It all comes back to pop music. Pop is the backbone not only of the music industry, but of culture in general: Nothing else connects people, defines moments and lives and passes down history from generation to generation the way pop does. It’s our shared language, our communal experience. It’s why wedding receptions are usually joyous and celebratory occasions even if the DJ doesn’t know a thing about the people they’re playing to, why karaoke can feel like a spiritual awakening in the right circumstances, why top 40 and oldies radio remain cultural staples a decade into the streaming era. There is no safer bet, no easier sell than pop music.
And yet, there’s been relatively little attempt to properly canonize modern pop’s greatest works and practitioners. While rock as a genre has been listed and anthologized to death over the past 50 years, and hip-hop and country are finally starting to catch up, such pop histories are relatively few and far between. There’s no official pop hall of fame, like there is for those other genres. It shouldn’t be possible for the biggest music on the planet to be overlooked, but it does feel that way sometimes.
So we here at Billboard have decided to take the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 — with the chart finally having lived a full-enough life to be at retirement age, though it’s still as vital as ever and certainly nowhere near hanging it up — to take our shot at listing the 500 best pop songs since the chart’s debut. Though songs had to hail from the Hot 100 era to qualify for our list, this isn’t a charts-determined ranking: Rather, these are the songs our staff felt were simply the greatest, most enduring pop songs of that 65-year period, the songs that we most think of when we think of what pop music could and should be. (Because 500 is a much smaller number than you think when talking about 65 years of pop music, and because we wanted to be able to include as many different artists as possible, we capped the number of pop songs per lead artist at three.)
How are we defining “pop songs,” you might ask? Well, that’s a little tough: One of the reasons pop can be hard to summarize is because there’s no real sonic or musical definition to it. There are common elements to a lot of the biggest pop songs, but at the end of the day, “pop” means “popular” first and foremost, and just about any song that becomes popular enough — whether it be rock, dance, rap, R&B, country, reggaetón or some combination — can be considered a pop song. So the only hard-and-fast qualification we laid down for songs to be eligible for our list was that they had to have hit the Hot 100 at some point, in some version. (The only exception we made was for songs that came during the ’90s period where many huge airplay hits were ineligible for the Hot 100; read here for more details on that.)
All that said, the “pop” part of this project was still essential when determining our ranking. We were looking for the songs that most fit our idea of pop music — catchy, tight, rousing, emotional, immaculately crafted, instantly memorable. If a song didn’t strike us as an obvious pop song, we might have ranked it lower on our list than most other all-time songs lists have in the past, or left it off altogether. Conversely, if a song makes us go “now that’s a pop song!” every time we hear it, even if it’s not the kind of critically revered song that often ends up on all-time lists, we made sure to give it a little extra love here. Our definition of pop might differ from yours — we couldn’t even all agree on every song ourselves — but even if we can’t do much better than “we know it when we hear it,” we’re confident you’ll hear it plenty yourself while reading through the songs on our list.
Here are our staff’s 500 favorite pop songs since the introduction of the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug. 4th, 1958 — from Lesley Gore to Carly Rae Jepsen, from Sam Cooke to SZA, from The Kinks to The Chainsmokers, from Chubby Checker to Rae Sremmurd. We counted down from 500 to 301 Tuesday (Oct. 17), and Wednesday was 300 to 101 — as of today, you can see the whole list, including the top 100, along with more related articles you can read all about here.
Join us below all week, and feel free to sing along; we know you know the words.
Skip to:
Nos. 400-301
Nos. 300-201
Nos. 200-101
Nos. 100-1
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200. Van Halen, "Jump"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 25, 1984)
You Know What It Is: The biggest hard rock band in the U.S. discovers synths, with both fist-pumping and heart-bursting results.
Come Together: If the lyrics occasionally seem like a jumble of positive inspo talk and suicidal ideation, there’s a reason for that: Frontman David Lee Roth took “Jump” inspiration both from the motivational teachings of his martial arts instructor Benny “The Jet” Urquidez and a news report he watched about a man on the edge of a building, who was considering leaping off.
This Magic Moment: After Roth’s hesitation had kept the band from embracing keys for the first four years of the ’80s, Eddie Van Halen’s synth-burst emerges from his guitar soloing on “Jump” with all the stunning catharsis of years of pent-up instrumental passion.
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199. Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (June 4, 2005)
You Know What It Is: A heartbreak ballad mighty enough to erase a half-decade of bad publicity and diminishing commercial returns and become Mariah Carey’s biggest unaccompanied Hot 100 hit ever.
These Words: Only a true pop nerd like Mariah could would think to anchor a song like “Together” with a bridge featuring her singing along two ’80s R&B jams: “Bobby Womack’s on the radio, singing to me/ ‘If you think you’re lonely now…’/ Wait a minute this is too deep, I gotta change the station/ So I turn the dial, trying to catch a break, and then I hear Babyface/ ‘I only think of you…'”
This Magic Moment: When Mariah jumps the octave on the climactic “BABY, WHEN YOU LEFT I LOST A PART OF ME!” — proving that other singers might have filled the gaps on the charts during her down period, but they still ain’t got it like she got it.
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198. ? and the Mysterians, "96 Tears"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Oct. 29, 1966)
You Know What It Is: One of the most perfect one-off smashes in pop-rock history, doing for garage band organists what “Johnny B. Goode” did for guitarists.
Coming Around Again: “96 Tears” became something of a standard for soul singers in the years that followed, with Big Maybelle, Thelma Houston and even the Queen herself Aretha Franklin performing renditions of the Rudy Martinez-penned instant classic.
Gimme More: If swirling organs surrounding garage-band party jams are your thing, an ideal “96 Tears” two-play would be the Swingin’ Medallions’ frat-rock singalong “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love).”
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197. Post Malone, "Circles"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Nov. 30, 2019)
You Know What It Is: The logical apotheosis of Post Malone’s melodic pop-rap, or a guitar-laced heel turn towards alternative radio, depending on who you asked; either way, the hooks of “Circles” were sharp enough to pierce anyone within earshot, and helped Posty score a defining hit.
This Magic Moment: Post belting “I dare you to DOOOOO, something! / I’m waiting on YOOOOOU again, so I don’t take the blame” without abandon in the second half of the chorus might be the most committed “OOO” croon this side of Soulja Boy.
Gimme More: Although never a hit single, Post Malone’s “Stay,” from his previous album Beerbongs & Bentleys, preceded “Circles” with its acoustic embrace; as it stands, “Stay” is a live staple for Post, and a fan favorite.
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196. Duran Duran, "Hungry Like the Wolf"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 3 (Mar. 26, 1983)
You Know What It Is: The action-packed smash that broke Duran Duran as global superstars, and as epochal a new wave single as there is.
Who Put the Bomp: Shout out to Nick Rhodes’ then-girlfriend — identified by the group’s keyboardist in a 2001 blog post only as “Cheryl” — for providing both the iconic giggle that kicks off the song and the moans over the outro that help see it out.
Living on Video: Of course the Russell Mulcahy-helmed clip for the song played a massive part in breaking “Hungry Like the Wolf” (and Duran Duran), casting the band in a post-Indiana Jones Sri Lankan adventure. The cultural sensitivity of its largely imperialistic perspective would certainly be called into question if released now, but for better or worse, nearly every shot of it made a permanent imprint on MTV viewers of the time.
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195. Nelly, "Hot in Herre"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (June 29, 2002)
You Know What It Is: The ideal party-starting club anthem for when the mercury starts rising.
Who Put the Bomp: Songwriting and production duo The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo), who helped define music in the late 1990s and 2000s, produced “Hot in Herre,” as well as other massive hits around the same time like Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U,” Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call,” and Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me).”
These Words: That’s R&B singer-songwriter Dani Stevenson answering Nelly in the hook-a-second chorus, with the direct declaration, “I’m getting’ so hot/ I wanna take my clothes off.”
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194. Boston, "More Than a Feeling"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 5 (Dec. 25, 1976)
You Know What It Is: Classic rock as flawless pop — less focused on virtuosity and pulverizing riffs than on hooks and production so shiny you can see it from outer space.
This Magic Moment: As singer Brad Delp dreams of a girl he used to know, closes his eyes and sees her slip away on the third verse, he reaches back for another “slipped awayyyyyyyy,” then takes it even higher — and then even higher than that — sealing the song’s peerless majesty, while also karaoke-proofing it for all time.
Because of You: It’s simply impossible to imagine the first Guitar Hero game without “More Than a Feeling,” as no song was either easier to faux-strum along to or more intoxicating to feel like you were in the center of.
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193. Barry Manilow, "Copacabana"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 8 (Aug. 12, 1978)
You Know What It Is: Probably the most famous Barry Manilow song, in which he put his signature big ballad style aside and cut loose in danceable story-song fashion.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: Everyone from The Rolling Stones to Ethel Merman tried their hand at a disco record in 1978. This was one of the best, and Manilow played it to the hilt — even donning a ruffled “Ricky Ricardo shirt” when he played the song in concert.
The Sun Always Shines on T.V.: In 1985, Manilow and his collaborators Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman expanded the song into a full–length, made-for-TV musical, also titled Copacabana. They later turned it into a full-length, two-act stage musical.
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192. No Doubt, "Just a Girl"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 23 (May 4, 1996)
You Know What It Is: The hooky, hard-charging feminist anthem that introduced No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani as one of the great pop stars of the alt-rock ’90s.
