Top 10 Lily Allen Songs

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Our top 10 Lily Allen songs list presents the music of a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter. She is one of our favorites.

#10 – Who’d Have Known

Lily Allen’s song “Who’d Have Known” is featured on Lily Allen’s sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You (2009). Lily Allen sampled “Shine” by the English pop ensemble Take That. Initially, she asked the band members to sing on her track, “Who’d Have Known.” However, the band members rejected her invitation but allowed her to sample the tune from their hit “Shine.” T-Pain sampled “Who’d Have Known” in his 2011 hit “5 O’Clock.” “Who’d Have Known” peaked at thirty-nine on the UK Singles Chart.

#9 – Alfie

“Alfie” was released on her debut album Alright, Still in 2006. Lily Allen released the song as a defensive tribute to her brother Alfie Owen. In this song, the sister pleads with Alfie to rise from the dust and stop wasting his life with self-destructive behaviors. Eventually, the brother landed a role in the film Game of Thrones in 2011. “Alfie” peaked at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart.

#8 – Air Balloon

“Air Balloon” finds Lily Allen collaborating with the Grammy Award-winning record producer Shellback. The record producer is also known for his successful work with One Direction, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, and Avril Lavigne. “Air Balloon” became one of her most popular hits.“Air Balloon” peaked at position seven on the UK Singles Chart.

#7 – 22

“22” was released on Lily Allen’s sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You (2006). The song balances very nicely the genres of jazz and pop. The song finds the artist singing about a ruined thirty-year-old lady. Lily Allen revealed that the song was meant to show how some women have difficulty finding what they wish to pursue in life. “22” peaked at number fourteen on the UK Singles Chart.

#6 – Somewhere Only We Know

Number six on our top 10 Lily Allen songs is the hit “Somewhere Only We Know.” The song is featured on Lily Allen’s third studio album Sheezus (2014). Initially, the song was released by the English alternative rock ensemble Keane on Hopes and Fear (2004). The song was Keane’s most popular and best-selling track until the band released “Is It Any Wonder?” two years later.

Lily Allen covered the song in 2013 for a John Lewis Christmas ad. Her version peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. In 2015, her version was used by Vivo for its ads. The UK’s Labour Party also used the song for the general elections in 2017. Other artists who covered the original song by Keane include Lifehouse, David Archuleta, Natasha Bedingfield, and Laura Michelle Kelly.

#5 – LDN

The song “LDN” finds the English artist paying tribute to her city of birth, London. While the song feels cheerful, it also references much of the dark side of London. “LDN” samples the hit “Reggae Merengue” by Tommy McCook & The Supersonics. The song peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart.

#4 – Hard Out There

Coming in at the fourth position is the hit “Hard Out There.” “Hard Out There” is the lead single to Lily Allen’s third album, Sheezus, released in 2004. The song’s lyrics allude to body-image pressures, especially objectification issues for women. It also serves as a criticism of the misogyny in the entertainment scene. The song peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart.

#3 – The Fear

Lily Allen teamed up with her longtime producer, Greg Kurstin, in penning the lyrics to this electropop ballad. “The Fear” finds Lily Allen enunciating difficulties with celebrity lifestyles. “The Fear” peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. It became the longest-running hit in the UK Singles chart in 2009. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song rose to the eightieth position.

#2 – Not Fair

“Not Fair” was released on Lily Allen’s album It’s Not Me, It’s You (2009). The song finds Lily Allen singing about sexual frustrations. Unlike most of the best Lily Allen songs featuring electropop elements, “Not Fair” is primarily a country-pop ballad. The song also features some exciting bluegrass elements. “Not Fair” managed the fifth position on the UK Singles Chart.

#1 – Smile

Number one on our top 10 Lily Allen songs list is the hit “Smile.” The song is featured on Lily Allen’s album Alright, Still (2006). “Smile” finds Lily Allen laughing at her ex-boyfriend. The laughter is triggered by the ex-boyfriend’s attempts to win her back after they parted, following their relationship going sour.“Smile” sampled the hit “Free Soul” by The Soul Brothers. The song was Lily Allen’s first song to rise to the top of the UK Singles Chart. “Smile” rose to a peak position of number forty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100.