Our Top 10 Keane Songs list will look at an English alternative rock band that has been together since 1995. The members of the band are Tom Chaplin (lead singer, electric and acoustic guitar and piano), Tim Rice-Oxley (piano, synthesizers, bass guitar), Richard Hughes (drums and percussion) and Jesse Quinn (bass, electric and acoustic guitar. Original member Dominic Scott left the band in 2001. The band rose to fame when they released their album Hopes and Fears in May 2004. It was one of the best-selling albums in the UK in 2004. They won a Brit award for this album. Their second album Under the Iron Sea peaked at number one on the UK charts. They took a hiatus in 2013. The hiatus lasted for almost five years. Some of their hits include “Somewhere Only We Know,” “Everybody’s Changing,” “Silenced by the Night,” “Nothing in My Way,” “A Bad Dream,” as well as others. Keane has won 11 awards and has been nominated for 26 and counting.
Hopes and Fears was released in May 2004. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts and number 45 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Somewhere Only We Know,” “Everybody’s Changing,” “Bedshaped,” “This is the Last Time” and “Bend and Break.” The album sold over four million copies. Under the Iron Sea was released in June 2006. The album peaked at number one on the UK charts and number four on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Atlantic,” “Is It Any Wonder?,” “Crystal Ball,” “Nothing in My Way,” “A Bad Dream” and “Try Again.”
Perfect Symmetry was released in October 2008. The album peaked at number one on the UK and number seven on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Spiralling,” “The Lovers Are Losing,” “Perfect Symmetry” and “Better Than This.” Strangeland was released in May 2012. The album peaked at number one on the UK and number 17 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Silenced by the Night,” “Disconnected,” “Sovereign Light Café” and “Black Rain.” Cause and Effect was released in September 2019. The album peaked at number two on the UK charts. It features the singles “The Way I Feel,” “Love Too Much” and “Stupid Things.
Keane makes music that makes you think. They write a lot of reflective songs that other artists don’t always cover. They are an overlooked band that deserve to be recognized for their work. Our Top 10 Keane Songs list gives the band the recognition they deserve.
# 10 – Stupid Things
The 10th song on our Top 10 Keane Songs list is “Stupid Things” from the Cause and Effect album. The single was released in 2019. This is a track about a man who admits to doing something foolish and hurtful to his partner. The song begins with our narrator apologizing for what he did. He knew he did something bad and he regretted doing it. He doesn’t deny loving his partner.
He blames his actions on his depression. He is going through something and he blames his wrongdoing on that. He couldn’t believe that he did something stupid again. As he moves to the chorus, we find out that he misses special moments at home because he’s always working or he’s out drinking. He must tell lies to cover his mistakes. We find out that he has a second phone that he uses to cover up what he’s doing. He continues to proclaim his love for his partner even though he knows he will keep messing up.
This is a heart-wrenching song about a man who continues to make mistakes. He knows he makes mistakes and he tries to make excuses for them. He blames his mistakes on his depression. There aren’t too many songs that touch on the subject of depression. This song is a story-based song. We get to find out what he does to hide the mistakes that he makes in his relationship. This is a song that will touch your heart. You may be battling demons just like the one described in the song.
This song brings awareness to the personal struggles people face in life. The lyrics are universal because they don’t have to be about a romantic partner. The lyrics can apply to anyone in your life. The music is mesmerizing. It fits perfectly with the theme of the song. It’s a somber beat that will touch your heart. Tom Chaplin does an amazing job on the vocals for this song. His tenor vocals soar throughout the song.
# 9 – Love Too Much
The ninth song on our Top 10 Keane Songs list is “Love Too Much” from the Cause and Effect album. The song was released in 2019. The song is about giving everything you have to your partner without holding back on anything. The narrator feels it’s worth giving your all even if you are afraid to do it. He expresses that everything he did was done out of love.
He may have done the right thing or the wrong thing, but he did them out of love. Our narrator feels that loving too much can have consequences, but it’s worth it in the end. As the song progresses, he talks about making mistakes in relationships. He feels like mistakes are what make us who we are. Despite the fear, we jump in with open hearts and minds. Taking a chance on love is worth the risk. Love can be a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s worth having.
