The hit animated series Steven Universe is known for well-written characters, deep lore, heartfelt emotions, exciting action, important themes and messages, and of course, incredible songs. Steven Universe, Steven Universe: The Movie, and Steven Universe Future all feature plenty of memorable songs. From “It’s Over Isn’t It” to “My Little Reason Why”, there’s actually a rather long library of songs throughout the franchise. Here is a list of just some of the best songs out of the many that are sung throughout the series.

12) Strong in the Real Way

“Strong in the Real Way” is especially catchy, and it features Steven in the middle of learning a valuable lesson. Steven thinks that to be strong, one must have big muscles and be able to lift heavy objects. As Pearl mentions, though, being strong is more about emotional and psychological strength. This is something that Steven and the others show in the rest of the series going forward. It’s a fun tune that captures an important, albeit on-the-nose, message. It also lacks the level of emotion that other songs in the series have.

11) I’d Rather Be Me (With You)

“I’d Rather Be ME (With You)” is romantic, sweet, honest, and heartfelt. This song from Steven Universe Future allows voice actor Zach Callison to show off his incredible vocal talent while also spotlighting his ability to fully make a fictional character’s emotions feel real. It truly sounds like a song someone would write for their significant other in real life. That being said, the context of the song in the show is nerve-wracking since Steven is using it to move his relationship with Connie along way too quickly.

10) Other Friends

“Other Friends” is sung by Spinel, the antagonist of Steven Universe: The Movie. It’s essentially become her theme song and synonymous with the character among her fans. It’s a jaunty tune in the style of a modernized version of 30s jazz music, which matches Spinel’s rubber-hose animation quite well. Spinel’s feeling of being betrayed and forgotten come out in full force during this song, making it feel quite emotional and not just a fun melody. It plays during an exciting action sequence and gives the audience hints toward the character’s backstory. It’s just rather repetitive, which is unfortunate for such a great song.

9) Change

Also from Steven Universe: The Movie is “Change.” This song takes place during the movie’s epic climax and is perfect for a heated battle. It also conveys one of the most important themes of the movie and the series overall. People, not just the Steven Universe characters, can make a difference in the world by speaking up, working together, and taking a stand. The turning point of the song reflects the battle taking a turn which is quite satisfying.

8) Peace and Love (On The Planet Earth)

Peace and Love (On The Planet Earth) may be interrupted by conversation a little too much, but the parts that aren’t are brilliant. It’s a simple and cute ditty that features Steven teaching Peridot the importance and beauty of life. It’s a major turning point in Peridot’s character development while also proving to be quite catchy. The ukulele melody, along with the straightforward-yet-meaningful lyrics, is rather beautiful.

7) Full Disclosure

This one is the definition of an earworm. “Full Disclosure,” which cleverly uses Steven’s ringtone as part of the melody, is a tragic and heartfelt song. It conveys the stress that Steven is going through. It also shows how much he worries about his loved ones being put in danger because of him. It’s a similar sentiment to Superman worrying about Lois Lane. It’s heartfelt and will have any listener humming it for a while after hearing it.

6) Do It For Her

“Do It For Her” perfectly captures Pearl’s feelings for Rose Quartz and Connie’s feelings for Steven all in one song. It also showcases Pearl’s character flaws that she needs to overcome (she just doesn’t know it yet). The song provides a glimpse into Pearl’s backstory involving Rose Quartz and the war as well as a stepping stone for Connie’s development. On top of all this, it’s also a toe-tapper.

5) Here Comes a Thought

It’s no secret that Estelle is an extraordinarily talented singer, and it certainly shows in her role as Garnet. “Here Comes A Thought” is one of the most beautiful songs she sings in the entire series. The song’s message of making sure to take a step back and a deep breath when you’re having a tough time or are overly stressed out is important. It works within the context of the show, but it’s also something the audience can think about in the context of their own lives. This makes it one of the more powerful songs in the show.

4) Love Like You

“Love Like You” is sung by the series’ creator, Rebecca Sugar, and plays during the end credits of many episodes. It’s an especially charming song with a delightful melody. The lyrics highlight how we see ourselves differently from how others see us, especially in romantic relationships. It also captures the idea that we may not always feel good enough for our romantic partners. These sentiments are represented by many of the relationships throughout the series, like Pearl and Rose Quartz, Ruby and Sapphire, and Greg and Rose Quartz. The song playing during the end credits puts a focus on it that makes it feel like it’s meant to highlight one of the core themes of the show, which “love” absolutely is. However, it doesn’t quite fit the “musical” feel of the rest of the songs in the series.

3) We Are The Crystal Gems

“We Are The Crystal Gems” is the theme song of the series and it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s one of the catchiest songs in Steven Universe’s lineup. The lyrics give a rundown of the show’s premise as well as each of the Crystal Gems’ primary motivations throughout the story. It sounds hopeful and empowering, and gets the viewer excited to watch the characters’ journey. The “Change Your Mind” version that plays during the end of the main series further adds to how incredible the song is and gives it even more meaning. This song is so great it’s even referenced in a song from the movie, “Who We Are.”

2) Stronger Than You

Another song that allows Estelle to show off her fantastic singing is “Stronger Than You,” which also happens to be Garnet’s best song in the series. It’s also become her theme song. Its dancey beat is a lot of fun and provides the perfect tune for a riveting fight scene. The lyrics mean multiple things depending on if it’s heard in the context of the show or not. In the scene in which Garnet sings it, it sounds like she’s telling off Jasper while triumphantly giving her a well-deserved comeuppance. If you really listen to the lyrics, though, it totally means “screw your heteronormativity, my love is valid and strong.” It’s overall quite brilliant.

1) Happily Ever After

This may come as a surprise to some, but “Happily Ever After” is the perfect song for Steven Universe. It’s the opening song of Steven Universe: The Movie and part of it is used as the theme song for Steven Universe Future. It recaps the main series, gives each of the main characters time to shine, and gives a hopeful outlook for the future. It also spotlights the emotional weight of everything they went through, and the audience truly feels that in this song. This fun and insanely re-listenable song also reflects on the character development each of them received. A more somber version of “Happily Ever After” is also used during the song “Who We Are,” and the two together make for quite an emotional ride.

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