5 Seconds of Summer: Youngblood (2018) Songs Ranked

Rating: 10/10

After taking a three-year break from creating music, 5 Seconds of Summer came back in 2018 with a bang, crafting an album that was more or less a complete departure from the sound of their earlier music. With Youngblood they ditched angsty-teenage anthems for pop-rock bangers, and I have to say, I think they created an absolutely incredible body of work. Youngblood is actually my favorite album of theirs by far, and it’s one of very few albums where I can actually say that every song is a masterpiece in it’s own right, and there isn’t one truly skip-worthy track.

In this post I’ll be ranking all of the songs (and that includes deluxe tracks) off of the third studio album from 5 Seconds of Summer, Youngblood, from least favorite to favorite. Without further adieu, let’s get into the ranking!

16. Empty Wallets (Track 12)

Okay, I could see myself enjoying this song in certain moods, but on the whole it’s a no from me. The song’s topic isn’t really one that I connect with (being very frivolous and decadent with your money) and the overall sound just isn’t really my thing. The post-chorus is really cool though, and like I said, every song on this album has it’s merits, so this song really isn’t bad, it’s just not as good as the rest of Youngblood.

15. Meet You There (Track 15)

This song makes me so mad, because I honestly really like the verses. Luke’s vocals are truly great and they have a sort of alternative sound to them which I really enjoy. And then the chorus hits and it’s this jumbled, chaotic mess and I can’t stand it. If the whole song sounded like the verses it would be much higher up in this ranking, but alas, that cannot be because the chorus bogs this song down so much.

14. Better Man (Track 8)

I really appreciate the theme of this song, which is becoming a better person for the person you love. It’s very sweet and, in my opinion, exactly what you should want out of a relationship (to be the best version of yourself when you’re with them). However, sonically, this song is just not up my alley. It kind of feels like a watered down version of similar-sounding songs on the album. It’s not bad, it’s just not very memorable. The bridge is pretty good though, I enjoy it.

13. Valentine (Track 4)

“It don’t matter, be combative or be sweet cherry pie. It don’t matter just as long as I get all you tonight.” Everyone loves this song and I just DON’T GET IT. Like, this doesn’t sound like a Valentine’s Day song, it sounds like a Halloween song. Sonically, this just isn’t my vibe at all, but you know what? That’s okay. The reason I have this higher up than other songs is because there are a couple lyrics here and there that I really like, which I have typed out. “Throw balloons, teddy bears, and the chocolate eclairs away. Got nothing but love for you, fall more in love every day.”

12. Want You Back (Track 2)

This was the lead single for the album, and the band has said that that was because they thought it was a nice introduction to the album’s overall sound. Now, I have mixed feelings about that. I think this was a good choice for a single because it’s one of the most pop-oriented tracks on the record, which means it could get good radio-play. On the other hand, I think it’s too pop-oriented to be the best representation of the album’s sound. Nonetheless, this is a pretty good song, and I really enjoy the verses and the second-half of the chorus (where all the fun production comes in). Thing is, I don’t like the melody of the hook, and that’s a fairly big part of the song, so that lessens the song’s enjoyment for me. Oh well.

11. Babylon (Track 16)

Oh dear. I can hear all the other 5SOS fans grabbing their pitchforks. I’d say this is arguably the most popular/respected song 5SOS has ever made (in the eyes of the fans), so I know that putting it in the bottom-middle of this ranking probably won’t be the most popular decision, but if I’m being honest, I just don’t hear what everyone else is hearing. The verses on this song are honestly kind of underwhelming and slightly boring. HOWEVER. I will say that this song’s chorus is absolute perfection, as is the build-up to it. The guitar is insane and I freaking love it so much. Anyone who listens to this song and still has the gall to say that 5SOS isn’t a real band has to be out of their mind, because the instrumentation is IMPECCABLE. The chorus of this song is what saved it from being lower on the list. Also, the fact that I never saw this live should honestly be a crime.

