Top 10 Chainsmokers Songs

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Our Top 10 Chainsmokers Songs list looks at one of the most successful electronic pop acts of the 2010s. The Chainsmokers built their sound by combining electronic dance music with pop, indie rock, hip-hop, country, and alternative influences. Early inspirations included artists as different as Pharrell Williams and Linkin Park.

The group first broke into the mainstream with the viral novelty single “#Selfie” in 2014. Songs including “Roses,” “Don’t Let Me Down,” and “Closer” then transformed The Chainsmokers from an internet-era dance act into international pop stars. “Closer” became their first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for twelve weeks, while “Don’t Let Me Down” earned the duo its first Grammy Award.

The Chainsmokers are the production and performance duo of Alexander “Alex” Pall and Andrew “Drew” Taggart. Australian drummer Matt McGuire joined their touring production in 2017 and became an important part of the group’s arena and festival performances, but Pall and Taggart remain the core recording duo.

Pall initially formed The Chainsmokers with Rhett Bixler. After Bixler left, manager Adam Alpert introduced Pall to Taggart in 2012. Taggart had developed an interest in electronic music as a teenager and later worked at Interscope Records, while Pall had studied art and was already DJing in New York. Their early releases included remixes and collaborations, including the 2012 single “Erase” with Priyanka Chopra.

The EP Bouquet arrived in 2015 and included “Roses,” “Waterbed,” “Until You Were Gone,” “New York City,” and “Good Intentions.” The 2016 EP Collage collected “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Inside Out,” “Closer,” “All We Know,” and “Setting Fires.”

The duo released its first full-length studio album, Memories…Do Not Open, in 2017. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and included “Paris” and the Coldplay collaboration “Something Just Like This.” The Chainsmokers followed it with Sick Boy in 2018, World War Joy in 2019, So Far So Good in 2022, and Summertime Friends in 2023.

The Chainsmokers have continued releasing new music rather than remaining tied exclusively to their 2010s hits. In 2026, they reunited with Swedish singer Oaks, formerly known as Winona Oak, for the five-song EP Love Is Kind. Their catalog has grown considerably, but the ten recordings below remain among our favorites.

# 10 – “#Selfie”

The first song on our Top 10 Chainsmokers Songs list is “#Selfie,” the 2014 single that brought the duo international attention. It was released before Bouquet and should not be treated as a track from that EP.

The novelty recording satirizes social-media culture and the conversations heard in nightclubs. Rather than featuring conventional sung verses, it follows a young woman obsessing over a man named Jason, criticizing another woman, debating what photograph to post, and repeatedly returning to the question that became the song’s hook.

The spoken monologue is intentionally shallow and self-absorbed. That quality led some listeners to dismiss the record, but it was also the point of the joke. The Chainsmokers captured a particular moment when selfies, nightclub culture, and image-driven social media had become impossible to escape.

The electronic beat is energetic and built for clubs, parties, and workouts. “#Selfie” reached number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100. It may not represent the emotional pop sound The Chainsmokers developed later, but it remains the recording that introduced them to a massive audience.

# 9 – “Paris”

“Paris” appeared on Memories…Do Not Open and was released as a single in 2017. The song combines EDM, synth-pop, and a nostalgic pop-rock atmosphere. Drew Taggart handles the lead vocal, while songwriter Emily Warren supplies the prominent but officially uncredited female harmonies.

The title does not describe a literal trip to France. Paris becomes an imagined place where two people can escape disappointment, addiction, family pressure, and the consequences waiting for them in the real world.

The lyrics are romantic, but the romance is unstable. The couple promises to go down together and prove everyone wrong, even though the listener can sense that running away may not solve anything. The song has the emotional pull of a modern story about two people attempting to survive by creating a private world.

