Check out Dave’s Music Database books and more at WritbyWhit.com or David L. Whitaker's author page at Amazon.com.

Friday, October 11, 2019

R.E.M.: Top 100 Songs

First posted 9/22/2011; updated 10/11/2019.

l to r: Mike Mills, Bill Berry, Michael Stipe, and Peter Buck. Image from TheGuardian.com

R.E.M. formed in Athens, GA. Active 1980-2011. Developed huge following with college audiences in the early 1980s as one of the first "alternative rock" groups. R.E.M. is the abbreviation for Rapid Eye Movement, sleep’s dream stage. Members: Michael Stipe (v), Peter Buck (g), Mike Mills (b), and Bill Berry (d: 80-98). Buck, Mills, and Berry worked with Warren Zevon on the one-time collaboration Hindu Love Gods in 1990. Buck was also in Minus 5 (95).

Their song “Losing My Religion” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. Their album Automatic for the People (1992) is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time.

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

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.

Songs which hit #1 on the following charts have been noted below: AA = adult alternative, AR = album rock, CN = Canadian pop chart, MR = modern rock

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Losing My Religion (1991) #1 AR,MR

DMDB Top 5%:

2. Everybody Hurts (1992)
3. Radio Free Europe (1981)
4. The One I Love (1987)
5. It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (1987)

DMDB Top 10%:

6. Man on the Moon (1992)
7. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? (1994) #1 MR
8. Drive (1992) #1 MR

DMDB Top 20%:

9. Shiny Happy People (1991)
10. Stand (1988) #1 MR

11. The Great Beyond (1999) #1 AA
12. Imitation of Life (2001) #1 AA
13. Fall on Me (1986)
14. E-Bow the Letter (1996)
15. Bang and Blame (1994) #1 MR,CN
16. Bittersweet Me (1996) #1 AA
17. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) (1984)
18. Orange Crush (1988) #1 AR,MR
19. Daysleeper (1998) #1 AA
20. Strange Currencies (1994)

21. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite (1992)
22. Nightswimming (1992)
23. Superman (1986)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

24. Supernatural Superserious (2008) #1 AA
25. Crush with Eyeliner (1994)
26. Don’t Go Back to Rockville (1984)
27. Moon River (1984)
28. Find the River (1992)
29. Pop Song 89 (1988)
30. Driver 8 (1985)

31. Bad Day (2003) #1 AA
32. Finest Worksong (1987)
33. Lotus (1998)
34. Can’t Get There from Here (1985)
35. Talk About the Passion (1983)
36. Star 69 (1994)
37. Radio Song (w/ KRS-1, 1991)
38. Hollow Man (2008)
39. Leaving New York (2004) #1 AA
40. Electrolite (1996)

41. Ages of You (1985)
42. Pretty Persuasion (1984)
43. First We Take Manhattan (1991)
44. Gardening at Night (1982)
45. Perfect Circle (1983)
46. Maps and Legends (1985)
47. All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star) (2001)
48. Turn You Inside Out (1988)
49. Tom’s Diner (live, 1991)
50. Ignoreland (1992)

51. King of the Road (1984)
52. Low (1991)
53. #9 Dream (2007)
54. Texarkana (1991)
55. The Lion Sleeps Tonight (1992)
56. Near Wild Heaven (1991)
57. Wendell Gee (1985)
58. The Wake-Up Bomb (1996)
59. Animal (2003)
60. Aftermath (2004)

61. King of Birds (1987)
62. I’ll Take the Rain (2001)
63. All I Have to Do Is Dream (1986)
64. Swan Swan H (1986)
65. At My Most Beautiful (1998)
66. Catapult (1983)
67. Tongue (1994)
68. Love Is All Around (1991)
69. Femme Fatale (1986)
70. Begin the Begin (1986)

71. We All Go Back to Where We Belong (2011)
72. Uberlin (2011)
73. Get Up (1988)
74. Photograph (w/ Natalie Merchant, 1993)
75. Mine Smell Like Honey (2011)
76. Pilgrimage (1983)
77. Discoverer (2011)
78. Electron Blue (2004)
79. Wanderlust (2004)
80. Fretless (1991)

81. Hope (1998)
82. Toys in the Attic (1986)
83. You Are the Everything (1988)
84. I Believe (1986)
85. Time After Time (Annelise) (1984)
86. How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us (1996)
87. World Leader Pretend (1988)
88. Country Feedback (1991)
89. These Days (1986)
90. Exhuming McCarthy (1987)

91. The King of Comedy (1994)
92. Cuyahoga (1986)
93. Fun Time (live, 1992)
94. Sitting Still (1983)
95. Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) 1982)
96. There Shoe Goes Again (1983)
97. Bandwagon (1985)
98. Crazy (1985)
99. Rotary Ten (1986)
100. White Tornado (1986)

Awards:

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The Top 100 Rap/Hip-Hop Songs of All Time

Originally posted 6/8/2011; updated 10/11/2019.

This list was created by aggregating more than 40 best-of lists focused on rap and hip-hop songs. Also factored in were sales, chart performance, video and audio streaming, and overall status in Dave’s Music Database. To make this list, songs had to appear on at least 7 of the lists and appear in the top 20% of Dave’s Music Database. Here are the results:

1. The Message…Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (1982)
2. Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang…Dr. Dre with Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993)
3. Lose Yourself…Eminem (2002)
4. Rapper’s Delight…The Sugarhill Gang (1979)
5. In Da Club…50 Cent (2002)
6. Gangsta’s Paradise…Coolio with L.V. (1995)
7. It Was a Good Day…Ice Cube (1993)
8. Fight the Power…Public Enemy (1989)
9. Stan…Eminem with Dido (2000)
10. Tha Crossroads…Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (1996)

11. Juicy…The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
12. Planet Rock…Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force (1982)
13. Straight Outta Compton…N.W.A. (1989)
14. C.R.E.A.M….Wu-Tang Clan (1994)
15. Dear Mama…2pac (1993)
16. They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)…Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1992)
17. Mind Playing Tricks on Me…Geto Boys (1991)
18. Ms. Jackson…OutKast (2000)
19. I’ll Be Missing You…Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 (1997)
20. Shook Ones Part II…Mobb Deep (1995)

21. California Love…2pac with Dr. Dre & Roger (1996)
22. Walk This Way…Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry (1986)
23. I Used to Love H.E.R….Common (1994)
24. Push It…Salt-N-Pepa (1987)
25. Hot in Herre…Nelly (2002)
26. Empire State of Mind…Jay-Z with Alicia Keys (2009)
27. I Need Love…LL Cool J (1987)
28. Hypnotize…The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)
29. Gin & Juice…Snoop Doggy Dogg (1994)
30. Bust a Move…Young M.C. (1989)

