You know what surprised me?
Two completely opposite things.
First, I was surprised by how many songs about food are out there.
Then I thought about it for a minute and was suddenly surprised by how few of them there are.
I mean, we all love food.
Shouldn’t there be a lot more songs about it out there?
Be that as it may, there are still plenty of songs about eating and food to populate the list below, without including any of the really bad songs.
Table of Contents
- 1 Songs About Food
- 1.1 Bon Appetit by Katy Perry
- 1.2 Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
- 1.3 Milkshake by Kelis
- 1.4 Peaches by Presidents Of The United States Of America
- 1.5 Die Eier Von Satan by Tool
- 1.6 Cheeseburger In Paradise by Jimmy Buffett
- 1.7 Birthday Cake by Rihanna
- 1.8 The Onion Song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- 1.9 Sugar by Maroon 5
- 1.10 Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
- 1.11 Lollipop by Lil’ Wayne
- 1.12 Music For A Sushi Restaurant by Harry Styles
- 1.13 Eggs And Sausage (In A Cadillac With Susan Michelson) by Tom Waits
- 1.14 The Food Song by Barbra Lica
- 1.15 MacArthur Park by Donna Summer
- 1.16 Vegetables by Beach Boys
- 1.17 The Ketchup Song (Asereje) by Las Ketchup
- 2 Songs About Eating Food: Final Thoughts
Songs About Food
I tried to include songs about eating food from as many different genres as possible. That way, there should be at least a few songs below that you can enjoy.
Bon Appetit by Katy Perry
Katy Perry explained in an interview that her 2017 track Bon Appetit is about “female empowerment in the face of patriarchal oppression.” The song’s video shows Katy being cooked by men.
She wanted to convey that men often use women and discard their parts after they are done. But through Bon Appetit, she wants to show she is in control.
The song also has sexual connotations. She sings that she is all that men want and they are hungry for her. She is the sugar in her man’s life and she invites him to spread her like a buffet and enjoy her.
Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
English rock band Def Leppard released Pour Some Sugar on Me in 1987 for their album Hysteria. It is on of the most famous songs about food ever written.
The track was nominated for two MTV VMAs including Best Heavy Metal Video and Best Stage Performance in a Video and also spent several weeks in the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band explained in an interview that the lyrics of the song do not have a literal meaning. Instead, the term ‘pour some sugar on me’ means – have a good time. The singer wants to dance with a woman that has all the qualities of sugar.
Milkshake by Kelis
Kelis’s Milkshake song became a huge hit after it was released in 2003 (album Tasty). The song has some sexual and sensual innuendos and connotations, since the word “milkshake” refers to a woman’s sex appeal.
A woman’s “milkshake” is what sets her apart and attracts men to her. It is what gives a woman her confidence and makes her exciting.
When asked about the song’s meaning, Kelis said that it can mean whatever people want it to mean. The writers just played around with different words and came up with “milkshake” on a whim. The song then simply took off!
Peaches by Presidents Of The United States Of America
Presidents Of The United States Of America released their song Peaches in 1996 on their self-titled debut album. The song did surprisingly well, given the mostly nonsense lyrics. I guess people love funny songs about food.
It reached at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number eight on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. It topped the Icelandic charts and reached the top 20 in numerous other countries. It was even nominated for a Grammy award!
In the famous music video, the band plays in an orchard full of trees that re growing cans of peaches. At one point they are attached by ninjas, for whatever reason. It makes no sense, but it is definitely worth a watch. They song is catchy, too, which is the reason for its success.
Die Eier Von Satan by Tool
Die Eier Von Satan was included on Tool’s 1996 album Ænima. It is actually a segue track and not a full song, but it is still one of the most memorable tracks on the album.
The title is German and can be translated in two ways. One is “the eggs of satan” and the other is “the balls of satan”. The lyrics are also in German. They sound like some type of Nazi chant, but are actually just a recipe for a type of cookie that includes a little bit of hashish.
The phrase “und keine Eier!” is repeated several times with increasing intensity. It means “and no eggs!”, or perhaps “and no balls!”, since the word for “egg” in German is also a slang word they use for testicals.
Cheeseburger In Paradise by Jimmy Buffett
Cheeseburger In Paradise comes from Jimmy Buffett’s 1978 album Son of a Son of a Sailor. At the time of its release, the song made it up to number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. But it’s popularity has only grown since.
It is now one of Buffett’s most famous and most beloved songs. The lyrics talk about Buffett trying to eat healthier by cutting out meat, but in the end, he can’t help but crave a juicy cheeseburger.
Birthday Cake by Rihanna
Birthday Cake is a song by Rihanna, released in 2011, for her album Talk That Talk. It is a playful and suggestive song celebrating “spontaneous sex”.
The lyrics use metaphorical language and the singer compares a birthday cake to her intimate parts. The singer also expresses her eagerness to enjoy an intimate celebration with her partner, where she says she will make him do anything she wants.
The song received a lot of praise as well as criticism. Some people felt that the lyrics of Birthday Cake were overtly sexual and vulgar and that it should be banned.
Some Rihanna fans were also upset with her since this was her collaboration with Chris Brown – her boyfriend who had beaten her up. Many felt that it was shallow and irresponsible of Rihanna to team up with her abuser.
The Onion Song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
The Onion Song (released in 1969) by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell was the couple’s biggest hit in the UK. Gaye mentioned that the song was a representation of people crying all over the world, just like they do when they peel an onion.
The lyrics also use the onion as a metaphor to represent the complex layers of emotions in life and relationships. They suggest that just like peeling an onion, understanding and navigating through life’s challenges requires patience and resilience.