Who Put the Bomp: The single’s new-wave glisten was no accident; like the rest of the band’s diamond-certified breakout album Tragic Kingdom, “Just a Girl” was produced by ’80s hitmaker Matthew Wilder, of “Break My Stride” fame.
Gimme More: The same year as “Just a Girl,” another female-fronted, immaculately produced alt-rock band whose sound went way beyond post-grunge made their pop breakthrough: Garbage, whose discofied “Stupid Girl” hit No. 24 that September.
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191. Dolly Parton, "9 to 5"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 21, 1981)
You Know What It Is: The undeniable title song for the 1980 comedy film classic, starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Parton.
These Words: The Parton-penned theme song captured the tenor of the times with lyrics like “You’re just a step on the boss man’s ladder/ But you got dreams he’ll never take away.” The film’s comedic approach may have been over the top, but it didn’t negate the plight of working women who connected with the notion of exacting revenge on a sexist, egotistical and spiteful male boss — like the film’s three sheroes do.
Coming Around Again: For trivia fans, Sheena Easton also released a song called “9 to 5” that became a hit in the U.K. in 1980. Written by Florrie Palmer, the song was about a woman waiting for her husband to return home from work. Retitled “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” when it was released in the U.S. in 1981, it later actually succeeded Parton’s “9 to 5” in the No. 1 slot on the Hot 100.
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190. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, "The Tears of a Clown"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Dec. 12, 1970)
You Know What It Is: With a classic Motown sound and subject, and an unforgettable recurring motif — it reminded Robinson of a tragic circus clown — this 1967 recording became a Hot 100-topping hit in 1970.
This Magic Moment: Yes, that’s a bassoon you hear complementing backing band the Funk Brothers’ upbeat R&B performance.
Who Put the Bomp: Stevie Wonder and his producer, Henry Cosby, co-wrote the song’s instrumental track and asked Robinson to write the lyrics.
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189. Pet Shop Boys, "West End Girls"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (May 10, 1986)
You Know What It Is: The rainswept synth-pop ode to mid-’80s U.K. urban life, newly evocative with every quasi-rapped lyric, every synth hit, every trumpet blare.
Come Together: “West End Girls” was first released in 1984 with similarly brilliant but perhaps overly busy production from New York post-disco stalwart Bobby Orlando; in 1986, Pet Shop Boys re-recorded a new edited version of “Girls” with Stephen Hague (New Order, OMD), who gave the song the lush, meditative sweep it’s known for today.
Coming Around Again: In 2023, the biggest rapper in the world basically sang the entire “West End Girls” chorus on his new album — though he maybe should’ve run it by Neil and Chris first.
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188. Tommy James and the Shondells, "Crimson and Clover"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 1, 1969)
You Know What It Is: Bubblegum pop and psychedelic rock crashing together at the end of the ’60s, resulting in the decade’s most sweetly narcotic No. 1.
This Magic Moment: “Ohhhhhh.” With one word and three descending guitar chords, you know you’re already basically done for over the next three and a half minutes.
Gimme More: The second high was nearly as good as the first for Tommy James and the Shondells in 1969, as the similarly blissed-out “Crystal Blue Persuasion” reached No. 2 that July.
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187. Juice WRLD, "Lucid Dreams"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 2 (Oct. 6, 2018)
You Know What It Is: Emo rap’s finest pop moment, and a heartbreaking illustration of the gone-too-soon Juice WRLD’s truly limitless talent.
This Magic Moment: The song’s all-timer chorus appears at the beginning of the song, and then not again until the end, making that second run-through — and especially that Nextel-like chirp that introduces it — particularly cathartic and satisfying.
Living on Video: The captivating clip for the song, featuring Juice WRLD rapping with only his head poking out of the floor — a sadly apt visual metaphor for the openly depressed artist — helped make a star not only out of Juice, but of director Cole Bennett, whose Lyrical Lemonade clips would play a large part in visually defining the era.
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186. Madonna, "Vogue"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (May 19, 1990)
You Know What It Is: The hit that brings pop’s past and future together, by bringing the underground vogueing dance movement to the mainstream over a club beat, while also looking back to icons of the golden age of film — the combination making “Vogue” endlessly timeless.
This Magic Moment: The spoken-word name-dropping of Hollywood legends – “Greta Garbo and Monroe/ Dietrich and DiMaggio” – will never get old.
Coming Around Again: Beyoncé brought “Vogue” back to the forefront in 2022 with her Madonna-featuring Queens Remix of the Renaissance lead single “Break My Soul,” in which Queen B namedrops a laundry list of female Black icons, as well as the ballroom houses that inspired the original song.
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185. Boyz II Men, "I'll Make Love to You"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Aug. 27, 1994)
You Know What It Is: The ultimate baby-making anthem, which cradled lovers “all through the night.”
Who Put the Bomp: One of R&B’s and pop’s most gifted songwriters, Babyface, wrote and produced the song. It reached the Hot 100 summit and stayed atop the charts for 14 consecutive weeks.
Gimme More: “End of the Road” and the Mariah Carey collab “One Sweet Day” are similarly perfect songs that showcase the quartet’s velvety vocals and enchanting lyrics — and also spent double-digit weeks atop the Hot 100, making Boyz the only group with three such leaders.
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184. Elton John, "Bennie and the Jets"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 13, 1974)
You Know What It Is: No other pop hit resembles John’s idiosyncratic, irresistible fusion of lounge piano, futuristic electric organ, fake live fan rections and a narrative about – as lyricist Bernie Taupin put it – “a sort of proto-sci-fi punk band fronted by an androgynous woman.”
This Magic Moment: After an elegant piano solo, John re-enters with a piercing, pitch-perfect falsetto – “Oh, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet?” – that’s among the most impressive vocal moments in his catalog.
Coming Around Again: For “Solid Wall of Sound,” a standout from its 2016 album We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, A Tribe Called Quest looped John’s “solid wall of sound lyric” – and also invited him to sing the track’s outro verse.
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183. Juvenile feat. Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne, "Back That Azz Up"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 19 (Nov. 20, 1999)
You Know What It Is: Booty has inspired countless decades of music, and Juvenile’s brash, brassy ode to the movement of derrières is probably one of the most recognizable of its ilk.
Coming Around Again: Years before he properly fleshed out his flirtations with bounce music with 2018’s “Nice for What,” Drake sampled this classic for the brooding “Practice,” off his 2012 landmark sophomore album Take Care.
Because of You: In 2021, Juvenile released a reimagined version of this track called “Vax That Thang Up” to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While the song was met with mixed reactions — not unlike the vaccine itself — Juvenile remained steadfast in his efforts to spur listeners to get educated on the vaccine and make the personal choice to take it.
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182. Sam Cooke, "Wonderful World"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 12 (June 27, 1960)
You Know What It Is: Sam Cooke admitting that his school learning leaves much to be desired, but expressing the two facts he’s confident in with textbook poetic efficiency: “But I do know that I love you/ And I know that if you love me too/ What a wonderful world this would be.”
Who Put the Bomp: Because lord knows he hasn’t accomplished enough else in his nearly 70-year career, the great Herb Alpert can also throw having co-penned this flawless pop song somewhere on his resumé — maybe on the second page, around the middle.
Hollywood Nights: The song was further solidified as an all-time love song by the 1985 movie Witness, where big-city detective John Book (Harrison Ford) and Amish mother Rachel (Kelly McGillis) dance to the song in a barn, as it plays out of his revived car radio.
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181. Raspberries, "Go All the Way"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 5 (Oct. 7, 1972)
You Know What It Is: The sweetest, horniest power-pop hit of the ’70s, treating the four-word titular invitation like a greeting from a gospel choir at the pearly gates.
This Magic Moment: Because like every other band of their generation, the Raspberries were obsessed with the Beatles, the “Go All the Way” bridge features Eric Carmen and the rest of the band quoting with escalating intensity, “And she says/ ‘Come on’/ ‘Come on…,'” clever calling back to the Fab Four’s own palpably inflamed breakout hit.
Gimme More: If you want to hear the Raspberries on the other thing they were most lusting for in the mid-’70s, check out their stirring power ballad “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record).”
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180. Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (May 8, 1999)
What You Know It Is: The salsa-flavored hit that gave the U.S. their new Puerto Rican crush, Menudo alum Ricky Martin.
Who Put the Bomp: The hit was written by frequent Martin collaborator Draco Ross and Desmond Child, the latter of whom also wrote Aerosmith’s “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” among other ’80s and early ’90s classics.
Because of You: “Livin’ La Vida Loca” is considered the song that kicked off the turn-of-the-century Latin pop explosion, with artists including Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez rushing through the door Martin opened to make their mark on U.S. top 40.
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179. Bill Withers, "Ain't No Sunshine"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 3 (Sept. 18, 1971)
You Know What It Is: Bill Withers’ string-swept, chill-inducing lament of a relationship that takes the light and warmth in his life with it anytime it goes away.
Come Together: Withers says the song’s inspiration came to him after viewing the 1962 drama Days of Wine and Roses, about a married couple (played by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick) torn apart by alcoholism. “Sometimes you miss things that weren’t particularly good for you,” he recalled observing to Songfacts in 2004.
This Magic Moment: You know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you KNOW what the moment is.
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178. Steve Lacy, "Bad Habit"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Oct. 8, 2022)
You Know What It Is: The transcendent two-part solo breakout hit from The Internet guitarist Steve Lacy, cementing him as one of the most essential voices in popular music.
