Best Songs of All Time in GTA [Top 10 List]

Maneater by Hall and Oates - GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

"Maneater" by Hall and Oates was added to the Vice City FM radio station when Grand Theft Auto IV introduced the Ballad of Gay Tony expansion pack. This song has an upbeat tone to it, which vibes well with the whole plot of Tony’s, the main character's, life as he works in a nightclub. Overall, it’s just a chill, catchy song that fits well with all aspects of the game.

Not only is "Maneater” played on the radio, but you can catch it again when Tony’s ex, Evan Moss, is dancing and singing to it in Tony’s apartment after you finish the “Bang Bang” mission.

In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins - GTA: Vice City Stories

Since GTA: Vice City Stories isn’t one of the most-played games in the GTA franchise, many may not know of the songs featured there, but there are some good ones. For example, “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. But this isn’t the only time Phil Collins was featured in GTA: Vice City Stories; there was also an in-game concert with him; that was a pretty cool celebrity appearance.

There honestly isn’t a song that would better fit the life of the main playable protagonist, Victor Vance, than this song can. The song touches on how something is soon to happen; this relates to Victor’s life perfectly since he’s always finding a way to get himself into some mischief. It's almost like a theme song for life.

Hood Gone Love It by Jay Rock Ft. Kendrick Lamar - GTA V

GTA V’s Radio Los Santos radio station usually features music genres such as techno and electronic; however, it also features a hip-hop banger called “Hood Gone Love It” by Jay Rock featuring Kendrick Lamar.

This song was used to introduce players to Franklin, one of GTA V’s playable protagonists. Considering this song is about the struggles faced while living in the hood, it’s a perfect fit for GTA. Additionally, it’s just a genuinely good song to listen to while cruising the streets of Los Santos.

I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls - GTA: Vice City

"I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls is one of the songs that arguably fits in really well with the plot of GTA: Vice City, regardless of if you’re just casually playing or doing something to pump up your adrenaline, like robbing a bank.

The rhythm of this 80’s pop hit makes it the perfect theme song for the main protagonists' lives, especially with the way the beat lines up perfectly with their shenanigans, such as committing crimes.

The lyrics of this song are another aspect that I think pair up nicely with the GTA world as well. The meaning behind the song, as the title suggests, is about running away and escaping things; this song is a good one to turn to in the heat of a police chase.

Hollywood Swinging by Kool and the Gang - GTA: San Andreas

GTA: San Andreas revolves pretty much around the whole nightclub scene theme as well as dancing, especially during the Life’s a Beach mission, where we catch CJ busting out his moves to “Hollywood Swinging” by Kool and the Gang. This mission is pretty entertaining to watch, to be honest; it’s pretty funny to watch the main character dance like that.

Apart from this mission, this song can be heard playing on Bounce FM; it’s a great little tune to listen to while driving around the city. Personally, it’s kind of a nostalgic feeling to listen to this song on the radio station after completing that mission.

Africa by Toto - GTA: Vice City

Whether you’ve played GTA: Vice City or not, this is surely a song you’d recognize due to how popular it is outside the gaming world. “Africa” by Toto is such a catchy song to vibe to while driving through the streets of Vice City, especially with some friends.

It seems as though that’s a pretty popular opinion, considering the popularity of the song within the GTA world grew so much shortly after it was added to the Emotion 98.3 radio station. Rockstar truly nailed it when they chose to add this song to Vice City.

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Michael Jackson - GTA: Vice City

Yet another great artist from the 80’s to be featured in GTA: Vice City was Michael Jackson, who performed his hit “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin” on the Fever 105 radio station. 

There’s not too much to say about this song other than that it’s a great song to listen to before attempting a heist due to how motivational and upbeat the rhythm is. Additionally, it fits well with the protagonist's life as he attempts to become a mastermind criminal in Vice City.

White Wedding by Billy Idol - GTA: San Andreas

If you’re in the midst of a police chase after committing a crime in San Andreas, turning to the K-DST radio station is key. Upon doing this, you’ll likely hear Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” playing; this is a perfect song to listen to in a moment like this due to the beat of it. It’s pretty much guaranteed to make you feel like a rebel.

Another cool thing about this song is that the radio station that it’s featured on is actually voiced by a well-known artist, Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses; he voices the host of K-DST, Tommy Smith, better known as The Nightmare.

Appetite for Destruction by N.W.A - GTA V

“Appetite for Destruction” by N.W.A. plays on the West Coast Classics radio station during the first “Franklin and Lamar” mission, when players have to follow Lamar’s car to repossess cars for Simeon.

The beat of this song goes really well with the mood of the mission, and it adds a bit of an adrenaline rush to it as well. Even after completing this mission, it’s cool to go back to the West Coast Classics radio station to hear it once again when going to commit crimes.

Nuthin' But a G Thang by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg - GTA: San Andreas

Another song that the Radio Los Santos radio station gives us for those chill drives through San Andreas is “Nuthin’ But a G Thang” by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. There’s not much to say about this song; it’s just a cool, catchy song, and it’s another one of those beats that will make you feel like a rebel.