3 of the Most Famous Songs You Can’t Name (But Can Totally Sing)

A melody is catchy. It’s what we first remember about a song. Something in our psyches can pick up on notes and wedge them in our minds for decades to come. Titles, however, can be a little less catchy…There are times when all we remember about a song is how it sounds. We are then left to try and describe or, god forbid, sing a song for someone to help suss out the name. The three song titles below are criminally forgotten. They may be classic tracks, but fans can’t seem to nail down their names.

Videos by American Songwriter

“Escape” (Rupert Holmes)

Everyone knows this song, but the title is somewhat obscured. Most people just call it “that one Pina Colada song” or “The Pina Colada song”. While the latter is technically included, it’s not the main title. Few people, apart from the dedicated fans out there, know this song is called “Escape.” And why would they? The most famous line from this easy-listening classic is If you like piña coladas / And gettin’ caught in the rain…Whatever fans want to call it, “Escape” became a mammoth hit for Rupert Holmes. I doubt he cares what people think the title is, just so long as they continue listening to it.

“Careless Whisper” (George Michael)

We might not go as far as saying that no one knows the title to this hit, but we’d bet that more people know the melody to this song than can recall the name of “Careless Whisper.” That’s mainly due to the title not being included in the chorus. Instead, it’s tucked away in the second verse like an afterthought. Despite not being instantly memorable like other songs whose titles are repeated ad nauseam, “Careless Whisper” still became an enduring hit for George Michael.

“Baba O’Reily” (The Who)

Fans of The Who will know this title, but classic rock fans who are less engrossed in the band’s catalog often mistake this song’s name for “Teenage Wasteland.” The name “Baba O’Reily” isn’t mentioned once in the song, failing to leave a lasting impression on the listener’s mind.

Meher Baba, an Indian guru who kept silent from 1935 until he died in 1969, inspired the actual title of this song. Though the lyrics don’t reflect that story perfectly, they are spiritually and existentially inclined. They indeed spoke to a wide range of listeners. As evidenced by the success of this song.

Tom Hill/WireImage