This Magic Moment: When the music cuts out for Lacy’s double-tracked vocal admission, “I bite my tongue, it’s a bad habit” — followed by a guitar slide that rises all the way to the heavens, taking you along with it.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: While on tour supporting parent album Gemini Rights, Lacy was captured expressing his confusion and frustration after audience members stopped singing along to the song in its second verse, having already exhausted all the parts they knew from the song’s snippeted popularity on TikTok.
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177. Daft Punk, "One More Time"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 61 (March 24, 2001)
You Know What It Is: The pop music of the future. (Still.)
Sign ‘o’ the Times: While other artists had begun to make use of Auto-Tuned vocals more conspicuous, on Daft Punk’s “One More Time” and parent album Discovery, it was virtually the whole point, giving the album’s dance-pop a humanoid feel. The duo’s Thomas Bangalter responded to criticism of its use by comparing the backlash to fear of synths in the late ’70s: “What they didn’t see was that you could use those tools in a new way instead of just for replacing the instruments that came before.”
Coming Around Again: Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss highlight “Circo Loco” not only sampled a cleverly pitched-down version of the “One More Time” horn hook, it featured a Drakeified version of the refrain: “One more time… you know the head was great.”
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176. Sia, "Chandelier"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 8 (Oct. 23, 2014)
You Know What It Is: One of the standout pop hits of 2014, with vocal highs that are notoriously difficult to hit — despite many hopefuls in singing competitions trying — and emotional lows that are just as dizzying.
Living on Video: Then-teen actress and dancer Maddie Ziegler had her big break when her interpretive dance in the visual helped skyrocket the song’s popularity. This marked the beginning of her working relationship with Sia, which continued across three additional music videos and other collaborations.
This Magic Moment: Sia’s vocals climb higher and higher throughout the chorus, leading to a peak as she belts, “I’m gonna fly like a bird through the night/ Feel my tears as they dry.”
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175. Run-D.M.C., "It's Tricky"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 57 (Apr. 11, 1987)
You Know What It Is: The biggest rap group of the ’80s winkingly bemoaning the pitfalls of their newfound celebrity, while also saying — and demonstrating — hey, if it was easy to be this good, you’d do it too.
These Words: The humblebragging of the group’s woe-is-us rhyming of their mid-’80s fame and fortune hits its comedic peak in the third verse, with D.M.C. revealing that that Runmania has now spread to the group’s families, “I ain’t lyin’, girls be cryin’ ’cause I’m on TV/ They even bother my poor father ’cause he’s down with me.”
Coming Around Again: The booming-but-patient cadence of the group’s verses — particularly the famous “This speech is my recital/ I think it’s very vital” intro — has continued to pop up throughout hip-hop history, most recently on Teezo Touchdown’s 2023 one-off “Rock Paper Strippers.”
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174. The Jackson 5, "ABC"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 25, 1970)
You Know What It Is: A bubblegum-soul classic with boundless energy, Michael Jackson’s unmistakable voice (plus Jermaine on the phone?) and — sit down girl! — a breakdown for the a-g-e-s.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: The guys from Gary twice helped sweep away the Beatles era in 1970, first when “ABC” displaced “Let It Be” from the top of the Hot 100, and then a few months later when follow-up single “The Love You Save” bumped the Fab Four’s final No. 1, “The Long and Winding Road,” from the top.
Because of You: “ABC” kicked off a prolific decade of songs about school, though most — like anti-education screed “Another Brick in the Wall” or the IDGAF-fied “Rock ’n’ Roll High School,” or odes to Senioritis like “School’s Out” and “School Days” — didn’t exactly share the Jacksons’ positivity.
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173. Doja Cat, "Say So"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (May 16, 2020)
You Know What It Is: The beyond-irresistible disco throwback that helped make Doja Cat a household name in pop — and thanks to a boost from its Nicki Minaj-featuring remix, became her first Hot 100 No. 1.
Who Put the Bomp: The song was produced and co-written by one “Tyson Trax” — a new pen name for Lukasz Gottwald, who as “Dr. Luke” had worked on many of the early 21st century’s most-beloved pop songs, but had also been accused of sexual assault by collaborator Kesha. (Her lawsuit to be freed from contract with his Kemosabe Records was dismissed in 2016; Gottwald later countersued for defamation, with the case settled in 2023.)
These Words: Doja took “Say So” beyond Studio 54 cosplay with the song’s rap verse, proving herself worthy of her remix guest’s genre-crossing legacy with lyrics like “Let me check my chest, my breath right quick/ He ain’t never seen it in a dress like this…”
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172. Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Come on Eileen"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 23, 1983)
You Know What It Is: The deliriously upbeat, fiddle-and-banjo fueled confession of thoughts that “verge on dirty,” transforming an Irish folk tune into a pop-rock classic.
This Magic Moment: The slower, in-unison “Come on, Eileen/too-loo-ray-aye” refrain, a timeless cause for drunken group singing — and the setup for the furious fiddling and final reprises of the sped-up chorus right after.
Coming Around Again: Save Ferris’ 1997 cover subs horns for fiddles — and proves ska is a surprisingly great stylistic vessel for the original’s manic energy.
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171. Carpenters, "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (July 25, 1970)
You Know What It Is: The sweetly sentimental Bacharach-David song that kicked off a long run of hits for the Carpenters.
Come Together: Credit to A&M Records co-founder Herb Alpert, who pitched the song to his new signees, Karen and Richard. Richard didn’t know the song – which had been recorded in the 1960s (with little success) by Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield. Alpert insisted on the duo recording it, and it ended up being the Carpenters’ first No. 1 Hot 100 hit – and Billboard’s Song of the Summer for 1970.
The Sun Always Shines on T.V.: The song was used to soundtrack emotional moments between Homer and Marge Simpson on The Simpsons. It was also featured in The Simpsons Movie (2007), as Homer tearfully watches a videotape left behind by Marge containing the couple’s first dance to the song.
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170. Robin S., "Show Me Love"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 5 (June 12, 1993)
You Know What It Is: The Korg M1 hook so iconic that Beyoncé has to credit its writers just for using the same organ preset, matched with a once-in-a-lifetime house vocal of frustration and yearning from Robin Stone.
Come Together: The famous version of “Show Me Love” was not the first released: The song initially debuted in 1990 with a much less-striking arrangement, courtesy of writers Allen George and Fred McFarlane. It wasn’t until Swedish house production duo StoneBridge remixed the song in 1992, adding its signature bellowing hook, that the song really took flight — both on record and on the charts.
Coming Around Again: To the eternal confusion of ’90s pop heads, “Show Me Love” appeared again just four years later as the title to a Swedish-produced dance-pop gem — this time by Robyn, with a “Y.”
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169. The Kingsmen, "Louie Louie"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 2 (Dec. 14, 1963)
You Know What It Is: With its simple swagger, this foundational rock and roll song paved the way for garage rock and punk – and inebriated untold millions with its woozy singalong hook.
Because of You: From chart-topping artists to high school marching bands, “Louie Louie” is one of the most covered songs in pop or rock history, but its influence doesn’t stop there. The cultural touchstone has been the basis for parades, radio marathons, and more – and can be celebrated on April 11, International Louie Louie Day.
These Words: The song’s nearly unintelligible lyrics made it a target of The Man for its purported obscenity, with radio stations banning the song and the FBI even launching a (fruitless) investigation.
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168. *NSYNC, "Tearin' Up My Heart"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 59 (Dec. 5, 1998)*
You Know What It Is: *NSYNC’s second single from the group’s debut album, which sent the boy band boom of the late ’90s into hyperdrive.
Who Put the Bomp: The track was co-written by none other than pop music mastermind Max Martin (along with Kristian Lundin), just a year or two into his now decades-spanning top 40 takeover.
Living on Video: The choreo! The unbuttoned tops! The matching outfits! The melodrama! The entire vibe of the music video was emulated (and parodied – looking at you, Blink-182) for years to come.
*Only made eligible for Hot 100 by 1998 chart rule change towards end of its chart run
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167. Beyoncé, "Love on Top"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 20 (Sept. 17, 2011)
You Know What It Is: The ’80s-reminiscent track is a timeless masterpiece, with a towering vocal performance from the Queen and a feeling captured that everyone can relate to.
Come Together: After playing Etta James in musical biopic Cadillac Records, Beyoncé was inspired by James’ vulnerability as a songwriter and channeled the legendary artist while recording “Love on Top” in 2011.
Because of You: The world was introduced to Blue Ivy Carter when Beyoncé ended her 2011 MTV Video Music Awards performance of “Love on Top” by unbuttoning her jacket and rubbing her belly, revealing that she was pregnant for the first time.
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166. Coolio, "Gangsta's Paradise"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Sept. 9, 1995)
You Know What It Is: The inescapable rap hit that put its lyrical account of West Coast gang life firmly in the center of mainstream American culture.
Hollywood Nights: Featured in the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, “Gangsta’s Paradise” excerpted scenes from the film (and even landed a cameo from Pfeiffer) in its music video. After Coolio’s death in 2022, Pfeiffer said his smash hit was “the reason” behind Dangerous Minds’ success.
This Magic Moment: The song’s climactic and heartbreaking final verse, when Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., calls out, “They say I gotta learn, but nobody’s here to teach me/ If they can’t understand me, how can they reach me? I guess they can’t. I guess they won’t … That’s why I know my life is out of luck, fool.”
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165. Johnny Nash, "I Can See Clearly Now"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Nov. 4, 1972)
You Know What It Is: The eternally bright, sunshine-y hit from Texas singer-songwriter Johnny Nash, who decamped to Jamaica in the late ’60s and eventually helped bring the sounds of rocksteady and reggae to U.S. top 40.
