Reading Time: 7 min read

23 'Blame' Songs That Will Rock Your Socks Off (Big Machine)The title speaks for itself.  “23 ‘Blame’ Songs That Will Rock Your Socks Off” is comprised of 23 songs that feature the word ‘blame’ in their title.

It’s all your fault! No, it’s all your fault!  Folks, the blame-game is really on our latest playlist – 23 Blame songs that will rock your socks off.  Throughout the course of this multi-genre list, the respective artists blame themselves, others, and in some cases, EVERYBODY.  Among artists contributing their blame are Bastille, John Legend, Kanye West, and Taylor Swift.

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1. Taylor Swift, “Don’t Blame Me”

Reputation • Big Machine • 2017

Taylor Swift, Reputation © Big Machine“Don’t blame me, love made me crazy / If it doesn’t, you ain’t doin’ it right /Lord, save me, my drug is my baby / I’ll be usin’ for the rest of my life.” Essentially, don’t point any fingers at Taylor Swift – blame love.


 2. Bastille, “Blame”

Wild World • Virgin • 2016
“Fall upon your knees, sing:
‘This is my body and soul here’
Crawl and beg and plead, sing:
‘You’ve got the power to control’
Don’t pin it all on me
Don’t pin it all on me!”

– Chorus

“Blame, blame, blame (I got you, I got you).”

– Bridge

If it’s not obvious from the chorus, the drama is real on “Blame,” which is about gangsters according to frontman Dan Smith. 


3. Calvin Harris, “Blame”

Ft. John Newman

Motion • Sony Music UK • 2014
“Blame it on the night
Don’t blame it on me, don’t blame it on me
So blame it on the night 
Don’t blame it on me, don’t blame it on me.”

No further explanation necessary.


4. Jamie Foxx, “Blame It”

Ft. T-Pain

Intuition • RCA • 2008
“Blame it on the Goose, gotcha feeling loose
Blame it on the ‘Trón, catch me in a zone
Blame it on the a-a-alcohol 
Blame it on the a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the vodka, blame it on the Henny
Blame it on the blue tap, got you feeling dizzy
Blame it on the a-a-alcohol
Blame it on the a-a-alcohol.”

“Blame It” comes down to two things: (1) alcohol and (2) sex.

Of Mice & Men notably covered “Blame It” on Punk Goes Pop, Vol. 03 (2010).


5. Charli XCX, “Blame It On U”

Number 1 Angel • Asylum • 2017
“I blame it on you, I blame it on you
Every lie you tell comes true (true)
But I still wanna be with you (you)
I blame it on you (yeah).”

Basically, Charli XCX can’t resist this dude.  But, should she be blaming him or herself? Have some self-control Charli!


6. John Legend, “How Can I Blame You”

Darkness and Light • Columbia • 2016
“How can I blame you
For showin’ up at the party?
Lookin’ through me in that way
Saw somethin’ inside of me break
Saw me wanna make a mistake 
How can I blame you
For takin’ over my daydreams?
I wanna scream it, I’m sorry
But I can’t ‘cause I'm long overdue
Oh I wanna blame it on you.”

John Legend takes a different perspective compared to the aforementioned Charli XCX on “Blame It On U.”  Admittedly he wants to blame her, but at least he takes responsibility.


7. George Ezra, “Blame It on Me”

Wanted on Voyage • Columbia • 2015
“When I dance alone, and the sun’s bleeding down 
Blame it on me
When I lose control and the veil's overused
Blame it on me
What you're waiting for? 
No, what you're waiting for?”

Blame him for everything.  If you watch the accompanying music video, it’s clear that George Ezra experiences a “no good, very bad day.” His seems worse than Alexander’s.


8. Kanye West, “Blame Game”

Ft. John Legend

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy • Roc-A-Fella • 2010
“Let’s play the blame game, I love you more
Let's play the blame game for sure
Let’s call her names, names, I hate you more
Let’s call her names, names for sure.”

– John Legend (Chorus)

Both parties in the relationship say things that are regrettable, hence each is to blame rather than blaming each other.


9. Sabrina Carpenter, “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying”

Eyes Wide Open • Hollywood • 2015
“’Cause I’m young and I’m dumb
I do stupid things when it comes to love
And even if I always end up crying
Well, you can’t blame a girl for trying
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
No, you can’t blame a girl for trying
Uh-uh-uh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh.”

“Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” is cute.  It finds a young, energetic actress-singer singing about being young, dumb, and plum stupid when it comes to love. Sigh, to be young and dumb again.


10. Jesse Rutherford, “Blame”

& • Columbia • 2017
“Is being sober hopeless?
All I ever think about is smokin'
Now I know why daddy had to keep the bottle open
Uh, I can't blame him, no, I can't blame him
Am I crazy? Seems like everybody is lately (coo-coo)
Now I understand how mama raised me (I do)
I can't blame her, no, I can't blame her
Not at all (yeah, yeah).”

Jesse Rutherford clearly has substance issues and family issues.  Even with the issues he has with his father’s alcoholism and the way his other raised him, he doesn’t blame them.  It should be noted that Rutherford is best known as the frontman of alternative band, The Neighbourhood. 


