ve done for us. |
8. "I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera
Sometimes we just need our mothers. In “I Turn to You,” Christina Aguilera reflects on all the times we feel lost and defeated and how, with a simple hug or kind word, our mothers pick us up, dust us off, and set us back on our feet. No matter how many times we say we can do it ourselves, our mothers are still there when we need them. The song, which appeared on Xtina’s first album, also boasts a great build up musically and vocals that go from a simple melody to Christina’s signature diva “ohs” without going over the top. So turn the volume up, turn to your mom, and turn on the gratefulness. |
7. "Mother Like Mine" by The Band Perry
The Band Perry are the perfect marriage between country and classic rock (Seriously, watch their live performances). These three siblings know how to write and make sweet music together, and we can’t help but give a nod to the woman who birthed and raised them. This sweet ode to their mother describes how perfect a world we would live in if only every child had a mother like Mama Perry. With an almost Peter Pan-esque vibe when it comes to the lyrical content, “Mother Like Mine” tones down their sophomore album without watering it down. We’ll leave that to the tears we cry every time we listen to it. |
6. "Superwoman" by Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is easily one of the most powerful songwriters of the twenty-first century and “Superwoman” is no exception. The music video is an amazing look at women and mothers from every walk of life and the silent yet indestructible courage, strength, and heart that each woman must nourish and look to every day. The music video becomes especially heart-wrenching when it brings in real life women and mothers who play the roles of mother, wife, worker, and Superwoman everyday without fail. Here’s to all the mothers whose strength lays a firm foundation for the next generation. |
5. "Like My Mother Does" by Lauren Alaina
Lauren Alaina may have come in second to Scotty McCreery on American Idol, but it was not due to a lack of a great first single. “Like My Mother Does” may seem like a strange choice for a debut single, but this song perfectly reflects the relationship we saw between Lauren and her mother all season long and it is a gentle reminder that it’s okay when people say “You are just like your mother!” After all, moms are some of the hardest working, most loving people there are. The song is an anthem about the strong and beautiful bond mothers have with their children, especially their daughters. |
4. "Mother Lover" by The Lonely Island featuring Justin Timberlake
“Mother Lover” is hands down one of the best SNL digital skits of all time and one of our favorite The Lonely Island songs. This one’s for all the single moms out there, because “every Mother’s Day needs a Mother’s Night.” Sure, if you take “Mother Lover” too seriously, it’s just gross, but it’s also hilarious. Maybe your mom is a prankster or maybe she has a secret crush on Justin Timberlake (who doesn’t), either way, this song is guaranteed to make you both laugh and appreciate the fact that you have never suggested this as an actual Mother’s Day gift. Just stick to flowers and a card (and maybe a life-size poster of JT and Andy Samberg just in case). |
3. "The Best Day" by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift pretty much corners the market in love songs that both make you smile and cry, but “The Best Day” is not about any pretty boy who broke her heart; it’s about the one person who has stood by her, protected her, and cheered her on since she was born. Taylor humbles herself, admitting that her mom was "on my side even when I was wrong." The song is a beautiful journey from childhood, to adolescence, and, finally, adulthood. Mama Swift always jokes that talent skipped a generation in her family (her own mother was an opera singer), but we all know that raising country’s biggest superstar since Leann Rimes is no easy feat and is a talent all its own. |
2. "A Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men
What’s better than having a song written and performed just to celebrate you as a mother? A song written and produced by Babyface and sung by Boyz II Men that also served as the theme song for the 1997 movie Soul Food. “A Song for Mama” comes complete with effortlessly smooth vocals by one of the best boy bands of all time and lines that praise mom, like “Mama, you’re the queen of my heart” and “loving you is like food to my soul.” The song was a major hit for the soulful quartet, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their last Top 10 Pop hit. |
1. "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
One of the most successful crossover country hits of all time, “I Hope You Dance” is an ocean of emotion, nostalgia, and hope that you can’t help but drown in. The song, unlike most of the others on our list, is actually from the viewpoint of the mother. The song is an entreaty to children on behalf of moms everywhere to live life to the fullest and never forget who you are and where you belong. Billboard went so far as to say “It's one of those life-affirming songs that makes you pause and take stock of how you're living.” The endearing and enduring tune is Lee Ann Womack’s signature song and rightly so. Make sure this Mother's Day you encourage your mom to follow her own advice and dance. |
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