Playlists

Why did we create playlists?

Research has continually shown how beneficial listening to music can be for physical, mental, and emotional health. In particular, music therapy is quickly becoming a widely used treatment to help dementia patients regain lost memories. 


These playlists were compiled by our volunteers and span the decades 1950s - 80s, with popular songs from many different cultures. They can be used to bring joy to people of all backgrounds.

English Songs

 

1950s

  1. “16 Candles” by Johnny Maestro

  2. “A Big Hunk O’ Love” by Elvis Presley (1959)

  3. “A Teenager in Love” by Dion and the Belmonts (1959)

  4. “All of Me” by Frank Sinatra (1954)

  5. “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin (1958)

  6. “Blue Skies” by Ella Fitzgerald (1958)

  7. “Chicago” by Frank Sinatra (1953)

  8. “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley (1956)

  9. “Hard Headed Woman” by Elvis Presley (1958)

  10. “I Only Have Eyes For You” by The Flamingos (1959)

  11. “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” by Elvis Presley (1956)

  12. “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins (1956)

  13. “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” by Elvis Presley (1957)

  14. “Lollipop” by The Chordettes (1958)

  15. “Lonely Boy” By Paul Anka (1959)

  16. “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin (1958)

  17. “Mambo Rock” by His Comets (1955)

  18. “Mr. Blue” by The Fleetwoods (1959)

  19. “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes (1954)

  20. “Poor Little Fool” by Ricky Nelson (1958)

  21. “Puppy Love” by Paul Anka (1959)

  22. “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka (1959)

  23. “Rockin’ Robin” by Bobby Day (1957)

  24. “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry (1956)

  25. “Sh-boom” by The Chords (1954)

  26. “Shout” by The Isley Brothers (1959)

  27. “Tequila” by The Champs (1958)

  28. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” by Mitch Miller (1955)

  29. “Yakety Yak” by The Coasters (1958)

  30. “You Send Me” by Sam Cooke (1957)

1960s

  1. “Ain’t Got No, I Got Life” by Nina Simone (1968)

  2. “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes (1963)

  3. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley (1961)

  4. “Can't Take My Eyes Off of You” by Frankie Valli (1967)

  5. “Come Together” by The Beatles (1969)

  6. “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles (1966)

  7. “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone (1965)

  8. “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones (1969)

  9. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles (1968)

  10. “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles (1961)

  11. “I Put a Spell on You” by Nina Simone (1965)

  12. “I want you back” by The Jackson 5 (1969)

  13. “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees (1966)

  14. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by The Rolling Stones (1968)

  15. “My Girl” by The Temptations (1965)

  16. “New York Mining Disaster 1941” by The Bee Gees (1967)

  17. “Paint it, Black” by The Rolling Stones (1966)

  18. “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes (1961)

  19. “She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline (1962)

  20. “So Wrong” by Patsy Cline (1962)

  21. “Something” by the Beatles (1969)

  22. “Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles (1967)

  23. “Surfin’ USA” by The Beach Boys (1963)

  24. “Sweet Dreams” by Patsy Cline (1963)

  25. “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones (1968)

  26. “The Look of Love” by Nina Simone (1967)

  27. “Tossin’ and Turnin’” by Bobby Lewis (1961)

  28. “Words” by The Bee Gees (1968)

  29. “Yesterday” by The Beatles (1965)

  30. “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore (1963)

1970s

  1. “Babe” by Styx (1979)

  2. “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer (1979)

  3. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen (1975)

  4. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel (1970)

  5. “Cars” by Gary Numan (1979)

  6. “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow (1978)

  7. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen (1979)

  8. “Cruisin” by Smokey Robinson (1979)

  9. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA (1976)

  10. “December 1963” by The Four Seasons (1975)

  11. “Fame” by David Bowie (1975)

  12. “Fire” by Bruce Springsteen (1977)

  13. “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac (1977)

  14. “I’ll Be There” by Jackson 5 (1970)

  15. “Jive Talkin’” by The Bee Gees (1975)

  16. “Let it Be” by The Beatles (1970)

  17. “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille (1975)

  18. “Magic” by Pilot (1977)

  19. “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

  20. “My Sharona” by The Knack (1979)

  21. “Night Fever” by The Bee Gees (1977)

  22. “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson (1979)

  23. “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb (1978)

  24. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (1971)

  25. “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand (1974)

  26. “Too Much Heaven” by The Bee Gees (1978)

  27. “Tragedy” by The Bee Gees (1979)

