Mainstream Rock: Top 100 Songs, 1981-2021

First posted 1/24/2021; updated 2/92021.

Mainstream Rock: Top 100 Songs, 1981-2021

Billboard launched its Album Rock Tracks chart (now called “Mainstream Rock”) on March 21, 1981. Since then, more than 7000 songs have hit the chart; 2000 of which went top 10. This list ranks those songs which hit the top 10 in order of their overall status in Dave’s Music Database. These are the top 100 songs: Note: click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 1. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 2. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) 3. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991) 4. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988) 5. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981) 6. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991) 7. U2 “With or Without You” (1987) 8. Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981) 9. Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (1999) 10. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981) 11. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982) 12. U2 “One” (1992) 13. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995) 14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986) 15. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998) 16. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001) 17. Van Halen “Jump” (1984) 18. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998) 19. Green Day “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (2004) 20. Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992) 21. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981) 22. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981) 23. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984) 24. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995) 25. Phil Collins “Another Day in Paradise” (1989) 26. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982) 27. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1991) 28. U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (1987) 29. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1991) 30. Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993) 31. Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1983) 32. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985) 33. 3 Doors Down “Kryptonite” (2000) 34. Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984) 35. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985) 36. Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) 37. Kenny Loggins “Footloose” (1984) 38. Hoobastank “The Reason” (2004) 39. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986) 40. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985) 41. J. Geils Band “Centerfold” (1981) 42. Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl” (1981) 43. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981) 44. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) 45. Oasis “Live Forever” (1984) 46. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991) 47. Phil Collins “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (1984) 48. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981) 49. John Cougar Mellencamp “Jack and Diane” (1982) 50. Tears for Fears “Shout” (1984) 51. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983) 52. Creed “With Arms Wide Open” (1999) 53. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982) 54. Lifehouse “Hanging by a Moment” (2000) 55. Green Day “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1997) 56. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994) 57. U2 “Vertigo” (2004) 58. Steve Miller Band “Abracadabra” (1982) 59. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984) 60. Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” (1985) 61. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981) 62. The Scorpions “Wind of Change” (1990) 63. The Police “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (1981) 64. Nickelback “Photograph” (2005) 65. Queen with David Bowie “Under Pressure” (1981) 66. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983) 67. Huey Lewis & the News “The Power of Love” (1985) 68. Nirvana “Come As You Are” (1991) 69. Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1987) 70. Smashing Pumpkins “1979” (1995) 71. The Wallflowers “One Headlight” (1996) 72. Hinder “Lips of an Angel” (2006) 73. Rush “Tom Sawyer” (1981) 74. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980) 75. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993) 76. Tom Petty “Free Fallin’” (1989) 77. Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993) 78. Steve Winwood “Higher Love” (1986) 79. Linkin Park “In the End” (2000) 80. Toto “Rosanna” (1982) 81. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Dani California” (2006) 82. Staind “It’s Been Awhile” (2001) 83. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987) 84. Oasis “Champagne Supernova” (1995) 85. Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes’ (1986) 86. Collective Soul “Shine” (1993) 87. Live “Lightning Crashes” (1994) 88. Green Day “American Idiot” (2004) 89. Silverchair “Tomorrow” (1994) 90. Steve Winwood “Roll with It” (1988) 91. Green Day “Basket Case” (1994) 92. Mike + the Mechanics “The Living Years” (1988) 93. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982) 94. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1982) 95. Yes “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (1983) 96. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987) 97. Pearl Jam “Daughter” (1993) 98. U2 “New Year’s Day” (1983) 99. Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song” (1994) 100. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists Billboard: “Mainstream Rock Chart” Joel Whitburn (2020). Rock Tracks 1981-2020. Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Wikipedia: “List of Billboard Mainstream Rock Number-One Songs”

Rock Tracks: Top 200 Songs, 1981-2021

First posted 1/16/2021.

