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Our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list will look at a legendary singer and songwriter. He rose to fame in the 80s. He is known for synth pop music. When you think of 80s music some of his songs may come to mind. Howard Jones has had success in the UK as well as in the US. He had 15 songs appear on Top 40 lists around the world. Some of his hits include “What Is Love?,” “New Song,” “No One Is to Blame,” “Life in One Day,” “Things Can Only Get Better” as well as others. Dream Into Action is one of Howard Jones’ biggest hits in the United States.
John Howard Jones was born on February 23, 1955. He took piano lessons at an early age. He enrolled in a school for music. He joined a variety of bands before making it big. He performed in clubs as a solo artist. He invited record labels to watch him perform. One thing led to another and he was signed to a record deal. He released Human’s Lib in March 1984. The album peaked at number 59 on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “What Is Love?,” “New Song,” “Hide and Seek” and “Pearl in the Shell.” The album sold over 600,000 copies.
Dream into Action was released in March 1985. The album peaked at number 10 on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Look Mama,” “Life in One Day,” “No One Is to Blame” and “Like to Get to Know You Well.” The album sold over one million copies. One to One was released in October 1986. The album peaked at number 59 on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “You Know I Love You…Don’t You?,” “All I Want” and “A Little of Snow.” Cross That Line was released in March 1989. The album peaked at number 65 on Billboard 200. The album features the singles “The Prisoner,” “Everlasting Love,” “Last Supper” and “Cross That Line.”
In the Running was released in April 1992. The album features the singles “Lift Me Up,” “Show Me,” “The Voices Are Back” and “Two Souls.” Working in the Background was released in 1993. The album features the singles “You Are Beautiful to Me,” “Left No Evidence,” “Don’t Gt Me Wrong” and “You Can Say It’s All Over.” Angels & Lovers was released in 1997. The album features the singles “If You Love,” “Sleep My Angel,” “Wedding Song” and “Back in Your Life.” Revolution of the Heart was released in 2005. The album features the singles “Just Look at You Now,” “Revolution of the Heart,” “Celebrate Our Love” and “Respected.” Howard Jones went on to record other albums.
Howard Jones was able to make his mark in the music business during the time when some of the hottest acts were at the peaks of their careers. There was a lot of competition on the radio so he could have been lost in the shuffle. He managed to gain fame. Howard Jones was able to have a career that has lasted for decades. Our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list will give us a chance to honor the legendary singer and songwriter.
# 10 – The Prisoner
The 10th pick on our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list is “The Prisoner” from the Cross That Line album. “The Prisoner” was released in May 1989. This song tells the story about loving someone from afar. She has been adoring him from afar. He has dreamed of the woman. Her eyes have captured him. He wants her to take control. He doesn’t have confidence in himself. He wants her to make him feel better. The narrator feels her watching him. He stresses that he wants her to take control over him and make him a better man. The song tells two different stories. She is watching him while he wants her to make him whole.
This song will make you look at the subject from two different perspectives. He talks about someone who is watching him behind her camera. She doesn’t realize that he is in love with her. He feels captured in her love like a prisoner. Howard Jones made a song about stalking sound romantic and not creepy. The music has a classic 80s sound. The music reminds us why he was known for synth pop. The synthesizer and guitars sell the music. The guitar gives the song a rock edge. The music is catchy and will stay in your head. Howard Jones’ voice blends with the music. He is belting to match the volume of the music. His smooth voice was a match made in heaven with the music. This song may not be as known as his other hits, but it is worth a listen.
# 9 – Life in One Day
The ninth song on our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list is “Life in One Day” from the Dream into Action album. “Life in One Day” was released in June 1985. The motivational song is about living life to the fullest. He talks about not taking life seriously. He wants you to stop and smell the roses. If you want to do something, you should do it. You should try to enjoy the present. Things are not better on the other side. Things will get better in time. You shouldn’t try to live your life in one day. He wants you to enjoy everything that life has to offer. When bad things happen, you don’t have to worry because they will go away in time. A man gave him advice in the song and he is giving the same advice to the listeners.
This song has a positive message without being preachy. It is better to live life to the fullest and not envy anyone else. He wants you to appreciate things no matter how big or small. This is perfect for people who never appreciate the good things in life. This is also for people who are down and need encouraging words to feel better. You can’t help smiling as you listen to the positive lyrics.
Howard Jones wrote an inspirational song that will touch those who need it. The music is upbeat, which will keep you from being depressed as you listen to it. The music will have you moving your head to the rhythm. Howard Jones’ voice sounds comforting and soothing in this track. His vocals have hints of George Michael in them. He will make you believe the words he is saying. He sounds like a good friend giving you advice about life.
