Our 10 Favourite Songs About Flowers
1. Kiss From A Rose, Seal
He may be better known to us now for his antics on The Voice and his penchant for odd-coloured nail polish, but in 1995 Seal was all about flowers. This was his breakthrough hit in Australia, reaching number 1 on the charts.
2. Bed Of Roses, Bon Jovi
When Bon Jovi hit the big time in the late 80s, it was all about big hair and hard rock. But by 1993, when the Keep the Faith album was released, Mr Jovi had softened somewhat. Bed of Roses was the most successful single from the record.
3. Lilac Wine, Jeff Buckley
Lilac Wine – about a heartbroken lover getting gloriously drunk from wine made out of a lilac tree - was originally written by James Shelton in 1950. It’s been covered by many artists since, including Nina Simone and Miley Cyrus. But Jeff’s Buckley’s version on his ground-breaking Grace record is perhaps now the best known.
4. Push The Little Daisies, Ween
Depending on who you talk to, this 1992 ditty by American experimental group Ween is either the most annoying song ever recorded or a cult classic. Surprisingly (or perhaps not) the song only had mainstream success in Australia.
Listen to Push The Little Daisies
5. Marigold, Nirvana
Who knew that Kurt Cobain was into herbaceous sunflowers? Although this song was originally written, recorded and released by Nirvana’s drummer Dave Grohl in 1992, it’s Nirvana’s own version, released as a b-side to Heart-Shaped Box in 1993, that is best known.
6. Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Poison
This power ballad by 80s hair band Poison proved that it was possible to look tough and sing about flowers at the same time. Obviously Poison wasn’t familiar with Interflora’s service at the time – all of our roses come de-thorned.
Listen to Every Rose Has Its Thorn
7. Build Me Up Buttercup, The Foundations
Used in movies and TV commercials for decades and covered countless times, this happy little number about the beautiful yellow perennial was first recorded by the Foundations in 1968.
Listen to Build Me Up Buttercup
8. Candle in the Wind 1997, Elton John
Ok, so this song doesn’t have a flower in the title, but because it’s popularly referred to as ‘England’s Rose’ we thought it was worthy of inclusion. Recorded after the death of Princess Di in 1997, the song was based on John’s 1973 classic about Marilyn Monroe. The 1997 version became the highest selling single of all time, with all royalties going to the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
9. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond
“You don’t bring me flowers, you don’t sing me love songs, you hardly talk to me anymore”. Strong words from 1970s duo Streisand and Diamond. This song, originally intended as the theme tune for a TV show, hit the charts in 1978.
Listen to You Don't Bring Me Flowers
10. Tiptoe Through The Tulips
This funny little number was written by Al Dubin and Joe Burke in 1929 and hit top spot on the charts with a version recorded by jazz guitarist Nick Lucas in the same year. Turns out it was also used in the first ever Looney Tunes cartoon – “Sinkin’ in the Bathtub”. That’s all folks!