You know these songs

Do you recognize the tune but not the song's name? Six famous cases!

Image: Belinda Fewings

How often do you recognize a familiar tune even though you don’t know the name of the song? This common phenomenon has existed since the invention of music, and examples of it are nearly infinite. However, we’ve narrowed it down to six songs you’ve almost certainly heard—but might not know by name.

Image: Clem Onojeghuo

You’ve heard the guitar harmonics in this song’s intro a million times. Its 1960s vibe makes it a perfect fit for movie sequences, background music in trendy clothing stores, and radio playlists, among other circumstances.

Image: Mick Haupt

Stephen Stills wrote this classic track and performed it with his band, Buffalo Springfield. In case you’re wondering, the title was added after the song was written—that’s why it doesn’t appear in the lyrics.

Image: William Fitzgibbon

You’ve known this piece of music forever. It’s the song that always plays when a circus appears and is strongly associated with this kind of spectacle. Granted, it’s easy to be unaware of the song’s name or its composer since it has no lyrics. But you’ve definitely heard it.

Image: Alessandro Cerino

The artist behind this omnipresent tune was an Austro-Hungarian composer of Czech ethnicity, known for his marching band compositions—just like this one. Look it up on YouTube; you’ll recognize it instantly.

Image: Moshe Schneider

Most people who have heard this song—and that means most of the people out there, really—assume its title matches the lyric repeated in the chorus by the singer. But it doesn’t. The real name of this iconic song is "What’s Up."

Image: Anton Mislawsky

Most people assume the iconic 1990s hit by 4 Non Blondes is called "What’s Going On" since Linda Perry repeatedly sings that phrase in the chorus with her powerful voice.

The song was re-recorded by Perry and her bandmates in just one day to go back to the original version, and was featured on their 1992 debut album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!

Image: Surya Urs

Quite possibly this band’s biggest hit after "My Generation," "Baba O’Riley" shares a similar situation with 4 Non Blondes’ "What’s Up?_"_—many people mistakenly believe it has a different title because of a repeated lyric in the chorus.

Image: Documerica

Many people mistakenly believe this song has a different title because the singer—Roger Daltrey, in this case—repeats the phrase Teenage Wasteland in the chorus. But that’s not the actual name.

The song is called "Baba O’Riley," and its title is a tribute to two of guitarist Pete Townshend's major influences at the time: Indian spiritual master Meher Baba and American minimalist composer Terry Riley.

Image: Jens Thekkeveettil

To be honest, this song is far more recognizable for its iconic saxophone solo than for its lyrics, so if you don’t know its real name, you’re not alone. It won the 1979 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically and reached the top three in the UK, US, and several other countries.

Image: Drew Beamer

The sax solo that Kenny G probably wishes he had written was actually composed by Gerry Rafferty while he was trying to extricate himself from his previous band’s contracts. During this time, he frequently traveled between his family home in Scotland and London, where he often stayed at a friend’s flat on Baker Street in Marylebone.

Image: Bruno Guerrero

One of the most ubiquitous songs of the 1980s, "True" remains a staple in supermarkets, malls, elevators, and waiting rooms worldwide. You’ll recognize it instantly by its slick guitar intro and soulful pop lyrics.

Image: Sean Benesh

This song is often grouped with other 1980s pop hits from various artists, making it difficult for listeners to recall its name or the band behind it. "True" was inspired by the music of Marvin Gaye and Al Green, capturing a similar soulful vibe—albeit with a distinctly 1980s sound.

COZINESS COMES IN MANY FLAVORS

12 words to express in detail the pleasure of feeling good

Image: Gordon Plant

It should come as no surprise that in a world that often moves at a relentless pace, the Danish concept of hygge has garnered international attention for encapsulating the essence of coziness and well-being.

As a term with no direct English equivalent, hygge goes beyond mere physical comfort, encompassing a sense of connection, simplicity, and joy. However, the linguistic treasure of our world offers many more words from various languages that share similarities with hygge, each capturing the beauty of finding solace in life's simple pleasures.

Image: Gaelle Marcel

Let us begin with the word that started this revolution. Originating from Danish culture, hygge encapsulates an entire philosophy of comfort and well-being. The concept revolves around creating a cozy atmosphere, fostering a sense of warmth and contentment through simple pleasures and genuine connections.

