Top 10 Lulu Songs

Photo: Photographer: R. Frings, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Lulu Songs list looks at a singer, songwriter, actress, TV personality, author and businesswoman. She is known for having a powerful voice. She started her career in the UK and was able to cross over internationally. Some of her hits include “Shout,” “To Sir With Love,” “The Man with the Golden Gun,” “Morning Dew,” “The Boat That I Row,” “I’m a Tiger,” “Relight My Fire,” “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do),” “We’ve Got Tonight” as well as others. In addition to singing, Lulu is an actress. She starred in Gonks Go Beat (1965), To Sir, with Love (1967), Cucumber Castle (1970), The Cherry Picker (1972), The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), To Sir, with Love II (1996), as well as other movies. She also appeared on BBC shows. She was a regular guest on The Les Dawson Show in 1978. She hosted the show Red Alert with the National Lottery from 1999 to 2000. She was on Lulu’s Big Show in 1993.

Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie was born on November 3, 1948. She was signed to Decca Records in 1964. She had the hit single “Shout,” which she recorded with her group Lulu & the Luvvers. Her next single with the group was “Leave a Little Love” which was a Top 10 hit. They recorded the Top 40 hit “Try to Understand.” Lulu released her debut album, Something to Shout About, in 1965. The album features the singles “Shout,” “I’ll Come Running Over,” “Surprise Surprise,” and “Here Comes the Night.” The album didn’t chart. She decided to pursue a solo career because she was gaining popularity as the group’s lead singer.

In 1967, she left Decca Records and signed with Columbia Records. Love Loves to Love Lulu was released in 1967. It peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “The Boat That I Row,” “To Sir With Love,” “Morning Dew,” Let’s Pretend,” “Love Loves to Love Lulu” and “Best of Both Worlds.” Lulu’s Album was released in 1969. The album failed to chart on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the songs “Show Me,” “Mighty Quinn,” “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “I Started a Joke,” “The Boy Next Door,” “A House Is Not a Home” and “Cry Like a Baby.”

New Roots was released in 1970. The album peaked at number 88 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby),” “Marley Purt Drive,” “Mr. Bojangles” and “Feelin’ Alright.” Melody Fair also came out in 1970. It features the singles “Good Day Sunshine,” “Melody Fair,” “(Don’t Go) Please Stay,” “Sweet Memories” and “Saved.” Lulu came out in 1973. It features the singles “Groovin’,” “Funny How Time Slips Away,” and “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.”

Heaven and Earth and the Stars was released in 1976. It features the singles “The Man with the Golden Gun,” “Take Your Mama for a Ride,” “Boy Meets Girl,” “Watch That Man” and “The Man Who Sold the World,” Don’t Take Love for Granted came out in 1978. It features the songs “I Don’t Care,” “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do),” “You Are Still a Part of Me” and “Don’t Take Love for Granted.” She released another album called Lulu in 1981. The album peaked at number 126 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “If I Were You,” “You Win, I Lose,” and “Who’s Foolin’ Who.” This is her last album to chart in the United States.

Take Me to Your Heart Again was released in 1982. It features the singles “I Will Do It For Your Love,” “Take Me to Your Heart Again” and “Go Now.” Independence was released in 1993. It peaked at number 67 on the UK charts. The album features the singles “Independence,” “How ‘Bout Us,” “I’m Back for More,” “Rhythm of Romance,” “Let Me Wake Up in Your Arms,” and “Restless Moods.” Together was released in 2002. It features the singles “Teardrops,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Back at One,” “With You, I’m Born Again,” “Relight My Fire,” and “Reunited.” The album went on to sell over 500,000 copies.

Back on Track was released in 2004. It features the singles “All the Love in the World” and “Keep Talkin’ I’m Listening.” A Little Soul in Your Heart was released in 2005. It features the single “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” Making Life Rhyme came out in 2015. The album peaked at number 35 on the UK charts. It features the singles “Cry,” “Faith in You,” “Wayfaring,” and “Angel.”

Lulu has had a long career in the music business. She started singing as a teenager and has been doing so ever since. She managed to achieve success and fame in the UK and the United States. She had to compete with artists from the 1960s and today. She had her uphill battles because fans’ taste in music changed, but she adapted to the change. Our Top 10 Lulu Songs list will feature her best songs.

# 10 – Morning Dew

The first song on our Top 10 Lulu Songs list is “Morning Dew” from the Love Loves to Love Lulu album. The song has a pop beat. The anthem is about the war. The track was written for the movie On the Beach. The movie was about survivors of the Holocaust. The lyrics are moving and powerful. Many artists seemed upset about the war because they covered this track a lot during the 60s. This track was a bigger hit overseas than it was in the US. It was written decades ago, but the message is still relevant and timeless.

