The Observer is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It was acquired in 1993 by Guardian Media Group Limited, which also operates sister papers The Guardian and The Guardian Weekly. Over the years, they’ve published some best-of lists, 5 of which are aggregated here. You can see the original sources at the bottom of the page.
Click here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.
1. The Specials “Ghost Town” (1981)
2. Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976)
3. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985)
4. Donna Summer “I Feel Love” (1977)
5. Simon & Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970)
6. The Kinks “You Really Got Me” (1964)
7. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983)
8. Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
9. Kylie Minogue “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (2001)
10. T-Rex “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” (1971)
11. The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)
12. Procol Harum “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (1967)
13. Four Tops “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” (1966)
14. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982)
15. The Prodigy “Firestarter” (1996)
16. Thunderclap Newman “Something in the Air” (1969)
17. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
18. George Michael “Careless Whisper” (1984)
19. Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights” (1978)
20. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
21. Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (1978)
22. Kraftwerk “The Model” (1978)
23. The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979)
24. Sugababes “Freak Like Me” (2002)
25. Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954)
26. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
27. Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968)
28. The Jam “Going Underground” (1980)
29. Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978)
30. Ian Dury & the Blockheads “Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick” (1979)
31. Bee Gees “Night Fever” (1977)
32. George McCrae “Rock Your Baby” (1974)
33. David Bowie “Space Oddity” (1969)
34. Take That “Back for Good” (1995)
35. Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive” (1978)
36. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982)
37. Cornership “Brimful of Asha” (1997)
38. Rihanna with Jay-Z “Umbrella” (2007)
39. The Supremes “Baby Love” (1964)
40. Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979)
41. Buddy Holly & the Crickets “That’ll Be the Day” (1957)
42. The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (1965)
43. Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” (1956)
44. Spice Girls “Wannabe” (1996)
45. Jane Birkn with Serge Gainsbourg “Je T’Aime (Moi Non Plus)” (1969)
46. Rod Stewart “Maggie May” (1971)
47. Slade “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)
48. Tom Jones “It’s Not Unsual” (1965)
49. Steve Harley with Cockney Rebel “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” (1975)
50. Tubeway Army “Are Friends Electric?” (1979)
51. The Chemical Brothers with Noel Gallagher “The Setting Sun” (1996)
52. Steve “Silk” Hurley “Jack Your Body” (1987)
53. Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (1957)
54. New Order “World in Motion” (1990)
55. 10cc “I’m Not in Love” (1975)
56. Soul II Soul “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” (1989)
57. Black Box “Ride on Time” (1989)
58. John Lennon “Imagine” (1971)
59. Dead or Alive “You Spin Me Round Like a Record” (1984)
60. The Monkees “I’m a Believer” (1966)
61. The KLF “3 A.M. Eternal” (1991)
62. Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984)
63. Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” (2009)
64. Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987)
65. S-Express “Theme from S-Express” (1988)
66. The Rolling Stones “Get Off of My Cloud” (1965)
67. The Shadows “Apache” (1960)
68. Al Martino “Here in My Heart” (1952)
69. Village People “Y.M.C.A.” (1978)
70. Culture Club “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (1982)
71. The Miracles “The Tears of a Clown” (1967)
72. The Tornadoes “Telstar” (1962)
73. Kylie Minogue “I Should Be So Lucky” (1988)
74. Nancy Sinatra “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” (1966)
75. Whigfield “Saturday Night” (1994)
76. The Beatles “She Loves You” (1963)
77. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
78. Ben E. King “Stand by Me” (1961)
79. The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” (1966)
80. Beyoncé with Jay-Z “Crazy in Love” (2003)
81. Louis Armstrong “What a Wonderful World” (1967)
82. Althia & Donna “Uptown Top Ranking” (1978)
83. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1998)
84. Rod Stewart “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978)
85. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983)
86. The Clash “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” (1982)
87. Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” (1979)
88. Roy Orbison “(Oh) Pretty Woman” (1964)
89. The Walker Brothers “Make It Easy on Yourself” (1965)
90. Gorillaz with Shaun Ryder “Dare” (2005)
91. The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963)
92. R. Kelly “Ignition (remx)” (2002)
93. Lily Allen “Smile” (2006)
94. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984)
95. Arctic Monkeys “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” (2005)
96. Rage Against the Machine “Killing in the Name” (1992)
97. Elton John “Are You Ready for Love?” (2003)
98. Bob Dylan “Like a Rolling Stone” (1965)
99. Bruce Springsteen “Born to Run” (1975)
100. Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” (1971)
Resources/Related Links:
First posted 4/7/2021; last updated 2/16/2025. | 
