DavesMusicDatabase.com is devoted to ranking, rating, and reviewing music of all genres and eras. The DMDB blog serves up music history snapshots, best-of lists, and music-related essays.
51. Fancy…Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX (2014)
52. Rude…Magic! (2013)
53. Something Just Like This…The Chainsmokers with Coldplay (2017)
54. What Do You Mean?...Justin Bieber (2015)
55. 7 Years…Lukas Graham (2015)
56. Radioactive…Imagine Dragons (2012)
57. Grenade…Bruno Mars (2010)
58. Sexy and I Know It…LMFAO (2011)
59. Let Her Go…Passenger (2012)
60. The Hills…The Weeknd (2015)
61. That’s What I Like…Bruno Mars (2016)
62. Stressed Out…Twenty One Pilots (2015)
63. Sugar…Maroon 5 (2014)
64. Give Me Everything…Pitbull with Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer (2011)
65. Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn remix)…OMI (2014)
66. Can’t Hold Us…Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Ray Dalton (2011)
67. Just Give Me a Reason…Pink with Nate Ruess (2012)
68. 7 Rings…Ariana Grande (2019)
69. Only Girl in the World…Rihanna (2010)
70. Love Me Like You Do…Ellie Goulding (2015)
71. Hotline Bling…Drake (2015)
72. Diamonds…Rihanna (2012)
73. Let It Go…Idina Menzel (2013)
74. Thank U, Next…Ariana Grande (2018)
75. Born This Way…Lady Gaga (2011)
76. Locked Out of Heaven…Bruno Mars (2012)
77. Lean On… Major Lazer with DJ Snake & MØ (2015)
78. Starboy…The Weeknd with Daft Punk (2016)
79. Take Me to Church…Hozier (2013)
80. Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)…Silento (2015)
81. Payphone…Maroon 5 with Wiz Khalifa (2012)
82. Humble…Kendrick Lamar (2017)
83. Chandelier…Sia (2014)
84. Timber…Pitbull with Ke$ha (2013)
85. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together…Taylor Swift (2012)
86. Ho Hey…The Lumineers (2012)
87. Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)…Cardi B (2017)
88. One More Night…Maroon 5 (2012)
89. OMG…Usher with will.i.am (2010)
90. Wrecking Ball…Miley Cyrus (2013)
91. I Like It….Cardi B with Bad Bunny & J. Balvin (2018)
92. Sunflower…Post Malone with Swae Lee (2018)
93. In My Feelings…Drake (2018)
94. Señorita…Shawn Mendes with Camila Cabello (2019)
95. The Monster…Eminem & Rihanna (2013)
96. Bad Blood…Taylor Swift (2014)
97. E.T….Katy Perry with Kanye West (2010)
98. Dynamite…Taio Cruz (2010)
99. Cruise…Florida Georgia Line (2012)
100. Pumped Up Kicks…Foster the People (2010)
The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999 book is available through Amazon or through DavesMusicDatabase.com as a standard book or ebook.
Dave’s Music Database presents this list as it appears in the book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. The concept behind the book was to come up with a definitive list by consolidating hundreds of other best-of lists along with chart stats, sales figures, and awards. Read more about how the book was created here.
Some acts link to their entries in the DMDB music maker encyclopedia. Click on song titles to access their DMDB pages.
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, image from warwickartscentre.co.uk
Squeeze was a new wave band formed in England in 1975. Singer/songwriters Chris Difford (born 11/4/1954 in Greenwich, United Kingdom) and Glenn Tilbrook (born 8/31/1957 in Woolwich, London, England) are the only two members to survive every incarnation of the band. The two also recorded an album as a duo in 1984 and worked as solo artists in the 21st century.
Top 50 Songs
Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. This list includes songs by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook in Squeeze, as a duo, and as solo acts.
