You know that feeling when a song just refuses to leave your head? Not because it’s annoying, but because it feels like it’s actually rooting for you? That’s exactly what happened in 2015. Everyone was asking who sang this is my fight song, and the answer was a then-relatively unknown singer-songwriter named Rachel Platten.
It wasn’t an overnight success. Far from it.
Rachel Platten had been grinding in the music industry for over a decade before "Fight Song" became a global phenomenon. She was playing small clubs, self-funding tours, and honestly, she was on the verge of giving up. She wrote the track as a personal pep talk. It wasn't supposed to be a stadium anthem; it was a "don't quit your day job" reminder to herself. But then, the world leaned in.
The Woman Behind the Anthem: Rachel Platten’s Long Road
Most people think Rachel Platten just appeared out of thin air. She didn't.
By the time she released "Fight Song" through Columbia Records, she had already released two studio albums that most people haven't heard of. She was in her early 30s—an age the music industry often considers "old" for a breakout pop star. That’s part of why the song feels so authentic. It wasn't written by a team of Swedish producers trying to manufacture a hit. It was written by a woman who was tired of being told "no."
She actually spent two years writing the lyrics. Think about that. Two years for one three-and-a-half-minute song. She went through dozens of iterations, trying to capture that specific blend of vulnerability and defiance. When she sings about having "a lot of fight left" in her, she isn't guessing. She lived it.
The song eventually peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the charts in the UK and went multi-platinum in the US. But the numbers don't really tell the whole story. The story is in the way the song was adopted by people going through chemotherapy, kids facing bullying, and athletes recovering from injuries. It became a utility. A tool.
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Why We Keep Asking Who Sang This Is My Fight Song
Google trends show that people still search for the artist behind this track years later. Why?
Usually, it's because the song has been revitalized in a new context. It was famously used during the 2016 Democratic National Convention for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. That gave the song a political life that Platten herself later admitted was "complicated." Regardless of your politics, it changed how the song was perceived. It moved from a personal diary entry to a public rallying cry.
Then there are the TV shows. Pretty Little Liars used it. The Biggest Loser used it. It’s been covered on American Idol and The Voice more times than most judges can count. Every time a new generation hears it in a movie trailer or a TikTok montage, the cycle starts again. They want to know the voice behind that massive, soaring chorus.
The Anatomy of a Power Ballad
Musically, "Fight Song" does something very clever.
It starts small. Just a simple piano melody.
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That’s a classic progression, but it’s the way she builds the production that hooks you. By the time the drums kick in for the second verse, the momentum is undeniable. It uses a lot of "stomp-and-clap" percussion, which triggers something primal in our brains. It’s the same reason Queen’s "We Will Rock You" still works.
Rachel’s vocals aren't overly processed either. You can hear the grit. You can hear the breath. It sounds like a person, not a computer. This human element is what allowed it to cross over from Top 40 radio into hospitals, locker rooms, and graduation ceremonies.
Beyond the "One-Hit Wonder" Tag
Is Rachel Platten a one-hit wonder?
Technically, no. She had another massive hit called "Stand by You," which also cracked the Top 40 and became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and various support groups. But "Fight Song" is the sun that her career orbits.
It’s a heavy mantle to carry. Imagine having to sing your most vulnerable moment every single night for a decade. Platten has talked openly about the pressure of being the "inspirational girl." She’s human. She has bad days. Sometimes she doesn't feel like a fighter.
In recent years, she’s moved into a different phase of her life. She became a mother, which she’s been very transparent about on social media—including the struggles with postpartum depression. She released "Girls," a song dedicated to her daughters, which echoes the empowerment themes of her earlier work but with a more mature, maternal lens.
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What You Might Not Know About the Song
- The Demo: The original version of the song was much slower and more somber.
- The Taylor Swift Effect: Taylor Swift invited Rachel on stage during the 1989 World Tour to sing the song together in Philadelphia. That was the "jet fuel" moment for the track’s success.
- International Reach: There are versions of this song in multiple languages, and it has been used by charitable organizations in dozens of countries.
The Legacy of the 2010s Empowerment Pop
"Fight Song" arrived during a specific window in the mid-2010s. It was the era of "Roar" by Katy Perry and "Brave" by Sara Bareilles. We were obsessed with "empowerment pop."
Looking back, some of those songs feel a bit dated or overly polished. But Rachel Platten's hit holds up because it doesn't promise that everything will be okay. It just promises that you won't stop trying. There’s a difference. "I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion." That’s not toxic positivity. That’s just survival.
How to Find More Music Like This
If you’re someone who connected deeply with Rachel Platten, you shouldn't just stop at her greatest hits. The singer-songwriter world is full of artists who prioritize lyrics over "vibes."
If "Fight Song" is on your permanent playlist, you should check out:
- Sara Bareilles: Specifically her album The Blessed Unrest.
- Ingrid Michaelson: She has a similar ability to turn small feelings into big melodies.
- Brandi Carlile: For a more folk-rock take on the "fighter" mentality.
- Christina Perri: If you like the heart-on-your-sleeve vulnerability.
Rachel Platten didn't just sing a song. She captured a moment in time where she was losing her voice and decided to scream instead. That’s why, when someone asks who sang this is my fight song, the answer matters. It’s a reminder that even when the "small heart" is in the "big ocean," it can still create a pretty significant wave.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious Listener
If you want to dive deeper into the world of Rachel Platten and the "Fight Song" phenomenon, here is how to actually engage with the music:
- Listen to the Wildfire album in full: Don't just stick to the singles. Tracks like "Lone Ranger" and "Better Place" show a lot more of her range and the struggle she felt before the fame hit.
- Watch the acoustic sessions: Go to YouTube and find her live, stripped-back performances. Her vocal control and the raw emotion in her face tell a much better story than the radio edit.
- Check out her 2023/2024 singles: She’s been releasing new music like "Girls" and "Mercy." It’s a different sound—honester, more grounded—and shows how she’s evolved from the "pop star" mold into a seasoned artist.
- Follow her journey on mental health: Platten has become a significant voice in the conversation around maternal mental health. If the "fighter" aspect of her music resonated with you, her real-life advocacy likely will too.
The story of "Fight Song" isn't just about a chart-topping hit. It’s about the fact that sometimes, the song you write for yourself is the one the rest of the world needs to hear.