Photograph,as defined by my trusty Funk & Wagnalls, is a noun: “A picture taken by photography.” Ok, sometimes the simplest definitions just work. But I start there because we’re about to undertake a very photograph-heavy playlist with 15 songs simply titled “Photograph.”
The first two songs from Def Leppard and Nickelback were a kernel of an idea that started this playlist. Just like with the Promise playlist, you only need two to wonder if a full playlist can be made from a single name.
As the Promise playlist spawned a companion for Promises, Photograph did lead me to another future post and playlist of Photographs. But let’s start with the singular, Photograph.
Photograph – Def Leppard
This classic Def Leppard was the band’s first hot single, and was def not their last.
“All I’ve Got is a Photograph… But it’s not enough”
Photograph – Nickelback
The song that launched a million memes! Yeah, I know Nickelback gets a lot of undeserved hate, and I think the meme culture doesn’t help, but they are just a really great rock band.
“Look at this photograph”
Photograph – Ringo Starr
This song, debated as one of the best post-Beatles songs by any of the members, was written by Ringo and George. It is hard to argue with that sentiment.
“But all I’ve got is a photograph and I realise you’re not comin’ back anymore”
Photograph – Ed Sheeran
This song is perhaps one of the best representations of what physical photography used to mean to us.
“We keep this love in a photograph”
Photograph – J. Cole
This song is amazing to me. Decades removed from Def Leppard’s song, artists are still inspired by what they see in still photographs enough to put down some words to music.
“Fell in love through a photograph”
Photograph – The Verve Pipe
The second most famous song from the band’s third album, Villains. Photograph is a great song, but if you don’t remember this, it’s because you definitely remember the song in whose shadow it sits… The Freshman.
“I’m in the photograph”
Photograph – Weezer
Lots of people talk about bands that deliver a string of albums at the peak of their performance and abilities. I’d argue that Photograph from The Green Album is part of Weezer’s great era, which arguably continues today.
“It’s in the photograph of love”
Photograph – R.E.M. (featuring Natalie Merchant)
Not every song about a photograph describes the photograph, but this song does. You feel like you can picture the photograph from the lyrics alone. And Natalie Merchant is a hauntingly beautiful addition to the song.
“I found this photograph, stashed between the old joist walls”
Photograph – Andy and the Rockets
This Swedish band is the reason I do these exercises. I would probably not have discovered them otherwise, but Photograph is a great song. From the little I’ve sampled of the rest of their catalog, it’s time to dig in deeper if you like this song.
“Like the photograph in pieces on the floor”
Photograph – Code Fry
I enjoy a good variation on a theme. This time, it’s not the photograph that inspires. It is the moment that is to be captured and lived in. This song is true poetry.
“Wait for me until I find some magic film, to take a photograph and live inside.”
Photograph – Astrud Gilberto
This song, sung in Portuguese, doesn’t require a translation. It is love as the sun sinks into the ocean.
“Aquela velha história de um desejo” (“That old story of a desire”)
Photograph – Charles Kelley
Let’s finish this off with some solid pop rock. This song is important because it came out in 2025. That makes it the most modern of all the tracks on this list, yet it feels like it is out of place. The Eighties called, and this song has just rocketed up the charts!
“No, you could never be, just somebody in a photograph”
Honorable Mentions: Photograph – Annie LeBlanc, Photograph – Husky Gawenda, Photograph – Carolina Liar
Did I miss any from some smaller bands or a deep cut from a well-known band? Reach out and let me know. And remember, the next playlist will be plural with Photographs!