Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Rap/Hip-Hop: Annual Song Awards, 1979-2022

Rap/Hip-Hop:

Annual Song Awards

This page offers a consolidated list of the rap songs of each year as determined by various organizations and entities. They include:

  • American Music Awards: Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year (2016-2022)
  • BET Hip Hop Awards, Single of the Year (2006-2022)
  • Billboard: Rap Song of the Year (1989-2022). Award generally given the year after indicated. Some gaps were filled in by the song which spent the most weeks atop the rap chart that year.
  • Dave’s Music Database: Rap Song of the Year (1979-2022)
  • Grammys: Best Rap Song (2004-2023), Best Rap Performance (1989-1990, 2012-2023), Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (1991-2011), Best Rap Solo Performance (1991-2011). Award generally given the year after indicated.
  • Soul Train: Rap Song of the Year (2010-2020)

See links at bottom of page for more details on above.

Click here to see other ‘Songs of the Year’ lists.


2022:
  • AMA: Future with Drake & Tems “Wait for U”
  • BET: Latto “Big Energy”
  • Billboard: Jack Harlow “First Class”
  • DMDB: Jack Harlow “First Class”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar “The Heart Part 5”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar “The Heart Part 5”
2021:
  • AMA: Cardi B “Up”
  • BET: Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
  • Billboard: Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow “Industry Baby”
  • DMDB: Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow “Industry Baby”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kanye West with Jay-Z “Jail”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Baby Keem with Kendrick Lamar “Family Ties”
2020:
  • AMA: Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
  • BET: Roddy Ricch “The Box”
  • Billboard: DaBaby with Roddy Ricch “Rockstar”
  • DMDB: Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Megan Thee Stallion with Beyoncé “Savage”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Megan Thee Stallion with Beyoncé “Savage”
  • Soul Train: Megan Thee Stallion with Beyoncé “Savage”

2019:
  • AMA: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
  • BET: Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
  • Billboard: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
  • DMDB: Roddy Ricch “The Box”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: 21 Savage “A Lot”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Nipsey Hussle with Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy “Racks in the Middle”
  • Soul Train: Cardi B “Money”
2018:
  • AMA: Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
  • BET: The Carters (Jay-Z & Beyoncé) “Apeshit”
  • Billboard: Cardi B with Bad Bunny & J Balvin “I Like It”
  • DMDB: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Drake “God’s Plan”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Anderson Paak “Bubblin’” / Kendrick Lamar with Jay Rock, Future & James Blake “King’s Dead”
  • Soul Train: Drake “In My Feelings”
2017:
  • AMA: DJ Khaled with Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne “I’m the One”
  • BET: Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
  • Billboard: Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar”
  • DMDB: Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar “Humble”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar “Humble”
  • Soul Train: Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
2016:
  • AMA: Drake “Hotline Bling”
  • BET: Fat Joe with Remy Ma, French Montana, and Infared “All the Way Up”
  • Billboard: Desiigner “Panda”
  • DMDB: Drake with WizKid & Kyla “One Dance”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Drake “Hotline Bling”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Chance the Rapper with Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz “No Problem”
  • Soul Train: Fat Joe with Remy Ma, French Montana, and Infared “All the Way Up”

2015:
  • BET: Fetty Wap “Trap Queen”
  • Billboard: Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth “See You Again”
  • DMDB: Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth “See You Again”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar “Alright”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar “Alright”
  • Soul Train: Kendrick Lamar “Alright”
2014:
  • BET: YG with Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan “My Hitta”
  • Billboard: Iggy Azalea with Charli XCX “Fancy”
  • DMDB: Iggy Azalea with Charli XCX “Fancy”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar “i”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar “i”
  • Soul Train: Chris Brown with Lil Wayne & Tyga “Loyal”
2013:
  • BET: Drake “Started from the Bottom”
  • Billboard: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Ray Dalton “Can’t Hold Us”
  • DMDB: Pitbull with Kesha “Timber”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop”
  • Soul Train: Wale with Tiara Thomas “Bad”
2012:
  • BET: Jay-Z with Kanye West “Niggas in Paris”
  • Billboard: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop”
  • DMDB: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Jay-Z with Kanye West “Niggas in Paris”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Jay-Z with Kanye West “Niggas in Paris”
  • Soul Train: Kanye West with Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz “Mercy”
2011:
  • BET: Wiz Khalifa “Black and Yellow”
  • Billboard: LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”
  • DMDB: LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kanye West with Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie “All of the Lights”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Jay-Z with Kanye West “Otis”
  • Soul Train: Nicki Minaj with Drake “Moment 4 Life”

