11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano 🎹 | Playlist 🎧

11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano 🎹 features Billy Joel, Brenda Russell, Charlie Puth, Megan Thee Stallion & Slayer.

“Black and white like a piano and I’m proud to be,” 🎙 Logic spits on 🎵 “Midnight” (💿 Bobby Tarantino II, 2018), continuing, “And fuck whoever tell me I am not allowed to be.” Oh, snap! Tyler, The Creator also serves up piano talk on his track, 🎵 “Colossus” (💿 Wolf, 2013), spitting, “Gun on the edge of my feet, I heard that first piano chord / And it drew me in like predators carrying treats.” Yes, the piano is powerful for sure! 🎙 Lil Yachty (via 🎙 KYLE) gets in on the piano talk too in the second verse of 🎵 “iSPY”: “Boat and Kyle stick together like piano keys.” Piano keys do stick together – the pattern is fascinating!

The common thread between all three songs is the PIANO 🎹.  This playlist, 🎧 11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano 🎹, features 11 songs that feature the instrument explicitly in their song title.  Some of the songs make the piano the focal point while other reference it various.  Music that appears on this compendium that’s been a long time coming include 🎙 Billy Joel (duh!), 🎙 Brenda Russell, 🎙 Charlie Puth, 🎙 Megan Thee Stallion, and 🎙 Slayer among others.  So, without further ado, get tuned up and locked into these 🎧 11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano 🎹!

1. Charlie Puth, “Tears On My Piano”

💿 Charlie • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2022 

According to the adorkable 🎙 Charlie Puth, “I can’t think of a melody (Melody) / That makes you come back to me / Got all these tears on my piano.” Ah, it’s those matters of the heart that got my boy feeling some type of way.  🎵 “Tears On My Piano” appears on the pitch perfect, 🏆 Grammy-nominated musician’s third and best album (to date), 💿 Charlie.  Those lyrics hail from the catchy, tuneful chorus.

“Tears On My Piano” features a great groove from the onset and impressive melodic lines. The musicianship continues to be strong, including vocal performance, vocal layers, and instrumental touches, namely the piano chords and licks.  Also, it’s worth noting we get an f-bomb from a salty Charles:

“I don’t have any shame

That every song I write

Is I want you back, yeah, it’s so fuckin’ sad, baby.”

Clearly, we’re not on that 💿 Nine Track Mind $hi† anymore.  Old Charlie would’ve never dropped the bomb! Clearly, the tears and the love struggle are real for Mr. Puth. His pain – well – it’s our listening pleasure.

2. Megan Thee Stallion, “Megan’s Piano”

💿 Something For Thee Hotties • 🏷 1501 Certified Ent. LLC / 300 Entertainment • 📅 2021

“Nasty, I’m a real nigga fantasy / I’ll drop dead ‘fore a broke nigga handle me!” Woo! 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Megan Thee Stallion is the definition of a walking bop. Once again, on 🎵 “Megan’s Piano,” she manages to drop some sick $hi†.  “Megan’s Piano,” which arrives as the sixth track on 💿 Something For Thee Hotties (2021), keeps things short, clocking in at just under two minutes. Even so, this brief joint remains sweet and potent.

“Megan’s Piano” commences with a single-note piano ostinato in the right hand.  Notably, Megan plays the catchy melodic pattern. Yes, it’s simple – elementary if you will – but any great music producer can hear a fire potential loop. That’s exactly what happens as the piano ostinato that could sets up a lit rap banger, anchored by knocking beat 🔥 (Megan gets a production credit alongside 🎛 LilJuMadeDaBeat. As always, when it comes to the bars – where Megan’s bread is buttered – she’s turnt the f#¢k up (“Seein’ all my opps linked up in a picture / Everybody look busted, injured / Stalkin’ my page, bitch probably wanna scissor / All in her mouth like I kissed her”).  #BANGER!

3. Jeezy, “White Keys”

💿 TM104: The Legend of the Snowman • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2019

While he offers nothing particularly innovative on 💿 TM104: The Legend of the Snowman, 🎙 Jeezy serves up plenty of bangers that celebrate his career. The rapper has ‘gone hard’ from day one. Unlike some contemporaries, he’s definitely remained ‘true to self.’ Jeezy doesn’t ‘change the game’ on his purported final album, but the southern, 🎵 “Soul Survivor” rapper who 🎵 “Put On” for his city definitely flexes his muscles and takes his victory lap. A prime example is the pianistic banger, 🎵 “White Keys.”