31. Fuck tha Police…N.W.A. (1989)
32. Get Ur Freak On…Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott (2001)
33. The Humpty Dance…Digital Underground (1990)
34. O.P.P….Naughty by Nature (1991)
35. Regulate…Nate Dogg & Warren G (1994)
36. Thrift Shop…Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz (2012)
37. Low…Flo Rida with T-Pain (2007)
38. Baby Got Back…Sir Mix-a-Lot (1992)
39. Dilemma…Nelly with Kelly Rowland (2002)
40. Lollipop…Lil Wayne with Static Major (2008)

41. Gold Digger…Kanye West with Jamie Foxx (2005)
42. Children’s Story…Slick Rick (1989)
43. The Real Slim Shady…Eminem (2000)
44. Wild Thing…Tone Loc (1988)
45. Me, Myself and I…De La Soul (1989)
46. Crank That (Soulja Boy)…Soulja Boy Tell’em (2007)
47. Drop It Like It’s Hot…Snoop Dogg with Pharrell Williams (2004)
48. I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By…Method Man & Mary J. Blige (1995)
49. The World Is Yours…Nas (1994)
50. Scenario (remix)…A Tribe Called Quest with Busta Rhymes (1992)

51. Keep Ya Head Up…2pac (1993)
52. Big Poppa…The Notorious B.I.G. (1995)
53. The Bridge Is Over…Boogie Down Productions (1987)
54. 99 Problems…Jay-Z (2004)
55. Jesus Walks…Kanye West (2004)
56. Live Your Life…T.I. with Rihanna (2008)
57. My Name Is…Eminem (1999)
58. Candy Shop…50 Cent with Olivia (2005)
59. Mama Said Knock You Out…LL Cool J (1991)
60. Summertime…DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (1991)

61. Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness)…Eric B. & Rakim (1987)
62. Love the Way You Lie…Eminem with Rihanna (2010)
63. Can’t Hold Us…Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Ray Dalton (2011)
64. La Di Da Di…Doug E. Fresh with Slick Rick (1985)
65. Hey Ya!...OutKast (2003)
66. My Philosophy…Boogie Down Productions (1988)
67. U Can’t Touch This…M.C. Hammer (1990)
68. (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)…Beastie Boys (1986)
69. The Breaks…Kurtis Blow (1980)
70. Killing Me Softly…Fugees (1996)

71. NY State of Mind…Nas (1994)
72. Whatever You Like…T.I. (2008)
73. Jump Around…House of Pain (1992)
74. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)…Jay-Z (1998)
75. What You Know…T.I. (2006)
76. Work It…Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott (2002)
77. Ice Ice Baby…Vanilla Ice (1990)
78. Doo Wop (That Thing)…Lauryn Hill (1998)
79. I Got 5 on It…The Luniz (1995)
80. How I Could Just Kill a Man…Cypress Hill (1991)

81. See You Again…Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth (2015)
82. It Takes Two…Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock (1988)
83. Changes…Tupac (2pac) Shakur (1998)
84. God’s Plan…Drake (2018)
85. The Monster…Eminem with Rihanna (2013)
86. Ain’t No Half Steppin’…Big Daddy Kane (1988)
87. The Symphony…The Juice Crew (1988)
88. One More Chance…The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
89. Jump…Kriss Kross (1992)
90. Top Billin’…Audio Two (1988)

91. Stronger…Kanye West with Daft Punk (2007)
92. Not Afraid…Eminem (2010)
93. Black Beatles…Rae Sremmurd with Gucci Mane (2016)
94. Humble…Kendrick Lamar (2017)
95. Hate It Or Love It…The Game with 50 Cent (2005)
96. Big Pimpin’…Jay-Z with UGK (2000)
97. Tennessee…Arrested Development (1992)
98. Old Town Road…Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus (2018)
99. Fancy…Iggy Azalea with Charli XCX (/2014)
100. One Mic…Nas (2002)

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Sunday, September 29, 2019

The Top 100 Country Songs of All Time

/2019. Originally posted 8/3/2011; updated 9/30/2019.

First posted on Facebook on April 3, 2011 and then on the blog on August 28, 2011.

The DMDB’s list of the top 100 country songs of all time was created by aggregating more than 60 best-of lists focused on country songs. See the resources at the bottom of this page.

  1. “Crazy” Patsy Cline (1961)
  2. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” George Jones (1980)
  3. “Stand by Your Man” Tammy Wynette (1968)
  4. “Friends in Low Places” Garth Brooks (1990)
  5. “El Paso” Marty Robbins (1959)
  6. “I Walk the Line” Johnny Cash (1956)
  7. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” Charlie Daniels Band (1979)
  8. “Your Cheatin’ Heart” Hank Williams (1953)
  9. “Always on My Mind” Willie Nelson (1982)
  10. “Ring of Fire” Johnny Cash (1963)

  11. “King of the Road” Roger Miller (1965)
  12. “Forever and Ever, Amen” Randy Travis (1987)
  13. “I Hope You Dance” Lee Ann Womack (2000)
  14. “Sixteen Tons” Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955)
  15. “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” Hank Williams (1949)
  16. “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn (1970)
  17. “Mama Tried” Merle Haggard (1968)
  18. “I Fall to Pieces” Patsy Cline (1961)
  19. “The Gambler” Kenny Rogers (1978)
  20. “Hello Darlin’” Conway Twitty (1970)

  21. “I Will Always Love You” Dolly Parton (1974)
  22. “Folsom Prison Blues” Johnny Cash (1956)
  23. “Jolene” Dolly Parton (1973)
  24. “The Dance” Garth Brooks (1990)
  25. “Live Like You Were Dying” Tim McGraw (2004)
  26. “Help Me Make It Through the Night” Sammi Smith (1971)
  27. “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels” Kitty Wells (1952)
  28. “Before He Cheats” Carrie Underwood (2006)
  29. “Amazed” Lonestar (1999)
  30. “Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell (1975)

  31. “Behind Closed Doors” Charlie Rich (1973)
  32. “Harper Valley P.T.A.” Jeannie C. Riley (1968)
  33. “He’ll Have to Go” Jim Reeves (1959)
  34. “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” Alan Jackson (2001)
  35. “Need You Now” Lady Antebellum (2009)
  36. “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson (1978)
  37. “Okie from Muskogee” Merle Haggard (1969)
  38. “Walking the Floor Over You” Ernest Tubb (1941)
  39. “For the Good Times” Ray Price (1970)
  40. “Lovesick Blues” Hank Williams (1949)

