Mostmusiclisteners tend to generally know when their favourite banding and musician come on while doing things like listen to the wireless , a Spotify playlist , through a music player , or even while just out in public being played by others . There are just certain types of sounds we associate with artistsbased on what we ’ve listened to and what we know about their workplace . Classic or contemporary , folk or blues , wind or country , rap or alternative ; the goalposts are normally set .

What about when they are n’t rigidly in place ? What about those times when a band or musician decides to take a complete left turn from where their discography traditionally leans , or where it terminate up leaning as their career stay on , especially when those tracks were ultimately successful and became highlight songs for these creators ? Was there a particular creative , fiscal , or popularity logical thinking behind it , or was it just the means the process work out ? Analyzing these elements is just part of the delectation of the artform , andsometimes watch to expect the unexpected- even from your favorites .

10U2, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me”

A Batman Forever Thriller

A raceway primitively unused from the circle ’s Roger Sessions for the 1993 experimental - leaning albumZooropa , U2 contributed " throw Me , Thrill Me , Kiss Me , Kill Me " to director Joel Schumacher ’s 1995 filmBatman Foreverafter U2 star man Bono turned down a cameoin the comic book - free-base pic . " Hold Me , Thrill Me , Kiss Me , drink down Me " feels like a cousin to the undefended - mindedness ofZooropabut has a mediaeval rock heaviness that played well into Schumacher ’s claustrophobic , urban take on Batmanand less into the typical U2 auditory sensation . It ’s more Smashing Pumpkins thanThe Joshua Tree .

U2 ’s hit exclusive “ Beautiful Day ” was the original choice to be Star Trek : Enterprise ’s subject birdcall , but “ Where My philia Will Take Me ” won out .

This pivot man shape out well for U2 , as " contain Me , Thrill Me , Kiss Me , Kill Me " reached the charts in multiple countries andwas nominated for two Grammy Awards the year it was liberate . The Song dynasty is still in and out of the band ’s live setlist gyration and was even parodied at one point by Weird Al Yankovic in his call " Cavity Search . "

The three members of green day stand in front of a tan wall. Each have on sunglasses and long sleeve jackets.

9Katrina And The Waves, “Walking On Sunshine”

Bright Rays In The Gloom

" Walking On Sunshine " was a track released by British rocker Katrina and The Waves as part of their 1983 debut album , also titledWalking On Sunshine . Like a lot of Brit - rock types of the day , most of the Katrina and The Waves ' phone was devoted to a morose , glam - inflected , daddy - rock tone . They were more reminiscent of a band like Blondie ’s light rock ‘n’ roll moments than the darker shade of an ' 80 British radical like The Smiths . That lightness come out at its smart with " take the air On Sunshine , " which sounds like a completely different mathematical group at their most buoyantly affirmative .

They were more reminiscent of a band like Blondie ’s light rock import than the darker shade off of an ' 80s British group like The Smiths .

Despite the band members ab initio not caring for the song ’s uncharacteristically cheery color , " Walking On Sunshine " was a chart run into whose popularity go on on . It ’s alsobeen a long - meter favourite in advertizement commercialsas well as film , giving Katrina and the Waves and their music life to this day .

Aerosmith songs in movies

8Green Day, “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”

Young Punks Go Sentimental

go far as the 2nd 1 from their 1997 studio apartment albumNimrod , Green Day ’s " Good exclusion ( Time of Your lifespan ) " was the first major representative that the radical led by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong could be about more than just their stylemark punk John Rock sound . The acoustical lay write by Armstrong about the end of a kinship was first preface on the dance band ’s 1995 LPDookie , but was refuse for being too different in shade . lend along with some strings toNimrod,“Good Riddance ( prison term of Your Life ) " showed Green Day could also ponder as well as rage .

It ’s time to examine Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Green Day ; here ’s their heroic discography of 14 studio apartment albums order from bad to best .

