"Roses" is the song that turned the Chainsmokers from a promising DJ duo into a pop phenomenon. Released on 16 June 2015 as the second single from their debut EP, Bouquet, the track features the American singer Rozes and was written by the duo's Andrew Taggart alongside Rozes, with production handled by the Chainsmokers themselves.

In a 2025 article by Bandwagon, the Chainsmokers' Alex Pall reflected on the song's tenth anniversary. Pall wrote that "Roses" was "the first song that really felt like us," written in about an hour and a half. He described it as "an inflection point where we found our footing and our sound," and said the song "redefined their sound and helped reshape dance music in the mid-2010s." The article also notes that "Roses" was the track that first catapulted the duo into Billboard's Top 10.

The Bandwagon article also notes that "Roses" was released after the viral frenzy of "#Selfie" and was "a sonic curveball ? slower, more introspective, and emotionally layered." Pall said that despite industry feedback to tweak the song's structure, the Chainsmokers stuck to their instincts. The article describes the result as "a defining hit that showcased their range beyond club-ready bangers."

Critical reception was mixed. In a review published by Doth Music, critic Frank Ude wrote that "Roses" "fails to leave any lasting impression due to its lack of standout qualities, rendering it easily forgettable." Ude described the production as "bare minimum" and Rozes' vocals as "rather sleepy," while also noting that the track "would go on to chart quite successfully in several countries." The review gave the song a score of 5.3 out of 10.

Despite the mixed critical response, "Roses" became a defining hit for the Chainsmokers and helped establish the sound that would lead to later successes including "Closer" and "Don't Let Me Down."

As a reviewer, I find "Roses" fascinating precisely because of that tension between the critics and the audience. The Doth Music review is harsh, and there is some truth to it ? the production is minimal, and Rozes' delivery is understated. But the Bandwagon retrospective tells a different story: this is the song where the Chainsmokers found themselves, the one that made fans dance, cry, and scream it back at shows. When I listen to it now, I hear a song that is not trying to impress anyone. It is simply confident in its own mood, and that confidence is what made it work. It is not a perfect song, but it is an honest one, and sometimes that matters more.