Our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list looks at a legendary trio that have been around for decades. They are singers, songwriters and producers. Not only do have hits on their own, but they have written hit songs for other artists. They have written and produced songs for Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Olivia Newton-John, Yvonne Elliman, Frankie Valli, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton as well as others. They have sold over 200 million records making them one of the best-selling trios of all time. Very few artists have outsold the trio. They have nine number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. As of now, they are the third most successful band behind the Beatles and the Supremes. To date, the Bee Gees are one of the most successful family bands in music. They have won several awards during their career.
The group consisted of brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. They are one of the most influential acts in the music business. The brothers learned to sing in harmony by listening to acts such as Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers and Tommy Steele. They were in a band with their friends called The Rattlesnakes. It helped shape them into the trio we know today. Fast forward and they have become one of the most successful trios of all time. They released 22 albums and 83 singles during their time together. The Bee Gees sold over 28 million albums. We will list some of the albums that the trio have recorded over the years.
Bee Gees’ 1st came out in August 1967 and peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” “To Love Somebody” and “Holiday.” Horizontal was released in January 1968. The album peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Massachusetts,” “World” and “And the Sun Will Shine.” Idea came out in September 1968. The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the songs “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” and “I Started a Joke.”
Odessa was released in March 1969. It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the single “First of May.” 2 Years On dropped in November 1970. It peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the single “Lonely Days.” Trafalgar came out in September 1971 and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself” and “Israel.”
Main Course was released in June 1975 and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the songs “Jive Talkin’,” “Nights on Broadway” and “Fanny (Be Tender with My Love.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. Children of the World came out in September 1976. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “You Should Be Dancing,” “Love So Right,” “Boogie Child” and “Children of the World.” It sold over one million copies.
The Bee Gees wrote and produced the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever. It was one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time. It sold over 50 million copies worldwide. Spirits Having Flown was released in February 1979. It peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Too Much Heaven,” “Tragedy” and “Love You Inside Out.” It sold over one million copies. Living Eyes was released in October 1981. It peaked at number 41 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the songs “Living Eyes,” “He’s a Liar,” “Paradise” and “I Still Love You.” E.S.P. was released in September 1987. The album peaked at number 96 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “You Win Again,” “E.S.P.” and “Crazy for Your Love.” They would go on to record several albums throughout their career.
The Bee Gees as we know them are no longer together because we lost Maurice and Robin Gibb, but their music still lives on. Their timeless classics will always live in our hearts. Our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list will honor the legendary trio.
# 10 – To Love Somebody
The 10th song on our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list is “To Love Somebody” and it appears on the Bee Gees 1st album. The single was released in 1967. The song is about being in love and longing to have someone. He never experienced the feeling before and longs to have a life with someone he loves. He is frustrated with the rules of relationships and questions their purpose since he doesn’t have someone he loves by his side.
The woman he loves doesn’t understand how much he loves her. He feels as if she doesn’t’ know what it’s like “to love somebody” the way he loves her. He thinks about her. He lives and breathes for her. The singer is naïve to the reality of the situation, but he can’t help how he feels about her.
“To Love Somebody” is a longing song about one-sided love. The song depicts a man who is in love with a woman who may not necessarily return his feelings. The song showcases the Bee Gees’ vulnerable side. It’s always hard to be in love with someone who doesn’t love you back. Unrequited love is hard to handle when you can’t get the person out of your head and heart. This song will resonate with anyone who is in love with someone who doesn’t love them back.
This is a situation that happens more times than we care to admit. The Bee Gees captured the feeling of longing perfectly. The emotive lyrics make it easy to connect with the song. We like how the song makes us feel emotional. You know a song is good when it makes you feel emotional. Barry Gibb’s soulful delivery will win fans over immediately. He doesn’t use his signature falsetto in the song. He sings in a high key, but he doesn’t sing in falsetto. He expresses his emotions in the song. This song is such a hit that it’s been remade by other artists.
# 9 – Lonely Days
The ninth song on our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list is “Lonely Days” from the 2 Years On album. The single was released in 1970. The song is about the importance of love and how you can feel lost without it. He talks about her brightening his day. She is a positive influence on his life. The singer questions where his life would be without her in it. She is important to him and he would be lost and alone if she left him.
“Lonely Days” is a testament to the power of love and how it can bring joy to your life. The song stresses the importance of love and how it can affect you if you lose it. The Bee Gees know how to write sentimental songs about love. Their lyrics will touch your heart and remind you what true love is all about. The song is ideal for people who are in love or long to be in love.
The music is upbeat and energetic. It will make you smile and feel hopeful about love. It will give you a chance to dance with the one you love. The Bee Gees‘ harmonies are outstanding. This song showcases their incredible harmonies. Their voices were made to be on the same song. You can let the Bee Gees serenade you while you reflect on love.