This Magic Moment: There’s nothing quite like that bridge, where the song’s easygoing shuffle is replaced by a crashing storm of dramatics — though Nash remains on topic, wailing, “Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies!”
Coming Around Again: Nash’s signature hit was covered in the mid-’90s by reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, bringing “Clearly” back to the top 20 as part of the soundtrack to 1993 sports comedy Cool Runnings.
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164. Don Henley, "The Boys of Summer"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 5 (Feb. 9, 1985)
You Know What It Is: Heartbreaker Mike Campbell’s ringing, repeating guitar riff, a tensely motoring LinnDrum and Henley’s aching tenor delivering a cinematic gut punch about growing old.
Who Put the Bomp: Campbell wrote the music to “Boys” and presented it to Tom Petty, who didn’t think it jibed with the music they were recording for his 1985 album Southern Accents. Jimmy Iovine, who was producing the record, suggested Campbell play it for Henley, and a classic was born.
These Words: “Out on the road today, I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac,” was inspired by the sight of a Cadillac Seville passing Henley on the San Diego Freeway with a Grateful Dead bumper sticker — a symbol, he told the NME, of his generation’s duplicity.
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163. Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX, "I Love It"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 7 (May 18, 2013)
You Know What It Is: Early 2010s electro-pop perfection.
Who Put the Bomp: Charli XCX, who wrote the lyrics and contributed vocals to this EDM-era pop staple, gets an A for edging up “I Love It” with a little bit of too-cool-for-school spunk.
These Words: “You’re from the ‘70s, but I’m a ‘90s b–ch,” which Icona Pop member Aino Jawo explained to Pitchfork was about an “older, gorgeous man,” whose stories about getting older she’d grown “fed up with.”
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162. The Kinks, "You Really Got Me"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 7 (Nov. 28, 1964)
You Know What It Is: Two distorted power chords and a near-worryingly fevered declaration of lust, electrifying the pop and rock worlds in just over two minutes.
Come Together: Incredibly enough, Kinks frontman Ray Davies originally envisioned the tune “more laid back,” as a “jazz-type tune” with its signature riff played on sax. Brother and lead guitarist Dave Davies “ended up playing the sax line in fuzz guitar and it took the song a step further,” Ray explained in Doug Hinman’s 2004 book The Kinks – All Day and All of the Night.
Coming Around Again: That epochal riff helped introduce another great rock band to the world a decade and a half later, when a “Got Me” cover broke Van Halen into the top 40 for the first time.
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161. Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Nov. 29, 2014)
You Know What It Is: A turning point in Taylor Swift’s career, marking the beginning of not only a newly sophisticated pop sound for the superstar, but also the era where she started taking control of her own narrative by directly addressing rumors surrounding her dating life.
These Words: The song’s chorus — “Got a long list of ex-lovers / They’ll tell you I’m insane / But I’ve got a blank space, baby / And I’ll write your name” — became a meme upon its release, due to “long list of ex-lovers” being commonly misunderstood by fans as “lonely Starbucks lovers.”
Living on Video: The delicious satire of the lyrics is beautifully portrayed in the music video, with a standout scene arriving as Swift sits on the ground, maniacally smiling as mascara tears smear down her face. The message was crystal clear – she gives no f–ks about what she looks like to you.
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160. Tina Turner, "What's Love Got to Do With It"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Sept. 1, 1984)
You Know What It Is: Tina Turner dismissing love as a “sweet old-fashioned notion” on her lone Hot 100 No. 1 – which won song and record of the year at the 1985 Grammys – though there’s nothing old-fashioned about the sultry song that rightfully put the pop legend back on top.
Hollywood Nights: The 1993 Angela Bassett-starring, Oscar-nominated biopic of Turner borrowed its name from this song, further establishing it as her signature solo hit.
Coming Around Again: Kygo brought Turner to the top 10 of the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart with his trop-house remix of “Love” in 2020.
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159. Cher, "Believe"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Mar. 13, 1999)
You Know What It Is: Cher made pop fans believe in life after 50 when she took this post-heartbreak dance hit to the top of the Hot 100 at 52 years old, cementing her status as a diva for all decades.
Because of You: Cher’s then-novel use of Auto-Tune in the song – while still keeping her unmistakable alto voice intact – led to its popularization within pop music, influencing untold artists and generations to come.
Coming Around Again: Adam Lambert has had a full-circle journey with the song, first performing a slowed-down cover during American Idol’s Hollywood week in 2009, then resurrecting his downtempo cover to perform in front of Cher as she received her Kennedy Center Honors in 2019, and finally releasing his own studio recording that same year.
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158. T-Pain feat. Yung Joc, "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (May 26, 2007)
You Know What It Is: Arguably the magnum opus of the man who obliterated any and all expectations of what Auto-Tune could be, “Buy U a Drank” is a timeless, gospel-tinged ode to courting a special lady that has found eternal life in party playlists around the world.
This Magic Moment: The “ooh-wee-ee” ad-lib after T-Pain sings “lemme buy you a drink” in the chorus.
These Words: “We in the bed like, ooh, ooh, ooh, woah, woah, ooh, ooh” — a simultaneous nod to T-Pain’s apparently otherworldly bedroom skills and a nod to the chorus of Lil’ Boosie’s similarly Yung Joc-featuring “Zoom.”
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157. Blondie, "Call Me"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 19, 1980)
You Know What It Is: Debbie Harry’s powerhouse vocals take center stage in an ‘80s hit whose legacy stretches far beyond its role as the main theme of American Gigolo.
Who Put the Bomp: “Father of Disco” Giorgio Moroder produced Donna Summer’s Bad Girls blockbuster just one year before “Call Me,” cementing him as one of the era’s defining sonic architects.
This Magic Moment: Percussion and guitar underscore Harry the loudest throughout the song, but the keyboard solos bring in a synth-pop element that ultimately ties everything together.
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156. Miley Cyrus, "Wrecking Ball"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Sept. 28, 2013)
You Know What It Is: The climactic ballad that served as a defining moment in the ever-memorable Bangerz era, fueled by Cyrus’ powerhouse vocal and one of the most memorable music videos of the 21st century.
Living on Video: With the clip for “Wrecking Ball” at more than 1.1 billion views on YouTube to-date, the viral video had everyone lining up for a swing of the sledgehammer, from parodies and spoofs to late night TV bits — including one a few years later by Cyrus herself.
Hollywood Nights: Miley Cyrus appears as herself during a scene in the Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie-starring The Night Before, dueting “Wrecking Ball” with Gordon-Levitt at a Christmas party moments before he launches into a spur-of-the-moment marriage proposal.
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155. The Archies, "Sugar, Sugar"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Sept. 20, 1969)
You Know What It Is: ’60s bubblegum reaching its logical endpoint, with increasingly studio-fabricated pop groups being one-upped by a literal cartoon band, with the sweetest and stickiest single of ’em all.
Who Put the Bomp: Exec Don Kirshner, creator of The Archies, brought in the big guns for “Sugar, Sugar” — with Brill Building veteran Jeff Barry producing, and also co-writing alongside hitmaker Andy Kim (“Rock Me Gently”).
Because of You: Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott has said that “Sugar, Sugar” was the first single he ever bought — which may have had some influence on his own band’s massive hit about pourin’ a little sugar on it, honey.
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154. Martha and the Vandellas, "Heat Wave"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 4 (Sept. 21, 1963)
You Know What It Is: Motown’s most viscerally propulsive banger: a tempest of piano, baritone sax, tambourine and backing squawks that comes at you like a… well, if a heat wave ever hits you this fast and furious, probably time to relocate to less volatile climes.
Coming Around Again: With its Northern Soul-like up-tempo swing and impressive core strength, “Heat Wave” has proven an unsurprising favorite for British rockers, with The Who, The Jam and Phil Collins all taking cracks at re-heating it over the years.
This Magic Moment: When Martha Reeves really lets loose in between the final two chrouses, howling “Yeah yeah!” and “I feel it burning right here in my heart!” Go ahead, girl.
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153. Missy Elliott, "Get Ur Freak On"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 7 (June 30, 2001)
You Know What It Is: Missy’s greatest high-wire act from a career spent marrying the mainstream and the eccentric, a mind-altering piece of production that the MC understood how to make into a communal experience.
These Words: “Is that your chick?!”; “QUIET! Hush your mouth!”; “I told y’all mother–WHAT!”; “HOLLAAAAA.” Besides the titular phrase of “Get Ur Freak On” — which gets repeated dozens of times over Timbaland’s futuristic amalgamation of Eastern dance, Bhangra and hip-hop — Elliott spends the song interjecting the type of catchphrases that compel groups of friends to yell along.
Coming Around Again: In 2019, “Freak” inspired another artist rapidly becoming a paragon of genre-bending pop and timeless cool: Bad Bunny, whose “Safaera” gives way to a synth riff halfway through that’s heavily reminiscent of Missy’s otherworldly heater.
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152. Nick Lowe, "Cruel to Be Kind"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 12 (Sept. 29, 1979)
You Know What It Is: An ode to tough love and heartache, but with a driving soul-pop rhythm, clever lyrics (yep, he rhymes bona fide with coincide) and pristine harmonies that spell-out “earworm” in extra bold letters.