  41. “Hey, Good Lookin’” Hank Williams (1951)
  42. “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” Willie Nelson (1975)
  43. “Breathe” Faith Hill (1999)
  44. “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)” The Carter Family (1935)
  45. “Hello Walls” Faron Young (1961)
  46. “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” Waylon Jennings (1977)
  47. “Amarillo by Morning” George Strait (1983)
  48. “Wabash Cannonball” Roy Acuff & the Smoky Mountain Boys (1938)
  49. “Make the World Go Away” Eddy Arnold (1965)
  50. “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” Charley Pride (1971)

  51. “Act Naturally” Buck Owens (1963)
  52. “Crazy Arms” Ray Price (1956)
  53. “Coat of Many Colors” Dolly Parton (1971)
  54. “The Battle of New Orleans” Johnny Horton (1959)
  55. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” Ray Charles (1962)
  56. “Good Hearted Woman” Waylon Jennings with Willie Nelson (1975)
  57. “God Bless the U.S.A.” Lee Greenwood (1984)
  58. “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” Sons of the Pioneers (1934)
  59. “Smokey Mountain Rain” Ronnie Milsap (1980)
  60. “Wildwood Flower” The Carter Family (1928)

  61. “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” Lynn Anderson (1970)
  62. “Sweet Dreams of You” Patsy Cline (1963)
  63. “Elvira” The Oak Ridge Boys (1981)
  64. “Cruise” Florida Georgia Line (2012)
  65. “Blue Moon of Kentucky” Bill Monroe (1947)
  66. “Take Me Home Country Roads” John Denver (1971)
  67. “You’re Still the One” Shania Twain (1998)
  68. “I’m Moving On” Hank Snow (1950)
  69. “Tennessee Waltz” Patti Page (1950)
  70. “Oh Lonesome Me” Don Gibson (1958)

  71. “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue...Crystal Gayle (1977)
  72. “Blue” LeAnn iRimes (1996)
  73. “Fancy” Reba McEntire (1991)
  74. “Islands in the Stream” Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (1983)
  75. “Hurt” Johnny Cash (2002)
  76. “Wichita Lineman” Glen Campbell (1968)
  77. “Wide Open Spaces” Dixie Chicks (1998)
  78. “Faded Love” Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys (1950)
  79. “Stay” Sugarland (2007)
  80. “You Are My Sunshine” Jimmie Davis (1940)

  81. “Take This Job and Shove It” Johnny Paycheck (1977)
  82. “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” Freddy Fender (1975)
  83. “There Goes My Everything” Jack Greene (1966)
  84. “Flowers on the Wall” The Statler Brothers (1965)
  85. “Long Black Veil” Lefty Frizzell (1959)
  86. “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” Alan Jackson (1991)
  87. “Love Story” Taylor Swift (2008)
  88. “Jambalaya on the Bayou” Hank Williams (1952)
  89. “San Antonio Rose” Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys (1939)
  90. “Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas)” Jimmie Rodgers (1928)

  91. “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs (1950)
  92. “Achy Breaky Heart” Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
  93. “Walkin’ After Midnight” Patsy Cline (1957)
  94. “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” Buck Owens (1965)
  95. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” Brooks & Dunn (1991)
  96. “On the Road Again” Willie Nelson (1980)
  97. “Cold, Cold Heart” Hank Williams (1931)
  98. “Rocky Top” Osborne Brothers (1968)
  99. “Chattahoochee” Alan Jackson (1992)
  100. “Strawberry Wine” Deanna Carter (1996)

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Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Oasis: Top 20 Songs

First posted 9/10/2019.

Alternative rock group from Manchester, England at the helm of the Britpop movement. Active: 1991-2009 Members: Brothers Liam (v) and Noel Gallagher (g/lyrics) with Gem Archer (k/g: 99-09), Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (g: 91-99), Andy Bell (b/k/g: 99-09), Tony McCarroll (d: 91-95), Paul McGuigan (b: 91-99), Alan White (d: 95-04).

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Top 20 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.

May include notations about songs which hit #1, are in the DMDB top 1000, songs which have more successful versions in the DMDB, and notes about songs recorded by the act under other names.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Wonderwall (1995) #1 MR, #1 AU
2. Live Forever (1994)

DMDB Top 5%:

3. Don’t Look Back in Anger (1996) #1 UK
4. Champagne Supernova (1996) #1 MR

DMDB Top 20%:

5. Supersonic (1994)
6. Whatever (1994)
7. D’You Know What I Mean (1997) #1 UK
8. Cigarettes and Alcohol (1994)

Outside the DMDB Top 20%:

9. Lyla (2005) #1 UK
10. All Around the World (1998) #1 UK
11. Go Let It Out (2000) #1 UK, #1 CN
12. Don’t Go Away (1997)
13. Some Might Say (1995) #1 UK
14. Morning Glory (1995)
15. The Shock of the Lightning (2008)
16. Roll with It (1995)
17. Acquiese (1995)
18. The Hindu Times (2002) #1 UK
19. Little by Little (2002)
20. Stop Crying Your Heart Out (2002)

Awards:

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Sunday, September 8, 2019

One-Hit Wonders

First posted 9/8/2019.

I am consistently annoyed by lists of supposed one-hit wonders. Inevitably, there are acts that are definitely NOT one-hit wonders. Some of the most glaring examples I’ve seen in different articles are Survivor (“Eye of the Tiger” #1, “Burning Heart” #2, top ten hits with “The Search Is Over,” “High on You,” and “Is This Love”), Toto (“Africa” #1, “Rosanna” #2, top tens with “Hold the Line” and “I Won’t Hold You Back”), and Sugarloaf (top ten hits with “Green-Eyed Lady” and “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You”). There are also a couple of acts who certainly are best known for certain songs, but did have other hits. Aha (“Take on Me” #1, “The Sun Always Shines on TV” top 20) and The Knack (“My Sharona” #1, “Good Girls Don’t” #11) are the first two that come to mind.

It begs the question – how does one even definte a “hit”? For the purposes of this post, the focus is exclusively on the U.S. Billboard pop charts from 1890 to present. One could argue that a true one-hit wonder has only graced the Hot 100 once. However, this post will focus on acts which have only hit the top 40 once since songs lower than that arguably didn’t achieve familiarity with a general audience.

This leaves more than 2400 eligible songs with some definite surprises. Jimi Hendrix, Carl Perkins, Lou Reed (all on this list), and Dr. John (“Right Place Wrong Time”), Grateful Dead (“Touch of Grey”), Public Enemy (“Give It Up”), Roxy Music (“Love Is the Drug”), Rush (“New World Man”), The Small Faces (“Itchycoo Park”), and Frank Zappa (“Valley Girl”) only had one top 40 hit each despite the legendary status which got them inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Other acts like Beck; Oasis; and T-Rex (all on this list); along with Garth Brooks (“Lost in You”); Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill”); Emerson, Lake & Palmer (“From the Beginning”); Lefty Frizzell (“I Want to Be with You Always”); Merle Haggard (“If We Make It Through December”); Iggy Pop (“Candy”); Method Man (“I'll Be There for You / You're All I Need to Get By”); Shinedown (“Second Chance”); Weezer (“Beverly Hills”); The White Stripes (“Icky Thump”); and Warren Zevon (“Werewolves of London”) have plenty of success, but multiple chart hits on the top 40 eluded them.

