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Welcome to the Rubato Music Therapy Blog! 

A resource ​for music therapists, music educators, and other professionals who work with individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as their families and care providers.

Top 100 Songs: Music Therapy for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

3/31/2020

2 Comments

 
In alphabetical order, these are the top 100 most-requested songs in my music therapy groups for adults with intellectual disabilities (ranging in age from 22-60). This list is a good place to start for interns and music therapists who are building up their repertoire for this population. Many of these songs will be familiar to clients who have grown up in the United States.

Remember that each group consists of unique individuals with their own preferences! Ask your clients about their favorite songs. It's likely that multiple members of the group will enjoy some of the same artists.

​*The lyrics to some of these songs may be inappropriate for your setting - you can modify accordingly or use a different song!

  1. Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
  2. All I Have to Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers
  3. All Star from Shrek
  4. A Whole New World from Aladdin
  5. Baby by Justin Bieber
  6. Bare Necessities from The Jungle Book
  7. Beat It by Michael Jackson
  8. Beauty and the Beast from Beauty and the Beast
  9. Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
  10. Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis
  11. Can't Stop the Feeling from Trolls
  12. Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King
  13. Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas
  14. Country Roads by John Denver
  15. Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) by Harry Belafonte
  16. Defying Gravity from Wicked
  17. Donna by Ritchie Valens
  18. Do Re Mi from The Sound of Music
  19. Everybody (Backstreet's Back) by the Backstreet Boys
  20. Fight Song by Rachel Platten
  21. Firework by Katy Perry
  22. Go the Distance from Hercules
  23. Hakuna Matata from The Lion King
  24. Happy from Despicable Me
  25. Hello by Adele
  26. Hound Dog by Elvis
  27. How Much Is that Doggie in the Window by Patti Page
  28. I Believe in Music by Mac Davis
  29. I'll Be There for You from Friends
  30. I'm a Believer by The Monkees
  31. Into the Unknown from Frozen 2
  32. I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash
  33. I Want Candy by the Strangeloves
  34. I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys
  35. It's a Small World
  36. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
  37. Jukebox Hero by Foreigner
  38. La Bamba by Ritchie Valens
  39. Lean on Me by Bill Withers
  40. Let It Be by The Beatles
  41. Let It Go from Frozen
  42. Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
  43. Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
  44. Love Me Tender by Elvis
  45. Love Story by Taylor Swift
  46. My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music
  47. My Heart Will Go On from Titanic
  48. ​One Way or Another by Blondie
  49. Paradise by Coldplay
  50. Paradise by Phil Collins
  51. Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid
  52. Perfect by Ed Sheeran
  53. Play It Again by Luke Bryan
  54. Poker Face by Lady Gaga
  55. Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul & Mary
  56. Put the Lime in the Coconut by Harry Nilsson
  57. Que Sera Sera by Doris Day
  58. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
  59. Rainbow Connection from The Muppets Movie
  60. ​Remember Me from Coco
  61. Renegades by X Ambassadors
  62. Roar by Katy Perry
  63. Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day
  64. The Rose by Bette Midler
  65. Scarborough Fair
  66. Señorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes
  67. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
  68. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran
  69. Somewhere Over Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz
  70. Stand by Me by Ben E. King
  71. Summer Nights from Grease
  72. Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys
  73. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These) by Eurythmics
  74. Swinging on a Star by Bing Crosby
  75. Take Me Out to the Ball Game
  76. Take My Breath Away from Top Gun
  77. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
  78. Thank You for Being a Friend from The Golden Girls
  79. The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens
  80. The Tide Is High by Blondie
  81. This Is Me from Camp Rock
  82. Thriller by Michael Jackson
  83. Tomorrow from Annie
  84. True Colors by Cyndi Lauper
  85. Uptown Funk by Bruni Mars
  86. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!
  87. We Are the World by Various
  88. We Go Together from Grease
  89. We Will Rock You by Queen
  90. What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
  91. What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
  92. When I'm 64 by The Beatles
  93. When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio
  94. With a Little Help from My Friends by The Beatles
  95. Yellow Submarine by The Beatles
  96. Yesterday by The Beatles
  97. YMCA by Village People
  98. You Are My Sunshine
  99. You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi
  100. Zip A Dee Doo Dah from Song of the South
2 Comments
Ian Kellett
3/3/2022 04:05:42 am

Many thanks for the suggestions. I work with vulnerable adults and people with dementia. Finding song suggestions to keep it fresh while familiar isn’t so easy and this list is very welcome. Maybe you could open it for suggestions?

Reply
Kirstie Gallacher-Ang
3/3/2022 10:34:07 pm

Hi Ian! Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment, I'm really touched and I hope that this was useful to you. It's been two years since I posted this list and I'm sure it could use an update! I would love to hear your suggestions for songs or requests for other music therapy-related content. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me via email (info@rubatomusictherapy.com).

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    Kirstie Gallacher-Ang, MT-BC
    ​Rubato Music Therapy

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