In our saga of tracks that start with different letters, it’s hard to find a better list than this one about the letter M. Few will have as many iconic, funny, or famous songs as this. Money, mothers, and magic are all great things to write tracks about, so it makes sense. In this article, we’ll go over 31 songs starting with M, and hopefully, you’ll be adding a lot of them to your playlist.
1. Macarena – Los del Río
I can’t start this list off with a more iconic or well-known song than Macarena. It was a massive hit when it was released and created an incredible dance craze. Thankfully, it’s pretty simple, which made it great for school children to be able to dance along to despite not being able to sing along. It’s also one of the first introductions to the Spanish language for a lot of children thanks to how catchy it is.
2. Macho Man – Village People
The Village People were absolutely created to capitalize on disco fever, but they did such a good job that they became an iconic group in their own right. Macho Man, like all of their music, has some of the gay underpinnings that helped make the band popular. Even if you don’t know all the lyrics, this one will have you repeating “Macho, macho, man” all day long.
3. Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
This magic carpet ride isn’t the one from Disney’s version of Aladdin. Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride is one of the best feel-good songs of all time. You’ve probably heard it in movies, even if you don’t recognize it by the title of the track. It’s all about heading off to have a good time, backed by some classic guitars, powerful vocals, and an incredible bouncing rhythm.
4. Make Me Wanna – Thomas Rhett
Make Me Wanna by Thomas Rhett is a bit of a personal inclusion for this list rather than a big hit single. This track was one of my favorite love songs back in the day, and I may or may not have sent it to someone. Regardless, this one is all about how much he loves his wife and the way she makes him feel.
5. Make Yourself – Incubus
Make Yourself by Incubus is one of those songs about pulling yourself back together after something bad happens and building yourself up no matter what happens to you. You can’t let yourself be swallowed up, instead, you’ve got to make yourself the way you want or someone else will make you into what they want instead. It’s an empowering track with a great message, and it’s one you need to include in your playlist on a down day. Sometimes, when you’re down, you just have to make yourself do something to get out of it.
6. Malibu – Hole
Malibu is undeniably the biggest hit song that Hole ever released. It would wind up peaking at number three on the Modern Rock charts and even earned a Grammy Nomination in 1999. Several publications have listed it on their Best Songs of the Decade lists, and it’s one of the best things you’ll see come from Courtney Love.
7. Mama Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J
Mama Said Knock You Out was a comeback song for LL Cool J, and no, it doesn’t matter that the song starts by telling you not to call it a comeback. This was the beginning of a revival for his career after a long hiatus in success. It’s also one of the few rap tracks that are equally as good at being a hype song as it is at being memed on the internet.
8. Mama Tried – Merle Haggard
In the annals of country music, few tracks are as iconic and integral to the genre as Mama Tried by Merle Haggard. In 1999, this one won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award and has been selected for the National Recording Registry. It became one of his best songs, cementing his legacy as a legendary country artist and one of the biggest names in the industry.
9. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…) – Lou Bega
You can’t even lie and try to say you haven’t heard this song, and I even doubt you don’t know the title for this one. Lou Bega’s Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…) is an iconic track. Now, I don’t recommend having this many women in your life in the way this song implies, but it sure is fun to sing along with this track. We may never get a Mambo No. 6, but that’s okay because this one has stuck around long enough that we don’t need a sequel.
10. Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Waylon Jennings
There aren’t many more iconic team-ups in country music than Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys remains one of the best country and Western songs of all time. This is one of those mood setters, featured in a lot of other media such as The Ranch and pretty much anything that involves cowboys.
11. Man In Black – Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is the Man In Black, so it should come as no surprise that one of the legend’s best songs is titled Man In Black. He almost always wore black rather than anything flashy despite his wealth, a sign that he remembered his roots and could relate to his hardworking audience. He explains all of this in the track, in fact, stating he wears black for the poor and the beaten down.
12. Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson is one of the most successful artists of all time, if not the most successful, and Man In The Mirror is one of the songs that helped him achieve that level of success. A track that sees him being introspective about himself and his life, yearning for some changes and staring into the mirror to examine exactly who he is and can become. He’s starting all of the changes with the person looking back at him in the mirror, a message that just about everyone needs to be reminded of every now and then.
13. Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain
This is one of those songs that shows up in a lot of my articles, but that’s because of how groundbreaking and amazing it was. Shania Twain knocked it out of the park with this track, scoring a crossover hit that had everyone feeling like a woman and reveling in their femininity. A song like this was meant for women to feel empowered, but it was so good you wouldn’t be surprised to see men dancing around to it too, giving it even more power and fame.
14. Maneater – Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado’s Maneater was one of her biggest hits. Sexy, seductive, and dangerous, she’s the one in control as soon as she walks into a room. You don’t get to be with her without working for it, and even if you do earn her favor, she’ll chew you up and spit you out. A wonderfully empowering song for all the women out there.
15. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville is best listened to with a cold drink in your hand and some hot sand under your feet, I can vouch for that. A relaxing beach song about wasting away under the sun and being happier for it. This track even spawned a hotel chain of beach resorts.
16. Marry for Money – Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins’ Marry For Money is a hilarious song about the end of a marriage and the lessons he learned from it. He was infatuated with the woman he married, but it went sour. Instead of doing that again, he’s marrying for money the next time because he’ll be so rich that he won’t care if she’s ugly or doesn’t love him.
