It was 2015. You couldn't walk into a grocery store, turn on a Top 40 station, or watch a talent show without hearing those piano chords. Fight Song was everywhere. It felt like the entire world had collectively decided to adopt Rachel Platten’s mid-tempo ballad as the official soundtrack for overcoming literally anything. But before it became a multi-platinum behemoth and a political campaign staple, it was a last-ditch effort from a singer-songwriter who was basically ready to pack it in.
Rachel Platten wasn't a teenager when she hit it big. That’s the first thing people usually get wrong. She had been grinding in the industry for over a decade. We’re talking about a woman who was playing covers in Las Vegas and hauling her own keyboard to dive bars while her peers were settling into stable careers. By the time she wrote the lyrics to this is my fight song, she was in her early 30s. In the pop music world, that’s practically ancient.
The Brutal Honesty of a "Last Chance" Track
The song didn't come from a place of victory. It came from a place of desperation. Platten has spoken openly about the fact that she wrote it for herself, not for the charts. She was trying to convince herself that she still had a "small light" left in her. Honestly, when you listen to the lyrics now, knowing she’d been rejected by basically every major label for years, the line about "one spark can make an explosion" hits differently. It wasn't marketing. It was a mantra.
Columbia Records eventually signed her, but even then, no one predicted the sheer scale of the reaction. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the charts in the UK. But the numbers don't tell the whole story of why this is my fight song became a cultural phenomenon. It wasn't just a catchy hook. It was the timing.
Why the world latched on
Social media was entering a phase of "inspiration-bait," sure, but people were also genuinely hungry for something that didn't feel manufactured. Even though the production on the track is polished pop, the sentiment felt raw. It became the anthem for the American Cancer Society. It showed up in Good Morning America segments. It was used by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race, which, depending on who you ask, either solidified its status as a legend or made people want to turn off the radio.
The Viral Impact and the "Cringe" Factor
Let's be real for a second.
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Any song that gets played this much eventually hits a wall of backlash. By 2017, the "Fight Song" fatigue was very real. Critics started calling it "generic" or "saccharine." There’s a specific kind of internet cynicism that loves to tear down anything that’s too earnest. And this is my fight song is nothing if not earnest.
But here’s the thing: while the "cool" kids were rolling their eyes, the song was doing actual work in the real world.
Real-world legacy
- Cancer survivors: The song became synonymous with "ringing the bell" in oncology wards.
- Sporting events: It’s still a staple for underdog teams.
- Personal milestones: From sobriety journeys to leaving toxic relationships, the track provided a rhythmic backbone for people who needed a win.
It’s easy to judge a pop song from the comfort of a critic’s chair. It’s a lot harder to dismiss it when you see a video of a kid in a hospital bed singing along to it. That’s where the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of this track really lies. It’s not in the music theory behind it—which is relatively simple—but in its utility.
Behind the Scenes: Production and Songwriting
Platten wrote the song over the course of two years. That’s a long time for a pop track. Usually, these things are banged out in a weekend session in Malibu. She reportedly wrote dozens of verses before landing on the ones that made the cut. Jon Levine, the producer, kept the focus on her voice and that driving, insistent beat.
The structure is classic:
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- The build: Starts quiet, just Platten and the piano.
- The pre-chorus: The drums kick in, raising the heart rate.
- The explosion: The "This is my fight song" hook drops with maximum compression and layering.
It’s a formula, but it’s a formula because it works on a physiological level. It triggers a dopamine release. It makes you want to move.
What Most People Get Wrong About Rachel Platten
People think she was a "one-hit wonder."
Technically, "Stand By You" also did quite well, reaching the Top 40 and going Platinum. But Fight Song was so big it eclipsed everything else she did. It’s a bit of a curse, honestly. When you write a song that defines a decade of inspirational music, people stop seeing you as a versatile artist and start seeing you as a symbol.
Platten has since moved into more mature territory, discussing motherhood and mental health, but she’ll always be the "Fight Song" girl. And she seems okay with that. In interviews, she’s expressed a lot of gratitude for the fact that she got to have that moment at all, especially considering how close she came to quitting.
Actionable Takeaways: Using the "Fight Song" Mentality
If you’re looking to harness the energy of this track for your own life, it’s not just about playing it on repeat. It’s about the context of its creation.
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- Acknowledge the "Small Light": Platten didn't write this when she felt powerful. She wrote it when she felt invisible. If you’re waiting to feel confident before you start your "fight," you’re doing it wrong. The action creates the confidence, not the other way around.
- The Power of Persistence: Ten years. That’s how long she worked before this song hit. Most people quit at year three. If you have a project or a dream that feels stagnant, remember that the "explosion" often comes after a decade of slow burning.
- Ignore the "Cool" Crowd: If what you’re doing is helping people or helping yourself, it doesn't matter if it’s "cringe." Authenticity is often embarrassing to people who aren't brave enough to be sincere.
How to find more music like this
If you’ve overplayed this is my fight song and need a fresh rotation, look into:
- Sia: "Unstoppable" covers similar ground with a bit more grit.
- Sara Bareilles: "Brave" was the direct predecessor to this movement.
- Kelly Clarkson: "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" is the gold standard for the pop-empowerment genre.
The impact of this track isn't going anywhere. It’s baked into the DNA of modern pop. It taught labels that there was a massive market for "unfiltered" female empowerment that wasn't just about breakups, but about the internal struggle to exist in a world that tells you "no."
Next time you hear it in a CVS or a stadium, try to hear the girl who was about to give up on her keyboard in a dive bar. It makes the song a lot more interesting.
Next Steps for Your Playlist:
To truly understand the "empowerment pop" era, listen to Platten's album Wildfire in its entirety. It provides the necessary context for her songwriting style beyond just the radio singles. Additionally, check out her 2023 release "Girls," which shows how her perspective on "fighting" has shifted from personal ambition to legacy and motherhood. You can also explore the various acoustic versions of Fight Song on YouTube to hear the raw vocal performance without the heavy radio production, which often reveals the true emotion behind the lyrics.