Living on Video: Bold is showing up late to your nuptials to country music royalty (Carlene Carter) and then incorporating footage of said joyous event in a playful music video — which later become the 67th clip ever played on MTV. And the limo driver, photographer and baker in the video? Those are Lowe’s Rockpile mates Dave Edmunds, Terry Williams and Billy Bremner, respectively.
Hollywood Nights: Millennials of a certain age — and a few Gen-Xers — surely will never forget when, in the 1999 teen classic 10 Things I Hate About You, Heath Ledger’s Patrick surprises Julia Stiles’ Kat at prom with Letters to Cleo (and Save Ferris) performing an even jumpier version of Lowe’s power pop gem.
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151. Frankie Valli, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 2 (July 22, 1967)
You Know What It Is: Frankie Valli proving that he could do it without the Four Seasons — and without falsetto — on one of the most enduring pop songs of the ’60s.
This Magic Moment: “Eyes” is a great song for its first two verses, but it becomes an all-timer when those horns really wake it up, just in time for Valli to come zooming in with the four words that have kicked off millions of bar singalongs in the decades since: “I LOVE YOU BAYYYY-BYYYYYY!!!”
Hollywood Nights: If you remember anything about the Mel Gibson/Julia Roberts 1997 thriller Conspiracy Theory, it’s probably what a weirdly big part this song played in the movie — and that it was the first place to hear Lauryn Hill’s cover of the song, which has since become a major fan favorite.
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150. Eminem, "Lose Yourself"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Nov. 9, 2002)
You Know What It Is: Technically the theme song from 8 Mile, and also arguably the biggest song of Em’s career, as well as great a pump-up song as exists in modern pop.
This Magic Moment: “Here I go it’s my shot!/ Feet fail me not!/ This may be the only opportunity that I got!” is the fully shouted moment-of-truth, now or never climax the entire song is centered around.
Because of You: In 2002, by which time Eminem had already caused a not insignificant amount of moral panic, few could have predicted that 20 years later, he’d get one of the biggest cheers of the night while performing “Lose Yourself” during the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show.
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149. Kesha, "Tik Tok"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Jan. 2, 2010)
You Know What It Is: The first No. 1 of the 2010s, and an appropriate one to summarize the hedonistic, turbo-charged and just absurdly fun pop music of the period.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: The early ’10s were also a strangely good time in pop history to be Mick Jagger, as he got shouted out in Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera’s “Moves Like Jagger,” The Black Eyed Peas’ “The Time (Dirty Bit)” and of course here, as Kesha narrates, “The dudes are linin’ up because they think we got swagger/ But we kick ’em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger.”
This Magic Moment: Kesha eases up on the Jack and junk-touching for the song’s disarmingly pretty bridge, soundingly positively starstruck as she pays homage to the music’s power over her: “DJ, you build me up/ You break me down/ My heart, it pounds/ Yeah, you got me.” (She’s back to party-starting before the chorus comes back, though.)
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148. Four Tops, "I Can't Help Myself"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (June 19, 1965)
You Know What It Is: A chart-topping cry for requited love, crafted around the pleading lead vocals of Levi Stubbs — with lots of help from the peerless crew at Motown’s “Hitsville U.S.A.” studio in Detroit.
Who Put the Bomp: The masterful songwriting team of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland composed the song, and its irresistible groove was created by the uncredited Motown house band (anchored by bassist James Jamerson and drummer Benny Benjamin), later known as the Funk Brothers.
This Magic Moment: Listen to the number of times that Stubbs’ voice cracks in desperation as he seeks the sweet affections of his sugar pie, his honey bunch: “I get all choked up inside!”
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147. The Doobie Brothers, "What a Fool Believes"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 14, 1979)
You Know What It Is: The defining hit of the Michael McDonald-era Doobie Brothers, a soaring yacht-rock track that defies singalong attempts.
Who Put the Bomp: “What a Fool Believes” was produced by Ted Templeman, who also oversaw a number of albums from stars like Van Morrison and Van Halen. “We recorded the track over and over and it just wouldn’t come together,” Templeman told The Guardian. “I went over to Warner Bros and into a meeting with all these hitmakers and old pros. ‘This thing is a piece of crap,’ I said, ‘but I’ll play it for you anyway.’ I was just about ready to throw it away. And they said: ‘Are you crazy? That’s great!'”
This Magic Moment: McDonald elevating into “believe” during the chorus, sounding like an anguished angel who stayed up late smoking a few too many cigarettes, is one of the definitive vocal moments of the 1970s.
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146. Bon Jovi, "Livin' on a Prayer"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 14, 1987)
You Know What It Is: From Richie Sambora’s opening wah-wah talk box to Jon Bon Jovi’s wailing about dock worker Tommy and waitress Gina, the song that captured the struggles and dreams of the working class like few other ‘80s rockers.
Living on Video: From Jon Bon Jovi and Sambora’s atmospherically high hair to the pyrotechnics (guitar and real) and a harnessed Jon Bon Jovi flying over the crowd, the video, which has more than 1 billion views, is peak mid-‘80s hair band, and the stuff that built MTV.
This Magic Moment: When the song modulates up a minor third, Jon Bon Jovi triumphantly bursts into the chorus again, and you reflexively break into a fist pump.
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145. Alanis Morissette, "You Oughta Know"
Hot 100 Airplay Peak: No. 13 (Sept. 2, 1995)
You Know What It Is: The lead single from her 1995 breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill, in which Morissette lashes out in fury against the pain caused by an ex-lover.
Who Put the Bomp: “You Oughta Know” gets a little of its rock muscle from a pair of Red Hot Chili Peppers: the band’s then-guitarist Dave Navarro and its longtime bassist Flea.
These Words: Alanis gets her vengeance against her ex throughout the song, as she sketches out angst-fueled fantasies of payback, most notably on the final pre-chorus lyrics, “Every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back I hope you feel it / WELL CAN YOU FEEL IT?”
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144. Coldplay, "Viva La Vida"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (June 28, 2008)
You Know What It Is: The average 2000s No. 1 hit doesn’t cover religious and historical themes — or have production contributions from Brian Eno — but “Viva la Vida” is that good.
Come Together: Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin was deeply inspired by Frida Kahlo. The Spanish title translates to “Long Live Life” and takes its name from the Mexican painter’s final work before her passing in 1954.
This Magic Moment: The “Woah oh oh!” refrain mixed with the strings and Martin’s vocals toward the end of the song.
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143. Cardi B, "Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Oct. 7, 2017)
You Know What It Is: The most undeniable and immediately impactful rap smash of the late 2010s, turning Cardi B into a Hot 100-topping pop icon on her very first official single.
These Words: “And I just checked my accounts/ Turns out I’m rich, I’m rich, I’m rich!/ I put my hand upon my hip/ I bet you dip, she dip, he dip.” Swagger, comedy, references to ’90s one-hit wonders: What more could you want from a rap crossover?
Because of You: “These is red bottoms,” Cardi boasted of her footwear, and it was nothing but good news for their Christian Louboutin designer, as the mention caused the shoes to triple in Google searches, according to Business of Fashion. (For his part, Louboutin told The New York Times that he’s “not a big rap person.”)
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142. Ritchie Valens, "La Bamba"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 22 (Feb. 2, 1959)
You Know What It Is: The signature hit from Chicano teen legend Ritchie Valens, who seamlessly melded a rural son jarocho song with the essence of rock ‘n’ roll and his own Mexican heritage.
Hollywood Nights: In the 1987 film La Bamba, starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens, the song’s electrifying presence amplifies its emotional impact as it underscores the climactic concert scene set in the late 1950s — immortalizing the legacy of a young musician. (Rock greats Los Lobos scored a Hot 100-topping hit on the movie’s soundtrack with their “La Bamba” cover.)
Because of You: Valens was only 17 years when he changed the course of pop in the late 1950s. As the first U.S.-based Mexican American hitmaker, the musician laid the groundwork for Spanish-language rock, with a timeless legacy that continues to inspire generations, decade after decade — from legends like Carlos Santana to Gen Z artists like DannyLux.
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141. Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Sept. 3, 1983)
You Know What It Is: The first U.S. single and breakthrough hit for British duo Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, and a song mistakable for no other pop song in history.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: Lennox and Stewart were members of British rock band The Tourists before that group broke up in 1980. Re-forming as a duo and looking for a new sound, the two began experimenting with the then-burgeoning use of synthesizers. The result was 1983’s ethereal “Sweet Dreams,” about the search for fulfillment.
Living on Video: Beyond Lennox’s other-worldly voice and Stewart’s musical craftsmanship, the duo’s breakthrough was boosted by their striking, future-forward video for upstart MTV. The clip featured images of cows and an androgynous Lennox, dressed in a man’s suit and sporting an orange buzz cut. The aim, Lennox told The Guardian, was to be “the opposite of the cliché of the female singer. I wanted to be as strong as a man, equal to Dave and perceived that way.”
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140. Carly Simon, "You're So Vain"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Jan. 6, 1973)
You Know What It Is: The meta-pop song that keeps on giving, with a central mystery so all-consuming that it can take time to notice the subtler brilliances of its writing, production and performance.
These Words: Impossible to choose just one lyric to highlight from “You’re So Vain,” so let’s settle for the entire first verse: “You walked into a party like you were walking onto a yacht/ Your hat strategically dipped below one eye/ Your scarf, it was apricot/ You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte.” Good lord, bars.
Because of You: Carly Simon has both guarded and teased the identity of the song’s male subject(s) for over half a century now, revealing and obfuscating clues, writing pop music’s ultimate whodunit without ever offering a complete ending. Taylor Swift — who has performed the song with Simon, and claims to have been informed of its secrets — was undoubtedly taking notes for her own career.
