Ranking of popular fusion songs
When you hear the word “fusion,” what songs come to mind?
Some of you might not be able to picture what it sounds like.
Fusion is a broad genre that blends jazz and rock, so it can be hard to draw clear lines—and for those unfamiliar, it may feel a bit elusive.
It’s frequently featured in commercials and soundtracks, and is widely used as background music.
This media outlet, run by Live Spot RAG—a Kyoto venue that has long been devoted to fusion—will introduce you to truly outstanding tracks.
Based on reliable feedback from music fans we’ve received so far, we’ve researched the most popular picks and will present them in a ranking format.
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Fusion Popular Song Rankings (81–90)
Sister MoonSting81rank/position
A track by the British singer-songwriter Sting.
It is included on the 1987 album …Nothing Like the Sun.
The album reached the Top 10 on charts around the world and won a Brit Award.
FACEST-SQUARE82rank/position
This is a well-known T-SQUARE number, famous as the F1 theme.
In fact, this piece is also related to F1; it was used as the theme song for Ayrton Senna, the late Brazilian hero.
The driving ensemble is complemented by guitar and wind synth, intertwining with a spacious, expansive feel.
SpiralThe Crusaders83rank/position
From the 1976 album Those Southern Knights.
A four-piece group from Texas that debuted in 1961.
Even before the term “fusion” was coined, they had already brought that concept into their music and developed a distinctive sound.
It’s a cool track with jazz rhythms and rock guitar.
THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYSTraffic84rank/position
Traffic is a fusion band also known for having British blues-rock musician Steve Winwood as a member.
“The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” is the title track of an album released in 1971, and unusually for fusion, it’s a vocal number.
That said, its groovy performance and the players’ individual improvisations make it very much a quintessential fusion sound.
BirdlandWeather Report85rank/position
“Birdland” is a track by Weather Report, a fusion band known for its unique sound and technical performance.
The melody, featuring bassist Jaco Pastorius’s use of bass harmonics, is especially striking.
Composed by keyboardist Joe Zawinul, the piece is also notable for its sound crafted with classic synthesizer greats like ARP and Oberheim.
The album Heavy Weather, which includes “Birdland,” is one of their masterpieces, and it’s a must-listen for fusion fans.