Radio & Records/Mediabase Top 100 Songs

Radio & Records/Mediabase: Top 100+ Songs (1973-2025)

Radio & Records was an independent trade publication which published a weekly pop songs chart as a competitor to Billboard magazine. It ran from October 3, 1973 to August 4, 2006, when it was taken over by Mediabase, who has continued the chart to present day. This list is based on song’s most weeks at #1 on that chart. Tie-breakers are broken based on which songs have the most points in Dave’s Music Database. The list includes all songs to top the charts for six weeks or more. Check other lists based on charts, sales, and airplay here. 16 weeks: 1. Alex Warren “Ordinary” (2025) 12 weeks: 2. Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (1996) 11 weeks: 3. Mariah Carey “We Belong Together” (2005) 4. Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (1997) 10 weeks: 5. Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (2013) 6. The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” (2016) 7. Miley Cyrus “Flowers” (2023) 8. Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” (2007) 9. Kid Laroi with Justin Bieber “Stay” (2021) 10. N Sync “Bye Bye Bye” (2000) 9 weeks: 11. Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (1997) 12. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017) 13. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1995) 14. Ace of Base “The Sign” (1993) 15. Hanson “Mmmbop” (1997) 16. Christina Aguilera with Lil’ Kim, Mya, & Pink “Lady Marmalade” (2001) 17. Mariah Carey “Dreamlover” (1993) 18. Dionne Farris “I Know” (1995) 8 weeks: 19. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 20. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998) 21. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001) 22. Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men “One Sweet Day” (1995) 23. Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (1994) 24. Beyoncé “Irreplaceable” (2006) 25. Fergie “Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)” (2007) 26. Avril Lavigne “Complicated” (2002) 27. Hoobastank “The Reason” (2003) 28. 24K Goldn with Iann Dior “Mood” (2020) 29. Maroon 5 “One More Night” (2012) 30. The Rembrandts “I’ll Be There for You” (1995) 31. Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer” (2019) 32. Nelly with Tim McGraw “Over and Over” (2004) 33. Tate McRae “Greedy” (2023) 7 weeks: 34. Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (1992) 35. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003) 36. The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (2020) 37. Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (1999) 38. Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011) 39. Ke$ha “Tik Tok” (2009) 40. Shakira with Wyclef Jean “Hips Don’t Lie” (2006) 41. One Republic with Timbaland “Apologize” (2007) 42. Celine Dion “Because You Loved Me” (1996) 43. Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana” (2017) 44. Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg “California Gurls” (2010) 45. Kelly Clarkson “Since U Been Gone” (2004) 46. Elton John with Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976) 47. Ricky Martn “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999) 48. Nelly Furtado with Timbaland “Promiscuous” (2006) 49. Destiny’s Child “Independent Women” (2000) 50. Post Malone “Circles” (2019) 51. Adele “Easy on Me” (2021) 52. Journey “Open Arms” (1981) 53. Billie Eilish “Birds of a Feather” (2024) 54. Harry Styles “Watermelon Sugar” (2019) 55. Doja Cat “Paint the Town Red” 56. Shaggy with Rayvon “Angel” (2000) 57. Ariana Grande “Positions” (2020) 58. Sugar Ray “Every Morning’ (1998) 6 weeks: 59. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) 60. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991) 61. Eminem “Lose Yourself” (2002) 62. Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014) 63. Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (2009) 64. Flo Rida with T-Pain “Low” (2007) 65. Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow” (2009) 66. Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (1977) 67. Bee Gees “Night Fever” (1977) 68. Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera “Moves Like Jagger” (2011) 69. Blondie “Call Me” (1980) 70. Boyz II Men “End of the Road” (1992) 71. Alicia Keys “No One” (2007) 72. Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (1978) 73. Harry Styles “As It Was” (2022) 74. Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (1974) 75. Olivia Newton-John “I Honestly Love You” (1974) 76. Captain & Tennille “Love Will Keep Us Together” (1975) 77. Linkin Park “In the End” (2000) 78. Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (1993) 79. Sia with Sean Paul “Cheap Thrills” (2015) 80. Janet Jackson “That’s the Way Love Goes” (1993) 81. Bruno Mars “Locked Out of Heaven” (2012) 82. Gwen Stefani “Hollaback Girl” (2005) 83. Rod Stewart “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978) 84. Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake “Where Is the Love?” (2003) 85. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981) 86. Mariah Carey “Fantasy” (1995) 87. Ariana Grande “7 Rings” (2019) 88. Olivia Rodrigo “Good 4 U” (2021) 89. Benson Boone “Beautiful Things” (2024) 90. Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (1997) 91. Zedd with Maren Morris “The Middle” (2018) 92. Paul McCartney & Wings “Silly Love Songs” (1976) 93. Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now” (2019) 94. Lizzo “About Damn Time” (2022) 95. Jonas Brothers “Sucker” (2019) 96. Elton John “Philadelphia Freedom” (1975) 97. Daryl Hall & John Oates “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” (1981) 98. Panic! At the Disco “High Hopes” (2018) 99. Third Eye Blind “Semi-Charmed Life” (1997) 100. Taylor Swift with Kendrick Lamar “Bad Blood” (2014) 101. Sam Smith with Kim Petras “Unholy” (2022) 102. Barenaked Ladies “One Week” (1998) 103. Boyz II Men “On Bended Knee” (1994) 104. Timbaland with Doe & Keri Hilson “The Way I Are” (2007) 105. Alanis Morissette “You Learn” (1995) 106. Katy Perry with Kanye West “E.T.” (2010) 107. The Cardigans “Lovefool” (1996) 108. Taylor Swift “I Knew You Were Trouble” (2012) 109. Sugar Ray with Super Cat “Fly” (1997) 110. Rosé with Bruno Mars “Apt.” (2024) 111. Beyoncé with Slim Thug & Bun B “Check on It” (2005) 112. Sabrina Carpenter “Taste” (2024) 113. Mariah Carey “I’ll Be There (live)” (1992) 114. Zedd with Alessia Cara “Stay” (2017) 115. Ace of Base “Don’t Turn Around” (1994) 116. Miguel “Sure Thing” (2011) 117. N Sync “It’s Gonna Be Me” (2000) 118. JoJo “Leave (Get Out)” (2004) 119. Kelly Clarkson “Miss Independent” (2003) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Lists Based on Charts, Sales, and Airplay” Dave’s Music Database: “Radio & Records/Mediabase: Songs of the Year” Mediabase.com Pollstar.com “Top 40 Mediabase Airplay Charts” First posted 5/25/2016; last updated 2/4/2026.