Whether it's the warmth of a shared meal or the embrace of loved ones, hygge is an intentional celebration of life's comforting moments. Beyond its mere definition, hygge has become a global phenomenon, influencing lifestyle trends and prompting individuals to adopt its principles, seeking balance and joy in the middle of life's noise.

Image: Amin Hasani

While hygge might be a Danish word, its concept is a worldwide quest. The Serbian word merak refers to a feeling of bliss and the sense of being one with the universe that comes from the simplest of pleasures. It represents the pursuit of small pleasures that add up to a sense of happiness and fulfillment, a call to stop and smell the roses.

Spending time with a loved one, sitting on your balcony and watching the day go by, or any other activity that puts you in the moment.

Image: Lukasz Szmigiel

The German term waldeinsamkeit describes the peace experienced in the solitude of the woods. A union of wald (forest) and einsamkeit (solitude), this word combines the deep connection between individuals and nature.

It is a term that goes beyond mere solitude and embraces a profound sense of oneness with the woods, allowing for introspection and rejuvenation. Even more, waldeinsamkeit stands as a testament to the German affinity for this type of environment and the spiritual solace derived from the forest.

Image: Christopher Jolly

The Croatian term fjaka describes a particular state of mind and being. Originating from the Italian word fiacca, which means "doing nothing", fjaka takes on a unique sense, describing a state of deep relaxation.

It's more than just laziness: It's a surrender to the flow of time, characterized by a sense of peace. Fjaka encourages individuals to take the time to enjoy life and it is an apt description of the Mediterranean philosophy of embracing leisure and finding joy.

Image: Tom The Photographer

The Armenian term tsavt tanem has more than one meaning depending on the context of the conversation but, in its most literal sense, it means "let me take your pain". It can be said as a way of transmitting sympathy for someone’s difficult situation and is intended to convey tenderness and empathy.

The concept of hygge is represented here in a more spiritual way, in the form of a person giving comfort to another.

Image: Samantha Gades

Near the place where hygge was invented, the Dutch have a cozy word of their own: gezelligheid. A similar term to hygge, it means being somewhere with nice people, visiting or doing something with others that makes you feel at ease.

You can often hear Dutch people say that their favorite bar is very gezellig. And like hygge, it can be used at any time of the year but is more closely related to fall and winter.

Image: Alisa Anton

The German language also has a cozy word quite similar to the previous one: gemütlichkeit. This one translates simply as "coziness," but it means much more. It’s a warm feeling of comfort in a friendly atmosphere.

A similar meaning in American English could be found in "homey", in the sense that it refers to everything that reminds us of home.

Image: Stan B

This Japanese term goes a little deeper than hygge. It translates into "a reason for life," and refers to the broader actions that bring us happiness. For example, does your job fill you with passion and purpose? That is Ikigai. Do your friends fill your life with joy? That is Ikigai as well.

This concept has great importance to the Japanese and it has more to do with a process than with an end in itself. It is considered to be the thing that gets you out of bed each morning.

Image: Haley Powers

One of the closest linguistic cousins to hygge, not only geographically but conceptually, the Norse word fredagskos translates as "Friday coziness", referring very specifically to that Friday feeling we all know and cherish.

Conceptually, fredagskos is about pure indulgence. Take winter as the perfect excuse to trade a night out for a Friday night in: treat yourself to your favorite comfort food on the sofa or curl up and watch TV with a hot chocolate.

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Nestle is a verb that transmits a similar vibe to the concept of hygge. We can nestle against someone for comfort, we can nestle a baby in our arms, or we can also nestle in our bed.

The verb itself comes from the Old English nestlian, which means "to build a nest". That idea eventually evolved into the current meaning of "lying close to somebody or something" in search of warmth and comfort.

Image: Fatty corgi

In a similar but not identical realm to nestle, the word nuzzle may be something a pet does more than an individual, but it still does the trick. It means "to affectionately rub your nose and face against someone," and it does transmit a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Nuzzling is a natural physical expression of love and even watching videos of pets and animals nuzzling conveys a warm feeling that can be very easily associated with coziness.

Image: Chayene Rafaela

Canoodling is the pleasure we get from enjoying each other’s company. It can be a canoodle with a good friend: whispering, giggling, and just being together. Or, you can also be canoodling with your partner, watching a movie on a cold evening.

The warmth of being close to someone you care deeply about transmits a feeling that can also be compared to the cozy comfort that is conveyed in the very concept of hygge.