Piano music from my later life

A fellow of mediocre talent will remain a mediocrity, whether he travels or not; but one of superior talent will go to seed if he always remains in the same place.

— Mozart, 1778

If you want to realize your potential it is essential to play a wide variety of music styles. Here are 200 airport-worthy pieces from around the world that had a positive impact on my passion for the piano as an adult. View these using the Brave web browser to view all YouTube content with advertisements automatically removed.

1. Georg Händel: Passacaglia (Germany, 1720, HMV 432)
2. J.S. Bach: Prelude in C major (Germany, 1722, BWV 846)
3. J.S. Bach: Jesu (Germany, 1723, BWV 147)
4. J.S. Bach: Badinerie (Germany, 1739, BWV 1067) / original version
5. Georg Händel: Arrival of the queen of Sheba (England, 1748, HWV 67)
6. Unknown: The Sailor’s Hornpipe (UK, 1770)
7. Luigi Boccherini: Minuet (Spain, 1771)
8. Unknown: Gaudeamus igitur (Germany, 1782)
9. W. A. Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 – Rondo a la Turca (Austria, 1783)
10. W. A. Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 – Rondo (Austria, 1786)
11. W. A. Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Austria, 1787, K525)
12. Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C minor (Austria, 1798, Op. 13, No. 8)
13. Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C sharp minor (Austria, 1801, Op. 27, No. 2)
14. Unknown: Jamaica Farewell / Iron Bar (Jamaica)
15. Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in A major (France, 1838, Op. 40, No. 1)
16. Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in A flat major (France, 1842, Op. 53)
17. Johann Strauss Sr: Radetzky march (Austria, 1848) / duet version / 6-hand version
18. Richard Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries (Germany, 1851)
19. Louis Gottschalk: Souvenir de Porto Rico (USA, 1857)
20. Johann Strauss Jr: On the beautiful blue Danube (Austria, 1866)
21. Arthur Sullivan: Never mind the why or wherefore (UK, 1878)
22. Unknown: Levan polkka (Finland, 19th century)
23. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the bumblebee (Russia, 1899)
24. Ralph Willams: The vagabond (UK, 1907)
25. George Botsford: Black and white rag (USA, 1908)
26. Frederick Ricketts: Colonel Bogey March (UK, 1914)
27. Hubert Parry: Jerusalem (UK, 1916)
28. Unknown: Hāvā nāgīlā (1918)
29. Unknown: Misirlou (Middle East, 1920s)
30. Jack O’Hagan: Along the road to Gundagai (Australia, 1922)
31. Ben Ryan: The gang that sang ‘Heart of my heart’ (USA, 1926)
32. Walter Donaldson: My baby just cares for me (USA, 1930)
33. Herman Hupfeld: As time goes by (USA, 1931)
34. Cole Porter: Anything goes (USA, 1934)
35. Carlos Gardel: Por una cabeza (Argentina, 1935)
36. Ross Parker: We’ll meet again (England, 1939)
37. Glen Miller: In the mood (USA, 1939)
38. Aram Khachaturian: Sabre dance (Armenia, 1942)
39. Dámaso Pérez Prado: Mambo No. 5 (Cuba, 1949)
40. Frank Loesser: Fugue for three tinhorns (USA, 1950)
41. Frank Loesser: Guys and dolls (USA, 1950)
42. Frank Loesser: Luck be a lady (USA, 1950)
43. Frank Loesser: I’ll know (USA, 1950)
44. Frank Loesser: Bushel and a peck (USA, 1950)
45. Frank Loesser: If I were a bell (USA, 1950)
46. Frank Loesser: Sit down you’re rockin’ the boat (USA, 1950)
47. Arthur Smith: Dueling banjos (USA, 1954)
48. Lord Burgess: Come back Liza (USA, 1956)
49. Leonard Bernstein: Officer Krupke (USA, 1957)
50. Leonard Bernstein: America (USA, 1957)
51. Paul Desmond: Take five (USA, 1959)
52. Ben E. King: Stand by me (USA, 1961)
53. Elvis Presley: I can’t help falling in love with you (USA, 1961)
54. Monty Norman: James Bond theme (UK, 1962)
55. Antônio Carlos Jobim: Garota de Ipanema (Brazil, 1962) / tutorial
56. Herbie Hancock: Watermelon man (USA, 1962)
57. Herbie Hancock: Cantaloupe island (USA, 1964)