  28. “Venus” by Shocking Blue (1970)

  29. “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones (1971)

  30. “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone (1977)

  31. “Piano Man” by Billy Joel (1973)

1980s

  1. “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes (1981)

  2. “Bobby Jean” by Bruce Springsteen (1984)

  3. “Call Me” by Blondie (1980)

  4. “Centerfield” by The J. Geils Band (1981)

  5. “Coming Up” by Paul McCartney (1980)

  6. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey (1981)

  7. “Every Breath You Take” by The Police (1983)

  8. “Fade Away” by Bruce Springsteen (1980)

  9. “Faith” by George Michael (1987)

  10. “How Will I Know” by Whitney Houston (1985)

  11. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston (1987)

  12. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel (1980)

  13. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield (1981)

  14. “Let’s Get Serious” by Jermaine Jackson (1980)

  15. “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi (1986)

  16. “Little Jeannie” by Elton John (1980)

  17. “Magic” by Olivia Newton-John (1980)

  18. “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John (1981)

  19. “Rapture” by Blondie (1980)

  20. “Sailing” by Christopher Cross (1980)

  21. “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Ritchie (1985)

  22. “Shining Star” by The Manhattans (1980)

  23. “That’s What Friends are For” by Dionne Warwick (1985)

  24. “The Rose” by Bette Midler (1980)

  25. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler (1983)

  26. “Upside Down” by Diana Ross (1980)

  27. “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles (1986)

  28. “When Doves Cry” by Prince (1984)

  29. “With or Without You” by U2 (1987)

  30. “You Win Again” by The Bee Gees (1987)

French Songs

 

1950s

  1. “À Paris” by Yves Montand (1952)

  2. “Étrangère au Paradis” by Gloria Lasso  (1955)

  3. “Histoire D’un Amour” by Dalida (1957)

  4. “Hymne A L'amour” by Edith Piaf (1956)

  5. “Je Suis Comme Je Suis” by Juliette Gréco (1951)

  6. “J’suis Snob” by Boris Vlan (1956)

  7. “La Mer” by Bobby Darin (1958)

  8. “Ne Me Quitte Pas” by Jacques Brel (1959)

  9. “Sous Le Ciel De Paris” by Jean Bretonnière (1951)

1960s

  1. “À Bicyclette” by Yves Montand (1968)

  2. “Aline” by Christophe (1965)

  3. “Bonnie and Clyde” by Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg (1968)

  4. “Capri C’est Fini” by Hervé Vilard (1965)

  5. “Ce Monde” by Richard Anthony (1965)

  6. “J’aime Les Filles” by Jacques Dutronc (1967)

  7. “Laisse Tomber Les Filles” by France Gall (1964)

  8. “La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser” by Sylvie Vartan (1964)

  9. “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” by Édith Piaf (1960)

  10. “Sacré Charlemagne” by France Gall (1964)

  11. “Souvenirs, Souvenirs” by Johnny Hallyday (1960)

  12. “The French Song” by Lucille Starr (1965)

  13. “Tous Les Garçons et Les Filles” by Françoise Hardy (1962)

  14. “Tous Les Jours” by Sandie Shaw (1965)

  15. “Tu T’laisses Aller” by Charles Aznavour (1960)

1970s

  1. “Avec Le Temps” by Léo Ferré (1970)

  2. “Chanson Populaire” by Claude François (1973)

  3. “Chanson Sur Ma Drôle De Vie” by Véronique Sanson (1972)

  4. “Comme J’ai Toujours Envie D’aimer” by Marc Hamilton (1970)

  5. “En Chantant” by Michel Sardou (1978)

  6. “J’ai Un Problemé” by Johnny Holiday and Sylvie Vartan (1973)

  7. “Je L’aime À Mourir” by Francis Cabrel (1979)

  8. “L’aigle Noir” by Barbara (1970)

  9. “Laisse Béton” by Renaud (1977)

  10. “Les Champs Elysées” by Joe Dassin (1970)

  11. “Les Gondoles à Venise” by Sheila et Ringo (1973)

  12. “Mourir Pour Des Idées” by Georges Brassens (1972)

  13. “San Francisco” by Maxime Le Forestier

  14. “Singin’ In The Rain Part One” by Sheila and Black Donovan (1978)

  15. “Voici Les Clefs” by Gérard Lenorman (1977)

1980s

  1. “À La Vie À L’amour” by Jakie Quartz (1988)

  2. “Bye Bye Mon Cowboy” by Mitsou (1988)