2010:
  • BET: Rick Ross with Styles P “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)”
  • Billboard: Eminem & Rihanna “Love the Way You Lie”
  • DMDB: Eminem & Rihanna “Love the Way You Lie”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: “Empire State of Mind”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Jay-Z with Swizz Beatz “On to the Next One”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Eminem “Not Afraid”
  • Soul Train: Eminem & Rihanna “Love the Way You Lie”
2009:
  • BET: Young Money “Every Girl”
  • Billboard: Drake “Best I Ever Had”
  • DMDB: Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Jay-Z with Rihanna & Kanye West “Run This Town”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Eminem with Dr. Dre & 50 Cent “Crack a Bottle”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Jay-Z “DOA (Death of Auto-Tune)”
2008:
  • BET: Lil Wayne “A Milli”
  • Billboard: Lil Wayne with Static Major “Lollipop”
  • DMDB: Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Lil Wayne with Static Major “Lollipop”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Jay-Z with T.I., Kanye West, & Lil Wayne “Swagga Like Us”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Lil Wayne “A Milli”
2007:
  • BET: Da Shop Boyz “Party Like a Rockstar”
  • Billboard: Flo Rida & T-Pain “Low”
  • DMDB: Flo Rida & T-Pain “Low”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kanye West with T-Pain “Good Life”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Common with Kanye West “Southside”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Kanye West “Stronger”
2006:
  • BET: Yung Joc with Nitti “It’s Goin’ Down”
  • Billboard: Nelly with Paul Wall, Ali & Gip “Grillz”
  • DMDB: Chamillionaire with Krayzie Bone “Ridin’”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Ludacris with Pharrell Williams “Money Maker”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Chamillionaire with Krayzie Bone “Ridin’”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: T.I. “What You Know”

2005:
  • Billboard: Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz with Usher and Ludacris “Lovers and Friends”
  • DMDB: Kanye West & Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kanye West “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Black Eyed Peas “Don’t Phunk with My Heart”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Kanye West & Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger”
2004:
  • Billboard: Terror Squad with Fat Joe & Remy “Lean Back”
  • DMDB: Snoop Dogg with Pharrell Williams “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Kanye West “Jesus Walks”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Black Eyed Peas “Let’s Get It Started”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Jay-Z “99 Problems”
2003:
  • Billboard: 50 Cent “In Da Club”
  • DMDB: OutKast “Hey Ya!”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Song: Eminem “Lose Yourself”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Nelly with P. Diddy & Murphy Lee “Shake Ya Tailfeather”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance (Male): Eminem “Lose Yourself”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance (Female): Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott “Work It”

2002:
  • Billboard: Nelly “Hot in Herre”
  • DMDB: Eminem “Lose Yourself”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: OutKast with Killer Mike “The Whole World”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance (Male): Nelly “Hot in Herre”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance (Female): Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott “Scream aka Itchin’”
2001:
  • Billboard: Bow Wow with Snoop Dogg “Bow Wow (That’s My Name)”
  • DMDB: Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott “Get Ur Freak On”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: OutKast “Ms. Jackson”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott “Get Ur Freak On”
2000:
  • Billboard: Bow Wow with Xscape “Bounce with Me”
  • DMDB: Eminem & Dido “Stan”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Dr. Dre with Eminem “Forgot About Dre”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Eminem “The Real Slim Shady”
1999:
  • Billboard: JT Money with Solé “Who Dat”
  • DMDB: Dr. Dre with Eminem “Forgot About Dre”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: The Roots with Erykah Badu “You Got Me”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Eminem “My Name Is”
1998:
  • Billboard: Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz “Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby)”
  • DMDB: Lauryn Hill “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Beastie Boys “Intergalactic”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Will Smith “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”

1997:
  • Billboard: Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You”
  • DMDB: Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Will Smith “Men in Black”
1996:
  • Billboard: Lil Kim with Puff Daddy “No Time”
  • DMDB: Blackstreet with Dr. Dre “No Diggity”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony “Tha Crossroads”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: LL Cool J with Boyz II Men “Hey Lover”
1995:
  • Billboard: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise”
  • DMDB: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Method Man with Mary J. Blige “I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise”

