70 Hit Songs About Searching (2024 With Videos)

People dedicate a large portion of their lives to searching for what they need, whether it’s love, the truth, or an answer to a question they’ve been asking throughout their entire lives. Since it’s something we all spend a lot of time doing, many songs about searching have been written over the years.

Ironically, I’ve spent the majority of my time here on Earth searching for good music. Before you ask, I’ll tell you why. Music has the power to change your outlook on just about anything. The right song played at the right time can practically change your life. Take a look at the list below, and I think you’ll find many songs that resonate with you.

1. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2

Genre	Alternative Rock
Year Released	1987
Album	The Joshua Tree

Have you ever searched for something that you knew you would never find? Better yet, have you continued to search for something after knowing that finding it is an impossibility? My guess is that’s the point U2 was trying to make on their hit single “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” Formed in Dublin in 1976, the Irish alternative rock band saw some success in the United States, but nothing like when they released the Grammy Award-winning album “The Joshua Tree,” which made them a household name for decades to come.

2. Learn To Fly by Foo Fighters

Genre	Hard Rock
Year Released	1999
Album	There Is Nothing Left to Lose

After Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994, Dave Grohl found a way to continue making music because, as he stated in an interview, the time he spent in Nirvana was the only time he ever felt truly alive. Fast forward 28 years, and the Foo Fighters are still going strong. Their first hit to enter the Billboard charts was the track “Learn To Fly” from the album “There Is Nothing Left to Lose.” The best explanation of this song I have heard is that it is about Dave’s search for peace after Kurt’s death.

3. Where Have You Been by Rihanna

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2011
Album	Talk That Talk

Born Robyn Rhianna Fenti in St Michael, Barbados, Rhianna is the youngest solo artist to reach 14 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. She has seen more success in a decade than most artists are fortunate enough to see in an entire career, selling over 60 million albums worldwide. In 2011, she released her sixth studio album, “Talk That Talk.” The record’s second track, “Where Have You Been,” earned the artist several awards, including a nomination for the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance, and is Rhianna’s search for a suitable lover.

4. Someone Like You by Adele

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2011
Album	21

Adele had accomplished more by her 30th birthday than most artists can accomplish throughout their entire careers. The singer, songwriter, and pianist has had nine top-ten hits in her career, including five number-ones. She has also marked an amazing career by selling over 31 million albums worldwide, culminating in a Las Vegas residency at Cesar’s Palace. One of those number-one hits was “Someone Like You,” from her Grammy Award-winning second album, simply titled “21,” and is about being strong enough to search for new love after a relationship ends.

5. Man In the Mirror by Michael Jackson

Genre	Pop
Year Released	1987
Album	Bad

Although I have never been the biggest fan of Michael Jackson’s music, I have always been a fan of this song’s message. Most people claim to spend the majority of their lives wanting to make the world a better place. What they fail to realize is that if they want to make the world a better place, they need to search within themselves to see what needs to be changed first. However, if they listened to Michael 34 years ago when he released this track from “Bad,” they would have known this already.

6. Love Is Looking for You by Miranda Lambert

Genre	Country
Year Released	2005
Album	Kerosene

With her 2022 Triple Crown Award from the Academy of Country Music, Miranda Lambert became the most celebrated country music artist in history, winning a total of 38 awards from the ACM throughout her career. All of Lambert’s accolades began in 2005, with the release of her debut studio album “Kerosene,” which earned her Best New Artist from the ACM. The album’s ninth track, “Love Is Looking for You,” is a song that inspires people not to give up on love, even after they’ve been hurt. It may be looking for you.

7. The Search by NF (Featuring Eminem)

Genre	Rap, Hip Hop
Year Released	2019
Album	The Search

Michigan-born Nathan John Feuerstein, more commonly known by his initials NF, had a very rough childhood. According to Feuerstein, he would rap into a tape recorder when he was younger as an escape from his everyday life. Well, all of that practice must have paid off because he has had two albums reach number one on the Billboard charts. One of those albums was 2019’s “The Search,” based on the strength of his single of the same name, which expresses NF’s search to find a balance between his anxiety and his newfound stardom.

8. Looking For Love by Johnny Lee

Genre	Country
Year Released	1980
Album	Johnny Lee

Every time I hear this song, I immediately think of the John Travolta and the Debra Winger movie “Urban Cowboy.” While the song does appear on the film’s soundtrack, it also simultaneously appeared on Johnny Lee’s self-titled debut album and was nominated for Academy of Country Music Awards Song of the Year. Johnny Lee also won the award for Best New Artist that year as well, all for writing a simple little country tune about finally finding the girl of his dreams after years of misguided searching in all the wrong places.

