The 10 Best Laura Branigan songs of All-Time

Laura Ann Branigan was an incredible singer, songwriter, and actress from the U.S. Laura experienced immense success from her two hit songs, “Gloria” and “Self-Control.” Her hit song “Gloria” stayed on the U.S Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks straight and peaked at number two. The song hit other countries, reaching number one in Australia and Canada. In 1984, her other hit song, “Self-Control,” reached number one in Canada and Germany and number four in the U.S. Both songs were also successful in the U.K as they made the Top 10 on the U.K Singles chart. Branigan retired from music in the 90s and passed away in 2004.

Throughout her musical career, Branigan released eight albums that experienced much success, like Branigan, Branigan 2, self-control, and Laura Branigan. These albums featured some of her best songs, including Gloria, Self-control, Power of love, Never in a million years, and more. Here are 10 of the best Laura Branigan songs of all time.

10. Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf was released as the third and final single from Laura Branigan’s fifth studio album, Touch, in 1987. The song was written by singer-songwriter Jude Johnstone. The song has a beautiful, soulful, and sad vibe and is about a lady who is fed up with her man playing games on her and doesn’t want him to keep coming back to her for no reason. As you listen to the song, you can feel the pain she is going through and relate to her circumstance. The combination of Laura’s husky voice, the guitar, and the piano make this one of her best songs.

9. Never in a Million Years

Never in a million years was released as the second single from her self-titled studio album, Laura Branigan, in 1990 by Atlantic records. The song was written by Bob Farrel, Dave Robbins, and Van Stephenson and produced by Peter Wolf. The song is about her wanting to see someone she loves again. It brings tears to your eyes when you listen to it. It could also mean losing someone in your life and wishing you could see them again. The ballad is relatable to everyone because, at some point, we have all lost someone that we would give anything to be with again.

8. Ti Amo

Ti Amo was a song recorded by Umberto Tozzi, an Italian singer, in 1977 and became a hit in many European countries. In 1984, Laura Branigan recorded an English version of the song for her third studio album, Self-Control, which became a big hit in Australia and Canada, peaking at number 2 on Australia’s Kent Music Report and number five on Canada’s Top Singles Chart. The breakup song is about her wondering why her man broke up with her and what she did wrong. The music in this beautiful song is simple, as the instrumentals don’t overpower her powerful voice. You wouldn’t believe the song is a cover as she sings it as if she wrote it herself.

7. Solitaire

This song was originally written and sung in French by Martine Clemenceau in 1981. Laura Branigan released the English version in 1983 as the lead single in her second studio album, Branigan 2. It reached number 16 and 28 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary and Dance charts, respectively, and charted at number eight in Canada and twelve in New Zealand. Solitaire peaked at number seven in the U.S Billboard Hot 100 and became her second consecutive top 10 entry. The cover song is about her going through emotional neglect from her lover, who constantly ignores her. She eventually moves on from the man. The story in the original version is quite different, as the writers changed Laura’s version to fit her style.

6. Didn’t we Almost Win it All

This powerful ballad is from Laura’s seventh and final studio album, Over my Heart, released in 1993. As stated by Wikipedia, this album was her most personal album, and she co-produced and sang some of her compositions. Didn’t we almost win it all was one of the songs she wrote, and in true Laura Branigan, the music and the lyrics, together with her fantastic voice, make the song one of the most beautiful you have ever heard. The love song is about a man showing her he loves her by doing and saying all the right things but also breaking her heart in the process. She pours her heart out in the song and flawlessly hits every note.

5. The Lucky One

The song is from Laura’s third studio album, Self-Control, released in 1984 as the album’s second song. It became Branigan’s fifth Top 20 entry on Billboard’s Hot 100 as it peaked at number twenty. The lucky one was the theme song for the movie, An Uncommon Love, in 1983, and in 2000, Johnny Logan, an Australian-born Irish singer, released a cover version of the song in his album Love is All. The song is about a girl trying to find love in the world and loving herself. The song was one of the most melodious songs of the 1980s.

4. Power of Love

The power of love was originally co-written and recorded by Jennifer Rush, an American singer. The song was recorded and released by Laura Branigan as the second single in her fifth studio album, Touch. The track was released in 1987 and peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Laura’s seventh top 40 entry. The song was number 19 on Billboard’s Hot Adult Contemporary chart. Both Laura Branigan and Celine Dion covered the song, and their versions of the cover song are pretty similar. But the songs are breathtaking, and both women take the song to the next level.

3. How am I supposed to live without you

Written in 1982 by Michael Bolton and Doug James, the song has been recorded by numerous artists worldwide, the most famous version being by Michael Bolton himself. It is the second single from Laura Branigan’s second album, Branigan 2. The song was number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, spent three weeks on the adult contemporary chart, and was number one on Canada’s adult contemporary chart. She sings the song with so much soul and emotions and sounds angelic, which makes her version perfect.

2. Self-Control

Self-Control was initially released by Raf, an Italian singer, in 1984. It was written by Giancarlo Bigazzi, Raf and Steve Piccolo. Laura Branigan released a cover the same year, and it was the lead single in her third studio album, Self-Control. The hit song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Hot dance club lay, and number five on the adult contemporary charts. Self-control became Branigan’s fourth consecutive top 10 entry on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. The melody in the keyboard and drums hook you into the song before Branigan even says a word. It is about the singer loving the nightlife and becoming a creature of the night.

1. Gloria

Gloria is a love song originally written and composed by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi in 1979. Laura Branigan recorded and released her version of the song in 1982 as the second single in her first studio album, Branigan. The single became an instant hit and peaked at number two on the U.S Billboard Hot 100, staying there for two weeks. Gloria stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 list for more than 22 weeks and earned Branigan a Grammy award nomination in 1982. The song was a worldwide success, hitting number one in countries like Canada and Australia and staying number one in Australia for seven consecutive weeks. The song is also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Like her song, self-control, you get hooked to the song even before hearing her voice.

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