It’s 11pm on a Monday night and you have a 9am economics exam. The joystick is sticking to your hands and your head is hurting from too much caffeine. Your microeconomics text book is sitting on the coffee table…or whatever makeshift table you and your college roommate could afford…and you’ve yet to memorize the true definition of elasticity. You just finished your fourth straight online match. The angel on your right shoulder is nudging you to study but the devil on your left is whispering the lyrics to Sleep Alone by Two Door Cinema Club.
It’s your decision…do you play that fifth straight match or do you embark on a race against time. The clock is winding down.
Place yourself back in time…what would you do?
Before I continue let me warn you that what will proceed from this point should only conjure up true nostalgia. That is if you consider yourself a fan of the FIFA video game franchise…which I’d only expect you to be for reading some obscure post on my blog, State Of Soccer Weekly.
Since 1993 EA Sports has been releasing annual editions of the world famous FIFA video-game series. This is a particularly nostalgic article considering I was born in ‘93…so for as long as I’ve been alive, EA Sports has been pumping out footballing-fun year, after year.
It wasn’t until 1998 when EA Sports decided to feature a licensed soundtrack. In order to preserve the true sanctity of this list…I won’t go any further.
Instead below is my official countdown of the Top 25 FIFA Songs of All-Time:
25) Empire Of The Sun - ‘Alive’ (FIFA 15)
This classic song from Empire Of The Sun was heard in one of my favorite FIFA’s to date, FIFA 15. The lyrics to this song get you pumped up while in the queue for your next match…and to me this specific song screams junior year of college.
I challenge you to connect with each and every one of these songs. If they don’t conjure up some sort of emotion…well then…are you even human? And if you’re a bot then please stay away…because up to this point State Of Soccer Weekly is proudly free of any bots.
24) Kings of Leon - 'Red Morning Light' (FIFA 04)
This banger brings you back to 2004 and pitch side next to Ronaldinho. This happened to be a single from the Kings Of Leon’s debut album, Youth & Young Manhood. ‘Red Morning Light’ found its way in the #22 position for the U.K. Singles Chart…not bad for a an unknown band from Nashville, Tennessee. The Kings Of Leon haven’t been features on any FIFA games since, but have left us with other well known singles like: ‘This Sex Is On Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody.’
23) Kygo - ‘ID’ (FIFA 16 )
When I think of Kygo…FIFA does not come to mind, but the Norwegian tropical beats guru brought us this masterpiece back in 2016. Features on FIFA 16 was his single ‘ID.’ The smooth percussion of instruments mashed into this EDM rhythmic hit would make any game-player relaxed and ready to take on some stiff competition. Well done, Kygo.
22) Foster The People - ‘Call It What You Want’ (FIFA 12)
Call it what you want…but this is the #22 song on my list. The FIFA 2012 hit brought us Foster The People. The song is categorized as indie rock with trippy synthesizers, but to me it is just plain and simple…a classic. This was Foster The People’s third single on their debut album, Torches. Like the Kings Of Leon…could FIFA had anything to do with the mainstream climb of Foster The People? Highly likely.
21) Chromeo - ‘Don't Turn The Lights On’ (FIFA 11)
In 2011 I was just a lonesome high-schooler playing FIFA in the dark of my parents basement. This song hits me hard in the nostalgia category. How does it make you feel?
Remember…if you agree/disagree with any of these selections…I want to hear from you in the comment section below. In the meantime don’t mind me listening to on of the funkiest tunes on this countdown.
20) RATBOY- ‘Get Over It’ (FIFA 17)
All you need to do is read the comments of the below video to know what it means to FIFA enthusiasts. In a song that wouldn’t typically be my type…FIFA did it again. This video game has the ability to transcend your own comfort-level with music and ‘Get Over It’ had be appreciating a brand new genre of music, British hip-hop mashed with undertones of Indie Rock.
19) Muse - 'Supermassive Black Hole' (FIFA 07)
The sound of Muse can be identified among any modern music enthisiast. The progressive rock giants were a hit’ in FIFA 07 with their single, ‘Supermassive Black Hole.’ This single conjures up a time when rock was not only evolving but making a mainstream comeback. This song is a little creepy…but shouts FIFA 07 to many, including myself.
18) The Hoosiers - 'Goodbye Mr. A' (FIFA 08)
I’ll leave this comment here. Cheers, Mr. McFadden.
17) Vance Joy - 'Mess Is Mine' (FIFA 15)
Another banger from FIFA 15 is Vance Joy’s classic, ‘Mess Is Mine.’ The year 2015 was a very dramatic year for State Of Soccer and to this day when I hear this song…I think back to how far I’ve come. Let’s toast to this one.
What song speaks to you…let me know below.
16) Imagine Dragons - ‘On Top of the World’ (FIFA 13)
One could argue that the #16 spot on this list is not giving Imagine Dragon’s single, ‘On Top of the World’ enough credit…but the thing with this list is that I only have 25 spots…twenty-five slots to feature some of the most thought provoking, nostalgia-ridden, tunes of our time.
So you tell me…where would you rank this song?
15) Seu Jorge - Tive Razão (FIFA 06)
Seu Jorge brought the house down in this single that I can barely pronounce. On thing is for certain…the soundtrack on FIFA 06 doesn’t even do this masterpiece justice. In my humble opinion…it is the finest instrumental piece on this entire list. Close your eyes and enjoy.
