Top 10 Best Hilary Duff Songs
From Disney to TV darling, Hilary Duff has always been able to capture our attention. For this list, we'll be looking at the best songs to date in the career of pop singer and actress Hilary Duff.
#10: “Sparks”
Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015)
After a multi-year musical hiatus Hilary Duff reestablished herself amongst the ranks of pop starlets with this catchy single . Written by Swedish songwriter and producer Christian Karlsson with help from electropop singer Tove Lo, “Sparks” was the third single released off of Duff’s fifth album “Breath In. Breath Out.” A pure dance track that’s a whole lot of fun to listen to, especially if you’re cruising around town with your friends or losing yourself on the dancefloor, “Sparks” peaked at number 6 on the US Dance Club Songs chart .
#9: “Stranger”
Dignity (2007)
With the release of this song in 2007 Hilary Duff shed her “Lizzie McGuire” good-girl image once and for all. “Stranger” coincided with the Texas native’s transition from, as Maxim put it, “the queen of teen to breakout sex symbol”. And it’s easy to understand why! The song’s lyrics make reference to a promiscuous boyfriend and the music video features a dark haired Duff running around in her negligée and dancing provocatively throughout. The song wound up being a hit, peaking at number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart .
#8: “Chasing the Sun”
Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015)
The first single released off of her fifth studio album “Breathe In. Breathe Out.”, “Chasing the Sun” is, and please excuse the rhyming, a whole lot of fun. Seriously, it’s the the ultimate summer jam. With its catchy beat, playful lyrics and laissez-faire attitude the song is folk pop at its best! “Chasing the Sun” was Duff’s first to crack the music charts since 2008, the same year she left Hollywood Records . We think she made the right choice selecting this as her comeback single, as it’s loaded with feel-good vibes that just won’t quit!
#7: “My Kind”
Breathe In. Breathe Out. (2015)
As is the case with most of the songs off of her 2015 comeback album, “My Kind” is catchy and mature, and yet still functions as a nice throwback to Duff’s pop roots. The song and its accompanying music video are nothing but fun; and getting to watch Duff in what is essentially a behind-the-scenes viewing of her dance class is awesome! It’s great songs like this that make us realise just how sorely we missed her while she was focusing on other things. Regardless, we’re just happy to have her back and delivering the sort of material that makes up for lost time.
#6: “Our Lips Are Sealed” feat. Haylie Duff
A Cinderella Story: Original Soundtrack (2004)
Two Duffs for the price of one? Yes please! In 2004, Hilary teamed up with big sister Haylie to cover the Go-Go’s classic 80’s pop song “Our Lips Are Sealed”. Hilary and Haylie had long expressed a desire to cut a track together and while their rendition might not have lived up to the success of the original, it’s safe to say that it landed with its tween-aged audience, and was a perfect fit for the film it was accompanying - “A Cinderella Story”. It certainly looks like they had fun shooting the video, which borrows elements from The Go-Go’s version and follows the Duff sisters as they cruise around town in a convertible.
#5: “Beat of My Heart”
Most Wanted (2005)
The second single released off of her 2005 compilation album “Most Wanted”, Beat of My Heart’s electropop sound drew comparisons to the work of 80’s pop acts Debbie Gibson and Bananarama . The song’s music video features Duff in retro Bond girl attire, a look she pulls off with ease! While the song was met with mixed reviews and failed to chart in the US, it’s continued to pop up on lists of Duff’s greatest hits; and we agree with that retrospective evaluation . “Beat of My Heart” doesn’t take itself too seriously, it’s Duff being Duff - uptempo, poppy and carefree.
#4: “Wake Up”
Most Wanted (2005)
Upon its 2005 release “Wake Up” cracked top 40 charts around the world and was certified gold later that year, ultimately making it one of the most successful songs Hilary Duff has ever released . The lead single off of “Most Wanted”, “Wake Up” was seen by Duff as a big step forward in her career, as she wanted something that would offer up a fresh and different sound from her previous work . The result was a track with a strong electronic influence that still managed to retain its dance-pop sound.
#3: “Fly”
Hilary Duff (2004)
Whereas most of her work falls squarely into either the pop or electropop genres, “Fly” is a rock song masquerading as a pop song; and it’s all about empowerment. The music video sees Duff drop the catchy beat and bubblegum lyrics in favor of a full band and some Avril Lavigne inspired duds; and it totally works! Writer-producer John Shanks earned a Grammy for his work on the song and it performed admirably on music charts around the world. If you’re looking for an inspirational Hilary Duff song that isn’t afraid to take chances, then “Fly” is for you.
#2: “So Yesterday”
Metamorphosis (2003)
It’s time for a walk down memory lane! “So Yesterday” is the track you and your girlfriends couldn’t get enough of back in 2003. The lead single off of her sophomore album “Metamorphosis”, which was one of the year’s bestsellers, “So Yesterday” is prototypical Duff; pop with a tinge of rock, lyrics lamenting a breakup and catchy as all hell While most critics were quick to point out that the song strongly resembled the work of Avril Lavigne we prefer to think of them as two sides of the same coin, both of which are worth listening to .
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
“With Love”
Dignity (2007)
“Sweet Sixteen”
Metamorphosis (2003)
“Reach Out”
Best of Hilary Duff (2008)
#1: “Come Clean”
Metamorphosis (2003)
And here it is, the song that pops into most people’s minds when they hear the name Hilary Duff. Both the song, and the album it appeared on, helped Duff’s musical career as she moved away from “Lizzie McGuire”. Peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song’s accompanying music video earned a nomination for Best Pop Video at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards and later served as the theme song for both “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” and “Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County” . Of course most will remember “Come Clean” for its iconic chorus, which will forever be rooted in the psyche of mid 2000’s teens.