10. If Walls Could Talk (Track 7)

I used to really love this song, and I still love it, but not quite as much as I did. I think I might’ve overplayed it. Nonetheless, this song is an absolute banger. Ashton’s voice in the pre-chorus is a gift from Heaven, and Calum’s verse is SO GOOD. The chorus has such a nice groove and it always gets me moving around. The subject matter here is a little suspicious but I’ll overlook it because this song is so catchy that I don’t care.

9. Woke Up In Japan (Track 11)

“It was more than just a neon weekend. Light slipping through the third floor curtain. Spreading love like the morning news from the day before.” I don’t think I liked this song much when I first heard it, but I guess out of nowhere a switch flipped and now I love it. It manages to be mellow and dreamy without being slow or boring. Plus, the lyrics are really compelling to me and the hook is so catchy. The “falling fast, breathing slow” part sounds like a dream, and Luke’s little vocal flourishes in the last chorus are gorgeous. This song was a grower for me but I’m so glad I like it now because it’s an absolute bop. “It’s enough to let the night let go of me. A few steps into the open doorway, heart pounding, there’s a noise complaint from room 304.”

8. Ghost of You (Track 13)

Honestly, I don’t listen to this song very often because it’s so beautiful but SO DEPRESSING. Like, for real, this song is absolutely stunning but it’s so hard to listen to because it’s so emotional. With that being said, the lyricism in this track is very soft and graceful and poignant, and Luke’s vocals are very pained and restrained (didn’t mean for that to rhyme lol) and oh so beautiful. It’s a pretty sad closer for the album (on the standard edition at least), but Luke’s outro is haunting and definitely ends the record on a beautiful note. “So I drown it out like I always do, dancing through our house with the ghost of you. And I’ll chase it down with a shot of truth, that my feet don’t dance like they did with you.”

7. Monster Among Men (Track 14)

Whew, I love this song a lot. It just makes me so emotional but happy whenever I hear it (contrary to what the title implies, it’s actually a very sweet and uplifting song). When I said that ‘Better Man’ feels like a watered-down version of other songs on this album that are similar to it, this song is kinda what I was referring to. It has a similar theme (wanting to better for the sake of your partner), and sonically this one’s just a lot more my style. Mikey’s guitar solo is awesome. The group vocals in the chorus always hit me really hard and usually bring out a weirdly emotional response in me. I don’t know why, but the way that this song hits me emotionally makes me love it a lot, so I’m cool with it.

6. Moving Along (Track 6)

UGH THIS SONG IS SO GOOD I CAN’T. It’s such a bop, and I can never listen to it without lip-syncing along with it and dancing. It just gets you moving, and I love it for that. When I first listened to this song I thought the main lyric was “alright, I’m moving along” instead of “or are you moving along?” and that caused me to think that this was an empowering song about independence and moving on. Even though I know better now, because I thought of it in that way for a long time, I always feel empowered listening to this song, which is nice. Musically, ‘Moving Along’ is fantastic. Ashton’s drum fill before the verses always sends me, and the bassline is so grabbing. The vocals are outstanding all throughout, but they really shine in the chorus. Also, the part after the bridge where you can hear Ashton drop his drumsticks is iconic. I don’t know what else to say, I just love everything about this song.

5. Youngblood (Track 1)

Where do I even start with this dang song? I don’t even know what to say. ‘Youngblood’ was a massive hit when it was released, AND RIGHTFULLY SO DAGNABBIT. It’s literally perfect. As the album opener and titular track, it does an amazing job of introducing the tone and sound of the album, as well as it’s main theme, which is that of an on-and-off, uncertain relationship. Luke’s vocals are absolutely haunting and compelling, and he carries the emotion of the lyrics amazingly. The pre-chorus really evokes an emotion out of you that makes you feel what the song is talking about. AND THEN THE CHORUS HITS. THE BASS. THE BASS. IT’S SO GOOD. IT’S SO GOOD I CAN’T. The chanting vocals, the guitar that’s brought in, the drums that are added, the soft, background “oohs”. This song was a stroke of genius and it deserves all the success it had. “Youngblood, say you want me, say you want me back in your life, so I’m just a dead man crawling tonight.”