9. El Cerrito Place by Kenny Chesney

Genre	Country
Year Released	2012
Album	Welcome to the Fishbowl

Kenny Chesney has had one of the most accomplished careers in country music history, having had 40 songs chart on Billboard, as well as 12 platinum-certified albums and five gold-certified albums to his credit. If we are keeping score, that means that all 17 of his Studio albums have either gone gold or platinum. That’s an impressive feat for any genre. One of those top-selling albums was 2012’s “Welcome to the Fishbowl,” featuring “El Cerrito Place,” which sees Chesney loving someone enough to continue searching for them, no matter how long it takes.

10. A Looking in View by Alice In Chains

Genre	Grunge
Year Released	2009
Album	Black Gives Way to Blue

When Layne Staley died from an overdose in 2002, Alice In Chains fans gave up any hope of ever seeing the defunct grunge band reuniting. However, on the 17th anniversary of their masterpiece “Dirt,” they released their fourth studio album with a new lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, William DuVall. That new record was the critically praised “Black Gives Way to Blue.” Its first single was “A Looking in View,” which is about suppressing things internally and trying to find a way to avoid exploding, according to lead guitarist and lyricist Jerry Cantrell.

11. Schism by Tool

Genre	Progressive Metal
Year Released	2001
Album	Lateralus

“Tool” is a Grammy Award-winning progressive rock metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1990. They are known for having thought-provoking lyrics and complex time signatures. Their third album “Lateralus,” is often cited as their finest work. One of the standout tracks on the album was its first single, “Schism.” Although a schism is traditionally defined as “a formal division in or separation from a church or religious body,” It is used to define a rift created between two people who shared a special bond and the commitment to making the relationship whole again.

12. Turn On The Lights by Future

Genre	Rqp, Hip Hop
Year Released	2012
Album	Pluto

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn it’s known better by his rap name Future, and as one of the leaders of the modern rap movement. He also saw immediate success in his career with his debut album “Pluto” going platinum, as well as a few other albums in his career and a single with Drake. His track “Turn On The Lights,” which is featured on his debut album, it’s about his search for the perfect woman and how he looks for her in every girl he sees. Hopefully, he’ll find her.

13. Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics

Genre	New Wave, Pop
Year Released	1983
Album	Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

In 1983, Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox gave us what has got to be the most recognized keyboard intro in all of music. Formed from the ashes of the pop group The Tourists in 1980, the Eurythmics took the pop and new wave scene by storm by reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with their hit single “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” from the album of the same name. In her biography, Annie Lennox said that this song is about the search for fulfillment and the desires that motivate us.

14. I Need A Girl by Trey Songz

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2009
Album	Ready

Grammy-nominated Tremaine Aldon Neverson had no musical aspirations as a child because he suffered from debilitating shyness. However, under his stage name Trey Songz, he has had five albums on the Billboard 200, including two that went all the way to the number one spot. In 2009, he released his third album, “Ready,” which reached number two on Amazon’s R&B Sales Charts and number three on the iTunes Album Sales charts. The album features the song “I Need A Girl,” which is about how the difficulties a celebrity encounters finding love.

15. Searchin’ by Matisyahu

Genre	Reggae,Hip Hop, Alternative
Year Released	2012
Album	Spark Seeker

Matthew Paul Miller is an accomplished rapper and reggae musician whom you may know by his stage name, Matisyahu. Recently, when being interviewed, Miller said that while most of his music sounds joyful, the message comes “from struggling with a sort of existential loneliness.” This usually leads to a lot of soul-searching, which also translates to beautiful music like the song “Searchin,” which is found on his fourth studio album, 2012’s “Spark Seeker.” The title of the track and the album both harken back to the theme of searching for something within yourself.

16. Seeing Things by The Black Crowes

Genre	Bluestone Rock
Year Released	1990
Album	Shake Your Money Maker

One of the things we continually search for in life is the truth, although it’s also the hardest thing for us to accept. Finding out that your significant other is stepping outside of your relationship can be one of the most bitter pills you may ever have to swallow, which is what The Black Crowes’ vocalist Chris Robinson is going through on the track “Seeing Things” from their acclaimed album “Shake Your Money Maker.” He faces the reality that he has to leave the relationship, even though it hurts him to do it.

17. Search and Destroy by The Stooges

Genre	Punk Rock
Year Released	1973
Album	Raw Power

If there was such a thing as punk rock royalty, Iggy Pop would probably be at the top of the list. If it had a Bible, then “Raw Power” by The Stooges would be considered worthy of the title. Known as the Psychedelic Stooges as well as Iggy & the Stooges, The Stooges gave punk rock its first anthem. The always-controversial Iggy Pop said that this song is a direct reference to his heroin addiction. It’s possible that his addiction was a result of his search for contentment and satisfaction, despite his nihilism.

