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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Music VF: Songs of the Year, 1900-2025

Music VF:

Songs of the Year, 1900-2025

Music VF is an online database of more than 120,000 U.S. and UK chart hits. One can search for top songs and artists by year and by decade. Here are the top songs of each year according to Music VF:

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.

2025: Taylor Swift “The Fate of Ophelia”
2024: Hozier “Too Sweet”
2023: Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
2022: Sam Smith with Kim Petras “Unholy”
2021: Adele “Easy on Me”
2020: Doja Cat “Say So”
2019: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
2018: Ariana Grande “Thank U, Next”
2017: DJ Khaled “I’m the One”
2016: Rihanna with Drake “Work”
2015: Adele “Hello”
2014: Meghan Trainor “All About That Bass”
2013: Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines”
2012: Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
2011: Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know”
2010: Adele “Rolling in the Deep”
2009: Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow”
2008: Coldplay “Viva La Vida”
2007: Rihanna with Jay-Z “Umbrella”
2006: Beyoncé “Irreplaceable”
2005: Mariah Carey “We Belong Together”
2004: Mario “Let Me Love You”
2003: Beyoncé with Jay-Z “Crazy in Love”
2002: Eminem “Lose Yourself”
2001: Nickelback “How You Remind Me”
2000: Destiny’s Child “Independent Women”
1999: Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth”
1998: Cher “Believe”
1997: Elton John “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)”
1996: No Doubt “Don’t Speak”
1995: Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men “One Sweet Day”
1994: Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You”
1993: Janet Jackson “That’s the Way Love Goes”
1992: Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You”
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: Phil Collins “A Groovy Kind of Love”
1987: Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me”
1986: Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald “On My Own”
1985: U.S.A. for Africa “We Are the World”
1984: Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You”
1983: The Police “Every Breath You Take”
1982: Survivor “Eye of the Tiger”
1981: The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?”
1980: Diana Ross “Upside Down”
1979: Anita Ward “Ring My Bell”
1978: Bee Gees “Night Fever”
1977: Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love”
1976: Elton John & Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
1975: The Four Seasons “December 1963 (Oh What a Night)”
1974: Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun”
1973: Tony Orlando & Dawn “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree”
1972: Gilbert O’Sullivan “Alone Again (Naturally)”
1971: Harry Nilsson “Without You”
1970: Simon & Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
1969: The Archies “Sugar, Sugar”
1968: Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
1967: Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra “Somethin’ Stupid”
1966: The Monkees “I’m a Believer”
1965: The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
1964: The Supremes “Baby Love”
1963: The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
1962: Ray Charles “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
1961: Del Shannon “Runaway”
1960: Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never”
1959: Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife”
1958: The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream”
1957: Elvis Presley “All Shook Up”
1956: Elvis Presley “Hound Dog”
1955: Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons”
1954: Kitty Kallen “Little Things Mean a Lot”
1953: Frankie Laine “I Believe”
1952: Al Martino “Here in My Heart”
1951: Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry”
1950: Red Foley “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy”
1949: Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely “Slipping Around”
1948: Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag”
1947: Tex Williams “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)”
1946: The Ink Spots “The Gypsy”
1945: The Andrews Sisters “Rum and Coca Cola”
1944: The Mills Brothers “You Always Hurt the One You Love”
1943: Al Dexter & His Troopers “Pistol Packin’ Mama”
1942: Glenn Miller with Ray Eberle & The Modernaires “Moonlight Cocktail”
1941: Glenn Miller with Tex Beneke & the Four Modernaires “Chattanooga Choo Choo”
1940: Glenn Miller “Tuxedo Junction”
1939: Glenn Miller “In the Mood”
1938: Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra “A-Tisket, A-Tasket”
1937: Bing Crosby with Lani McIntyre & His Hawaiians “Sweet Leilani”
1936: Bing Crosby “Pennies from Heaven”
1935: Fred Astaire with Ginger Rogers & Leo Reisman’s Orchestra “Cheek to Cheek”
1934: Ray Noble with Al Bowlly “Isle of Capri”
1933: George Olsen with Joe Morrison “The Last Round-Up”
1932: Ted Lewis “In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town”
1931: Wayne King “Goodnight Sweetheart”
1930: Rudy Vallee “Stein Song (University of Maine)”
1929: Nick Lucas “Tip Toe Through the Tulips”
1928: Al Jolson “Sonny Boy”
1927: Gene Austin “My Blue Heaven”
1926: Paul Whiteman with Franklyn Baur “Valencia (A Song of Spain)”
1925: Gene Austin with Billy Carpenter “Yes Sir! That’s My Baby”
1924: Wendell Hall “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’”
1923: Paul Whiteman “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”
1922: Al Jolson “April Showers”
1921: Isham Jones “Wabash Blues”
1920: Paul Whiteman “Whispering”
1919: Henry Burr with Albert Campbell “Till We Meet Again”
1918: Henry Burr “Just a Baby’s Prayer at Twilight (For Her Daddy Over There)”
1917: American Quartet “Over There”
1916: Henry Burr “M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means the World to Me)”
1915: George MacFarlane “A Little Bit of Heaven (Shure, They Call It Ireland)”
1914: Joe Hayman “Cohen on the Telephone”
1913: Chauncey Olcott “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”
1912: American Quartet “Moonlight Bay”
1911: Arthur Collins and Bryon G. Harlan “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
1910: Billy Murray with the Haydn Quartet “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”
1909: Haydn Quartet “Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet”
1908: Alan Turner “As Long As the World Rolls On”
1907: Bryon G. Harlan “School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)”
1906: Billy Murray “You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)”
1905: Arthur Collins “The Preacher and the Bear”
1904: Haydyn Quartet “Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart)”
1903: Haydn Quartet “In the Good Old Summertime”
1902: Len Spencer “The Arkansaw Traveler”
1901: Harry MacDonough & Grace Spencer “Tell Me, Pretty Maiden”
1900: George J. Gaskin “When You Were Sweet Sixteen”