4. Pulling Mussels from the Shell (1980)
5. Cool for Cats (1979)
6. Goodbye Girl (1978)
7. Black Coffee in Bed (1982)
8. 853-5937 (1987)
9. Annie Get Your Gun (1982)
10. Labelled with Love (1981)
11. Take Me I’m Yours (1978)
12. Slap and Tickle (1979)
13. Another Nail in My Heart (1980)
14. Is That Love? (1981)
15. Satisfied (1991)
Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:
16. If I Didn’t Love You (1980)
17. In Quintessence (1981)
18. Trust Me to Open My Mouth (1987)
19. Everything in the World (1993)
20. Loving You Tonight (1993)
21. Heartbreaking World (1985)
22. When the Hangover Strikes (1982)
23. Last Time Forever (1985)
24. I Won’t Ever Go Drinking Again (?) (1985)
25. Squabs on the Forty Five (1981)
26. Slaughtered, Gutted, and Heartbroken (1989)
27. Electric Trains (1995)
28. Bang Bang (1978)
29. Still (Glenn Tilbrook, 2009)
30. Fat As a Fiddle (Chris Difford, 2008)
31. Goldfish (Chris Difford, 2010)
32. Hits of the Year (1985)
33. Interviewing Randy Newman (Glenn Tilbrook, 2001)
34. No Show Jones (Chris Difford, 2003)
35. Hot Shaved Asian Teens (Glenn Tilbrook, 2004)
36. Temptation for Love (Squeeze with Cathy Dennis, 1995)
37. Like I Did (Chris DIfford, 2010)
38. Some Fantastic Place (1993)
39. Separate Beds (1980)
40. Vanity Fair (1981)
41. Messed Around (1981)
42. To Be a Dad (1998)
43. Ice Cream (Glenn Tilbrook, 2014)
44. Wedding Bells (1987)
45. If It’s Love (1989)
46. Action Speaks Faster (Difford & Tilbrook, 1984)
47. She Doesn’t Have to Shave (1989)
48. Farfisa Beat (1980)
49. Pinocchio (1993)
50. A Woman’s World (1981)
Pearl Jam is a Seattle-based grunge-rock group which formed in 1991. Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament were previously in Green River (1984-1987) and Mother Love Bone (1987-90). When Andrew Wood, the latter’s lead singer, died in 1990, Gossard and Ament united with Soundgarden’s singer Chris Cornell and drummer Matt Cameron (later of Pearl Jam, 1998-) for the one-time Temple of the Dog tribute project.
That project also included singer Eddie Vedder, who would go on to front Pearl Jam. Other members in the band have included Mike McCready (guitarist: 1991-), Dave Krusen (drums: 91-92), Dave Abbruzzese (drums: 92-94), Jack Irons (drums: 94-98), and Boom Gaspar (keyboards: 02-).
Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. In addition to Pearl Jam songs, this list includes work by Mother Love Bone, Temple of the Dog, and Eddie Vedder as a solo artist. Songs which hit #1 on the following charts are noted: Billboard album rock tracks (AR), Billboard alternative rock tracks (MR), Billboard adult alternative (AA), and Australian pop charts (AU).
DMDB Top 1%:
1. Jeremy (1991)
DMDB Top 5%:
2. Alive (1991)
3. Daughter (1993) #1 AR, MR
4. Last Kiss (1998) #1 AU
DMDB Top 10%:
5. Better Man (1994) #1 AR
6. Black (1991)
7. The Fixer (2009)
8. Just Breathe (2009) #1 AA
9. Even Flow (1991)
10. Who You Are (1996) #1 MR
11. Wishlist (1998)
12. Sirens (2013) #1 AA
DMDB Top 20%:
13. I Got Id (1995)
14. Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog, 1991)
15. I Am Mine (2002)
16. Given to Fly (1997) #1 AR
17. Spin the Black Circle (1994)
18. Nothing As It Seems (2000)
19. Yellow Ledbetter (1992)
20. Not for You (1994)
21. Mind Your Manners (2013)
22. Long Road (1995)
23. Go (1993)
24. Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (1993)
25. Crazy Mary (with Victoria Williams, 1992)
26. Off He Goes (1996)
27. Hard Sun (Eddie Vedder, 2007)
Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:
28. Animal (1993)
29. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (Eddie Vedder, 2002)
30. Hail Hail (1996)
31. Say Hello 2 Heaven (Temple of the Dog, 1991)
32. Love Reign O’er Me (2006)
33. Corduroy (1994)
34. World Wide Suicide (2006) #1 MR
35. Dissident (1993)
36. Gone (2006)
37. Immortality (1994)
38. Tremor Christ (1994)
39. Light Years (2000)
40. Glorified G (1993)
41. Man of the Hour (2002)
42. Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone, 1989)
43. Footsteps (1992)
44. Masters of War (Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready, live: 1992)
45. All the Way (Eddie Vedder, 2008)
46. Save You (2002)
47. Once (1991)
48. Life Wasted (2006)
49. Do the Evolution (1998)
50. Got Some (2009) Awards:
January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog! To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This fourth batch of act inductees celebrates the top 10 music makers who made their names primarily as songwriters.
