Our top 10 Lisa Loeb songs list looks at the catalog of a Grammy-nominated singer renowned for her blend of pop, rock, and folk. However, her fame is more than just her amalgam of musical genres. Lisa Loeb remains the only American artist to have managed a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 without being signed to a record label. While her Platinum-certified number one track might have defined her career, Lisa Loeb is more than a one-hit-wonder.
Lisa Loeb’s Career Beginnings and Breakthrough
Lisa Loeb initially chased success in the music industry after forming a band with her former campus-mate, Elizabeth Mitchell. The band, Liz and Lisa, saw the two artists recognizable at Brown University. Liz and Lisa is famed for its 1990 LP, Liz and Lisa- Days Were Different. After attending the Berklee College of Music, Lisa Loeb formed a full band under the moniker Nine Stories.
Eventually, Lisa Loeb achieved success with her single track, “Stay (I Missed You).” The song catapulted Lisa Loeb to national success after rising to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories later received a nomination for a Grammy Award in the Best Pop Performance by a Group category.
Lisa Loeb’s Album Releases over the Years
Lisa Loeb’s first release for her solo career is the self-released 1992 LP Purple Tape. The singer later re-released the song from the album in her following albums. Purple Tape finds Lisa Loeb linking up with producer Juan Patino. Eventually, Lisa Loeb signed a contract with David Geffen’s record label, Geffen Records. Under the label, Lisa Loeb released the LP Tails in 1995. The LP was a success rising to number thirty on the Billboard 200 and thirty-nine on the UK Albums Chart. Tails featured some of the best Lisa Loeb songs, including “Stay (I Missed You),” “Do You Sleep?” and “Taffy.”
Later in 1997, Lisa Loeb released her sophomore LP still under Geffen Records. Firecracker was still a success, peaking at number eighty-eight on the Billboard 200. The album also charted at number fifty-three on the Canadian Album Chart. Firecracker is specifically famed for its pop-rock sonic vibes. Some of the best Lisa Loeb songs from Firecracker include “Let’s Forget About It and “I Do.”
Lisa Loeb released her last charting LP on the Billboard 200, Cake and Pie, in 2002. Unlike Tails and Firecracker, Cake and Pie was released through A&M Records. The album barely made it to the Billboard 200, peaking at number one hundred and ninety-nine on the chart. “Underdog” and “Someone You Should Know” are the best Lisa Loeb songs from the LP Firecracker.
In 2002 still, Lisa Loeb re-released her Cake and Pie LP under the moniker, Hello Lisa. However, the album wasn’t released under A&M Records as Cake and Pie. Lisa Loeb released the album through Artemis Records. In 2004, the singer released a folk-oriented album, The Way It Really Is. The Way It Really Is has been lauded by critics for its gentle sonic vibes. The album featured several smashing hits, including “Fools Like Me.”
Lisa Loeb has released three albums, including No Fairy Tale in 2013, Lullaby Girl in 2017, and A Simple Trick to Happiness in 2020. The singer also prides herself with six children’s albums. Catch the Moon, Camp Lisa, Feel What U Feel, and Lullaby Girl are some of the best Lisa Loeb children albums of all time.
Lisa Loeb’s Other Musical Pursuits
While still pursuing success in her solo career, Lisa Loeb interacted with several other artists, including Chris Isaak and The Wallflowers. The singer was among singers featured on Bat Head Soup, a tribute album for Ozzy Osbourne. In this tribute album, Lisa Loeb performed the hit “Goodbye to Romance.” The singer was later featured on Cher’s tribute album An All Star Tribute to Cher, singing to the hit “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.” Lisa Loeb was among artists featured on Shania Twain’s tribute LP, performing “Don’t Be Stupid.”
Lisa Loeb’s Accolades and Legacy
Lisa Loeb might not have had tons of accolades to show for her musical career. However, this doesn’t mean that her career has gone unnoticed. In 2017, her children’s album, Lullaby Girl, won the National Parenting Product Award. Her children’s album Feel What U Feel also won a Grammy Award in the Best Children’s Album category in 2018.
Her song “Stay (I Missed You)” was nominated for a Grammy Awards in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. However, it lost to “I Swear” by All-4-One. Lisa Loeb won the Brit Award for International Breakthrough Act in 1995, beating Counting Crowns, Warren G, Marcella Detroit, and Carleen Anderson. Here we present the ten best Lisa Loeb songs of all time.
#10 – Feel What U Feel
Ushering us to the top 10 Lisa Loeb songs list is the cheery hit “Feel What You Feel.” The song serves as the lead track to Lisa Loeb’s children’s album of the same name. “Feel What U Feel” finds Lisa Loeb singing about the ideas she wished to pass down, especially to her kids.
Lisa Loeb released the song through the Furious Rose record label in 2016. Despite being labeled as a children’s song, “Feel What U Feel” features some pop-influenced sounds, with its lyrics quite relatable to parenting. The song peaked at number twenty-seven on the Billboard Kid Songs chart.
