I Want You

Hey guys! As people who love music, I’m sure you’ve all had the experience of loving several different songs with the same name. Well, for me, there’s one song title that is really exceptional: I Want You. It makes sense. It’s a direct title, almost confrontational, and one that reminds us all of some of the strongest feelings we’ve had. If you’re writing songs for a living, how could you not have at least one called “I Want You”? I’ve almost gotten a little superstitious about this; every time you see a song with this name, it’s going to be great. There are so many great songs with this title, and I’m going to talk about some of my favorites here today. 

Marvin Gaye - I Want You

Let’s start with one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I love this song so much. Now, when we're talking about songs called “I Want You”, it’s obvious that desire is going to be a theme. And there’s nobody better at singing about desire than Mr. Marvin Gaye. Everything about this song is perfect, from the clattering toms to the spooky keys to the wailing soul guitar that sounds very far away. This used to be thought of as one of Marvin Gaye’s minor hits until 2022, when Kendrick Lamar sampled it in “The Heart Part 5”. Since then, it’s gotten more exposure, which is wonderful. Everybody deserves to hear it.

Pulp - I Want You

This track by Pulp about toxic, violent, dysfunctional love is a little darker, but still very beautiful. One theme in these songs is desire, as I said, but another one is desperation. This is a desperate and lonely song. I adore Pulp. This is one of their earlier songs, from 1987, so it’s still sort of new-wavey and nostalgic.

The Beatles - I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

Continuing the theme of desperation. This is one of the heaviest, wildest, best Beatles songs, I think. Part of the allure in titling a song “I Want You” comes from that phrase’s ability to evoke strong emotion with just a few words. There are hardly any lyrics to this one, but that’s alright, because it says everything it needs to. 

Bob Dylan - I Want You

This is definitely one of the more fun and lighthearted tracks in this list. I like Bob Dylan a whole lot sometimes. Not always, but sometimes. This song makes me miss the country. I can’t really stand to listen to it if there isn’t a plant somewhere in my line of sight. Like all of Dylan’s songs, the lyrics are beautiful until after the second verse, where things stop making any sense. But I really like this one. Blonde on Blonde brings back some nice memories.

Erykah Badu - I Want You

I love Worldwide Underground. Not everybody does. But it’s got such a strong vibe to it. Nothing else sounds like this. This song is a slow burn, but if you’re in the right mood, it’s just perfect. Erykah Badu’s the best.

Third Eye Blind - I Want You

Guys, have you heard this song?? For years, I only knew Third Eye Blind as the band who made Semi-Charmed Life, but this song is awesome. It’s kinda shoegazey and dreary and beautiful. It makes me feel safe.

Kings of Leon - I Want You

For the first twenty years of my life, I was a Kings of Leon hater. But people can change. Let it never be said that I’m dug in or unwilling to re-evaluate my former opinions. This is one of their weirdest tracks, but it’s still got all the loose, fiery, night-vision charm of their best. The lyrics are uncomfortable and dirty, but the song evokes such a strong feeling. 

MC5 - I Want You Right Now

This one’s cheating, sort of, since the title is a little longer. But I couldn’t leave it out. I love this song. The MC5 are one of the best rock bands ever, as far as I’m concerned, and this song exemplifies everything that makes them great. The guitar sounds like you set the amps on fire. There’s so much passion and energy to it. Who cares if there are hardly any lyrics? You don’t need them.

Here is a link to a Spotify playlist with all of these songs: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5DobbSK4zGHg1eRYT6Pm1N?si=W4Ju3EmAT0-FoJnNx5gYCQ&pi=4-NqNjDLSemUF