17 Songs About Numbers or With Numbers In The Title
“Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” Shakuntala Devi. Below is a list of songs about numbers or with numbers in the title:
1. Blind Melon – Three Is A Magic Number
The song was written by Bob Dorough for the first season of the educational musical television show “Schoolhouse Rock!” It goes through many examples of the number three in various ways such as the Bible, human anatomy and furniture. The chorus is composed of multiples of three from then to one.
2. Beyonce – Countdown
Beyonce sings about her love for Jay Z and talks about how they both managed to have a perfect marriage while maintaining their superstardom. She does a countdown from 10 talking about various accomplishments they have had in their relationship.
3. Trey Songz feat T.I – 2 Reasons
Trey Songz and T.I. team up to create a club banger song for Trey’s album Chapter V. In the chorus of the track, Trey Songz states that there were only two reasons that brought him to the nightclub and they are alcoholic drinks and the beautiful women in the club.
4. Lady Gaga – 911
Lady Gaga explores the role of antipsychotic medication and how it has affected her in her life. She stated that she take it because she can’t always control things that her brain does. Speaking to Spotify, she had this to say, “I take an anti-psychotic. I have neuropathic pain and regular trauma responses. In order to keep me safe from addiction, I am not permitted to take any pain pills, so I take this instead. Do not take anti-psychotics unless directed to do so by your doctor, as I do not wish to glamorize anguish.”
5. Lukas Graham – 7 Years
The Danish group reflects on their life and wonders about growing older. They explore nostalgia from the ages of 7, 11 and 20. They then proceed to wonder about their life in the possible future when they’re 30 or 60 possibly having a wife and kids.
The song reached the #2 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the UK singles chart for five weeks.
6. Mike Will Made It, Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa – 23
23 refers to Michael Jordan’s jersey number and the track is about his signature shoe brand, Jordans. The musicians sing about how each time they go to party they have to have their Jordans on. The song peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified 4x multi-platinum by the RIAA.
7. Beyonce – 7/11
The track is part of the self-titled album Beyonce. We get to see her playful side through the lyrics that are partially dance move instructions. It was certified 4x multi-platinum by the RIAA.
8. Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
In this track, Ariana boasts about money and other luxury items such as diamonds and houses. The term ‘7 Rings’ refers to a collection of matching friendship rings that Ariana and six of her friends (Victoria Money, Courtney Chipolone, Alexa Luria, Tayla Parx, Njomza and Kaydence Krysiuk) bought in New York.
The track debuted at #1 on the Hot 100 and made Ariana to be the 5th artist in the chart’s history to have multiple number-one debuts.
9. Rihanna, Kanye West, Paul McCartney – Four Five Seconds
The song has been praised for its minimalist instrumentals which are easygoing in contrast to the lyrics packed full of tension. It peaked at number four on the Hot 100 chart. Lyrically, Rihanna sings about waiting for someone to provoke her into a confrontation. She says she only has around four or five seconds before her patience runs out and she goes nuts. Each countdown in the chorus is an explosion of either anger or of partying.
10. Childish Gambino – 3005
The song is part of the album Because the Internet and Childish Gambino had this to say about the track:
Everybody’s like, ‘It’s a love song,’ it’s kind of an existential thing. I’m just really scared of being alone. When I was little, there was a big dog down the street. I was really scared of it. But when I was with my sister, when I knew I had to protect her, I wasn’t afraid of the dog as much because somebody was there. I had a purpose…I kind of feel lost. I kind of lost that, I feel.
11. Taylor Swift – 22
This is the 6th track on Red and here she celebrates her early twenties. It also marks her coming of age as she feels she has fully transitioned from a teen to an adult. In an interview, she had this to say about the song:
For me, being 22 has been my favorite year of my life. I like all the possibilities of how you’re still learning, but you know enough. You still know nothing, but you know that you know nothing. You’re old enough to start planning your life, but you’re young enough to know there are so many unanswered questions. That brings about a carefree feeling that is sort of based on in-decision and fear and at the same time letting loose. Being 22 has taught me so much.
12. Dan + Shay feat Justin Bieber – 10,000 hours
According to Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, the 10,000-hour rule states that in order to gain mastery in any skill or profession one must effectively practice for approximately 10,000 hours. The singers are applying this principle to their relationship so that they are able to truly love the person in the best way possible.
The song was released just days after Justin and Hailey Bieber’s nuptials in South Carolina.
13. Jay Z – 99 Problems
The line containing ’99 problems’ refers to a 1994 incident where he was pulled over but refused to let the police search his car. The cops brought police dogs to sniff his car for drugs but nothing was discovered. A female dog is referred to as a bitch so Jay Z may have other problems but these dogs don’t count.
14. Avant – 4 Minutes
The track was released in 2006 under the album Director. ‘4 minutes’ symbolizes time running out for Avant to prove to his lady that he is a changed man and will do anything to keep her.
15. Olivia Rodrigo – 1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back
The song is about the ups and downs of life and the challenge of navigating relationships with an inconsistent partner. Each time Olivia takes a step forward toward meeting her true love she feels pushed back from her goals.
Olivia stated that the song can apply to any type of relationship or friendship.
16. Lou Bega – Mambo No 5
The original song was recorded by Damaso Perez in 1949.
17. Yungblud, Halsey feat Travis Barker – 11 Minutes
The track generally talks about a dysfunctional love story. Yungblue had this to say on the meaning of the song:
The song tells the story of a perfect tragedy that reflects modern love within our society. We are so distracted and focused on what’s next, we can fail to see what is actually in front of us. We don’t realize how much we need something until it’s taken away from us.