The iconic Australian Rock band Crowded House formed in Melbourne in 1985. The band was founded by Neil Finn, who had previously been a member of the legendary New Zealand band Split Enz.
They are famed for their perfectly crafted and richly melodic songs that stir the emotions of the listener. This gained them a legion of appreciative fans over the years. I count myself as one, so compiling this list of the top 10 Crowded House songs was no easy task. They have so many masterful tracks to choose from.
Anyway, after some serious deliberation, here they are in all their glory. Get ready for my list of the best Crowded House songs.
Top 35 Crowded House Songs
1 Something So Strong (1987)
The last single from their debut album, “Something So Strong,” followed up on the success of “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” It became the band’s second-biggest hit in the US. The song peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was also a Top 10 hit in New Zealand and Canada whilst gaining Top 20 status in Australia.
A hammering drum beat grabs your attention as an organ shimmers in the background. There’s a happy, upbeat vibe to the whole track, which went down well with American audiences. Neil Finn’s Pop sensibilities are on point here.
2 Better Be Home Soon (1988)
It will be an eternal mystery how a song like “More Than Words” by Extreme can conquer all before it in the US charts. Yet, this infinitely superior acoustic ballad topped out at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Maybe it was a few years before its time, but “Better Be Home Soon” is a beautifully constructed love song that works on the ‘less is more’ principle. The stripped-back production allows Neil Finn’s heartfelt lyrics to come to the fore. Finn’s amazing ability to write sincere and emotional songs about the turmoil and joy of relationships is encapsulated perfectly in this classic Crowded House song.
Despite not doing very well in the U.S., fans appreciated it enough to send it to #2 on both the Australian and New Zealand singles charts.
3 Weather with You (1992)
Released as the third single from the incredibly successful Woodface, “Weather with You” was the biggest hit from that album. It’s a song about how you are in control of your own destiny. And how you create your own atmosphere through your disposition.
The track was particularly popular with the British public. It achieved its highest chart position at #7 on the UK Singles chart. The chorus has a football chant quality that gets every fan singing along at live performances. It was also a Top 40 smash all over Europe, making it into the Top 10 in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
4 Four Seasons in One Day (1992)
The song title refers to an expression used in Melbourne to describe the rapidly changeable weather the city experiences. Neil Finn wrote the song in his flat there, using the unpredictable weather as a metaphor for all the conflicting emotions that he was feeling at the time. It was a period of ups and downs for him, and he captures that roller coaster of emotions perfectly in this wonderful track.
Lines like “Finding out wherever there is comfort there is pain – Only one step away” linger long in the memory. Furthermore, the song is packed with lyrical gems. Neil Finn really did have an incredible way with words. “Four Seasons in One Day” had its highest chart position in the UK, where it peaked at #26. Unfortunately, it wasn’t released as a single in the US.
5 Private Universe (1993)
One of the quietest songs in the band’s whole repertoire. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a whole lot going on. It’s a dreamlike song with log drums bubbling hypnotically under the surface and keyboards wafting in and out of the mix. There’s even a little didgeridoo slipped in at the end.
Finn sings of fleeting moments of joy he felt as a child sitting in the branches of a tree in his backyard. At least, that seems to be what he is singing about. He’s in a mysterious mood here. Still, the song hints at finding those beautiful moments of pleasure that the harsh reality of life cannot taint. Those golden moments.
Released as a single from their fourth album, Together Alone, it wasn’t one of the band’s bigger hits, peaking at #46 in the Australian singles chart. It was a band favorite as it is their only song to appear on every compilation album and all their live albums.
6 Into Temptation (1988)
This classic track tells the story of a man about to succumb to his lusty desires and cheat on his partner. He knows it’s the wrong thing to do but is incapable of stopping himself.
Once again, the band shows remarkable restraint in allowing the power of Neil Finn’s lyrics to take center stage. That, along with the subject matter of the song, creates a knife-edge atmosphere, like a powder keg about to explode. Finn’s songwriting was so convincing on this track that his wife Sharon thought he wrote it because he was having an affair.
“Into Temptation” was the second single taken from their 1988 album Temple of Low Men. It wasn’t a huge hit at the time, failing to rise higher than #59 on the Australian singles chart. It is, however, brilliant in its simplicity. And one of the most underrated Crowded House songs.
7 It’s Only Natural (1991)
The third single from the album, Woodface, is rightly revered by fans as one of Crowded House’s best songs. It’s the perfect mix of beautiful harmonies from the Finn brothers, melded with that classic Crowded House sound.
“It’s Only Natural” was originally intended to be the first release from Woodface but was replaced by “Chocolate Cake,” a song that appeared to poke fun at America in its lyrics. This wasn’t the smartest business move the band ever made, as “Chocolate Cake” received a lukewarm reception stateside.