Max Martin: Top 40 Songs

image from tv.aftonbladet.se

More than any other individual, Max Martin may be responsible for the sound of pop music in the 21st century. As a producer and songwriter, he made a name for himself in the late ‘90s as the man behind hits by Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and N Sync. He went on to helm songs by Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Pink, and Taylor Swift. He has co-written 21 #1 songs (noted below) on the Billboard Hot 100, putting him third behind Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26). He’s been behind 54 top-ten hits, putting him ahead of Madonna, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. He has produced 19 #1 hits, putting him second only to George Martin (23).

So, in celebration of Martin’s accomplisments, here are his top songs of all time according to Dave’s Music Database:

1. Britney Spears…Baby One More Time (1998) #1
2. Katy Perry…Roar (2013) #1
3. Katy Perry with Juicy J…Dark Horse (2013) #1
4. Taylor Swift…Shake It Off (2014) #1
5. Katy Perry…I Kissed a Girl (2008) #1
6. Taylor Swift…Blank Space (2014) #1
7. Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg…California Gurls (2010) #1
8. Taylor Swift…We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (2012) #1
9. Kelly Clarkson…Since U Been Gone (2004)
10. Katy Perry…Hot N Cold (2008)

11. Maroon 5…One More Night (2012) #1
12. Backstreet Boys…I Want It That Way (1999)
13. Taio Cruz…Dymamite (2010)
14. Katy Perry with Kanye West…E.T. (2011) #1
15. Pink…So What (2008) #1
16. Taylor Swift…I Knew You Were Trouble (2012)
17. Katy Perry….Teenage Dream (2010) #1
18. Ariana Grande with Izzy Azalea…Problem (2014)
19. Britney Spears…Oops! I Did It Again (2000)
20. Ellie Goulding…Love Me Like You Do (2015)

21. Usher with Pitbull…DJ Got Us Falling in Love (2010)
22. Katy Perry…Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (2010) #1
23. Katy Perry…Wide Awake (2012)
24. Pink…Raise Your Glass (2010) #1
25. Taylor Swift…Bad Blood (2015) #1
26. Kelly Clarkson…My Life Would Suck Without You (2009) #1
27. Katy Perry…The One That Got Away (2011)
28. Jessie J with Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj…Bang Bang (2014)
29. Jessie J…Domino (2011)
30. Pink…Fuckin’ Perfect (2010)

31. Taylor Swift…22 (2013)
32. Katy Perry…Part of Me (2012) #1
33. Pink…Who Knew (2006)
34. Kelly Clarkson…Behind These Hazel Eyes (2005)
35. Britney Spears with Nicki Minaj & Ke$ha…Till the World Ends (2011)
36. Taylor Swift…Style (2015)
37. The Weeknd…Can’t Feel My Face (2015) #1
38. Avril Lavigne…What the Hell (2011)
39. Pink…U + Ur Hand (2006)
40. Backstreet Boys…Quit Playing Games with My Heart (1996)

Justin Timberlake hit #1 with “SexyBack”

SexyBack Justin Timberlake