A highly regarded contributor the Great American Songbook. He composed more than 500 songs, most notably with lyricsts Ted Koehler (“Get Happy,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” “Stormy Weather”), E.Y. “Yip” Harburg (“Over the Rainbow,” “I’ve Got the World on a String”), and Johnny Mercer (“Blues in the Night,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive,” “One for My Baby”).
Russian-born composer and lyricist. George Gershwin called him “the greatest songwriter who ever lived.” Jerome Kern said, “Irving Berlin has no place in American music – he is American music.” A 2001 Time magazine article estimated Berlin wrote around 1250 songs (“Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Always,” “Blue Skies,” “God Bless America,” “White Christmas”). 25 have reached #1 on the pop charts. He wrote 17 complete scores for Broadway musicals and revues including Call Me Madam and Annie Get Your Gun. List of Berlin songs here.
New York-born musical theater lyricist (“Blue Moon”, “Isn’t It Romantic?”, “My Funny Valentine,” “The Lady Is a Tramp”, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, “My Funny Valentine”). Often worked with Richard Rodgers (Babes in Arms, The Boys from Syracuse, Pal Joey, On Your Toes).
Singer (“On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe,” “Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive,” “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”) songwriter (“Blues in the Night,” “That Old Black Magic,” “One for My Baby,” “Moon River”) who wrote lyrics to more than 1500 songs and more popular songs than any other songwriter in history. Worked in the legendary Brill Building, known for housing some of pop music history’s most famous songwriters and publishers. Received 19 Academy Award nominations. Also a co-founder of Capitol Records.
Musical theater composer born in Indiana. Songs included “Love for Sale,” “Night and Day,” “You’re the Top,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “Begin the Beguine.” Musicals included Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate, and High Society.
Musical theater songwriter born in New York who composed over 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals. He worked with lyricist Lorenz Hart (“Blue Moon,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” Pal Joey) in the 1920s and ‘30s and Oscar Hammerstein II (, “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music) in the ‘40s and ‘50s. He was the first person to win the four top American entertainment awards – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. He also won a Pulitzer Prize, making him and Marvin Hamlisch the only two people to do so.
Resources and Related Links:
See individual song pages for keys to the footnotes.
Tim Finn is a new wave singer/songwriter and musician who was born Brian Timothy Finn on 6/25/1952 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. His younger brother, Neil Finn, is also a new wave/pop singer/songwriter and musician, born on 5/27/1958 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand.
Tim was a founding member of Split Enz (vocals and keyboards, 1972-84), which included Neil as a singer and guitarist (1977-84) in its later years. Tim went solo in 1983 and Neil formed Crowded House (1985-96, 2007-11,2016) after Split Enz split. The two collaborated on a pair of albums and worked together on Crowded House’s 1991 album Woodface. Neil also fronted Pajama Club and was a touring member of Fleetwood Mac (2018-19).
Top 100 Songs
Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. The following list includes songs from the following: Crowded House (CH), Finn Brothers (FB), Neil Finn (NF), Tim Finn (TF), and Split Enz (SE).