17. Master Of Puppets – Metallica
Metallica’s Master Of Puppets is widely known for its difficulty. And it doesn’t matter which part you decide to play, from lead guitar to bass. It’s easily one of the legendary metal band’s most famous songs too, one that helped cement their legacy in the genre. It is an absolute masterclass in music and composition, more than worthy of the eight minutes it takes to listen to.
18. Material Girl – Madonna
![Madonna - Material Girl (Official Video) [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6p-lDYPR2P8/0.jpg)
Out of all the hits Madonna produced, Material Girl might be the biggest. She wrote it about her lifestyle—at least at the time—and how materialistic she and everyone around her was. It became her third top-five single on the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at number two on that chart and was one of the early songs that helped her establish herself as an icon.
19. Maybe it Was Memphis – Pam Tillis
Well, I’m going to continue the theme of personal songs for me in this list. I grew up listening to a lot of country music from this time period and, thanks to my mother, a lot of female artists. Maybe It Was Memphis was one of those tracks I heard a lot growing up so I feel some kind of connection to it. In general, I love the song, and you might too if you give it a shot.
20. Meet In The Middle – Diamond Rio
Diamond Rio’s Meet In The Middle is another country song I grew up listening to. A classic in the genre, it describes a relationship that sees a young couple meeting up with each other no matter the weather. It also carried a strong message that you can gain a lot of ground by meeting in the middle instead of making the other person come all the way to you. Combine that with an adorable and loving relationship, and you’ve got a country hit.
21. Mercy – Kanye West Feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz
There has been a lot of speculation about Kanye West’s Mercy over the years, with some thinking the song was all about devil worship. While that makes a lot of sense with the backup vocals talking about gnashing of teeth and weeping, that wasn’t the point of the track. It wound up being a huge hit single, taking the top spot on both the Hot Rap Songs and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. At the time, it was one of the biggest collaborations out there too.
22. Midnight in Montgomery – Alan Jackson
Midnight In Montgomery is one of the spookiest country songs out there. Alan Jackson essentially stops his tour to visit the grave of a friend, but winds up seeing that friend’s ghost and even having a conversation with them. Originally, it was written for and about Hank Williams, who was from Montgomery, Alabama.
23. Mind Playing Tricks on Me – Geto Boys
![Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me (Official Video) [Explicit]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IJtHdkyo0hc/0.jpg)
Geto Boys released Mind Playing Tricks On Me on their 1991 album. While gangsta rap was emerging and bringing light to the plight of people in inner cities, this song took that a step further. Instead of glorifying the gangster lifestyle, this sign maligned it. It describes how exhausting it is to be in a gang and discusses the depression, PTSD, loneliness, and paranoia that come along with it.
24. Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
Mine Would Be You by Blake Shelton is one of the sweetest country songs you’re going to hear today. It discusses all of the good things in life, from your highest moment to all of the best things you can experience, and is stating that all of his best times were with one person. It was a huge country hit when it came out and remains an amazing love track to this day.
25. Misery Business – Paramore
![Paramore: Misery Business [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aCyGvGEtOwc/0.jpg)
Misery Business has the distinction of being one of the few tracks that if you throw on today, people who grew up hearing it will burst into song. This is one of Paramore’s best tracks, a hard rocker with an attitude that can make any millennial bust open the door and start performing mere seconds into the song. I still have it on rotation in my playlists, and I know a lot of other people do too.
26. Miss Jackson – Panic! At The Disco Feat. LOLO
![Panic! At The Disco: Miss Jackson ft. LOLO [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LUc_jXBD9DU/0.jpg)
Panic! At The Disco released this banger in 2013 as the lead single for their fourth album, and it instantly caught fire. Upon release, it reached the top 10 in iTunes downloads and became the band’s first hit on the alternative charts since they dropped Nine In The Afternoon five years earlier. It was inspired by Janet Jackson and her song Nasty, one of the most used catchphrases during the time period.
27. Mockingbird – Eminem
![Eminem - Mockingbird [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S9bCLPwzSC0/0.jpg)
Eminem’s Mockingbird was another song addressed to his daughter, and that divided some critics when it came to how the track was received. Despite this, it became one of his most iconic songs and comes off as a tender tribute to his daughter. It eventually made it to number 11 in the US and number four in the UK, earning a Grammy nomination in the process.
28. Mona Lisa – Lil Wayne Feat. Kendrick Lamar
Mona Lisa sees Lil Wayne put on his storyteller hat for an epic saga of bamboozling and thievery. It’s gritty yet slick, with a flow unmatched by anyone else. It’s got an edge that makes it both a perfect workout song and one that will unsettle you upon closer inspection of the lyrics. If this is a track you haven’t heard but you enjoy his music, you definitely need to add it to your playlist.
29. Monkey Wrench – Foo Fighters
Monkey Wrench is one of Foo Fighters’ most famous songs, but it was deeply personal for Dave Grohl. It details how his marriage ended. It rose to number nine on the Mainstream Rock chart, giving the band one of their best tracks.
30. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
Everybody do the monster mash! One of the best Halloween songs of all time and one that you’ve surely heard at a party during the holiday at some point.
31. Monster You Made – Pop Evil
Monster You Made is one of the most emotional songs Pop Evil has ever released. It served as the second single from their second album, and it begs you to take a look at your own life and make sure you’re becoming who you want to be.
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As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create
quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.