58. Paul McCartney: Yesterday (UK, 1964)
59. Julius Wechter: Spanish flea (USA, 1965)
60. Unknown: The Wellerman (New Zealand, 1966)
61. Paul McCartney: Penny Lane (UK, 1966) / keyboard view
62. Lalo Schifrin: Mission: Impossible theme (USA, 1966)
63. Frank Sinatra: My way (USA, 1968)
64. Francisco Simó Damirón: Oye mi piano (Dominican Republic, 1970)
65. Günther Behrle: Agadoo (Germany, 1970) – Club Med. theme song
66. Cy Coleman: Rhythm of life (USA, 1970)
67. Karen and Richard Carpenter: Close to you (USA, 1970)
68. John Denver: Country roads (USA, 1971)
69. Elton John: Tiny dancer (UK, 1971)
70. Jimmy Page: Stairway to heaven (UK, 1971)
71. Sydney Carter: Southcote / One more step along the world I go (UK, 1971)
72. Joe Torres: Aguanile (Puerto Rico, 1972)
73. Nino Rota: Speak softly, love Godfather love theme (USA, 1972) / original version
74. Bill Withers: Lean on me (USA, 1972)
75. Billy Joel: Ballad of Billy the kid (USA, 1972)
76. Billy Joel: Piano man (USA, 1973)
77. Billy Joel: You’re my home (USA, 1973)
78. Wally Johnson and Bob Brown: Give me a home among the gum trees (Australia, 1974)
79. Freddy Mercury: Bohemian rhapsody (UK, 1975)
80. Don Felder: Hotel California (USA, 1976)
81. Tom Scholz: More than a feeling (USA, 1976)
82. Peter Allen: I go to Rio (Australia, 1976)
83. Billy Joel: Angry young man (USA, 1976)
84. Billy Joel: New York state of mind (USA, 1976)
85. Billy Joel: Scenes from an Italian restaurant (USA, 1977)
86. Billy Joel: She’s always a woman (USA, 1977)
87. Billy Joel: Only the good die young (USA, 1977)
88. Freddy Mercury: We are the champions (UK, 1977)
89. John Kander: New York, New York theme (USA, 1977)
90. Dennis DeYoung: Come sail away (USA, 1977)
91. John Paul Young: Love is in the air (Australia, 1977)
92. Jimmy Barnes: Khe Sanh (Australia, 1978)
93. Al McKay: September (USA, 1978)
94. Village People: Y.M.C.A., You can’t stop the music, In the navy (USA, 1978/1979)
95. Paul de Senneville: Mariage d’amour (France, 1979) / Clayderman version
96. Peter Allen: I still call Australia home (Australia, 1980) / Fazioli version
97. Claude-Michel Schönberg: Look down (France, 1980)
98. Claude-Michel Schönberg: At the end of the day (France, 1980)
99. Claude-Michel Schönberg: Who am I (France, 1980)
100. Claude-Michel Schönberg: Castle on a cloud (France, 1980)
101. Claude-Michel Schönberg: Master of the house (France, 1980)
102. Claude-Michel Schönberg: Do you hear the people sing (France, 1980)
103. Claude-Michel Schönberg: One day more (France, 1980)
104. Claude-Michel Schönberg: On my own (France, 1980)
105. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Memory (UK, 1981)
106. Paul Dean: Working for the weekend (Canada, 1981)
107. Jim Peterik: Eye of the tiger (USA, 1982)
108. Phil Lynott: Old town (UK, 1982)
109. Bonnie Tyler: Total eclipse of the heart (USA, 1982)
110. David Paich: Africa (USA, 1982)
111. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Japan, 1983)
112. Cyndi Lauper: Time after time (USA, 1983)
113. Van Halen: Jump (USA, 1984)
114. Leonard Cohen: Halleluja (Canada, 1984)
115. Compay Segundo: Chan Chan (Cuba, 1984)
116. Roland Orzabal: Mad world (UK, 1984)
117. Bruce Hornsby: The way it is (USA, 1985)
118. Magne Furuholmen: Take on me (Norway, 1985)
119. Andy Qunta: You’re the voice (UK, 1986)
120. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Think of me (UK, 1986)
121. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Music of the night (UK, 1986)
122. Andrew Lloyd Webber: The phantom of the opera (UK, 1986)
123. Axl Rose: November rain (USA, 1986)
124. Axl Rose: Sweet child o’ mine (USA, 1987)
125. Mark Gable: Run to paradise (Australia, 1987)
126. Andrew Farriss: Never tear us apart (Australia, 1987)
127. Mike Post: Doogie Howser theme (USA, 1989)
128. Michael Land: Monkey Island theme (USA, 1990)
129. Collin Raye: Love, me (USA, 1991) / keyboard view