“White keys, piano / Roll clips, banana / My plug got manners / Brought gifts like Santa…” “White Keys” deserves a shout-out for featuring beautiful piano lines, as well as the aforementioned excerpt from the chorus – memorable to the nth degree. Additionally, the record relates the white keys of a piano to – wait for it – BRICKS, of course.  The best line of the entire song is, undoubtedly, “Bitch, I’m the Beethoven of the block /… They call me Beethoven of the block.” When Jeezy says he’s ‘the Beethoven of the block,’ well, he’s composing and performing a different kind of symphony…

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 Entertaining Songs That Reference Musical Instruments

4. Brenda Russell, “Piano In The Dark”

💿 Get Here • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 📅 1988

“Just as I walk through the door / I can feel your emotion / It’s pulling me back / Back to love you.” Ooh la-la! Versatile R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 Brenda Russell is best known for one song, and it’s safe to say, it’s pianistic! That classic is 🎵 “Piano In The Dark”, which she penned alongside 🎼 ✍ Jeff Hull and 🎼 ✍  Scott Cutler.  Furthermore, she produced the track alongside Hull and 🎛 André Fischer. Also, assisting Russell is 🎙 Joe Esposito, who provides background vocals on this adult contemporary R&B gem. Notably, “Piano In The Dark” is Russell’s highest charting single.  It peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The record features warm, inviting, and chill production work at the onset.  The record sounds idiomatic of the 1980s. Russell delivers smooth vocals early on. After a slightly more reserved start in the first verse, Russell packs more of a punch during the chorus section. The chorus is incredibly memorable and tuneful; I love the harmonized vocals that occur during select moments.

“I know I’m caught up in the middle

I cry just a little

When I think of letting go

Oh no, gave up on the riddle

I cry just a little

When he plays piano in the dark.”

Beyond tuneful pre-chorus and chorus sections, the songwriting in the verses is also impressive.  The second verse features some truly poetic, love-oriented moments: “He holds me close like a thief of the heart / He plays a melody / Born to tear me apart / The silence is broken / And no words are spoken…” Beyond theme, lyrics, and dynamic vocals, there are some interesting harmonic moments on “Piano In The Dark.” It wouldn’t be far-fetched to characterize this 80s classic as much less predictable than so many of the pop/R&B songs of today. Fittingly, given its title, can’t fail to note the love the piano 🎹 gets within the backdrop.

Appears in 🔻:

• Brenda Russell, “Piano In The Dark”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 107 (2022)

5. Weezer, “Playing My Piano”

💿 OK Human • 🏷 Crush / Atlantic • 📅 2021

“I should get back to these Zoom interviews / But I get so absorbed and time flies / I just can’t let go.” What exactly is 🎙 Rivers Cuomo referencing? Well basically, he gets caught up while playing his piano.  As a pianist myself, I can totally relate to this 🎙 Weezer song.  It appears as on a totally unexpected 2021 studio album, 💿 OK Human where the guitars are traded for orchestra.

As is the case the entire album, the two-and-a-half minute 🎵 “Playing My Piano” is quite successful.  The strings sound gorgeous, Cuomo sounds as potent as ever, and the lyrics are on-point. A prime example: “A cup of java at the edge of the keys / Dripping down from major to mixolydian.” Pianists and music theory nerds rejoice everywhere!

Appears in 🔻:

• Piano 🎹: 5ive Songs No. 18 (2021)

6. Brandy, “Piano Man”

💿 Human • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2008 

“Play me a song about heartache / I promise I can sing every word, Mr. Piano Man.” In 2008, 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer 🎙 Brandy released an album, 💿 Human.  There’s a chance you may be unaware of this because many folks slept on the project – bummer! Despite being underrated, Human yields a perfect pianistic gem, 🎵 “Piano Man.”  Just to make it crystal clear, no, Brandy is NOT covering the beloved 🎙 Billy Joel classic – this is a different song.  In this case, Brandy’s piano man appears to be producer 🎛 Rodney Jerkins. “Play a song for us, Mr. Piano Man!”

It’s safe to say that Mr. Jerkins gives Brandy a fine backdrop to work with.  That backdrop naturally includes piano, but also includes bright pulsating synths, and skittering drums. Of course, the main attraction is Brandy with her expressive, nuanced, and rich vocals.  The lyrics are captivating in the verses, related to – yep, you guessed it – the piano and the music (“He played a song filled with sadness, I believed him, oh-whoa / Each note was drippin’ with madness, I could see it”).  Of course, the crème de la crème is the chorus, with its tunefulness and utterly sublime layered vocals, sigh.

“Play me a song about heartache

I promise I can sing every word, Mr. Piano Man

Play me a song about love lost

That’s another one everyone’s heard

Strike up the band

We can have the whole world singin’ tonight

We can have the whole world singin’ tonight

Come on, we can have the whole world singin’ tonight

We can have the whole world singin’ tonight (Mr. Piano Man).”

7. Pusha T, “Hard Piano” (Ft. Rick Ross)

💿 DAYTONA • 🏷 Getting Out Our Dreams, Inc. / Def Jam • 📅 2018

“Never trust a bitch who finds love in a camera / She will fuck you, then turn around and fuck a janitor…” 🎵 “Hard Piano” appears as the third track on 💿 DAYTONA, the superb, 🏆Grammy-nominated, 2018 album by rapper 🎙 Pusha T, is driven by the piano in its production work.  “Hard Piano” isn’t really about “tickling the ivories.”  The cocaine references are abundant – there’s no escaping the bricks here: “Still do the Fred Astaire on a brick.”