Rock Tracks: Top 200 Songs, 1981-2021

Billboard launched its Album Rock Tracks chart (now called “Mainstream Rock”) on March 21, 1981. On September 10, 1988, the magazine followed with its Modern Rock Tracks chart (now known as “Alternative Rock”). Numerous songs have overlapped between the charts over the years. Because of that, this list consolidates the two charts, ranking the top 200 songs between the two charts. This list includes all songs which hit #1 on one or both charts for a combined six weeks. Ties are broken by songs’ overall Dave’s Music Database status. Weeks at #1 on each chart are noted with an M for mainstream rock and A for alternative rock. Note: click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 36 weeks: 1. Staind “It’s Been Awhile” (2001) M: 20, A: 16 30 weeks: 2. Green Day “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (2004) M: 14, A: 16 26 weeks: 3. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001) M: 13, A: 13 4. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Dani California” (2006) M: 12, A: 14 5. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Scar Tissue” (1999) M: 10, A: 16 24 weeks: 6. Foo Fighters “The Pretender” (2007) M: 6, A: 18 23 weeks: 7. Linkin Park “What I’ve Done” (2007) M: 8, A: 15 22 weeks: 8. Seether “Fake It” (2007) M: 14, A: 8 21 weeks: 9. U2 “Mysterious Ways” (1991) M: 12, A: 9 10. Red Hot Chili Peppers “By the Way” (2002) M: 7, A: 14 11. Staind “So Far Away” (2003) M: 14, A: 7 12. Foo Fighters “Something from Nothing” (2014) M: 13, A: 8 13. 3 Doors Down “Loser” (2000) M: 21 20 weeks: 14. 3 Doors Down “Kryptonite” (2000) M: 9, A: 11 15. Portugal, the Man “Feel It Still” (2017) A: 20 16. Creed “Higher” (1999) M: 17, A: 3 17. Linkin Park “New Divide” (2009) M: 8, A: 12 19 weeks: 18. Live “Lightning Crashes” (1994) M: 10, A: 9 19. Puddle of Mudd “Blurry” (2001) M: 10, A: 9 20. Muse “Madness” (2012) A; 19 18 weeks: 21. Foo Fighters “Rope” (2011) M: 5, A: 13 17 weeks: 22. 3 Doors Down “When I’m Gone” (2002) M: 17 23. Muse “Uprising” (2009) A: 17 24. Three Days Grace “Pain” (2006) M: 13, A: 4 25. All Time Low with Blackbear (2020) M: 17 16 weeks: 26. Panic! At the Disco “High Hopes” (2018) A: 16 27. Days of the New “Touch, Peel, and Stand” (1997) M: 16 15 weeks: 28. Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song” (1994) M: 15 29. Linkin Park “Numb” (2003) M: 3, A: 12 30. Collective Soul “Heavy” (1999) M: 15 14 weeks: 31. Marcy Playground “Sex and Candy” (1997) A: 14 32. Audioslave “Like a Stone” (2002) M: 12, A: 2 33. Twenty One Pilots “Level of Concern” (2020) A: 14 34. Disturbed “Inside the Fire” (2008) M: 14 13 weeks: 35. Imagine Dragons “Radioactive” (2012) M: 13 36. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981) A: 13 37. Imagine Dragons “Believer” (2017) A: 13 38. Shinedown “Second Chance” (2008) M: 10, A: 3 39. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Other Side” (1999) A: 13 40. Velvet Revolver “Slither” (2004) M: 9, A: 4 41. Breaking Benjamin “Breath” (2006) M: 7, A: 6 42. Three Days Grace “Chalk Outline” A: 13 12 weeks: 43. Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know” (2011) A: 12 44. Twenty One Pilots “Stressed Out” (2015) A: 12 45. Fuel “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” (2000) A: 12 46. Trapt “Headstrong” (2002) M: 7, A: 5 47. Foo Fighters “Walk” (2011) M: 4, A: 8 48. Shinedown “Save Me” (2005) M: 12 49. Shinedown “Bully” (2012) M: 12 50. Chevelle “Face to the Floor” (2011) M: 12 11 weeks: 51. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991) M: 3, A: 8 52. Twenty One Pilots “Heathens” (2016) A: 11 53. The Black Keys “Lonely Boy” (2011) A: 11 54. X Ambassadors “Renegades” (2015) A: 11 55. Foo Fighters “Best of You” (2005) M: 4, A: 7 56. Weezer “Pork and Beans” (2008) A: 11 57. The Black Keys “Fever” (2014) A: 11 58. Audioslave “Be Yourself” (2005) M: 7, A: 4 59. Velvet Revolver “Fall to Pieces” (2004) M: 11 60. The Black Crowes “Remedy” (1992) M: 11 61. The Offspring “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” (2008) A: 11 62. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” (1999) A: 11 63. The Dirty Heads with Rome “Lay Me Down” (2010) A: 11 64. Metallica “Turn the Page” (1998) M: 11 65. Jet “Cold Hard Bitch” (2004) M: 8, A: 3 66. Nickelback “Figured You Out” (2003) M: 11 67. Puddle of Mudd “Psycho” (2007) M: 9, A: 2 68. Three Days Grace “Break” (2009) M: 11 69. Three Days Grace “Misery Loves My Company” (2012) M: 11 10 weeks: 70. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995) A: 10 71. The Wallflowers “One Headlight” (1996) M: 5, A: 5 72. U2 “Desire” (1988) M: 5, A: 5 73. Milky Chance “Stolen Dance” (2013) A: 10 74. Arctic Monkeys “Do I Wanna Know?” (2013) A: 10 75. The Black Keys “Tighten Up” (2010) A: 10 76. Everlast “What It’s Like” (1998) M: 1, A: 9 77. Foo Fighters “All My Life” (2002) M: 10 78. R.E.M. “Orange Crush” (1988) M: 2, A: 8 79. Avenged Sevenfold “Hail to the King” (2013) M: 10 80. Cage the Elephant “Come a Little Closer” (2013) M: 10 81. Seether “Country Song” (2011) M: 10 82. Days of the New “The Down Town” (1997) M: 10 9 weeks: 83. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) M: 9 84. Pearl Jam “Daughter” (1993) M: 8, A: 1 85. Collective Soul “December” (1995) M: 9 86. Goo Goo Dolls “Name” (1995) M: 5, A: 4 87. Sting “All This Time” (1990) M: 7, A: 2 88. Imagine Dragons “Natural” (2018) A: 9 89. Creed “My Sacrifice” (2001) M: 9 90. Green Day “Know My Enemy” (2009) M: 3, A: 6 91. Aerosmith “Livin’ on the Edge” (1993) M: 9 92. The Neighbourhood “Sweater Weather” (2012) A: 9 93. Lovelytheband “Broken” (2017) A: 9 94. Three Days Grace “Animal I Have Become” (2006) M: 7, A: 2 95. Metallica “The Day That Never Comes” (2008) M: 9 96. Alice in Chains “Check My Brain” (2009) M: 8, A: 1 97. The Lemonheads “Into Your Arms” (1993) A: 9 98. Breaking Benjamin “Failure” (2015) M: 9 99. Volbeat “The Devil’s Bleeding Crown” (2016) M: 9 8 weeks: 100. Van Halen “Jump” (1983) M: 8 101. Kings of Leon “Sex on Fire” (2008) A: 8 102. Sugar Ray “Fly” (1997) A: 8 103. Third Eye Blind “Semi-Charmed Life” (1997) A: 8 104. Collective Soul “Shine” (1993) M: 8 105. Blink-182 “All the Small Things” (1999) A: 