If a song is marked with an asterisk (*), that indicates that the song is the only top 40 hit for the lead act, but that the supporting act has other top 40 hits. With all that established, here are the results for the biggest one-hit wonders of the Hot 100 chart era:

1. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (#1, 1990)
2. Mark Ronson “Uptown Funk!” (with Bruno Mars, #1, 2014) *
3. Luis Fonsi “Despacito” (with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber, 2017, #1) *
4. Gotye with Kimbra "Somebody That I Used to Know" (#1, 2011)
5. Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” (#2, 2006)
6. USA for Africa “We Are the World” (#1, 1985)
7. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “All Along the Watchtower” (#20, 1968)
8. Coleman Hawkins “Body and Soul” (#13, 1940)
9. Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (#1, 1977)
10. The Penguins “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)” (#8, 1954)

11. Daft Punk with Pharrell Williams “Get Lucky” (#2, 2013)
12. Oasis “Wonderwall” (#8, 1995)
13. The Verve “Bittersweet Symphony” (#12, 1997)
14. Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes” (#2, 1956)
15. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (#8, 1981)
16. Knickerbocker Quartet “Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile” (#1, 1917)
17. James Blunt “You’re Beautiful” (#1, 2004)
18. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” (#6, 1956)
19. Don Azpiazu & Arturo Machin “The Peanut Vendor (El Manicero” (#1, 1930)
20. Cee-Lo Green “Fuck You (aka “Forget You”)” (#2, 2010)

21. Daniel Powter “Bad Day” (#1, 2005)
22. Buffalo Springfield “For What It’s Worth” (#7, 1966)
23. Passenger “Let Her Go” (#5, 2012)
24. Amy Winehouse “Rehab” (#9, 2006)
25. Domenico Modugno “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinito Di Blue” (#1, 1958)
26. Wild Cherry “Play That Funky Music” (#1, 1976)
27. Magic! “Rude” (#1, 2013)
28. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (#1, 1983)
29. Lou Reed “Walk on the Wild Side” (#16, 1972)
30. Walter Huston “September Song” (#12, 1939)

31. Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (#1, 1950)
32. Harry Simeone Chorale “The Little Drummer Boy” (#13, 1958)
33. Fisk University Jubilee Quartet “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (#7, 1910)
34. Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (#1, 1974)
35. Lipps Inc. “Funkytown” (#1, 1980)
36. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (#10, 1983)
37. Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (#13, 1984)
38. Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back” (#1, 1992)
39. Ed Gallagher & Al Shean “Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean” (#1, 1922)
40. Beck “Loser” (#10, 1993)

41. Bill Snyder “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (#3, 1950)
42. The Sugarhill Gang “Rapper’s Delight” (#36, 1979)
43. Big Four Quartet “Goodbye Dolly Gray” (#1, 1901)
44. Snow Patrol “Chasing Cars” (#5, 2006)
45. Big Joe Turner “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (#22, 1954)
46. Bill Medley “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” (with Jennifer Warnes, #1, 1987) *
47. Thomas Bott “Love’s Old Sweet Song” (#1, 1892)
48. The Chords “Sh-Boom” (#5, 1954)
49. Free “All Right Now” (#4, 1970)
50. Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…)” (#3, 1999)

51. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (#7, 1956)
52. Van McCoy “The Hustle” (#1, 1975)
53. Jimmy Boyd “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (#1, 1952)
54. Regina Belle “A Whole New World” (with Peabo Bryson, #1, 1992) *
55. Mahalia Jackson “Move on Up a Little Higher” (#21, 1948)
56. Carl Douglas “Kung Fu Fighting” (#1, 1974)
57. Lee Ann Womack & the Sons of the Desert “I Hope You Dance” (#14, 2000)
58. OMI “Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)” (#1, 2014)
59. Cecil Fanning “A Perfect Day” (#2, 1911)
60. Kentucky Serenaders “Rose of Washington Square” (#3, 1920)

61. Hozier “Take Me to Church” (#2, 2013)
62. Idina Menzel “Let It Go” (#5, 2013)
63. Everything But the Girl “Missing (Todd Terry Remix)” (#2, 1995)
64. Nicholas Orlando’s Orchestra “Till We Meet Again” (with Harry MacDonough & Charles Hart, #1, 1919) *
65. The Lumineers “Ho Hey” (#3, 20120
66. Sonny James “Young Love” (#1, 1956)
67. Charles Agnew & His Stevens Hotel Orchestra with Stanley Jacobsen “Don’t Blame Me” (#13, 1933)
68. Erroll Garner Trio “Misty” (#30, 1954)
69. Dave Brubeck Quartet “Take Five” (#25, 1959)
70. Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (#6, 1997)

71. M.I.A. “Paper Planes” (#4, 2007)
72. U.S. Naval Academy Band “Anchors Aweigh” (#13, 1906)
73. Bill Hayes “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (#1, 1955)
74. Hoobastank “The Reason” (#2, 2003)
75. Benny Meroff with Dusty Rhodes “Happy Days Are Here Again” (#1, 1930)
76. Paul Mauriat “Love Is Blue” (#1, 1967)
77. Clarence “Pinetop” Smith “Pinetop’s Boogie Woogie” (#20, 1929)
78. Foster the People “Pumped Up Kicks” (#3, 2010)
79. McKinney’s Cotton Pickers with George Thomas “If I Could Be with You One Hour Tonight” (#1, 1930)
80. Mr. Acker Bilk “Stranger on the Shore” (#1, 1961)

81. William Redmond “In the Good Old Summertime” (#3, 1902)
82. Tammy Wynette “Stand by Your Man” (#19, 1968)
83. Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (#2, 1996)
84. Irving Mills “Stardust” (#20, 1930)
85. Kyu Sakamoto “Sukiyaki” (#1, 1963)
86. Silentó “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” (#3, 2015)
87. Zager & Evans “In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” (#1, 1969)
88. The Tornadoes “Telstar” (#1, 1962)
89. Dua Lipa “New Rules” (#6, 2017)
90. Helen Trix “The Bird on Nellie’s Hat” (#3, 1907)

91. Edith Piaf “La Vie En Rose” (#23, 1950)
92. Gorillaz “Feel Good Inc.” (with De La Soul, #14, 2005) *
93. Jeannie C. Riley “Harper Valley P.T.A.” (#1, 1968)
94. The Six Brown Brothers “Darktown Strutters’ Ball” (#10, 1917)
95. Charles Marsh “Throw Him Down, McCloskey” (#1, 1892)
96. Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (#1, 1988)
97. Frank Coombs “The Harbor of Love” (with William H. Thompson, #3, 1912)
98. Ma Rainey “See See Rider Blues” (#14, 1925)
99. Walk the Moon “Shut Up and Dance” (#4, 2014)
100. T-Rex “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” (#10, 1971)

Resources:
 
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Saturday, August 17, 2019

United States: Biggest #1 Songs

First posted 10/29/2017; updated 8/17/2019.

