From Kacey Musgraves to Kesha, Here’s Our Definitive Ranking of Songs About Rainbows

When life seems bleak and colorless, we always try to find our rainbow.

For us, our rainbow comes in the form of some uplifting and motivating songs about, well, rainbows. No matter what we're going through, they can always put a smile on our face and have us looking on the brighter side of things.

There are many, many songs about rainbows, but a handful that mean something to us. We decided to rank those songs about rainbows just for the heck of it below.

They'll always be there for you, too!

10. 'Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows' by Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore might not be a household name in this day and age, but almost everyone knows her masterpiece "It's My Party"—the one where she sings about it being her party and she'll cry if she wants to. Unless you've recently binged The Umbrella Academy on Netflix, "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" is likely a song you've never heard. It might not be explicitly about rainbows, but it's definitely a tune that brings us hope when all seems lost. We grew up listening to it and have yet to be disappointed by this campy hit.

 

9. 'She's a Rainbow' by The Rolling Stones

This late '60s psychedelic pop track has been one of our favorites from The Rolling Stones for years. Known for their rock hits, "She's a Rainbow" was a bit of a departure from their classic sound. Even though it most definitely wasn't written about us, we've somehow convinced ourselves it is. That's one of the major reasons we have a jam session with this tune when we're feeling down, but also because it always brings a smile to our face.

 

8. 'Pocketful of Rainbows' by Elvis Presley

Oh, Elvis. The heartthrob can do no wrong. We're convinced there's an Elvis song for every mood and season. All the proof we need is this melody, "Pocketful of Rainbows." Life may try to rain on your parade from time to time, but when you have a pocketful of rainbows, that's near impossible. Though Elvis is singing about his lover, your pocketful of rainbows can come from anyone or anything. Heck, it can even be something you gift yourself.

 

7. 'Rainbow' by Sia

Who would've thought an original song from My Little Pony: The Movie would make it on this list? We know, we're just as shocked as you are. We didn't exactly watch the flick, but we did listen to this Sia tune on repeat when it was released. Offering a message of hope and strength, Sia's pop hit reminds us that life may be tough, but we're tougher.

 

6. 'Rainbow (Interlude)' by Mariah Carey

Mariah loves rainbows so much, she named an entire album after the meteorological phenomenon. We don't blame her. Rainbow isn't our favorite Mariah album by any means, but it's one that holds quite a lot of meaning for us. The interlude "Rainbow" is a major reason why. As the superstar's angelic voice sings over chirping birds and flowing waterfalls, we're transported to our happy place. It's hard to let despair take over when this song is playing.

 

5. 'Rainbowland' by Miley Cyrus

After listening to Miley Cyrus' "Rainbowland," which features her godmother Dolly Parton, we only have one question: How do we get to Rainbowland? We'd very much like to take up residence in the magical place Miley and Dolly sing of, even if we're the only ones who inhabit the mystical land. Until then, we'll listen to this upbeat country tune on repeat to transport ourselves there mentally.

 

4. 'Rainbow Connection' by Kermit the Frog

If you're looking to cry and feel hopeful at the same time, listening to this iconic hit sung by Kermit the Frog will do just that. Not as much of an uplifting tune, this acoustic guitar-driven track is all about asking questions, rather than having the answers. A song that never gets old, we often listen to it when we need a reminder that we don't have to have it all together 24/7. Sometimes, it's okay to be inquisitive and unsure.

 

3. 'Rainbow' by Kacey Musgraves

From her Grammy-winning record Golden Hour, "Rainbow" is one of the best tracks to close an album. With its simple piano and soft lyrics, Kacey proves she's the voice of reason when you feel all hope is lost. As humans, we often dwell on the negative and let it consume us. With this tune, Kacey reminds us that there's always a rainbow over our heads. We just need to look for it.

 

2. 'Rainbow' by Kesha

Kesha has been through some dark times, but she was able to find her rainbow to guide her out of all of it. Her song "Rainbow," the titular track off one of her most important albums to date, details the hardships she went through and how she didn't let them drag her down. Through the clouds, she was able to shine through like a rainbow. We can never not cry when we hear Kesha belt out this tune. They're all happy tears though.

 

1. 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' by Judy Garland

We wouldn't be able to live with ourselves if we didn't rank this classic tune from The Wizard of Oz at No. 1. When most people envision songs about rainbows, this is almost always the first that comes to mind. Though it's a bit melancholy in tone, it always reminds us that there are better things out there. Whatever situation we're going through isn't permanent and we'll always find our happiness somewhere over the rainbow where bluebirds fly.

 

Listen to these tunes whenever your heart desires by following the playlist below:

 

When you snap the perfect picture of a rainbow, be sure to use one of THESE rainbow Instagram captions once you share it.

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