Top 10 Best SpongeBob SquarePants Songs

“Texas”
Feeling homesick, Sandy tunes her guitar and strums a sad song about her longing to return to Texas. The melody itself is a parody of “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” by Hank Williams, and the lyrics speak volumes about Sandy’s longing for Texas and its many features. Carolyn Lawrence carries the twangy tune until the very last line, when country music singer Junior Brown carries it home. Her country blues number is so moving, it reduces anyone who hears it to tears in mere seconds; but luckily, it also inspires SpongeBob and Patrick to give their squirrel friend a little bit of Texas in Bikini Bottom.

“Mimic Madness”
SpongeBob has been having fun imitating others… but he becomes so caught up in his mimicry, that he can’t remember who HE is. Feeling like a freak, he runs away and hides out in a cave, where he laments his lost identity in song. The tempo starts out slow and somber, but speeds up into a marching rhythm near the end, before ending on a very literal high note. The episode as a whole really highlights Tom Kenny’s voice acting – rotating through several different voices besides SpongeBob’s; but this tune raises the bar by having him SING in different voices while the confused Sponge shuffles through different shapes.

“The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” (2004)
Many of the series’ background tunes are borrowed from Associated Productions Music, but the first movie took a more creative approach: fleshing out one of these ditties into an original song. After being blessed with “mustaches,” SpongeBob and Patrick –full of manly confidence- march through a dangerous monster-filled trench, belting out this triumphant tune. The two goobers pay no mind to the various dangers and creatures along the way, believing they truly are invincible thanks to their faux facial hair. Their valor, and hamboning skills, earn them the respect of the monsters, who take over the last verse and guide our heroes out of the trench, allowing them to continue their heroic quest.

“Christmas Who?”
After discovering the joys of Christmas, SpongeBob and Patrick lead a festive carol while getting Bikini Bottom ready for the big night. Everyone in town ends up joining in –even Squidward, whose usual cynicism balances out the happy townsfolk hilariously. The steady beat gives a warm and fun feeling to coincide with lyrics that showcase the magic that can only be found at this time of year – the giving, the decorating, and just the general excitement. Overall, SpongeBob manages to raise everyone’s spirit for their very first Christmas; a feat he’d repeat a few years later with a new carol, reminding us to not be jerks during the holidays.

“The Best Day Ever”
After its debut in the first movie’s end credits, this track became one of the series’ most popular tracks. Along with singing, Tom Kenny also helped co-write the tune – showing a whole new level of dedication to his plucky yellow character. The song’s popularity can be traced back to its upbeat melody, and its optimistic message – with the right attitude, you can make ANY day the best day ever. This cheerful number not only inspired its own episode, but was also one of the two songs from the series adapted into the Broadway musical, where SpongeBob uses the tune to bring a panicked Bikini Bottom together during a time of crisis.

“Ripped Pants”
SpongeBob has been trying to impress everyone –especially Sandy- with his ripped pants routine, but it soon grows old. Having pushed everyone away, the forlorn yellow clown buddies up with a group of fellow losers to sing a Beach Boys-inspired melody. This little number started a recurring tradition for SpongeBob songs, where the little square dude would sometimes have a different singing voice –in this case, songwriter Peter Strauss. It’s got a real smooth beat, and the moral of the episode shines through in the lyrics – you don’t have to make yourself look foolish to impress your friends, you just need to be yourself. Now doesn’t that sound better than constantly ripping your pants?

“The Camping Episode”
Wanting to show Squidward the fun of camping, SpongeBob whips out a ukulele and plays a campfire song for him and Patrick. It starts out slow and relaxing, SpongeBob spelling out the song title and inviting others to sing along. Suddenly, the tempo becomes faster and faster - the little square dude’s singing never missing a beat. Meanwhile, Patrick hilariously stumbles through the song trying to keep up. On the very last verse, the tune evolves into a power rock jam as Patrick and SpongeBob SMASH their instruments. What was supposed to be a “relaxing” campfire song became one of the funniest and most memorable tunes the show has ever produced.

“F.U.N.”
Hoping to make friends with Plankton, SpongeBob decides to teach him about fun the only way he knows how – with a cute, catchy ukulele tune. He spells out F.U.N., and how each letter represents some of friendship’s best qualities… though Plankton has his own –rather grisly- version of what fun is about. Fortunately, SpongeBob sets the little microorganism on the right path, and the two join together on the last verse as a duet. While their camaraderie doesn’t last, we got to enjoy a nice progression of a budding friendship via this fun little ditty; unfortunately, you can’t change Plankton’s nature for too long, no matter how good the song.

“Have You Seen This Snail?”
Gary has run away from home, and SpongeBob desperately tries to find him. Halfway through the episode, we’re treated to a montage featuring a heartbreaking ballad sung by award-winning musician, Stew. The imagery alternates between three different scenarios – one which trails SpongeBob and Patrick searching for the snail, one that follows Gary seemingly having fun with his new owner, and one showing a miserable SpongeBob lamenting the loss of his beloved pet. The slow beat and gloomy tone set the mood, but what REALLY gets the tears flowing is the lyrics – SpongeBob wanting nothing more than to apologize to his best friend for driving him off, and repeating those three pleading words.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few absorbent honorable mentions.

“This Grill Is Not a Home”
“Welcome to the Chum Bucket”

“Never Give Up”
“Hello Bikini Bottom!”

“Loop de Loop”
“Your Shoe’s Untied”

“The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” (2004)
It feels like the end – Plankton has enslaved all of Bikini Bottom, and brushes SpongeBob off as just a kid. After a dramatic speech, our absorbent hero belts into a high-energy, heavy metal rock number – parodying Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock”. Following verses about him embracing what he really is, SpongeBob POWERS through the rest of the song with some righteous guitar riffing –powerful enough to break Plankton’s influence. SpongeBob may be just a kid, but he’s gone above and beyond to save his beloved town, and there’s no way he’ll let Plankton win this. If his performance has proven anything, it’s that even a total goofball can emerge a hero, AND a rock star.