Top 10 Melissa Etheridge Songs

Photo: By Tina Lawson (Flickr: Melissa is Green) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Melissa Etheridge songs list examines the career of one of the most dynamic and passionate songwriters to emerge from the 1980s. For many rock fans who came of age in the 1970s and 1980s, the first time we heard Melissa Etheridge was when we viewed the video for “Like The Way I Do” on MTV. Melissa Etheridge’s Springsteen like passionate performance of the song “Like The Way I Do,” instantly won her millions of fans. The song was released on Melissa Etheridge’s first album, entitled appropriately Melissa Etheridge. The album was released in 1988. The song was not the first single released from the record. However, it was the first song to put her on the map.

Melissa Etheridge followed up her debut album with another incredible record titled Brave and Crazy in 1989. A few years later in 1992, Melissa Etheridge released her third album entitled Never Enough. One year later Melissa Etheridge released an album that many people would argue was the finest record of her career. The album “Yes I Am was released in 1993 and featured some of the most important and well-loved songs Melissa Etheridge has ever released. Songs like “Come To My Window,” “I’m the Only One,” and “I Will Never Be The Same,” cemented the legacy of Melissa Etheridge as one of the finest songwriters to come out of the late 20th Century.

Melissa Etheridge has never shown any signs of slowing down despite her battles with cancer. She has continued to release music on a steady basis for close to forty years. She is a champion for society in so many ways. Our top 10 Melissa Etheridge songs list is simply a small tribute to some of our favorite songs. Her entire catalog deserves full recognition, We hope that this list turns on and inspires those who may not know her music to go out and buy her CDs and records.

# 10 – Fearless Love

The great song “Fearless Love” exemplifies our point that Melissa Etheridge continued to improve with each passing year. This is a brilliant piece of music released on her 2010 album entitled Fearless Love. Listen to the power of the song’s opening chords. The video is also stunning! This is a great way to open up our list of these very passionate songs.

# 9 – Breathe

One of our favorite Melissa Etheridge songs from the early 2000s was the great song “Breathe.” The song was released on the 2004 album titled Lucky. I love the chorus on this one; it just makes you feel good in a sad yet melancholy type of way. Yes, “I’m alright, it only hurts when I breathe.” I mean, wow?

# 8 – I Want To Be In Love

The song “I Want To Be In Love” was issued on Melissa Etheridge’s first album of the 21st Century, entitled Skin. The album was issued in 2001. This is a heartbreaking, tender love song that penetrates deep below the skin, which is probably one of the reasons she named the album the way she did.

# 7 – Angels Would Fall

We continue our Top 10 Melissa Etheridge Songs list with the beautiful song “Angels Would Fall.” The song was released on the album Breakdown. The Breakdown album was released in 1999. It was Melissa Etheridge’s sixth studio album release.

# 6 – You Can Sleep While I Drive

Melissa Etheridge - Brave And Crazy - Island Records - 260 099

The album Brave and Crazy was Melissa Etheridge’s sophomore album. Our favorite song on the record was the heartfelt song “You Can Sleep While I Drive.” If ever there was a song that defined the Springsteen influence besides “Like The Way I Do,” it was this beautiful song.

# 5 – I’m The Only One

Melissa Etheridge’s brilliant album Yes I Am was another career-defining moment. Every song on the record sheds light on the amazing talents Melissa Etheridge showcased in her songwriting and performance skills. “I’m The Only One” was one of the album’s many highlights.

# 4 – I Want To Come Over

One of the draws of Melissa Etheridge’s music was the raw emotion she consistently conveyed in her material. “I Want To Come Over” pretty much summed it all up in one phrase. The song was released on her album Your Little Secret. The record was issued in 1995.

# 3 – Bring Me Some Water

“Bring Me Some Water” was the first single ever released by Melissa Etheridge. The song was released on her debut album, Melissa Etheridge. It has always been one of her most iconic songs, remaining a favorite among her fans. It’s not the one that broke her, of course, that’s our number one song on this list, “Like The Way I Do,” but man, this is one of her most killer songs

# 2 – Come To My Window

“Come To My Window” stands as one of those great crowd-pleasing sing-along songs. However, it’s a deep sing-along song. Just like all her great songs, “Come To My Window” resonates on so many universal levels, just like all the great Melissa Etheridge material. Melissa Etheridge’s ability to reach a mass market with songs of substance is a feat only a few artists have been able to achieve. Like The Beatles, Billy Joel, and Elton John, Melissa Etheridge stands as one of the singer-songwriters that everyone loves.

# 1 – Like The Way I Do

There are only a handful of performers I can think back on where the first time I ever saw them, I was completely blown away by their performance. I will never forget the first time I heard Melissa Etheridge. It was actually on MTV, and I was watching the video for “Like the Way I Do.” I liked the song instantly, within the first few seconds. There was something magical about this woman, this performer, this artist. However, I will never forget the moment in the song when she sings in the final chorus, “Like the way I rock you.” The way she growls that out had me instantly hooked forever. It’s one of the best moments I’ve ever witnessed in rock and roll, and definitely one of the most passionate. I’m not the only one who felt that way. It’s tough to pick the first song I ever heard from an artist as the number one song on a list, but you know what? This is the song that has resonated with me for years. It will always be one of my favorite songs of all time, not just my favorite Melissa Etheridge song. And man, did she rock on this one.