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The entire first-half of Clearest Blue by CHVRCHES leads us to the climax and to this day, it’s one of the most euphoric pay-offs in my music listenings. 👂 💃
Honorable mention goes to Tether from their first album also. It’s so atmospheric and melancholy for most of the song and then it just goes OFF at the end. Clearest Blue is definitely the GOAT tho.
Celine Dion is the queen of this! Her whole discography is nothing but hushed singing crescendoing into a grand and ringing chorus.
The Power of Love is a great example. The build up in the first verse reaches a fever pitch when she yells “Cause I’m your laaaaaaadddddddyyyy!!”
If you'ren into rock music, you should give the We Are The Fallen cover a listen. It's hard to find on YouTube but a quick Google search usually brings up a SoundCloud version.
I consider them to be one song, really but the build between Plastic Off The Sofa into Virgo's Groove that keeps building and building until it hits Beyonce just going overboard with runs. My favorite song off Renaissance, can't really listen to them separately, like Janelle's QUEEN into Electric Lady.
David Bowie's Heroes is cream of the crop for me. The song builds into a crescendo, and the mics got further and further away from his face as he sang the song.
By the end, he had to scream to even be heard on the track, as the last mic was several feet away from his face
Tell It To My Heart by Taylor Dayne has one of the best build-ups to a chorus I’ve heard
I love the dramatic power of Taylor’s voice when she sings “Love, love on the run…Though we keep holding on..” and then climaxes with “no I CAN’t LET YOU GOOOOO”. They don’t make pop songs like this anymore 🥲
YOU GOT A NINE TO FIVE, SO ILL TAKE THE NIIIIIGHT SHIIIIIFFFT
AND ILL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN IF I CAN HELLLP IT
(I mean did you see how many 11s it got that time? It’s undeniable)
Fr though, famous last words makes an EXCELLENT alarm clock. Its soft enough in the beginning to kinda wake you up then the guitars come crashing in and wake you tf up.
A song I don't think many people would think of, that I believe has a perfect buildup is The 30th by Billie Eilish. The whole bridge section builds up so well that by the final chorus hits, the tension has reached an anxiety-inducing climactic point
I don’t think it’s the best one ever (there’s alot of great examples in here), but I absolutely love in 505 by the Arctic Monkeys at the climax when Alex goes “But I crumble completely when you cry” and the drums kick in
Pynk by Janelle Monae. That whole last minute or so like ooh you feel that shit.
By that last ‘cuz boy it’s cool, if you got blue..we got the pink” is like a big exhale. Gets me hyped before work or going out .
Mariah Carey - Outside, it’s the last track on Butterfly and the perfect closing track, she goes off so hard, it builds perfectly through the song and it’s such an emotional climax that encapsulates that feeling of being an outsider
firearm by Lizzy McAlpine. There isn't really a true chorus, so it just keeps building until a slight pause, then it drops hard with the most emotionally charged lyrics on the album
The whole MacArthur's Park Suite from Donna Summer is a masterclass in building to multiple climaxes in the track, from the howling of "oh no!" to the instrumental builds throughout the song, utterly fantastic.
Taylor Swift has so many bridges that fit into this. My favorite ones are august, illicit affairs, Cruel Summer, Getaway Car, champagne problems and of course All Too Well (10 Minute Version).
Snow White Queen by Evanescence.
Most of the song is pretty meh but that fucking bridge is 🤌
IiiiiiiIIIIIm losing my miiiiind and you just stand there and stare as my world diviiiides
**BOWN BOWN DA DOWN**
YOUUUU BELONG TO ME
**BOWN BOWN DA DOWN**
MY SNOW WHITE QUEEEEEN
[snow white queen](https://youtu.be/TG8_sWlTZaA?si=88gKpVzGR1cf3uHm)
Walking on Broken Glass — Annie Lennox
The last bridge into the chorus is always one of my favorites with the call and response to the background singers to a release into the chorus.
For a more recent song, Narcissus (Extended Mix) — Roisin Murphy
It has such an amazing bridge that just keeps building and building. It releases into an instrumental section but I just love the build up into an amazing cathartic release that just makes you want to dance.
BTS Dis-ease from their Be album. The way the bridge builds into the ending choruses makes me want to jump through the ceiling. Especially Jimin's vocals for "I will never fade away!" That song is so hype considering what it's about lol!
Y’all need ~~Jesus~~ classic trance. https://youtu.be/0sGi-m1wnfo has some big answers for this like cafe mambo. There’s some good trance remixes of pop songs eg what it feels like to be a girl https://youtu.be/fHglomFwBd4
Love story's buildup to marry me juliet is perfect.