18. Teardrinker by Mastodon

Genre	Progressive Metal
Year Released	2021
Album	Hushed and Grim

Searching for peace within yourself can prove to be almost impossible, but with a lot of soul searching, it is possible. However, when someone you love passes away, accepting that they are gone and making peace with that is much easier said than done. When Mastodon’s manager Nick John passed away from cancer, they had to write an entire album to find the inner peace they were seeking. The result was 2021’s double album “Hushed and Grim” and the single “Teardrinker,” which is about searching for peace when things are left unsaid after someone dies.

19. Have You Seen Her by The Chi-Lites

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	1971
Album	(For God’s Sake) Give More Power to the People

Originally known as the Hi-Lites when they first formed at Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959, the Chi-Lites were a popular R&B group that had a string of hits in the 1970s. The group also made appearances on television’s Soul Train, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, the BBC’s Top of the Pops, and the Flip Wilson Show. Younger audiences may even recognize their track “Have You Seen Her,” sampled on the identically-named MC Hammer track. Both songs are about artists searching for someone perfect for them.

20. Searching With My Good Eye Closed by Soundgarden

Genre	Grunge
Year Released	1991
Album	Badmotorfinger

Although Nirvana is credited for bringing the Seattle grunge sound to the mainstream, bands like Green River, Mudhoney, and Soundgarden were doing it much longer. Formed in Seattle in 1984 by vocalist and then-drummer Chris Cornell and guitars Kim Thayil, Soundgarden released their second major label record, “Badmotorfinger,” in 1991. The seventh track on the album, “Searching With My Good Eye Closed,” is a six-and-a-half minute case study on Cornell searching for the meaning in life, although I think that the title indicates that he doesn’t think he will ever find it.

21. Something I Can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails

Genre	Industrial, Alternative Metal
Year Released	1989
Album	Pretty Hate Machine

Perhaps nothing is more frustrating than searching for something that you know you can never have, no matter what that may be. That’s the sentiment being expressed by Trent Reznor, the mastermind behind the industrial metal band Nine Inch Nails, on “Something I Can Never Have” from the debut album “Pretty Hate Machine.” The track also made an appearance in Oliver Stone’s 1994 film “Natural Born Killers” and represents Reznor’s search for peace, happiness, and acceptance in a healthy relationship. Sadly, as the song says, this is something he will never have.

22. Keep Searching (We’ll Follow the Sun) by Del Shannon

Genre	Pop, Rock and Roll
Year Released	1965
Album	One Thousand Six-Hundred Sixty-One Seconds of Del Shannon

Charles Weedon Westover has had an accomplished career, having a certified billboard number one hit in 1961 with the song Runaway and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. However, he is widely recognized by his stage name, Del Shannon. Although “Runaway” brought him national attention, Shannon got the final top-ten hit of his career with the track “Keep Searching (We’ll Follow the Sun)” from 1965’s “One Thousand Six-Hundred Sixty-One Seconds of Del Shannon.” The song is about forbidden love and the search for somewhere it will be accepted.

23. Looking for Today by Black Sabbath

Genre	Heavy Metal
Year Released	1973
Album	Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

By this time, it’s no secret that Birmingham, England’s Black Sabbath, was frustrated with their lives and channeled their energy into a new form of music which would eventually be known as heavy metal, combining the hard rock and blues sounds that were prevalent at that time. By 1973, despite only being together four years, they had already released their fifth studio album called “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.” That record included the track “Looking for Today,” which is about the search for relevance in a world that constantly seems to leave you behind.

24. Ramble On by Led Zeppelin

Genre	Hard Rock
Year Released	1969
Album	Led Zeppelin II

If you took a poll of music fans and critics around the world, the majority of them would say that Led Zeppelin is the greatest band of all time, and it would be hard to disagree. Formed in 1968 in London, they released eight studio albums in 12 years. Their second album “Led Zeppelin II” is often mentioned as their best, thanks in part to tracks like “Ramble On,” which is said to have been inspired by “The Lord of the Rings” and is about the search for “the one that got away.”

25. Heart of Gold by Neil Young

Genre	Folk Rock, Indie
Year Released	1972
Album	Harvest

Maybe it’s because life has made most of us so incredibly jaded, but I think that it’s admirable when people try to find the best in others. Some individuals will try to find the best qualities in the worst individuals or try to surround themselves with nothing but positivity. Perhaps that’s what keeps them young. That’s probably the kind of person singer-songwriter Neil Young is because that’s what he’s saying in the only Billboard number one song of his career, “Heart of Gold,” which is from his critically-acclaimed album “Harvest.”

26. I’ve Been Searching So Long by Chicago

Genre	Soft Rock
Year Released	1974
Album	Chicago VII

Named for the city from which they hail, the band Chicago has been together since 1967, with their self-titled debut album selling over 10 million copies worldwide. In 1974, the band got ambitious and decided to release a double album, which was simply titled “Chicago VII.” One of the standout tracks on that album was the ballad “I’ve Been Searching So Long,” which is about the search to find meaning in life and also the quest for spiritual guidance. As most of the band are Christians, this theme fits with their spiritual beliefs.