1994:
  • Billboard: Craig Mack “Flava in Ya Ear”
  • DMDB: The Notorious B.I.G. “Juicy”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Salt-N-Pepa “None of Your Business”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Queen Latifah “U.N.I.T.Y.”
1993:
  • Billboard: Illegal “We Getz Busy”
  • DMDB: Tag Team “Whoomp! There It Is”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Digable Planets “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Dr. Dre “Let Me Ride”
1992:
  • Billboard: Cypress Hill “The Phuncky Feel One”
  • DMDB: Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Arrested Development “Tennessee”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back”
1991:
  • Billboard: Cypress Hill “How I Could Just Kill a Man”
  • DMDB: Naughty by Nature “O.P.P.”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince “Summertime”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: LL Cool J “Mama Said Knock You Out”

1990:
  • Billboard: Salt-N-Pepa “Expression”
  • DMDB: MC Hammer “U Can’t Touch This”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Quincy Jones with Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel & Quincy Jones III “Back on the Block”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Solo Performance: MC Hammer “U Can’t Touch This”
1989:
  • Billboard: Stop the Violence Movement “Self Destruction”
  • DMDB: Public Enemy “Fight the Power”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: Young MC “Bust a Move”
1988:
  • DMDB: Tone Loc “Wild Thing”
  • Grammy – Best Rap Performance: DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince “Parents Just Don’t Understand”
1987:
  • DMDB: Salt-N-Pepa “Push It”

1986:
  • DMDB: Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way”
1985:
  • DMDB: Run-D.M.C. “King of Rock”
1984:
  • DMDB: Run-D.M.C. “Rock Box”
1983:
  • DMDB: Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “White Lines (Don’t Do It)”

1982:
  • DMDB: Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message”
1981:
  • DMDB:
1980:
  • DMDB: Blondie “Rapture”
1979:

Resources/Related Links:

First posted 6/21/2023.

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Wednesday, June 14, 2023

The Smiths/Morrissey: Top 50 Songs

The Smiths

left to right: Andy Rourke, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, and Mike Joyce;
image from Wikipedia.org

The Smiths were a college rock/synth-pop group formed in Manchester, England. They only lasted five years (1982-1987), but had a significant impact. The band was comprised of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass), and Mike Joyce (drums). The Smiths’ 1986 album The Queen is Dead is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time.

Morrissey went on to a successful solo career after the band broke up. Marr worked with other bands, most notably The The (1988-94) and Electronic (1989-98), recorded a couple of solo albums (2013-14), did session work with Beck, Bryan Ferry, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads and others and produced Modest Mouse (2006-09). Rourke died on 5/19/2023 at 59 years old.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Check out the DMDB podcast episode The Best of the Smiths, 1983-1987 (In Memory of Andy Rourke) based on this list.

Awards (The Smiths):

Awards (Morrissey):

Top 50 Songs

This list includes material by the Smiths and Morrissey as a solo artist (noted in parentheses). 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 various charts are noted.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. How Soon Is Now? (1984)

DMDB Top 2%:

2. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (1986)
3. This Charming Man (1983)

DMDB Top 5%:

4. Everyday Is Like Sunday (Morrissey, 1988)

DMDB Top 10%:

5. Suedehead (Morrissey, 1988)
6. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (1984)
7. Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (1984)
8. The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get (Morrissey, 1994) #1 MR

DMDB Top 20%:

9. Panic (1986)
10. William It Was Really Nothing (1984)

11. Bigmouth Strikes Again (1986)
12. Girlfriend in a Coma (1987)
13. Irish Blood, English Heart (Morrissey, 2004)
14. Hand in Glove (1983)
15. Ask (1986)
16. Shoplifters of the World Unite (1987)
17. Sheila Take a Bow (1987)
18. Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before (1987)
19. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (1985)
20. What Difference Does It Make? (1984)

21. First of the Gang to Die (Morrissey, 2004)
22. Half a Person (1987)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

23. The Last of the Famous International Playboys (Morrissey, 1989)
24. Tomorrow (Morrissey, 1992) #1 MR
25. Is It Really So Strange? (1987)
26. Paint a Vulgar Picture (1987)
27. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (1987)
28. Shakespeare’s Sister (1985)
29. That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore (1985)

30. Girl Afraid (1984)
31. Asleep (1985)
32. Sweet and Tender Hooligan (1987)
33. Still Ill (1984)
34. I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish (1987)
35. November Spawned a Monster (Morrissey, 1990)
36. Interesting Drug (Morrissey, 1989)
37. You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby (1987)
38. You Have Killed Me (Morrissey, 2006)
39. The Headmaster Ritual (1985)
40. Ouija Board, Ouija Board (Morrissey, 1989)

41. We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful (Morrissey, (1992)
42. Boxers (Morrissey, 1995)
43. Piccadilly Palare (Morrissey, 1990)
44. The Queen Is Dead (1986)
45. Our Frank (Morrissey, 1991)
46. Sing Your Life (Morrissey, 1991)
47. Frankly Mr. Shankly (1986)
48. Death of a Disco Dancer (1987)
49. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (1986)
50. Reel Around the Fountain (1983)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 2/7/2020; updated 6/14/2023.