That introspection compensate off handsomely for Green Day , as the song was not only a chart favorite but was used in metier ranging fromthe last of the TV showSeinfeldto the movieDeadpool & Wolverine . It alsobecame hugely democratic at eminent school day graduationsbased on the track ’s composition of moving on from an experience and hoping you had the time of your lifespan with what you had .

Taylor Swift looking somber in the Fortnite video and Taylor Swift on stage in the Eras Tour movie

7Len, “Steal My Sunshine”

Alt-Rockers Embrace Pop Sunshine

The Canadian alt - rock and roll band Len sure enough put out a record befitting the differing strait of the ' 90s with the exit of their third studio apartment record album , 1999’sYou Ca n’t give up the Bum Rush . There werefusions of tilt , whang , and pop out involve , but perhaps the most unusual song on the LP was the sugary - sweet sunny day pop anthem that was Len ’s take - off individual , " Steal My Sunshine . " vocalize like nothing else onBum Rush , " Sunshine " was initially overlooked by the band and was n’t contrive for release , but went on to become their lasting breakout hitting .

The sugary - sweet Sung that featured a curl sample from the 1976 hit disco song " More , More , More " and surrealist lyrics dwelling on the feelings of katzenjammer after a rave was promoted by being boast in the 1999 funniness flickGo . " Steal My Sunshine " later began to receive heavy receiving set airplay , which in sentence led to graph success andthis ab initio unlikely song being accepted into the ranks of endless summertime playlists .

6Mr. Big, “To Be With You”

Headbangers Make A Sing-A-Long

American rock set Mr. Big was known over the year for putting a middling firm punishing rock candy glaze on their song , but that did n’t mean the groupwas all without a gentle side . Most notably , this gentler edge was most prominent with the waiver of their song " To Be With You " off of their 1991 albumLean into It . kick the galvanising guitar to the curb , prominent hard metal - style guitarist Paul Gilbert shreds acoustically over lead vocalist Eric Martin ’s crooning vocals about wanting to pull through a fille from her bad choices of boyfriends against incisive band harmonies .

Kicking the galvanic guitar to the curb bit , large heavy metal - style guitar player Paul Gilbert shreds acoustically over lead Isaac Bashevis Singer Eric Martin ’s crooning vocal .

primitively , " To Be With You " was n’t intended to be one of the album ’s main single , but after it received unexpected radio airplay and popularity , the ring was forced to go with it . Mr. Big ’s " To Be With You"ultimately run low turn one in multiple countries , including the US , and is still held in the same territory as classic ballads .

U2’s Bono and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler performing live, edited over a musical background.

Custom Image by Ana Nieves

5Aerosmith, “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing”

An Armageddon-Sized Sound Departure

The only affair that might have been bigger than the plot of the 1998 disaster movieArmageddonwasthe size of the unlikely king ballad rock band Aerosmith release that yearas the moving-picture show ’s motif song , title " I Do n’t Wanna Miss a Thing . " Originally , the dance band U2 was last to be asked to perform the song ; the mind for Aerosmith to play " I Do n’t Wanna Miss a Thing " occurred after frontman Steven Tyler ’s daughter Liv was vomit inArmageddon . Despite Aerosmith ’s report as riff - make love rockers , the commercial reaction to the mysterious romantic ballad was highly favorable .

Aerosmith is one of the big and better - selling rock bands in music account and their songs have been used in myriad flick in recent decades .

In fact,“I Do n’t Wanna Miss a Thing " is Aerosmith ’s only number one individual in the United States , also going to list one in several other countries after it was eject . It also experience an Oscar nomination in 1998 , ultimately losing to " When You Believe " from the movieThe Prince of Egypt . Nevertheless , " I Do n’t Wanna Miss a matter " is still a popular decade hit that still receives plenty of wireless airplay .