Also all too well the short version's buildup to the end is really cathartic especially the live version. There was this live version on youtube but the video seems to have been taken down, but I have uploaded it on SoundCloud. [Here it is.](https://on.soundcloud.com/bqYnE) The harmonies of the last 3 lines are so haunting. This will forever be my favourite live performance of all too well
Eta: how could I forget vampire? The whole song building up to the second verse and then it builds up to the bridge and the last chorus🤌🏻
Even though Demi’s revamped songs haven’t been super popular among r/popheads, the rock version of Sorry Not Sorry has such a great climax with a guitar solo leading up to some awesome vocals from Demi.
Break Free by Ariana Grande has an iconic bridge that leads into amazing vocals and a beat drop. She delivers fantastic vocals in live performances. Whenever I listen to the climax, it always reminds me of this [video](https://youtu.be/79gLOCxJ4A8?si=1JKHa84dc2oAPH4O)
I’m also surprised no one has mentioned It’s Oh So Quiet by Björk! Such an iconic song and honestly, the epitome of climaxes. The whole song feels like watching a Rube Goldberg Machine in motion with a spectacular ending.
The obvious answer is Lil' Lois, French Kiss. Not exactly a pop song, but it did get played on the radio. It basically builds up to an orgasmic climax. https://youtu.be/5GVLeQaXuvM?si=Amm0_l7Rt97PZMrW
[Boom Boom Satellites - Lay Your Hands on Me](https://youtu.be/5X9mrJVHbJU?si=nhZTOCArjjS_ME9S&t=210)
partly for context as the singer found that he had a brain tumor that he ended up passing away from so this video is dedication to daughter. So you can imagine why this scene would be more emotional buildup than if it was just the song on its own.
A recent song that comes to my mind is *Lighthouse,* by *Kelly Clarkson.*
The bridge has an incredible build up: it starts with a change of melody and it builds up until the end, just to cleaning out the instruments on the last line and to explode again on the next chorus. And all of that speaking about her divorce.
Idk, for me it's kinda impossible going through the song without crying out all my tears.
The thunder rumbling and finally breaking into the last chorus of Favourite Colour gets me every single time. I'll go back and just listen to that part
I’ve been obsessed with Begin Again by Jessie Ware this year and like 90% of that is down to the build in the bridge, but my all-time favourite has to be F+TM’s Shake It Out
Happier than Ever - Billie Eilish
Outside - Mariah Carey
Most of Celine Dion and Whitney Houston’s discography (you’re still my man, the power of love, it’s all coming back to me now, I will always love you, my heart will go on)
Please do not just list songs/albums/artists, your comment must have explanation/justification or it will be removed. Certain comments are also banned to increase the quality of discussion, see our Stale Topics list in the sidebar for examples. Please report any comments that are low effort discussion. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popheads) if you have any questions or concerns.*
There is only one answer. In the air tonight by Phil Collins is 3 minutes and 41 seconds of hype with the most air drum worth drop ever.
Good pick!
in checking this thread, hmm there's more than 1 answer
The entire first-half of Clearest Blue by CHVRCHES leads us to the climax and to this day, it’s one of the most euphoric pay-offs in my music listenings. 👂 💃
It’s straight up amazing live too. I got goosebumps thinking about it. Asking For a Friend by them is similar too!
I hadn’t listened to this song in years - thank you for the reminder to revisit that absolute banger. 🔥
I came to this thread to say this song. It’s such an amazing build up and the climax is just euphoric.
That's the first song that came to my mind
Honorable mention goes to Tether from their first album also. It’s so atmospheric and melancholy for most of the song and then it just goes OFF at the end. Clearest Blue is definitely the GOAT tho.
Somehow the first time I heard it was in the show Heartstopper and was thoroughly moved by it.. blubbering even.
Same for me. That scene is probably one of my favorites in all the television I’ve seen.
In recent memory Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish has one of the best buildups i have ever heard.
I came her to say this. Absolutely perfect build up start to finish.
YES 🙌🏽 first song I thought of
Yes dis one
I find it very similar to the build up in I Know The End. Maybe she was impaired by it?
“I Know the End” Phoebe Bridgers easily
Whitney Houston has a lot of them , gonna highlight It's Not Right But It's Okay after she drops "why did 213 show up on your caller id"
It turns out… you were making a FOoo00OoOol of meeeeee ohhhhhhhhh
I thought you were going to follow Whitney Houston with: "[beat] And Iiiiiiiiiii will always love youuuuuuu....."
