[2025] Classic Western songs about brothers: a roundup of recommended popular tracks

SpaceboyThe Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins – Spaceboy

The Smashing Pumpkins are a band that epitomized the alternative rock scene of the 1990s.

Their 1993 masterpiece Siamese Dream includes a gem of a ballad that expresses deep feelings for a younger brother.

In fact, the song was written by vocalist Billy Corgan for his brother, who was born with a congenital illness.

Portraying his brother as if he were in some faraway world through the motif of “space,” it sings of an older brother’s aching love that gently accompanies that loneliness.

The ethereal, grand sound woven by Mellotron and strings movingly colors this complex inner landscape.

When you want to reflect on your bond with a sibling, why not immerse yourself in that bittersweet yet warm feeling?

Hey BrotherAvicii

Avicii – Hey Brother

Avicii, who passed away in 2018 at the young age of 28.

Did you know that this Swedish music producer, who gained worldwide popularity, has a famous song about the bond with his “brother,” which is the theme of this article? The track is a single from his debut album True, released in October 2013.

It’s a classic Avicii piece that brilliantly blends EDM and bluegrass, featuring a warm yet powerful melody that feels incredibly uplifting.

Dan Tyminski’s vocals are wonderful as well.

The song celebrates the deep bond between brothers—no matter how far apart they are or what hardships they face, if you look up at the sky, you’ll always feel them by your side.

In the U.

S.

, it sold over a million copies by March 2014, and its lyrics especially resonate with those who have siblings.

My Brother’s a BaseheadDe La Soul

De La Soul – My Brother’s a Basehead (Official Audio)

De La Soul, who, along with A Tribe Called Quest, formed a pillar of the Native Tongues and brought innovation to hip-hop.

Many of their works revolve around the theme of family, and this time I’d like to introduce a classic sung from the perspective of a younger brother.

The song is an achingly earnest story directed by member Posdnuos to his real-life older brother struggling with drug addiction.

The frustration and sorrow over a problem that eats away at families come through painfully in his words.

In stark contrast to its heavy theme, the track’s sound is light and nonchalantly groovy.

That contrast may make the unbearable reality all the more vivid.

Included on the 1991 masterpiece “De La Soul Is Dead,” this song is sure to resonate with you when you’re troubled by a complex sibling relationship or reflecting on what family means.

Little BrotherElla Vos

Ella Vos – Little Brother

Armed with a delicate, dreamy sound, Ella Vos has been drawing attention from indie-pop fans.

With her background in classical piano, her songs are known for their exquisite, deeply emotional expression.

This track, released in November 2016 and later included on her debut album “Words I Never Said,” was actually written when her younger brother was in a serious accident.

It sings of the earnest feelings she had—fearing they might never speak again, and hoping her deep love for him would be conveyed.

Why not use this song to share the feelings you don’t usually say to your beloved sibling?

Rachael’s Little BrotherStormzy

Rachael’s Little Brother

Stormzy, the rapper who leads the contemporary UK music scene and is also known as a social activist, has a track that delves deeply into his roots, titled after his sister’s name.

Even amid his great success, the song expresses his unchanging identity as “Rachel’s brother” and his profound love for his family.

Stormzy’s introspective lyrics blend beautifully with a soulful, warm track, conveying his sincere reverence for where he comes from.

Released in December 2019, this piece appears on the acclaimed album Heavy Is the Head, which reached No.

1 on the UK Albums Chart.

If you have siblings, you might find it resonates even more when you listen with your own family relationships in mind.

It’s a celebration of familial love that transcends hip-hop—definitely give it a listen.

The Fall of Jake Paul (FEAT. Why Don’t We)Logan Paul

FULL SONG: The Fall Of Jake Paul (Official Video) FEAT. Why Don’t We

Logan Paul, an influencer who’s active as both a YouTuber and a professional wrestler, is a multi-talented figure.

The song he created in collaboration with the popular boy band Why Don’t We was made for his own younger brother.

Born as a response to provocations from his brother, this diss track channels sibling rivalry straight over an up-tempo beat.

The volley of aggressive lyrics may look like a heated fight at first glance, but it might also be a special form of communication unique to siblings.

The music video released in June 2017 also drew major attention.

Why not give it a listen when you want to reflect on the complex dynamics of brotherhood?

Gang RelatedLogic

Logic – Gang Related (Official Audio)

Logic, known for his philosophical rap and for having grown up in a difficult home environment.

One track on his debut album Under Pressure, released in October 2014, is a profoundly heavy song whose lyrics intertwine the perspective of himself as the younger brother and that of his older brother as he slips into crime.

Although it falls under gangsta rap, it never glamorizes violence; instead, it portrays his choice to walk a different path.

Reflecting his brother’s real experiences as well, this story of two siblings raised in the same environment yet diverging lives hits deeply.

If you enjoy narrative-driven hip-hop, be sure to pay close attention to the lyrics and give it a listen.