David Bowie – ‘Heroes’

Possibly one of the most iconic songs of the last century, David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ is one of my greatest hits for its anthemic, timeless beauty. The sonic building of the guitar motifs throughout mixed with defiant, hopeful lyrics such as ‘we can beat them forever and ever / then we can be heroes just for one day’ create such a powerful, moving song, and one that is still relevant today. Even the rawness of his vocals as he shouts in the final choruses highlight the magic of this song – it is one that deals with romance, identity and humanity in its rawest form. Bowie will forever captivate me with his emboldened, unapologetic artistry but I think ‘Heroes’ will always stand out for me as an example of the timelessness of his music. 

The 1975 – ‘Love it If We Made It’

What makes ‘Love it If We Made It’ one of my greatest hits is The 1975’s ability to combine their signature, indie-pop electronic style with a poignant social commentary. The pounding rhythm, poppy guitar riffs, electronic samples and echoing vocals give the song its 1975-esque status and ultimately makes the song really catchy. But in Matty Healy’s vocals, a wider message of the human condition in the modern climate is explored, specifically in the screams of ‘modernity has failed us’ and ‘poetry is in the streets.’ Through this, the song takes on a whole new level and that’s why this song is so important to me. It’s not just a catchy indie-pop tune like ‘Chocolate’ or ‘The Sound’ but instead it’s delivering a powerful rhetoric with its platform and delivers it with a sense of urgency, it’s ultimately a cry for help from The 1975. 

Taylor Swift – ‘Treacherous’

Any list of my greatest hits would not be complete without any Taylor Swift in it, and I decided that ‘Treacherous’ was one of her most important songs to me. Beginning as a gentle, country inspired acoustic song it gradually builds in texture to an anthemic explosion of backing vocals, drums, and guitar parts until it returns back to solely Swift’s vocals for the final lines. But what captured me most about this song is Swift’s song-writing abilities. She’s become so cliched for writing petty, cheesy pop songs about ex-lovers. ‘Treacherous’ abolishes this reputation and instead, offers a vulnerability to her song writing. What is ultimately a love song, becomes a mature exploration of the conflicting anxieties and excitement of love. The lyrics are eloquent and delicate, displayed in lines like ‘all we are is skin and bone, trained to get along’ adding a certain sense of beauty to the song that makes it stand out as one of my greatest hits. 

The Maine – ‘(Un)Lost’

The Maine hold a really special place in my heart anyway and specifically the song ‘(Un)Lost’ has always stuck with me as one of my greatest hits. The song is an exploration of uncertainty and identity but overall offers an affirming optimism that’s aided by the catchy melodies, pop-rock guitars and steadily growing drumbeat. However, I don’t think this song has stuck with me because if its musicality, its more so the resonance of the lyrics and its message of hope. The line ‘Control what you can, confront what you can’t’ has pretty much become my mantra in life and I think that’s the power this song holds; it offers a sense of acceptance and understanding at the conflict and confusion in everyday life but also reaches out to the listener to offer solace. It is a song that really hits home and stays there.

Florence and the Machine – ‘Cosmic Love’

‘Cosmic Love’ by Florence and the Machine can only best be described as a powerhouse of a song. Every time I listen to it, I’m captivated by the artistry of it – the delicate, poetic lyrics and gentle harps combined with orchestral crescendos, pounding drums and the urgency and strength of her vocals create almost a spectacle, an anthem of love, heartache and conflict. It takes on a larger than life atmosphere in its high points and yet still feels highly personal and relatable. I was lucky enough to see Florence and the Machine live last year and that’s when this song took on a whole new life for me. Experiencing each of these elements live and being in the crowd as it created an atmosphere of strength was so mesmerising to be a part of and now that feeling sticks with me every time I hear the song. It is Florence at her best, combining high theatrics and drama with exquisite, poetic moments.