Resources/Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: “‘Songs of the Year’ lists”
MusicVF.com

First posted 4/8/2019; last updated 12/31/2025.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Dave's Music Database: Songs of the Year (1800-2024)

DMDB Songs of the Year:

1800-2024

These are the best songs for each year from 1800 to present, according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are determined by aggregating multiple best-of lists along with chart data, sales figures, radio and video airplay, and streams.

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.

2024: Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
2023: Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
2022: Harry Styles “As It Was”
2021: The Kid Laroi with Justin Bieber “Stay”
2020: Dua Lipa with DaBaby “Levitating”
2019: The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
2018: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
2017: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
2016: The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer”
2015: Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth “See You Again”
2014: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!”
2013: Pharrell Williams “Happy”
2012: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop”
2011: Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know”
2010: Adele “Rolling in the Deep”
2009: Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling”
2008: Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”
2007: Rihanna with Jay-Z “Umbrella”
2006: Gnarls Barkley “Crazy”
2005: Kanye West & Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger”
2004: Usher, Lil Jon & Ludacris “Yeah!”
2003: OutKast “Hey Ya!”
2002: Eminem “Lose Yourself”
2001: Nickelback “How You Remind Me”
2000: U2 “Beautiful Day”
1999: Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth”
1998: Britney Spears “Baby One More Time”
1997: Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On”
1996: Spice Girls “Wannabe”
1995: Oasis “Wonderwall”
1994: Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You”
1993: Beck “Loser”
1992: Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You”
1991: Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
1990: Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U”
1989: Madonna “Like a Prayer”
1988: Tracy Chapman “Fast Car”
1987: Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
1986: Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer”
1985: USA for Africa “We Are the World”
1984: Prince “When Doves Cry”
1983: The Police “Every Breath You Take”
1982: Michael Jackson “Billie Jean”
1981: Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’”
1980: AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long”
1979: Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II”
1978: Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive”
1977: Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive”
1976: Eagles “Hotel California”
1975: Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody”
1974: Lynyrd Skynyrd “Sweet Home Alabama”
1973: Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird”
1972: Stevie Wonder “Superstition”
1971: John Lennon “Imagine”
1970: Simon & Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
1969: The Rolling Stones “Honky Tonk Women”
1968: The Beatles “Hey Jude”
1967: Aretha Franklin “Respect”
1966: The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations”
1965: The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
1964: The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”
1963: The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
1962: Ray Charles “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
1961: Ben E. King “Stand by Me”
1960: Ray Charles “Georgia on My Mind”
1959: Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife”
1958: The Platters “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”
1957: Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock”
1956: Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel”
1955: Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas”
1954: Bill Haley & His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock”
1953: Hank Williams “Your Cheatin’ Heart”
1952: Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me”
1951: Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon”
1950: Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz”
1949: Gene Autry & the Pinafores “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
1948: Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag”
1947: The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart”
1946: Nat “King” Cole “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”
1945: Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey”
1944: Bing Crosby “I’ll Be Seeing You”
1943: Harry James with Helen Forrest “I’ve Heard That Song Before”
1942: Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers & the John Scott Trotter Orchestra “White Christmas”
1941: Artie Shaw “Stardust”
1940: Coleman Hawkins “Body and Soul”
1939: Judy Garland “Over the Rainbow”
1938: Artie Shaw Begin the Beguine
1937: Fred Astaire “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”
1936: Billie Holiday “Summertime”
1935: Fred Astaire “Cheek to Cheek”
1934: Guy Lombardo “Winter Wonderland”
1933: Ethel Waters “Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)”
1932: Fred Astaire “Night and Day”
1931: Duke Ellington “Mood Indigo”
1930: Ted Lewis “On the Sunny Side of the Street”
1929: Fats Waller “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
