The five greatest “na na na’s” in music history
Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and Joni Mitchell, all of them are truly unbelievable lyricists who highlight what good can come from some well-placed words.
Bruce Springsteen probably put the impact of poignant lyrics perfectly when he spoke about how much Bob Dylan changed his life. “I want people to get the same experience from listening to one of my records as I had when I listened to Highway 61 Revisited,” he said, “The idea that something was revealed to them that was fundamentally true and essential, and gave you a view of your world, your country, your town, your neighbours, your family.”
Of course, while there is something inherently special about good lyrics, there is also something sweet about being able to sing along to simplicity. Throughout the history of music, many lyricists have opted to stray from actual words and instead opt for the simple “na”. It sounds lazy in theory, but such a move has resulted in some truly tremendous songs.
This is one for those who love simplicity, as we celebrate some of the greatest “na’s” in the history of music.
The five best “na na na’s” ever recorded in music:
Gala – ‘Freed From Desire’
Sometimes, you only need to examine the modern world to realise how much of a cultural impact a song has had, and that remains the case with a track like ‘Freed From Desire’ by Gala. Go to any gig, football game or night out, and you will find crowds, young and old, belting out the lyrics to this song any chance that they get.
The singalong nature of such an iconic track is encouraged by one thing and one thing only, and that’s the unrelenting force which is the chorus – “na na na na na naa na”. When we die, as we ascend to those big pearly gates in the sky, it wouldn’t surprise me if a song as euphoric as this accompanies us.
Blink-182 – ‘All The Small Things’
There are some places where a “na na na” doesn’t feel appropriate, and one of those places is the world of punk rock. When you have a genre which is built on the idea of ruthlessness and rebellion, what business does such a catchy and sing-along-oriented combination of words have? Well, Blink-182 have always been keen on pushing boundaries, which is exactly what happens here.
In their track ‘All The Small Things’, we hang onto every word as they rush through their list of lyrics in that mirroring rhyming pattern. There are a few specific words and phrases that, no matter your relationship with the song, you can’t help but sing along to. These include “surprises let me know she cares”, “work sucks, I know”, and of course, that classic rattling off of “na na na’s” at the end.
The latter remains the most iconic, as not only are these a highlight of the song, but of all the “na na na’s” in the world of music.
The Smiths – ‘This Charming Man’
Most of the examples on this list cover the “na na na’s” that are in your face, flamboyant, and that beg for you to sing along with them. These are great, and a lot of fun to listen to, but they are only one aspect of the artistic spectrum. In order to fully understand the scope of “na na na’s” within music, we have to look at the other end of the artistic spectrum as well.
This manifests in songs like ‘This Charming Man’, where those iconic “na’s” are subtle, subdued, so delicate you would be forgiven for forgetting they exist. Those that we hear at the end of the song aren’t Morrissey saying “sing along everyone!”
Instead, they’re acknowledging how good the music sounds and adding a few “na’s” to layer things out. You can sing to them if you want, but these delicate utterances are here for you to sit back and enjoy more than anything else.
The Beach Boys – ‘Good Vibrations’
Can you find me a band that has sweeter-sounding vocals than the Beach Boys? Realistically, every single song they ever recorded could consist of nothing more than “na na na” and they would still have one of the best discographies in the world.
‘Good Vibrations’ was a painstakingly complex song to record, as the band spent days upon days in the studio, layering the song and ensuring that every single second was perfect. It’s without a doubt one of the greatest pieces of music ever made, so by proxy, those few seconds of “na na na” which we hear at the end are some of the best ever sung.
The Beatles – ‘Hey Jude’
“Na na na’s” are good because they are easy to sing along to, but why do we want to listen to songs that we can sing along to so much? There is a communal feeling that comes with a lot of music, and it’s heightened when you sing in unison with others.
As such, the best “na na na’s” are those which we feel happiest singing with others, and when we use this means of grading, there is only one song which could take the top spot: ‘Hey Jude’.
The track written by Paul McCartney about Jules Lennon is beautiful in every sense of the word, but it’s most memorable for the four-minute outro that consists of repeated “na na na’s.” There is no better song to sing to; it’s magic in its simplicity, and these are by far the best “na’s” ever laid down on wax.
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