Notable songs with names of months in the title

The rapper's third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), was a winner at the BET Hip Hop Awards and Billboard Music Awards, and it was also nominated for a Grammy. "January 28th" was not a single, but it was a reason the album was a massive success. The song title is Cole's birthday, has an intense autobiographical, us-against-the-world vibe, and sampled the tune "Sky Restaurant" by Japanese recording artist Yumi Matsutoya.

Sort of a twofer, as far as months go. We'll go back to 1934 for this classic, when Bing Crosby performed it in the film Here Is My Heart. That version was a No. 1 hit for Crosby, who re-recorded the track in the 1950s. Other notable versions of this love song include Guy Lombardo's from 1935 and a stellar rendition by Dean Martin, which can be found on his 1959 studio release, A Winter Romance.

A lighter moment from the Foos' second studio album The Colour and the Shape (1997). It's the proper definition of a deep cut, and one that should be celebrated more by casual fans of the band. Or at the very least, casual fans should take the time to absorb one of Foo Fighters' best melodic numbers. There's definitely a 1990s alternative feel to the track, and a maturity that allowed the band to thrive in a post-grunge musical world.

Don't know who Frightened Rabbit is? That's OK. There's a good number of indie rock fans in the United States who probably are not familiar with this Scottish outfit. If that's the case, it's worth checking out their catalog. This particular number found on 2013's Pedestrian Verse could have easily been confused for something new from the Counting Crows at the time. 

It's rather criminal that Jesus and Mary Chain is not praised more for its importance and influence within the alternative rock scene, which was taking shape in the mid-to-late 1980s. Maybe because the band's music wasn't included in enough "Brat Pack" movies. However, "April Skies," from 1987, might be the defining moment on the group's musical legacy and a great place to start for those looking to acquaint itself with its excellence. 

According to Simon & Garfunkel lore, this short — and we're talking 1 minute, 51 seconds — tune equates the changing of the seasons with the demeanor and moods of a young woman. Perhaps named April? It can be found on 1966's Sound of Silence. However, a slightly modified version of the song was included in the classic film The Graduate — a soundtrack that essentially featured the best of Simon & Garfunkel at the time.

Before the Bee Gees became international superstars by reinventing themselves as major players in the disco era, they could croon with the best of them in the 1960s. From 1969, "First of May" is another splendid showcase of Barry Gibb's vocals. According to Tales from the Brothers Gibb, the title is the birthday of Gibb's dog at the time. It was a top-40 hit for the Bee Gees in the United States and reached No. 6 on the UK Singles chart. 

Of course we'd feature a song from a band that's kind of named after a month. That said, we chose a tune with a summer reference, from the band's 2011 effort The King Is Dead. Gillian Welch provided backing vocals on this charming little song about the change of seasons in a rural environment. That's pretty much in step with what we'd come to expect — and appreciate — from Colin Meloy and Co. Sit back, sip a cool drink, and enjoy.

Sure, there are plenty of songs about July, especially the Fourth of July. But one of the more underrated, yet stellar songs about Independence Day comes from this L.A. alternative punk favorite. From the band's sixth studio album See How We Are (1987), it's another example of the special vocal chemistry between singer Exene Cervenka and guitarist John Doe. Dave Alvin, new to the band at the time, co-wrote the track.

Prior to the release of Born to Run (1975), the verdict was still out on whether The Boss had the chops to make it as a successful recording artists. His first two albums were inconsistent in quality, but "Sandy," from Bruce's second 1973 studio album The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, had always been considered one of the highlights of his pre-Born to Run work. Capturing the Jersey shore culture, "Sandy" is a sweet ballad that showed the promise of Springsteen as both a songwriter and performer.

Back when the trio was known as Dixie Chicks, they were not the first act to record this Richard Leigh-penned tune. However, The Chicks' version from 1999's Fly enjoyed well more success than those from Suzy Bogguss and Joy Lynn White that were recorded earlier in the 1990s. The Chicks' take on this break-up tune reached No. 10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in the United States, and it even cracked the top 70 on the Hot 100. 