Writer(s): Justin Timberlake/Tim Mosley/Nate "Danja" Hills (see lyrics here) Released: July 18, 2006 First Charted: July 14, 2006 Peak: 17 US, 14 BA, 15 DG, 15 RR, 18 A40, 11 RB, 11 UK 1 CN, 12 AU, 22 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.9 US, 0.65 UK, 6.22 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.5 radio, 223.3 video, 623.31 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Even back in N Sync’s heyday, you always got the feeling that Timberlake was just a little bit…well, funkier than those other boy band singers.” MX Naysayers couldn’t help but ask who is “this skinny, pasty, curly-haired, girly-singing, Walt Disney World teeny-bopper to talk about bringing sexy back? And BACK? Back from where?” LR However, doubters were “forced to sign off…on Justin’s hot, hot hit” LR and acknowledge that he could “do no wrong. Two great albums after leaving a boy band, television and movie appearances where he’s proven to be pretty damn funny and a collaborator with many, he’s almost untouchable.” PD Kanye West said at one point that “Justin Timberlake should be the #1 artist on the planet (right before stating that he himself is actually that guy, of course).” PD Timberlake told Observer Music Monthly, “The chorus is very James Brown-ish…It’s a very physical song, meant to provoke sexual dance. ‘Sex Machine’ is the closest reference.” SF He also said the song’s vocals were influenced by Prince, WK but that he sang the song in a rock style instead of an R&B style, as if David Bowie and David Byrne were covering James Brown’s “Sex Machine.” WK He said the end result “doesn’t qualify as rock or straight funk” WK but that he liked it being described as “club funk.” WK Andrew Murfett of The Age said the song “introduced a new phrase into the pop cultural lexicon.” WK Billboard’s Katy Kroll said one “can almost feel beads of sweat rolling off” WK the track and that when Timberlake “claims to be bringing sexy back to pop music…indeed he is.” WK Entertainment Weekly amusingly wrote, “We didn’t even know that sexy was missing until 2006. We’re just happy Justin brought it back safe and sound.” WK The instrumental backing is built on “a pounding bass beat, electronic chords, and beat box sounds.” WK Instead of his “famous falsetto,” WK Timberlake’s voice is distorted on the track and features backing vocals from Timbaland, who also produced the track. He’d previously worked on Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” and also produced Nelly Furtado’s #1 hit “Promiscuous.” SF PopMatters.com’s Quentin B. Huff called “SexyBack” a ‘fraternal twin” with “Promiscuous.” WK Timberlake had top five hits with “Cry Me a River” and “Rock Your Body” from his previous album, 2002’s Justified, and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with *NSYNC on “It’s Gonna Be Me” from 2000. This, however, was his first #1 as a solo artist. The song also won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording, a People’s Choice Award for Favorite R&B Song, and and MTV Video Music Award for Male Artist of the Year. Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Justin Timberlake DMDB encyclopedia entry for Timbaland LR LowResolution.blogspot.com “Retrospecticus: 100 Favorite Songs of the Decade” (1/4/2010). MX Atlanta Metromix (11/24/09) Best songs of the decade PD PopDose.com (11/24/09) The Best Songs of the Decade Last updated 4/25/2023.