DMDB Top 5%:
1. Don’t Dream It’s Over (CH, 1986)
2. I Got You (SE, 1980)
3. Something So Strong (CH, 1986)
DMDB Top 10%:
4. Weather with You (CH, 1991)
5. Better Be Home Soon (CH, 1988)
DMDB Top 20%:
6. Six Months in a Leaky Boat (SE, 1982)
7. History Never Repeats (SE, 1981)
8. Fall at Your Feet (CH, 1991)
9. It’s Only Natural (CH, 1991)
10. One Step Ahead (SE, 1980)
11. Distant Sun (CH, 1993)
12. World Where You Live (CH, 1986)
13. I Hope I Never (SE, 1980)
14. Message to My Girl (SE, 1983)
15. I See Red (SE, 1978)
16. Locked Out (CH, 1993)
17. Into Temptation (CH, 1988)
18. Chocolate Cake (CH, 1991)
19. Four Seasons in One Day (CH, 1991)
20. Time for a Change (SE, 1975)
21. Mean to Me (CH, 1986)
22. Don’t Stop Now (CH, 2007)
23. How’m I Gonna Sleep (TF, 1989)
Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:
24. What’s the Matter with You? (SE, 1980)
25. Late Last Night (SE, 1976)
26. Hard Act to Follow (SE, 1981)
27. Nails in My Feet (CH, 1993)
28. Silent House (CH, 2007)
29. Now We’re Getting Somewhere (CH, 1986)
30. Won’t Give In (FB, 2004)
31. Poor Boy (SE, 1980)
32. Persuasion (TF, 1993)
33. Sister Madly (CH, 1988)
34. Pineapple Head (CH, 1993)
35. She Will Have Her Way (NF, 1998)
36. I Don’t Wanna Dance (SE, 1981)
37. Maybe (SE, 1975)
38. Never Ceases to Amaze Me (SE, 1982)
39. Edible Flowers (FB, 2004)
40. Straight Old Line (SE, 1983)
41. Dirty Creature (SE, 1982)
42. My Mistake (SE, 1977)
43. When You Come (CH, 1988)
44. Fingers of Love (CH, 1993)
45. Next Exit (SE, 1983)
46. Give It a Whirl (SE, 1979)
47. I Walk Away (SE, 1984)
48. Never Be the Same (CH, 1988)
49. Bold As Brass (SE, 1977)
50. Things (SE 1979)
51. Hit the Ground Running (TF 1993)
52. Instinct (CH, 1996)
53. Private Universe (CH, 1993)
54. Song of the Lonely Mountain (NF, 2012)
55. Together Alone (CH, 1993)
56. I Feel Possessed (CH, 1988)
57. Rest of the Day Off (NF, 2001)
58. Sinner (NF, 1998)
59. Salt to the Sea (TF, 2006)
60. For You (SE, 1973)
61. What You’ve Done (TF, 2001)
62. Mansion in the Slums (CH, 1988)
63. Couldn’t Be Done (TF, 2006)
64. Stuff and Nonsense SE, 1979)
65. Our Day (SE, 1983)
66. A Fraction too Much Friction (TF, 1983)
67. Not the Girl You Think You Are (CH, 1996)
68. Young Mountain (TF, 1989)
69. Suicide on Downing Street (TF, 1989)
70. The Saw & the Tree (TF, 2008)
71. Saturday Sun (CH, 2010)
72. Disembodied Voices (FB, 2004)
73. Nothing Wrong with You (FB, 2004)
74. As Sure As I Am (CH, 1991)
75. Matinee Idyll (129) (SE, 1976)
76. Another Great Divide (SE, 1977)
77. Pour Le Monde (CH, 2007)
78. Winter Light (TF, 2006)
79. All I Ask (CH, 1991)
80. Black and White Boy (CH, 1993)
81. Charlie (SE, 1977)
82. Sweet Talkin’ Spoon Song (SE, 1973)
83. No Bother to Me (SE, 1975)
84. Wherever You Are (NF, 2001)
85. Last One Standing (NF, 1998)
86. Angels Heap (FB, 1995)
87. Second Nature (NF, 2017)
88. Suffer Never (FB, 1995)
89. Don’t Bury My Heart (TF, 1986)
90. Say That Again (CH, 2007)
91. Catherine Wheels (CH, 1993)
92. Hole in the River (CH, 1986)
93. Death of a Popular Song (TF, 2000)
94. Gentle Hum (FB, 2004)
95. Try Whistling This (NF, 1998)
96. Shark Attack (SE, 1980)
97. Protected (TF, 1993)
98. Whispers and Moans (CH, 1991)
99. Not Even Close (TF, 1989)
100. Crescendo (TF, 1989)
Annie Lennox is a new-wave/pop singer/songwriter born 12/25/1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland. In the late ‘70s, she and Dave Stewart were in the Tourists. They went on to form the Eurythmics in the ‘80s and she launched a solo career in 1992. For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.