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Tina Turner: Top 50 Songs

Tina Turner

Top 50 Songs

R&B/rock singer born Anna Mae Bullock on 11/26/39 in Nutbush, TN. Died 5/24/2023. Found success as half of a duo with Ike Turner, to whom she was married from 1962-78. After a few overlooked solo efforts in the ‘70s, Tina returned with the album Private Dancer in 1984 and launched one of rock’s greatest comeback stories. The 12-time Grammy winner has been called “The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and sold more than 200 million records worldwide.

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

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Check out the DMDB podcast episode Celebrating Tina Turner, 1939-2023 based on this list.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. What’s Love Got to Do with It? (1984)
2. River Deep, Mountain High (with Ike, 1966)

DMDB Top 5%:

3. Proud Mary (with Ike, 1971)
4. We Don’t Need Another Hero (1985)
5. The Best (1989)

DMDB Top 10%:

6. Private Dancer (1984)
7. I Don’t Wanna Fight (1993)
8. Typical Male (1986)
9. It’s Only Love (with Bryan Adams, 1984)
10. Better Be Good to Me (1984)
11. Let’s Stay Together (1983)

DMDB Top 20%:

12. Help! (1984)
13. Tonight (with David Bowie, 1984)
14. Come Together (with Ike, 1970)
15. Nutbush City Limits (with Ike, 1973)
16. One of the Living (1985)
17. Two People (1986)
18. What You Get Is What You See (1986)
19. Golden Eye (1995)
20. Tearing Us Apart (with Eric Clapton, 1986)

21. Steamy Windows (1989)
22. I Want to Take You Higher (with Ike, 1970)
23. It Takes Two (with Rod Stewart, 1990)
24. Ooh Poo Pah Doo (with Ike, 1964)
25. Fool in Love (with Ike, 1960)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

26. Show Some Respect (1984)
27. Why Must We Wait Until Tonight (1993)
28. Missing You (1996)
29. It’s Gonna Work Out Fine (with Ike, 1961)
30. Up in Heah (with Ike, 1972)

31. When the Heartache Is Over (1999)
32. Baby Get It On (with Ike, 1975)
33. Bold Soul Sister (with Ike, 1969)
34. Sexy Ida (with Ike, 1974)
35. Tra La La La La (with Ike, 1962)
36. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (1969)
37. Come Together (1976)
38. Addicted to Love (1988)
39. I Idolize You (with Ike, 1960)
40. I Can’t Stand the Rain (1984)

41. Workin’ Together (with Ike, 1970)
42. I’m Yours (Use Me Anyway You Wanna) (with Ike, 1971)
43. Poor Fool (with Ike, 1961)
44. The Hunter (with Ike, 1969)
45. You Should’a Treated Me Right (with Ike, 1962)
46. Open Arms (2004)
47. Break Every Rule (1986)
48. Look Me in the Heart (1989)
49. I Don’t Wanna Lose You (1989)
50. I Can’t Believe What You Say for Seeing What You Do (with Ike, 1964)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 5/27/2023; last updated 6/14/2023.

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The Top 100 Songs of Sting & The Police

Sting & The Police

Top 100 Songs

Rock singer/bassist Sting was born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner on 10/2/1951 in Wallsend, England. He got the nickname “Sting” because of a yellow and black jersey he used to wear. He was in the groups Last Exit, Strontium 90, and Nuclear Waste before forming the new wave group The Police with drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers. They released five studio albums from 1978 to 1983. In 1985, Sting released his first solo album.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Check out the DMDB podcast episodes The Best of Sting, 1985-2021 and The Best of the Police, 1977-1986 (In Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Synchronicity) based on this list.

