10 Tracks Turning 10 This Year

2014 was a year marked by unforgettable moments – The Fault in Our Stars tugged at our heartstrings, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge swept across social media, and Ellen’s iconic Oscars selfie completely broke the internet. But it’s not just pop culture that can transport us back a decade. Music, too, has the power to do the same. Step back in time and revisit 10 songs that are now turning ten years old, each one a time capsule that takes us straight back to August 2014.

She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer

2014 was a strong year for 5 Seconds of Summer. They opened for One Direction on their Where We Are tour and released their debut album, 5 Seconds of Summer, in June. She Looks So Perfect was the first single from the album and was released on February 21st. The song reached number one on the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland. The song peaked at 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. These days 5SOS is still going strong with their most recent single, Lighter, released on March 1st. Band members Luke Hemmings and Ashton Irwin have also released solo projects.

Steal My Girl – One Direction

One Direction was everywhere from the moment they were formed on X-Factor in 2010 to the moment they announced an 18-month hiatus (it’s still a hiatus, okay?). In 2014 the group already had three albums under their belts and announced their fourth studio album, appropriately titled Four, in September. Steal My Girl is the lead single from 1D’s fourth album. The song was released on September 29th and ranked third on the UK singles chart and 13th on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video even featured an appearance from the one and only Danny Devito. In 2024, One Direction’s 18-month hiatus is unfortunately still going strong, but all 5 members have since released solo projects and the band’s music is still beloved by dedicated Directioners.

Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

Shake It Off, the lead single from Swift’s fifth studio album 1989, marked the beginning of the singer’s first true pop era. Despite Swift’s previous album, Red, having a distinct pop influence, it was still marketed as country. 1989 was her first album to truly be marketed as pop.

Shake it Off was a response to media scrutiny. Swift sings “The haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, I shake it off, I shake it off”. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four non-consecutive weeks there. As of late, Swift’s Eras Tour is still going strong, but the end is in sight, with the last date scheduled for 8 December in Vancouver, Canada.

Animals – Maroon 5

Twelve years after releasing their very first single, Maroon 5 released the second single from their fifth album, V. Unlike other songs featured on this list, Animals debuted via a Kia commercial on 21 August. For a period of time, fans could only download the song through the Kia website. A lyric video was posted to the band’s channel on August 22nd and officially released three days later on the 25th. The song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 3 and was the band’s seventh Top 10 Billboard 100 hit. The group is currently playing a residency at the Park MGM in Las Vegas.

Problem – Ariana Grande ft Iggy Azalea

Problem was the lead single from Ariana Grande’s sophomore album, My Everything. It is described as an upbeat dance-pop hit and features a rap by Iggy Azalea. It only took 37 minutes for Problem to reach the top of the iTunes chart and the song debuted at number three on the Billboard Top 100. The song was also covered on the hit TV show Glee (and what higher honour was there in 2014?). These days Grande is still making music, her eighth studio album, Eternal Sunshine, was released on 8 March this year. She also stars as Glinda in the movie adaptation of Wicked, alongside Broadway star Cynthia Erivo and Bridgerton’s Jonathon Bailey. The movie is due for release on 22 November in the US and 27 November in the UK.

Sing – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s debut album, +, established him as a folksy singer-songwriter guy with a guitar. However this changed with Sing, the lead single from his second album, X. The song, which Sheeran says was inspired by Justin Timberlake, is a catchy upbeat contrast to his previous work. The song, with lyrics detailing a night out in Vegas, was Sheeran’s first number one single on the UK and Irish Singles Charts. Sing debuted at 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Sheeran’s highest charting single in the States at the time. Sheeran is still releasing music, his most recent album Autumn Variations, was released in 2023. He also founded a music label, Gingerbread Man Records, and most recently signed Maisie Peters to the label in 2021.

Chandelier – Sia

A music video featuring Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler, does it get more 2014 than that? Chandelier was the lead single from Sia’s sixth studio album. The hit is described as electropop with influences from R&B, electronica, and reggae. The song debuted at 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number eight, giving the singer her first top 10 single. Sia released her 10th studio album, Reasonable Woman, on 3 May this year.

Stay With Me – Sam Smith

Sam Smith’s powerhouse vocals and soulful lyrics made Stay With Me a hit in 2014. The ballad was the second single from Smith’s debut album, In the Lonely Hour, and remains their most successful single to date. Stay with Me debuted at number one on the UK Singles chart and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song also won two Grammys, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Smith released their fourth studio album, Gloria, in January of 2023 and spent much of 2023 touring the album.

Boom Clap – Charli XCX

While summer 2024 is a Brat Summer, summer 2014 was a Boom Clap Summer. Charli XCX’s catchy pop hit was the lead single from The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack. In the movie, the song plays as Hazel Grace and Gus first arrive in Amsterdam. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Charli XCX’s first top 10 hit as a solo artist.

On 7 June 2024, Charli XCX released her sixth studio album Brat, which has taken the world by storm.

A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay

Like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, Coldplay was also trying out a new style in 2024. A Sky Full of Stars was the second single from the group’s sixth album and is considered the band’s first dance track. The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles chart and at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A Sky Full of Stars was the song chosen to soundtrack the video revealing the Apple Watch. Coldplay is set to release their tenth album, Moon Music, later this year on 4 October.