It begins slowly, and the orchestration speeds up throughout the song. The music is surprisingly upbeat, considering the sad message. The music is pretty and will make you think about what must have happened during that time. Lulu’s phrasing is incredible. She has superb diction throughout the track. She showcases her strong vocals by displaying a lot of power. She does a convincing job with the song. She makes you believe she cares about what was happening then. Lulu proved that she wasn’t just a one-trick pony with this song. It may not have been a big hit in America, but this song is worth checking out for her vocals alone.

# 9 – The Boat That I Row

The next song on our Top 10 Lulu Songs list is “The Boat That I Row” from the Love Loves to Love Lulu album. The song has a pop and rock beat. The euphoric song is about independence. The song is about accepting you for who you are. She doesn’t want anyone to tell her what to say or what to do. She does what she wants to do. The lyrics are inspiring for anyone who wants to express themselves without dealing with judgment. You would never know this song was about independence based on its title. It will mislead you into thinking it’s about something else. The lyrics are quirky and fun.

This is a cover of Neil Diamond’s track. She kept the theme of the song the same as his version. Lulu has a slight stylistic change in the music and the verses. She sings it a little faster than Diamond. Diamond’s version is more soulful than Lulu’s. Lulu sounds good on the song. Her voice is pleasant on the ear. She sounds like a combination of Olivia Newton-John and Sheena Easton. She sounds like she’s having a lot of fun singing this song.

#8 – Shout

The party anthem is from the Something to Shout About album. It has a rock and British R&B sound. The excitable song is about having a good time and shouting about it. This is the song that introduced the world to Lulu. The song was a big hit for her. It was her first hit single. This song was why she was given a more significant part in the movie To Sir With Love. It’s a cover of the Isley Brothers’ song. The song was a spur-of-the-moment track for them. Lulu’s version is different from the Isley Brothers’ version of it. Her version starts slowly and picks up the pace at the hook.

Their version begins fast and stays that way. Lulu’s version is pop-friendly, while their version is soul-pop. Both versions have upbeat music that will get you on the dance floor. Lulu’s version sounds like you could hear it on the beach. She sings with grit in her voice to give it more of an edge. She was a teenager when she recorded the song and you could easily forget that. She sounds like a woman. It’s hard to believe this is her first song. She does runs at the end of the song that will surprise you. It’s up for debate which version you prefer, but both are worth a listen.

# 7 – Independence

The slick song is from the same album. It has a dance and pop sound. This pop/house anthem is self-explanatory. It’s an anthem about expressing your independence. The song is about feeling liberated and free. She wants the world to know she’s free. It sounds like a song that Madonna would have recorded. Parts of the melody are similar to Madonna’s hit “Express Yourself.” It’s a juicy pop song that will satisfy your musical taste buds. The house jam is designed to get you on the dance floor. She was recording pop and rock music for years, so she wanted to keep up with the 90s sound.

She seems right at home with this jam. The musical production is sleek and will please fans of club and dance music. People who were fans of the artist during the height of her fame might be surprised to hear this sound. The sound works for her. The music is bouncy and energetic. The drumbeat drives the music. Lulu’s vocals are strong. Her husky voice is perfect for the track. She sounds similar to Lisa Stansfield. She sounds convincing singing about wanting her “independence.” She sings the chorus in a way that makes you want to sing along with her. This comeback song was her way of proving to the world that she wanted everyone to take notice of her.

# 6 – How ‘Bout Us

The romantic song is from the Independence album. It has a pop and jazz beat. The loving song is about her and her man being made for each other. This is a cover of Champaign’s R&B song. Anyone familiar with Champaign’s version of the track will be surprised by her version of it. She recorded a mid-tempo version of the song. The original song is a ballad, but she added tempo to it. The beat mixes pop and jazz music. Her version isn’t as soulful as Champaign’s version of it, but the music is good. It has a cool and jazzy beat to it.

The arrangement gives Lulu a chance to make the song her own. She turned a quiet storm 80s masterpiece into a 90s jazz song. She didn’t create a Karaoke version of the track, and that’s good for her. Her vocals are stellar. She sounds like Olivia Newton-John and Lisa Stansfield. She doesn’t sing the song with the same soul as Pauly Carman from Champaign, but she gets her point across. Her version won’t replace the original one, but she definitely did a great job on it.

