Australia: Songs of the Year, 1950-2022

Australia: Sogs of the Year, 1950-2022

The top songs from 1988 on are based on the Australian (ARIA) charts’ actual year-end lists (link at bottom of page). Year-end #1 songs prior to 1988 are based on which song had the most weeks at #1 that year. Check out other “songs of the year” lists here. 2022: Harry Styles “As It Was” 2021: Glass Animals “Heat Waves” 2020: The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” 2019: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road” 2018: 5 Seconds of Summer “Youngblood” 2017: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” 2016: The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” 2015: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” 2014: Pharrell Williams “Happy” 2013: Katy Perry “Roar” 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” 2011: LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem” 2010: Eminem & Rihanna “Love the Way You Lie” 2009: Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” 2008: Flo Rida & T-Pain “Low” 2007: Fergie “Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)” 2006: Sandi Thom “I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker with Flowers in My Hair” 2005: Anthony Callea “The Prayer” 2004: Shannon Noll “What About Me” 2003: Guy Sebastian “Angels Brought Me Here” 2002: Eminem “Without Me” 2001: LeAnn Rimes “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” 2000: Anastacia “I’m Outta Love” 1999: Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)” 1998: Ricky Martin “The Cup of Life”/ “Maria” 1997: Elton John “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” 1996: Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” 1995: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise” 1994: Wet Wet Wet “Love Is All Around” 1993: Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” 1992: Billy Ray Cyrus “Achy Breaky Heart” 1991: Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” 1990: Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” 1989: Madonna “Like a Prayer” 1988: Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” 1987: Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (7 wks) 1986: Bananarama “Venus” (7 wks) 1985: U.S.A. for Africa “We Are the World“ (9 wks) 1984: Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You“ (8 wks) 1983: Austen Tayshus “Australiana” (8 wks) 1982: Laura Branigan “Gloria” (7 wks) 1981: Joe Dolce Music Theatre “Shaddap You Face” (8 wks) 1980: Split Enz “I Got You” (8 wks) 1979: Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (7 wks) 1978: Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (9 wks) 1977: Paul McCartney & Wings “Mull of Kintyre” (11 wks) 1976: Abba “Fernando” (14 wks) 1975: Abba “Mamma Mia” (10 wks) 1974: Paper Lace “The Night Chicago Died” (8 wks) 1973: Tony Orlando & Dawn “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” (7 wks) 1972: Michael Jackson “Ben” (8 wks) 1971: Daddy Cool “Eagle Rock” (10 wks) 1970: George Harrison “My Sweet Lord“ (8 wks) 1969: The Beatles “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” / “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (6 wks) 1968: The Beatles “Hey Jude“ (13 wks) 1967: Engelbert Humperdinck “The Last Waltz” (9 wks) 1966: The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” / “Eleanor Rigby” (8 wks) 1965: The Beatles “Help!” (8 wks) 1964: The Beatles “I Feel Fine” (8 wks) 1963: The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (7 wks) 1962: The Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There”/“Love Me Do” (7 wks) 1961: Eddie Hodges “I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door” (7 wks) 1960: Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never” (7 wks) 1959: Bill Haley & His Comets “Joey’s Song” (8 wks) 1958: The Platters “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (10 wks) 1957: Paul Anka “Diana” (8 wks) 1956: Johnnie Ray “Just Walkin’ in the Rain” (9 wks) 1955: Bill Haley & His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (6 wks) 1954: Frank Weir/Oberkirchen Children’s Choir “The Happy Wanderer” (8 wks) 1953: Nat “King” Cole “Pretend” (7 wks) 1952: Vera Lynn/Eddy Howard “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” (7 wks) 1951: Nat “King” Cole/Toni Arden “Too Young” (9 wks) 1950: Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters “Quicksilver” (8 wks) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “‘Songs of the Year’ lists” ARIA.com “End of Year Charts” (1988-2019) DMDB blog (2/26/2013). 1000 #1 Songs in Australia, 1940-2013 Wikipedia (7/15/2019). ARIA Charts: Number-one Singles First posted 4/24/2020; last updated 1/7/2023.