Songs don’t need a minimum length in order to be good. According to the Washington Post, “Since 1990, the average length of a song on the Billboard Hot 100 has decreased from over four minutes to around three, regardless of genre.”
While song length has gotten shorter, that doesn’t mean the quality has too. A song’s length doesn’t dictate its worth. There are plenty of good songs that are even shorter than the average. So, for this Friday I’ve compiled a list of ten songs for your playlists that are shorter than (or slightly over) two minutes.
Check out All of these songs on Spotify HERE.
Nobody, Not Even the Rain – La Dispute
Alternative Emo, Grand Rapids Emo (2008)
Length 1:10
Ending La Dispute’s 2008 album “Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair” comes this short but emotional track. This song has a simple drumbeat and guitar chords, but what shines the most is the lyrics. Frontman Jordan Dreyer pours out his heart and soul into the words and the performance as well. You can hear the pain and emotion in his voice. This song has a lot of similarities to poetry and is reminiscent of someone giving a performance of a poem, but with catchy yet simple background music going with it. A great standalone song and an even better ending note on a terrific album.
The opening track to the same album, Such Small Hands, is a song that also could fit into this category having a runtime of 1 minute and 35 seconds. That sound ends the same way this one begins, with the same drumbeat. It even has the same meter and sound to it but performed differently. The first track sounds darker and angrier while the final song seems to have more hope and shows strong emotion but in a lighter way.
The Greatest Mistake of My Life – Holding Absence
Metalcore, UK Pop Punk (2021)
Length 1:26
Like the previous song, this shorter track caps off an album and leaves the listener on an emotional note. Static comes in and what sounds like a confession to a former lover. This song is part of a much earlier (and longer) song from 1937 originally written and sung by Gracie Fields. The lead singer of Holding Abscemce, Lucas Woodland wanted to do his own version of this song after hearing it many times on a 7” vinyl that was owned by older family members. The static and added distortion to his voice making the song sound vintage helps pay homage to the original track.
Check out the original song as it is great, but it is over three minutes, so that is why that version isn’t the headline. There is a very raw emotion to the original which is one of the reasons it’s a great song. However, I really appreciate Woodland’s interpretation. It sounds emotional as well, but rather a lover reflecting long after the instance of the departure or breaking up of love. It is a more controlled emotion and has a regretfulness in his voice. He would go back and change it, but it sounds as if he has come to terms with it, although still being full of regret. There is also a good amount of love and genuineness in his voice that makes this short track even more sad.
Please Notice – Christian Leave
Indie Pop, Pop (2016)
Length 1:56
The first two songs are a good length for what they are and the roles they play in the album, but this song I wish was longer. It’s that good, from the lyrics to the singing and the accompanying guitar. It’s a rather simple love song that sounds very poetic as well. This song revolves around being so in love that you notice every small detail about the person and that they never leave your mind. As the first verse finishes and the quick chorus picks up emotion and tempo, the song sadly ends. I would have loved to hear another verse like the first one and that chorus again as the emotion builds as the song plays. However, it is a great song despite the short length and makes the listener wanting more.
My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski
Indie (2023)
Length 2:17
When making the list I wanted to keep all tracks under two minutes, but I wanted to add this song as it is a short song but feels complete. It is the only song out of the ten that is over two minutes. From great lyrics, great sound and a great voice, this song’s runtime is misleading. There is a stigma about songs being short that they aren’t real songs or aren’t radio-friendly. There usually is a runtime minimum (and maximum) for songs to be considered “radio-friendly” However, this track shows that a short runtime doesn’t take away from the song. With over a billion streams on Spotify alone, and for being out for less than two years is an incredible feat. That can attest for how perfect a song this is. If you haven’t heard it before, make sure to add it to your playlist, even with the shorter runtime.
