Top 10 Belinda Carlisle Songs

Photo: Andrew Hurley from Wallasey, England, United Kingdom / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

Our Top 10 Belinda Carlisle songs list examines the solo career of the Go-Go’s spectacular lead vocalist. When the Go-Go’s broke up in 1985, Belinda Carlisle embarked on a very successful solo career. A long run of hit albums and singles would define that success. Furthermore, Belinda Carlisle would achieve a musical milestone that The Go-Go’s never accomplished themselves…. a number one single. The closest The Go-Go’s ever got to celebrating a number one single was when their signature song “We Got The Beat” peaked at number two in 1981. Belinda Carlisle hit number one in 1987 with her glorious single “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” With the success of that single, Belinda Carlisle had achieved a number one single as a solo artist and a number one album as a member of The Go-Go’s with their debut album Beauty and The Beat in 1981.

Belinda Carlisle released her first solo album, entitled Belinda, in 1986. It was an album that continued in the style of The Go-Go’s with melodies and arrangements clearly inspired by the music of the 1960s. Belinda Carlisle’s follow-up album Heaven on Earth displayed a very produced, polished sound that was representative of the big sound of the 1980s. The album was also filled with brilliantly well-written songs. It stands as one of the best albums Belinda Carlisle has ever released. Belinda Carlisle would release four more solo albums before reuniting with the Go-Gos in 2001 for the album God Bless The Go-Go’s.

After having moved to France in the mid-2000s, Belinda Carlisle released an album in 2007 entitled Viola. It was an album in which she recorded all the vocals in French. Ten years later in 2017, Belinda Carlisle would release another album that ignored her American rock and pop roots. The album titled Wilder Shores featured Belinda Carlisle performing music inspired by Sikh chants in the Gurmukhi language.

Our Top 10 Belinda Carlisle songs list focuses on the songs she released on her six solo albums, which spanned a decade between 1986 and 1996. It does not include any songs she recorded with The Go-Go’s or any of the material from her non-English albums released in the 21st century.

# 10 -Do You Feel Like I Feel?

We open our Top 10 Belinda Carlisle songs list with the keyboard-dominated song “Do You Feel Like I Feel.” The song was released on Belinda Carlisle’s album Live Your Life Be Free. It was Belinda Carlisle’s fourth album. The record was issued in 1991. Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley wrote the song. “Do You Feel Like I Feel “is a great way to open this Belinda Carlisle songs list. It’s a smoking tune, upbeat with a very addictive chorus. Belinda Carlisle, as usual, sounds great on the song, giving it her all in a spectacular vocal performance.

# 9 – I Feel The Magic

The sound of the 1960s is on clear display in this great song title, “I Feel The Magic.” The song was released on Belinda Carlisle’s first solo album titled Belinda. The song was written by Belinda’s Go-Go’s bandmate Charlotte Caffey and also by songwriter Jonathan Segal. Charlotte Caffey would continue to work with Belinda Carslile through Belinda’s solo career.

# 8 – In Too Deep

Continuing with our top 10 Belinda Carlisle songs list, we turn to the fantastic song “In Too Deep.” The song was released on the album A Woman and a Man. The record was released in 1996. The song was a massive hit in the United Kingdom, reaching a peak of number six on the UK music charts. Rick Nowels wrote the song. It was initially released on the Jenny Morris album Salvation Jane a year earlier. However, it was Belinda who had the big hit with the song.

# 7 – Circle In the Sand

I recall picking up Belinda Carlisle’s second solo album, Heaven on Earth, and being instantly drawn to this great song. It’s just one of those tracks that catches your attention instantly. The song was released as the third single from the album. The song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Belinda Carlisle’s fourth top 10 hit of her solo career.

# 6 – I Get Weak

Speaking of top 10 hits. “I Get Weak” was another great track from Belinda Carlisle’s masterpiece, Heaven on Earth. The song served as the follow-up single to “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” It just missed the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two. The song was written by Diane Warren, who was one of the most successful songwriters in pop music history, having composed big-time hits for a diverse group of artists such as Dion, Eric Clapton, Roy Orbison, Chicago, Heart, Joan Jett, Aerosmith, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, and so many more.

# 5 – Leave A Light On

“Leave A Light On” was released on Belinda Carlisle’s third solo album entitled Runaway Horses. This one has always been one of our favorite Belinda Carlisle songs. Great intro, super verse, and a spectacular chorus that you never get tired of. It’s a big-sounding 80s song but it retains that 60s spirit that has always been a hallmark of Belinda Carlisle’s recorded material. And speaking of the 1960s, the biggest surprise on the song was the inclusion of ex-Beatle George Harrison on guitar. Take a listen to his amazing solo………..

# 4 – Mad About You

“Mad About You” was Belinda Carlisle’s first big solo hit. The song was released on her debut album titled Belinda in 1986. “Mad About You” was the first single released from the record. The song reached the Billboard Top 10, peaking at number three. The song was written by Paula Jean Brown, James Whelan, and Mitchel Young Evans. This was a simply fabulous song that showcased Belinda Carlisle’s knack for selecting and releasing great material.

# 3 – Sun

Two out of the three top choices on this Belinda Carlisle songs list may be a surprise to the casual Belinda Carlisle fan, but not to the hardcore Belinda Carlisle fans. We start out this top three with the great song “Sun.” The song was released in 2013 on her greatest hits compilation entitled ICON – The Best of Belinda Carlisle. The song was written by Belinda Carlisle, Gabe Lopez & Jane Wiedlin. It was great to hear Belinda Carlisle release a brand-new song in the electro-pop genre, which was very popular at the time. If you’ve never heard this one before, make sure to take a listen; you’ll fall head over heels for it.

# 2 – Summer Rain

The song “Summer Rain” is quite the opposite of the song “Sun” in both its lyrics and music. This is a cool, grooving song that hits you instantly and embodies many of the best attributes of Belinda Carlisle’s art. The brilliant hook, the sleek verses, and of course the “to die for” vocal performance. It was never a huge hit, but it stands as one of her most underrated songs, in our opinion. “Summer Rain” was released on the album Runaway Horses. It was issued as the third single from the record. It was a top 30 hit in the U.S. and a top 10 hit in Australia.

# 1 – Heaven Is a Place on Earth

We close out our top 10 Belinda Carlisle songs list with a song that stands as the biggest hit of her career. Belinda Carlisle’s single “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” stands as the singer’s only number-one single. She has a few number twos, both with the Go-Go’s and her solo career, but only one number one. “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” hit number one because it is simply a fantastic song. From its brilliant lyrics, beautiful melody, soaring chorus, and sensational production, it’s a song that defines perfection in pop music.