# 8 – New Song
The eighth song on our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list is “New Song” from the Human’s Lib album. “New Song” was released in August 1983. The uplifting song is about letting go of what is holding you back. This song lets you know that you can accomplish your dreams no matter what people tell you. He believes you can do anything you want to do. There are people who enter your life who will tell you about the realities of what you want to accomplish. The point is to see things from the dreamer’s side and the realistic side. Don’t drive yourself crazy trying to decide who is right. If you want to make your dreams come true you have to take chances.
This song is timely because there are a lot of people struggling to achieve their dreams for one reason or another. This song will be an inspiration to get rid of the mental chains that are holding you back. Howard Jones touched on the subject perfectly. He explains how it feels to want to accomplish your dreams, but fear is holding you back. He gives the solution on what you should do to keep fear from overtaking you.
He wrote this song based on his own dreams, so he knows the feeling. The song is a mantra for living your best life. The music is catchy and upbeat. The meaning of the song may get lost behind the music, but you should try to focus on the words. Howard Jones’ vocals blend with the music. His tone is similar to Limahl from the band Kajagoogoo best known for their single “Too Shy.”
# 7 – Lift Me Up
The seventh song on our list is “Life Me Up” from the In the Running album. “Life Me Up” was released in April 1992. The moving song is about someone who needs healing. He is looking at a picture of someone who isn’t in his life anymore. He would have followed the person to the ends of the earth. He has lost control. He realizes that he needs the person back in his life. He wants to be lifted. He wants to go back to the place that was familiar to him. The narrator says the person was always there for him. He wishes he could get a chance to be with the person again. He opens up about not being able to eat or sleep. The person doesn’t call the way they used to. He is losing control and needs to be lifted.
This is an interpretive song because it could be about a lost love. It could be about a relative or friend who has walked away from him. It could also be about a person who passed away. Depending on what you are going through it will affect how you interpret the song. It is up to you what the song means to you. Howard Jones has a gift of knowing when to use bouncy beats for melancholy songs. His bold melodies and slick grooves make this song an earworm. The music has a late 80s or early 90s feel. Howard Jones sings this song with the right emotion needed to convey the message he was sending. He could have pushed himself and belted more than he did, but he did a good job overall.
# 6 – What Is Love?
“What Is Love?” is from the Human’s Lib album. “What Is Love?” was released in November 1983. The questionable song is about love. He wonders if anyone knows what love is. He asked if anyone could be so in love that they would never be afraid of anything or ever be sad. He believes no one could ever love that much that they would be afraid or sad. He asked what love means to you. You can’t love anyone else if you don’t understand it. The song means you must let people be who they want to be. You must let them find themselves. You should leave the door open to come back even if it means letting the person go. If you are in love, you don’t spend time doubting your relationship. He wants to know if anyone truly knows what love is.
This song tells the story about unconditional love. He has a great understanding of unconditional love. He wrote the lyrics in a way to get people to understand what love means to them. He didn’t want to write a typical love song. He wanted to write a song that makes you think. He made a great choice because most artists write about falling in and out of love. There aren’t too many who write about why they are in love. This song teaches you to know who you are and accept your partner for who they are.
The music is synth-driven which sets the mood for the theme. It doesn’t make it sound like the typical beat in a love song. Howard Jones’ vocals are laid back in this song. He shows versatility because he performs runs throughout the song. The runs make his vocals sound soulful. He stacks his vocals in the chorus to create the illusion that numerous people are in the background.
# 5- You Know I Love You… Don’t You?
The next song on our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list is “You Know I Love You…Don’t You?” from the One to One album. “You Know I Love You…Don’t You” was released in October 1986. This song is about a couple who complete each other. He talks about what they have in each other. He has one thing and she has another. He talks about how much they need each other. The narrator talks about how much he loves her. He asks her if she knows he loves her. It is hard to be alone. A person on their own will get into trouble. He lets her know that they will be there for each other during tough times. They are going to stay together whether things are good or bad because they complete each other.
This song will open your eyes to love. If you question the love between you and your partner, this is a song you should listen to. Howard Jones talks about love and how he and the woman he loves will stay together no matter what. This song will hit close to home if you are in a relationship like the one he is talking about in the song. We all want to be in a relationship where we complete each other.
The music is energetic. It opens with an electrifying synth beat that lets you know that you are in store for a great song. The bass sounds incredible. The banging drumbeat sets the song on fire. There is a musical pause that is worth checking out. There is no mistaking that this is an 80s song. It has a classic 80s sound. Howard Jones sounds right at home with this music. He sings the song with passion. He has a double in the song that gives you a chance to hear him twice.
# 4 – Everlasting Love
“Everlasting Love” is from the Cross That Line album. “Everlasting Love” was released in February 1989. This song is about looking for true love. While he is searching for love, he is watching out for pitfalls. He wants to be careful not to go after the prettiest face. He doesn’t want to look for the person who is the most stylish. He doesn’t want superficial things. He doesn’t believe you can be happy with superficial things. He believes it is possible to find your true love, but he doesn’t think it should be rushed. He thinks people should take their time when it comes to finding their soulmate. Love is worth waiting for because you will find someone special if you take your time.
