Playlists
21 Best Songs About Surprise of All Time
Inspirational songs for those out-of-the-blue moments.

The best songs about surprise, reflecting the feelings and emotions people have when life throws them a curveball, can be found in all kinds of music genres.
It’s something chart-topping pop stars have explored, as well as more obscure rock and indie bands from over the past few decades.
Read on, and discover a great selection of songs about surprises you can add to your playlist today and listen to when life becomes unpredictable.
Table of Contents
The 21 Best Songs About Surprise
Songs about surprise feature heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melodies that capture the essence of how it feels when life presents unexpected challenges.
We’ve scoured through the music archives to bring you a broad selection of great music catering to all tastes, so there’s a song here for everybody to enjoy.
Now that you know our criteria, here’s our playlist of the 21 best songs about surprises:
21. “No Surprise” – Daughtry
The rock and country artist Daughtry followed up the great song about home, “Home,” with the touching “No Surprise.”
“It’s no surprise I won’t be here tomorrow, I can’t believe that I stayed ’til today,” the lyrics sing, “Yeah, you and I will be a tough act to follow, but I know in time, we’ll find this was no surprise.”
Daughtry released “No Surprise” on their 2009 album Leave This Town, with the song becoming their fourth chart-topper on the Adult Top 40.
20. “Surprise Me” – SWV
Pop music trio SWV’s catchy crowd-pleaser “Surprise Me” is a more upbeat track on the topic of surprises for fans of lively music.
“Ooh, the rain is drippin’ on you / I love it running down your face,” the infectious lyrics sing, continuing, “Ooh, from your chest, as it goes down your leg, it’s alright.”
Released in 1999 on their Greatest Hits album, “Surprise Me” is a fine example of popular poppy rhythm and blues from this classic era.
19. “Baby, What A Big Surprise” – Chicago
We’re heading back to the late 1970s for “Baby, What a Big Surprise” by rock band Chicago, which was featured on the album Chicago XI.
This great tune features lyrics that discuss the singer’s experiences with a romantic partner and their reflections on time spent together one day.
The American rock band Chicago was formed in 1967 as Chicago Transit Authority before shortening their band name two years later.
18. “The Element Of Surprise” – E-40
E-40’s song “The Element of Surprise” was the title track of their 1998 album and showcased their unique approach to hip-hop and gangster rap.
Produced by Rick Rock, “The Element of Surprise” is West Coast hip-hop at its finest, with pounding beats and rapid-fire lyrics from top-class rappers.
Many great rappers are featured on the album, from Mack 10 and Jayo Felony to Busta Rhymes and Master P, each bringing their own unique style to the table.
17. “Surprise Surprise” – Celine Dion
Singer-songwriter Celine Dion needs little introduction, having released many chart-topping hit songs over the course of her illustrious career.
“Surprise Surprise” is another great song from Celine Dion, with lyrics exploring how difficult it can be to figure people out and navigate the emotions of life.
Celine Dion released “Surprise Surprise” back in 2007, featuring the track on her hit album Taking Chances and cementing her reputation as a leading pop star.
16. “Surprises” – Billy Joel
Our next song about surprises is the aptly titled “Surprises” by Billy Joel, another iconic singer-songwriter with an extensive discography of chart hits.
In this song, Billy Joel sings about finding love and dealing with regrets, sharing his personal story and how he’s overcome the sins of his father.
“Surprises” was released in 1982 on the album The Nylon Curtain, one of his most ambitious releases and the album Joel is the most proud of.
15. “What A Surprise” – The Pointer Sisters
“What a Surprise” by The Pointer Sisters was released the year before Billy Joel’s classic surprise song as part of their album Black & White.
“You loved me on the telephone, your conversation went on and on,” the song’s lyrics sing, continuing, “Without a word, I heard you say that in your arms is where I belong.”
The Pointer Sisters achieved great success in the 1970s and 1980s, exploring various music genres, including pop, jazz, funk, and electronic music.
14. “Welcome To Paradise” – Green Day
American rock band Green Day serves up our next surprise song with “Welcome to Paradise,” a hit release from 1991 that they released on Kerplunk.
“Pay attention to the cracked streets and the broken homes,” they sing in this great song, “Some call it slums, some call it nice, I want to take you through a wasteland I like to call my home.”
“Welcome to Paradise” is a solid companion piece to the great Green Day song about choices, “Warning,” which was released nearly 10 years later.
13. “No Surprises” – Luka Bloom
Luka Bloom released his moving song about surprises, “No Surprises,” in 2000, the feature track on his album Keeper of the Flame.
This is a fine folk song from a singer-songwriter with a solid reputation for powerful lyrics and exceptional guitaring that reflect his Irish roots.
The younger brother of Christy Moore, Luka Bloom has been active since 1969, with many albums in his impressive discography released over the decades.
12. “Surprise Valley” – Widespread Panic
The Widespread Panic song “Surprise Valley” brings us back to the late 1990s for a classic example of American rock music from this decade.
The song features powerful lyrics that evoke the elements, with the great line, “Sparrow climb, the air is thinner, open wings cast this valley in the shade.”
