The Australian Pop-Rock quartet 5 Seconds of Summer are just a month away from beginning their upcoming summer tour, The 5 Seconds of Summer Show. The group, consisting of Lead Singer Luke Hemmings, Guitarist Michael Clifford, Bassist Calum Hood, and Drummer Ashton Irwin, formed in 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Gaining most of their popularity after the group's cover of Teenage Dirtbag by Weezer was shared on Twitter via One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, they proceeded to top the Billboard charts. If you don't listen to the group often, there are probably three songs that come to mind whenever you hear the name 5 Seconds of Summer: "She Looks So Perfect", "Amnesia", or "Youngblood".
Even though these are all incredible songs, their discography is so deep and full of lesser-known gems. If you are considering purchasing a ticket to one of the upcoming dates on the 40-show tour but just haven't been able to convince yourself to do so, this article is for you. Here is my list of 10 songs by 5 Seconds of Summer that you need to add to your playlists.
- Ghost Of You (Youngblood, 2018)
Written by Ashton Irwin and Luke Hemmings, Ghost of You is the thirteenth track of the Junior studio album, Youngblood. Luke was inspired by the NBC drama This Is Us to write this bone-chilling track. Specifically, S1 EP12, which featured a man dancing alone with the ghost of his dead wife. Standing at 308 million+ streams on Spotify, the song describes the loss of either a partner or the thought of them and the inability to cope with it. The first time I heard this song, I sobbed, and I still do more times than not when listening. My final comment on the heartbreaking ballad is that it is my 50-year-old mom's favorite song by the band.
- Outer Space/Carry On (Sounds Good Feels Good, 2015)
I could go on forever about this song (and how bitter I am that they said they would never play it live again). I was 14 years old whenever I heard this for the first time, and I am positive I stayed up until midnight on a weekday for the release of this album. The two part masterpiece was written by the entire band, and John Feldmann, who has a history of creating magic with 5SOS. Connected by musical imagery and the sounds of the ocean, the group considers this song to be their rock masterpiece. There is truly so much feeling and passion in every single lyric and note.
- Killer Queen (Queen cover, 2018)
In 2018, with the release of Bryan Singer's biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, came three cover recordings of songs written by Freddy Mercury. The artists were hand-selected by the Mercury Phoenix Trust, with all profits donated to the charity. I have shown this cover to multiple people who aren't inherently fans of the band but praise Freddy, and all of them have had their expectations exceeded. It has always gotten a good response from friends whose musical opinions I respect highly. I have also always simply loved the idea of a younger generation carrying on the legacy of an iconic group such as Queen.
- Moodswings (5SOS5, 2023)
This is it; this is the one that people with diagnosed mood disorders have been waiting for, including myself. Moodswings is the fifteenth track off of the band's most recent studio album, 5SOS5, and features writing from all four members. It was produced by Michael. This was immediately one of my favorite songs off of the album after listening to it all the way through for the first time. If you decide to check this one out, do yourself a favor and listen to the entire album. I promise you won't regret it.
- Kill My Time (CALM, 2020)
I always tell people who ask what my taste in music is that I like songs that make me feel alive. The songs that scratch my neurodivergent brain just right and make me do a little dance are my favorites. Kill My Time is a prime example of one of these songs. Luke and Michael wrote the song, which was originally only available with the purchase of a signed copy of the album from their online store. Shortly after, it became available on all streaming platforms.
- If You Don't Know (Don't Stop EP, 2014)
If you are a seasoned listener of the band, you more than likely already know this hidden gem. Released on the group's fourth EP, Don't Stop, the song is not available for streaming in the US. This is without a doubt why the first YouTube video that comes up when you search the title has 1.5 million views. Calum's vocals really have their time to shine throughout this track, and it doesn't go unnoticed. If You Don't Know has only been played live to the public a handful of times but was played for the private VIP soundcheck groups at multiple shows.
- Story Of Another Us (Sounds Good Feels Good B-Sides and Rarities, 2016)
I can vividly remember it being 2016. I was 15 years old and found myself front row at soundcheck for 5SOS' show in Moline, IL. The first chance I got, I screamed at Calum to play Story of Another Us. Even though this is a cringe-worthy moment to look back on, it shows the significance of the song. When you learn that it was written by Luke and Josh Ramsay of Mariana's Trench, it makes sense why everything about it just feels so perfect. It is a shame we will most likely never hear this one live.
- Babylon (Youngblood, 2018)
Babylon is the final track on the Deluxe version of Youngblood, which was released in June of 2018. The band used this song to open the setlist of their Meet You There US Tour, and let me tell you, I felt as if I had ascended in that moment. Michael and Calum co-wrote this song, though Calum sings it in its entirety. It represents a relationship that was once powerful, explosive, and passionate but deteriorated over time. A metaphor for the ancient city of Mesopotamia.
- Broken Pieces (She's Kinda Hot EP, 2015)
When it comes to these last two songs, I could barely decide which order to put them in, so consider them equals. Broken Pieces was written by Calum and Michael but produced by John Feldmann. This track has never received nearly as much recognition as it deserves, either by the band or the fans. With only 7 million streams on Spotify (in comparison to their top-played song with 1.5+ billion), I cannot stress enough how badly you need to add this to your playlists.
- High (CALM, 2020)
High is the twelfth track on the senior studio album, CALM, and has writing credits for each member of the quartet. I can almost say that this is my favorite 5 Seconds of Summer song, if that were a decision I could make with any confidence at all. Luke described the instrumentals to this tune as Beatles-esque with quirky chords. He also stated that he enjoys how narcissistic it is, but in a sweet and unassuming way. He decided to close out the album with this one-of-a-kind ballad because of its honesty.
You can purchase tickets to one of 5 Seconds of Summer's upcoming shows here.
