Top 10 Sheppard Songs

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Our top 10 Sheppard songs list presents the music of an Australian band revered for its contribution to the indie pop/rock scene. Sheppard was formed in 2009 starting out as a duo consisting of two siblings Amy and George Sheppard. Amy and George Sheppard would eventually expand Sheppard to a sextet with the addition of their young but talented sister Emma Sheppard on the bass and a trio of friends.

Among the friends who teamed up with the Sheppard siblings include drummer Jared Tredly and guitarists Jason Bovino and Michael Butler. Drummer Jared Tredly left the band in 2013 with his spot filled up by Dean Gordon. In May 2019, Sheppard would eventually become a quintet following the departure of one of its brilliant guitarists, Michael Butler.

The band has sculpted its success distinguishing itself from other indie pop/rock acts with its catchy and strong harmony-characterized upbeat songs. Over the years, Sheppard have issued three studio albums all of which have been a testament to the band’s impactful role in the flourishing of the Aussie indie pop/rock scene. The band has also issued a couple of extended plays which include both new and compilation track listings.

A Quick Review of Sheppard’s Releases

In 2012, Sheppard issued their eponymous debut extended play. The five-track extended play went a long way in defining Sheppard’s musical path. Sheppard was primarily an indie pop/rock album tinged with synth-pop influences. Tasked with Sheppard’s production was Stuart Stuart, a record producer known for his work with The Wolfe Brothers, The Veronicas, Lee Kernaghan, Travis Collins, and Dean Lewis.

Sheppard catapulted the band into mainstream and commercial success in Australia. The album reached position eighteen on the ARIA Albums Chart. Sheppard proceeded to earn platinum certification twice in Australia. “Flying Away,” “Hold My Tongue,” and “Let Me Down Easy” are some of the most conspicuous musical gems from the five-track eponymous extended play.

Sheppard returned in 2014 with their debut studio album Bombs Away. The album was issued through Empire of Song under the production of Stuart Stuart. Decca Records was tasked with the release of Bombs Away outside Australia. Other artists whose releases have been issued through Decca Records include Billie Holiday, Lee Ann Womack, The Beverley Sisters, The Rolling Stones, Boyz II Men, and Annie Lennox, to name a few.

Bombs Away was a mainstream success climbing to the second spot on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album went ahead to peak at position thirty-one on the Billboard 200. Bombs Away also graced the UK Albums Chart peaking at number eighty-one. While it failed to achieve as much commercial success as the band’s debut EP, Bombs Away still managed gold certification in Australia. “Geronimo,” “Something’s Missing,” Smile,” and “A Grade Playa” are some of the best Sheppard songs from Bombs Away.

The band went ahead to issue its sophomore extended play Undercover in 2017. Undercover saw the band cover four songs including “Waves” by Dean Lewis, “Cold Water” by Major Lazor (featuring Justin Bieber and MØ), “Let Me Love You” by DJ Snake (featuring Justin Bieber), and “Touch” by Little Mix. Unfortunately, the cover extended play failed to impress in the mainstream like Sheppard.

Watching the Sky, issued in 2018, marked the band’s sophomore studio album. The album marked Sheppard’s first (and only) album to rise atop the ARIA Albums Chart. Watching the Sky also climbed to the ninth spot on the New Zealand Heatseeker Albums Chart. “Keep Me Crazy,” “Hometown,” “Edge of the Night,” “Coming Home,” and “We Belong” are some of the most popular songs from the album Watching the Sky.

Sheppard returned in 2021 with their third studio album Kaleidoscope Eyes. Kaleidoscope Eyes saw Sheppard issue sixteen tracks all of which gave us a taste of the band’s indie pop soundscapes. The album climbed to the second spot on the ARIA Albums Chart only unable to surpass the album For Those That Wish to Exist by the band Architects. Kaleidoscope Eyes is home to some of the best Sheppard songs including “Die Young,” “M.I.A.,” “Learning to Fly,” and “Symphony.”