The restrained keyboard figure recalls the melodic directness of “Closer,” while the guitar and gradually expanding synthesizers give the track a warm, cinematic lift. Taggart’s lower voice and Warren’s higher harmonies blend naturally. “Paris” became another major international hit and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 8 – “Call You Mine” Featuring Bebe Rexha

“Call You Mine” appeared on World War Joy in 2019. The carefree electronic-pop song looks back on a relationship filled with impulsive nights, youthful recklessness, and the desire to believe that an intense connection can last forever.

The lyrics ask whether two people who once seemed inseparable still recognize what they had. The song carries the energy of young love while acknowledging that time, memory, and uncertainty can change a relationship.

The production is melodic and hypnotic, with a strong bass line, bright keyboard textures, programmed percussion, and a chorus built for pop radio. The arrangement leaves enough space for Bebe Rexha’s distinctive voice to remain at the center.

Rexha moves from a controlled lower register into brighter and more forceful notes as the song develops. At moments, she reaches into a light upper register that recalls the pop vocal flexibility associated with singers such as Mariah Carey. The Chainsmokers wisely allow her to carry the vocal while their production supplies the momentum.

# 7 – “All We Know” Featuring Phoebe Ryan

“All We Know” was released on the Collage EP in 2016. Its mixture of electronic production, pop melody, and restrained dance rhythms creates a bittersweet atmosphere perfectly suited to the lyrics.

The song follows two people whose relationship is falling apart, yet neither one can completely let go. They understand the damage between them but remain connected because the relationship is all they know.

That idea makes the track more complicated than a simple promise of loyalty. Staying together can be comforting, but it can also become a habit that prevents two people from admitting that something is over.

Soft piano chords establish the mood before programmed drums and glowing synthesizers expand the arrangement. Phoebe Ryan’s upper register contrasts effectively with Taggart’s lower voice. Their vocal chemistry helps sell the sense that two people are speaking from different emotional positions while remaining tied to the same relationship.

# 6 – “Roses” Featuring ROZES

“Roses” appeared on the 2015 EP Bouquet and became the single that proved The Chainsmokers could move beyond the novelty success of “#Selfie.” The song combines dance-pop production with an intimate vocal from singer-songwriter ROZES.

The lyrics focus on desire, emotional dependence, and the fear of being abandoned. The narrator wants reassurance that the person she loves will remain with her, giving the song a vulnerable edge beneath its smooth electronic surface.

The title suggests traditional romance, but the relationship described is uncertain. The narrator offers devotion while asking not to be released, leaving the listener unsure whether both people feel the same level of commitment.

The production is outstanding. A commanding kick drum, clipped vocal effects, deep bass, and fierce synthesizer lines make it difficult to remain still. ROZES sings with an airy and slightly husky tone, while Taggart’s supporting vocal blends into the arrangement rather than competing with her. “Roses” became The Chainsmokers’ first major hit built around emotional pop songwriting rather than comedy.

# 5 – “Don’t Let Me Down” Featuring Daya

“Don’t Let Me Down” appeared on the Collage EP and became one of The Chainsmokers’ defining singles. The song combines a tense guitar introduction with electronic production that keeps building until the enormous chorus and drop arrive.

The lyrics express desperation rather than the aftermath of a completed breakup. The narrator feels herself losing control and begs the person she depends upon not to disappear at the moment she needs support most.

The Chainsmokers originally presented the song to Rihanna, but her team passed on it. Daya ultimately recorded the vocal, and her performance helped turn the song into a worldwide hit.

The opening guitar is smooth and memorable. Synthesizers, percussion, and bass gradually intensify beneath Daya’s voice before the arrangement explodes. Her tone possesses some of the clarity and edge listeners associate with Rihanna, but she gives the recording her own youthful urgency.

The Chainsmokers leave the lead vocal entirely in Daya’s hands, which was the correct decision. “Don’t Let Me Down” won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording and remains one of the duo’s strongest combinations of pop songwriting and festival-sized electronic production. The song also became Diamond-certified in the United States.

