Top 20

1) Train. (2001). “Drops of Jupiter”. Drops of Jupiter. The subject of this song is the journey that people travel to find themselves, which is a very common journey that everyone goes through at some point in their lives. The lyrics flow perfectly from one topic to the next, although there are some random objects, such as “deep-fried chicken” and “best soy latte.” When first looking at the lyrics, it seems as though they are just rambling on about all the good things in life, but, paired with the vocals and instrumental setup, it transforms into a heartfelt song about the love of his life looking for herself, and forgetting him along the way.
2) Rascal Flats. (2006). “My Wish”. Me and My Gang. This song highlights his wishes to a happy life for everyone, no matter what troubles they have undergone. Anyone can relate to this song because everyone hopes to live their lives to the absolute fullest everyday. The delivery of the lyrics can move the listener to believe the sincerity of his wish.
3) The Script. (2008). “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”. The Script. The sincere vocals of this song convey the message to never give up on true love no matter how unrealistic it may seem. This ballad uses the strong vocals in order to express the truthfulness behind the statement that he is making towards his love. The muted tones of guitar and drums as music help to assist in making sure that the message is the most prominent point in the song.
4) Allen, Kris. (2010). “The Truth”. Kris Allen. This song focuses on relationships that are falling apart, and both people being too afraid to end it. This idea is extremely relatable to today's society due to the fact that many relationships end after long periods of slowly falling apart. The lyrics, filled with intricate metaphors, paired with strong vocals create a heartfelt song that can move the listeners to feel the feelings that he is.  
5) Greenday. (1997). “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”. Nimrod. Rather than being an average love song, this song is about taking every moment of life and living it to the fullest. The underlying guitar melody emphasize the smooth vocals and assist in conveying the message.
6) Coldplay. (2005). “Fix You”. X&Y. Using a dueling point of view, this song is about helping the one you love most when they feel they can do nothing more. The lyrics contain moving symbols to assist the listener in believing that any object is capable of helping them through anything.
7) Iglesias, Enrique. (2001). “Hero”. Escape. Strong vocals convey the message of assisting people in the roughest points of their lives. The soft guitar melody acts as to highlight the questioning lyrics and make them stand out.
8) Maroon 5. (2004). “She Will Be Loved”. Songs About Jane. Focusing on the controversial topic of being comfortable in one’s own skin, smooth vocals with backup from the band convey the extremely important message. The lyrics focus specifically on one insecure teenage girl, but it is alluding to the entire population.
9) U2. (2005). “City of Blinding Lights”. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Strong lyrics with many symbols express that everyone should own ones’ beauty. The harmonious backup of the band take some focus away from the perfectly crafted lyrics, but no too much as to lose the message.
10) Nickelback. (2008). “Gotta Be Somebody”. Dark Horse. The main idea of this song is to settle for nothing less than one's’ dreams due to the fact that every dream is achievable. The emphasis put onto certain phrases help express the message that they find extremely important to inform their audience of.
11) The Fray. (2005). “How to Save a Life.” How to Save a Life. The meaning of this song is ambiguous; it could mean multiple things. The general idea of this song is helping a friend in need. The lyrics of the song are set up as a narrative, telling a story about his friend. As the song reaches the chorus, the vocalists’ voice becomes more hostile and urgent, making the listener believe that it is a very important part of the song.
12) Thomas, Rob. (2009). “Her Diamonds”. Cradlesong. Conveying his message through powerful vocals, this song is about a failing relationship trying to mend itself. This song withholds an extended metaphor that is referred to several times. The vocalists’ smooth voice paired with the upbeat rhythm lead the listener to believe that it is a happy song, while underneath it has a deeper meaning of sorrow.
13) Plain White T’s. (2006). “Hey There Delilah”. All That We Needed. This song is simply a ballad to the women that he loves explaining that their lives with get better from here on out. Although his vocals give the song a sad connotation, the single guitar in the background help and lift the mood to make it seem as though they will beat all odds.
14) Powter, Daniel. (2005). “Bad Day”. Daniel Powter. The universal idea of this song is about acknowledging that you are having a bad day, and then realizing that you have to get over it. The vocals in this song paired with the music in the background leave the verses feeling depressed, then lifting up for a happy tone in the chorus.
15) Clarkson, Kelly. (2004). “Breakaway”. Breakaway. This song is about having a dream and then reaching it against all odds. This song may be an allusion to her experience on American Idol, because her goal was to win, and she did. The uplifting music sways the listener to believe that anything is possible.
16) Mars, Bruno. (2011). “Marry You”. Doo-Wops and Hooligans. Using an uplifting rhythm, this song is all about letting go and living in the moment. Throughout the song is a narrative between a guy and girl who were looking for something “dumb to do,” so they would get married.
17) Swift, Taylor. (2009). “The Other Side of the Door.” Fearless: Platinum Album. This song is about a fight between a couple for all of the wrong reasons. The vocals and background music lead the listener to believe that it is a happy song, while the lyrics hide the message that neither person in this situation is extremely happy.
18) Mayer, John. (2008). “Say”. Continuum. This song is about being able to stand up for oneself and get something of their chest. This is a relatable topic because many people are afraid to stand up for what they believe in, so he is telling them that it is okay. Through the guitar playing and the easy-going vocals, it makes it a very easy song to understand.
19) Bublé, Michael. (2009). “Haven’t Met You Yet”. CrazyLove. This song is about finding true love before you even know what is happening. It contains a significant narrative because it leads the listener to believe that he is talking to his love, rather than about her when he meets her in the future.
20) Underwood, Carrie. (2005). “Inside Your Heaven”. Some Hearts. This song is about getting closer to someone in order to assist them in their time in need. The strong vocals and powerful band make it easier to understand what the message is.