Even though February is over, it’s always the best time to celebrate friendship and to tune in to some beautiful, classic, platonic friendship music. Here is a list of touching friendship songs from around the world. Grab yourself a blanket, pair of headphones and a mug of your favourite hot chocolate. Not every classic out there is about romantic lust!
Abba: Chiquitita
Composition and lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
A list of classics is not complete without at least one piece from the Swedish wonder! Chiquitita is inarguably one of the greatest friendship songs ever. On top of this, it was originally written for a philanthropy concert and managed to gather 2 million pounds for UNICEF. Chiquitita tell me the truth/ I’m a shoulder you can cry on/ your best friend/ I’m the one you must rely on. Remember that when love lets you down, a true friend will stand by your side!
Pearl Bailey: The Best of Friends (The Fox and the Hound)
Composition by Richard Johnston, lyrics by Stan Fidel
Even though the source material for this 1981 Disney film is, well, more than grim, the Mouse House adaptation is a heart-warming and bitter sweet story about the unexpected friendship of a hound and a fox. Broadway star Pearl Bailey acted the role of an owl named Big Mama and sang the most beloved song of the movie. They say you’re both being fools/ you’re breaking all the rules/ They can’t understand/ The magic of your wonderland. Sometimes true friendship is what touches you the most!
The Dubliners & Ronnie Drew: Donegal Danny
Composition and lyrics by Phil Coulter
If you are looking for a truly touching piece, tune in to Irish music. The Irish know how to respect great friendship, and one example of this is the sorrowful story of Donegal Danny. If you thought that only the loss of a lover can ruin a person, think again. The story is of a fisher man who lost all his friends to the stormy sea and vowed never to go sailing again. Told in a true troubadour manner, this song touches with its honesty.
The King’s Singers etc.: Pastime with good company
Written by King Henry VIII of England
Definitely the oldest song of the list, this one was written by King Henry VIII – yes, the one with the six wives. However, the piece was written on his young days, only short after his coronation and before he became the bitter monarch history remembers. Although composed in the 16th century, the song is easy to identify with even today. Who wouldn’t love pastime with their homies? Especially if they are honest and good. Company me thinks then best /all thoughts and fancies to digest /for Idleness /is chief mistress /of vices all /then who can say /but mirth and play /is best of all.
Carlos Gardel/ Los Panchos: Adiós muchachos
Composition by Julio César Sanders and lyrics by César Vedani
This famous Argentinian tango was written in 1927. The story is about a man who has already lost his sweetheart and his mother, and now when its finally time for him to go as well, he leaves his heartfelt goodbyes to his friends, the companions of his life. Dos lágrimas sinceras derramo en mi partida/ Por la barra querida que nunca me olvidó/ Y al dar a mis amigos mi adiós postrero/ Les doy con toda mi alma, mi bendición – For my part I cry two sincere tears/ to the bar that never forgot me/ and while giving my friends the last goodbye/ I give them my blessings with all my heart. If you have friends, you are not alone even in the moment of your last depart.
Seija Simola: Kesytetty
Composition and lyrics by Anna-Kaarina Kiviniemi
The Finnish song for this list is Kesytetty, a song written in 1979 and based on the classic French novel The Little Prince by Antoine Saint de Exupéry. The song uses the perspective of the fox, who wants to be tamed by the Little Prince. Instead of his old tedious life where nothing is of that much importance, when tamed the fox would need the Prince and always wait for him. The song is a must hear for its mysterious and beautiful wisdom. Olen yksinäinen, niin, niin yksinäinen/ Mutta jos kesytät minut/ Niin tulosi haluan tietää silloin/ Odotus antaa jo onnentunteen/ Sydäntäni lämmittää – I am lonely, so, so lonely/ But if you tame me/ It makes me want to know when you are coming/ Even waiting gives me happiness/ and warms my heart.
Jacques Brel: Jojo
The phenomenal Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel wrote many earthy songs about love and life. Jojo is a song drawn from his later production, dedicated to his late friend and manager Georges ‘Jojo’ Pasquier. As is the case with Brel’s songs, the lyrics will speak for themselves (at least if you know your French): Six pieds sous terre Jojo tu n’es pas mort/ Six pieds sous terre Jojo je t’aime encore – Six feet under the ground, Jojo you’re not dead/ Six feet under the ground, Jojo I still love you.
Vladimir Vysotsky: Песня о друге (Pesnja o druge) – Song about a Friend
The last but definitely not the least, is a 1967 song by a Soviet Russian legend, Vladimir Vysotsky. The lyrics tell about true friendship through visualization of mountaineering. Never climb a mountain with someone who complains and drags you down, because no one sings songs about people like that. Take with you the person you can trust like yourself. Esli shol on s taboi kak v boi/ Na vershine staial hmel’noi/ Znachit kak na sebia samavo/ Palazhis’ na nevo – If he walked beside you, as though into battle/ Stood on the peak, looking groggy/ Then, like upon your own self/ You should depend on him. (Translation from Russian into English from russongs on Tumblr: http://russongs.tumblr.com/post/73994080273)