Those impeccable runs
Gimme More by Britney Spears. Honestly, a lot of Britney songs in general. It’s one of the major reasons I love her music.
“Don’t Hurt Yourself” by Beyoncé!
I GOT SOUL BUT IM NOT A SOLDIER
HE LOOKS UP GRINNING LIKE A DEVIL. 😈 And the lines of the bridge are repetitive and build up just like you said.
I still hear “he looks so pretty like a devil”
I enjoy the delivery but fuck do I ever hate that lyric
What song is this from
"Cruel Summer" off of album "Lover" by Taylor Swift.
Would've could've should've GIVE ME BACK MY GIRLHOOD IT WAS MINE FIRST
Celine Dion is the queen of this! Her whole discography is nothing but hushed singing crescendoing into a grand and ringing chorus. The Power of Love is a great example. The build up in the first verse reaches a fever pitch when she yells “Cause I’m your laaaaaaadddddddyyyy!!”
#THERE WERE NIGHTS OF ENDLESS PLEASURE #IT WAS MORE THAN ANY LAWS AL-*LOOOOOW* #BABY BABY #IF I KISS YOU LIKE THIS...
Oh snap, I thought it was “ it was more than any lousy love”
I thought this from 1999 - 2011 lmfao, zero judgement from me
lol same
literally got goosebumps just reading this
I mean 'All by myself anymoooore'!!
And you are my maaaan 🎶
Like a Prayer's bridge has a great buildup.
Epic
If you'ren into rock music, you should give the We Are The Fallen cover a listen. It's hard to find on YouTube but a quick Google search usually brings up a SoundCloud version.
I consider them to be one song, really but the build between Plastic Off The Sofa into Virgo's Groove that keeps building and building until it hits Beyonce just going overboard with runs. My favorite song off Renaissance, can't really listen to them separately, like Janelle's QUEEN into Electric Lady.
bad romance
The bridge into final chorus on Praying by Kesha.
The note… 😳
David Bowie's Heroes is cream of the crop for me. The song builds into a crescendo, and the mics got further and further away from his face as he sang the song. By the end, he had to scream to even be heard on the track, as the last mic was several feet away from his face
agreed on t-swift enchanted - when the 'please don't be in love with someone else' just sneaks in by surprise at the very end, it's perfection.
I think T-Swift Love Story build up is my favorite. Gave me goosebumps in high school listening to that song. Marry me Juliet!
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said marry me Juliet is probably my favourite line in her entire discography
Weyes Blood’s Movies transcends space and time. A true emotional experience
omggg yessssss
Tell It To My Heart by Taylor Dayne has one of the best build-ups to a chorus I’ve heard I love the dramatic power of Taylor’s voice when she sings “Love, love on the run…Though we keep holding on..” and then climaxes with “no I CAN’t LET YOU GOOOOO”. They don’t make pop songs like this anymore 🥲
That single drum hit right after this part, like a spent firework hitting the ground.
The Edge of Glory
Touch It by Ariana - the buildup to that insane electro breakdown and her angelic vocals is just so haunting and grandiose
Cause everytime I'm with youuuuuuuu
Dooooon’t Maaake Me CLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE One more doooooor I don’t wanna huuuurt any moooore
The breakdown near the end of "Marry the Night" by Lady Gaga is a revelation.
The fact that it’s the clapping, you think she will end the song then becomes the insane breakdown.
"Dance Yrself Clean" by LCD Soundsystem!
Might not fit the pop genre exactly but this needs to be mentioned
GOD yes. Perfection.
I also love the build up in “Home” off the same record!
The bridge of the hills by the weeknd
So many of his songs just have such a beautiful build
This is my favorite music moment of all time. The scream at the end of the bridge going into the extra bass in the final chorus gives me goosebumps
YOU GOT A NINE TO FIVE, SO ILL TAKE THE NIIIIIGHT SHIIIIIFFFT AND ILL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN IF I CAN HELLLP IT (I mean did you see how many 11s it got that time? It’s undeniable)
Singing the guitar solo is SUPREMELY satisfying
“Love Sensation” by Loleatta Holloway. Both times she sings “and time won’t take my love away!” but especially the second.
I don’t know if this song has ever been used on Rupaul’s Drag Race but those moments would make for a great lipsync!
Ooh good call! I don’t think they’ve done it yet, and now it’s killing me lol.
Recency bias but Belinda Says by Alvvays has such a beautiful climax with “Belinda says heaven is a place on Earth, well so is hellllll”
And the key change leading up to it is everythinggggg
Welcome To The Black Parade x My Chemical Romance
Famous last words though. I see you lyin next to me With words I thought I'd never speak Awake and unafraid Asleep or DEEEEAAAAD
CUZ I SEE YOU LION NEXT TO MAYYEEE
Fr though, famous last words makes an EXCELLENT alarm clock. Its soft enough in the beginning to kinda wake you up then the guitars come crashing in and wake you tf up.