#9 – Waiting for Wednesday
“Waiting for Wednesday” is one of the best Lisa Loeb songs from her LP Tails. The singer Lisa Loeb penned the three-minute song. Its lyrics allude to a lady who is quite anxious about being pregnant.
The lady waits for her periods to ascertain whether she is pregnant or not. Her anxiety about being pregnant is instigated by the fact that she is in a bad relationship. However, she decides to leave the boyfriend whether she is pregnant. After all, she feels that remaining in a toxic relationship isn’t worth her time and effort. “Waiting for Wednesday” peaked at number eighty-three on the Billboard Hot 100.
#8 – Let’s Forget About It
At number eight on our ten best Lisa Loeb songs is the striking ballad “Let’s Forget About It.” The song is one of the musical gems from the 1997 LP, Firecracker. This pop ballad was penned by Lisa Loeb, showcasing her lyrical prowess.
“Let’s Forget About It” has its lyrics alluding to the singer’s mistake in her relationship. However, her wish is that the lover forgets the mistakes for them to move on from dark days to happier days. “Let’s Forget About It” peaked at number thirty-eight on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, “Let’s Forget About It” peaked at number seventy-one.
#7 – Fools Like Me
“Fools Like Me” is one of the best Lisa Loeb songs penned by Lisa Loeb, Shelly Peiken, and John Shanks. John Shanks is a renowned producer and guitarist known for his successful work with other artists such as Kelly Clarkson and Michelle Branch. The song is featured on Lisa Loeb’s LP, The Way It Really Is.
The album was released under Zoë Records, once home to artists Jules Shear, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Nields, and Juliana Hatfield. “Fools Like Me” is among the releases that marked Lisa Loeb’s first attempts at co-writing songs with other artists. Lisa Loeb revealed that the song’s music inspired the song’s lyrics.
#6- Someone You Should Know
Number six on our top 10 Lisa Loeb songs is the splendid hit “Someone You Should Know.” The song is one of the musical gems from Lisa Loeb’s final LP to chart on the Billboard 200, Cake and Pie. “Someone You Should Know” was penned by Lisa Loeb and songwriter and record producer Dave Bassett. The three-minute track is among Lisa Loeb to have received success in Japan. While it failed to chart, “Someone You Should Know” received some airplay in the US.
#5 – Jenny Jenkins
At the fifth spot on our ten best Lisa Loeb songs is the hit “Jenny Jenkins.” The song was a traditional song originally released by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman. Their version was featured on the 1993 LP Not for Kids Only. Later, Lisa Loeb released a cover of the song in 2007. The song was released as a non-album single together with the hit “Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.”
#4- Underdog
“Underdog” is the fourth-best Lisa Loeb song on our list. Like “Someone You Should Know,” the song is featured on the LP Cake and Pie. Lisa Loeb collaborated with the rock guitarist Dweezil Zappa in penning the lyrics to the song. Unfortunately, Lisa Loeb clashed with A&M Records over the song’s accompanying video concept. This eventually led to no video shot for the song. Nevertheless, “Underdog” peaked at number thirty-nine on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart.
#3- Do You Sleep?
The third track on our top 10 Lisa Loeb songs list is “Do You Sleep?” “Do You Sleep?” is one of the musical gems from the LP Tails. Lisa Loeb revealed that a breakup inspired the song. The lyrics find the singer wondering whether her former boyfriend was still thinking about him.
She also wonders whether the guy finds sleep or he stays awake thinking about her. “Do You Sleep?” rose to number forty-five on the UK Singles Chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song managed to rise to number eighteen. Jordan D. White and New Dominions later covered the song.
#2- I Do
“I Do” is one of the best Lisa Loeb songs from her 1997 LP Firecracker. The song is yet another lyrical gem by Lisa Loeb. Most of Lisa Loeb’s fans have cited the song to be about the realization that someone isn’t the “one.”
However, Lisa Loeb later revealed that the song expresses strength and supremacy even when one isn’t receiving the best treatment in a relationship. “I Do” topped the Canada Top Singles chart, peaking at number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100.
#1- Stay (I Missed You)
Number one on our top 10 Lisa Loeb songs list is the charming hit “Stay (I Missed You).” The song is by far the most popular release by Lisa Loeb. “Stay (I Missed You)” is a musical gem penned by Lisa Loeb, with its lyrics alluding to a relationship that had come to an end. However, the singer seems to regret the end of the relationship.
The song was released as the lead track to the soundtrack of the 1994 comedy-drama movie Reality Bites. “Stay (I Missed You)” was nominated for the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals accolade in the 1995 Grammy Awards ceremony. However, it lost to “I Swear” by All-4-One. “Stay (I Missed You)” is the only Lisa Loeb song to peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Photo: GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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