Friend or Foe?
Your friends will know exactly how you feel when you play these tunes for them
A life without friendship is like a day without chocolate—boring and tasteless. Friendships give us support, plenty of drama, and the feeling of belonging. Sure, they may drive us around the bend at times, but we couldn’t survive without them. Herewith, a playlist to pay tribute to the ups and downs of friendship.
You’re My Best Friend – Queen
Too often we take our bosom buddies for granted. Expressing our gratitude can prove difficult. Take a lesson from Freddie Mercury: you don’t have to use multi-syllable words or compose a flowery message, just get the thought out there! This easy, breezy hit is catchy and guaranteed to make your best friend blush.
Best lyric: Ooh, you're the best friend that I ever had. I've been with you such a long time. You're my sunshine and I want you to know that my feelings are true. I really love you. Oh, you're my best friend.
Friends of Mine – Duran Duran
Friendships can sour just like love relationships. The scars of friends gone wrong can hurt forever. Check out this fab tune from 1981. Duran Duran had their loyalty stomped on and are clearly not taking it well. It’s spiteful and full of vinegar; ideal for when you’ve been wronged by someone who was supposedly a friend.
Best lyric: Friends of mine. They said they were friends of mine. Said they were passing time.
More like a waste of time.
I Lost a Friend – Dubstar
This gorgeous UK band is no longer, but the sweet music that they made while they were together—three albums in all—is still relevant. I lost a friend, indeed! They accompanied me through many memories. If you don’t know Dubstar, time to make a new friendship now!
Best lyric: I lost a friend. I left him somewhere round here. He lives in the faces and streets and the memories of something good. And in the end I won the game but something brings me back here. I’ll never see him except in memory of someone good.
Wait for You – Mint Royale
Phony friends with too-cool-for-school attitude, this addictive song should be young Hollywood’s anthem! You don’t have to be named after a French metropolis to collect fair-weather pals. If your clique only values you for the labels you wear, ditch ‘em and hook up with this band!
Best lyric: Did you find what you came for? With all your stolen thoughts and plastic friends, don’t you want any more? Your life is just a production line calling, texting people all the time. Things move on I need something new. I’ve changed my plans and I won’t wait for you.
Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C
This overly saccharine song was practically everywhere for a spell. Perfect for <i>The OC</i> obsessed who fondly recall high school memories as their glory days. For those of us who, shall we say, bloomed <i>after</i> high school, it’s easy to cackle in disgust. Get past the cheese, it’s actually quite a sweet little number.
Best lyric: As we go on, we remember. All the times we had together. And as our lives change
Come whatever, we will still be friends forever.
We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful – Morrissey
We can always count on Morrissey to bring out the nasty side of …anything! Go on, admit it. There’s a part of you that hates it when your pal gets that promotion or hooks up with your mutual crush. Competitiveness thrives within friendships. You’re kidding yourself if you think not!
Best lyric: We hate it when our friends become successful. And if they're northern, that makes it even worse. And if we can destroy them…You bet your life we will.
Absent Friends – The Divine Comedy
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to one of the most underrated bands—ever. Not so much a band but a witty Irish guy called Neil. Just like friends, some bands come and go. For me, this one always stuck. A friendship for life, I say.
Best lyric: Absent friends, here’s to them. In happy days, we thought they would never end. Here’s to absent friends.
Thank You for Being a Friend – Andrew Gold
Much like Queen’s take, this song is a public statement about an amazing friend. As a one-hit wonder, let’s hope that Andrew’s friendship lasted longer than his pop star success!
Best lyric: Thank you for being a friend. Traveled down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant.
With a Little Help from My Friends – The Beatles
Much like a trusty old friendship, the Beatles are always available to soothe the soul and offer worthy insight. The time is always right for some reminiscing with your old pals. They know you better than most…and have the embarrassing photos to prove it!
Best lyric: I get by with a little help from my friends. I get high with a little help from my friends. Going to try with a little help from my friends.
Bookends – Simon and Garfunkel
If you’re lucky enough to keep a treasured friendship alive for decades, then this song’s for you. It’s extremely brief but when the message is this sweet, why waste breath? It’s simply perfect.
For more S & G magic, play “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Best lyric: Time it was and what a time it was it was; a time of innocence, a time of confidences.
Long ago it must be, I have a photograph. Preserve your memories; they’re all that’s left you.
Written by: Jackie Middleton