1928: Cliff Edwards “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”
1927: Gene Austin “My Blue Heaven”
1926: George Olsen with Fran Frey, Bob Rice, & Edward Joyce “Always”
1925: Bessie Smith with Louis Armstrong “St. Louis Blues”
1924: Isham Jones “It Had to Be You”
1923: Van & Schenck “Carolina in the Morning”
1922: Henry Burr “My Buddy”
1921: Al Jolson “April Showers”
1920: Al Jolson “Swanee”
1919: Henry Burr with Albert Campbell “Till We Meet Again”
1918: Original Dixieland Jazz Band “Tiger Rag”
1917: American Quartet “Over There”
1916: Billy Murray “Pretty Baby”
1915: John McCormack “It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”
1914: Prince's Orchestra “Ballin’ the Jack”
1913: Al Jolson “You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)”
1912: American Quartet “Moonlight Bay”
1911: Arthur Collins and Bryon G. Harlan “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
1910: Billy Murray with the Haydn Quartet “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”
1909: Harry MacDonough with Elise Stevenson (as Miss Walton) “Shine on, Harvest Moon”
1908: Billy Murray with the Haydn Quartet “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
1907: Bryon G. Harlan “School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)”
1906: Billy Murray “You’re a Grand Old Flag” (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)
1905: Billy Murray “Give My Regards to Broadway”
1904: Billy Murray “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis”
1903: Haydn Quartet “In the Good Old Summertime”
1902: Arthur Collins “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home”
1901: Byron G. Harlan “Hello Central, Give Me Heaven”
1900: Steve Porter “A Bird in a Gilded Cage”
1899: Arthur Collins “Hello Ma Baby”
1898: Edison Male Quartette “My Old Kentucky Home”
1897: John Philip Sousa “The Stars and Stripes Forever”
1896: James Black and Katharine Purvis (writers) “When the Saints Go Marching In”
1895: Katherine Lee Bates (m) & Samuel A. Ward (w) “America the Beautiful”
1894: traditional “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”
1893: George J. Gaskin “After the Ball”
1892: Len Spencer “Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay”
1891: Billy Golden “Turkey in the Straw”
1890: John Yorke Atlee “Listen to the Mocking Bird (aka “The Mocking Bird”)”
1889: “Little Annie Rooney”
1888: “Where Did You Get That Hat”
1887: “Away in a Manger”
1886: “Johnny Get Your Gun”
1885: “How Great Thou Art”
1884: “Rock-a-Bye Baby”
1883: “The Farmer in the Dell”
1882: “Wabash Cannonball” (aka “The Great Rock Island Route”)
1881: Charles E. Pratt “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”
1880: “Funicili Funicula”
1879: “Dem Golden Slippers” (aka “Oh! Dem Golden Slippers”)
1878: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
1877: “Chopsticks”
1876: “Grandfather’s Clock”
1875: “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen”
1874: “Home on the Range”
1873: “Silver Threads Among the Gold”
1872: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
1871: “Onward Christian Soldiers”
1870: “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain”
1869: “Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me”
1868: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
1867: “Michael Row the Boat”
1866: “Goober Peas”
1865: “What Child Is This?”
1864: “O Where, O Where Has My Little Dog Gone”
1863: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”
1862: “The Battle Cry of Freedom”
1861: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”
1860: “Good King Wenceslas”
1859: “Dixie”
1858: “Wedding March from Midsummer’s Night Dream”
1857: “Jingle Bells”
1856: “Listen to the Mocking Bird (aka “The Mocking Bird”)”
1855: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
1854: “I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair”
1853: “The Yellow Rose of Texas”
1852: “Pop Goes the Weasel”
1851: “The Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)”
1850: “Camptown Races (Gwine to Run All Night)”
1849: “Blow the Man Down”
1848: “Jimmy Crack Corn (The Blue Tail Fly)”
1847: “Oh! Susanna”
1846:
1845: “Paris Qui Rit”
1844: “Buffalo Gals (Buffalo Girls Will You Come Out Tonight)”
1843: “Polly Wolly Doodle (All the Day)”
1842: “This Old Man (Nick Nack Paddiwak)”
1841: “On Top of Old Smoky”
1840: “The Pesky Sargent” (aka “Springfield Mountain” and “On Springfield Mountain”)
1839: “Near the Lake Where Drooped the Willow”
1838: “A Life on the Ocean Wave”
1837: “Shenandoah”
1836: “Corn Cobs Twist Your Hair”
1835: “Down in the Valley (Birmingham Jail)”
1834: “Turkey in the Straw”
1833: “I Saw Three Ships”
1832: “Skip to My Lou”
1831: “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”
1830: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”
1829: “William Tell Overture”
1828: “Jim Crow”
1827: “The Coal Black Rose”
1826: “Hokey Pokey”
1825: “Ave Maria”
1824: “O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)”
1823: “The First Noel”
1822: “The Fortune I Crave”
1821: “Invitation to the Dance (Aufforderung Zum Tanze)”
1820: --
1819: --
1818: “Silent Night, Holy Night (Stille Nacht, Heilge Nacht)”
1817: “La Gazza Ladra”
1816: --
1815: “The Blue Bells of Scotland”
1814: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
1813: “Tis the Last Rose of Summer”
1812: “The Battle of the Wabash”
1811: “Au Clair de la Lune (By the Light of the Moon)”
1810: “Hail to the Thief”
1809: --
1808: --
1807: “The Wayfaring Stranger”
1806: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
1805: “Little Miss Muffet”
1804: “A Foggy, Foggy Dew”
1803: “Polly Put the Kettle On”
1802: --
1801: “Alknomook”
1800: “Billy Boy”