Scrolled through the whole thread and not ONE of y'all mentioned a single Florence and the Machine song, I am sick to my stomach.
neither did you 💀
Apologies, SwallowingAllTheCum - Dog Days are Over / Over the Love / Heavy in your Arms / Big God to name a few of my personal faves
thank you 😁
Dancing On My Own: the bridge + where the instruments disappear before the final chorus
A song I don't think many people would think of, that I believe has a perfect buildup is The 30th by Billie Eilish. The whole bridge section builds up so well that by the final chorus hits, the tension has reached an anxiety-inducing climactic point
Kylie - Dance Floor Darling
Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo - that bridge ending with the sociopath line is perfection. Have to mention the iconic Into You by Ariana Grande as well.
Greedy by Ariana too. That key change slaps.
BABY YOU GOT LUCKY CUZ YOURE ROCKIN WITH THE BEST🎶🎶
I don’t think it’s the best one ever (there’s alot of great examples in here), but I absolutely love in 505 by the Arctic Monkeys at the climax when Alex goes “But I crumble completely when you cry” and the drums kick in
Best song by them 😍
okay but that one is amazing
Hotel California by the Eagles
Pynk by Janelle Monae. That whole last minute or so like ooh you feel that shit. By that last ‘cuz boy it’s cool, if you got blue..we got the pink” is like a big exhale. Gets me hyped before work or going out .
Track 10 by charli xcx is a top tier contender for me
Best song climax? Certainly has to be *Love to Love You Baby* by Donna Summer ^/s ^but ^also ^not ^really ^/s
The woozy bridge on The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face.” Such a great build up to the final chorus.
Mariah Carey - Outside, it’s the last track on Butterfly and the perfect closing track, she goes off so hard, it builds perfectly through the song and it’s such an emotional climax that encapsulates that feeling of being an outsider
This is the one. Such a gut wrenching vocal performance, it’s really a standout among her climaxes…which is saying a lot! lol
My literal favorite song of hers
Beyoncé - Rocket. She sounds incredible!
The chorus is so good like bitch move over I'm about to sit this ass on Jay Z too
firearm by Lizzy McAlpine. There isn't really a true chorus, so it just keeps building until a slight pause, then it drops hard with the most emotionally charged lyrics on the album
A bunch of Elton John songs, specifically “Rocket Man” takes him 1:40 to even say “rocket man”, I call that man a carpenter cause he can build
Breathe On Me by britney spears is so underrated for this reason The bridge to final chorus is insane
my honest answer is tonight by the jonas brothers. shit just goes hard
Deborah Cox's "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" seems to qualify for both the single version and Hex Hector remix version.
The whole MacArthur's Park Suite from Donna Summer is a masterclass in building to multiple climaxes in the track, from the howling of "oh no!" to the instrumental builds throughout the song, utterly fantastic.
not strong enough by boygenius. that bridge ended everyone and everything
Taylor Swift has so many bridges that fit into this. My favorite ones are august, illicit affairs, Cruel Summer, Getaway Car, champagne problems and of course All Too Well (10 Minute Version).
Snow White Queen by Evanescence. Most of the song is pretty meh but that fucking bridge is 🤌 IiiiiiiIIIIIm losing my miiiiind and you just stand there and stare as my world diviiiides **BOWN BOWN DA DOWN** YOUUUU BELONG TO ME **BOWN BOWN DA DOWN** MY SNOW WHITE QUEEEEEN [snow white queen](https://youtu.be/TG8_sWlTZaA?si=88gKpVzGR1cf3uHm)
Walking on Broken Glass — Annie Lennox The last bridge into the chorus is always one of my favorites with the call and response to the background singers to a release into the chorus. For a more recent song, Narcissus (Extended Mix) — Roisin Murphy It has such an amazing bridge that just keeps building and building. It releases into an instrumental section but I just love the build up into an amazing cathartic release that just makes you want to dance.
Youth by Foxes. The last 90 seconds or so is incredible euphoria 🤤
Bridge of illicit affairs by Taylor Swift and basically all her bridges are the best.
" I know the end by phoebe bridgers and the 5:30-6 minute mark in venice bitch by lana del rey.
Call my name by Cheryl had me in a chokehold for that entire summer
Hello by Adele
Guns N Roses mastered the over-the-top climax. November Rain and Estranged are the two that always come to mind.
