Australian singer-songwriter Amy Shark has captured hearts worldwide with her emotionally raw lyrics and distinctive indie-pop sound that resonates deeply with listeners. From her breakthrough hit “Adore” to her most recent chart-topping releases, Shark has consistently delivered songs that explore themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth with unflinching honesty. This comprehensive guide celebrates the 20 best Amy Shark songs that have defined her career and solidified her position as one of Australia’s most compelling musical exports.
Adore
“Adore” remains Amy Shark’s signature song and the track that launched her into international stardom in 2016. The song’s haunting melody combined with lyrics about obsessive love struck a chord with millions of listeners, eventually reaching multi-platinum status in Australia and charting globally. Shark’s vulnerable vocal delivery over the minimalist production created an intimate atmosphere that made listeners feel like they were privy to her most private thoughts. The track’s success on streaming platforms and radio proved that Shark’s confessional songwriting style had universal appeal, establishing her as a formidable voice in contemporary pop music.
I Said Hi
Released as the lead single from her debut album “Love Monster,” “I Said Hi” showcases Amy Shark’s ability to craft infectious pop hooks while maintaining emotional depth. The song chronicles an awkward encounter with an ex-lover, capturing the nervous energy and unresolved feelings that linger after a relationship ends. Shark’s conversational lyrics and the song’s driving beat create a perfect balance between vulnerability and confidence, demonstrating her growth as both a songwriter and performer. The track became another commercial success for Shark, further cementing her reputation for writing relatable anthems about complicated romantic situations.
Mess Her Up
“Mess Her Up” represents one of Amy Shark’s most emotionally intense compositions, dealing with jealousy and the fear of being replaced in a former partner’s life. The song’s dark production and Shark’s increasingly desperate vocal delivery create a sense of urgency that mirrors the obsessive thoughts described in the lyrics. This track showcases Shark’s willingness to explore the less flattering aspects of human emotion, giving voice to feelings many people experience but rarely admit. The raw honesty in “Mess Her Up” resonated strongly with fans who appreciated Shark’s refusal to sanitize her emotional experiences for commercial palatability.
Weekends
“Weekends” explores the bittersweet nature of casual relationships and the confusion that arises when feelings become more serious than initially intended. Shark’s melodic sensibility shines through in this track, with a chorus that burrows into your brain and refuses to leave. The song’s production features layered vocals and atmospheric synths that create a dreamy soundscape perfectly suited to the lyrical content about blurred boundaries and uncertain futures. “Weekends” demonstrated Shark’s ability to write about modern dating dynamics with both specificity and universal relatability, connecting with audiences navigating similar relationship complexities.
All Loved Up
“All Loved Up” marked a significant moment in Amy Shark’s career, showing her capability to collaborate with international artists while maintaining her distinctive artistic voice. The song features a more polished pop production than some of her earlier work, with shimmering synths and a propulsive rhythm that makes it undeniably catchy. Shark’s lyrics capture the intoxicating early stages of a relationship when everything feels heightened and magical, contrasting with the more melancholic themes prevalent in much of her catalog. This track proved that Shark could excel in creating uplifting pop moments without sacrificing the emotional authenticity that her fans cherished.
Don’t Turn Around
“Don’t Turn Around” showcases Amy Shark’s gift for creating tension through both lyrical content and musical arrangement. The song builds gradually, mirroring the emotional crescendo described in the lyrics about wanting to escape the pain of a deteriorating relationship. Shark’s vocal performance alternates between restrained verses and explosive choruses, demonstrating her dynamic range as a vocalist. The track’s production incorporates electronic elements with organic instrumentation, creating a sound that feels simultaneously contemporary and timeless, reflecting the universal nature of the heartbreak being described.
Love Songs Ain’t for Us (featuring Keith Urban)
This collaboration with country music superstar Keith Urban represents one of Amy Shark’s most ambitious artistic partnerships and resulted in a genre-blending masterpiece. The song examines a relationship between two damaged individuals who find solace in each other despite their collective dysfunction, with both artists delivering vocals dripping with world-weary emotion. Urban’s guitar work complements Shark’s songwriting perfectly, adding textural layers that enhance the song’s melancholic atmosphere. “Love Songs Ain’t for Us” demonstrated Shark’s ability to hold her own alongside established international stars while creating something that transcended either artist’s typical sound.
Middle of the Night
“Middle of the Night” captures the sleepless anxiety that accompanies relationship uncertainty and personal insecurity with devastating accuracy. The song’s production creates an intimate, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors the feeling of lying awake at 3 AM consumed by racing thoughts. Shark’s vocal delivery is notably restrained in this track, allowing the lyrics to take center stage and creating space for listeners to project their own experiences onto the song. This track particularly resonated with fans dealing with anxiety and overthinking, establishing Shark as an artist who could articulate difficult emotional states that many struggle to express.
