Top 10 Best Halsey Songs

Top 10 Halsey Songs

She’s an up and coming musical sensation, and for good reason. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 Halsey songs
For this list, we’ll be looking at the most powerful and catchy fan favorite tracks that this electropop powerhouse has put out. We won’t be counting songs that she featured in, or covers of other tracks that she has done.

#10: “Now or Never”
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)

The lead single from her album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom”, this love song tells the story of two lovers who can’t quite seem to get on the same page. Filled with a sense of both impatience and a determination to keep their love affair alive, the lyrics urge the lover in question to make their mind up and either commit, or quit. The music video to this song was Halsey’s directorial debut, and pulled inspiration from the story of Romeo and Juliet’s forbidden love. The song is both a sad love ballad and a story of hope for the future.

#9: “Is There Somewhere”
Room 93 (2014)

As an unofficial prologue to her EP “Room 93”, the heart wrenching story of falling in love with someone who is already taken is as beautiful as it is sad. In her commentary on the song, the singer says that she wanted to touch on the intimacy of a hotel room and the simple human connections that happen within them. Originally recorded on Garage Band, the song has a slow, steady beat and rhythm that matches the tone the lyrics set. Halsey has also mentioned that it’s one of her favorite songs she’s ever written. It’s not hard to see why!

#8: “New Americana”
Badlands (2015)

A revolutionary ballad or a jab at pop culture? Maybe a little bit of both. The song sheds light on the modern lives of young people in America, from the girl who made her millions from social media to the closeted football star who eventually married another man. Tossing subtle jabs at the elite rich as well as hinting that the new generation will eventually take over, Halsey also inserted some of her personal life into the lyrics as well. The line “raised on Biggie and Nirvana” was a reference to her mixed upbringing - her dad being black and her mom white. It’s toe tapping and catchy, and a song that has earned it’s spot on the charts.

#7: “Strangers” feat. Lauren Jauregui
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)

This LGBTQ+ anthem is the love story between two women and is just as powerful as the hetero love songs included on Halsey’s albums. Telling the story of a love affair that has fallen apart, the longing both Halsey and featured artist Lauren Jauregui manage to get across in their voices, set to the quick electronic bass background makes the track a fan favorite. The song has been called a “bisexual anthem” and is not only a treat to listen to, but contains a powerful message.

#6: “Castle”
Badlands (2015)

A metaphor for Halsey’s entry into the music industry, this song was also used as a promotional track for the 2016 movie “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”. It contains lyrics detailing the electropop singer breaking down walls and claiming her new kingdom and references the “old man sitting on the throne”- a symbol of the patriarchy that she wants to crush. Set to moody, metallic instruments that lend a powerful feeling to the track, this song was the perfect way to announce the debut of a new cultural icon.

#5: “Eyes Closed”
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)

What happens when you’re in a relationship… but you’re still not over your ex? If you’re Halsey, you write a heartbreaking song about it, of course. With The Weeknd coming on board to help produce the melody of this song, Halsey shows off her vocal talents and all but bares her soul to the world with this ballad to an ex-lover. Struggling to forget about her past and focus on her new flame, the gut wrenching lyrics of this song perfectly fit the tone of voice Halsey sings in. Though she may have had some help from the Canadian R&B artist, we have to hand most of the credit to her remarkable voice.

#4: “Roman Holiday”
Badlands (2015)

Now here’s a song to listen to while you’re on a long meandering drive. This nostalgia inducing tune is a classic tale of young runaways in love. The track celebrates the freedom of youth as well as the excitement of a new love affair and hope for the future. Inspired by both the 1953 film “Roman Holiday” and 80s favorite “The Breakfast Club”, the song reminds listeners of the feeling of endless youth. Energetic in its beat and instrumentals, this is a tune that you feel like cranking up when it comes on the radio and singing along at the top of your lungs.

#3: “Ghost”
Badlands (2015)

What do yogurt and this smash hit single have in common? Originally hired to sing in a commercial for a yogurt company, Halsey found herself distracted and wrote one of her very first songs, “Ghost”, instead. After the airy intro, the song jumps right into fast paced and aggressive lyrics, with a more sinister sounding beat that aligns well with the lyrics of the song. Telling the story of being in love with someone who didn’t feel the same, Halsey’s frustrated, passionate vocals in the track make it stand out as one of her very best works. We’d pick this over yogurt any day.

#2: “Gasoline”
Badlands (2015)

Dealing with mental illness is never easy, and Halsey lent a peek into her own struggles on this track. Describing her battle with bipolar disorder and the pressures of the entertainment industry, this song sounds both like a cry for help and a cry of anger. With bitter lyrics about how she is seen in public and the sacrifices she makes for entertainment, you can practically hear the frustration and desperation in her voice. Set to a violent, electronic sounding beat, it’s one of her hardest hitting songs and one that’s impossible to forget.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.

“Drive”
Badlands (2015)

“Heaven in Hiding”
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)

“Control”
Badlands (2015)

#1: “Colors”
Badlands (2015)

Rumoured to have been about The 1975’s lead singer Matty Healy, interpretations of this song have been all over the map. Despite everyone who listens getting something different from the lyrics, everyone can agree - it’s one of Halsey’s best works. Touching on subjects like the 27 Club, drug addiction, and family drama, the lyrics of the song weave a complicated web of a love story that makes listeners keep hitting repeat. Slowly watching the colour leak out of a relationship and watching things fade is a sad concept, but somehow this song makes it a little easier to deal with.