4. Lie to Me (Track 3)

“Now I wish we never met, ’cause you’re too hard to forget. While I’m cleaning up your mess, I know he’s taking off your dress. I know that you don’t, but if I ask you if you love me, I hope you lie, lie, lie, lie, lie to me.” This song didn’t stand out much to me when I first listened to it, but then out of nowhere it just clicked, I understood what it was saying, and now I’m in love with it. This song honestly really hits me in the emotions, as it should, because it’s very sad. The lyrics are heartbreaking and very, very real. I’m not gonna explain it, you should just listen to the song if you haven’t and you’ll understand what I mean. But even though this song is sad, it’s still very pretty, and it’s an absolute treat to listen to. The harmonized vocals on the chorus are very piercing and absolutely stunning, and the instrumental captures the tone of the lyrics so well. ‘Lie to Me’ is a really short song, and though I wish it was longer, I can appreciate how swift it goes by because it never drags on, it stays perfect all throughout. This song is an absolute beauty, and that’s that on that.

3. Talk Fast (Track 4)

Okay, there was a time (say, around a month or two ago) where I would’ve given this song the top spot. Unfortunately, since then I think I overplayed this song just a little too much and now it doesn’t quite do for me what it used to, so I have it bumped down to the third spot. With that being said, I adore this song. It’s so catchy and infectious and also very underrated, which makes me upset, but also kinda happy because this song feels like my secret little gem. From the opening guitar picking, you just know you’re in for a blast with this song. The vocals are great, the melody is absolutely irresistible, and the guitar that Michael brings in for the second half of the chorus is INSANELY GOOD AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I have to dance around to this song every time I hear it, and I just love it so much. ‘Talk Fast’ is an almighty bop that deserves every ounce of respect it could ever get. End of discussion.

2. Why Won’t You Love Me (Track 10)

“Few drinks deep at a table for one, the place we like to go, and you take yourself home again. Three missed calls at 2 A.M. you say you never heard, you’re late to get to work. And then the time disappears, you hold back the tears. Your best girlfriend just got engaged, you say you can’t wait and need to make a change. You told me it’s so hard to be lonely.” What a relatable song, am I right? This song is so dreamy and beautiful, and it has a similar sound to ‘Woke Up In Japan’ but it’s just a tad more dynamic, which I love. Everything about this song is amazing. The vocals (especially on the high-pitched, elongated “whyyyyyy” of the hook) are outstanding, the lyrics really hit you in the heart and paint a picture of the specific scenes that are being mentioned throughout the song, the production is very atmospheric and enchanting, and the melody is so pretty and mildly desperate, it’s awesome. This is one of my favorite 5SOS songs ever and I love it to pieces. It’s just absolutely gorgeous, man, what can I say?

1. More (Track 9)

For awhile I grappled with which song I would give the top spot, because my top 3 are so close together that they’re basically all my collective favorite, but I’ve finally settled on ‘More’ as my definitive favorite. This song just has that extra oomph that is so hard to get nowadays. Maybe it’s the 80s music enthusiast in me (this song has a very 80s sound), or maybe it’s my love of pop-rock with an edge on the rock side, but this song is an actual masterpiece to me. Like, it should be framed and hung in a museum. It’s that fricking good, guys. The lyrics here, while not too prolific, are very cutting and honest, and they definitely establish a clear emotional theme. The chorus absolutely slaps of course, but I actually think the verses are the best part of the song. Luke’s vocals kill me, and thanks to Cocktail Chats (5SOS fans will know) I always have little extra parts to add in between the lyrics (again, 5SOS fans will know). In summation, this song is a work of art and I would die for it. I don’t really know how one would die for a song, but I would. (Also I would kill to see it live.)