Psycho (featuring Mark Hoppus)
Featuring Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, “Psycho” brings a punk-rock edge to Amy Shark’s typically indie-pop sound while exploring themes of possessiveness and unhealthy attachment. The collaboration works brilliantly, with Hoppus’s distinctive vocal style providing a perfect counterpoint to Shark’s more melodic approach. The song doesn’t shy away from depicting the less glamorous aspects of intense attraction, acknowledging the thin line between passion and obsession. “Psycho” became a fan favorite for its self-aware humor and high-energy production, showing Shark’s versatility as an artist capable of incorporating different influences into her sound.
The Idiot
“The Idiot” showcases Amy Shark’s sharp wit and ability to craft cutting lyrics about failed relationships and personal regret. The song’s production is deceptively upbeat, creating an interesting contrast with the somewhat bitter lyrical content about feeling foolish for investing in the wrong person. Shark’s vocal performance conveys both anger and hurt, capturing the complex emotions that arise when reflecting on romantic mistakes. This track resonated with listeners who appreciated Shark’s refusal to position herself as a victim, instead acknowledging her own role in choosing unsuitable partners while still allowing herself to feel frustrated by the experience.
C’MON (featuring Travis Barker)
Featuring legendary drummer Travis Barker, “C’MON” is an explosive, high-energy anthem that finds Amy Shark at her most defiant and assertive. The song’s driving percussion, courtesy of Barker’s distinctive drumming style, propels the track forward with relentless momentum that matches the urgency in Shark’s vocal delivery. Lyrically, “C’MON” addresses frustration with someone who won’t commit or communicate honestly, channeling that exasperation into an empowering declaration of self-worth. This collaboration demonstrated Shark’s ability to adapt her songwriting to incorporate heavier, rock-influenced production while maintaining the emotional core that defines her best work.
Everybody Rise
“Everybody Rise” represents one of Amy Shark’s most anthemic compositions, with soaring choruses and an inspirational message about perseverance through difficult times. The song’s production is notably more expansive than some of her earlier work, incorporating orchestral elements that give the track a cinematic quality. Shark’s vocals convey both determination and vulnerability, acknowledging the struggle while refusing to surrender to despair. “Everybody Rise” became a motivational favorite among fans, demonstrating that Shark could craft uplifting messages without resorting to empty platitudes, grounding the song’s optimism in hard-won experience rather than naive positivity.
Worst Day of My Life
“Worst Day of My Life” finds Amy Shark exploring the aftermath of a relationship’s end with her characteristic emotional honesty and melodic sophistication. The song’s production creates a sense of spaciousness that allows Shark’s vocals to breathe, emphasizing the isolation and emptiness that follows a significant breakup. Despite its title, the song avoids melodrama, instead presenting a measured and mature reflection on loss and the process of moving forward. This track showcased Shark’s evolution as a songwriter, demonstrating increased restraint and confidence in allowing moments of silence and subtlety to enhance the emotional impact rather than relying solely on dramatic crescendos.
I See You Everywhere
“I See You Everywhere” captures the haunting persistence of memory following a breakup, when reminders of a former partner appear in seemingly every aspect of daily life. Shark’s lyrics detail the specific, mundane moments that trigger memories, creating a deeply relatable portrait of grief that avoids romanticizing heartbreak. The song’s production features atmospheric synths and a hypnotic rhythm that mirrors the obsessive thought patterns described in the lyrics. “I See You Everywhere” resonated particularly strongly with listeners who had experienced similar struggles to move on, validating their experiences while creating a sense of communal understanding through music.
Baby Steps
“Baby Steps” represents a refreshing departure in Amy Shark’s catalog, focusing on gradual healing and personal growth rather than acute heartbreak. The song acknowledges that recovery from emotional trauma is a slow, nonlinear process requiring patience and self-compassion. Shark’s vocal delivery is notably more optimistic than in many of her tracks, though she maintains the vulnerability that makes her work so compelling. The production incorporates brighter, more uplifting musical elements that reflect the song’s thematic content about incremental progress toward wholeness, showing Shark’s range beyond the melancholic territory that defined much of her early work.
Two Friends
“Two Friends” explores the complex dynamics of maintaining friendships after romantic feelings have developed, a situation many people experience but few artists address with such nuance. Shark’s lyrics capture the awkwardness and sadness inherent in pretending platonic feelings when deeper emotions exist beneath the surface. The song’s production is relatively stripped back, allowing the strength of the songwriting and vocal performance to take precedence. “Two Friends” demonstrated Shark’s ability to find fresh angles on familiar emotional territory, proving that her observational skills and willingness to explore uncomfortable truths remained sharp as her career progressed.
Staying Up (with Ed Sheeran)
This collaboration with global superstar Ed Sheeran brought Amy Shark to an even wider international audience while showcasing her ability to create magic with another gifted songwriter. The song examines the intensity of new love and the unwillingness to let precious moments end, with both artists delivering performances full of genuine warmth and chemistry. The production balances both artists’ signature sounds, incorporating Sheeran’s acoustic sensibilities with Shark’s indie-pop aesthetic to create something that feels natural rather than forced. “Staying Up” became a streaming success and demonstrated that Shark could stand alongside the biggest names in pop music while maintaining her artistic integrity.