# 8 – Nights on Broadway
The eighth song on our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list is “Nights on Broadway.” The song appears on the Main Course album and came out in 1975. It’s about unrequited love. The woman he loves doesn’t see him. He knows she doesn’t want him, but he’s going to follow her because he can’t stay away from her. In the chorus, he blames the nights spent on Broadway for the complications in their relationship. The love songs remind him of his feelings for her. The songs make his feelings for her grow. In the second verse, he sees other people trying to go after her. He wants to keep them away from the woman he loves. He is willing to wait for her even if it takes forever.
“Nights on Broadway” is an interpretive song that keeps you guessing. The point of the song isn’t in your face. You have to infer the meaning behind this mysterious song. The song could be about lost love or one he never had. It’s up to you to decide the meaning. We feel the song was written in a cleverly cryptic way to keep listeners guessing. No matter what the reason is, the song is enjoyable. The stirring music gives the song a dramatic feel.
The guitar riffs and piano chords make the song sound magical. The horn section towards the end of the song gives it a soulful touch. Barry Gibb’s signature falsetto is featured on the song. His vocals go up and down throughout the song. Barry Gibb’s falsetto sounds like music when he sings. Robin Gibb’s vocals are smooth as silk. Their harmonies are exquisite. You can’t help enjoying the song as soon as you hear it. They make you want to sing along with them.
# 7 – Tragedy
The seventh song on our list is “Tragedy” from their album Spirits Having Flow. The single was released in 1978. “Tragedy” is about feeling alone and not being able to move on from the pain. The man feels trapped in his grief. He talks about how it feels to lose someone you love. It’s hard to get over the pain of losing someone tragically. He can’t take being alone. He feels like he should be with the person he loves. He feels lost without the person he loves. The song goes into detail about the way it feels to lose someone you love.
“Tragedy” is a mournful song about grief and loss. The Bee Gees express how it feels to lose someone important to you. They talk about the desperation of trying to cope with the loss of their loved one. The song is a reminder that grief is something we all go through at one point and that it’s okay to go through the grieving process. The lyrics are universal because the trio don’t specify if it’s a romantic love that has been taken away. The lyrics could be about the loss of a friend or family member. As long as you have lost someone, you will be able to understand what they are talking about in the song.
The lyrics are poignant and capture how it feels to lose someone you love. The song has a classic disco beat. The music is energetic which is a good choice to keep the song from being sad. It will give you a chance to enjoy the music during your grief. It’s a testament to the trio’s writing ability that they were able to create an upbeat song about a sad subject. The song has a memorable chorus that will stay in your head. Barry Gibb soars and holds notes in the song that may surprise you. Our only complaint is that Barry Gibb is hard to understand on some of the lyrics. You might have to read them to follow along.
# 6 – Night Fever
“Night Fever” appears on the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack. The single was released in 1977. The song is about dancing and enjoying the nightlife. The story is about a man who is caught up in the excitement of music and dancing. He is having fun dancing with someone he loves. The night is euphoric, and he wants to share that energy with everyone. He wants the euphoric feeling to last.
“Night Fever” is about having fun and living in the moment. The Bee Gees want listeners to enjoy the feeling of having fun. The song paints a picture of a man who is having fun with someone he loves. This song is one of the songs featured in the movie Saturday Night Fever. You don’t have to watch the movie to enjoy this disco anthem. The song was recorded during the disco craze.
The Bee Gees traded in their adult contemporary and pop sound for the disco sound. The irresistible beat will have you on your feet. There’s no way to sit still listening to this exciting beat. You will have to get up or dance in your seat. Barry Gibb’s falsetto is on full display again. Their harmonies are lower than Barry Gibb’s falsetto and that is a brilliant combination. It makes the harmonies stand out even more. The chorus is contagious and you may find yourself singing it even when the song is done.
# 5 – Jive Talkin’
The next song on our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list is “Jive Talkin’” from the Main Course album. The single was released in 1975. “Jive Talkin’” is about a woman who constantly lies. She is cruel to him and he’s sick of it. She makes him feel like a fool. He is tired of the way she treats him. She manipulates him all the time. She is no good and can’t be trusted. In verse two he talks about her cruelty towards him. She treats him badly and constantly lies to him. In the bridge, he talks about being okay with love talk, but jive talk isn’t acceptable.
“Jive Talkin’” is a cautionary song about the effect that dishonest communication has on a relationship. He calls her out for manipulating him. Her lies are taking a toll on him. This song infuses funk and disco together. Don’t let the title of the song fool you. The song isn’t a novelty song. It’s about a woman who lies to him. The Bee Gees wrote another song we can relate to very well.
Most of us know what it’s like to deal with someone who lies to you and makes you feel like a fool. The Bee Gees helped open the doors for other acts to create similar sounds for their songs. The bassline and guitar riffs are excellent. It makes you want to play air guitar. Barry Gibb sings the song in his lower register. Robin and Maurice Gibb sing the chorus in falsetto. The Bee Gees know what they are doing when it concerns their harmonies. They could have taught a class on harmonizing.
