Top 5 Songs By The Foo Fighters
As the band prepare for their 2026 stadium tour, here is a countdown of the top 5 songs by the iconic rock group.
Top 5 Songs By The Foo Fighters
As the band prepare for their 2026 stadium tour, here is a countdown of the top 5 songs by the iconic rock group.
5. Times Like These (2003)
Written after a turbulent period when Foo Fighters nearly disbanded, Times Like These is an anthem of renewal and resilience. Grohl wrote it while reflecting on “starting over in life and finding meaning through chaos.” Its uplifting chorus — “It’s times like these you learn to live again” — has since become a message of hope. The song saw renewed popularity in 2020 when Grohl and dozens of UK artists recorded it for charity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. The Pretender (2007)
Serving as the opening track and lead single from Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, The Pretender starts gently before exploding into one of Foo Fighters’ heaviest riffs. Grohl told XFM that the song “is about the fight against oppression and lies — a call to stand up for yourself.” It spent a record-breaking 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and earned the band a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
3. Best of You (2005)
Released from the band’s fifth album In Your Honor, Best of You is one of their most powerful anthems. Grohl has described it as a song “about breaking free — from anything that holds you back.” The song’s raw intensity and shouted vocals make it one of the band’s most cathartic performances. Best of You reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart and has been covered by artists including Prince, who famously performed it at the 2007 Super Bowl halftime show.
2. Learn to Fly (1999)
From their third album There Is Nothing Left to Lose, Learn to Fly marked Foo Fighters’ breakthrough into mainstream pop culture. The song’s melodic optimism, paired with Grohl’s introspective lyrics, made it a radio staple. Its playful music video — featuring the band playing multiple airline passengers and crew — won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 2000. Grohl has said it reflects “the need to find inspiration when you’re feeling stuck.”
1. Everlong (1997)
Often hailed as the band’s masterpiece, Everlong was the second single from their album The Colour and the Shape. Written by Dave Grohl during a period of heartbreak, the song blends heavy guitar riffs with raw emotion. Grohl once told Rolling Stone that it’s “about being connected to someone so much that not even death could break that connection.” Its music video, directed by Michel Gondry, became a cult favorite, and the track remains the emotional centerpiece of Foo Fighters’ live shows.