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139. Billie Eilish, "Bad Guy"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Aug. 24, 2019)
You Know What It Is: Billie’s pulsing, cackling square-up against those hot-shot men that we all know.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: Like much of Gen-Z, Eilish grew up watching the Disney Channel, and has confirmed that the “Bad Guy” melody was inspired by the Wizards of Waverly Place theme song.
This Magic Moment: The “duh” before the instrumental breakdown… duh.
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138. Third Eye Blind, "Semi-Charmed Life"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 4 (Aug. 9, 1997)
You Know What It Is: A shockingly successful attempt at a ’90s West Coast version of “Walk on the Wild Side,” with even catchier “doo-doo-doo“s than Lou Reed had 25 years earlier.
Hollywood Nights: Just in case you weren’t hearing it enough on the radio in the late ’90s, “Semi-Charmed Life” was all over the movies of the time: Contact, Excess Baggage, Wild Things, Dirty Work and of course American Pie, all before the ball dropped on Y2K.
This Magic Moment: “Life” is so frenetic right up through its action-packed bridge, that when it actually takes a breather for its “I want something else… to get me through this… life” chorus breakdown — even skipping the “semi-charmed” — it’s an incredibly satisfying break in the action, perfectly gearing you up the final chorus singalong.
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137. Elvis Presley, "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 2 (Feb. 3, 1962)
You Know What It Is: Presley in his most convincing voice, emulating other vocalists he admired like Dean Martin and Bing Crosby in a song that abounds with melody and great lyrics—and one honey of a bridge, all of which adds up to perhaps his most popular song among contemporary listeners.
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. First coming to the fore in his film Blue Hawaii, “Can’t Help” was also featured in his 1968 comeback TV special and 1973’s Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite and has since been covered on countless seasons of music reality shows like American Idol and X Factor.
Coming Around Again: UB40 one-upped Elvis on the Hot 100 by riding the song all the way to No. 1 in 1993, embellishing the tune with a tinge of their reggae roots.
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136. Fugees, "Killing Me Softly"
Hot 100 Airplay Peak: No. 2 (June 22, 1996)
You Know What It Is: This reverent cover managed to bring Roberta Flack’s hit to a new generation and a new genre without changing a lyric, leaning on Lauryn Hill’s wordless bridge, Wyclef and Pras’ sprinkled-in ad libs and a Tribe Called Quest-sampling beat as modern touchstones.
That Magic Moment: It has to be Lauryn’s bridge, a series of expert vocal runs that has surely caught more than a few eager karaoke singers off-guard.
Who Put the Bomp: The two men who wrote the song – Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel – are also behind the theme songs for Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley.
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135. Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Dec. 13, 2008)
You know What It Is: The ultimate pop song celebrating being a single woman – especially after being with a man who couldn’t commit.
Living on Video: Without “Single Ladies” we wouldn’t have the iconic dance moves featured in the music video; even today you can catch people breaking out the famous hand twist and J-Settee styles.
Hollywood Nights: The song made its MCU debut in the blockbuster hit Doctor Strange, with Benedict Cumberbatch’s character expressing disbelief that his friend Wong is unfamiliar with Beyoncé, followed by a shot of Benedict Wong’s character listening to “Single Ladies” as he studies ancient texts.
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134. The Miracles, "The Tracks of My Tears"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 16 (Sept. 4, 1965)
What You Know It Is: A soulful and introspective breakup ballad in the beautiful falsetto of Smokey Robinson, one of Motown’s greatest crooners.
Coming Around Again: Talent recognizes talent, and “Tracks of My Tears” has been covered by numerous greats, including the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton.
Gimme More: Fans of Robinson’s dreamy vocals should check out Sam Cooke’s stunning and melancholy track “I’ll Come Running Back to You.”
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133. Justin Timberlake, "SexyBack"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Sept. 9, 2006)
You Know What It Is: The pulsating, undeniable hit that scored Justin Timberlake his first solo Hot 100 No. 1.
Because of You: Thanks to its use of synthesizers and Timberlake’s distorted vocals, “SexyBack” played a role in prompting dance’s late-’00s mainstream return, with the song even winning a Grammy for best dance recording.
These Words: Few opening lines pack as much punch as the simple, assertive, “I’m bringing sexy back,” which become a phrase immediately entrenched in popular culture — and still used for too many Instagram captions to count.
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132. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, "Old Town Road (Remix)"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 3, 2019)
You Know What It Is: The catchy country/rap hybrid that launched the then-unknown meme creator and rapper into true overnight stardom, making Hot 100 history in the process.
Who Put The Bomp: Lil Nas X wrote the topline for “Old Town Road” on top of an instrumental he purchased from BeatStars, a mostly-rap music licensing platform. Little did he know, the track included a sample of Nine Inch Nails’ “34 Ghosts IV.” After some legal wrangling, NIN’s Trent Reznor was retroactively named as a songwriter on the smash hit. Not a bad pay day!
Sign ‘o’ the Times: “Old Town Road” proved the power independent artists held in 2019, and how much social media could supercharge a track’s chart success, as the rapper/singer originally got the song to take off via memes on Twitter and TikTok – an early sign that the then-emerging video-sharing app would soon dominate the music marketing landscape.
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131. Don McLean, "American Pie"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Jan. 15, 1972)
You Know What It Is: The wistful ode to an America, and a culture, that had seemed to be slipping away, memorializing the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper in 1959 in a song so catchy and stirring no one seemed to mind that it was well over eight minutes long.
These Words: Though the repeated refrain, about “The day the music died,” may be the song’s thesis statement, the song’s enduring legacy can be summed up by the youthful nihilism of the hook: “And good ol’ boys drinking whiskey and rye, singing ‘this’ll be the day that I die…”
Coming Around Again: Madonna famously covered the song to mixed reception in 2000, but perhaps a more enduring reinterpretation came from “Weird Al” Yankovic — whose parody version “The Saga Begins” put a Star Wars twist on the classic and even caused McLean to mix up the lyrics in concert, due to how often his kids played the version.
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130. The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 39 (Sept. 24, 1966)
You Know What It Is: The Beach Boys’ most heavenly layered love song, certainly on the short list of the most beautiful songs of the 20th century from any genre.
These Words: The boldest gambit of “God Only Knows” is starting off its first verse with the not particularly romantic stipulation, “I may not always love you.” Most love songs would need to spend their entire duration correcting for that one, but writers Brian Wilson and Tony Asher dig themselves out before they even get to the chorus: “…but long as there are stars above you/ You’ll never need to doubt it/ I’ll make you so sure about it.”
Hollywood Nights: Despite not being an enormous hit in real-time, “God Only Knows” has endured as well as any of the Beach Boys’ pop smashes, appearing in countless movies and TV shows over the years — perhaps most effectively by the emotional final montage of Paul Thomas Anderson’s ’70s-set Boogie Nights, the only obvious non-period cut used in the film.
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129. Dionne Warwick, "Walk on By"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 6 (June 13, 1964)
You Know What It Is: The ultimate in graceful post-breakup songs, Dionne Warwick keeping herself composed just long enough to get out of her ex’s eyesight and cry on her trumpet player’s shoulder.
That Magic Moment: Pure witchcraft throughout, but credit perhaps most of all to when Warwick (and composers Burt Bacharach and Hal David) unexpectedly amp up the drama on the chorus, all pounding pianos and teary “DON’T…. STOP!” backing vocals.
Coming Around Again: “Walk on By” just happens to be prominently sampled on a No. 1 hit the very month this list is being published, nearly six full decades later, no big deal really.
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128. Madonna, "Borderline"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 10 (June 16, 1984)
You Know What It Is: Not Madonna’s biggest ’80s pop hit, but likely her purest, a 100% classic confection that Mary Wells or The Crystals could’ve had a smash with in 1984 if given the right synths.
Who Put the Bomp: The pop&B sparkle of “Borderline” (and Madonna’s entire self-titled debut) came largely from writer/producer Reggie Lucas, who had worked with James Mtume on Stephanie Mills’ similarly immaculate top 10 hit “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”
Hollywood Nights: Most of the famous Madonna-discussion diner scene that opens Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs is focused on interpreting “Like a Virgin,” but the funniest bit is Eddie Bunker’s Mr. Blue — a character who looks like he has never listened to a single song not about one man killing another over a woman or a truck — saying he prefers Madonna’s “early stuff,” like “Lucky Star” and “Borderline.”
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127. Prince, "Little Red Corvette"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 6 (May 21, 1983)
You Know What It Is: Prince’s major pop and MTV breakthrough — a song that hisses steam and sexuality, with some of the cleverest (and least-clever) lyrics of its era.
These Words: You could spend an hour unpacking the full implications behind some of the song’s many metaphors and euphemisms, or you could just marvel at how Prince offers the entire world clemency for its regrettable weekend decisions with, “But it was Saturday night/ I guess that makes it all right.”
Because of You: Hearing “Little Red Corvette” on the radio in early 1983 not only inspired Stevie Nicks to create her synth-driven top 10 hit “Stand Back” later that year, it also led to Prince himself playing (uncredited) keys on the track.
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126. Snoop Dogg, "Gin and Juice"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 8 (Mar. 26, 1994)
You Know What It Is: A syrupy West Coast cocktail anchored by Snoop’s slick wordplay and ease with catchy hooks.