Sheppard’s Accolades and Legacy

During its career beginnings, the band Sheppard was cited to be one of the next Australian big music exports. While the band might not have realized the highest levels of success on the global platform, Sheppard remains a significant pillar in the endured flourishing of the Australian indie pop/rock scene. Sheppard has bagged tons of accolades including the Breakthrough Independent Artist in the 2014 AIR Awards, Best Group in the 2014 ARIA Awards, and Pop Work of the Year in the 2015 APRA Awards ceremony.

#10- Symphony

Ushering us to the top 10 Sheppard songs list is the impressive track “Symphony.” The song is featured on the band’s third studio album Kaleidoscope Eyes. “Symphony” was termed by George Sheppard a song about someone living without inspiration only to burst into creativity, music, and color after falling in love. George continued to reveal that the song “Symphony” was penned by when the band was on a songwriting trip to L.A.

More to this, the singer revealed that “Symphony” remains the most flagrantly happy love track the band has ever penned. George also termed the song “Symphony” an uplifting declaration of love. “Symphony” achieved some mainstream success rising to the thirtieth spot on the Dutch Top 40 Chart. The song features a music video worked on by Bleo Creative.

#9- Edge of the Night

“Edge of the Night” is yet another song that has endured its reign as one of the band’s fan-favorite picks. The song is featured on the band’s sophomore studio album Watching the Sky. While most of us might have known the band Sheppard squarely for their pop soundscapes, “Edge of the Night” gives us another idea about the band.

The song finds the band Sheppard teasing us with some funk influences blended perfectly with their signature pop sound. Singer George Sheppard revealed that the song “Edge of the Night” is a humorous funk pop throwback to old-school vibes and house parties. The singer admits that the song is a slight departure from the band’s signature pop pursuits.

Despite the song’s departure from the band’s signature sound, “Edge of the Night” retains the band’s catchy approach to music. The band issued another version (Spanish version) of this song which featured Colombian artist Sebastián Yatra. “Edge of the Night” ranked third on the Australian Independent Chart.

#8- Something’s Missing

Coming in at the eighth spot on our top 10 Sheppard songs list is the track “Something’s Missing.” The song is featured on the band’s debut studio album Bombs Away. “Something’s Missing” is a tempestuous pick that delves deeper into the themes of loneliness and the consequences of materialism. The song features some magical vocal harmonies that make it quite a memorable pick.

“Something’s Missing” features some soft instrumentation that complements the song’s themes. The song climbed to the fifth spot on the Australian Independent Singles Chart. “Something’s Missing” would eventually grace the ARIA Singles Chart peaking at position thirty-five.

#7- On My Way

“On My Way” is by far the band’s most sought-after non-album single of all time. The song went ahead to become one of the ten competing entries in the annual song competition Eurovision — Australia Decides. Sheppard’s attempt to represent Australia in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest was cut short after the band ranked third in the competition Eurovision — Australia Decides.

The contest had been won by Kate Miller-Heidke with her song “Zero Gravity,” with Electric Fields being the first runners-up with their song “2000 and Whatever.” Despite the loss, Sheppard proved their continued musicianship and endured success in churning out pop classics. “On My Way” was cited by the band’s vocalist George Sheppard as an ultimate love track.

George continued to reveal that the song “On My Way” is a track about craving for the unadulterated passion one feels when they are with their lover. The song went ahead to rise atop the Australian Independent Chart. “On My Way” claimed the thirteenth spot on both the Australian Digital Tracks Chart and Belgium Ultratop Bubbling Under Flanders Chart.

#6- Learning to Fly

Ranking sixth on our top 10 Sheppard songs list is the anthemic hit “Learning to Fly.” The song is yet another magical pick from the band’s third studio album Kaleidoscope Eyes. “Learning to Fly” marked Sheppard’s twelfth single from the band’s third studio album. The song remains a memorable pick thanks to its stimulating chorus and impressive (and anthemic) instrumentation.

We cannot forget this song’s emotive lyrical approach which is based on the themes of growth and resilience. The band’s singer George Sheppard revealed that “Learning to Fly” is a song that appeals to the inner self for all. He continued to cite “Learning to Fly,” an ode to reminiscing that sense of a new world and trying to solve the puzzle of how we could have it back.

