My Favorite Songs from January 2026

We’re almost at the end of January, people! Can you believe it? I certainly can’t. Already, we have a bunch of new releases lined up for 2026 and that can only mean two things: more great music and another excuse for me to spend money. Since December 2025, I’ve had a bunch of songs stuck in my head, from various different genres, and I want to share them all with you guys!

For those who aren’t familiar with the My Favorite Songs series, I usually talk about my favorite songs from a particular season. But since I’ve been inconsistent with that format, I decided to turn this series into a monthly thing in an effort to be more consistent. My brain is chaotic enough to have new favorite songs every month anyways. We’ll see how this new format goes. With all that said, let’s get on with the music!

10. “Too Little Too Late” by JoJo from The High Road (2006)

I’ve always liked “Too Little Too Late,” but after reading JoJo’s book, I gained a new perspective for it. The song is about breaking up with an ex-lover who treated you wrong. However, I now interpret the song’s message as breaking up with your former toxic self in order to love yourself. It’s a much more positive and mature way of looking at “Too Little Too Late,” which is why I have more respect for it now. Also, I forgot how great of a singer JoJo is. In fact, I think she’s one of the most underrated R&B vocalists in the music industry currently. At 15 years old, JoJo could’ve given Mariah Carey some big competition with her impressive vocal range.

9. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond from Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (1969)

Whenever I hear “Sweet Caroline,” I think of two things: Glee and The Big Bang Theory. The former because Puck (played by Mark Salling) sings “Sweet Caroline” for Rachel (played by Lea Michele) in front of the entire glee club in season 1. The latter because Howard (played by Simon Helberg) and Amy (played by Mayim Bialik) bond over their love for Neil Diamond’s music while playing Raj’s (played by Kunal Nayyar) scavenger hunt in season 7. After watching Song Sung Blue (2025) with my mom, I can confidently say that “Sweet Caroline” is not the best Neil Diamond song from the movie. Like Mike Sardina (played by Hugh Jackman) said, Diamond was so much more than that song! 

8. “Deranged” by Thundermother from Rock ‘n’ Roll Disaster (2014)

As someone who minored in psychology, I’m fascinated by human behavior and why people act a certain way. Heck, when I lived in Florida for my Disney College Program, one of my favorite things to do at Disney World was observe people. Whether I’m at the mall or on the Las Vegas Strip, it’s always a different learning experience because no human beings are the same. There are some behaviors I don’t necessarily agree with, but then I’m reminded of the lyrics to Thundermother’s “Deranged” from Rock ‘n’ Roll Disaster (2014). “Hey, hey, hey / You’re d-d-deranged / And m-m-m-me / Forever un, forever unchanged.” Some things are out of my control, which I’m still learning to accept.

7. “Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder” by AC/DC from Rock or Bust (2014)

Bassist Cliff Williams turned 76 on December 14, 2025 and that day, I posted a snippet of “Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder” on my Instagram story for my tribute to him. Why not a song from Powerage (1978)? The reason is because that day, I thought about Williams performing with guitarist Angus Young on the Rock or Bust tour when Axl Rose was fronting the band. Besides Angus, Williams was the only one left from the Back in Black lineup and that must not have been easy for him. He was already dealing with health issues, but think of the heartache he must’ve felt on the road without his buddies by his side. Williams is such an important part of AC/DC and I’m so happy he got his final bow on the last night of the Rock or Bust tour. 

6. “Let There Be Shred” by Megadeth from Megadeth (2026)

First, we had “Let There Be Rock” by AC/DC and now, we have “Let There Be Shred” by Megadeth. To be honest, I’m surprised it took Megadeth this long to write a song with that title because they’re one of the most popular thrash metal bands out there commercially. I don’t even like Dave Mustaine’s vocals; James Hetfield’s vocals are more my cup of tea. Still, I can’t deny the talent and musicianship displayed in Megadeth’s music. They’re one of those bands that got better as they aged. “Let There Be Shred” is a total shred fest that’s perfect for headbanging and I love the chorus! Let’s just hope Mustaine sticks to his word about ending Megadeth once completing the farewell tour.