The song’s lyrics also talk about how life throws challenges in our paths, but the best way to deal with them is by planting seeds of love.
Sugar by Maroon 5
Sugar, from Maroon 5’s fifth studio album V released in 2014, is often interpreted with a sexual undertone. The word ‘sugar’ refers to a woman’s genitalia and the song’s lyrics convey the singer’s desire for sex.
However, its video, released in 2015, takes a different approach. In the video, the Maroon 5 band members surprise couples at their weddings spreading joy and happiness.
It showcases the positive and celebratory side of love, rather than focusing solely on its sensual aspects. Many people loved the feel-good nature of the video that captured the brides’ and grooms’ spontaneous and genuine reactions.
Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
British American singer Rupert Holmes released Escape (Pina Colada Song) for his fifth studio album Partners in Crime, released in 1969. The song is about a man who is bored in his current relationship.
One day, he comes across a newspaper ad placed by a woman who is seeking a man. The advertisement mentions that the man should love certain activities, and especially pina coladas (a rum-based drink made with pineapple juice and coconut cream). The singer goes to meet the woman only to find out that she is none other than his current partner and that she is also bored in their relationship.
The song’s lyrics imply that often one seeks excitement and variety in their current relationship and that they may ironically end up finding a renewed connection with their current partner.
Lollipop by Lil’ Wayne
Lil’ Wayne, an artist who grew up in poverty, explores themes of sexuality in his 2008 hit song Lollipop. The hip-hop rapper describes being “licked like a lollipop” by a woman he meets at his club.
He uses bold and explicit language to describe the passionate and enjoyable intercourse he has with this woman. The song is a not-so-subtle nod to the idea that feeling sexual attraction to someone can make you feel strong and confident.
Lollipop was a huge hit and went on to spend five weeks in the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. I believe that makes it the most popular of all rap songs about food.
Music For A Sushi Restaurant by Harry Styles
Harry Styles was inspired to write the lyrics to Music For a Sushi Restaurant while dining at a sushi restaurant and some song played. He felt that it was “strange music for a sushi place” and that inspired the song’s title.
The lyrics of Music For a Sushi Restaurant also talk about “green eyes”, a reference to Style’s girlfriend at the time Olivia Wilde. The lyrics have Harry praising Oliva’s hotness describing her as “so hot that one can cook an egg on her”
Do check out Harry’s other songs about food: Watermelon Sugar, Cherry, and Grape Juice.
Eggs And Sausage (In A Cadillac With Susan Michelson) by Tom Waits
Tom Waits’ Eggs and Sausage is a song about a small and affordable American diner that stays open all night, especially during the quiet hours. The track is included in his 2018 album, Nighthawks At The Diner.
American all-night diners are typically old-fashioned and known for their simple yet tasty food. Usually, the food is made using a lot of butter and oil.
In the song, Tom Waits uses poetic words and jazz music to describe a typical diner while he remembers a woman from his past. He paints a beautiful picture with this track and captures the atmosphere of the late-night scene while thinking about someone special.
The Food Song by Barbra Lica
Barbra Lica’s The Food Song is about eating disorders and how depressed people often develop such disorders because all they want is to feel good.
The singer says that she eats when she has had a bad day and justifies stuffing herself, since it makes her feel better. Every time she has a bad week, she eats more and more to make it sweet.
The singer also compares every human feeling with food. For example, sadness tastes like French fries, guilt tastes like noodles, and anger like wine. She keeps stuffing herself and does not go out.
MacArthur Park by Donna Summer
At first glance, the song MacArthur Park might not seem to be about food, but its lyrics describe “someone leaving a cake out in the rain”. This represents the sadness and loss that comes with the end of a relationship.
Jimmy Webb, the writer of MacArthur Park, based the song on his relationship with a girl. They used to meet frequently at MacArthur Park, but she ended up marrying someone else. Our breakdown of the MacArthur Park lyrics has much more.
Many singers have sung MacArthur Park, but Donna Summer’s 1978 version is thought to be the best. As mentioned above, the lyrics of MacArthur Park use cake as a metaphor for the memories and love that got ruined, much like a cake left out in the rain.
Vegetables by Beach Boys
Vegetables (or Vega Tables) is a track from the Beach Boys’ 1967 album Smiley Smile. Frontman Brian Wilson was inspired to write this song after he started practicing transcendental meditation.
Healthy eating was a big part of the spiritual movement, and Wilson wanted to inspire people to eat more organic and natural foods. The lyrics also urge people to write to the band telling them what their favorite vegetable is.
The Ketchup Song (Asereje) by Las Ketchup
The Ketchup Song is a Spanish song by the Spanish pop group Las Ketchup. The trio included it on their 2002 debut album Hijas Del Tomate (Daughters of the Tomato).
The song’s lyrics describe a man named Diego who enters a nightclub. The DJ plays his favorite song and Diego dances to the catchy tune while providing a gibberish chorus that has no meaning.
The Ketchup Song became a huge hit worldwide, sold millions of copies, and even inspired a famous dance routine.
Songs About Eating Food: Final Thoughts
At first I was surprised at how many songs about food were out there, but once I thought about just how important food is to us, I was actually surprised that there aren’t more songs about it.
Either way, there are still plenty of them to populate this list, and our list of songs about gluttony, with nothing but good songs. As mentioned, I tried to include songs in all genres, but I know some are underrepresented, or even not represented at all.
If you know of any additional songs about eating or food that deserve a spot on this list, please let me know in a comment below. I’ll be happy to add any good suggestions in a future update.
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