Resources:

Dave’s Music Database: Top Songs and Albums by Year lists
Dave’s Music Database: Songs of the Year lists
Dave’s Music Database: “Songs-of-the-Decade Lists

First posted 3/31/2019; last updated 5/12/2025.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Digital Dream Door: Songs of the Year (1920-2024)

Digital Dream Door:

Songs of the year, 1920-2024

Digital Dream Door offers multiple best-of music lists, including song-of-the-year lists from 1940 to present. Here are the best songs from each year:

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.

2024: Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”
2023: Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
2022: Harry Styles “As It Was”
2021: Lil Nas X “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”
2020: Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
2019: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road”
2018: Lady Gaga with Bradley Cooper “Shallow”
2017: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You”
2016: The Weeknd with Daft Punk “Starboy”
2015: Adele “Hello”
2014: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!”
2013: Daft Punk with Pharrell Williams “Get Lucky”
2012: Psy “Gangnam Style”
2011: Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know”
2010: Adele “Rolling in the Deep”
2009: Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling”
2008: Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”
2007: M.I.A. “Paper Planes”
2006: Gnarls Barkley “Crazy”
2005: Gorillaz with De La Soul “Feel Good Inc.”
2004: Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”
2003: OutKast “Hey Ya!”
2002: Eminem “Lose Yourself”
2001: The Strokes “Last Nite”
2000: Radiohead “Idioteque”
1999: Eminem “My Name Is…”
1998: Lauryn Hill “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
1997: The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony”
1996: Fugees “Killing Me Softly”
1995: Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise”
1994: TLC “Waterfalls”
1993: Beck “Loser”
1992: Dr. Dre with Snoop Doggy Dogg “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”
1991: Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
1990: Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U”
1989: Public Enemy “Fight the Power”
1988: Tracy Chapman “Fast Car”
1987: Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
1986: Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way”
1985: Dire Straits “Money for Nothing”
1984: Prince “When Doves Cry”
1983: The Police “Every Breath You Take”
1982: Michael Jackson “Billie Jean”
1981: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll”
1980: Blondie “Call Me”
1979: Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II”
1978: Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive”
1977: Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive”
1976: Eagles “Hotel California”
1975: Bruce Springsteen…Born to Run
1974: Bob Marley & the Wailers “No Woman, No Cry”
1973: Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird”
1972: Stevie Wonder “Superstition”
1971: Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven”
1970: Derek & the Dominos “Layla”
1969: Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love”
1968: Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
1967: Aretha Franklin “Respect”
1966: The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations”
1965: The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
1964: The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”
1963: The Kingsmen “Louie Louie”
1962: Booker T. & the MG’s “Green Onions”
1961: Ben E. King “Stand by Me”
1960: The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”
1959: Ray Charles “What’d I Say”
1958: Chuck Berry “Johnny B. Goode”
1957: Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock”
1956: Elvis Presley “Hound Dog”
1955: Little Richard “Tutti Frutti”
1954: Bill Haley & His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock”
1953: The Drifters “Money Honey”
1952: Lloyd Price “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”
1951: The Dominoes “Sixty Minute Man”
1950: Fats Domino “The Fat Man”
1949: Hank Williams “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
1948: Wynonie Harris “Good Rockin’ Tonight”
1947: T-Bone Walker “Call It Stormy Monday”
1946: Nat “King” Cole “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)”
1945: Louis Jordan “Caldonia”
1944: The Mills Brothers “You Always Hurt the One You Love”
1943: Al Dexter & His Troopers “Pistol Packin’ Mama”
1942: Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers & the John Scott Trotter Orchestra “White Christmas”
1941: Billie Holiday “God Bless the Child”
1940: Artie Shaw “Stardust”
1939: Glenn Miller “In the Mood”
1938: Benny Goodman “Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)”
1937: Count Basie “One O’Clock Jump”
1936: Robert Johnson “Cross Road Blues (aka ‘Crossroads’)”
1935: Bing Crosby “Silent Night”
1934: Duke Ellington “Cocktails for Two”
1933: Ethel Waters “Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)”
1932: Duke Ellington with Ivie Anderson “It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing”
1931: Cab Calloway “Minnie the Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song)”
1930: Paul Whiteman with Jack Fulton “Body and Soul”
1929: Fats Waller “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
1928: Louis Armstrong “West End Blues”
1927: Gene Austin “My Blue Heaven”
1926: Gene Austin “Bye Bye Blackbird”
1925: Vernon Dalhart “The Prisoner’s Song”
1924: Paul Whiteman with George Gershwin “Rhapsody in Blue”
1923: Bessie Smith “Down Hearted Blues”
1922: Fanny Brice “My Man (Mon Homme)”
1921: Paul Whiteman “My Mammy”
1920: Al Jolson “Swanee”