27. Searchin’ for Love by Akon

Genre	Hip Hop, Rap
Year Released	2011
Album	Konkrete

Born in St Louis, Missouri, under the name Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, the multi-talented Senegalese-American record producer and musical artist prefers to go by the name Akon. The hip-hop and rap artist has been quite successful, selling 35 million albums worldwide, including his best-selling album “Konkrete,” which has now sold 7.3 million copies. The seventh track on the album, “Searchin’ for Love,” wasn’t one of its massive hit singles, but it is a simple, upbeat song about searching for that special person whom you want to share your life with. If you’re looking for songs about searching for love, this is one of my top recommendations.

28. Lookin’ for a Good Time by Lady Antebellum

Genre	Country
Year Released	2008
Album	Lady Antebellum

I think that the Nashville-based country group Lady Antebellum has the right idea. There are times in life when you need to be serious, and there are times when you are looking for nothing more than a good time. This can also apply to romantic relationships. There are times when you want to be serious with someone, and there are times when you just want someone that you can have fun with. This is exactly what Lady Antebellum was referring to on “Lookin’ for a Good Time,” from their self-titled debut album.

29. Don’t Come Around Here No More by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Genre	Rock and Roll, Alternative Rock
Year Released	1985
Album	Southern Accents

Formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1976. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are often credited for being one of the first bands to embrace heartland rock in the late-1970s and the 1980s. Perhaps best known for its controversial music video, “Don’t Come Around Here No More” was a hit single from the band’s sixth album “Southern Accents.” Although there are plenty of stories regarding who this song is about, they all agreed on one thing. It’s about somebody who was searching for someone and was told that they weren’t welcome at that location anymore.

30. Seek and Destroy by Metallica

Genre	Thrash Metal
Year Released	1981
Album	Kill ‘Em All

When going out to public places, most of us are conditioned to be on the lookout for any potential problems that may arise. While the majority of us aren’t necessarily looking for trouble, we want to be prepared if it should come looking for us. This is the sentiment Metallica was expressing in “Seek and Destroy,” which first appeared on their debut album “Kill ‘Em All,” and subsequently, seven additional appearances in their catalog. If there’s one thing I can say, it’s that if trouble does come looking for them, they’re prepared.

31. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel

Genre	Alternative Rock
Year Released	1986
Album	So

When Peter Gabriel left the progressive rock band Genesis in 1975, people wondered what would become both entities. Nevertheless, both parties have been successful, with Peter Gabriel selling 16.4 million albums. His best-selling album came in 1986, with “So” selling over five million copies. Those sales are credited to singles like “In Your Eyes,” which Peter Gabriel says is based on an African tradition of songs having dual meanings. First, it is about finding yourself in a person you love. Secondly, he says that it’s about a relationship between humans and God.

32. Searchin’ For a Rainbow by The Marshall Tucker Band

Genre	Southern Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1975
Album	Searchin’ for a Rainbow

Spartanburg, South Carolina’s Marshall Tucker Band, made a name for themselves in the 1970s as a heavyweight contender in the Southern rock genre. Despite several lineup changes, the band has been actively recording and performing over the last five decades. However, most of the original members of the band have been gone since the 1980s. The band’s most commercially successful and widely recognized album, 1975’s “Searchin’ for a Rainbow,” included songs like the hit single “Can’t You See” and the title track, which is about searching for happiness in life and love.

33. Keep Searchin’ by R. Kelly

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2015
Album	The Buffet

Despite his legal troubles, R Kelly remains one of the top-selling R&B artists of all time. It seems as though his guilty verdict has been great for his album sales, which have increased by 500% since the verdict was rendered. The Pied Piper of R&B has sold over 75 million records worldwide, becoming the most commercially successful artist of the 1990s. He’s also had nine platinum-certified albums, including “The Buffet,” which debuted at number one on Billboard. The double album’s 15th track, “Keep Searchin’,” is about Kelly wanting love to find him.

34. Searching by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Genre	Southern Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1976
Album	Gimme Back My Bullets

With a 2006 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and 13 certified gold or platinum albums, Lynyrd Skynyrd has solidified its spot as one of the top 50 most successful artists or bands of all time. One of their gold albums, which reached the number 20 spot on the Billboard album charts, was their fourth effort, “Gimme Back My Bullets.” One of the most underrated tracks on the album was the song “Searching,” which says that material goods are fine, but having something worth dying for is what counts.