Widespread Panic released “Surprise Valley” on the 1999 album ‘Til the Medicine Takes, featuring guest performances from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
11. “Certain Surprise” – John Martyn
“Certain Surprise” by John Martyn was released on the album One World in 1977, which features excellent artwork indicative of the prog rock style of the time.
“I’m one of those, oh I love to shout and sing about my love,” John Martyn sings in this moving tune, “Sweet flying dove, there’s no one above, sweet certain surprise.”
Over the course of his career, John Martyn released no fewer than 23 studio albums and received critical and commercial acclaim multiple times.
10. “What A Surprise” – Neil Sedaka
Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka has sold millions of copies of singles and albums worldwide over the decades he’s been active.
“What a Surprise” is another song that uses the subject to discuss romance and relationships and the charms a lover holds for her partner.
Released in 1978, “What a Surprise” was featured on the album All You Need Is the Music, Sedaka’s popular hit that also featured the song “Should’ve Never Let Her Go.”
9. “Surprise Surprise” – The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones released dozens of hit songs, which include some of the best karaoke songs of all time, with “Surprise Surprise” a great addition to their work.
This hit song features the lyrics, “I never wanted you that bad ’cause I knew you was telling lies, knew you was telling lies, I could see it in your eyes.”
One of the early works from The Rolling Stones, “Surprise Surprise” blends rock and blues perfectly and further boosted the band’s prominence on the music scene.
8. “She Likes Surprises” – Soundgarden
One of the best ’90s rock bands, Soundgarden, wrote one of the greatest songs about surprise released in 1994 on the album Superunknown.
Blending alternative rock and metal styles, this hard-hitting song has a pace and tempo that resembles the amphetamine-themed lyrics it features.
It’s another song that uses the surprise theme to dive into the nature of unpredictable relationships and the influence a woman can have on our feelings.
7. “Beautiful Surprise” – Tamia
The song “Beautiful Surprise” by Tamia is an altogether more laid-back piece of music from the Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm ‘n’ blues singer.
Released in 2012, “Beautiful Surprise” includes the moving lyrics, “For me to wake up with kissing me, saying you’ve been missing me, what a beautiful surprise.”
Featured on the album of the same name, “Beautiful Surprise” received a positive reception from critics at the time and led to Tamia’s tour with now-notorious singer R. Kelly.
6. “A Wonderful Surprise” – Downtown Fiction
One year before Tamia unleashed her beautiful surprise on her fans, the band The Downtown Fiction shared their “Wonderful Surprise” with millions of people.
“So if you really have to go, there’s just one thing that you should know,” the lead singer of this American rock band sings, “When you look into my eyes, you are a wonderful surprise.”
The Downtown Fiction released many EPs and singles over the years before they split up in 2016 following the release of the lyric video “Let’s Fade Away.”
5. “Shanghai Surprise” – George Harrison
After enjoying international fame and success as a member of the Beatles, guitarist, and singer George Harrison went on to continue success as a solo artist.
His song “Shanghai Surprise” was released in 1986 as part of the soundtrack to the comedy adventure movie of the same name directed by Jim Goddard.
George Harrison’s solo career saw him win multiple Grammy Awards, including “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” for “Marwa Blues.”
4. “Sister Surprise” – Gary Numan
English musician Gary Numan was one of the most influential figures in the New Wave movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
“Sister Surprise” exemplifies his mastery of this genre, with his trademark vocal style matched by the song’s poetic lyricism and synth arrangements.
Gary Numan released “Sister Surprise” in 1983 on the album Warriors, which was followed by a sell-out tour that solidified his growing reputation worldwide.
3. “Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox) – John Lennon
Like George Harrison, former Beatles member John Lennon enjoyed a wildly successful career following the breakup of the popular British band.
“Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” is among his lesser-known songs, but nevertheless, well worth a listen for any fan of his inimitable style.
Lennon is known for composing and performing some of the best songs of all time, both during his time with the Beatles and when working solo.
2. “The Surprise Knock” – The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers released “The Surprise Knock” in 2019 on the album In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, a great indie rock song worth your time.
“Let it play in the background, tune out the sound, didn’t need a war, but we got one now,” the lyrics go, “We’ll ride the chords as they repeat for years, we may be on, be on to something here.”
The New Pornographers were first formed in 1997 in Vancouver, Canada, and they have continued to receive acclaim for their unique use of vocals and range of musicians.
1. “No Surprises” – Radiohead
Our final pick for this playlist of great songs about surprises comes from one of the most celebrated British bands in the history of music, Radiohead.
“No Surprises” is among their best-known tracks, an ode to the unpredictability of life and the daily grind of work in a world where challenges come thick and fast.
It’s another impressive song from a discography that includes one of the best songs about destiny, “Karma Police,” which was also a hit for Radiohead.
Summary
That’s a wrap on this complete playlist of recommended songs about surprises, from moving songs from iconic singer-songwriters to pounding rock classics.
These songs explore the topic from all genres and styles and represent several decades of the finest achievements of the music industry.
Whether you’re a fan of classic American rock bands or prefer the sweet vocals of Celine Dion and other pop stars, these surprising songs are worthy additions to your playlist.