10. "Come Clean"
“Come Clean” was Hilary’s first Top 40 hit in the U.S. The song is about struggling in a relationship, coming clean, and allowing yourself to become a better person from it. Sometimes you just have to lay it all out on the table in order to move forward. The song got remixed for her Most Wanted album and is also included on Best of Hilary Duff. The video for the single earned Hilary her first and only MTV VMA nomination. |
9. "Someone's Watching Over Me" (from Raise Your Voice)
While this track was never technically a single, it ended up being one of the most successful tracks from Hilary’s self-titled third studio album. “Someone’s Watching Over Me” appeared in her 2004 film Raise Your Voice and quickly became a definitive fan favorite. The song is an anthem proclaiming that dreams are worth going after, even when they’re harder to reach than you realized. The song’s endearing message allows it to still resonate with fans today. |
8. "Our Lips Are Sealed" featuring Haylie Duff (from A Cinderella Story)
“Our Lips Are Sealed” comes from what is easily Hilary Duff’s most successful movie and even features her big sis, Haylie. The track is a cover of The Go-Go’s 1981 hit and is a perfect fit for the flirtatious and cutesy film. Since the release of A Cinderella Story, there have been two spin-offs, but neither can live up to the original. Luckily, it’s CONSTANTLY playing on ABC Family. Sadly, Chad Michael Murray still hasn’t shown up with our missing phone, proving he’s our Prince Charming.
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7. "Reach Out"
The last official Hilary Duff single was originally going to be on a re-release of Dignity, but that project was scrapped and the single instead ended up supporting her second compilation album, Best of Hilary Duff. “Reach Out” is a dance hit in the vein of Britney Spears but also contains a little bit of a rock and roll rift (most likely courtesy of producer Ryan Tedder of One Republic, who also co-wrote the song). The song marked the end of an era and the official Hilary hiatus. |
6. "So Yesterday"
We kid you not when we say this was EVERY girl’s anthem in 2003. “So Yesterday” became Hilary’s first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and has become one of her signature songs. It details the struggles of getting over a heartbreak and how, sometimes, you just have to leave the past in the past and look forward to tomorrow instead of focusing on yesterday. Stop making excuses and live your best life today (a common theme for early 2000s Hilary Duff). |
5. "Dignity"
An ode to the stereotypical Hollywood fame hog, “Dignity” is one of Hilary’s cattiest songs and is a great representative of her album of the same name. The song chronicles the lifestyles of the rich and famous, openly expressing Hilary’s disgust for fame culture that runs on money and scandal, something Hilary worked hard to stay away from. Her subtle jabs of “pick it up; that’s all you got” reveal a Hilary that’s not afraid to tell it like it is while remaining classy. |
4. "Mr. James Dean"
By far one of the rockingest songs of Hilary’s career, “Mr James Dean” offers a glimpse into what Hilary’s career might have looked like had she decided to take her music in a different direction. Hilary told Bender magazine that she wanted this album to reflect that she wasn’t Lizzie McGuire anymore. Unfortunately, the album underperformed and only produced one single. However, it still gave us this gem and paved the way for Hilary’s first compilation album. |
3. "Wake Up"
Hilary Duff’s first compilation album, Most Wanted, may have been a bit premature (she had only released three studio albums at that point - one being a Christmas album), but it gave us one of Hilary’s best singles. “Wake Up” is a perfect example of a pop song. Hilary sings about getting out of the house, getting out of your head, and simply having fun. The song was a bit of a departure for Hilary’s previous singles, causing it to be a major milestone in her career. |
2. "With Love"
We’re going to be honest: Dignity is by far our favorite Hilary Duff album. The album signaled a major change in Hilary’s musical direction and worked well as her I’m-officially-an-adult album. The videos were sexy and the songs made it into clubs everywhere. “With Love” is an infectious techno beat that allowed Hilary to be sassy and grownup with, you guessed it, dignity. It became her highest-peaking single, coming in at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. |
1. "What Dreams Are Made Of" (from The Lizzie McGuire Movie)
Guys, the feels when we hear this song are indescribable. Before Disney Channel turning its TV shows into movies was a regular thing, The Lizzie McGuire Movie paved the way and this song was the climax, officially launching Hilary Duff to super stardom. "What Dreams Are Made Of" is all about taking in the moment, celebrating every day, and making your dreams come true every chance you get. And if you get to pretend to be an Italian pop star while doing so, all the better. |
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