Star Trek: Enterprise NX-01 and Bono of U2

4Kiss, “Beth”

Muted Beneath The Makeup

The band Kissthrew a serious curveball to fan of the outrageous glam - cradle with the 4th single " Beth"off of their fourth studio apartment record album , 1976’sDestroyer . Shiny guitars and pyrotechnics were interchange with piano , acoustical guitar , and an orchestral backing as Kiss drummer Peter Criss birr out a vocal desirable of his onstage Catman persona about coming home soon to the woman waiting so long for him . Admittedly , " Beth " feels more like " A Day in the life history " exercise by The Beatles than a Kiss track , but it has a surprising storey of magic spell .

Shiny guitars and firework were exchange with piano , acoustical guitar , and an orchestral backing .

Despite ab initio motley reactions from supporters to the shift in sound on the song,“Beth " has rifle on to be the biggest commercial strike Kiss has had in the United States . It also find a Gold Record certification from the Recording Industry Association of America , and served as motivation for future hairbands of the ' 80 to take a softer tone when trying to write a hit single .

3Radiohead, “Creep”

A Band-Hated Grunge Anomaly

English rock band Radiohead had a very hopeful debut in the form of their 1993 albumPablo Honey . What was perhaps not expected of this introductionwas thatan initial fluke thrown-away track from thePablo Honeysessions called " Creep " would become a smash hit . Not just during thePablo Honeyyears either ; no , " Creep " has go forward to determine Radiohead ’s bequest almost as if it were their one - hit wonder . But maybe that was ultimately a good thing for the band , peculiarly given they seem to hate the Sung and typically refuse to bring it .

Radiohead ’s reaction to " Creep " and the popularity of its charmingly anomic mumble - grunge has been to call on and strive as intemperately as potential into electronic , conceptual experimentation andmoving so far beyond the track sonically that " Creep " sounds like an entirely unlike group made it . That has n’t stopped " Creep " from rack up billions of Spotify watercourse and covers ranging from Prince to Kelly Clarkson , but it did assist Radiohead build a bequest much deeper than the best of the ' 90s eccentric of moment .

2Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do”

The Darker Side Of Reputation

For fans of Taylor Swift who grew up with her popping commonwealth - leaning solution , it was a transmutation to see her more deeplyembrace the shimmery veneer of popwith the vast popularity of her1989album . Swift ’s bigger left turn , however , was still to issue forth on her 6th studio albumReputationwith the release of the first single , the pappa - rock - lean " Look What You Made Me Do . "

Taylor Swift has had 12 # 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 charts . However , some of Swift ’s iconic hit are arguably right than others .

Propped up by a slide bass line and lyrics savagely strike out atSwift ’s very public feud at the metre with doorknocker Kanye Westand his then - married woman Kim Kardashian , the course feels nothing like the white - cut double of Swift we ’ve grown to expect . " appear What You Made Me Do " provedshe could tread the dark side and her fans would still comply , as the single andReputationwere both wildly well - accepted and a staple during Swift ’s The Eras Tour .

1Butthole Surfers, “Pepper”

An Alt-Rock Oddity

Alt - rock ‘n’ roll oddballs , the Butthole Surfers , have always stretched the alternative in alt - rock pretty farwiththeir foreign yet bombastically charter catalog . Oddly , one of their most approachable songs is " Pepper , " from their 1996 studio apartment albumElectriclarryland . come across as a close rave - up to the quirk of instrumentalist Beck ’s early discography , " Pepper " has this eery sort of appeal that ’s a mix of hushed vocals and gallows language about part face disease , trauma , and death while living in Texas .

" Pepper " has this eery sort of appeal that ’s a mix of hushed vocals and gallows lyrics about characters confronting disease , trauma , and death .

Despite the unconvincing nature of the call , it break down on to chart in the US and other countries andis still a privilege staple of many dissimilar alt - rock playlist . Additionally , " Pepper " is still consider to be the defining hit of the Butthole Surfers ' catalogue .