In the midst of today’s global chaos and the endless stream of events, it’s sometimes necessary to switch off for a moment. Music often becomes the most reliable place to escape. Each of us has a few songs that return to us like old friends — pieces that don’t fade with time, even as everything else changes. After a long period of thinking, I finally decided to put together my own list of the ten most essential ones. It wasn’t easy; I have a lot of favourites, and each of them is tied to a certain period, place, or person.
But this top ten is the core. These are the songs that have stayed with me for years, shaped me, pulled me back into different versions of myself, and still manage to trigger something inside me — sometimes gently, sometimes like a blow to the head.
10. London Calling – THE CLASH
I’ve always felt closer to the Sex Pistols than to The Clash. On the other hand, I’ve always admired how The Clash were able to experiment with different musical influences. Especially reggae, which probably has a lot to do with Joe Strummer growing up on Portobello Road, where a large Caribbean community lived in the 60s and 80s. The Caribbean rhythms are unmistakable in London Calling, and the lyrics — expressing fears of nuclear war, climate catastrophe, social collapse, and distrust in the establishment — remain relevant even nearly fifty years later.
9. Anarkia Oi! – GAROTOS PODRES
I’ve been listening to this track by the Brazilian Oi! legends non‑stop since the early 90s. It still has the same punch. The lyrics call for resistance against the system and warn against false leaders. No metaphors, just raw anger in the spirit of anarchism. A message like that simply doesn’t age.
8. Stranglehold – UK SUBS
Unlike many other punk lyrics, this one definitely has aged. It’s about being trapped in a relationship with a thirteen‑year‑old girl. In 1979, when it came out, it fit perfectly into the extreme punk provocation of the time. I don’t know if it’s based on Charlie Harper’s personal experience, but it doesn’t really matter. Stranglehold carries the rawness of the first wave of British punk, and that’s exactly what I love about it.
7. A Rainy Night in Soho – THE POGUES
One of the most poetic songs The Pogues ever recorded. Shane MacGowan sings about a relationship that survived years of joy and pain. He describes the transience of things in human life, while the most important thing — the love between two people — endures. It’s an autobiographical song about him and his lifelong partner Victoria Mary Clarke (both appear in the music video). An absolutely phenomenal piece of writing. Shane MacGowan was a genius with words, and this song proves it.
6. What a Wonderful World – LOUIS ARMSTRONG
A celebration of simple beauty, human connection, and hope. Another timeless message that never grows old. Armstrong’s unmistakable gravelly voice gives it a completely unique shape. I also love the later punk cover by Joey Ramone.
5. Personality Crisis – NEW YORK DOLLS
Raw proto‑punk from the early 70s. One of the few songs that can get my blood pumping within a few seconds. It’s an explosion of identity, frustration, and the pressure to be someone you’re not. It’s about the chaos that arises when you try to meet the expectations of others while still wanting to stay authentic. We all know that feeling, and New York Dolls captured it perfectly.
4. My Way – SID VICIOUS
Instead of Sinatra’s dignified life reflection, Sid Vicious screams his punk manifesto of defiance, self‑destruction, and rejection of social norms. At the time of recording, Sid was already heavily addicted to heroin, and only a few months away from his death. My Way feels like his epitaph. Yes, I want this one played at my funeral.
3. No Woman No Cry – BOB MARLEY
Paradoxically, the title doesn’t mean “without a woman there’s no crying,” but “woman, don’t cry.” It’s meant to comfort someone going through hardship. But I’ve always interpreted it as “without a woman there’s no crying,” and it still makes sense to me. I don’t think I’m the only one.
2. England Belongs to Me – COCK SPARRER
A true Oi! anthem. It’s a shout of identity and belonging — not as an expression of nationalism, but as a reminder that England belongs to everyone who keeps it running, even if society often overlooks them. When I saw several thousand people from all over Europe singing the chorus together with the band during their 50th anniversary show at London’s Roundhouse, it was indescribable.
1. Anarchy in the UK – SEX PISTOLS
This song quite literally changed my life. Whenever I hear the opening guitar riff, it feels like hitting a wall. My heartbeat spikes, a jolt of electricity shoots through my body, and something happens in my head. I enter a kind of trance that no other song can trigger. It’s an explosion.