This is a list of the #1 songs of all time according to U.S. pop charts – with a twist. These songs could have hit #1 on any of the following charts:

  • the Billboard Hot 100 chart, 1955-present (BB)
  • the pre-Hot 100 pop charts, 1890-1955 (BB)
  • the Billboard pop airplay chart, 1984-present (BA)
  • Hit Parade, 1935-1955 (HP)
  • Cashbox, 1950-1996 (CB)
  • Hit Records, 1954-1982 (HR)
  • Radio & Records/Mediabase, 1973-2015 (RR)
All songs with 10 or more weeks on any of these charts are listed. If a song hit #1 on more than chart, only the chart where the song had the most weeks is noted. Also, there are some songs (noted with *) which hit #1 multiple times by different artists. This was especially prevalent in the pre-rock era when the focus was more on the song than the artist who recorded it. This allows songs like “Peg O’ My Heart” and “Over There” – which each hit #1 FOUR times on the Billboard charts – to make this list. Artists who took the song to #1 are listed, along with the year the song first charted and how many weeks it was at the pinnacle.

One last note – in the event of ties, songs are ranked according to most overall points in Dave’s Music Database. For songs which hit #1 multiple times, the version which accumulated the most points is used.

So without further ado…

    25 weeks:

  1. Peg O’ My Heart (BB: Charles Harrison, 1913, 7 wks; The Harmonicats, 1947, 8 wks; Buddy Clark, 1947, 6 wks; The Three Suns, 1947, 4 wks)
    22 weeks:

  2. The Third Man Theme (BB: Anton Karas, 1950, 11 wks; Guy Lombardo, 1950, 11 wks)
    21 weeks:

  3. The Gypsy (BB: The Ink Spots, 1946, 13 wks; Dinah Shore, 1946, 8 wks)
    19 weeks:

  4. Oh What It Seemed to Be (BB: Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes, 1946, 11 wks; Frank Sinatra, 1946, 8 wks)
  5. Old Town Road (BB: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus, 2018)

    18 weeks:

  6. Iris (BA: Goo Goo Dolls, 1998)
    17 weeks:

  7. Over There (BB: American Quarter, 1917, 9 wks; Nora Bayes, 1917, 3 wks; Peerless Quartet, 1917, 2 wks; Enrico Caruso, 1918, 3 wks)
  8. In the Good Old Summertime (BB: J.W. Myers, 1902, 7 wks; Haydn Quartet, 1903, 6 wks; Sousa’s Band, 1903, 4 wks)
  9. Near You (BB: Francis Craig with Bob Lamm, 1947)

    16 weeks:

  10. Despacito (BB: Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber, 2017)
  11. We Belong Together (BA: Mariah Carey, 2005)
  12. One Sweet Day (BB: Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men, 1995)
  13. Don’t Speak (BA: No Doubt, 1996)
  14. Girls Like You (BA: Maroon 5 with Cardi B, 2017)
    15 weeks:

  15. It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary (BB: American Quartet, 1914, 7 wks; John McCormack, 1915, 8 wks)
    14 weeks:

  16. White Christmas (BB: Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers, 1942)
  17. I Will Always Love You (BB: Whitney Houston, 1992)
  18. My Blue Heaven (BB: Gene Austin, 1927, 13 wks; Paul Whiteman, 1927, 1 wk)
  19. Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose) (BB: Elton John, 1997)
  20. Uptown Funk! (BB: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars, 2014)
  21. I Gotta Feeling (BB: Black Eyed Peas, 2009)
  22. Shine on, Harvest Moon (BB: Harry MacDonough & Elise Stevenson, 1909, 9 wks; Ada Jones & Billy Murray, 1909, 5 wks)
  23. Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) (BB: Los Del Rio, 1995)
  24. I’ll Make Love to You (BB: Boyz II Men, 1994)
  25. No One (BA: Alicia Keys, 2001)
  26. Because You Loved Me (BA: Celine Dion, 1996)
  27. Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon (BB: Blue Barron & His Orchestra, 1949, 7 wks; Russ Morgan & the Skylarks, 1949, 7 wks)
  28. On the Banks of the Wabash (BB: George J. Gaskin, 1897, 10 wks; Steve Porter, 1898, 4 wks)
  29. High Hopes (BA: Panic! At the Disco, 2018)
    13 weeks:

  30. In the Mood (BB: Glenn Miller, 1939)
  31. Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart) (BB: Haydn Quartet, 1904, 10 wks; Columbia Male Quartet, 1904, 3 wks)
  32. Tennessee Waltz (BB: Patti Page, 1950)
  33. Dardanella (BB: Ben Selvin, 1920)
  34. You Light Up My Life (HR: Debby Boone, 1977)
  35. Goodnight Irene (BB: The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra, 1950)
  36. I’ve Heard That Song Before (BB: Harry James with Helen Forrest, 1943)
  37. Frenesi (BB: Artie Shaw, 1940)
  38. The Glow-Worm (BB: Victor Orchestra, 1908, 5 wks; Lucy Isabelle Marsh, 1908, 5 wks; The Mills Brothers, 1952, 3 wks)
  39. End of the Road (BB: Boyz II Men, 1992)
  40. When You Were Sweet Sixteen (BB: George J. Gaskin, 1900, 8 wks; Jere Mahoney, 1900, 5 wks)
  41. Heartaches (BB: Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner, 1947)
  42. I’ll Be There (BB: The Jackson 5, 1970, 5 wks; BA: Mariah Carey, 1992, 8 wks)
  43. The Boy Is Mine (BB: Brandy with Monica, 1998)
  44. The Sign (BA: Ace of Base, 1994)
  45. The Sidewalks of New York (BB: Dan Quinn, 1895, 9 wks; J.W. Myers, 1895, 4 wks)
  46. No Scrubs (BA: TLC, 1999)
  47. I Love You Always Forever (BA: Donna Lewis, 1996)
    12 weeks:

  48. Alexander’s Ragtime Band (BB: Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan, 1911, 10 wks; Bing Crosby & Connee Boswell, 1938, 2 wks)
  49. Lose Yourself (BB: Eminem, 2002)
  50. Shape of You (BB: Ed Sheeran, 2017)
  51. Yeah! (BB: Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris, 2004)
  52. Till We Meet Again (BB: Henry Burr & Albert Campbell, 1919, 9 wks; Nicholas Orlando’s Orchestra with Harry MacDonough, 1919; 2 wks; Charles Hart with Lewis James, 1919, 1 wk)
  53. Paper Doll (BB: Mills Brothers, 1943)
  54. The Prisoner’s Song (BB: Vernon Dalhart, 1925)
  55. Blurred Lines (BB: Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams, 2013)
  56. See You Again (BB: Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth, 2015)
  57. I’ll Never Smile Again (BB: Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers, 1940)

  58. Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend) (BB: Vaughn Monroe, 1949)
  59. Closer (BB: The Chainsmokers with Halsey, 2016)
  60. Smooth (BB: Santana with Rob Thomas, 1999)
  61. Boom Boom Pow (BB: Black Eyed Peas, 2009)
  62. Sonny Boy (BB: Al Jolson, 1928)
  63. We Found Love (BA: Rihanna with Calvin Harris, 2011)
  64. You Belong to Me (BB: Jo Stafford, 1952)
  65. The Last Round-Up (BB: George Olsen, 1933, 9 wks; Guy Lombardo & Carmen Lombardo, 1933, 3 wks)
  66. Dilemma (BA: Nelly with Kelly Rowland, 2002)
  67. The Band Played On (BB: Dan Quinn, 1895, 10 wks; BB: Guy Lombardo, 1941, 2 wks)
  68. Too Young (HP: Nat “King” Cole, 1951)
    11 weeks:

  69. Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog (BB: Elvis Presley, 1956)
  70. Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time) (BB: Leo Reisman, 1933, 8 wks; Ethel Waters, 1933, 3 wks)
  71. Cheek to Cheek (BB: Leo Reisman & His Orchestra with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, 1935)
  72. Whispering (BB: Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra, 1920)
  73. April Showers (BB: Al Jolson, 1922)
  74. Hello (BA: Adele, 2015)
  75. School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids) (BB: Byron Harlan, 1907)
  76. Casey Jones (BB: American Quartet with Billy Murray, 1910)
  77. Deep Purple (BB: Larry Clinton & Bea Wain, 1939, 9 wks; CB: Nino Tempo & April Stevens, 1963, 2 wks)
  78. Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet (BB: Haydn Quartet, 1909)
  79. God’s Plan (BB: Drake, 2018)
  80. Irreplaceable (BA: Beyoncé, 2006)
  81. Love Yourself (BA: Justin Bieber, 2015)
  82. I’ll Be Missing You (BB: Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112, 1997)
  83. The Preacher and the Bear (BB: Arthur Collins, 1905)
  84. Un-Break My Heart (BB: Toni Braxton, 1996)

  85. Just a Baby’s Prayer at Twilight (For Her Daddy Over There) (BB: Henry Burr, 1918)
  86. Valencia (A Song of Spain) (BB: Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra with Franklyn Baur, 1926)
  87. A Bird in a Gilded Cage (BB: Steve Porter, 1900, 6 wks; Jere Mahoney, 1900, 5 wks)
  88. The Stars and Stripes Forever (BB: John Philip Sousa, 1897, 8 wks; Sousa’s Band, 1901, 3 wks)
  89. Ramona (BB: Gene Austin, 1928, 8 wks; Paul Whiteman, 1928, 3 wks)
  90. I Swear (BB: All-4-One, 1994)
  91. Cry (BB: Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads, 1951)
  92. Torn (BA: Natalie Imbruglia, 1997)
  93. Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You) (BB: Les Paul with Mary Ford, 1953)
  94. Arkansaw Traveler (BB: Len Spencer, 1902)
  95. Independent Women (BB: Destiny’s Child, 2000)
  96. Because of You (HP: Tony Bennett, 1951)
  97. To Each His Own (BB: Eddy Howard, 1946, 8 wks; Freddy Martin & Stuart Wade, 1946, 2 wks; The Ink Spots, 1946, 1 wk)
  98. Ma Tiger Lily (BB: Len Spencer, 1900, 5 wks; BB: Arthur Collins, 1900, 6 wks)
  99. Dreamlover (BB: Mariah Carey, 1993)
  100. Let Me Love You (BA: Mario, 2004)
  101. On Bended Knee (BA: Boyz II Men, 1994)
    10 weeks:

  102. Night and Day (BB: Leo Reisman’s Orchestra with Fred Astaire, 1932)
  103. My Heart Will Go On (BA: Celine Dion, 1997)
  104. You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”) (BB: Billy Murray, 1906)
  105. Pennies from Heaven (BB: Bing Crosby with George Stoll’s Orchestra, 1936)
  106. A-Tisket, A-Tasket (BB: Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra, 1938)
  107. Happy (BB: Pharrell Williams, 2013)
  108. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (BB: Paul Whiteman, 1933, 6 wks; CB/HR: The Platters, 1958, 4 wks)
  109. My Gal Sal (BB: Byron Harlan, 1907)

  110. Low (BB: Flo Rida with T-Pain, 2007)
  111. Buttons and Bows (BB/HP: Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys, 1948)
  112. Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (BB: Byron Harlan, 1906, 9 wks; Harry Tally, 1906, 1 wk)
  113. Gold Digger (BB: Kanye West with Jamie Foxx, 2005)
  114. I’ll Be Seeing You (HP: Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra, 1944)
  115. Some Enchanted Evening (HP: Perry Como, 1949)
  116. One Dance (BB: Drake, 2016)
  117. After the Ball (BB: George J. Gaskin, 1893)
  118. Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips with Me (BB: Nick Lucas, 1929)
  119. Bleeding Love (RR: Leona Lewis, 2007)
  120. Physical (BB: Olivia Newton-John, 1981)

  121. Beautiful Ohio (BB, Henry Burr, 1919, 9 wks; Waldorf-Astoria Dance Orchestra, 1919, 1 wk)
  122. Sweet Leilani (BB: Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire & His Hawaiians, 1937)
  123. Bedelia (BB, Haydn Quartet, 1904, 7 wks; Billy Muray, 1904, 3 wks)
  124. In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town (BB: Ted Lewis & His Band, 1932)
  125. Tell Me Pretty Maiden (BB: Harry MacDonough & Grace Spencer, 1901, 7 wks; Byron Harlan with Frank Stanley, Joe Belmont, & Florodora Girls, 1901, 3 wks)
  126. Stein Song (University of Maine) (BB: Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees, 1930)
  127. Till the End of Time (BB: Perry Como, 1945)
  128. Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy) (BB: Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Bob Eberly & Helen O’Connell, 1941)
  129. Rum and Coca-Cola (BB: The Andrews Sisters, 1945)
  130. Kiss from a Rose (BA: Seal, 1994)