130. Bryan Adams: Everything I do (Canada, 1991)
131. CeCe Peniston: Finally (USA, 1991)
132. Eric Clapton: Tears in heaven (USA, 1991)
133. Ace of Base: All that she wants (Sweden, 1992)
134. Gordon Sumner: Fields of gold (UK, 1992)
135. Sten Hallström (StoneBridge): Show me love (Sweden, 1992)
136. John Williams: Jurassic Park theme (USA, 1993) / an other version
137. Gary Baker and Frank Myers: I swear (USA, 1993)
138. Nestor Alexander Haddaway and Tony Hendrik: What is love? (Germany, 1993) / a slower version
139. Michael Nyman: The heart asks pleasure first (UK, 1993)
140. Henry Samuel (Seal): Kiss from a rose (UK, 1994)
141. Mariah Carey: All I want for Christmas (USA, 1994)
142. The Corrs: Runaway (Ireland, 1994)
143. Alan Silvestri: Forrest Gump theme (USA, 1994)
144. Carl Davis: BBC Pride and Prejudice theme (UK, 1995)
145. Ben Folds: Philosophy (USA, 1995)
146. Ben Folds: Army (USA, 1995)
147. Ayalah Bentovim (Sister Bliss): Insomnia (UK, 1995) – keyboard view
148. Marc Kinchen (MK): Push the feeling on (USA, 1995)
149. Robert Miles: Children (Italy, 1995)
150. Robert Miles: Fable (Italy, 1996)
151. Toby Smith: Virtual insanity (UK, 1996)
152. Kenneth Gorelick: The Moment (USA, 1996)
153. Jean-Jacques Goldman: Aïcha (France, 1996)
154. Paul Spencer (Dario G): Sunchyme (UK, 1997)
155. Tony Scalzo: The way (USA, 1997)
156. Alice Dejay: Better off alone (USA, 1997)
157. Vegas Vacation theme (USA, 1997)
158. Paquito Hechavarría: Spice up your life (UK, 1997)
159. The Corrs: So young (Ireland, 1997)
160. The Corrs: What can I do (Ireland, 1997)
161. André Tanneberger (ATB): 9pm (Germany, 1998)
162. Itaal Shur: Smooth (USA, 1998)
163. Horacio Miramontes: Micaela (Colombia, 1998)
164. Ben Folds: Magic (USA, 1999)
165. Toby Smith: Canned heat (UK, 1999)
166. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Californication (USA, 1999)
167. Gabriel Yared: Lullaby for Cain (USA, 1999)
168. The Corrs: No frontiers (Ireland, 1999)
169. Ville Virtanen: Sandstorm (Finland, 1999)
170. Staffan Olsson: One in a million (Sweden, 2000)
171. The Corrs: Breathless (Ireland, 2000)
172. Tina Cousins: Pray (UK, 2000)
173. Michael Kamen: Band of brothers theme (USA, 2001)
174. Ben Folds: The Luckiest (Australia, 2001)
175. Chris Martin: Clocks (UK, 2002)
176. Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer: He’s a pirate (Germany, 2003)
177. Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez: There’s a fine fine line (USA, 2003)
178. Roberto Carlos Rodríguez: Ven Ven Ven (Cuba, 2004) / keyboard view / piano transcription
179. Joe Hasiachi: Merry-go-round of life (Japan, 2004)
180. Joe Hasiachi: Summer (Japan, 2007) / piano music
181. Alicia Keys: No one (USA, 2007)
182. Joe Arroyo: La rebelión (Colombia, 2007)
183. Mark Foster: Pumped up kicks (USA, 2010)
184. Robert Lopez: Let it go (USA, 2012) – you must hear this cover!
185. Park Jae-sang: Gangnam style (Korea, 2012)
186. Ludovico Einaudi: Experience (Italy, 2013)
187. Taylor Swift: Shake it off (USA, 2014)
188. Andrew Grammer: Honey, I’m good (USA, 2014)
189. LunchMoney Lewis: Bills (USA, 2015)
190. Luis Fonsi: Despacito (Puerto Rico, 2017)
191. Ed Sheeran: Perfect (UK, 2017)
192. Karla Camila Cabello: Havana (USA, 2017)
193. Karla Camila Cabello: Señorita (USA, 2019)
194. Fujii Kaze: Shinunoga E-Wa (Japan, 2020)
195. Alan Walker: The Drum (Norway, 2022)
196. Jacob Dodge Lawson: Golden hour (USA, 2022)
197. Laufey Jónsdóttir: Promise (Iceland, 2023)
198. Laufey Jónsdóttir: From the start (Iceland, 2023)
199. Tony Ann: Icarus (Canada, 2023)
200. 김은재 (Kim Eun-jae): Golden (Korea, 2025)

Note: music by Jerry Lee Lewis is not included due to child grooming, psychological and physical abuse of Myra Lewis Williams as well as psychological and physical abuse of three other wives, including the suspected murder of Shawn Stephens and Jaren Pate.