This song is ideal for anyone looking for everlasting love. Some people rush into love and then it doesn’t work out. If you take your time and fall in love, you will find a special someone. The lyrics will hit home for you if you are someone who wants everlasting love. Howard Jones wrote this touching song because he and his wife have everlasting love. His successful love life is how he can write genuine love songs.
This song explains what people have been looking for all their lives. The music is soft and soothing. The drums give the song tempo so you can dance to it with the person you love. The soft music will give you a chance to listen to Howard Jones’ voice. He sings this song with feeling and heart. It is not hard to tell that this song means something to him. He sounds very emotional on this track.
# 3 – Things Can Only Get Better
Coming in at number three on our list is “Things Can Only Get Better” from the Dream into Action album. “Things Can Only Get Better” was released in February 1985. This poignant song is about giving people hope for the future. It is a positive song for the listeners. The narrator talks about people dealing with bad times. Everyone has problems and doesn’t know what to do. He wants to let people know that things will get better.
He wants people to focus on the future and what it can bring to you. Doubtful people won’t stop us from getting things done. He is giving advice on how important it is to keep pushing so things can get better. He wants you to do things with no regret. The road to success may not happen right away, but you will get there. Failure is not an option.
The message in this song is timely, especially during these tough times. Everyone has gone through something and needs this advice to get through it. Howard Jones wanted to be the voice of hope for the fans. He wanted his lyrics to be a message from a good friend. He sounds like a family member or friend who gives you advice when you are feeling low. This song is perfect when you are battling demons and need help with them. No matter how bad things get, he wants you to know that things will get better. The music is the perfect theme for the subject of the song.
This is the type of beat that will have you smiling. The music will calm your nerves if you are feeling stressed out. The hook of the song will stay in your head long after you finish listening to the song. The best part of the song is the pre-chorus. It will reel you into the song. Howard Jones is right at home with this song. His vocals are phenomenal. We can’t say enough about how great the instrumentation is in this song. This is the song that helped make the new wave sound awesome. He has a talent for writing inspirational songs and turning them into feel good songs.
# 2 – Like to Get to Know You Well
“Like to Get to Know You Well” is from the Dream into Action album. “Like to Get to Know You Well” was released in August 1984. The flirty song is about getting to know each other. The song is about a couple who are in the beginning stages of a relationship. They want to get to know each other so they can be one. They want to let their guards down so they can get to know each other. He doesn’t want to waste time with small talk. He wants to get to know her. He doesn’t want her to get away. He wants to get to know the real her. He wants to build trust with her so they can be together. He wants them to forget about pride so they can be a couple.
This song will hit close to home with you if you are getting to know someone. Howard Jones is talking about building a special relationship before becoming a couple. He wasn’t focused on the physical intimacy. He wanted to build an emotional connection. The track is romantic without being sappy or corny. The second the song starts you know you are about to hear a great track. The synth driven music is fire.
Howard Jones starts the song with that infectious hook. This song is so good it didn’t have to marinate. You will be instantly hooked. It will be impossible not to sing the irresistible hook. This song will never get old. It is an underrated song that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Everything about this song works. The instrumentation is great, the lyrics are touching and Howard Jones’ vocals are smoking hot.
# 1 – No One Is to Blame
The number one song on our Top 10 Howard Jones Songs list is “No One Is to Blame” from the Dream into Action album. “No One Is to Blame” was released in March 1986. The emotional song is about the temptation to cheat. The narrator talks about a person who is in a relationship who gets tempted to cheat. The man sees a woman he is attracted to, but he adores her from afar.
He is in a relationship with someone else so he can’t be with her. He tries to justify the thoughts by saying it is okay to look and not touch. Physical attraction is something that happens and he feels like it is no one’s fault. He talks about being attracted to someone but not doing anything about it. They both want each other but he is in a relationship. He doesn’t think anyone is to blame for the attraction.
This song is an eye opener about temptation. Is anyone to blame when your head gets turned? If you have been tempted by someone while you are involved with someone else, this is the song for you. Howard Jones can write any variation of a love song. He managed to put a romantic spin on temptation. The male character wants to have an affair, but Howard Jones managed to make it sound romantic. This goes to show how talented a writer he is. The track has a great melody. It sounds like a love song even though it is about temptation. Howard Jones does a great job with the vocals. He sings this in his lower register. He belts and holds runs in the song. You may have to look at the lyrics to understand some of the things he is saying, but it doesn’t take away from how great this song is. We couldn’t compile this list without adding one of his signature songs on it.
Top 10 Howard Jones Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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