35. The Search Is Over by Survivor

Genre	Hard Rock
Year Released	1984
Album	Vital Signs

In the 1980s, Chicago’s Survivor was one of the biggest rock bands around, getting their first Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1981 and receiving a tremendous boost by being featured on the soundtrack to “Rocky III.” They rode that wave into 1984 and got the second top-five hit of their career with the ballad “The Search is Over” from the double-platinum album “Vital Signs.” The message behind this track is that while you may spend your entire life searching for the perfect love, you already have it in the person you’re with.

36. Searching For Love by Midnight Star

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	1980
Album	The Beginning

Frankfort, Kentucky’s Midnight Star, was one of the hottest r&b, disco, funk, and soul bands of the 1980s that was able to get everybody moving with their unique sound. However, before they exploded with the release of their certified-platinum dance classic “Nothing Parking On the Dance Floor,” there was “The Beginning,” which is a suitable title for their debut album. The sixth track from that album was titled “Searching For Love,” and as you may have guessed, it is about the search for love. They weren’t very creative with their song titles then.

37. All The Things You’re Searching For by G-Eazy (Featuring Kossiko and Ashley Benson)

Genre	Hip Hop, Rap, Pop
Year Released	2020
Album	Everything’s Strange Here

Oakland’s Gerald Earl Gillum had immediate success in his early career with his debut album “These Things Happen,” reaching the number-three spot on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album spent a whopping 138 weeks on the chart and was still charting when G-Eazy released his 2020 compilation “Everything’s Strange Here.” The album was met with mixed reviews and included the single “All The Things You’re Searching For,” which was G-Eazy android Ashley Benton’s way of going public with their romantic relationship. As you can imagine, most people found the track cringe-worthy.

38. Lookin’ For Love by Whitesnake

Genre	Hard Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1987
Album	Whitesnake

The English hard rock band Whitesnake formed in 1978 but recorded one of the next decade’s best-selling albums in 1987 when they released their seventh studio effort, the self-titled “Whitesnake.” The album would reach number two on the Billboard 200 and sell over eight million copies. While the album had three singles that charted, “Lookin’ For Love” wasn’t one of them. However, that doesn’t prevent this cut from standing out on this massive album. This lesser-known track chronicles lead vocalist David Coverdale’s Linkin essential and his hope that he will eventually find love.

39. The Searcher by Ego Kill Talent

Genre	Hard Rock, Metal
Year Released	2017
Album	Ego Kill Talent

There is an old saying that goes something like “Too much ego will kill your talent,” which is where San Paulo’s Ego Kill Talent got the inspiration for their name. The Brazilian rock band has been around since 2014 and has been working with giants in the rock world, like Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters. They released their self-titled debut album in 2017, which was applauded by both fans and critics as the second coming of Brazilian rock. The record’s ninth track, “The Searcher,” is about the endless search for direction from God. This is one of my personal favorite songs about searching for answers.

40. Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric

Genre	New Wave, Pop
Year Released	1977
Album	A Bunch of Stiff Records

Eric Golden is best known for his single “Whole Wide World,” which was recorded and released under his stage name, Wreckless Eric. The English singer-songwriter and new wave and pop performer released his single on the compilation “A Bunch of Stiff Records,” which was a way for the record label Stiff Records to promote their artists. The song whole wide world is about the search for the perfect girl and how he would be willing to traverse the planet to find her. His debut album would only spend one week on the UK charts.

41. She’s The One By Robbie Williams

Genre	Pop
Year Released	1997
Album	Life Thru a Lens

From 1990 to 1995, Robbie William was a founding member of the British boy band Take That. He saw immediate success in his solo career when he launched his debut album “Life Thru a Lens” in 1997 and his signature song, the number-one “Angels.” In 1998, Williams recorded a cover of World Party’s hit song “She’s The One,” releasing it as a single that would go on to be one of his seven number-one singles on the UK charts. The track is a sentimental ballad about searching for and finding his perfect soulmate.

42. Looking for an Answer by Mike Shinoda

Genre	Alternative Rock
Year Released	2017
Album	Unreleased

Linkin Park was one of the top-selling and most adored bands in alternative rock before the tragic suicide of lead vocalist Chester Bennington. Sadly, Chester left behind six children who were all left searching for answers as to why their father passed away. Mike Shinoda, Bennington’s bandmate, wrote the song “Looking for an Answer” as a way to try to make sense of his suicide. The track was only performed live once at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017 and has never appeared on a Linkin album nor any other compilation or solo effort.

43. Have You Seen Her by MC Hammer

Genre	Rap, Hip Hop
Year Released	1990
Album	Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em

MC Hammer was the hottest rapper of the 1990s thanks to the performance of his album “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em,” which Is the fourth best-selling album in the 1990s. It is also still the best-selling rap album of all time, eclipsing 18 million copies sold worldwide because of hits like “Have You Seen Her,” which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song, which samples the Chi-Lites, is about Hammer’s search for the woman of his dreams with whom he had a special relationship many years ago. If you like songs about dreams and going for what you really want in life, you’ll love this song.