Again, the coke is ripe, but Pusha T also references prominent men accused of sexual abuse (Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer) and art (“The Warhols on my wall paint a war story”).  Featured guest 🎙 Rick Ross contributes to the brick-talk, asserting, “Chillin’ in a condo full of ready rock,” later spitting, “All these K-9 units still sniffin’ me.”  Besides being “Rich Off Cocaine” (see what I did there?), he’s just stinking rich.  After all, “It’s double M, baby, money monopolies.” By the way, the piano is never explicitly referenced.

Appears in 🔻:

• Piano 🎹: 5ive Songs No. 18 (2021)

8. Slayer, “Piano Wire”

💿 Repentless • 🏷 Nuclear Blast • 📅 2015 

“Your body hangs, piano wire plays / The music will relieve you.” Hmm, that sounds dark, morbid, and very #metal.  That’s because 🎵 “Piano Wire” is a – *DRUM ROLL PLEASE* – 🎙 Slayer song.  It ultimately appears on the legendary thrash metal collective’s 2015 album, 💿 Repentless.  However, it dates back to their previous album sessions and was written by the late 🎙 Jeff Hanneman.

“Piano Wire” isn’t the best Slayer – they have many more notable classics in their illustrious collection – but it is entertaining.  There’s no shortage of energy and hellishness.  That piano wire itself isn’t mentioned until the second verse, where the lyrics above hail and continue as follows: “So delicate and lifeless now / Is innocence victorious?”  Clearly, there’s nothing soft about “Piano Wire” where it’s clear that the pianist on the given is likely banging hardnosed, dissonant tone clusters! Okay, there’s not a pianist, but that’s what I envision.  The chorus is notable – incredibly assertive to say the least in the hands of 🎙 Tom Araya: “Take the war / Taste the blood / Attack and continue / Never surrender.” 🤘!

9. Lil Wayne, “Piano Trap”

💿 Funeral • 🏷 Young Money • 📅 2020

“I pop me a Perc and I smoke me some loud.” Charming 🎙 Lil Wayne, charming! Weezy had his share of moments on his surprise 2020 album, 💿 Funeral.  Appearing on the album is 🎵 “Piano Trap,” produced by the legendary 🎛 Mannie Fresh, who delivers some excellent brassy production on this intense, druggy joint.

On the verse, Tunechi manages to thank God for a variety of things. Still, he also asserts “All of my jewelry is fuckin’ ridiculous” as well as “Smokin’ this gas just like it’s some helium,” among other shallow moments.  As far as the ‘piano,’ well, it doesn’t really factor in until part two (“Born piss poor, I’ma die rich full of my shit”). Of course, to be fair, on part one, keyboards deliver those malicious synths.

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 P Songs Selected with No Rhyme or Reason
• Piano 🎹: 5ive Songs No. 18 (2021)

10. Sampha, “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano”

💿 Process • 🏷 Young Turks • 📅 2017 

🎵 “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano” (💿 Process, 2017) is an emotional, reflective gem that grips the listener from the jump.  A subtle record, the lyrics pack a punch, not to mention 🎙 Sampha’s personal, authentic vocal.  In a sense, he characterizes the piano in his mother’s home as his confidante – the sole person who understands his feelings, issues, and otherwise.  In the first verse, the focus seems to be solely on the piano.

The chorus, which follows, suggests that there’s more to the story. Verse two personalizes the centerpiece of the song:

“An angel by her side, all the times I knew we couldn’t cope

They said that it’s her time, no tears in sight, I kept the feelings close

And you took hold of me and never, never, never let me go…”

Sampha has returned home, not only for his beloved childhood piano. According to Genius, his return was due to the illness and eventual death of his mom.

Appears in 🔻:

• Piano 🎹: 5ive Songs No. 18 (2021)

11. Billy Joel, “Piano Man”

💿 Piano Man • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 1973

There is no possible way that any piano list would be complete without the most piano song of all – 🎵 “Piano Man.”  This is an iconic song by an iconic musician, period.  🎙 Billy Joel is the definition of beast – in the most musical genius way possible! “Piano Man” appears as the second track on his 1973 album, also titled 💿 Piano Man.

The five-time 🏆 Grammy Winner amazingly wasn’t awarded for arguably his most popular song – go figure.  Nonetheless, even approaching fifty years since it first arrived, “Piano Man” remains beloved.  What makes it so great? Terrific vocals by Joel, awesome piano playing, some harmonica, and of course, the songwriting itself.  Nothing shines more than the refrain:

“Sing us a song, you’re the piano man

Sing us a song tonight

Well, we’re all in the mood for a melody

And you’ve got us feeling alright.”

Appears in 🔻:

• Piano 🎹: 5ive Songs No. 18 (2021)

11 Stellar Songs That Reference The Piano [📷: 300 Entertainment, 1501 Certified Ent. LLC, Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Columbia, cottonbro studio, Def Jam, fabio.tsu, Getting Out Our Dreams, Marcela  Alessandra, The Musical Hype, Nuclear Blast, Pexels, RODNAE Productions, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Yan Krukov, Young Money, Young Turks, Zaid Ahmed]