# 4 – “Something Just Like This” With Coldplay

“Something Just Like This” appeared on Memories…Do Not Open and brought The Chainsmokers together with Coldplay. The song combines EDM and pop-rock while rejecting the idea that love requires heroic perfection.

The narrator compares himself with figures from mythology and comic books before admitting that he does not possess their extraordinary powers. The response is reassuring: the person he loves is not looking for a superhero, only someone real.

The lyrics offer hope to people who feel inadequate. A successful relationship does not require perfection. It requires honesty, affection, and two people willing to accept each other’s limitations.

The synthesizer-heavy arrangement carries The Chainsmokers’ recognizable production style, while the piano, guitar, and emotional lift of the chorus fit Coldplay naturally. Chris Martin takes the lead vocal and brings warmth to the verses before pushing into a more forceful delivery near the end.

The collaboration reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It was later certified Diamond in the United States.

# 3 – “Who Do You Love” Featuring 5 Seconds of Summer

“Who Do You Love” appeared on World War Joy and united The Chainsmokers with the Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. The song blends pop, electronic music, and rock guitar into a tense confrontation.

The narrator notices changes in his partner’s behavior and becomes convinced that she is seeing someone else. He does not ask gently. He demands to know who she loves and whether their relationship has already been replaced.

The theme is familiar, but the collaboration gives it unusual energy. Guitars drive the verses, while the chorus opens into electronic percussion and a large vocal hook. The song has an unmistakable 1980s pop-rock flavor without abandoning The Chainsmokers’ modern production style.

Luke Hemmings delivers the lead vocal with clarity and urgency. His tenor rises cleanly above the dense arrangement, while the phrasing makes the accusation easy to sing along with. The two groups came from different musical backgrounds, but the combination sounds natural.

# 2 – “This Feeling” Featuring Kelsea Ballerini

“This Feeling” appeared on Sick Boy in 2018. The song brings The Chainsmokers together with country singer Kelsea Ballerini for a pop track about trusting emotion when other people insist that a relationship is wrong.

The couple hears warnings from friends and outsiders who believe they know what is best. Instead of surrendering to those judgments, the two people decide that nobody else can fully understand what they feel for each other.

The song is about taking an emotional risk. Its message is not that every warning should be ignored, but that people sometimes have to make their own choices rather than allowing others to define their relationships.

The guitar introduction is instantly catchy, while the programmed drums and synthesizers give the track its radio-ready pulse. The production contains enough acoustic warmth to suit Ballerini’s country-pop background without losing The Chainsmokers’ identity.

Kelsea Ballerini sings in a bright upper register, while Taggart answers from a lower range. Their voices blend particularly well in the chorus, where both performers rise with the arrangement. Neither voice overwhelms the other, which makes the collaboration work.

# 1 – “Closer” Featuring Halsey

The number one song on our Top 10 Chainsmokers Songs list is “Closer,” the 2016 collaboration with Halsey. The single appeared on the Collage EP and became the biggest hit of the duo’s career.

The song follows two former lovers who meet again after several years. Their reunion brings back attraction, resentment, nostalgia, and memories of the irresponsible younger people they once were. The encounter may not repair the relationship, but for one night it allows both characters to pretend that time has stopped.

The beat is exceptionally catchy and perfectly suited to pop and dance radio. Its bouncing synthesizer figure, programmed drums, conversational verses, and enormous chorus made the song instantly recognizable.

Drew Taggart and Halsey remain in character throughout the track. Taggart’s understated delivery sounds like a man trying to act casual about a reunion that affects him more than he admits. Halsey’s stronger voice gives the second half greater emotional force and provides a necessary contrast.

“Closer” spent twelve weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It became The Chainsmokers’ first Hot 100 chart-topper and one of the defining pop singles of 2016. Its combination of nostalgic storytelling, instantly memorable production, and two imperfect characters made it worthy of both its chart success and the number one position on our list.