This track is about giving everything you love to the person you care about. It will have a profound effect on you if you are giving your relationship everything you have. The lyrics speak to you and let you know that it’s not perfect, but it’s worth having in your life. Keane doesn’t just stick to cookie cutter love songs. They are not afraid to look bad in a song. They admit that they make mistakes. They don’t want to be Prince Charming in the song and that’s what makes their songwriting real. They don’t pretend to be something that they’re not. The music is infectious. The music is a blend of pop and soft rock. It will hook you as soon as the piano chords begin. The song has a catchy chorus and it’s easy to remember. The song will stay in your head after it’s done.
# 8 – This is the Last Time
The eighth song on our Top 10 Keane Songs list is “This is the Last Time” from the Hopes and Fears album. “This is the Last Time” was released in October 2003. “This is the Last Time” is a reflective song about a relationship that has come to an end. The song opens with the narrator talking about refusing to say the words anymore. He won’t express how he feels anymore. The last time he said the words he realized they were lies. He wanted to sweep the feelings under the rug. He hoped the feelings would go away even though they never do. He’s not sure what he wants from another relationship or what he wants from this one. He’s not sure if he can be honest about the way he feels.
As the song moves forward, he wants to forget about a relationship that happened in the past. He felt like he missed an opportunity with the relationship. His partner is willing to be there for him, but he doesn’t want to be there for her anymore. He has gotten tired of being in this position. In the third verse, he’s ready to end his current relationship. He’s willing to tell one more lie before he walks away from her. He wants to make a clean break from her.
This song tells a story about a man who is tired of telling lies in a relationship. He refuses to keep saying that he is in love when he isn’t. He feels that ending the relationship will be a relief for him. You may not have been in this position, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t enjoy listening to the story. He doesn’t paint himself up as a good man because he is lying about his feelings. This is more than just an ordinary breakup song. It is about being taken advantage of by someone in a relationship. It makes you upset enough that you must lie about your feelings.
He accepts being the fall guy. The story will keep you invested until Tom Chaplin sings the last word. We enjoy this song because it is not a typical love song. This is a multifaceted love song about a complex relationship. The music has a soft rock beat which doesn’t overpower Tom Chaplin’s vocals. Tom Chaplin keeps his voice soft until he gets to the chorus. It is hard to listen to him sing and not sing along with him. He commands you to sing with him especially when he sings the chorus.
# 7 – The Lovers Are Losing
The seventh song on our list is “The Lovers Are Losing” from the Perfect Symmetry album. “The Lovers Are Losing” was released in October 2008. The song is about a relationship that is falling apart. He talks about a relationship that made him feel isolated. He had a dream that he was drowning. He had nothing at all. He slipped away from his partner. He was able to see her looking back at him. He saw his past and future in her eyes.
She walked away from him because she didn’t like the way things were going. She took his dreams and cut them off. He feels vulnerable. He is lost and out of control now that they aren’t together. His dreams are cut up and rearranged like pieces of a puzzle. He tries to make sense of what happened in their relationship. Our narrator realizes that he is fighting a losing battle. He tries to reach out to her, but it doesn’t do any good. He compares holding on to love to a skidding car. In the end he must realize that their relationship is over.
This song tells a story about a man who is fighting a losing battle in a relationship. The lyrics will break your heart as you hear him talk about his dreams being crushed. If you had someone in your life who ended things with you, you will be able to relate to the lyrics. He paints a clever picture of what it feels like to lose love and how it can consume your mind and dreams. Some people don’t take breakups well and it can take over their minds.
It can make them feel lost. The lyrics are poetic and emotive. Keane created a sense of despair in the song. You can feel the despair in Tom Chaplin’s voice as he talks about feeling lost. He sings the song in a way that will have listeners sympathizing with him. The chorus is electrifying and will stay in your head. It may bring tears to your eyes. The music has an old school meets new school sound. Tom Chaplin can keep up with all the musical changes that occur throughout the song. He pours his heart out in the lyrics.
# 6 – Stop for a Minute ft. K’naan
“Stop for a Minute” from the Night Train EP. “Stop for a Minute” was released in April 2010. This song is about a person who feels disconnected. He is suffering from depression. The song opens with him talking about his soul leaving his body. He would rather move on with his life than face what he is dealing with inside. He feels lost without the person he loves in his life. He is too tired to keep fighting. He wants to find someone else so he can get through the tough times.