# 5 – We’ve Got Tonight duet with Ronan Keating

The next song on our Top 10 Lulu Songs list is “We’ve Got Tonight” from the Tonight album. The song has pop and rock sound. The tempting song is about a couple who want to be together for “tonight.” This is a cover of Bob Seger’s hit song. Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton also covered the song. Their version is a pop song with a rock beat. This track was another one of her comeback singles. It was a hit song overseas. The music is rhythmic and melodic. The guitar riffs are magical and make the track stand out from the other versions of the song.

The piano chords are riveting. The drums give the song some tempo. The melody begins similar to Debbie Gibson’s “Lost in Your Eyes.” If you listen closely, you may notice it. Keating and Lulu sound great together. Their vocals blend well with each other. They seem like an unlikely duo, but they pull it off. They aren’t from the same generation, but you could easily forget that because their voices have chemistry with each other. They have raspiness in their voices while they are singing to give the song a rock sound. Keating and Lulu belt in the song. They allowed each other room to shine. They don’t hold notes, but they do turn it into a power ballad.

# 4 – Relight My Fire duet with Take That

The striking song is from the Everything Changes album. The song has a dance, pop and house beat to it. The riveting song is about “relighting” someone’s passion for someone. They want that old spark back in their lives. It’s a remake of Dan Hartman’s 1979 hit song. They basically kept the same sound as the original. They included a house mix to make it different. Hartman’s song was recorded during the post-disco era while theirs was recorded during the house music era. This is a dance track with a hypnotic and intoxicating beat.

The pulsating drums are just what the musical doctors ordered. Take That and Lulu aren’t people you would expect to team up on a track. They are a boy band and she’s a pop act from the 60s so their paths wouldn’t have necessarily crossed with each other. They invited her to go on tour with them and wanted to record the song with her. Take That sing the first half of the track. They hold on to your attention until Lulu appears on the track. She takes over the second half of the song and blows you away. She sounds at home with this track. Her husky vocals soar at the right moment of the song. They managed to make the song their own.

# 3 – Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby)

The tender song is from the New Roots album. The song has a pop sound. The sweet song is about a woman who wants to be with her man. She would be a “fool for him.” She would do anything to be with him. It breaks her heart when he’s not there with her. The lyrics are passionate and loving. The lyrics are similar to receiving a love letter. The music is soft and relaxing. It begins to swell after the chorus. It gives the listeners a chance to focus on Lulu’s charming and husky vocals. She can sing to the stratosphere or she can control her voice.

She has grit in her voice which gives her voice passion. She made a wise choice to add the grittiness to the song because she made it sound soulful. It’s hard to believe she was in her 20s when she recorded the song. She sounds like she was singing for years. Here is some trivia about the song. Aretha Franklin ran into Lulu and praised her for what she did with the track. She ended up covering the song herself after hearing Lulu’s version of it. This is an indicator that the song was good when a legend like Aretha Franklin wants to do a cover of a song you did.

# 2- I Could Never Miss (You More Than I Do)

The heartfelt song is from the Don’t Take Love For Granted and the Lulu albums. The song has a dance and pop beat to it. The emotional song is about losing someone and missing the person badly. The music is ferocious and is guaranteed to help you have a great time. The music was recorded just after the disco era, so there was a hint of disco. Lulu’s musicians also borrowed from the sound of Philadelphia. The melody resembles The Spinners’ “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love.” It has a mix of 70s and 80s music. It has a classic sound without sounding too dated.

The song will have you on the dance floor as soon as it starts. The music is melodic and fits perfectly with the track. Lulu sounds similar to Olivia Newton-John and Sheena Easton. She includes her signature husky tone in the song. It’s easy to picture Olivia Newton-John or Sheena Easton singing this song too. Lulu’s vocals are pleasant to the ears. She sings in time with the music. The background singers do an excellent job supporting her. Everything about the song works. It could have easily been the number-one song on our list if it weren’t for the one we chose.

# 1 – To Sir With Love

The number one song on our Top 10 Lulu Songs list is “To Sir With Love” from the movie of the same name and her Love Loves to Love Lulu album. The song has a pop beat. The tribute song is from the movie. It’s a dedication to the teacher who helped his students in the movie. People who graduate from the school can relate to the song. The moving track is relatable to anyone who had a teacher who cared about them. This song is Lulu’s biggest US hit. It’s her signature song. The track begins softly and melancholy. Once she gets going, the track builds to a crescendo.

The tender music will warm your heart. Lulu gave the performance of a lifetime. Her performance is memorable and impressive. She was a teenager when she recorded the song, but she sounded like she was singing for years. She uses her grit in the song and that works. She belts in the last half of the song and turns it into a showstopper. Her phrasing is on point. She sings in time with the drumbeat once she hits the chorus. This song is an earworm and will stick in your head after it’s done. This song deserves to be number one on our list.