44. Searching by INXS

Genre	Alternative Pop
Year Released	1997
Album	Elegantly Wasted

Formed in Sydney, Australia in 1977 under the original name the Farriss Brothers, INXS became one of the most successful and popular bands of the 1980s. Their tenth studio album, the appropriately titled “Elegantly Wasted,” was their final album recorded with lead vocalist Michael Hutchence before he committed suicide in 1997. That album featured the track “Searching,” which was prophetic as it saw Hutchence searching for answers in his life, hunting at his unhappiness, turning the song’s lyrics into something of a personal journal that detailed his thoughts as a cry for help.

45. My Beautiful Reward by Bruce Springsteen

Genre	Rock and Roll
Year Released	1992
Album	Lucky Town

New Jersey-born Bruce Springsteen has been nominated for a whopping 50 Grammy awards, winning 20 of them. His tenth solo album, which was 1992’s “Lucky Town, ” was released simultaneously with “Human Touch.” The former reached the number three spot on the billboard 200 and earned The Boss more Grammy nominations. One of the tracks on Lucky Town was my beautiful reward, which is either about Springsteen’s search for his eternal reward in heaven or his pursuit of happiness in life. I guess it depends on who you ask because both interpretations make sense.

46. Looking 4 Myself by Usher

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2012
Album	Looking 4 Myself

Usher Terry Raymond IV released his seventh studio album, “Looking 4 Myself,” in 2012 to some immediate commercial success, selling $128,000 copies in its first week and debuting at the top spot on the Billboard 200 charts. However, the double album would be far from his best-selling record, with that distinction going to “Confessions,” which sold over 20 million copies. The title track shows the eight-time Grammy Award-winning artist doing some soul-searching, where he is trying to figure out where things went wrong in his relationship while trying to find himself.

Related Article: Great Songs About Starting Over

47. Still Searching by Damian Marley (Featuring Yami Bolo & Stephen Marley)

Genre	Reggae, Hip Hop
Year Released	2001
Album	Halfway Tree

When the legendary reggae singer Bob Marley died, Damian “Junior Gong” Marley was only two years old. While he may not have been old enough to remember his iconic father, Junior was blessed to inherit his love for music and his talent. The four-time Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer has been performing since he was 13, releasing his first album at 18 on the Tuff Gong record label. On his award-winning second album, 2001’s “Halfway Tree,” Markley sang about his search for a partner who shares his values on the track “Still Searching.”

48. I’m Looking For Someone To Love by Buddy Holly

Genre	Rock and Roll
Year Released	1957
Album	The “Chirping” Crickets

At just 24 years old, Buddy Holly had his career cut short when he died in a plane crash. This crash, which also took the lives of Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, would become The Day the Music Died. However, before he died, the Texas-born rock and roll star charted four songs on the Billboard Hot 100 from one studio album called “The “Chirping” Crickets.” The track “I’m Looking For Someone To Love” may not have been a hit for Holly, but it is a great song about his search for love.

49. Searching For A Feeling by Thirdstory

Genre	Alternative Rock
Year Released	2018
Album	Cold Heart

Formed in New York City, Thirdstory released their first EP in 2016 called “Searching.” In 2018, they released their positively-reviewed debut album “Cold Heart” but completely disbanded the next year. Although they were only together for a few short years, they released five singles and saw some success despite refusing to be tied down to one specific genre. Their track “Searching For A Feeling” is an incredibly honest and raw song in which the narrator warns his lover not to fall in love with him because he isn’t capable of returning that love.

50. Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane

Genre	Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1967
Album	Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane, also known as Jefferson Starship and then later as Starship, has gone through just about as many name changes throughout its career as Sean Combs. They have also changed their musical style almost as many times as their name. At the time when they recorded their hit “Somebody to Love” in 1967, the progressive rock band had no idea that their album “Surrealistic Pillow” would catch the attention of music critics everywhere based on the strength of a simple song about the search for somebody worth giving your love to.

51. I Need Love by LL Cool J

Genre	Rap, Hip Hop
Year Released	1987
Album	Bigger and Deffer

New York-born James Todd Smith, known better by his peers and fans as LL Cool J, is revered as one of the greatest rappers of all time, frequently mentioned by some of the current kings of rap as one of the most influential artists ever. He saw massive success with several of his records throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, releasing 13 albums in his career. One of his most successful albums was “Bigger and Deffer,” and the Billboard Top-20 hit “I Need Love,” which is about the search for a soulmate.

52. Show Me the Way by Peter Frampton

Genre	Hard Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1975
Album	Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Frampton is an English guitar virtuoso and singer who also played in Humble Pie and the Herd. By 1975, he had released three studio albums to little fanfare. However, this was about to change with his breakthrough album “Frampton Comes Alive,” which sold 17 million copies worldwide. The record also featured two of the biggest hits of his career, “Baby I Love Your Way” and “Show Me the Way.” The latter is about a guy who’s lost his way, and he’s looking for his girl to help him find his way again.