The Gavin Report: Top 100 Songs

The Gavin Report, 1958-2000: Top 100 Songs

Bill Gavin was a radio host who launched a countdown based on local airplay. It evolved into a national chart which rank from May 20, 1958 to November 17, 2000. Check other lists based on charts, sales, and airplay here. 12 weeks: 1. Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (1998) 11 weeks: 2. Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (1996) 3. Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men “One Sweet Day” (1995) 10 weeks: 4. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1995) 5. N Sync “Bye Bye Bye” (2000) 9 weeks: 6. Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (1999) 7. The Cardigans “Lovefool” (1997) 8. Mariah Carey “Fantasy” (1995) 9. Shawn Mullins “Lullaby” (1998) 10. Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You” (1994) 11. Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (1997) 8 weeks: 12. Dionne Farris “I Know” (1995) 13. Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (1994) 14. Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (1997) 15. Boyz II Men “On Bended Knee” (1994) 16. Ricky Martn “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999) 17. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 7 weeks: 18. Savage Garden “I Knew I Loved You” (2000) 19. Sugar Ray with Super Cat “Fly” (1997) 20. Domenico Modugno “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue)” (#1, 1958) 21. Hanson “Mmmbop” (1997) 22. Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (1977) 23. Bee Gees “Night Fever” (1977) 24. Mariah Carey “Dreamlover” (1993) 25. Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (1992) 26. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991) 27. Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra “Love Is Blue” (1968) 6 weeks: 28. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998) 29. Sugar Ray “Every Morning” (1999) 30. Celine Dion “Because You Loved Me” (1996) 31. Barenaked Ladies “One Week” (1998) 32. Alanis Morissette “You Learn” (1996) 33. Madonna “Take a Bow” (1994) 34. The Rembrandts “I’ll Be There for You” (1995) 35. Brandy & Monica “The Boy Is Mine” (1998) 36. Mariah Carey “Hero” (1993) 37. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) 38. Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson “Say, Say, Say” (1983) 39. Journey “Open Arms” (1981) 40. Starland Vocal Band “Afternoon Delight” (1976) 41. Rod Stewart “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978) 42. Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (1978) 43. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder “Ebony and Ivory” (1982) 44. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982) 45. Patty Smyth with Don Henley “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” (1992) 46. Lionel Richie “Say You Say Me” (1985) 47. Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (1974) 48. Elton John & Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976) 49. Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (1978) 50. Three Dog Night “Joy to the World” (1971) 5 weeks: 51. Goo Goo Dolls “Slide” (1999) 52. Smash Mouth “All Star” (1999) 53. Christina Aguilera “Genie in a Bottle” (1999) 54. Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)” (1999) 55. Savage Garden “I Want You” (1997) 56. Ace of Base “Don’t Turn Around” (1994) 57. 3 Doors Down “Kryptonite” (2000) 58. N Sync “It’s Gonna Be Me” (2000) 59. All-4-One “I Swear” (1994) 60. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981) 61. Rod Stewart “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (1976) 62. Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, & Sting “All for Love” (1994) 63. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983) 64. John Cougar Mellencamp “Jack and Diane” (1982) 65. Phil Collins “Another Day in Paradise” (1989) 66. Richard Marx “Keep Coming Back” (1991) 67. Daryl Hall & John Oates “Maneater” (1982) 68. Chicago “If You Leave Me Now” (1976) 69. Blondie “Call Me” (1980) 70. Roberta Flack “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (1969) 71. Carl Douglas “Kung Fu Fighting” (1974) 72. The Emotions “Best of My Love” (1977) 73. George Michael “Faith” (1987) 74. Don McLean “American Pie” (1971) 75. Madonna “Like a Virgin” (1984) 76. Captain & Tennille “Love Will Keep Us Together” (1975) 77. The Heights “How Do You Talk to an Angel?” (1992) 78. Tony Orlando & Dawn “Knock Three Times” (1970) 79. Duran Duran “Ordinary World” (1993) 80. The Rolling Stones “Angie” (1973) 81. The Shirelles “Soldier Boy” (1962) 82. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979) 83. Olivia Newton-John “Have You Never Been Mellow?” (1975) 84. Elvis Presley “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (1960) 85. The Young Rascals “Groovin’” (1967) 4 weeks: 86. The Tony Rich Project “Nobody Knows” (1996) 87. Destiny’s Child “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” (2000) 88. Robyn “Do You Know What It Takes” (1997) 89. Madonna “Secret” (1994) 90. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981) 91. Exile “Kiss You All Over” (1978) 92. Daryl Hall & John Oates “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” (1982) 93. Stevie Nicks & Don Henley “Leather and Lace” (1981) 94. Van Halen “Jump” (1984) 95. Shellye Fabares “Johnny Angel” (1962) 96. Tommy Edwards “It’s All in the Game” (1951/1958) 97. Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981) 98. Lionel Richie “All Night Long (All Night)” (1983) 99. Irene Cara “Flashdance...What a Feelin’” (1983) 100. Leo Sayer “When I Need You” (1977) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Lists Based on Charts, Sales, and Airplay” Record Research (2022). The Gavin Report. Record Research Inc.: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 336-7. First posted 11/17/2022.