5. “Last to Know” by The Wanted from Battleground (2011)

On and off, I’m reminded of my high school days, which were not great. I blame songs like “Last to Know” by The Wanted for being a hopeless romantic who wore a lot of black back in the day. Now that I’m 27, however, I can appreciate the melancholy and sadness conveyed in the song’s message. “Last to Know” is a pop ballad about sacrificing your happiness by letting go of a past lover. I liked The Wanted and thought they were a great boyband, so it’s a shame they ended so tragically. Rest in peace, Tom Parker!

4. “Blonde, Bad and Beautiful” by Airbourne from No Guts. No Glory. (2010)

Considering how much I love AC/DC, I’m surprised it took me six years to get into Airbourne and buy their albums. Lead vocalist and guitarist Joel O’Keeffe doesn’t sound like Brian Johnson, but Airbourne sound like a heavy metal version of AC/DC with simple choruses and no ballads. I liked “Back in the Game” and “Runnin’ Wild” because of Cobra Kai, but “Blonde, Bad and Beautiful” is the song that convinced me to give Airbourne a chance because it sounds like something that came out of The Razors Edge era. The riff is fantastic and the “woah” parts in the chorus are so catchy! As classic rock bands from the ‘70s and ‘80s are getting older, it’s such a relief to know that newer rock bands like Airbourne are keeping rock ‘n’ roll alive!

3. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica from Metallica (1991)

With the news of Megadeth’s final album and “farewell tour,” I became interested in learning more about Mustaine and how he formed Megadeth. Therefore, I purchased his 2010 memoir sometime last year at Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana and it’s not bad. One of the stories that intrigued me was Mustaine freaking out over some of the lyrics Metallica used for “Enter Sandman,” specifically for the lines, “Now, I lay me down to sleep / Pray the Lord my soul to keep / If I die before I wake / Pray the Lord my soul to take.” If you listen to Megadeth’s “Go to Hell,” you’ll hear the opening lines, “Now, I lay me down to sleep / I pray the Lord my soul to keep / If I should die before I wake / I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Long story short, Mustaine was lowkey claiming that Metallica stole his lyrics. Whether Metallica ripped off Mustaine or not, I’ll still headbang to “Enter Sandman” on command because I think the song is a lot of fun!

2. “Beautiful Life” by Union J from Union J (2013)

Union J were another one of those boybands I listened to in high school and unfortunately, they didn’t last long either. Randomly, “Beautiful Life” would pop into my head because it’s such a joyful song and the older I get, the more I appreciate its message. Generally speaking, most kids don’t have to worry about finding a place to live or looking for a job to pay their bills. It’s easy for them to remember the beauty of life, however, as they get older, they leave their protective bubble and reality sinks in. “Beautiful Life” is a well-written ballad that resonates more with adults because it’s harder for us to remember how beautiful life can be, especially when there are many outside forces trying to tear us down.

1. “Profane Prophecy” by The Black Crowes from A Pound of Feathers (2026)

I had a feeling The Black Crowes were going to release a new studio album in 2026 because of their Instagram stories that showed them working in the studio mid last year. Lo and behold, The Black Crowes recently announced their new studio album, A Pound of Feathers, will be released on March 13, 2026. They already released two singles and my favorite of the two is “Profane Prophecy,” which is definitely in the vein of “Bedside Manners” from Happiness Bastards (2024), but more stoned and chaotic! It doesn’t differentiate much from The Rolling Stones’ repertoire either, which is not a bad thing at all. Lead vocalist Chris Robinson’s usage of dark imagery in his lyrics creates a perfect fit for guitarist Rich Robinson’s uncompromising riffs. That one is going to sound even better in front of a live audience!

There you have it, people! Those are my favorite songs from January 2026. A good mix of boybands, thrash metal, pop, and rock ‘n’ roll. Isn’t music awesome? Can’t wait to see what’s in store for February 2026, especially since Def Leppard kick off their Las Vegas Residency at Caesars Palace on February 3. If I end up doing a My Favorite Songs post for February 2026, I’ll do my best to make sure that list isn’t filled with only Def Leppard songs, but no guarantees!

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Take care and see ya real soon!

Lana