14) Bomba Estéreo - ‘Soy Yo’ (FIFA 16)
This song was too good to not go mainstream. The Colombian ‘Electro-Cumbia’ group released this song only to find fame in the 2016 version of FIFA. Following this songs release it was transformed into a GrubHub commercial…one that unfortunately plagues the comment section of the below music video (see for yourself).
13) Glass Animals - ‘Heat Waves’ (FIFA 21)
With the first appearance of the newest FIFA game (FIFA 21 at the time of this article) is the song, ‘Heat Waves’ by Glass Animals. Made popular by the Netflix show Never Have I Ever…this song is also features on FIFA 21. As someone who plays 21 just about daily, I am always looking for this song in the queue to ‘jam’ to…what is your favorite song from FIFA 21?
12) The Streets - Fit But You Know It (FIFA 05)
Those who know…know.
11) New Order - Blue Monday (FIFA 05)
Looking back on it…it’s surprising that this was ever featured on any FIFA. This song came out in 1983 and then resurfaced again for FIFA 2005. In all fairness it is an absolute classic and for those old enough to cognitively purchase FIFA back in 2005…you very well could have been jamming to this song in the 80’s. I’m just thrilled that EA Sports brought this one back.
10) Avelino - ‘Energy’ (FIFA 18)
To be honest this song doesn’t do it for my personally, but for anyone who likes this genre of music ‘Energy’ by Avelino is a FIFA 18 classic. This song does bring a lot of energy into your gameplay experience and for those still procrastinating homework in ‘18, I could see this song keeping you distracted.
9) The Stone Roses - ‘Fools Gold’ (FIFA 04)
Well…if this was true then it would be #1 on my list but #9 ‘ain’t too shabby.
This song ‘Fools Gold’ by The Stone Roses represented a time where Thierry Henry was still king of London, Ronaldinho was making Brazilian football fun again, and Andriy Shevchenko was a Ballon D’Or winner.
The year was 2004 and this was one of the best song from that soundtrack. Enjoy the lack of words in this one, sit-back, and send yourself back in time.
8) John Newman - ‘Love Me Again’ (FIFA 14)
This song from John Newman is another FIFA classic. YUFS is spot-on…you are a legend. For not only stumbling upon this article but for also subscribing to my YouTube channel…c’mon what’s content without a ‘call to action.’
As for this song it very much brings me back to my love-hate relationship with FIFA. For me the game is either the greatest use of your personal time, or the biggest waster of time. At least when John Newman’s single is playing…I would describe it as a moment of brilliance.
7) Kasabian - ‘Club Foot’ (FIFA 13)
It’s apparent to me that FIFA 13 (along with FIFA 15) might have the best soundtrack. This is an absolute gem. Kasabian brought their best in this single which found all FIFA gamers wanting more. In fact this song is so good that I’ve decided to use it for State Of Soccer’s official podcast, the ‘Soccer Specific Podcast’ (Link Included; Check it Out!).
6) Portugal. The Man - ‘Got It All’ (FIFA 12)
What’s your definition of ‘got it all?’ This song might not be the most well known track on the list but for me it bleeds FIFA 12. FIFA 12 holds a special place in my heart as being the first FIFA game that I personally went out and purchased. Whether you were on the training ground, or about to embark in a promotion campaign with Morecambe to the Premier League (most random team I could think of), this song was definitely the perfect company to get you there.
Let’s take a quick moment to recognize all of the above songs. To be in the ‘top-five’ of State Of Soccer Weekly’s ‘Top-25 FIFA Songs Of All-Time’ is definitely a major accomplishment but to be in the ‘Top-Five,’ well this is where the goats come out…
5) Kwabs - ‘Walk’ (FIFA 15)
This is the type of song you would skip in order to get to…the only problem being…outside of FIFA 13, FIFA 15 is the best soundtrack. This is why Kwabs - ‘Walk’ is at #5…and next on the list is another FIFA 15 classic.
Either way this song slaps and like every other song on this list it brings you to a simpler time. What do you think…should ‘Walk’ be higher on this list?
4) Tensnake feat. Thabo - ‘Pressure’ (FIFA 15)
This is my personal favorite FIFA song of all-time…but to avoid all anarchy it is only being placed as #4 on my list. This song is an absolute jam. I remember hearing it the first time…and to this day, I haven’t hear anything like it.
3) The Caesars - ‘Jerk It Out’ (FIFA 04)
This song was a hit in the early 2000’s. When PlayStation and XBOX weren’t king the PC gamers ran supreme and the 2004 edition of FIFA was a PC gamers dream. This was the soundtrack to the 2004 FIFA edition and to many FIFA enthusiasts, the best ever….on my list it grabs the #3 spot.
2) Gorillaz - ‘19-2000 Soulchild Remix’ (FIFA 02)
This song just sounds so early 2000’s and even more…it sounds like the ultimate piece of nostalgia. In the early 2000’s FIFA was gaining more, and more popularity. The official soundtrack from the 2002 version of FIFA only helped to elevate FIFA to all new levels. This is a classic.
1) Blur - ‘Song 2’ (FIFA 98)
Enough said.
So that does it for the Top 25 FIFA Songs of All-Time.
If you enjoyed this article then make sure to give it a ‘like’ and share this with your friends. I have a lot of fun writing these pieces and this has been my favorite so far.
So for this week’s post…this is State Of Soccer Weekly, signing off!
Enjoy the music.
This one has to be given an honorary shoutout as well from fifa12, fifa12 had the best soundtrack of all time for me https://youtu.be/ZWIOKI8h6h0