Great works of art are usually emotionally taxing to create, requiring long days of hard work and diligence. However, when it comes to our favorite music, some of the most iconic songs ever recorded didn’t come from months of meticulous tweaking; they were written in minutes through a sudden wave of inspiration. While the process of many songwriters involves laboring over lyrics and melodies, sometimes a lightning-strike of creativity is all it takes. These quickly written tracks often capture a rush of emotion or a moment of brilliance, resulting in music that feels relatable, authentic, and grove-worthy. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best approach to creative endeavors is allowing the flow of ideas to come effortlessly.
Throughout music history, a handful of chart-toppers and genre-defining classics were crafted in the time it takes to make a Starbucks run. These songs aren’t just good; they earn the opportunity to dominate airwaves and inspire generations, permanently marking pop culture. Here’s a look at the remarkable tunes that came together in ten minutes or less!
“Sweet Child O’Mine”
- Written by: Guns N’ Roses
- Time taken: Five minutes
It doesn’t get more classic than the hit song “Sweet Child O’Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. Even though this number 1 hit song remained at the top of the charts for more than 20 weeks, the song only took about five minutes to write.
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
- Written by: Queen
- Time taken: 10 minutes
According to Freddie Mercury, he wrote the hit song “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” in less than 10 minutes. He credited his poor guitar playing skills as the reason he was able to write it so fast, claiming he only knew a few chords so he was limited in what he could come up with.
“Yesterday”
- Written by: The Beatles
- Time taken: less than five minutes
The famous Beatle’s hit, “Yesterday”, apparently came to songwriter and musician Paul McCartney in a dream. When he woke up, it took less than five minutes to get the tune down on paper. That includes all the chords and words!
“Losing My Religion”
- Written by: R.E.M.
- Time taken: less than five minutes
Peter Buck, guitarist of R.E.M. happened to stumble upon the riff for “Losing My Religion” as he was learning to play the mandolin. He ended up writing it in less than 5 minutes and Michael Stipe, R.E.M.’s singer, ended up writing the lyrics later on. This song became the hit on their next album, “Out of Time.”
“Seven Nation Army”
- Written by: The White Stripes
- Time taken: written during a sound check
The most recognizable song by The White Stripes, believe it or not, wasn’t written intentionally. Frontman Jack White came up with the melody during a soundcheck in 2002. Although Ben Swank, one of the other band members, wasn’t impressed, the song was added to their next album and became their greatest hit.
“See You Again”
- Written by: Charlie Puth
- Time taken: 10 minutes
“See You Again” by Charlie Puth was written in only 10 minutes, even though it ended up being an award-winning song. This song has a lot of meaning behind it, since it was written for the final scene in “Furious 7” following Paul Walker’s death. Puth co-wrote the song with DJ Frank E in less than 10 minutes in the studio.
“Photograph”
- Written by: Ed Sheeran
- Time taken: 10 minutes
Inspired by a romantic breakup, “Photograph” was written by Ed Sheeran in just 10 minutes. It went on to be one of the massive hits from his second album.
“The Cave”
- Written by: Mumford & Sons
- Time taken: written during a sound check
“The Cave” by Mumford & Sons was another song written during a song check. While the band was playing in a small pub in Edinburgh, they started messing around with different melodies. This ultimately led to the creation of “The Cave” in just a few minutes.
“Hometown Glory”
- Written by: Adele
- Time taken: 10 minutes
Adele was clearly a speedy songwriter from a young age. She apparently penned “Hometown Glory” in just 10 minutes, and she was only 16 at the time. It was written in response to her Mum trying to convince her to leave London for college.
“Just Dance”
- Written by: Lady Gaga
- Time taken: 10 minutes
The song responsible for bringing Lady Gaga into the spotlight only took 10 minutes to write. This upbeat song was meant to talk about a brighter future. Lady Gaga was battling depression during the time they wrote “Just Dance.” The song ended up hitting the top of the charts and staying there for 13 weeks.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Rick Maiman / Sygma via Getty Images.