Mothers are the most selfless people in the entire world, so it’s only right that we celebrate them in the best way possible. With this Sunday marking Mother’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of the greatest songs ever recorded that celebrate the women that gave us life.
From the moment music became a business, songs have been written about mothers. In 1964, The Temptations released the iconic “Oh, Mother of Mine.” In the song, group members Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks sing about the priceless advice that mothers provide, even though as young people, we don’t always listen. Throughout the 70s and 80s, records such as “Sadie,” and Junior’s “Mama Used To Say” debuted, setting a trend that would last well into the next millennium.
In 1995, Tupac Shakur dropped “Dear Mama,” from his third studio album, Me Against the World. As the lead single from the album, the song is a tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur. In the song, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother’s addiction, but argued that his love and deep respect for his mother superseded her imperfections. The song became his first top ten hit, and in 2009, the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.
In the years that followed, we would see more Mother’s Day odes, like “A Song For Mama,” by Boyz II Men, Mos Def’s “Umi Says,” Kanye West’s “Hey Mama,” and many more. In celebration of Mother’s Day, here is the perfect playlist for your listening enjoyment.
