What are The Libertines' biggest songs?

18 August 2025, 16:53

Pete Doherty and Carl Barât made a spectacular return in 2024 with the album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. But which of their classics have been streamed and viewed the most over the years?

By Radio X

@RadioX

• Formed: London, England, 1997
• Current members: Pete Doherty, Carl Barât, John Hassall, Gary Powell
• First Single: What A Waster (June 2002)
• Album Discography: Up The Bracket (October 2002), The Libertines (August 2004), Anthems For Doomed Youth (September 2015); All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade (March 2024).

1. The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun: release date 18th August 2003

   Released as a standalone single between the first two Libertines albums, Don't Look Back Into The Sun was produced by former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, who also played on the track. The single made Number 11 in the UK, while topping the indie charts. Certified Platinum by the BPI, Don't Look Back Into The Sun is the most-streamed Libs track on Spotify with over 122 million plays and over 21 million views on YouTube.

   

   The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun (Official Video)

2. The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now: release date 9th August 2004

   The Libs' biggest hit, peaking at Number 2 in August of 2004, this song was taken from the band's second, self-titled album and, alongside Don't Look Back Into The Sun, is their only Platinum-certified single. On Spotify, the track has been streamed over 113 million times and the video has been watched over 12 million times.

   

   The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now (Official Video)

3. The Libertines - Time For Heroes: release date 13th January 2003

   Written about the May Day riots of 2000, this Up The Bracket track was The Libertines' first Top 20 hit and has been streamed over 43 million times. YouTube video views are in excess of 6.8 million.

   

   The Libertines - Time For Heroes (Official Video)

4. The Libertines - Music When The Lights Go Out: release date: release date 30th August 2004

   Another Pete Doherty song from the self-titled album of 2004, this tune has garnered 35 million Spotify streams and over 1.4 million YouTube views.

   

   Music When The Lights Go Out

5. The Libertines - What Katie Did: release date 30th August 2004

   Taken from The Libertines' self-titled second album, this Pete Doherty-penned track was originally recorded by his band Babyshambles and issued as the b-side of their eponymous debut single in April 2004. Spotify plays are currently over 35 million and YouTube views stand at 1.2 million.

   

   What Katie Did

6. The Libertines - Gunga Din: release date 2nd July 2015

   The Libertines' first new material in eleven years was the lead single from the long-awaited reunion album, Anthems For Doomed Youth. Referencing the Rudyard Kipling poem of the same name, Gunga Din has had over 18 million Spotify listens and an impressive over 5.7 million YouTube views in the decade since its release.

   

   The Libertines - Gunga Din

7. The Libertines - Up The Bracket: release date 30th September 2002

   The title track of the band's debut album is a reference to an old phrase used by 50s comedian Tony Hancock and was issued as a single in its own right. Produced by Mick Jones, formerly of The Clash, the song peaked at Number 29, racking up 14 million Spotify plays and over 4.3 million YouTube views.

   

   The Libertines - Up The Bracket

8. The Libertines - What A Waster: release date 3rd June 2002

   The Libs' debut single, paired with the track I Get Along and produced by former Suede man Bernard Butler. Despite the frequent use of the f-bomb, the single made Number 37 in the UK charts and has enjoyed over 11 million Spotify streams. On YouTube, the track has been played over 480,000 times.

   

   What a Waster

9. The Libertines - What Became Of The Likely Lads: release date 25th October 2004

   The final single from the first phase of The Libertines' career, this is the (official) closing track from the band's self-titled album, of 2004 and peaked at Number 9 in the charts. This bittersweet tune has been played over 9 million times on Spotify and watched over 2.6 million times on YouTube.

   

   The Libertines - What Became Of The Likely Lads

10. The Libertines - Run Run Run: release date 11th October 2023

    The first single from the highly-anticipated fourth Libertines album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade has notched up an impressive over 7.5 million Spotify streams and over 790k YouTube views since its release at the tail end of 2023.

    

    The Libertines - Run Run Run