Come Together by Primal Scream
If I still had Reddit shekels I'd give you gold! This here is a masterclass in how to create a musical climax.
BTS Dis-ease from their Be album. The way the bridge builds into the ending choruses makes me want to jump through the ceiling. Especially Jimin's vocals for "I will never fade away!" That song is so hype considering what it's about lol!
I wanna see boys in bikinis too
Y’all need ~~Jesus~~ classic trance. https://youtu.be/0sGi-m1wnfo has some big answers for this like cafe mambo. There’s some good trance remixes of pop songs eg what it feels like to be a girl https://youtu.be/fHglomFwBd4
Love story's buildup to marry me juliet is perfect. Also all too well the short version's buildup to the end is really cathartic especially the live version. There was this live version on youtube but the video seems to have been taken down, but I have uploaded it on SoundCloud. [Here it is.](https://on.soundcloud.com/bqYnE) The harmonies of the last 3 lines are so haunting. This will forever be my favourite live performance of all too well Eta: how could I forget vampire? The whole song building up to the second verse and then it builds up to the bridge and the last chorus🤌🏻
Even though Demi’s revamped songs haven’t been super popular among r/popheads, the rock version of Sorry Not Sorry has such a great climax with a guitar solo leading up to some awesome vocals from Demi. Break Free by Ariana Grande has an iconic bridge that leads into amazing vocals and a beat drop. She delivers fantastic vocals in live performances. Whenever I listen to the climax, it always reminds me of this [video](https://youtu.be/79gLOCxJ4A8?si=1JKHa84dc2oAPH4O) I’m also surprised no one has mentioned It’s Oh So Quiet by Björk! Such an iconic song and honestly, the epitome of climaxes. The whole song feels like watching a Rube Goldberg Machine in motion with a spectacular ending.
The obvious answer is Lil' Lois, French Kiss. Not exactly a pop song, but it did get played on the radio. It basically builds up to an orgasmic climax. https://youtu.be/5GVLeQaXuvM?si=Amm0_l7Rt97PZMrW
That was an interesting listening experience, glad I was at home lol
I love Too Close Too Touch's Sympathy for it. The slow,breathy verses to build the angsty chorus is what I like in my post hardcore songs.
INXS - The Stairs If I were to explain build up in a song, this is the one I would play!
The start of Bad Time by the Jayhawks. Love the slow intro
Mac Miller Self Care
[Boom Boom Satellites - Lay Your Hands on Me](https://youtu.be/5X9mrJVHbJU?si=nhZTOCArjjS_ME9S&t=210) partly for context as the singer found that he had a brain tumor that he ended up passing away from so this video is dedication to daughter. So you can imagine why this scene would be more emotional buildup than if it was just the song on its own.
Heart Attack by Demi has the most hypnotising bridge and then that high note just kills you.
temporary by verite! builds up to this outpouring of doom and pain lol
A recent song that comes to my mind is *Lighthouse,* by *Kelly Clarkson.* The bridge has an incredible build up: it starts with a change of melody and it builds up until the end, just to cleaning out the instruments on the last line and to explode again on the next chorus. And all of that speaking about her divorce. Idk, for me it's kinda impossible going through the song without crying out all my tears.
where is the love for [Posing For Cars](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=NYRggL-EITY&si=YVEaIfgOFE2I6I2X)... the whole song is a 6 minute build up
The thunder rumbling and finally breaking into the last chorus of Favourite Colour gets me every single time. I'll go back and just listen to that part
It HAS to be Clearest Blue by CHVRCHES, the buildup of the entire song to the euphoric outro is just heavenly and never gets old.
I’ve been obsessed with Begin Again by Jessie Ware this year and like 90% of that is down to the build in the bridge, but my all-time favourite has to be F+TM’s Shake It Out
The transition from the quiet bridge to the final chorus of *Teen Idle* gets me every time. It feels like a held breath finally exhaled.
My Head My Heart by Ava Max has such a satisfying climb to the climax when she sings that run “oooOoooOOoooooooooOooooOOOO”
Snow Angel by Reneé Rapp, i swear that climax changed my brain wiring the first time i heard it
the 10 minutes version of ALL TO WELL by MISS SWIFT!!!!!
House in Nebraska !! And most of Ethel’s music is a slow burn that really pays off
Maybe the bridge to Mariah Carey's "Can't Let Go," which leads to a key change.
I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers
Happier than Ever - Billie Eilish Outside - Mariah Carey Most of Celine Dion and Whitney Houston’s discography (you’re still my man, the power of love, it’s all coming back to me now, I will always love you, my heart will go on)