Awards (The Police):

Awards (Sting):

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 are by Sting unless noted otherwise.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Every Breath You Take (The Police, 1983)
2. Roxanne (The Police, 1978)

DMDB Top 2%:

3. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police, 1981)
4. Message in a Bottle (The Police, 1979)
5. All for Love (Sting with Rod Stewart & Bryan Adams, 1993)
6. Fields of Gold (1993)

DMDB Top 5%:

7. Don’t Stand So Close to Me (The Police, 1980)
8. King of Pain (The Police, 1983)
9. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You (1993)
10. Spirits in the Material World (The Police, 1981)

11. Synchronicity II (The Police, 1983)
12. All This Time (1991)
13. Desert Rose (with Cheb Mami, 1999)
14. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (1985)

DMDB Top 10%:

15. Englishman in New York (1987)
16. Wrapped Around Your Finger (The Police, 1983)
17. De Do Do Do De Da Da Da (The Police, 1980)
18. Russians (1985)
19. Fortress Around Your Heart (1985)
20. Walking on the Moon (The Police, 1979)

21. Can’t Stand Losing You (The Police, 1978)
22. Be Still My Beating Heart (1987)
23. We’ll Be Together (1987)
24. Love Is the Seventh Wave (1985)
25. Fragile (1987)
26. Invisible Sun (The Police, 1981)
27. Don’t Stand So Close to Me ‘86 (The Police, 1986)

DMDB Top 20%:

28. It’s Probably Me (Sting with Eric Clapton, 1992)
29. So Lonely (The Police, 1978)
30. They Dance Alone (1987)

31. I Burn for You (The Police, 1982)
32. When We Dance (1994)
33. Brand New Day (1999)
34. Epilogue (Nothing ‘Bout Me) (1993)
35. You Still Touch Me (1996)
36. Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)
37. Driven to Tears (The Police, 1981)
38. Moon Over Bourbon Street (1985)
39. Secret Journey (The Police, 1981)
40. Always on Your Side (Sheryl Crow with Sting, 2006)

41. Mack the Knife (1959)
42. When the World Is Running Down You Make the Best of What’s Still Around (The Police, 1980)
43. Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing) (2003)
44. I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying (1996)
45. The Soul Cages (1991)
46. Spread a Little Happiness (1982)
47. Send Your Love (2003)
48. The Bed’s Too Big Without You (The Police, 1979)
49. Shape of My Heart (1993)
50. My Funny Valentine (2002)

51. Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot (1996)
52. Down So Long (live with Jeff Beck, 1986)
53. Why Should I Cry for You? (1991)
54. Roxanne (live, 1981)
55. Murder by Numbers (The Police, 1983)
56. Message in a Bottle (live, 1981)
57. I Can’t Stop Thinking About You (2016)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

58. Bring on the Night (The Police, 1979)
59. Strange Fruit (1987)
60. Ain’t No Sunshine (live, 1991)

61. Little Wing (1987)
62. Demolition Man (The Police, 1981)
63. I Hung My Head (1996)
64. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay (2020)
65. Whenever I Say Your Name (Sting with Mary J. Blige, 2003)
66. Mad About You (1991)
67. Canary in a Coal Mine (The Police, 1980)
68. Synchronicity I (The Police, 1983)
69. This Cowboy Song (1995)
70. Tea in the Sahara (The Police, 1983)

71. Fall Out (The Police, 1977)
72. Demolition Man (new recording, 1993)
73. The Lazarus Heart (1987)
74. After the Rain Has Fallen (1999)
75. Next to You (The Police, 1978)
76. On Any Other Day (The Police, 1979)
77. Rock Steady (1987)
78. Brimstone and Treacle (1982)
79. Walking in Your Footsteps (The Police, 1983)
80. A Day in the Life (live, 1993)

81. Practical Arrangement (Sting with Jo Lawry, 2013)
82. The River (Sting live with Bruce Springsteen, 1988)
83. Consider Me Gone (1985)
84. Seven Days (1993)
85. Tomorrow We’ll See (1999)
86. I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying (Sting with Toby Keith, 1997)
87. I Shall Be Released (Sting et al live, 1981)
88. Be My Girl – Sally (The Police, 1978)
89. Truth Hits Everybody (The Police, 1978)
90. Fill Her Up (1999)

91. Voices Inside My Head (The Police, 1980)
92. Don’t Make Me Wait (with Shaggy, 2018)
93. Does Everybody Stare (The Police, 1979)
94. Come Down in Time (1991)
95. We Work the Black Seam (1985)
96. Need Your Love So Bad (1982)
97. Only You (1982)
98. Bombs Away (The Police, 1980)
99. Tempted (live, 1991)
100. Tutti Frutti (1982)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 10/4/2011; updated 6/14/2023.
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