Top 30 Songs
Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. The list below consists of songs by the Tourists, Eurythmics, and Annie Lennox. Unless noted otherwise, a song is by the Eurythmics.
DMDB Top 1%:
1. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (1983)
DMDB Top 5%:
2. Here Comes the Rain Again (1983)
DMDB Top 10%:
3. Would I Lie to You? (1985)
4. Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Annie Lennox with Al Green, 1988)
5. Why (Annie Lennox, 1992)
6. Love Is a Stranger (1982)
7. Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves (Eurythmics with Aretha Franklin, 1985)
8. Who’s That Girl? (1983)
9. Right by Your Side (1983)
10. No More “I Love You”’s (Annie Lennox, 1995)
11. There Must Be an Angel Playing with My Heart (Eurythmics with Stevie Wonder, 1985)
12. Walking on Broken Glass (Annie Lennox, 1992)
DMDB Top 20%:
13. Missionary Man (1986)
14. It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back) (1985)
15. Thorn in My Side (1986)
16. I Need a Man (1987)
17. Sexcrime (1984) (1984)
18. Don’t Ask Me Why (1989)
19. Winter Wonderland (1987)
20. Beethoven (I Love to Listen To) (1987)
21. You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart (1987)
Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:
22. I Only Want to Be with You (The Tourists, 1979)
23. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (Annie Lennox, 1990)
24. Little Bird (Annie Lennox, 1992)
25. A Whiter Shade of Pale (Annie Lennox, 1995)
26. The Miracle of Love (1986)
27. Julia (1984)
28. I Put a Spell on You (Annie Lennox, 2014)
29. Sing (Annie Lennox, 2007)
30. Angel (1989)
Alan Parsons was born on this day – December 20 – in 1948 in London, England. Early in his career, he worked as an engineer on classic albums such as the Beatles’ Abbey Road and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. He also worked with Ambrosia, the Hollies, Pilot, and Al Stewart. In 1976, he launched the Alan Parsons Project with Eric Woolfson and maintained the group for a decade before recording officially as a solo artist. He has received 13 Grammy nominations.
Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.
DMDB Top 10%:
1. Eye in the Sky (1982)
2. Time (1980)
3. Don’t Answer Me (1984)
4. Old and Wise (1982)
5. Games People Play (1980)
6. Damned if I Do (1979)
7. I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You (1977)
DMDB Top 20%:
8. The System of Dr. Tarr & Professor Fether (1976)
9. Prime Time (1984)
10. Don’t Let It Show (1977)
11. Let’s Talk About Me (1985)
12. You Don’t Believe (1983)
13. Stereotomy (1986)
14. Days Are Numbers (The Traveller) (1985)
15. What Goes Up… (1978)
16. Snake Eyes (1980)
17. Standing on Higher Ground (1987)
18. Psychobabble (1982)
DMDB Top 20%:
19. The Turn of a Friendly Card Part II (1980)
20. Breakdown (1977)
21. The Raven (1976)
22. I Robot (1977)
23. Pyramania (1978)
24. Some other Time (1977)
25. You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned (1982)
As stated at Grammy.org, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is selected by a vote of the Recording Academy’s National Trustees. It is given to those “who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.” The first recipient was Bing Crosby in 1962.
The Grammys also give a Trustees Award to individuals who have significantly contributed to music in ways other than performance. This would imply that the Lifetime Achievement Award is a performers-only award and that no performers have won the Trustees Award, but the line is not that clearly defined. In fact, a handful of people have received both awards (Burt Bacharach, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Carole King, Frank Sinatra, Georg Solti). Here is a list of recipients of the Trustees Award from its inception in 1967:
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