53. Blowin’ In the Wind by Bob Dylan

Genre	Folk Rock, Indie, Classic Rock
Year Released	1963
Album	The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Anytime that people talk about the greatest lyricists of all time, Bob Dylan should be included in the discussion. The singer-songwriter and poet one the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” If that doesn’t vouch for him, I don’t know what will. Often cited as one of his best works, “Blowin’ In the Wind” from his 1963’s “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” it’s about the search for knowledge and enlightenment when it has been right in front of us the whole time.

54. Searchin’ My Soul by Vonda Shepherd

Genre	Pop
Year Released	1991
Album	Ally McBeal

Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Vonda Shepherd has led an interesting life. She started taking piano lessons at three and continued playing throughout her life, becoming a backup singer and keyboard player for Al Jarreau at the age of 20. She also worked as a music producer and an actress on the hit television series “Ally McBeal” for five years. In 1991, she recorded “Searchin’ My Soul,” which would become the theme song for “Ally McBeal,” which is about trying to find yourself while also trying to find love.

55. The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles

Genre	Alternative Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1970
Album	Let It Be

If you know anything about the Beatles, then you are well aware that by the time they got around to their final album, “Let It Be” in 1970, there was lots of fighting within the group, making for a miserable experience recording the record. However, what they released was nothing short of a masterpiece. Many diehard fans believe that “The Long and Winding Road,” which was the band’s final number-one song, represented the journey they took together as a band and the fact that they were leaving things unfinished with their breakup.

56. The Most Beautiful Girl by Charlie Rich

Genre	Country
Year Released	1973
Album	Behind Closed Doors

This is a song that everybody has heard at least a few times in their life. You may not instantly recognize the artist or the title, but trust me, you’ve heard it before. This song was recorded by Charlie Rich in 1973, who was born in Arkansas but lived most of his life in Louisiana, and appeared on his album “Behind Closed Doors.” Known more for protesting John Denver’s CMA win than for his own CMA and Grammy awards, Rich recorded a song documenting his search to find the girl who left him.

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57. #1 by Nelly

Genre	Rap, Hip Hop
Year Released	2001
Album	Training Day Original Soundtrack

Cornell Haynes Jr, also known by his rap name Nelly, got his start in hip hop in 1993 when he formed the rap group St Lunatics. He got his first record deal in 1999 and has since had 13 gold or platinum-certified singles and albums. He has also made contributions to movie soundtracks, such as his song “#1,” which was the lead single from the Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke film “Training Day.” The song is about what it takes to become the best and the search for anyone worthy of challenging you.

58. Searching by Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	1976
Album	Vibrations

They say that like-minded people tend to be drawn to each other, and I think that’s exactly what native Los Angelina Roy Ayers is saying in his song “Searching” from the Royal Ayers Ubiquity album “Vibrations.” In this track, he says; however, he has been hurt in his previous relationship, and he’s now looking for someone who can understand where he’s been and where he’s going. Although he’s been hurt, he’s not afraid to love again. Ayers was an accomplished vibraphone player, as well as a jazz and R&B composer and singer.

59. Waiting for a Girl Like You by Foreigner

Genre	Hard Rock, Classic Rock
Year Released	1981
Album	4

Foreigner usually isn’t included in the discussion when people talk about the most successful bands of the 1980s, but this band deserves to have some respect put on their name. Their fourth album, “4,” sold seven million copies and claimed the number one spot on the Billboard album charts based on the strength of three hit singles, including number two for ten consecutive weeks with the track “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” The song is about meeting and falling in love with the perfect girl after years of searching for her.

60. You Don’t Know My Name by Alicia Keys

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2003
Album	The Diary of Alicia Keys

Neo-soul artist Alicia Augello Cook is an amazing singer, composer, and accomplished pianist who has been composing songs since she was 12 and signed her first record deal with Columbia Records at just 15 years old. However, you may know her by Alicia Keys. The fifteen-time Grammy Award winner released her second album in 200, which was the five-time platinum “The Diary of Alicia Keys,” which featured the hit single “You Don’t Know My Name.” The track is about her search to find someone special who doesn’t know that she exists.

61. I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love by Everything But The Girl

Genre	Pop, Dance, Electronica
Year Released	1991
Album	Worldwide

I’ve always heard that if you truly want to find something, you’ve got to stop looking for it. When I was younger, this saying didn’t make much sense. Now that I’m older, it makes more sense than ever. This applies to anything from your car keys to love, which always seems to find you when you least expect it to. That’s the sentiment being expressed by the British pop duo Everything But The Girl on the track “I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love,” which is included on their 1991 album “Worldwide.”

