Top 10 Best Songs of Tiffany

The cover of Tommy James & the Shondells that she made completely her own. From that first, propulsive drum beat, it's iconic. It's the anthem of teenage rebellion and the urge for freedom ("Children behave!"). The song bursts with energy and innocence. It's not just Tiffany's biggest hit, but a cultural phenomenon that defined the essence of 'mall pop'. A timeless classic that you simply cannot help but sing along to.

Her vocal masterpiece. Where her biggest hit was about energy, Could've Been is about pure heartbreak. The production is minimal, allowing her husky, lived-in voice all the space it needs. She was only 16 when she recorded this, but she sings with the pain of someone who has already been through three divorces. The belt in the bridge is powerful and emotionally devastating. One of the best power ballads of the 1980s.

In Europe, and especially in the Netherlands, a major hit. It begins with that mysterious, smoky intro before the drum computer kicks in. The song is an ode to the power of radio and falling in love with a voice. The production is dramatic and cinematic. Tiffany sounds pleading and dreamy. It's the ultimate soundtrack for a late-night drive in 1988.

A bold move: a gender-swap cover of The Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There. Tiffany makes it an energetic, stomping pop version. Purists will call it sacrilege, but it works wonderfully. The energy is boundless and the fun jumps off. It's the sound of a teenage party where everyone is standing on the couches jumping. Uncomplicated and cheerful.

The title track of her second album. Where her debut was full of energy, she seeks warmth here. It's a mid-tempo song that floats on that typical late-80s production: lots of reverb and soft synths. Tiffany sings here not as a pop star, but as a confidante. It has a comforting, almost gospel-like atmosphere that reveals that she had more vocal range than simple bubblegum pop.

The lead single from her second album, with which she tried to break free from the teenage image. The sound is more mature and melancholic. The melody meanders beautifully and the production is quieter. It's about looking back on a relationship and the regret that comes with it. You can hear her voice develop; the rasp is deeper and the emotion is less hysterical, more resigned.

Released in the early 90s, when grunge was already emerging and her style was out of fashion. Yet this is one of her strongest vocal performances. It's a rock ballad with tearing guitars. Her raw vocal sound comes into its own perfectly against the heavier background. It shows a side of Tiffany we heard too little of: the rock chick who holds her own.

A hidden gem from her debut album. This is a ballad that fits perfectly in the tradition of the 1980s 'slows'. The strings (from a synthesizer, of course) swell and Tiffany's voice breaks at the right moments. It's about the innocent dream that a first love will last forever. It sounds dated now, but the sincerity in her voice makes it charming and timeless.

A song that never became a big single, but is immensely loved by fans. It has a more organic, almost folk-pop-like structure than her other hits. The acoustic guitar is more prominent. Tiffany sings about a boy who is unreachable, and you hear the longing and frustration in her phrasing. It's less polished and therefore just very pure.

A surprising hard rock track, written by Janet herself. The tearing guitars and aggressive drums show a completely different side of her. Tiffany screams and groans ("Black cat, nine lives"). The song proves that she cannot be put in a box. A tough, energetic song that always provides fireworks live.