4 Great Songs That Were Too Short To Become Classics

Sometimes, the best approach to penning a good song is to leave the listener wanting more. That’s what the following four artists did with a few tracks that clock in at under two minutes long. Sadly, these gorgeous songs were just too short to catch mainstream attention, but they definitely should have. Let’s take a look!

1. “I Will” by Radiohead

It’s only natural that Radiohead would make it to this list. “I Will” comes from the band’s sixth studio record, Hail To The Thief. It’s a short and sweet work from that album, and according to Thom Yorke himself, it is “the angriest song [he has] ever written.” That much is clear, considering how beautiful yet anxious this standout track is. It even has a short ending that doesn’t resolve itself, further adding to that paranoid energy. Fun fact: This song was originally titled “No Man’s Land”.

2. “Bend Down The Branches” by Tom Waits

This is the shortest track on our list of songs that were too short to become classics, and yet it still manages to be memorable. “Bend Down The Branches” by Tom Waits is only about one minute and six seconds long, and it honestly should be that short. It’s a song about aging, so why waste one’s time on a super-long track? This is your typical comforting Tom Waits song, complete with a gorgeous horn and string arrangement.

3. “Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon” by Queen

“Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon” by Queen is a rare short track from rock outfit Queen. It’s only about one minute and seven seconds long. This track is on the campier side of Queen’s discography, and I’d argue that their goofier works are some of their very best. Brian May even manages to squeeze a guitar solo into this playful little song, along with a key change. Now that’s talent.

4. “Communist Daughter” by Neutral Milk Hotel

This Neutral Milk Hotel track makes it to our list of songs that were too short to become classics simply because of how solid of a setup track it is. “Communist Daughter” leads into “Oh Comely” on the band’s legendary album In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, using a beautiful melody and ocean-like waves of sound and noise.

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

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