62. Looking For A New Love by Jody Watley (Featuring Louil Silas Jr)

Genre	Pop
Year Released	1987
Album	Jody Watley

Jody Watley released her self-titled debut album to immediate success in 1987. The dynamic R&B and soul singer was nominated for several Soul Train Awards, as well as an American Music Award for Favorite Siul/R&B Single for her hit song “Looking For A New Love.” This track is about Watley’s search for a new romantic partner after being treated poorly by her ex-lover. This song also served as her way of getting closure in the relationship by being able to tell off her former partner. I hope she found it.

63. Looking For Angels by Skillet

Genre	Christian Rock, Alternative Rock
Year Released	2006
Album	Comatose

Memphis, Tennessee’s Skillet is an alternative Christian band that has been together since 1996 when Ken Steorts and John Cooper were touring together in different bands. After some encouragement from their pastor, they decided to form a side project and name it Skillet. Over a quarter-century and three gold or platinum certifications later, Skillet is still together and going strong. Their song “Looking For Angels,” which is found on their sixth album, “Comatose,” is a public declaration of their faith in God, as well as their search for the good in the world.

64. Searching by Change (Featuring Luther Vandross)

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	1980
Album	The Glow of Love

Change is an R&B and soul group that also incorporates some disco into their music, formed in Bologna, Italy, by Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi in 1979, citing the band Chic as their primary musical influence. The group stayed together for eight years and charted 12 singles until officially disbanding in 1986. They would later reform in 2010 and are still touring today. In 1980, they released their debut studio album, “The Glow of Love,” which featured the song “Searching,” which, as you may have guessed, is about searching for love.

65. Give Me One Reason by Tracy Chapman

Genre	Folk Rock, Indie
Year Released	1999
Album	Give Me One Reason

There are times when we are looking for a reason to leave a relationship, and there are times when they are looking for that one reason to stay. After all, nobody likes going through change, and there’s a reason why you fell in love with your significant other in the first place. In her Grammy Award-winning song “Give Me One Reason” from her album of the same name, contemporary folk singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman already has one foot out of the door, but she’s looking for that single, solitary reason why she should stay. If you like this song, you’ll most like love our other favorite songs about change.

66. Search Party by Sam Bruno (Featuring JayKode)

Genre	Hip Hop, Pop, Electronica
Year Released	2015
Album	Paper Towns Soundtrack

Sam Bruno is a hip-hop, pop, and electronica artist from Phoenix, Arizona, who grew up singing in church and listening to country music. She learned to play music by teaching herself songs on the ukulele and the piano before becoming a platinum-selling artist who charted on Billboard. Besides releasing her album, she has also contributed the song “Search Party” to the “Paper Towns” soundtrack. The track is about two people who want to run away together, and they don’t want to be found by anyone, so they try to disappear.

67. Lookin’ For A Love by The Valentinos

Genre	R&B, Soul
Year Released	2016
Album	Classic Silver

Formed in Cleveland, Ohio, the Valentinos are an R&B group that got their start in 1952 when the five Womack brothers started singing in church together. They released their first single under the name Curtis Womack and the Womack Brothers when two of the boys were only 10 years old. Once they changed their name to The Valentinos, they had their first single chart on Billboard. In 2016, they released a compilation called “Classic Silver,” which included the song “Lookin’ For A Love.” As the name indicates, it’s about searching for love.

68. Ready To Take A Chance Again by Barry Manilow

Genre	Easy Listening, Soft Rock
Year Released	1978
Album	Foul Play Original Soundtrack

Barry Manilow has had a career that has lasted over 70 years and has been nominated for several awards, including Tony, Grammys, and Emmys. Manilow was even awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980. His song “Ready To Take A Chance Again” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music (Original Song) for the film “Foul Play” and was included in his Greatest Hits compilation. The track is about Manilow wanting a second chance with the love of his life. Hopefully, that person will give him that chance.

69. Searchin’ by Santana

Genre	Classic Rock
Year Released	1981
Album	Zebop!

Carlos Santana is one of the most criminally underrated guitar players of all time. He plays with a unique combination of passion and precision that it’s not often seen in many guitar players today. He has been playing since the 1960s and has two Billboard number-one albums to his credit. In 1981, he released his 12th studio album, “Zebop!,” which featured the song “Searchin.” The track documents his search to find love and shows that he knows who he wants to be with. He won’t settle for anybody besides that special person.

70. Searchin’ by Eminem

Genre	Rap music, Hip Hop
Year Released	1996
Album	Infinite

Eminem is not only the greatest-selling rapper of all time, but he is also one of the best-selling artists of any genre, with three diamond-certified RIAA albums and three diamond-certified RIAA singles. However, before breaking through with “The Slim Shady LP,” he released the lesser-known album “Infinite,” which didn’t sell many copies but showcased his talent on tracks like “Searchin.”