Music
The 11 best Bleachers songs
Why have a Top 10 when you can have one more? Here are the 11 best Bleachers songs ahead of their 2026 UK headline tour
Writing the majority of debut album Strange Desire in hotel rooms whilst touring as one third of chart-topping outfit fun., from the moment Bleachers’ first single ‘I Wanna Get Better’ arrived in 2014, it was clear Jack Antonoff had unearthed something truly special.
Defined by huge-hearted, 80s-tinged pop songs which hold grief and euphoria in the same breath, the multi-instrumentalist’s decade long venture has consistently proved that his most vulnerable writing can also be his most anthemic.
From the bright, restless rush of their debut and the raw intensity of its follow-up Gone Now, to the Springsteen-lit nostalgia of 2021’s Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night (complete with a guest feature from the Boss himself) and the wide-screen New Jersey romanticism of 2024’s self-titled album – Bleachers have made a career out of turning complicated feelings into moments that make you want to sing until your lungs give out.
With songs that have soundtracked everything from the messiness of first break-ups to the pure joy of first dances, as Bleachers prepare to return to the UK for a run of headline shows this winter, now’s the perfect time to dive back into the catalogue that proves nobody does it quite like Jack Antonoff.
11. ‘Everybody Lost Somebody’
(Gone Now, 2017)
There are just a handful of experiences in life that every single person will inevitably come face to face with, and death is undoubtedly the most pertinent. No matter how morbid it seems, it’s a fact that we will all meet our end one day, and before that time comes most of us will have faced our fair share of personal losses too. Found at the centre of an album largely inspired by Antonoff’s memories of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the tragic loss of his sister to cancer soon after, ‘Everybody Lost Somebody’ is a song that speaks to the universal and often life-long pain that comes with grief. A gorgeous, heart-wrenching exploration of how loss affects every part of our lives and the way we view the world, it’s the rare kind of song that silently encourages everyone who listens to pull their own meaning from it.
10. ‘Modern Girl’
(Bleachers, 2024)
The lead single from the projects’ 2024 self-titled album, ‘Modern Girl’ is the perfect example of Antonoff leaning unapologetically into his Springsteen influences. Dialling up the energy and throwing a whole load of sax into the mix, it’s a joyously exuberant cut that harks back to the glory days of rock ‘n’ roll. Loaded with lyrics about the fun and frivolity of wild Friday nights and dosed up with melodies that make it impossible to stand still, let’s hope they bust this one out this December.
9. ‘You And Forever’
(Everyone For 10 Minutes, 2026)
Coming as the first taste of Bleachers latest era, when this one dropped back in February it became clear Jack Antonoff knows how to make a comeback. Lulling us into a deceivingly chill space before the eruption that comes just before its 3-minute mark, ‘You And Forever’ proved worth the wait for fans eagerly awaiting the return of that high energy sound. A layered-up synth-ballad that circles the glorious melodrama of love, it’s set the scene for the project’s most vulnerable chapter to date. Whilst we’ll have a whole new album to get stuck into by the time these shows roll around, you just know this one is going to hit hard in these huge rooms.
8. ‘45’
(Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night, 2021)
Jack Antonoff is the kind of musical mastermind that can transform even the simplest sonic moments into something magical. Equal parts hopeful and wistful, this delicate acoustic guitar led track is a prime example of that wonder. Capturing the ache of feeling like a stranger in your hometown, ‘45’ feels like the soundtrack to a daydream, softly reflecting on past memories of love and life through a sombrely nostalgic filter. Made for late-night drives through the streets where you grew up, letting each passing landmark remind you of your past self, it’s a gorgeous reminder of the unavoidable nature of change.
7. ‘Wake Me’
(Strange Desire, 2015)
Capturing the spirit of summer in its purest form, ‘Wake Me’ is the type of song you’d play through a tinny speaker whilst trying to win over your teenage crush at a house party. Filled with hopelessly romantic lines like “I’d rather be sad with you // Than anywhere away from you” and the repetition of “I can’t believe I captured your heart” in the song’s chorus, it’s one of the most straightforward love songs in Bleachers’ repertoire, bottling up the insatiable longing so many of us found in our younger years into wonderfully simple pop.
