Top 10 Peter Gabriel Songs (Part 2)
(Continued from last week’s article, found online!)
Five: “Solsbury Hill” from Peter Gabriel 1: Car
Appearing as Gabriel’s very first solo single, “Solsbury Hill” had a lot to live up to. Fans of his were not only still mourning his separation from Genesis, but were waiting with held breath to see how his sound would change without a band to lift him up. This, of course, was not long-lasting worry, as “Solsbury Hill” was not only Gabriel’s biggest success at its release, but continues to be his most popular song, with 206 million listens on Spotify. Mixing Gabriel’s famous prog aesthetic with a more pop-centric chorus, the song showed that Gabriel would not only survive without Genesis, but perhaps become more popular than conceived of before.
Four: “I Don’t Remember” from Peter Gabriel 3: Melt
With one of the grooviest bass performances in any song I know, “I Don’t Remember” bridges the gap between prog Gabriel and pop Gabriel perfectly. Bizarre, a bit otherworldly, focused on harder rock rhythms but with a pop-esque chorus, this song is really a perfect mix of both worlds for any Gabriel fan. You might even catch a bit of Genesis-like vibes from the music as well, calling back to Gabriel’s previous eras.
Three: “Sledgehammer” from So
“Sledgehammer” is the song that solidified not only Gabriel’s sound and aesthetic, but his place among the greatest 80s musicians. Topping charts around the world, the song’s jazzy backing made up of traditional drums and guitars as well as horns and the synthesized shakuhachi flute that appears most predominantly in the beginning. While it definitely falls into the pop category, Gabriel still used untraditional sounds and strategies to make the piece stand out. Whether listening to it as a fan of Gabriel or not, there’s something in “Sledgehammer” for everyone. While you’re at it, watch the music video, which won the most MTV Video Music Awards ever.
Two: “Mercy Street” from So
One of Gabriel’s most underrepresented songs, “Mercy Street” transcends beyond just song by telling a story so visceral, so encapsulating, so universal that it’s impossible to not be affected by it. Inspired by Anne Sexton’s poem “45 Mercy Street,” the song tells a story of a father and daughter escaping an undisclosed urban location. Touching on a myriad of themes from environmentalism to war, religion to secularity, family to mental illness, “Mercy Street” is like no other when it comes to the sheer brilliance of the lyrics. Take into account how amazing the backing and instrumentals are as well and it’s clear that the song deserves more than it gets.
One: “Washing of the Water” from Us
Speaking of greatly unappreciated songs, “Washing of the Water” takes the spot not only as my personal favorite Gabriel song, but one of my favorite songs of all time. It made no significant place on the Billboards or charts, had little in the way of background or inspiration, and hasn’t even gained enough notoriety to get a Wikipedia page, but “Washing of the Water” not only encapsulates what Gabriel does best with in music, but what music should mean to the world. It’s not a happy song, and that much should be made clear—it’s slow and soulful, relating the feeling of depression to being lost on a river. As the water ebbs and flows, so too does the music, rising up, carrying the listener from highs to lows, giving us relief and burden, all while making the struggle completely clear. Few songs can achieve the same ethereal ascension as “Washing of the Water.”