Every Track on 5 Seconds of Summer’s 'Everyone’s a Star!' Ranked and Analyzed
By Elena Rostova
Dissecting the EVERYONE’S A STAR! tracklist reveals a project divided between arena-sized anthems and interior-facing synth ballads. Across fan voting boards and aggregate critical reviews, clear standouts have emerged based on melodic sophistication and lyrical depth.
1. "Limelight Static"
The undisputed centerpiece of the record. Built on an aggressive, distorted bassline and punctuated by Luke Hemmings lead vocals that alternate between hushed whispers and ragged falsetto, the track interrogates the psychological toll of prolonged public visibility. It lands with immense emotional resonance.
2. "Mirage in Neon"
A masterclass in dynamic tension. Michael Clifford guitar solos slice through atmospheric synths during a blistering final minute that recalls late-nineties shoegaze. It is the boldest instrumental arrangement the band has ever released on a mainline LP.
3. "Sydney Rain"
A reflective, mid-tempo ballad co-written by Hood and Irwin. The acoustic foundations give way to sweeping orchestral arrangements, offering nostalgic nods to the band's hometown without falling into mawkish sentimentality.
4. "Velvet Teeth"
A dance-punk exercise running at a relentless 140 BPM. The drums lean heavily into four-on-the-floor disco patterns while Clifford's rhythm guitar provides jagged funk accents. It has quickly become an online streaming favorite.
5. "Ghost Town Radio"
Moody, layered, and built for late-night drives. The track features dual lead harmonies from Hemmings and Hood, showing how closely intertwined their vocal registers have grown over a decade of shared microphones.
6. "Paper Crowns"
The record's most direct pop hook. While structurally conventional compared to the experimental tracks surrounding it, the soaring chorus serves as a pristine showcase for Hemmings' full-throated belt.
7. "Bleach & Honey"
An off-kilter indie track driven by Irwin's acoustic brushwork and analog synthesizers. It strips away high-gloss commercial shine in favor of warmth and vulnerability.
8. "Permanent Vacation II"
A tongue-in-cheek spiritual successor to their 2015 deep cut. Rather than revisiting adolescent angst, the lyrics tackle career burn-out and financial pressures through serrated guitar lines.
9. "Glass Floor"
Subdued, synth-heavy, and rhythmically ambitious. Hood's bass work anchors an otherwise ambient production that trades standard verse-chorus payoff for rich sonic atmosphere.
10. "Overexposed"
A crisp three-minute radio shot. The hook is infectious, though it covers familiar ground already charted by their 2020 single "Teeth."
11. "Static Noise Lullaby"
A slow-burning album track that stretches five minutes. The sprawling bridge demonstrates instrumental growth, though the pacing drags slightly on back-to-back listens.
12. "Encore"
A bittersweet outro. Featuring stripped acoustic guitars and conversational room noise, the song serves as a quiet exhale after forty minutes of dense production.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
