"Five Years" has since been called one of Bowie's greatest songs by multiple publications. Following Bowie's death in 2016, "Rolling Stone" listed "Five Years" as one of his 30 essential songs. "Ultimate Classic Rock", in their list of Bowie's ten best songs, listed "Five Years" at number nine, calling it an "epic opening to Bowie's greatest album". They continued: "Lyrically, it paints one of Bowie's most vivid pictures in a song, while musically it builds into a chaotic crescendo highlighted by the ominous sense of panic in Bowie's voice during its climax." In 2018, "NME" listed it as Bowie's 12th greatest song.