# 4 – You Should Be Dancing
“You Should Be Dancing” is featured on the Children of the World album. The song came out in 1976. The song is self-explanatory. The song is about having fun and dancing. The first verse opens with him talking about how his partner loves to dance. She keeps him warm at night. He wants her to be dancing instead of lying on her back. He wants her to let go of her worries and enjoy life. In verse two, he describes how exciting and irresistible she is. Dancing brings people together. The song concludes with the Bee Gees telling listeners they should be dancing.
“You Should Be Dancing” is a song we’ve all heard before. The Bee Gees want listeners to let go of their troubles and enjoy life. They want listeners to have fun and dance. The disco era had a lot of songs about dancing so it’s no surprise that the Bee Gees threw their hats in the ring. This is purely a song for escapism. You won’t learn anything new from this song. All songs don’t have to teach something. They can simply be for enjoyment.
This is the type of song you listen to when you want to rid yourself of your troubles. It’s another disco anthem for the Bee Gees. The song will make you forget about your troubles and have a good time. The beat is infectious. There is an instrumental pause that will allow you to embrace the music. Barry Gibb sings most of the song in falsetto. He does it with ease and doesn’t miss a beat with it. It’s a little hard to understand everything he’s saying because he speeds through the lyrics. You might need to read the lyrics for the song.
# 3 – I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You
Coming in at number three on our list is “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” and is featured on the Idea album. The song was released in 1968. It’s about a prisoner who is on death row who doesn’t have long to live. He wants to send a message to his wife. In the first verse, the preacher is aware that the inmate doesn’t have a lot of money or a way to contact his wife. The prisoner tells the preacher to apologize to his wife for breaking her heart. He wants to express his remorse before he dies. The prisoner is feeling different emotions. He realizes his actions are what put him in that situation. Time is running out for him, but he wants to express his regret to his wife.
“I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You” is a story driven song about a man who wants to make up for the mistakes he made in his life. He longs to have a final chance to reach out to his wife. It describes what someone will go through to reach out to someone they love for the last time. The lyrics are haunting and may bring a tear to your eye. You don’t have to be a prisoner to understand and feel the lyrics.
If you or someone you love is about to die, you will know what they are talking about. You will be able to relate if the person you love is going to walk away too. The lyrics are interpretive so it’s up to you how the song relates to you. The song has a rock, pop and psychedelic vibe to it. It has a melancholy sound that fits in with the theme. Robin and Barry Gibb’s vocals are strong on the track. They teamed up for the lead vocals and they sounded great together.
# 2 – How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” is from the Trafalgar album. The single came out in 1971. The song is about a man who lost the woman he loves. He’s trying to find a way to deal with the pain. His heart is broken, and he can’t find a way to fix it. He’s struggling to move on from the pain. He wonders “how can you mend a broken heart.” It’s a question that doesn’t have a simple answer. The second verse focuses on him trying to move on from the pain, but he still has feelings for her. He wonders why no one told him how hard it would be to move on from a broken heart.
“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” is a touching song about a man dealing with heartache. The Bee Gees tell an emotional tale that may have you nodding along in agreement. They touch on all the things you would feel if you lost the person you love. It’s difficult to move on from a broken heart when you are still in love with the person. The song may make you feel emotional especially if you are trying to move on from a broken heart.
This is a song that you would listen to with the shades down and a drink in your hand. You might feel like the Bee Gees were telling your story about heartbreak. They knew what they were doing when they wrote this song. They managed not to make the song sound bitter. They sound like they are in pain. The song was so popular that it was covered by different artists. It’s an excellent song so it’s no surprise that other artists wanted to try their hands at it.
# 1 – Staying Alive
The number one song on our Top 10 Bee Gees Songs list is “Staying Alive” from the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack. The song was released in 1977. The song is about survival. The song starts off with a man talking about being a woman’s man. The music is pumping, and the women are ready to go. He admits to being kicked around since he was a baby. He accepts that people look the other way when he’s suffering.
He wants people to understand what effect New York has on people. In the second verse, The Bee Gees talk about someone who is down on their luck. The person refuses to give up. He’s confident and in control of his life even though it may not always feel that way. The chorus is a reminder to listeners not to give up hope. If you keep on moving, you will overcome your struggles.
“Staying Alive” is more than just a hit disco song. It’s a song about survival. Some people may not pay attention to the song after the iconic opening lines but if you pay attention, you will see the song has a deeper message. The song has a positive message about perseverance. The song is meant to inspire listeners not to give up. If you feel as if your life is falling apart, you should listen to this song. It may inspire you not to give up on life.
This is another song where you don’t have to watch the movie to appreciate the song. The song is a stand-alone track. The song has a classic disco beat. The music is a perfect way to dance through your pain. We dare you to sit still while this song is playing. The production of this song is slick. They created the best sound for this song. Barry Gibb utilizes his falsetto throughout the song. He goes to heights unknown in the chorus and during the ad-libs. Robin and Maurice Gibb provide awesome harmonies for the song. This classic jam will never get old.
Top 10 Bee Gees Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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