When he thinks about the past it hurts. He feels like a lost child. He wants to scream until everything gets quiet. There are times when he questions why he’s here. K’naan talks about how beautiful the woman was. She held things down for the family. He regrets that he gave her more than she can handle. It turns out he wasn’t treating her right, but he couldn’t help himself. He was tempted by another woman. It breaks his heart to think that he hurt her.
The song is a stylish tune. The song opens listeners’ eyes to depression caused by heartbreak. There aren’t many songs about depression, so it makes the song stand out. The music is misleading because it sounds like a happy song, but it is a dark song about loneliness and depression. The perky music keeps the song from being too sad. The beat will put a smile on your face especially if you need to smile.
It has a sizzling electro pop beat that will make you want to get up and dance. Tom Chaplin and K’naan work well together. K’naan added a rap verse to the song. He is a talented artist who can sing and rap. Tom Chaplin does runs at the end of the song that you won’t forget. They are from two different worlds musically, but they came together to make a great song. Their voices blend well each other. They both get to shine equally in the song. The chorus is infectious and memorable. You will find yourself singing along with them.
# 5 – A Bad Dream
The next song on our Top 10 Keane’s Songs list is “A Bad Dream” from the Under the Iron Sea album. “A Bad Dream” was released in January 2007. The song is about feeling alone and isolated. He has been dealing with a lot of struggles and is losing his will to fight. He is too tired to fight anymore. The narrator feels alone and isolated from the rest of the world. He feels like he will die in the clouds. He also talks about someone he used to love. He used to defend the person and now he is done with it.
He has a bad dream that no one is by his side when he wakes up. He used to fight, but now he doesn’t have the energy to fight anymore. He realizes he is not the fighting type. He wants to know when he will die because he was born to hate. If he were in a better space, he could be friends with someone. He would feel the need to fight if he had someone by his side. The person he loves is gone so now he feels alone.
This is a song about not having someone to turn to when you are feeling alone. It is a terrible feeling to feel alone and not have anyone in your life. This song is perfect if you are confronting problems in your life. This is the type of song that forces you to pick yourself up because no one is going to be there to do it. This is a meaningful song that will make you feel choked up as you listen to it. If you are going through depression, it will make you feel as if you are understood.
It might make you feel less lonely knowing that someone else is feeling the same way you are. The lyrics will give you chills as you empathize with the narrator. The music is somber but soothing. This is the perfect music to go along with the subject. The music is piano and drum driven. Tom Chaplin’s vocals are plaintive and sincere. He will make you feel the pain that he is going through in the song. He does an excellent job conveying the feeling of loneliness. He starts the song softly and comes alive in the chorus and throughout the rest of the song.
# 4 – Nothing in My Way
“Nothing in My Way” is from the Under the Iron Sea album. “Nothing in My Way” was released in October 2006. The song is about trying to understand someone who is lost. You love the person, but they seem disconnected from reality. The relationship is at a crossroads. There is a distance between them. He wants to know why they are covering up their pain with laughter. He wants to know why they are pretending as if everything is okay. They are acting as if nothing is in their way.
The narrator hints that their relationship is empty. There is nothing left for them to say to each other. He is disappointed that she doesn’t want to take their relationship seriously. He doesn’t like how she keeps her emotional problems to herself. He wanted her to come to him with her problems, but he sees that they have nothing to say to each other. He thinks she is having a nice time despite being lonely. He is not sure if she is being genuine or not.
This song tells a story about being in denial. The person has trouble expressing themselves. It causes a rift in their relationship with each other. The song has dark undertones but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The narrator wants to reassure her that someone is there for her. The message of the song is nothing will be in your way if you open up to people. The message is powerful and educational. This is advice we should all take.
The music is catchy. It may remind you of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” The music goes up and down like a roller coaster. The music is low in the verses and gets loud in the chorus. Tom Chaplin’s vocals are fantastic. He sings in time with all the musical changes. He shows vocal strength by being able to keep up when the music gets loud. He belts the chorus. He sounds melodious as he is singing the song. His vocals soar in this song.