This was one Taylor Swift song that didn't crack the top 20 on Billboard's Hot 100. Still, "August" is one of the better moments from her 2020 Folklore album. It's part of Folklore's "love triangle" of songs, along with "Cardigan" and "Betty." The lyrical image of summer was on Swift's mind when she co-wrote the tune. Notably, it draws attention to the end of summer, when the days start to get a little shorter and we appreciate that time of the year more than usual.

Simply, this is one great Carole King track. The song can be found on King's 1972 album Rhymes & Reasons. Though the "First Day in August" was not officially released as a single, it's a true highlight of the record. Short and sweet, checking in at 2 minutes, 50 seconds, it's the perfect example that duration doesn't matter when talking about a special song.

It can be argued that "September" is EWF's signature tune. And why not? The beloved 1978 track made it to the top of the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100 in the United States. According to Do You Remember? The Message in Earth, Wind & Fire's September, the title came from the expected due date of band vocalist Maurice White's son, Kahbran. In terms of R&B and funk, it doesn't get much better than this.

"September Mom" is the title track from Diamond's 13th studio album, released in December 1979. A long-time favorite among Diamond fans, and usually a memorable moment during his live sets, "September Morn" reached No. 17 on Billboard's Hot 100. It's about rekindling a relationship, reliving the good times of the past, and hoping the future is better the second time around — with nights dancing into a September morning. 

As the years went on and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong got older, he also became more mature. Or so it seemed. The maturity most notably came through in his songwriting. From the 2004 conceptual smash American Idiot, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is one of his more personal songs. Reportedly, it's about the death of his father from cancer in September 1982, when Armstrong was a kid. It's was an instant Green Day hit, reaching No. 1 in three countries and peaking at No. 6 on the U.S. Hot 100.

From the 1981 album of the same name, U2's second studio effort. After all these years, "October" remains one of U2's most unique tracks, and one of self-reflection for some of the band members, at the time. The slow-paced, piano-driven piece is essentially an instrumental that checks in at just under two-and-a-half minutes. Obviously known as one of rock's great guitar players, The Edge shines with his simple, yet somewhat haunting piano work.

From the late English singer-songwriter's debut album Frank (2003). According to songfacts.com, Winehouse wrote the song following the death of her pet canary. Despite the rather somber subject matter, it's actually one of Winehouse's more upbeat numbers. However, it's considered a deep cut within her overall exceptional catalog. If she's able to put passion and energy into singing about a late bird, it's worth celebrating. 

Part of the so-called song trilogy with the predecessor "Don't Cry" and followed by "Estranged," "November Rain" is an example of how the band, more specifically Axl Rose, was becoming more grandiose than desired. Hard rock ballads don't get more over-the-top than this nearly nine-minute piece that reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100. The popular music video was even more dramatic — featuring model Stephanie Seymour, Rose's girlfriend at the time.

One of the Counting Crows' most popular songs. From its second album, Recovering the Satellites (1996), "A Long December," was a top-10 hit on various music charts throughout the United States. It has a melancholy vibe but actually offers a hint of hopefulness amid some dark times. The music video for the song featured Friends star Courteney Cox, who would go on to date Crows' frontman Adam Duritz for a time.

"December" was a top-20 hit in the mid-1990s for Collective Soul on Billboard's Hot 100. It's one of those songs that was seriously overplayed on the radio back in the day, but still, we probably don't even remember the title. Collective Soul singer Ed Roland noted that the track, from the group's eponymously-titled second album, was about reflection and not being satisfied with any certain lot in life — no matter how successful. That, apparently, was the state of the band at the time.

A No.1 hit for the legendary group in both the United Kingdom and United States, upon its release in 1975. The tune was written by keyboardist Bob Gaudio and his wife, Judy Parker. According to Four Seasons lore, it was about Gaudio's initial attraction to Parker, presumably back in the early 1960s. The song also noted for Four Seasons drummer Gerry Polci singing lead, and regular, more famous, vocalist Frankie Valli mostly singing backup.