Who Put the Bomp: Dr. Dre, of course. After Dre cut ties with his group N.W.A in the early ‘90s, he came across a 20-something MC with a bouncy flow and lyrical flair that would change rap forever. Dre showcased the young rapper on several tracks of his own solo debut The Chronic, then produced Snoop’s magnum opus, Doggystyle, including its signature hit.
This Magic Moment: Snoop’s opening included a crafty spelling bee-like spree that made for an unforgettable solo introduction to the 23-year-old wunderkind: “With so much drama in the L-B-C / It’s kind of hard bein’ Snoop D-O-double-G.”
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125. Lady Gaga, "Born This Way"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 26, 2011)
You Know What It Is: The electro-pop LGBTQ anthem millennials had been waiting for, amid a seismic cultural shift away from heteronormativity.
Because of You: When the song was censored in Malaysia for promoting “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgender life,” Gaga emulated the very freedoms the song was celebrating by encouraging Malaysian fans to peacefully protest the ban, saying, “You must do everything that you can if you want to be liberated by your society.”
These Words: While technically a directive to the Little Monsters specifically, few things mobilize entire dancefloors like Gaga’s command to “Just put your paws up.”
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124. M.I.A., "Paper Planes"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 4 (Sept. 27, 2008)
You Know What It Is: The genre-blurring banger that turned street swagger and bonafide hustle into a crunchy electro-hop revolution.
Who Put the Bomp: Producer Diplo, credited as Thomas Wesley Pentz, played a pivotal role in shaping the song’s distinctive sound, which defied electronic dance music norms of its time. It cleverly samples The Clash’s 1982 “Straight to Hell,” a track that poignantly explored the mistreatment of immigrants in Britain and the U.S., aligning seamlessly with the thematic core of “Paper Planes.”
Hollywood Nights: In a pivotal scene in 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, as a frenetic chase unfurls amidst the bustling streets of Mumbai, “Paper Planes” serves as the electrifying soundtrack, encapsulating the gritty energy of the pursuit, with every gunshot and footstep synchronized to the infectious beat of the song.
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123. Daft Punk feat. Pharrell, "Get Lucky"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 2 (June 29, 2013)
You Know What It Is: The electro-groovy record of the year Grammy-winner, assembled by a musical superteam (also include Chic maestro Nile Rodgers) as strong as any this century.
Sign ‘o’ The Times: Though more classic disco than booming EDM, “Get Lucky” highlighted a year during which dance music reverberated on the charts, with Baauer’s “Harlem Shake,” Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” and Zedd’s “Clarity” also all finishing 2014 in the top 25 of the year-end Hot 100.
Gimme More: “Lose Yourself to Dance” takes a slightly funkier angle than “Get Lucky,” but it’s another extended, easily loopable jam on Random Access Memories that also boasts Pharrell Williams’ unmistakable vocals.
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122. Harry Styles, "As It Was"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Apr. 16, 2022)
You Know What It Is: The flagship single off Styles’ third album Harry’s House, which not only gave the Brit his first multi-week No. 1, but earned him a (since-broken) record for the longest-running solo reign atop the Hot 100.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: Styles’ lyrics depict a specific malaise only someone who felt the isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could muster: “Harry, you’re no good alone/ Why are you sittin’ at home on the floor?/ What kind of pills are you on?”
This Magic Moment: The bridge, which breezes past with a snappy cadence that could make even The 1975 jealous: “Go home, get ahead, light-speed internet/ I don’t wanna talk about the way that it was/ Leave America, two kids follow her/ I don’t wanna talk about who’s doin’ it first”
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121. Bonnie Tyler, "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Oct. 1, 1983)
You Know What It Is: “Turn around, bright eyes!” This Jim Steinman-crafted power-pop ballad is a piano-driven, tear-soaked marvel that perfectly encapsulates the soapy drama of the 1980s.
Coming Around Again: Nicki French’s thumping Eurodance cover almost brought “Total Eclipse” back to the very top, peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1995.
Hollywood Nights: It’s hard to listen to the original and not immediately think of The Dan Band’s NSFW lyrical additions from Will Ferrell’s wedding scene in Old School.
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120. Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 7 (Jan. 27, 1990)
You Know What It Is: Tom Petty’s pop peak, and an eternal three-chord gift to dudes with acoustic guitars on the quad.
These Words: Any self-respecting Gen X’er can sing along from “She’s a good girl…” on, but the third verse is the most powerful, with added resonance after Petty’s 2017 passing: “I wanna glide down over Mulholland/ I wanna write her name in the sky/ Gonna free fall out into nothin’/ Gonna leave this world for a while.”
Hollywood Nights: Corny, but still hard to capture the song’s power better than Tom Cruise’s Jerry Maguire protagonist catching the song in the car after a much-needed professional W, and belting along to it like he was trying to reach the back row at MSG.
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119. The Rolling Stones, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (July 10, 1965)
You Know What It Is: Among the most instantly recognizable five electric guitar notes in the history of rock’n’roll, Keith Richards’ riff slashes open the Stones’ iconic hit while Mick Jagger’s sneering lyrics veer from a condemnation of commercialism to an expression of sexual frustration.
Come Together: What followed Richards’ very first recording of that classic riff never made it to the final single. In his biography, Life, Richards recalls awakening in bed, picking up his guitar, capturing the chords on a portable cassette recorder, then falling back asleep — as the cassette continued to capture the sound of his snoring.
Because of You: No other band has experienced success, particularly as a live act, as enduring as the six-decade run of the Rolling Stones and, from its four-week run atop the Hot 100 in the summer of 1965 to the present, “Satisfaction” has been at the heart of the band’s history.
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118. Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Nov. 28, 2009)
You Know What It Is: The Big Apple ode where Jay-Z and Alicia Keys come together to celebrate their roots and create one of the all-time strongest contenders for the unofficial anthem of New York City.
Because of You: Katy Perry saw her friends dancing to “Empire State of Mind” in Los Angeles and was inspired to make the West Coast response — which ended up being her own 2010 Hot 100-topper, “California Gurls.”
The Sun Always Shines on T.V.: The Glee cast put their own spin on the anthem in their season two premiere, after finding out that they would be traveling to New York for Nationals.
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117. Neil Diamond, "Sweet Caroline"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 4 (Aug. 16, 1969)
You Know What It Is: The 1969 smash that was the singer-songwriter’s first top five hit on the Hot 100 as a performer, setting him up to become one of the biggest pop and adult contemporary stars of the 1970s.
Because of You: The song has been played at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, since at least 1997, and in the middle of the eighth inning at every game since 2002. Several days after the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013, Diamond led the crowd at Fenway in a rendition of the song.
This Magic Moment: The exultation at the close, which was vocalized (“So good! So good! So good!“) by the audience at every Diamond concert for decades.
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116. Cyndi Lauper, "Time After Time"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (June 9, 1984)
You Know What It Is: A devastating new wave ballad, loaded with lyrical wonders such as “suitcase of memories” and “the drum beats out of time,” about always being there for someone you’ve drifted apart from.
Come Together: Lauper grabbed the song’s title from the 1979 sci-fi flick Time After Time because it starred an actress she adored, Mary Steenburgen; intended as a placeholder, the name stuck.
This Magic Moment: Following her wailed “I will be waiting” promise, Lauper intones the title in a whispery reverie, delivering the final line with a choked-up, painful pause: “Time after…….. time.”
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115. Brandy & Monica, "The Boy Is Mine"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (June 6, 1998)
You Know What It Is: A glimmering, Grammy-winning confrontation (and karaoke standard) in which ‘90s R&B’s two mononymous female leaders fiercely stood their ground for love.
Living on Video: While Brandy and Monica scrap it out till the end on record, in the song’s TRL-dominating video, they team up on the “boy” in question — played by go-to late-’90s cad Mekhi Phifer — to make him pay for his two-timing ways, closing the clip by slamming the door on him together.
Gimme More: If you’re looking for the male perspective, it actually arrived 16 years earlier. Michael Jackson’s forgotten-by-comparison Thriller lead single, “The Girl Is Mine” with Paul McCartney, featured the duo in a similar sort of love triangle.
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114. INXS, "Need You Tonight"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Jan. 30, 1988)
You Know What It Is: Aussie rockers INXS showing the rest of the world they meant business, with the sweatiest, lustiest single of the ’80s to slither its way all the way to the top of the Hot 100.
This Magic Moment: Singer Michael Hutchence spends the chorus (or is it the bridge?) on both sides of a call-and-response, whispering the questions and then shouting the answers — most memorably at the end of the second run through, where the music cuts out after his “How do you feel?” question for the a cappella answer: “I’M LONELY!” Then, a deep breath, and right back into the thick of his nocturnal mania.
Living on Video: INXS took home the 1988 video of the year VMA for the sizzling “Need You Tonight” clip — which, as on parent album Kick, transitions right into the spoken-word fog of “Mediate,” with the members of INXS tossing off lyrical cards a la Bob Dylan for “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”
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113. Michael Jackson, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Oct. 13, 1979)
You Know What It Is: A swirling disco odyssey full of percolating funk that kick-started the King of Pop’s imperial phase, aided and abetted by studio GOAT Quincy Jones.
This Magic Moment: After Michael’s half-mumbled intro, that exuberant ooooh of ecstasy at the 15-second mark firmly establishes that you are in the palm of a once-in-a-lifetime pop pro.