Riot – XXXTENTACION
Rap (2015/2020)
Length 1:19
Originally released in 2015, this song was released posthumously on streaming services like Spotify in 2020. The original release was just over two minutes due to the added racist speech that takes up around forty seconds of the runtime. This was cut out in the posthumous version. This song was written on the racism throughout the United States, specifically police brutality. This song was in response to the murder of Michael Brown in 2014 and the riots that responded. Sadly, this song was then rereleased because similar situations occurred in 2020 with the killing of George Floyd. Even with such a short runtime, this song covers a lot of heavy themes and does it well. X talks about the rising issue of police brutality, however, he doesn’t condone the rioting and destroying and looting of the shops that occurred as well. X is able to do all of this in just over a minute; a quick and powerful song.
Dawn – Brand of Sacrifice
Deathcore, Symphonic Deathcore (2021)
Length 1:53
A popular reason for a song to be shorter than average is it is an introduction, intermission or conclusion to an album. They usually don’t have the length to stand on their own as a single but help create, shape and form an album artistically. It can add tempo and build up suspense or aid to the change of topics or song style’s from song to song in the same album. They aren’t usually listened to on their own, but this opening track to the album “Lifeblood” is an outlier. It has enough there to be listened to on its own.
The first lyrics in the song are some of my favorite. “Hatred is where you turn when you can’t face your grief” is quickly spoken, then cut off by disorienting guitars and heavy drums. This song makes use of every second in its short runtime and helps amp up the listener and gets them prepared for an extremely heavy, energizing and fun album.
Folkin’ Around – Panic! At The Disco
Emo, Pop Punk (2008)
Length 1:55
Next on the list is what I think is a forgotten song on one of Panic’s best. This might be due to its short run length, or maybe it’s very different style from their typical sound. Although early Panic! had a wide range of sounds, this song stood out more so than others. It is inspired from the folk genre which could be easily guessed by the clever title. This song opens with violins and harmonicas and shortly after, a banjo can be heard as well as a tambourine. What makes this song unique is the drastic style change, but it accompanies well with lead singer, Brendon Urie’s higher-pitched pop voice. With clever, witty and fun lyrics written by former Panic! Member Ryan Ross, this song is an easy and quick listen.
scars – Novulent
Pop, Shoegaze (2023)
Length 1:35
This short single has plenty of 90’s shoegaze as its inspiration to its sound. With such great instrumentals, they almost block out the lyrics and the heavy emotions that this song has. This song centers around a love leaving and hurting their former partner. This is another song that is just too good to end at 95 seconds. With great sound and especially great and heavy lyricism, it’s one to easily have on repeat.
Love, of Money – MAVI Chill Hip Hop (2019)
Length 1:04
A lot of MAVI’s work varies in run length, but a good chunk does fall under the two minute mark. “Love, of Money” is his most popular and a good introduction to his sound. This song specifically has a chill vibe with clever rhymes and word play. Even at its short length, it still is a great standalone song. This track is another example of a song not needing to reach a minimum length for it to be good or radio friendly. I don’t think there would be many complaints, myself included, if the song was longer, but the short run time doesn’t take away from what it is.
Witch Hunt – The Gloom In The Corner
Metalcore (2017)
Length 1:33
One of the more underrated bands on the contemporary metal scene, The Gloom In The Corner has a lot of great music, like this short track off of one of their earlier EPs. This hard hitting and anger filled track is pure hate and resentment for 90 seconds. There is a quick buildup of rage with hateful lyrics and heavy instruments. This leads into one of the best breakdowns of the past decade. The strong lyrics “I bet you’ll feel ashamed when I blow out my fucking brains” is screamed as the pre-breakdown callout. This then leads into another breakdown which is similar to the first in sound, but heavier in guitar tuning and in vocals as well.
The lyrics are cathartic, and the heaviness of the song can help the listener release some anger they have saved for someone they hate. This song is essentially a breakdown and thus doesn’t need to be super long in length. It cuts right to the point and is perfect for a quick heavy hitter.
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References:
“Pop Songs Are Getting Shorter in the Era of Streaming and Tiktok – Washington Post.” The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/interactive/2024/shorter-songs-again/.
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