11.Daley, “Blame the World”

Days & Nights • Republic • 2014
“If somebody told me
The truth would have hurt me
I wouldn't place the blame
Cause nobody’s perfect
But you played a cold game
And it left you lonely
Now you've only yourself to blame
For the fact that you've blown it.”

– Verse one

“Hey, betrayed your one and only
The tears fell now you’re lonely
Now you wanna blame the world
Now you wanna blame the world.”

– Chorus

On the pre-chorus of “Blame the World,” Daley proclaims, “And I was a fool to love you.” Seems like it.  She messed up a good thing, and she wants to blame everybody else but herself.  Preach Daley!


12. Ledisi, “I Blame You”

The Truth • Verve • 2014
“When they look at me
What they really see
Is the love you got me feeling
Like I’m dancing on the ceiling
I can hardly breathe
‘Cause you’re all I need
So when they ask me why I’m smiling like a fool
I blame you, oh baby.”

Positive blame! Ledisi is in love, and her man is to blame!


13.YG, “Blame It on the Streets”

Ft. Jay 305

Blame It on the Streets • Def Jam • 2014
“Don’t blame my mama
Blame it on the streets
Don’t blame my liquor
Blame it on the streets.”

– Jay 305

Anyone familiar with YG knows that the streets, specifically gang activity, is a prominent theme.  “Blame it on the Streets,” the title track from the rapper’s project released between My Krazy Life and Still Brazy, blames ‘hard-living’ on the streets.


14. Andy Grammer, “Blame It on the Stars”

Magazines or Novels • 2014 • S-Curve
“We can blame it on the stars
Oh, come on, let your heart just breathe
Stars, oh, come on, let your guard down and
We can blame it on the stars.”

Andy Grammer doesn’t tackle the streets like YG, but rather the sky.  What he does have in common with the rapper is that he raps a little bit… the key being “a little bit.”  Exuberantly, on his live Honda Stage performance, he encourages the audience to “stank that shit up.” Ok.


15. Falling in Reverse, “My Heart’s to Blame”

Just Like You • Epitaph • 2015
“My heart’s to blame
So where do we all go from here?
It's time to say goodbye, you're on your own
And this is where I disappear
So turning back is what I hate the most...”

Breaking up is hard, but that’s what’s happening on “My Hearts to Blame.”


16. Modest Mouse, “Blame it On the Tetons”

Good News for People Who Love Bad News • Sony • 2004
“Blame it on the Tetons
Yeah, I need a scapegoat now.”

“Blame it on the weekends
God, I need a cola now.”

“Blame it all on me ‘cause
God, I need a cold one now.”

Blame it on the a-a-alcohol / Blame it on the a-a-alcohol – oops, that’s another ‘blame’ song.


17. Mika, “Blame It on the Girls”

The Boy Who Knew Too Much • Casablanca Music • 2009
“Blame it on the girls who know what to do
Blame it on the boys who keep hitting on you
Blame it on your mother for the things she said
Blame it on your father but you know he's dead.”

You know what, screw it – blame everything on everybody else!


18. Chrisette Michele, “Blame It on Me”

Epiphany • Island Def Jam • 2009
“Blame it on me
Say it's my fault
Say that I left you outside in the cold
With a broken heart
I really don't care
I ain't crying no more
Say I'm a liar
A cheater
Say anything that you want.”

“Blame It on Me” is one of the best Chrisette Michele records.  On this ballad, ole girl doesn’t care WHAT he says to her or about her.


19. The Jacksons, “Blame It on the Boogie”

Destiny • CBS • 1978
“Don't blame it on the sunshine
Don't blame it on the moonlight
Don't blame it on the good times
Blame it on the boogie.”

Michael Jackson and the fam blame it all the groove and the music.  Music will do it to you, especially looking back to the Disco age.


20. Kip Moore, “I’m to Blame”

Wild Ones • MCA Nashville • 2015
“No, they don’t make guys like me, you get exactly what you see
I come from a long line of bloodline that ain’t gonna change
So, take your pistol pointing finger right off of the trigger
I know where to aim, hell, I’m to blame.”

Blame Kip. ‘Nough said.


21. Godsmack, “I Blame You”

The Oracle • Universal Republic • 2010
“And I, I blame you for everything you do
For the scars I bear and breathing all my air
For everything I’ll ever do
I blame you.”

“Whoa there, Nelly!” – better yet, whoa there, Ezra Sully!


22. Black Stone Cherry, “Blame It on the Boom Boom”

Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea • The All Blacks B.V. • 2011
“It feels so good
And you knew that it would
When we're bringing on the boom boom
And you're so sweet from your head to your feet
When I'm giving you the boom boom.”

Three words: “Boom-boom-POW!


23. Sum 41, “We’re All to Blame”

Chuck • Island • 2004
“And we're all to blame
We've gone too far, from pride to shame
We're trying so hard
We're dying in vain
We're hopelessly blissful and blind
To all we are
We want it all
With no sacrifice!”

“We’re All to Blame” is a fitting, meaningful closer to this big, fat blame playlist. Deryck Whibley and Sum 41 get all meaningful on humankind.  Sure, “We’re All to Blame” arrives 14 years before this playlist was published, but it’s still a message we should all take to heart.


 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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