Resources/Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: “‘Songs of the Year’ lists”
Digital Dream Door

First posted 4/6/2019; last updated 12/31/2025.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Ivor Novello Awards: Song Winners Ranked

Ivor Novello Awards:

Top 100 Songs

Named after entertainer Ivor Novello, these awards for songwriting and composing – nicknamed The Ivors – are presented annually by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA). Since it was founded in 1956, the organization has given out more than 1000 awards to primarily British and Irish songwriters and composers. The awards are given to performers, albums, and songs in a variety of categories. As stated on their website, they “celebrate, honour and reward excellence in songwriting and composing…They are named in honour of Ivor Novello, Britain’s most successful and distinguished theatrical composer at the time, and represent the pinnacle of musical achievement and peer recognition in the music industry.”

This page is dedicated to a top 100 ranking of those songs which I know have won Ivor Novello Awards.

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. The Beatles “Hey Jude” (1968)
2. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
3. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
4. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
5. The Beatles “Yesterday” (1965)
6. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991)
7. Elton John “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” (1997)
8. Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (2010)
9. Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” (1979)
10. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017)

11. Procol Harum “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (1967)
12. The Beatles “She Loves You” (1963)
13. Spice Girls “Wannabe” (1996)
14. George Harrison “My Sweet Lord” (1970)
15. David Bowie “Space Oddity” (1969)
16. Coldplay “Viva La Vida” (200v8)
17. Bee Gees “Night Fever” (1977)
18. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982)
19. The Beatles “Something” (1969)
20. George Michael “Careless Whisper” (1984)

21. Cher “Believe” (1998)
22. The Beatles “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964)
23. Puff Daddy, Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997)
24. The Beatles with Billy Preston “Get Back” (1969)
25. Kylie Minogue “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (2001)
26. Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984)
27. James Blunt “You’re Beautiful” (2004)
28. Amy Winehouse “Rehab” (2006)
29. Harry Nisson “Without You” (1971)
30. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)

31. Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out” (2004)
32. Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (1994)
33. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983)
34. Pulp “Common People” (1995)
35. Gerry Rafferty “Baker Street” (1978)
36. Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987)
37. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985)
38. George Michael “Faith” (1987)
39. Avril Lavigne “Complicated” (2002)
40. Phil Collins “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (1984)

41. 10cc “I’m Not in Love” (1975)
42. Britney Spears “Toxic” (2003)
43. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder “Ebony and Ivory” (1982)
44. Culture Club “Karma Chameleon” (1983)
45. Radiohead “Paranoid Android” (1997)
46. The Beatles “We Can Work It Out ” (1965)
47. Passenger “Let Her Go” (2012)
48. Petula Clark “Downtown” (1964)
49. Mungo Jerry “In the Summertime” (1970)
50. Hozier “Take Me to Church” (2013)

DMDB Top 2%:

51. The Tornadoes “Telstar” (1962)
52. Robbie Williams “Angels” (1997)
53. Radiohead “Karma Police” (1997)
54. Wet Wet Wet “Love Is All Around” (1994)
55. Elton John “Daniel” (1973)
56. Paul McCartney & Wings “Mull of Kintyre” (1977)
57. Mr. Acker Bilk “Stranger on the Shore” (1961)
58. Barbra Streisand “Woman in Love” (1980)
59. U2 “Vertigo” (2004)
60. The Beatles “Michelle” (1965)

61. Christina Aguilera “Genie in a Bottle” (1999)
62. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984)
63. The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” (1966)
64. Supertramp “The Logical Song” (1979)
65. Right Said Fred “I’m Too Sexy” (1991)
66. Mike + the Mechanics “The Living Years” (1988)
67. Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits” (2021)
68. Manic Street Preachers “A Design for Life” (1996)