Hollywood Nights: Despite Jackie Chan begging him to blend in, Chris Tucker can’t resist rushing the stage and stealing the mic from an unworthy karaoke performer attempting “Don’t Stop” (“Man is destroying a classic!”) at a Hong Kong gangster bar in Rush Hour 2.
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112. The Cars, "Just What I Needed"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 27 (Sept. 16, 1978)
You Know What It Is: Just the hit radio needed during disco’s commercial peak — as The Cars, along with Blondie, led the way to a mainstream breakthrough for cleaned-up punk music, under the new wave banner.
Who Put the Bomp: “Just What I Needed” was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who made his name handling production for Queen on their first four albums — so he knows a thing or two about songs that combine unbridled power with bursting-at-the-seams melody.
This Magic Moment: In addition to throwing off numerous concise, precise guitar riffs throughout the song, after the second chorus Elliot Easton delivers a short, tasty, melodic but edgy guitar solo that clocks in at all of 15 seconds — as if in defiance of the excesses of the then-dominant rock genre, now named classic rock.
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111. Lorde, "Royals"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Oct. 12, 2013)
You Know What It Is: The minimalist alt-pop anthem that gave the maximalist top 40 of the time a different kind of buzz, and provided a totally new model for 2010s pop success and stardom.
These Words: Fair to quibble with some of the hip-hop-specific signifiers the New Zealand sing-songwriter uses on the chorus to express her distaste for pop excess, but a large part of the song’s charm comes from her use of U.S.-unfamiliar phrases like “postcode” and “timepiece,” reminding you that Lorde really was just a teenager from a “torn-up town” very far away.
Because of You: Not difficult to draw a line from the booming drums and multi-tracked vocals of “Royals” to “Blank Space” and other highlights from Taylor Swift’s pop reinvention 1989 — an influence Swift made clearer not only by inviting Lorde to perform “Royals” with her on the 1989 World Tour, but later enlisting “Royals” producer Joel Little to work with her on several Lover tracks.
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110. Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 6 (Jan. 11, 1992)
You Know What It Is: The unlikely rock anthem that not only rocketed grunge to the top of the charts, but made a reluctant superstar out of Kurt Cobain — who turned his attempt at writing a Pixies-style pop ditty into a somehow-generational howl of “a mulatto, an albino/ A mosquito, my libido.”
Living on Video: The low-budget Samuel Bayer-directed clip mashed up the bubbling danger of the 1979 teen high school gone mad drama Over the Edge, with a punk rock riot at a high school gym that perfectly captures the caged-animal ferocity of the song.
These Words: Cobain managed to encapsulate the angst, torpor, anxiety and widely reported lethargy of Gen Xers with the refrain, “I feel stupid and contagious/ Here we are now, entertain us.”
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109. Nancy Sinatra, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 26, 1966)
You Know What It Is: The cheater’s rejoinder that blended rock swagger, country cleverness and pop hookiness into one of the most potent chart-toppers of the ’60s.
Who Put the Bomp: “These Boots” was made by Sinatra with frequent collaborator Lee Hazlewood, who masterfully produced and penned the breakout smash, and would go on to duet with her on later hits like “Lady Bird” and “Some Velvet Morning.”
These Words: Most songs of the period would simply have Sinatra’s boots take her away from her ex, rather than set him up for a trampling as Nancy and Lee do — making the song’s classic last lines even more gleefully threatening: “Are you ready boots?…. START WALKIN’!”
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108. Huey Lewis & The News, "The Power of Love"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Aug. 24, 1985)
You Know What It Is: The impossibly punchy, quintessentially ’80s tune — halfway between power ballad and power-pop — from the golden-voiced Huey Lewis, who assures with seeming alpha male knowingness that you just “won’t feel nothin’, til you feel” the titular emotion.
Hollywood Nights: As the theme song to enduring ’80s blockbuster Back To The Future — listen for it in the film’s opening scenes as Marty McFly skateboards to school — the song’s music video also features Doc Brown rolling up in his DeLorean to the bar where the band is performing, which is taken out for a joyride through time while Brown enjoys the music.
This Magic Moment: When Lewis really hits his stride in the last few lines of the song — “You feel the power of love/ You feel the power of looooooove” — it all sounds basically as good as the actual thing he’s singing about.
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107. Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris, "We Found Love"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Nov. 12, 2011)
You Know What It Is: Shimmering synth-pop and explosive EDM fusing to become a singular, euphoric masterpiece on this game-changing single for both the Barbadian pop superstar and the hitmaking Scottish DJ.
Hollywood Nights: Shia LaBeouf and his weird rattail perfectly capture the eager, flash-mob energy this song produced at its peak in the opening K-Mart scene of 2016’s American Honey.
Coming Around Again: While many critics have spoken at length about Coldplay’s emotive cover of the song for BBC Radio’s Live Lounge back in 2011, not enough speak on Tinashe’s excellent rendition of the track the same year, which re-contextualizes the song’s grandiose production into a simpler, more relaxed expression of joy.
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106. Jimmy Buffett, "Margaritaville"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 8 (July 23, 1977)
You Know What It Is: The song that launched an empire and defined an attitude and an outlook on life that Buffett fully embodied — while also becoming a rallying cry for drifters and vacationers across the globe, searching for their lost shaker of salt.
These Words: “Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville” is not just a hook to a popular song anymore — it’s a full-on anthem to the Parrothead lifestyle, one in which the sun is always shining and responsibilities are much less important than tequila.
Because of You: “Margaritaville” became the centerpiece and thesis statement of what could easily be called the Jimmy Buffett Experience, a way of looking at the world that is carefree, directionless and just a bit hazy, degenerate in the most aspirational way possible. If you’re gonna give up on it all, there are worse ways to while away the days than nibbling on sponge cake and watching the sun bake.
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105. Toto, "Africa"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Feb. 5, 1983)
You Know What It Is: Though somewhat inscrutable lyrically, Toto’s catchy, rousing 1983 yacht rock classic is as much a homage to the to the Yamaha synthesizer that David Paich wrote the instantly recognizable opening riff on as it is to the titular continent.
Coming Around Again: In addition to Weezer’s meme-spawned, Hot 100-charting 2018 cover, “Africa” has been sampled in countless songs — with the intro section especially finding favor with rappers, including Nas (“New World”), Ja Rule (“Murder Reigns”) and Xzibit (“Heart of Man”).
Living on Video: While Toto’s original clip has some regrettably stereotypical images, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell’s 2016 video, made while the couple was on a Serengeti safari, is a clever (if obviously touristic) lip-synced homage that includes the couple literally “blessing the rains” in Africa during a downpour and cavorting a little too closely to wildebeests — resulting in a $50 fine, according to Shepard.
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104. George Michael, "Faith"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (Dec. 12, 1987)
You Know What It Is: George Michael putting Wham! behind him, with a leather jacket and shades, a Bo Diddley-borrowed acoustic guitar riff, and the first truly perfect pop melody and lyric of his solo career.
These Words: “But I gotta think twice/ Before I give my heart away/ And I know all the games you play/ ‘Cause I play them too.” A clever-enough lyric on its own, but doubly so when you remember how Michael specifically lamented giving his heart away just three years prior — confirming his once-bitten, twice-shy mentality and creating a neat little through-line for his catalog.
Coming Around Again: Do we need to talk about the Limp Bizkit cover? Nah, this isn’t the list for that.
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103. The Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 1 (July 11, 2009)
You Know What It Is: The sofa-jumping, body-rocking, “WOO-HOO”-shouting non-stop dance-pop banger that changed wedding receptions, graduation parties and bar mitzvahs forever.
Sign ‘o’ the Times: If the 2008 recession was a movie, “I Gotta Feeling” is the end credits song: Released in July 2009, it was the anthem America needed to start getting back on its feet — both emotionally and financially.
This Magic Moment: You can’t help but have a smile on your face singing along to will.i.am and Fergie’s dueling refrain: “Fill up my cup (Drank!)/ Mazel tov (L’Chaim!)/ Look at her dancin’ (Move it, move it!).”
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102. Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 2 (Apr. 10, 1971)
You Know What It Is: A lushly orchestrated, thematically sobering, yet still poppy and invigorating plea for socio-political change — which altered the not only the course of Marvin Gaye’s career but of soul music in the ‘70s.
Who Put the Bomp: Before Gaye added his own melodies and lyrics, the song was a co-write between Renaldo Benson, the bass vocalist in the Four Tops, and Al Cleveland, also renowned for penning “I Second That Emotion” alongside Smokey Robinson.
This Magic Moment: The top of the tune, where an audio snippet of man-on-the-street voices are augmented by a soaring sax, introducing a suitably melancholy-yet-hopeful tone for Gaye’s smooth, buttery voice to take center stage.
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101. Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"
Hot 100 Peak: No. 36 (Jan. 12, 1980)
You Know What It Is: With winningly cheerful rhymes riding atop an iconic Chic bass line, “Rapper’s Delight” introduced millions of listeners outside of New York to a nascent art form — hip-hop — when it cracked the top 40 in 1980.
These Words: The opening lyrics that started it all: “I said a hip-hop, the hippie, the hippie/ To the hip, hip-hop and you don’t stop…’”
Who Put the Bomp: “Rapper’s Delight” was produced by Sugar Hill Records co-founder Sylvia Robinson, who scored a hit with the pre-Hot 100 pop classic “Love Is Strange” as part of the duo Mickey & Sylvia in the late 1950s, and then as a solo artist in the ’70s with the sensual disco ballad “Pillow Talk.”
Check back tomorrow (Oct. 19) at noon ET for our top 100 Best Pop Songs!