  3. “En Rouge et Noir” by Jeanne Mas (1986)

  4. “Joe Le Taxi” by Vanessa Paradis (1987)

  5. “Jouait Du Piano Debout” by France Gall (1980)

  6. “L'aventurier” by Indochine (1982)

  7. “L’aziza” by Daniel Balavoine (1985)

  8. “La Bas” by Jean-Jacques Goldman (1987)

  9. “Les Démons De Minuit” by Émile & Images (1986)

  10. “Marcia Balia” by Les Rita Mitsouko (1984)

  11. “New York Avec To”  by Téléphone (1985)

  12. “Nuit De Folli” by Début de Soirée (1989) 

  13. “Toute Première Fois” by Jeanne Mois (1984)

  14. “Voyage Voyage” by Desireless (1986)

  15. “Week-end à Rome” by Étienne Daho (1984)

Turkish Songs

 

1950s

Note: Some of the songs in the 1950s category may not have been released in the 1950s but may have instead released earlier in the mid to late 1800s and been very popular during the 1950s

  1. Bir İhtimal Daha Var - Müzeyyen Senar

  2. Sevmekten Kim Usanır -  Müzeyyen Senar 

  3. Kalamış - Münir Nurettin Selçuk (1950)

  4. Dönülmez Akşamın Ufkundayım (Rindlerin Akşamı) - Münir Nurettin Selçuk 

  5. Olmaz İlaç Sine-i Sad Pareme - Haci Arif Bey 

  6. Manolyam - Zeki Müren

  7. Kimseye Etmem Şikayet - Müzeyyen Senar

  8. Veda Busesi*

  9. Kadehinde Zehir Olsa*

  10. Zeytin Gözlüm*

  11. Söyleme Bilmesinler*

  12. Enginde Yavaş Yavaş*

  13. Benzemez Kimse Sana - Müzeyyen Senar

  14. Bir İhtimal Daha Var - Müzeyyen Senar

  15. Yine Bir Gül-Nihâl Aldı Bu Gönlümü - Dede Efendi

    *These songs are among the most popular songs back then, but they were remastered in the Album “Ahde Vefa” of singer Tarkan in 2016.

1960s

  1. Artık Sevmeyeceğim - Erol Büyükburç (1969)

  2. Burçak Tarlası - Tülay German (1964)

  3. Helvacı - Mavi Işıklar (1965)

  4. Bir Eylül Akşamı - Erkin Koray (1966)

  5. Boşvermişim Dünyaya - Ajda Pekkan (1968)

1970s

  1. Deniz Üstü Köpürür - Cem Karaca (1973)

  2. Gurbet - Özdemir Erdoğan (1972)

  3. Sevenler Ağlarmış - 3 Hürel (1974)

  4. Gesi Bağları - Selda Bağcan (1974)

  5. Malabadi Köprüsü - Selçuk Alagöz (1975)

  6. Adımız Miskindir Bizim - Mazhar ve Fuat (1973)

  7. Hani - Neco (1982)

  8. Yaz Gazeteci Yaz - Selda Bağcan (1975)

  9. Dağlar Engel Oldu - Alpay (1974)

  10. Yekte - Zafer Dilek (1976)

  11. Cemalim - Erkin Koray (1974)

  12. İnce İnce Bir Kar Yağar - Selda Bağcan (1976)

  13. Tamirci Çırağı - Cem Karaca & Dervişan (1975)

  14. Sarı Çizmeli Mehmet Ağa - Barış Manço (1977)

  15. Dağlar Dağlar - Barış Manço (1971)

  16. Olmaz Olmaz Bu İş Olamaz - Nermin Candan (1975)

1980s

  1. Şimdi Uzaklardasın - Zeki Müren (1982)

  2. Sultan-ı Yegâh - Nur Yoldaş (1981)

  3. Ah Bu Şarkıların Gözü Kör Olsun - Zeki Müren (1989)

  4. Anlamazdın - Ayla Dikmen (1987)

  5. Kördüğüm - Hümeyra (1988)

  6. Nasıl Ne Zaman - Hardal (1980)

  7. Dönence - Barış Manço (1982)

  8. Can Bedenden Çıkmayınca - Barış Manço (1989)

  9. Arkadaşım Eşek - Barış Manço (1989)

  10. Kara Sevda - Barış Manço (1989)

  11. Hal Hal - Barış Manço (1989)

  12. Gitme Sana Muhtacım - Zeki Müren (1982)

  13. Kız Sen İstanbul’un Neresindensin - Emel Sayın (1986)