DMDB Top 5%:

69. Duran Duran “The Reflex” (1983)
70. The New Vaudeville Band “Winchester Cathedral” (1966)

71. Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne “Rather Be” (2014)
72. Sting “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” (1993)
73. David Gray “Babylon” (1998)
74. Take That “Back for Good” (1995)
75. Fine Young Cannibals “She Drives Me Crazy” (1989)
76. Duffy “Mercy” (2008)
77. The Beatles “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da” (1968)
78. Dido “White Flag” (2003)
79. Paper Lace “The Night Chicago Died” (1974)
80. Michael Andrews with Gary Jules “Mad World” (2002)

81. Tina Turner “We Don’t Need Another Hero” (1985)
82. Seal “Crazy” (1990)
83. Philip Bailey with Phil Collins “Easy Lover” (1984)
84. Kylie Minogue “I Should Be So Lucky” (1988)
85. Duran Duran “Ordinary World” (1992)
86. Streets “Dry Your Eyes” (2004)
87. Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush “Don’t Give Up” (1986)
88. Harry Styles “Adore You” (2019)
89. Brotherhood of Man “Save Your Kisses for Me” (1976)
90. Des’ree “You Gotta Be” (1994)

91. Elton John “Sacrifice” (1989)
92. U2 “Walk On” (2000)
93. Lana Del Rey “Video Games’ (2011)
94. Ed Sheeran “The A Team” (2011)
95. Supergrass “Alright” (1995)
96. Paul Hardcastle “19” (1985)
97. Celine Dion “Think Twice” (1993)
98. Beyoncé with Shakira “Beautiful Liar” (2007)
99. Coldplay with Beyoncé “Hymn for the Weekend” (2015)
100. Elton John “Nikita” (1985)

Resources/Related Links:

Dave’s Music Database: “‘Songs of the Year’ lists”
DavesMusicDatabase.com “Ivor Novello Awards: Song Winners”
TheIvors.com (official site)
PRSformusic.com “Winners announced for the 2018 Ivor Novello awards” (5/31/2018)
Wikipedia.org “List of Ivor Novello Award winners” (2019)

First posted 5/20/2012; last updated 1/8/2023.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Adele's Top 20 Songs

Adele

Top 20 Songs

British blue-eyed soul singer/songwriter born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins on 5/5/1988 in Tottenham, North London, England. Won The Brit Awards Critics Choice as the 2008 breakthrough act and then won The Grammy for Best New Artist in 2009. In February 2011, she became the first living artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have two top 5 albums and two top 5 singles on the charts simultaneously in the U.K.

Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers.

Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast: Adele’s 12 Biggest Hits based on this list.

Awards:

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. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.)

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Rolling in the Deep (2010) #1 US, 1 BA, 1 DG, 1 RR, 1 AC, 1 A40, 1 AA, 1 CN
2. Hello (2015) #1 US, 1 BA, 1 DG, 1 ST, 1 RR, 1 AC, 1 A40, 1 AA, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU
3. Someone Like You (2011) #1 US, 1 BA, 1 DG, 1 AC, 1 A40, 1 UK, 1 AU

DMDB Top 2%:

4. Set Fire to the Rain (2011) #1 US, 1 BA, 1 DG, 1 RR, 1 AC, 1 A40

DMDB Top 5%:

5. Skyfall (2012)
6. Send My Love to Your New Lover (2015) #1 RR, AC, 1 A40
7. Chasing Pavements (2008)

DMDB Top 10%:

8. To Make You Feel My Love (2008)
9. Rumour Has It (2011) #1 AA
10. When We Were Young (2015)

DMDB Top 20%:

11. Easy on Me (2021) #1 US, 1 DG, 1 ST, 1 AC, 1 A40, 1 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU
12. Water Under the Bridge (2015)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

13. Hometown Glory (2007)
14. Turning Tables (2011)
15. Love Song (2011)
16. I Can’t Make You Love Me (2011)
17. Many Shades of Black (2008)
18. Right As Rain (2008)
19. I’ll Be Waiting (2011)
20. Cold Shoulder (2008)

Resources and Related Links:

DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Adele
Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Performers”
Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Songwriters and/or Producers”

First posted 11/23/2021.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Digital Era (2000-2019): Top 100 Songs

Book:

The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era, 2000-2019

This is the third in a series, following The Top 100 Songs of the Pre-Rock Era, 1890-1953 and The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. Combined the three books cover 300 songs representing 130 years in the history of recorded music! Here are the top 100 as they appear in The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era, 2000-2019:

1. Uptown Funk!… Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars (2014)
2. Hey Ya!...OutKast (2003)
3. Rolling in the Deep…Adele (2010)
4. Despacito…Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber (2017)
5. Lose Yourself…Eminem (2002)
6. Shape of You…Ed Sheeran (2017)
7. I Gotta Feeling…Black Eyed Peas (2009)
8. Somebody That I Used to Know…Gotye with Kimbra (2011)
9. Happy…Pharrell Williams (2013)
10. Yeah!...Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris (2004)

11. Hello…Adele (2015)
12. Umbrella…Rihanna with Jay-Z (2007)
13. Crazy in Love… Beyoncé with Jay-Z (2003)
14. Blurred Lines…Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams (2013)
15. Crazy…Gnarls Barkley (2006)
16. We Belong Together…Mariah Carey (2005)
17. See You Again …Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth (2015)
18. Old Town Road…Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus (2018)
19. Closer…The Chainsmokers with Halsey (2016)
20. Low…Flo Rida with T-Pain (2007)

21. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)… Beyoncé (2008)
22. Poker Face…Lady Gaga (2009)
23. Party Rock Anthem…LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock (2011)
24. Royals…Lorde (2013)
25. Call Me Maybe…Carly Rae Jepsen (2011)
26. Boom Boom Pow…Black Eyed Peas (2009)
27. We Found Love…Rihanna with Calvin Harris (2011)
28. Tik Tok…Ke$ha (2009)
29. Viva La Vida…Coldplay (2008)
30. Perfect…Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé (2017)

31. Love the Way You Lie…Eminem with Rihanna (2010)
32. Gold Digger…Kanye West with Jamie Foxx (2005)
33. Shake It Off…Taylor Swift (2014)
34. Just the Way You Are (Amazing)…Bruno Mars (2010)
35. Moves Like Jagger…Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera (2011)
36. In Da Club…50 Cent (2002)
37. Thinking Out Loud…Ed Sheeran (2014)
38. Thrift Shop…Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz (2012)
39. Irreplaceable… Beyoncé (2006)
40. Someone Like You…Adele (2011)

41. God’s Plan…Drake (2018)
42. Bleeding Love…Leona Lewis (2007)
43. Gangnam Style…Psy (2012)
44. One Dance…Drake with Wizkid & Kyla (2016)
45. Girls Like You…Maroon 5 with Cardi B (2017)
46. Roar…Katy Perry (2013)
47. All of Me…John Legend (2013)
48. All About That Bass…Meghan Trainor (2014)
49. Sexyback…Justin Timberlake (2006)
50. Get Lucky…Daft Punk with Pharrell Williams (2013)

51. Firework…Katy Perry (2010)
52. Hips Don’t Lie…Shakira with Wyclef Jean (2006)
53. Just Dance…Lady Gaga with Colby O’Donnis (2008)
54. Hot in Herre…Nelly (2002)
55. Havana…Camila Cabello with Young Thug (2017)
56. I’m Yours…Jason Mraz (2008)
57. Fallin’…Alicia Keys (2001)
58. You’re Beautiful…James Blunt (2005)
59. No One…Alicia Keys (2007)
60. Love Yourself…Justin Bieber (2015)

61. Blank Space…Taylor Swift (2014)
62. We Are Young…Fun. with Janelle Monae (2011)
63. Stay with Me…Sam Smith (2014)
64. I Kissed a Girl…Katy Perry (2008)
65. Can’t Stop the Feeling!...Justin Timberlake (2016)
66. Need You Now…Lady Antebellum (2009)
67. Can’t Get You Out of My Head…Kylie Minogue (2001)
68. Boulevard of Broken Dreams…Green Day (2004)
69. Bad Guy…Billie Eilish (2019)
70. Sorry…Justin Bieber (2015)

71. Apologize…One Republic with Timbaland (2007)
72. California Gurls…Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg (2010)
73. Counting Stars…One Republic (2013)
74. Empire State of Mind…Jay-Z with Alicia Keys (2009)
75. Bad Romance…Lady Gaga (2009)
76. Rockstar…Post Malone with 21 Savage (2017)
77. Can’t Feel My Face…The Weeknd (2015)
78. Bad Day…Daniel Powter (2005)
79. Dilemma…Nelly with Kelly Rowland (2002)
80. Music…Madonna (2000)

81. Fuck You (aka “Forget You”)…Cee-Lo Green (2010)
82. How You Remind Me…Nickelback (2001)
83. Love Story…Taylor Swift (2008)
84. Wake Me Up!...Avicii with Aloe Blacc (2013)
85. Beautiful Day…U2 (2000)
86. Rehab…Amy Winehouse (2006)
87. Dark Horse…Katy Perry with Juicy J (2013)
88. Stan…Eminem with Dido (2000)
89. Shallow…Lady Gaga with Bradley Cooper (2018)
90. Work…Rihanna with Drake (2016)

91. Seven Nation Army…The White Stripes (2003)
92. Cheap Thrills…Sia with Sean Paul (2016)
93. The Killers “Mr. Brightside” (2004)
94. Fancy…Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX (2014)
95. Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)…Fergie (2007)
96. Rude…Magic! (2013)
97. Take Me Out…Franz Ferdinand (2004)
98. Clocks…Coldplay (2002)
99. You Belong with Me…Taylor Swift (2008)
100. Radioactive…Imagine Dragons (2012)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 2/17/2020; updated 4/3/2021.