We can only speculate, but it’s probably fair to say that “It’s Only Natural” would have performed far better as the lead. That’s because it was a moderate hit for the band, breaking well into the Top 40 in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. So, it’s only natural that this song ranks among the Top 10 Crowded House songs.
8 Distant Sun (1993)
Like Fleetwood Mac before them, Crowded House had an uncanny ability to craft perfect Pop songs. And “Distant Sun” is Exhibit A in defense of this statement. It’s songwriting like this that places Neil Finn amongst the very best bards of his generation.
Lines like, “I don’t pretend to know what you want – But I offer love” could refer to almost any serious relationship we have. Life is complicated. Human beings are complicated. And, whether you understand your significant other or not, the one thing you can do is offer them love.
Crowded House is renowned for creating some of the best bridges the world of Pop has ever seen. And there’s an absolute ripper towards the end of this track, starting with the line, “And I’m lying on the table…”. The song was a Top 20 hit in the UK and a Top 10 hit in Canada and New Zealand. Once again, though, for such a great song, it failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Mystifying.
9 Fall at Your Feet (1991)
Simply put, this is a world-class ballad underpinned by some fantastic bass playing from the hugely underrated talent that is Nick Seymour. Neil Finn’s vocals are as believable as always. He talks of the gut-wrenching feeling that comes from falling head over heels in love. Keyboards and swirling harmonies add some color.
It also contains a bridge to die for. The lines “The finger of blame has turned upon itself — And I’m more than willing to offer myself — Do you want my presence or need my help? — Who knows where that might lead” has me singing along at the top of my voice every time. Craftsmanship at its finest.
“Fall at Your Feet” scored the band the #17 spot on the UK singles chart and was a Top 40 hit all over Europe. It also broke into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #75.
10 Don’t Dream It’s Over (1986)
This was the breakout song that brought Crowded House to worldwide attention. You know, the one with the “Hey now, hey now” chorus. It was the fourth single from their self-titled debut album, and it was by far the band’s biggest hit internationally. On its 1986 release, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” made it to #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and scored the band a #1 hit in Canada and their native New Zealand.
It’s a message of not giving up in the face of uncertainty and adversity. A message that resonated with fans worldwide and went on to become an essential anthem of unity and hope. Fans in Europe particularly took the song to heart as a metaphor for the struggle many Eastern European countries were still having under Soviet rule.
It was early on in the band’s story, but this is the song that they are most remembered for. The song that cemented their legacy and remains the greatest Crowded House song of all time.
11Fingers of Love (1999) by Crowded House
12Don’t Even Know Your Name (1993) by Crowded House
13Into the Sunset (1999) by Crowded House
14It’s Only Natural (Live) (1996) by Crowded House
15World Where You Live (1986) by Crowded House
16Four Seasons in One Day (Live) (2007) by Crowded House
17Weather With You (Live) (1996) by Crowded House
18Private Universe (Acoustic) (1998) by Crowded House
19I Don’t Know You Anymore (1996) by Crowded House
20She Called Up (1991) by Crowded House
21Into the Sunset (Live) (2007) by Crowded House
22Black and White Boy (1993) by Crowded House
23Tall Trees (1993) by Crowded House
24You Are The One To Make Me Cry (1993) by Crowded House
25Locked Out (1993) by Crowded House
26Nails in My Feet (1993) by Crowded House
27Pineapple Head (1994) by Crowded House
28In My Command (1996) by Crowded House
29Love You ‘Til The Day I Die (1993) by Crowded House
30All I Ask (1993) by Crowded House
31Don’t Stop Now (2007) by Crowded House
32Don’t Dream It’s Over (Live) (1996) by Crowded House
33Fall At Your Feet (Live) (2007) by Crowded House
34Love This Life (2007) by Crowded House
35Throw Your Arms Around Me (1995) by Crowded House
Looking for Songs that Deal With Love and Life?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Top Songs to Describe Your Life, the Top Songs About School Life, the Best Songs About Life, the Top Songs About Unrequited Love, the Top Secretly In Love Songs, and the Top Songs About Old Love for more superb song selections.
Final Thoughts on the Top 35 Crowded House Songs
From their first album, Crowded House established an exceptionally high standard of quality. Since then, they have consistently demonstrated their mastery of Pop songwriting.
Yes, it’s the infectious melodies and lush harmonies that make their music so approachable. But they are also a band with a genuine depth of feeling and emotion. They have always remained true to their artistic vision and have never compromised their integrity to convey their message.
No doubt every Crowded House fan out there will have a different list to this one, which was shamelessly compiled on my subjective tastes. Let us know which tracks you’d have in your Crowded House’s Top 10 songs in the comments below.
Until next time, happy listening.