 

N’Sync debuted in the US at #1 with No Strings Attached

No Strings Attached N’Sync

Released: March 21, 2000 Charted: April 1, 2000 Peak: 18 US, 14 UK, 15 CN, 3 AU Sales (in millions): 11.11 US, 0.1 UK, 17.4 world (includes US and UK) Genre: pop

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Bye Bye Bye (1/11/00, 1 US, 1 RR, 25 AC, 19 A40, 3 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU) It’s Gonna Be Me (4/28/00, 1 US, 1 RR, 28 A40, 9 UK, 1 CN, 11 AU) Space Cowboy (Yippie-Yi-Yay) Just Got Paid It Makes Me Ill This I Promise You (9/8/00, 5 US, 4 RR, 1 AC, 27 A40, 21 UK) No Strings Attached Digital Get Down I’ll Never Stop * (6/13/00, 13 UK) Bringin’ da Noise That’s When I’ll Stop Loving You I’ll Be Good for You I’m Not the One * I Thought She Knew * UK edition Total Running Time: 47:15 The Players: Lance Bass JC Chasez Joey Fatone Chris Kirkpatrick Justin Timberlake

Rating: 3.756 out of 5.00 (average of 28 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: After their self-titled 1997 debut, *NSYC split with their management, citing that financier Louis J. Pearlman defrauded them. WK They moved to Jive Records, a company considered the kings of teen-pop because of artists such as the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. To dinstinguish themselves from their peers, *NSYNC incorporated pop and R&B elements. WK The New York Times’ Jon Pareles described it as “1980s rhythm-and-blues that sought to balance pretty melody atop hip-hop’s street-level beat.” WK The music didn’t have quite the “charismatic punch ala Britney or Christina” WK but *NSYNC still “deserve credit for shaking things up a little bit, since it’s resulted in an effervescent, ingratiatingly cheerful album that’s a vast improvement on the debut.” AMG “The storming lead single Bye Bye Bye [is] a pile-driving dance number with the catchiest chorus they’ve ever sang.” AMG It created “hype for the album’s eventual landmark success.” WK No Strings Attached debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart in the United Sates with 2.4 million copies, setting a record for one-week sales. The record held until Adele’s 25 in 2015. The “futuristic synth-driven” WK Digital Get Down “is about video cybersex, which is a clear indicator of post-pubescent consciousness of the group.” WK Billboard’s Al Shipley said Space Cowboy (Yippie-Yi-Yay) and It Makes Me Ill were the kinds of songs which attracted “the young fans who made teen pop into a cottage industry.” WK *NSYNC incorporated “beat-box type vocals in It’s Gonna Be Me, Just Got Paid, and percussion in Bringin’ Da Noise.” WK The album is “considered to be the peak of the teen pop genre.” WK It also marked the transition from massive CD sales for blockbuster albums to people downloading music via peer file sharing sites. “The album isn’t really just singles-n-filler, it actually is well sequenced and fairly balanced, much like the Backstreet Boys’ Millennium or Christina Aguilera’s [debut] album. Like those records, No Strings Attached pulls away from the standard dance-pop formula, strengthening it with harder street beats, electronica flourishes, ballads with some grit, and well-crafted pop tunes. Nobody is going to mistake this for Fatboy Slim, Beck, or TLC – it’s still lightweight teen-pop. Yet, it’s very good teen-pop, managing to not only work well within its limitations, but to push it slightly while retaining its breezy, hooky identity.” AMG

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for N ‘Sync AMG All Music Guide review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine WK Wikipedia First posted 3/25/2008; last updated 4/30/2022.

Britney Spears topped the charts with “Baby One More Time”

Baby One More Time Britney Spears

Writer(s): Max Martin (see lyrics here) Released: October 23, 1998 First Charted: October 9, 1998 Peak: 12 US, 2 GR, 15 RR, 25 A40, 12 UK, 11 CN, 19 AU, 5 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.51 US, 1.8 UK, 10.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 785.1 video, 556.25 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Britney Spears was 16 years old when she recorded “Baby One More Time,” a dance-pop hit which hit #1 in more than a dozen countries. AB40 The song established her as “the most iconic popular music star of the turn of the century.” TB It has been called “Backstreet Boys meets Abba” LW and been compared to classics like Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” in that it “makes its presence known in exactly one second.” WK Spears built her image on contradictions. She was “a fresh-faced teen from the Mickey Mouse show who acted like a porn star” TC selling her “highly sexualized chastity” TC as “a modern-day Lolita in [a] skimpy school uniform.” TB The “decidedly sexual tone” AB40 of “One More Time” was largely presented via an iconic video directed by Nigel Dick in which Spears is portrayed as Catholic high school student in a “bare-midriff package.” TC Max Martin, who worked with the Backstreet Boys and N Sync, wrote the song, originally submitting it to the R&B group TLC. After they rejected it, Spears’ management heard the song and, according to Spears, she knew it would be a hit saying it is a song “every girl can relate to. She regrets it. She wants him back.” WK However, the line “hit me baby one more time” caused some concern by people who interpreted the lyrics as encouraging domestic violence or sadomasochism. Spears explained, perhaps naively, that the line “doesn’t mean physically hit me…It means just give me a sign.” WK It has also been explained as a Southern term referring to getting a call from someone via mobile phone. LW Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Max Martin AB40 About.com (2007?) Top 40 Pop Songs: The Best of the Best. By Bill Lamb. TC Toby Creswell (2005). 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. Thunder’s Mouth Press: New York, NY. Pages 175-6. JA David A. Jasen. (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 15. LW Alan Lewens (2001). Popular Song – Soundtrack of the Century. Billboard Books: New York, NY. Pages 180-1. TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 280. WK Wikipedia.org Related Links: First posted 1/30/2012; last updated 11/21/2022.