In an interview, George continued to term “Learning to Fly” a song about redefining the expectations of life and allowing the inner (and young) self to fly. This triumphant track climbed to position twenty-one on the Dutch Top 40 Chart. “Learning to Fly” also graced the Belgian Ultratop Chart peaking at number twenty-five.

#5- Let Me Down Easy

Even before issuing their album Bombs Away, Sheppard was already a household name in the Australian pop scene thanks to their successful debut EP. Evidence of this claim is the success of the song “Let Me Down Easy,” one of the songs from the band’s eponymous debut extended play. “Let Me Down Easy” is characterized by great hooks and a harmonious approach.

The song went ahead to be featured on the band’s debut studio album Bombs Away. Despite not making it big on the mainstream, “Let Me Down Easy” still got lots of airplay on Aussie pop radio stations. The song was also nominated for the Pop Work of the Year and Most Played Australian Work accolades in the 2014 APRA Awards. Unfortunately, the song lost the aforementioned awards to “Riptide” by Vance Joy and “Lanterns” by Birds of Tokyo, respectively.

#4- Die Young

After clinching a top spot on the ARIA Albums Chart and gloriously gracing international stages, the band Sheppard enjoyed quite some success at the end of the 2010s. However, all was not yet over with the band stronger with their 2019 single “Die Young.” The song served as the lead single of the band’s third studio album Kaleidoscope Eyes.

“Die Young” came a short while after singer George Sheppard got diagnosed with an injury in his throat. The encounter, which was followed up by surgery, took George into a moment of reflection where he wondered what kind of an artist he wished to be. George would later term “Die Young” a song about appreciating every single day we live and thriving in its splendor as if it was our last!

#3- Keep Me Crazy

Ranking third on our top 10 Sheppard songs list is the lively hit “Keep Me Crazy.” The song is featured on the band’s sophomore studio album Watching the Sky. “Keep Me Crazy” has been cited by the band members to be about finding someone who keeps your life excited. The song is delivered on an upbeat tempo that gives it a catchy feel.

“Keep Me Crazy” is by far one of the most commercially successful singles by the band having earned gold certification in Australia. The song was a success in the mainstream having risen atop the Australian Independent Singles Chart. “Keep Me Crazy” also graced the ARIA Singles Chart peaking at position thirty-seven.

#2- Coming Home

“Coming Home” is yet another impressive pop classic whose fame has endured to date. The song is the most sought-after track from the band’s sophomore studio album Watching the Sky. “Coming Home” has been termed Sheppard’s anthem for the homeward bound. The band members have cited this track to be one of their most euphoric hits.

As revealed by George Sheppard, “Coming Home” is a song meant to capture the excitement of traveling back home. In his perspective, home might mean a person, place, or even a specific mental state. “Coming Home” was a commercial success having earned a gold certification in New Zealand and a platinum certification in Australia.

The song rose atop the Australian Independent Singles Chart, rising to the twenty-second spot on the ARIA Singles Chart. “Coming Home” was nominated for the 2018 ARIA Music Awards Song of the Year accolade losing to “Youngblood” by 5 Seconds of Summer. The song was also nominated for the Pop Work of the Year and Most Played Australian Work in the 2019 APRA Music Awards ceremony.

#1- Geronimo

Ranking at number one on our top 10 Sheppard songs list is the amazing pop single “Geronimo.” The song is featured on the band’s full-length debut studio album Bombs Away. “Geronimo” has been cited to have been Sheppard’s eureka moment in the global mainstream platform having graced the singles charts in more than ten countries.

“Geronimo” was a success in the mainstream peaking atop the ARIA Singles Chart. The song is the only track by Sheppard to have graced the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at position fifty-three. “Geronimo” also climbed to the tenth spot on the Billboard Adult Top 40 Chart. The song made it to position thirty-sixth spot on the UK Singles Chart.

“Geronimo” was a commercial success having bagged platinum certification in the US and silver certification in the UK. The song was platinum-certified seven times in Australia. This catchy pick was nominated for the 2014 ARIA Awards Song of the Year accolade. However, the song lost to the hit “She Looks So Perfect” by the band 5 Seconds of Summer.