# 3 – Silenced by the Night
Coming in at number three on our list is “Silenced by the Night” from the Strangeland album. “Silenced by the Night” was released in March 2012. The song is about separated lovers who want to reunite with each other. He pictures driving with his former lover. They are enjoying their time together. Reality sets in and they are not together anymore. He believes they can get back together.
They were torn apart by life. He wants them to love each other the way they used to when they were together. He is sitting in the dark and is flooded by memories of her. He can feel her hand on his back. He can hear her calling him. He wants her to be by his side because the people in their town look through him. He is not afraid of the world when she is by his side. He is convinced they will get back together.
The song has a strong message about the importance of having love in your life. It teaches you that having love in your life will keep you from feeling isolated. It tells a vivid story about a man who yearns to have his partner back in his life. Have you ever wanted the one who got away back in your life? This song will give you hope that there’s a chance to get them back in your life. Tom Chaplin makes the story come alive as he talks about being haunted by her memory. The lyrics will break your heart. This song will speak to anyone who has ever been in love.
Keane wrote a deep song about love. It’s not your typical love song. They took a different approach to the subject. They wrote about a man needing love to save his sanity. You don’t hear songs like this too often. The music sets the scene for the song. The band does an excellent job with the music. Tom Chaplin deserves a standing ovation for his performance in this song. We can’t express enough how strong his vocals are. He turned this song into a power ballad. His vocals are fire. The only thing missing was a long power note.
# 2 – Everybody’s Changing
“Everybody’s Changing” is from the Hopes and Fears album. “Everybody’s Changing” was released in May 2003. This song is about loneliness and depression. He is trying to make sense of the things changing around him. He laments that things don’t feel the way they used to. He feels as if he is stuck in a rut while everyone around him is moving on with their lives. It makes him depressed to think about it. He questions how his friends can do things, but he isn’t.
He questions what he is going to do with his life. He struggles to be around other people because they have their lives together and he doesn’t. He feels as if he doesn’t belong because he is moving in a different direction from everyone else. He wishes he can be like everyone else and be able to move on with his life. The feeling of being alone weighs on him heavily. It’s starting to take a toll on him.
This is a relatable story for anyone who feels stuck in neutral. Keane tells an excellent story about how it feels when everyone is changing while you are still in the same spot. This is something most of us have felt at one point in our lives. It’s as if Keane was reading everyone’s minds when they wrote this song. This song is a wake-up call to hold on to the things that matter in your life. They are the things that will give you comfort when you are feeling lonely.
This song will make you feel as if you are not alone. This song is a masterpiece. Keane knew what they were doing when they recorded this track. This is an amazing piano rock song. The guitar riffs will give you goosebumps. Tom Chaplin’s vocals are out of this world. He sounds melodious. He shows versatility because his vocals change throughout the song. He sings in his upper and lower registers throughout the track. This song is flawless.
# 1 – Somewhere Only We Know
The number one song on our Top 10 Keane Songs list is “Somewhere Only We Know” from the Hopes and Fears album. “Somewhere Only We Know’ was released in February 2004. This song is about thinking about a place of solace to get away from stress. He talks about how he feels lonely in life. He needs to find a place where he can escape his loneliness. He travels to a familiar place so he can feel comfortable. The place he is looking for offers him comfort and familiarity. He feels disconnected from the world. He needs a calm place where he can be himself. The narrator wants the listeners to think of their personal escapism. He wants the listeners to go somewhere that’s comfortable for them.
This song tells a story about having a place to go to when you are having an emotional breakdown. It is like a happy place to keep you calm. Anyone who has felt lonely will understand this song. This song will hit you differently if you can relate to the lyrics. Everything about this song is beautiful and comforting. The song reminds you to think about your happy place when things are rough for you.
The track is enchanting and haunting. The lyrics are comforting and therapeutic. They are so powerful that you can’t help relating to them. This is the type of song that will pop up in your head just when you need it to. The music is calming and soothing. Tom Chaplin sings the song in a subdued way. He is singing with the right emotion to convey the message the band is trying to convey. As the song moves forward, he throws himself into the song. He has control over his voice because he goes back and forth with his voice whenever the song calls for changes. This is one of Keane’s biggest hit songs for a reason. Everything about the song works.
Top 10 Keane Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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