  131. All Alone (BB: Al Jolson, 1925, 5 wks; Paul Whiteman, 1925, 3 wks; John McCormack, 1925, 2 wks)
  132. Ballerina (BB: Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra, 1947)
  133. Love Me and the World Is Mine (BB: Henry Burr, 1906, 7 wks; Albert Campbell, 1906, 3 wks)
  134. Hello Ma Baby (BB: Len Spencer, 1899, 6 wks; Arthur Collins, 1899, 4 wks)
  135. There! I’ve Said It Again (BB, Vaughn Monroe, 1945, 6 wks; Bobby Vinton, 1963, 4 wks)
  136. Moonlight Cocktail (BB: Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ray Eberle & The Modernaires, 1942)
  137. Singing the Blues (BB: Guy Mitchell, 1956)
  138. Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”) (BB: Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders, 1953)
  139. Sincerely (BB: The McGuire Sisters, 1955)
  140. That’s the Way Love Goes (BA: Janet Jackson, 1993)

  141. Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song) (HP: Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers, 1948)
  142. The Laughing Song (BB: George W. Johnson, 1891)
  143. Wheel of Fortune (BB: Kay Starr, 1952)
  144. Lady Marmalade (BB/CB/HR: LaBelle, 1974, 1 wk; RR: Christina Aguilera with Lil’ Kim, Mya, & Pink, 2001, 9 wks)
  145. Hero (BA: Mariah Carey, 1993)
  146. A Tree in the Meadow (HP: Margaret Whiting, 1948)
  147. Hey There (HP: Rosemary Clooney, 1954)
  148. A Hot Time in the Old Town (BB: Dan Quinn, 1896, 7 wks; Len Spencer, 1897, 3 wks)
  149. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (BB: Perez “Prez” Prado, 1955)
  150. My Old New Hampshire Home (BB: George J. Gaskin, 1898)

  151. Foolish (BB: Ashanti with Ja Rule, 2002)
  152. Lollipop (BA: Lil Wayne with Static Major, 2008)
  153. If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake (BB: Eileen Barton, 1950)
  154. Bye Bye Bye (RR: N Sync, 2000)
  155. Maria Maria (BB: Santana with the Product G&B, 2000)
  156. I Went to Your Wedding (BB: Patti Page, 1952)
  157. I Hear a Rhapsody (HP: Jimmy Dorsey, 1941)
  158. If (They Made Me a King) (HP: Perry Como, 1951)
  159. In My Feelings (BB: Drake, 2018)
  160. Someday (BA: Mariah Carey, 1990)
  161. U Got It Bad (BA: Usher, 2001)
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Saturday, August 3, 2019

8/3/2019: “Old Town Road” becomes biggest #1 in Hot 100 History

First posted 7/6/2019; updated 8/19/2019.

Old Town Road

Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus

Writer(s): Montero Hill/Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross/Kowa Roukema (see lyrics here)

Released: 12/3/2018

First Charted: 5/4/2019

Peak: 119 US, 16 A40, 19 CW, 118 RB, 12 UK, 118 CN, 113 AU (Click for codes to singles charts.)

Sales *: 3.0 US, 0.6 UK, 4.46 world (includes US + UK)

Radio Airplay *: --

Video Airplay *: 741.88

Streaming *: 1137.00

* in millions

Review:

At 19 years old, Montero Lamar Hill (professionally known as Lil Nas X) released his debut single, “Old Town Road.” On August 3, 2019, it spent its 17th week atop the Billboard Hot 100 making it the biggest #1 in the chart’s history. The song’s U.S. chart run has been marked by eight weeks in which it accumulated twice as many chart points as the runner-up song, a feat last accomplished by Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” in 1992-93. WK

Hill initially wrote the song out of frustration at being discouraged by his parents and sister. After writing it, he spun the meaning so that “old town road” was a symbol of success. WK YoungKio, a Dutch record producer, produced the beat a year before the song’s release by sampling Nine Inch Nails’ “34 Ghosts IV.” Hill bought the beat for $30. WK

He released it independently and after creating memes to promote the song, it was picked up by users on TikTok, a social video sharing app. The song got picked up on radio when the daughters of two different program directors – DJ Riddler in Houston and Indianapolis and Joe Mack in Memphis – showed their dads the TikTok memes. RS The song grew so quickly in popularity that radio stations had to download the audio from YouTube. WK The song had the rare distinction of debuting simultaneously on the Hot 100 and Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop and country charts in March 2019. However, after its #19 debut on the latter, Billboard magazine disqualified the song, saying it didn’t fit the definition of the genre. WK The move sparked controversy as some, such as music critic Robert Christgau said, “Taking ‘Old Town Road’ off the country chart strikes me as racist pure and simple.” When asked if he consider it a country song, Lil Nas X said, “the song is country trap. It’s not one, it’s not the other. It’s both.” WK

Hill was signed to Columbia Records on March 22, 2019 and then they distributed the single. WK The song hit #1 the week ending April 4, 2019. At one minute and fifty-three seconds, it was the fifth shortest single in the history of the Hot 100 to reach #1 and the shortest since 1965 when Herman’s Hermits topped the charts with “I’m Henry VIII, I Am.” WK

In the wake of the controversy about whether or not the song was country, a remix was released featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, best known for the 1992 country hit “Achy Breaky Heart.” That resulted in 143 million streams in a week, breaking the previous record of 116.2 million streams by Drake’s “In My Feelings.” WK The song exceeded 100 million streams in each of the next eight weeks, landing 9 of the 11 highest streaming weeks in the history of digital music. WK Another remix featuring Cyrus and Diplo was released on April 29. WK Various versions of the song topped the charts in more than a dozen countries. WK

Resources and Related Links:

Note: Footnotes (raised letter codes) refer to sources frequently cited on the blog. Numbers following the letter code indicate page numbers. If the raised letter code is a link, it will go directly to the correct page instead of the home page of a website. You can find the sources and corresponding footnotes on the “Lists” page in the “Song Resources” section.

Awards:

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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Australia: Biggest #1 Songs

First posted 2/27/2013; updated 7/17/2019.

This list is based on songs to top the Australian charts from 1949 to 2019. Australia first created its chart in 1940, but because the charts from 1940 to 1948 were monthly charts and not weekly charts, songs from that era are not included in this list. Ties were determined by which songs have the highest overall point total in Dave’s Music Database.

