Tina Turner's Timeless Tunes: A Countdown Of Her 10 Best Songs
The iconic Tina Turner passed away at 83 years old yesterday (May 24). With over six decades of music, Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock, is the soundtrack of our lives. She seamlessly blended rock and soul, creating a unique sound that appealed to many audiences. Her powerful vocals, energetic stage presence, and electrifying performances challenged genre conventions and captivated fans worldwide. Additionally, Tina Turner defied expectations as a woman artist in the male-dominated rock genre. With her bold and fearless approach, she became a symbol of empowerment for women, demonstrating she could command the stage and deliver raw energy at any age.
After splitting from her husband Ike Turner and years of grinding, in 1984, Tina Turner made the most epic comeback in music history with her album Private Dancer, which catapulted her back into the spotlight. Her legacy continued with a reputation as one of the greatest performers ever. Although she is no longer with us, her music lives forever. Here are ten classic Tina songs that stand the test of time.
"A Fool in Love"
In 1960, Ike and Tina Turner released "A Fool in Love." A 20-year-old Tina belted out the song like she was a seasoned vocalist and it paid off. The song charted a No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tina Turner was on her way.
"River Deep – Mountain High"
Technically, this 1966 track is Tina Turner's first solo record, although Ike's name is on it. Produced by Phil Spector, Ike had no involvement with the song. The song didn't perform well in the U.S. but was a hit overseas, charting at No. 4 on the UK Singles chart and hitting No. 1 in Spain.
"Proud Mary"
In 1971, Ike and Tina dropped their biggest hit, "Proud Mary." The song was a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival but Tina -- with or without Ike -- would own the song. The duo won their only Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group.
"Nutbush City Limits"
In 1973, Tina Turner wrote "Nutbush City Limits" -- an ode to her hometown of Nutbush, Tennessee. The song charted at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it was her final big hit with Ike Turner.
"What's Love Got to Do with It"
Nineteen eighty-four was the year of Tina Turner. Private Dancer, her fifth solo album was an incredible success. "What's Love Got to Do with It," which was offered to Phyllis Hyman and Donna Summer, charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, Turner won three Grammys, including Record of the Year for "What's Love Got to Do with It."
"We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)"
This 1985 song charted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Backed by a choral group from London, the track was from the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Tina starred in the action flick alongside Mel Gibson.
"The Best"
Tina closed out the 1980s with this classic, "The Best" -- also known as "Simply the Best." The song charted at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple at her legendary concerts.
"I Don't Wanna Fight"
In 1993, exactly 30 years ago next month, the biopic What's Love Got to Do with It was released. Based off the book I, Tina, the movie was a huge success and earned Angela Bassett an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The ballad "I Don't Wanna Fight," originally offered to Sade, was from the soundtrack and charted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Missing You"
"Missing You" from 1996's Wildest Dreams album was Tina's last song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, hitting No. 86. However, by he 1990s, the charts didn't matter for Tina. She was a bonafide rock and soul goddess touring the world. The Wildest Dreams tour garnered over $130 million, an astronomical amount for the 1990s.
"What's Love Got to Do with It" (with Kygo)
In 2020, "What's Love Got to Do with It" had a resurgence due to a remix from Norwegian DJ and record producer Kygo. Although it didn't chart on the Billboard Hot 100, the remix was a smash all over Europe, charting at No. 6 in Sweden.
It just goes to show you Tina is truly timeless.
