50 Best Motown Songs for IG Reels & Stories

Best Motown Songs for Instagram Stories and Reels

There’s a certain pulse in Motown that cuts straight through time. It’s not nostalgia in the usual sense, more like muscle memory waking up when the first groove hits. You hear that bass line, the handclaps, the sway in the rhythm, and suddenly the screen in your hand feels warmer. These songs lean into movement, into crowd energy, into that rush of life spilling past neat edges. They’re not frozen in the past either. They roll forward and still work inside the short bursts of Reels and Stories, where seconds matter and hooks have to land fast.

Motown never sat quiet. The voices were sharp, layered, restless, and aching in ways that felt too big for the room. That kind of sound works when you’re posting something messy and loud, or when you want to give a quick clip the weight of something deeper without spelling it out. And while the focus here is on Motown, the same energy shows up in plenty of pop, rock, country, and R&B songs that sneak into playlists because they carry that same urgency. Some of the picks might not be literally tied to Motown themes, but they still hit the vibe that fits right into the flow.

The best part is how these tracks walk the line between cool and unpolished, making even the simplest video feel charged. They bring in a mix of swing, soul, and rhythm that gets attention without trying too hard. Perfect for a late-night upload, a quiet scroll, or a quick clip from a party that only half makes sense the next morning. Here are the best Motown songs for Instagram reels and stories.

1. 'My Girl' by The Temptations

2. 'I Want You Back' by The Jackson 5

3. 'Dancing in the Street' by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

4. 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

5. 'Superstition' by Stevie Wonder

6. 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' by Marvin Gaye

7. 'Please Mr. Postman' by The Marvelettes

8. 'You Can't Hurry Love' by The Supremes

9. 'What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye

10. 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone' by The Temptations

11. 'War' by Edwin Starr

12. 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' by Stevie Wonder

13. 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)' by Four Tops

14. 'Baby Love' by The Supremes

15. 'The Tears of a Clown' by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

16. 'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye

17. 'My Guy' by Mary Wells

18. 'Stop! In the Name of Love' by The Supremes

19. 'ABC' by The Jackson 5

20. 'The Tracks of My Tears' by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

21. 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' by The Supremes

22. 'Reach Out I'll Be There' by Four Tops

23. 'What Becomes of the Brokenhearted' by Jimmy Ruffin

24. 'Smiling Faces Sometimes' by The Undisputed Truth

25. 'Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)' by The Temptations

26. 'Heat Wave' by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

27. 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me' by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

28. 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)' by Stevie Wonder

29. 'Do You Love Me' by The Contours

30. 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' by The Temptations

31. 'Jimmy Mack' by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

32. 'Money (That's What I Want)' by Barrett Strong

33. 'Still Water (Love)' by Four Tops

34. 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)' by Marvin Gaye

35. 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing' by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

36. 'Keep on Truckin'' by Eddie Kendricks

37. 'Too Many Fish in the Sea' by The Marvelettes

38. 'The Love You Save' by The Jackson 5

39. 'Shop Around' by The Miracles

40. 'Shotgun' by Junior Walker & The All Stars

41. 'Come See About Me' by The Supremes

42. 'Hello' by Lionel Richie

43. 'It Takes Two' by Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

44. 'Nowhere to Run' by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

45. 'Ooo Baby Baby' by The Miracles

46. 'I'll Be There' by The Jackson 5

47. 'Endless Love' by Lionel Richie & Diana Ross

48. 'Bernadette' by Four Tops

49. 'All Night Long (All Night)' by Lionel Richie

50. 'Super Freak' by Rick James