Note: In the 1940s and ‘50s, a song hitting #1 might have multiple versions. For example, the song “Too Young” hit #1 in 1951 and versions by both Nat “King” Cole and Toni Arden were credited. In such cases, both artists are listed.

15 weeks:

1. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017)

14 weeks:

2. Abba “Fernando” (1976)

13 weeks:

3. The Beatles “Hey Jude” (1968)
4. Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber “Despacito” (2017)
5. Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise” (1995)

12 weeks:

6. Eminem “Lose Yourself” (2002)
7. Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013)
8. Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road” (2018)

11 weeks:

9. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991)
10. Spice Girls “Wannabe” (1996)
11. Drake “God’s Plan” (2018)
12. Paul McCartney & Wings “Mull of Kintyre” (1977)

10 weeks:

13. Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (1992)
14. LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem” (2011)
15. The Platters “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (1958)
16. Sandi Thom “I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker with Flowers in My Hair” (2005)
17. Abba “Mamma Mia” (1975)
18. Daddy Cool “Eagle Rock” (1971)

9 weeks:

19. U.S.A. for Africa “We Are the World” (1985)
20. Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (1995)
21. The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” (2016)
22. “Baby One More Time”…Britney Spears (1998)
23. Katy Perry “Roar” (2013)
24. Shakira with Wyclef Jean “Hips Don’t Lie” (2006)
25. Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (1978)
26. Fergie “Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)” (2007)
27. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989)
28. Hanson “Mmmbop” (1997)
29. Nat “King” Cole/Toni Arden “Too Young” (1951)
30. LMFAO “Sexy and I Know It” (2011)

31. Johnnie Ray “Just Walkin’ in the Rain” (1956)
32. Eiffel 65 “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” (1999)
33. Engelbert Humperdinck “The Last Waltz” (1967)
34. Justice Crew “Que Sera” (2014)

8 weeks:

35. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
36. Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976)
37. Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know” (2011)
38. Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (2013)
39. Lady Gaga “Poker Face” (2008)
40. George Harrison “My Sweet Lord” (1970)

41. Kei$ha “Tik Tok” (2009)
42. Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé “Perfect” (2017)
43. Paul Anka “Diana” (1957)
44. Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984)
45. One Republic with Timbaland “Apologize” (2007)
46. The Beatles “Help!” (1965)
47. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1995)
48. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
49. Lukas Graham “7 Years” (2015)
50. Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love But I Won’t Do That” (1993)

51. The Kingston Trio “Tom Dooley” (1958)
52. The Beatles “Yellow Submarine”/“Eleanor Rigby” (1966)
53. Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5” (1999)
54. Michael Jackson “Black or White” (1991)
55. Doris Day “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera Sera)” (1956)
56. The Beatles “I Feel Fine” (1964)
57. Savage Garden “Truly, Madly, Deeply” (1997)
58. Rihanna “S.O.S. (Rescue Me)” (2006)
59. Shaggy with Rayvon “Angel” (2000)
60. Flo Rida “Whistle” (2012)

61. Split Enz “I Got You” (1980)
62. Nancy Sinatra “These Boots Are Made for Walking” (1966)
63. Perry Como “Catch a Falling Star” (1957)
64. The Cranberries “Zombie” (1994)
65. Michael Jackson “Ben” (1972)
66. Paper Lace “The Night Chicago Died” (1974)
67. Perry Como/The Four Lads “Round and Round” (1957)
68. 5 Seconds of Summer “Youngblood” (2018)
69. Frank Weir/Oberkirchen Children’s Choir “The Happy Wanderer” (1954)
70. Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal” (2001)

71. Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters “Quicksilver” (1950)
72. Hot Butter “Popcorn” (1972)
73. Bing Crosby/Nat “King” Cole “Around the World” (1957)
74. Paper Lace “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” (1974)
75. Bill Haley & His Comets “Joey’s Song” (1959)
76. Joe Dolce “Shaddap You Face” (1980)
77. Pilot “January” (1975)
78. Racey “Lay Your Love on Me” (1978)
79. Normie Rowe “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera Sera)” (1965)
80. Austen Tayshus “Australiana” (1983)

7 weeks:

81. The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”…The Beatles (1963)
82. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
83. The Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” (1965)
84. Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (2009)
85. Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never” (1960)
86. Adele “Someone Like You” (2011)
87. Drake “One Dance” (2016)
88. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop” (2012)
89. Tony Orlando & Dawn “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” (1973)
90. Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (2015)

91. Irene Cara “Flashdance…What a Feelin’” (1983)
92. Carly Simon “You’re So Vain” (1972)
93. Domenico Modugno/Dean Martin “Volare (Nel Blue Dipinto Di Blue)” (1958)
94. Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987)
95. Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar” (2017)
96. Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (1979)
97. TLC “No Scrubs” (1999)
98. Vera Lynn/Eddy Howard “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” (1952)
99. Wham! “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984)
100. Andy Gibb “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” (1977)

101. The Beatles “We Can Work It Out”/“Day Tripper” (1965)
102. Billy Ray Cyrus “Achy Breaky Heart” (1992)
103. Teresa Brewer/Freddy Martin/Donald Peers “Music! Music! Music!” (1950)
104. UB40 “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (1993)
105. The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes “Don’t Cha” (2005)
106. Los Lobos “La Bamba” (1987)
107. Fugees “Killing Me Softly” (1996)
108. Bobby McFerrin “Don’t Worry Be Happy” (1988)
109. The Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There”/“Love Me Do” (1962)
110. David Guetta with Akon “Sexy Bitch” (aka “Sexy Chick”) (2009)

111. James Arthur “Say You Won’t Let Go” (2016)
112. The Beach Boys “Kokomo” (1988)
113. The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979)
114. Hinder “Lips of an Angel” (2006)
115. Nat “King” Cole “Pretend” (1953)
116. Laura Branigan “Gloria” (1982)
117. Bryan Adams “Please Forgive Me” (1993)
118. Pearl Jam “Last Kiss” (1998)
119. All Saints “Never Ever” (1997)
120. Bananarama “Venus” (1986)

121. Cher “If I Could Turn Back Time” (1989)
122. Kylie Minogue “The Loco-Motion” (1987)
123. Pseudo Echo “Funky Town” (1986)
124. Julie Covington “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” (1976)
125. Eddie Hodges “I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door” (1961)
126. John Farnham “You’re the Voice” (1986)
127. Alvin Stardust “My Coo-Ca-Chooo” (1973)
128. Aqua “Dr. Jones” (1998)
129. East 17 “It’s Alright” (1993)
130. John Farnham “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” (1970)

131. Drummond “Daddy Cool” (1971)
132. Pussyfoot “The Way You Do It” (1977)

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