6. ‘Chinatown’
(Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night, 2021)
Over the years, Jack Antonoff has made no secret of his admiration for Bruce Springsteen. A fellow New Jersey native, it’s the pair’s complex relationship with their shared hometown that makes the Boss’ appearance on this 2021 track feel so special. Telling the story of a man’s journey from the overwhelming intensity of New York City to the comfort of The Garden State, ‘Chinatown’ unpicks the anxieties of falling in love over gorgeously warm acoustic guitars and a gentle synth line. An ode to vulnerability, identity, and the invisible forces pulling you back to where you came from, it’s a song that feels instantly nostalgic whether you’ve heard it once, twice, or a thousand times.
5. ‘Rollercoaster’
(Strange Desire, 2015)
Described by Antonoff as his own attempt at making a modern version of Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’, the new wave infused ‘Rollercoaster’ delivers one of the biggest shots of adrenaline in Bleachers’ discography. Spurred on by an exhilaration that kicks in the moment the drums start, it captures the indiscernible rush of a whirlwind romance. From sneaking glances at a school crush in the hallway and passing notes during classes to the first kiss outside the school gates and the petty arguments that feel earth-shattering, it’s a reflection on youth wrapped up in one of the most breath-takingly spectacular pop-rock songs you’ll ever hear.
4. ‘Tiny Moves’
(Bleachers, 2024)
Released alongside a stunning music video directed by Antonoff’s wife, Margaret Qualley, there’s a good reason why ‘Tiny Moves’ has become one of the best-known Bleachers hits. Propped up by a slew of stabbing guitars and synths, it’s an upbeat ballad about finding your person, and the profound impact that even the smallest aspects of their existence can have on you. Overflowing with so much joy and heartfelt gratitude that it wouldn’t feel out of place during the closest credits of a cheesy 90’s teen rom com, this one’s going to feel utterly euphoric when it’s blaring through the speakers this winter.
3. ‘Like A River Runs’
(Strange Desire, 2015)
Inspired by a recurring dream of Antonoff’s following the loss of his sister, the beautiful gut-punch of ‘Like A River Runs’ begins the moment the vocalist echoes its opening line: “I woke up thinking you were still here // My hands shaking with regret”. Charting the cyclical nature of grief throughout its three-and-a-half-minute run-time, it speaks to the hardest moments in life, but equally to the strength it takes to pull yourself out of them. A powerful encouragement to honour the memory of those no longer with us, and to carry them with us in every step we take, it’s a song that will always hit home for anyone navigating loss. For even more tears, take a listen to the Sia cover.
2. ‘Don’t Take The Money’
(Gone Now, 2017)
Co-written alongside New Zealand pop icon Lorde (who provides some backing vocals towards the end of the track), this 80’s-inspired synth-pop offering strikes the sweet spot of everything Bleachers do best. Romantic and desperate in all the right ways, it transports you right into the middle of a John Hughes movie; channelling the unpredictable motions of love into the type of pop song you can’t resist belting out at the top of your lungs. With lyrics stacked with some seriously clever wordplay, and with a melody made to soundtrack life’s most spontaneous moments, it’s a setlist staple for a reason.
1. ‘I Wanna Get Better’
(Strange Desire, 2015)
It takes a special type of song to transport you right back to the moment you first heard it whilst still remaining timeless. Released as the debut Bleachers single back in 2014, ‘I Wanna Get Better’ is one of those rarities. One of the most lyrically unambiguous songs Antonoff has ever penned, it’s a triumphant celebration of overcoming lows, breaking unhealthy habits, and rediscovering your motivation. With a beat that gradually builds towards an explosive crescendo, a chorus built to be screamed along to in the most cathartic way, and a central message that almost everyone in the world can relate to – this is the level of pop songwriting most musicians can only dream of reaching.
Bleachers start their UK tour in November, playing Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and London. Ticket presales are underway here, with the general sale starting at 10am on Friday 17 April
