“Phoenix”, the sixth Worlds song, has accumulated more than 7.2 million YouTube views in just two days. It’s also the first song to feature an old Worlds artist, Chrissy Costanza featured in “Legends Never Die” 2017.
We’ve decided that every Worlds song will be ranked in honor of the release “Phoenix”. Riot Games has published a Worlds song and a music video each year since 2014 in order to launch the championship.
Each song is released as a full music video. The rankings are based on both the song and the video. This list will not include songs from “Pop Stars”, as they are only Worlds music videos.
These are our top Worlds songs and videos.
1. “RISE” – The Glitch Mob and Mako 2018
“RISE” represents four years of Worlds music videos. “RISE”, as a song, ticks all the boxes. It has a strong chorus and a satisfying build-up. The lyrics are cheesy but still very inspiring. rise league of legends is a captivating song that takes us through each chorus, while keeping us captivated and resounding with every new rendition. The eerie, desolate bridge keeps us waiting for the hook to return.
The lyrics capture the spirit of Worlds, and what it means for a competitor on an international stage. This is even more evident when you add the video. “RISE” tells Kang “Ambition”, Chan-yong’s incredible journey to become a world champion. He’s faced with many challenges throughout the video but keeps pushing until he proves that he is a champion.
The song and video are seamlessly integrated. The video’s intensity moments are matched with similarly energetic visuals. The song’s lulls are accompanied by serene landscapes. The video is complete with stunning scenery, right down to the wheat fields.
Although “RISE” isn’t breaking the Worlds song mold, it does take ideas Riot has had in previous years and refines them. Because of the combination of its polished song, video and performance, “RISE”, as a whole, is first.
2. “Warriors” ft. Imagine Dragons 2014
“Warriors”, despite its release in 2014, has stood the test of time. “Warriors”, with its dark undertones, highlights the importance of competing on the Worlds stage. The lyrics capture the hard work required to become a world champion, while also referring to the Leaguecommunity which has helped make the game what it is today. This feat could not be achieved in any other Worlds song. It is also the only Worlds song to include a solo guitar.
The video goes beyond the lyrics and shows the pain that players feel following a loss as well as their desire to get better. “Warriors,” unlike other videos, uses generic players to tell the story and not pros. The pros used to play games at home before they competed on stage. This makes “Warriors’ approach incredibly relatable.
Although the video and song are timeless, “Warriors”, also marks a pivotal point in Leaguehistory. Esports were still relatively new to the public when “Warriors” was released. Riot and Imagine Dragons joined forces to make League a viable esport.
3. “Ignite” ft. Zedd 2016
“Ignite” is a totally different Worlds song than any other. The orchestral accompaniment helps “Ignite”, a Worlds song, stand out without losing its uniqueness. The simple lyrics and catchy tunes are perfect for the song. Riot went out of their comfort zone to record “Ignite”, and it paid off. It can be a bit boring when the verses are quiet.
The video is bright and complements the song’s electronic tones. This video is unmatched in its vivid animation and style. The combination of song and video isn’t as spectacular as the other two.
4. “Legends Never Die” ft. Against The Current 2017
It wasn’t easy ranking “Legends Never Die”. Although the song is great, the video would not be in the top ten if “Worlds Collide” didn’t have one. There are moments of serenity in “Legends Never Die”, but there are also passionate crescendos that lead to an explosive chorus. The song is constantly driven by heavy drumming, which builds anticipation and keeps it moving without getting tired.
The video was stunning stylistically. It had nothing to do whatsoever with Worlds. Instead of showing pros and fantasizing about the possibility of competing on an international stage, “Legends Never Die” told stories about Ashe, Lee Sin and Garen. The League champions did not appear to be tied to any particular player or moment in esports. Neither. The video seemed disconnected from Worlds overall, which reduces the impact of “Legends Never Die”.
5. “Phoenix”, 2019 (ft. CailinRusso, Chrissy Costanza).
“Phoenix”, the latest addition to Worlds’ song catalogue, was undoubtedly the most anticipated song of the year. Although “Phoenix” was originally scheduled to be released prior to the play-in stage, delays in production forced it back for approximately two weeks. Despite the suspense, the song leaves much to be desired.
“Phoenix,” which opens with a soft, dark intro, quickly shows its lack of depth. It’s almost impossible to find the chorus and it is generally uninspired. This leaves you feeling dissatisfied. It feels like we are listening to the same song over and over again as we move between each chorus and verse. Although YouTube has been criticized for reducing the song’s quality, it is still a great version. However, the lyrics portray a positive image of people rising above their challenges. This is wholesome and very relatable.
“Phoenix’s saving grace is its beautifully-crafted video. The video is a worthy contender. The animations are stunning and the CGI and real life crossover is brilliantly crafted. The song’s lyrics and the video create a coherent story that highlights the difficulties Lee “Faker”, Rasmus “Caps”, Borregaard Winther and Song “Rookie”, who must overcome them during this year’s Worlds.
6. “Worlds Collide” (ft. Nicki Taylor) 2015.
“Worlds Collide”, the iconic sound of League of Legends, is undoubtedly its best-known track. This song was written in 2015 and set the stage for future Riot musical projects such as “Bring Home the Glory”, “Awakened” and other similar songs. The style behind “Worlds Collide” is driven strings, loud brass and a mixture of synths, with a bright female singer.
“Worlds Collide” is ranked last in our list but it does have an addictive chorus. The video, or lack thereof, is the biggest problem with the song. “Worlds Collide” was the only Worlds song to be created without a music video. The official release video instead features a bright red crystal that encapsulates mini versions of European landmarks. It does spin along with some rocks so it is animated. An animation loop won’t save “Worlds Collide”, which is ranked last on this list.