Good News
“Good News” finds Amy Shark in a more hopeful headspace, celebrating moments of genuine happiness after a period of darkness. The song’s production is notably brighter and more energetic than much of her catalog, reflecting the emotional shift described in the lyrics. Shark’s vocals convey relief and gratitude without veering into saccharine territory, maintaining the grounded perspective that makes her work trustworthy. This track showed Shark’s willingness to document the full spectrum of human emotion rather than remaining confined to the melancholic territory that initially defined her public persona, demonstrating artistic growth and maturity.
Love Monster
The title track from Amy Shark’s debut album encapsulates the themes that run throughout her work: complicated love, emotional intensity, and unflinching self-examination. The song’s production creates a moody, atmospheric backdrop for Shark’s exploration of what it means to love deeply and messily in a world that often demands emotional restraint. Shark’s vocal performance is particularly strong here, conveying both strength and fragility in equal measure. “Love Monster” served as a perfect summation of the artistic vision that Shark had been developing throughout her career, presenting her as an artist unafraid to embrace emotional complexity and reject simplistic narratives about love and relationships.
2:34 Am
From her more recent releases, “2:34 Am” showcases Amy Shark’s continued evolution as an artist while maintaining the emotional core that defines her best work. The song captures a specific moment of late-night vulnerability when defenses are down and honest feelings emerge despite better judgment. Shark’s production choices have grown more sophisticated, incorporating layered vocals and textured instrumentation that create depth without overwhelming the intimacy of the songwriting. This track proved that even as Shark’s commercial success grew and her production budgets increased, she remained committed to the confessional songwriting style that initially connected her with audiences, ensuring her music retained its authenticity and emotional impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amy Shark’s biggest hit song?
“Adore” is undoubtedly Amy Shark’s biggest commercial success and most recognizable song to date. Released in 2016, the track achieved multi-platinum certification in Australia and charted internationally, becoming her breakthrough moment. The song’s success on streaming platforms and its emotional resonance with listeners established Shark as a significant voice in contemporary music and opened doors for her subsequent career achievements.
What genre is Amy Shark’s music?
Amy Shark’s music primarily falls within the indie-pop and alternative pop genres, though her sound incorporates elements from various styles including rock and electronic music. Her production often features atmospheric synths, driving beats, and layered vocals that create a distinctive sonic signature. Shark’s willingness to collaborate with artists from different genres, including rock, country, and punk musicians, has resulted in a diverse catalog that defies simple categorization while maintaining a cohesive emotional through-line.
Has Amy Shark won any major music awards?
Amy Shark has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including multiple ARIA Awards, which are Australia’s most prestigious music honors. She has won awards for Best Pop Release, Best Female Artist, and other categories, recognizing both her commercial success and critical acclaim. Shark’s debut album “Love Monster” received particularly strong recognition, earning her multiple nominations and wins while establishing her as one of Australia’s most successful contemporary artists on both domestic and international stages.
What album should I start with if I’m new to Amy Shark’s music?
For newcomers to Amy Shark’s music, her debut album “Love Monster” from 2018 serves as the perfect introduction to her artistic vision and songwriting style. The album contains many of her most popular tracks including “I Said Hi,” “All Loved Up,” and “Mess Her Up,” providing a comprehensive overview of her emotional range and sonic aesthetic. Starting with this album allows listeners to understand the foundation of her artistry before exploring her subsequent releases and earlier EPs.
Does Amy Shark write her own songs?
Amy Shark is heavily involved in writing her own material, often serving as the primary or sole songwriter on her tracks. Her deeply personal lyrics and confessional songwriting style reflect genuine experiences and emotions, which is a significant factor in her authenticity and connection with audiences. While she occasionally collaborates with co-writers and producers, Shark maintains creative control over her artistic direction and ensures her music remains true to her vision and experiences.
What was Amy Shark’s first song?
While Amy Shark released various tracks independently in her early career, “Adore” was her first major breakthrough song that brought her widespread recognition. Prior to “Adore,” Shark had been performing and releasing music under different names and in different projects for several years. The success of “Adore” essentially marked the beginning of her career as Amy Shark and launched her trajectory from independent artist to internationally recognized musician.
Has Amy Shark collaborated with international artists?
Amy Shark has collaborated with several prominent international artists throughout her career, demonstrating her standing in the global music community. Notable collaborations include “Love Songs Ain’t for Us” with Keith Urban, “Psycho” featuring Mark Hoppus from Blink-182, “C’MON” with Travis Barker, and “Staying Up” with Ed Sheeran. These partnerships have helped expand her audience beyond Australia while showcasing her ability to work seamlessly with artists from various musical backgrounds and genres.
What are Amy Shark’s most recent releases?
Amy Shark continues to release new music regularly, maintaining her connection with fans and evolving her sound. Her recent work includes singles that showcase her continued growth as an artist while staying true to the emotional honesty that defines her catalog. To find the most current information about her latest releases, streaming platforms and her official social media channels provide up-to-date announcements about new singles, albums, and projects as they become available.