Monday, March 16, 2020

The World’s Best-Selling Songs by Year, 1970-2019

First posted 12/29/2011; last updated 2/29/2020.

image from dreamstime.com

Songs:

The World’s Best Sellers by Year

Figuring out the best-selling song for each year isn’t as easy as it seems. A variety of sources for sales figures (see here) were tapped in the absence of an official agency to track worldwide sales. As such, some figures have likely been inflated by record companies or other vested parties.

On top of that, reported figures don’t always strictly represent sales. In the 21st century especially, other figures such as such as the number of times songs were streamed via Spotify, YouTube or other services have been factored in. That means a song certified for 10 million in sales may not have actually “sold” that many copies.

Nonetheless, this list has been assembled in the hopes of offering some idea of the bestselling song of each year from 1900 to present. The numbers in parentheses indicates the number of sales in millions.

2019: Billie Eilish “Bad Guy” (19.5 m)
2018: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road” (18.4 m)
2017: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee “Despacito” (25.3 m)
2016: The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” (20.7 m)
2015: Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth “See You Again” (20.9 m)
2014: Marc Ronson & Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (20.0 m)
Lorde “Royals” (22.0 m)
2012: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop” (14.25 m)
2011: LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem” (18.87 m)
2010: Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (20.6 m)
2009: Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (15.0 m)
2008: Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (14.11 m)
2007: Flo Rida with T-Pain “Low” (12.0 m)
2006: Shakira with Wyclef Jean “Hips Don’t Lie” (10.0 m)
2005: Kanye West with Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger” (8.54 m)
2004: O-Zone “Dragostea Din Tei” (8.0 m)
2003: Pan’Jabi MC “Mudian to Bach Ke” (10.0 m)
2002: Eminem “Lose Yourself” (15.38 m)
2001: Shakira “Whenver, Wherever” (8.5 m)
2000: Britney Spears “Oops!...I Did It Again” (6.0 m)
1999: Ricky Martin “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (8.0 m)
1998: Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman “Time to Say Goodbye” (12.0 m)
1997: Elton John “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” (37.0 m)
1996: Toni Braxton “Un-Break My Heart” (10.0 m)
1995: Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (11.0 m)
1994: Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (16.0 m)
1993: Tag Team “Whoomp! There It Is” (4.04 m)
1992: Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (20.0 m)
1991: Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (15.0 m)
1990: The Scorpions “Wind of Change” (15.0 m)
1989: Kaoma “Lambada” (15.0 m)
1988: Tone Loc “Wild Thing” 2.54 m)
1987: Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” (8.0 m)
1986: Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (4.3 m)
1985: U.S.A. for Africa “We Are the World” (20.0 m)
1984: Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (11.7 m)
1983: Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (6.0 m)
1982: The Goombay Dance Band “Sun of Jamaica” (10.0 m)
1981: Trio “Da Da Da” (13.0 m)
1980: Kenny Rogers “Lady” (16.0 m)
1979: Patrick Hernandez “Born to Be Alive” (11.0 m)
1978: Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (15.0 m)
1977: Baccara “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” (18.0 m)
1976: Prince Nico Mbarga “Sweet Mother” (13.0 m)
1975: Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” Queen (12.61 m)
1974: Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (11.5 m)
1973: Tony Orlando & Dawn “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” (6.0 m)
1972: The Pipes & Drums & Military Band of Royal Scots Dragoon Guards “Amazing Grace” (7.0 m)
1971: Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (10.0 m)
1970: Mungo Jerry “In the Summertime” (30.0 m)

Resources and Related Links:

DavesMusicDatabase.com: sources referenced to compile this list
DavesMusicDatabase.com (2020). The World’s All-Time Bestselling Songs”

Pages

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Music VF:

Songs of the Year, 1900-2025

Resources/Related Links:

Monday, May 12, 2025

DMDB Songs of the Year:

1800-2024

Resources:

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Digital Dream Door:

Songs of the year, 1920-2024

Resources/Related Links:

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Ivor Novello Awards:

Top 100 Songs

DMDB Top 1%:

DMDB Top 2%:

DMDB Top 5%:

Resources/Related Links:

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Adele

Top 20 Songs

Awards:

Top 20 Songs

Resources and Related Links:

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Book:

The Top 100 Songs of the Digital Era, 2000-2019

Monday, March 16, 2020

Songs:

The World’s Best Sellers by Year