ten things tuesday...

A music edition of TTT--an ode to friendship! In no particular order here are ten top tunes about friendship:

1. You've Got a Friend - James Taylor - 1971
This song was written by Carole King and included on her landmark album Tapestry released in 1971. The definitive version was recorded by King's friend James Taylor and his recording of "You've Got a Friend" hit #1 in 1971. It is Taylor's only #1 pop single.

2. Thank You for Being a Friend - Andrew Gold - 1978
An entire generation knows this song as the theme song to the TV show Golden Girls from a version recorded by Cindy Fee. However, the song first entered the public conscience in a 1978 version by the song's writer, pop musician Andrew Gold. The song is a perfect expression of gratitude to those treasured people we call friends.

3. Lean On Me - Bill Withers - 1972
Soul legend Bill Withers introduced this song in the early 1970's It went straight to #1 on the pop chart and became a contemporary pop standard. Club Nouveau took it back to #1 in 1987 with a more upbeat version.

4. I'll Be There for You - The Rembrandts - 1995
Best known as the theme song for the TV series Friends, "I'll Be There for You" was written specifically for the show by Michael Skloff and Allee Willis. There were no plans initially to release the song as a single, but demand from fans eventually forced the Rembrandts to record a full-length version and the song, in a commercial version, reached the pop top 20. In a similar vein to the show, "I'll Be There for You" celebrates the humor in friendship.

5. That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick and Friends - 1986
This classic affirmation of the support friendship provides was first recorded by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack to the movie Night Shift in 1982. The song was written by legends Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager. Dionne Warwick entered the studio with Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder to record the song as a benefit for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, and pop music history was made. The single spent 4 weeks at #1 and earned 2 Grammy Awards.

6. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler - 1989
This song had a rather humble beginning. It was written by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar and was first recorded in 1982. Lou Rawls brought it into the pop singles chart at #65 in 1983. Country singer Gary Morris took it into the country top 10 the same year. However, it was Bette Midler's performance of the song as a eulogy for a friend in the movie Beaches that made the song an unforgettable classic. "Wind Beneath My Wings" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

7. With a Little Help From My Friends - Beatles - 1967
Yes, indeed, friends can help get you through times of romantic trouble. Just ask Ringo. "With a Little Help From My Friends," in its definitive version by the Beatles, was never released as a single. However, Joe Cocker took a version of the song onto the pop charts in 1968.

8. Umbrella - Rihanna - 2007
There is a bittersweet tone to Rihanna's megahit "Umbrella," but at the core of the song is a salute to the enduring power of friendship.

9. Kind & Generous - Natalie Merchant - 1998
"Kind & Generous" is a multi-purpose thank you song, but it works as an elegant and eloquent thank you to friends.

10. Friends - Bette Midler - 1972
From the Divine Miss M there are two versions of this fantastic ode to friendship. You can't help but sing along.