8 106. Incubus “Drive” (1999) A: 8 107. Pearl Jam “Better Man” (1994) M: 8 108. Nirvana “You Know You’re Right” (1994) M: 4, A: 4 109. Red Hot Chili Peppers “My Friends” (1995) M: 4, A: 4 110. Metallica “Until It Sleeps” (1996) M: 8 111. Green Day “Bang Bang” (2016) M: 7, A: 1 112. Disturbed “Another Way to Die” (2010) M: 8 113. Stone Sour “Say You’ll Haunt Me” (2010) M: 8 114. Alice in Chains “Your Decision” (2009) M: 8 115. Highly Suspect “My Name Is Human” (2016) M: 8 116. Disturbed “Are You Ready” (2018) M: 8 7 weeks: 117. Lorde “Royals” (2013) A: 7 118. Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (1997) A: 7 119. Gorillaz with De La Soul “Feel Good Inc.” (2005) A: 7 120. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994) M: 7 121. Twenty One Pilots “Ride” (2015) A: 7 122. Nickelback “Photograph” (2005) M: 7 123. Green Day “When I Come Around” (1994) A: 7 124. Fastball “The Way” (1998) A: 7 125. Disturbed “The Sounds of Silence” (2015) M: 7 126. Three Days Grace “Never Too Late” (2006) M: 7 127. Stone Sour “Through Glass” (2006) M: 7 128. Linkin Park “Breaking the Habit” (2003) M: 3, A: 4 129. Bush “Swallowed” (1996) A: 7 130. Beck “Up All Night” (2017) A: 7 131. Papa Roach “Last Resort” (2000) A: 7 132. Nine Inch Nails “Only” (2005) A: 7 133. Morrissey “The More You Ignore Me, the Closer You Get” (1994) A: 7 134. Foo Fighters “Long Road to Ruin” (2007) A: 7 135. Peter Murphy “Cuts You Up” (1990) A: 7 136. The Cure “Fascination Street” (1989) A: 7 137. Metallica “I Disappear” (2000) M: 7 138. Metallica “No Leaf Clover” (1999) M: 7 139. Twenty One Pilots “The Hype” (2018) A: 7 140. Shinedown “Cut the Cord” (2015) M: 7 141. Soundgarden “Been Away Too Long” (2012) M: 7 142. Cold War Kids “First” (2014) A: 7 143. Avenged Sevenfold “Shepherd of Fire” (2013) M: 7 144. Alter Bridge “Isolation” (2010) M: 7 145. Staind “Not Again” (2011) M: 7 146. Ghost “Rats” (2018) M: 7 6 weeks: 147. Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984) M: 6 148. Green Day “American Idiot” (2004) A: 6 149. Silverchair “Tomorrow” (1994) M: 3, A: 3 150. Sugar Ray “Every Morning” (1998) A: 6 151. The Cranberries “Zombie” (1994) A: 6 152. Def Leppard “Photograph” (1983) M: 6 153. Primitive Radio Gods “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand” (1996) A: 6 154. U2 “Angel of Harlem” (1988) M: 6 155. Green Day “Holiday” (2004) M: 3, A: 3 156. Aerosmith “Cryin’” (1993) M: 6 157. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “The Waiting” (1981) M: 6 158. Asia “Heat of the Moment” (1982) M: 6 159. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “Learning to Fly” (1991) M: 6 160. Linkin Park “Somewhere I Belong” (2003) M: 1, A: 5 161. Toad the Wet Sprocket “Fall Down” (1994) A: 6 162. New Order “Regret” (1993) A: 6 163. Robert Plant “Hurting Kind” (1990) M: 6 164. Eric Clapton “Pretending” (1989) M: 6 165. Pearl Jam “Given to Fly” (1997) M: 6 166. Cage the Elephant “Ready to Let Go” (2019) A: 6 167. Linkin Park “Faint” (2003) A: 6 168. Incubus “Megalomaniac” (2003) A: 6 169. Robert Plant “Heaven Knows’ (1988) M: 6 170. Billy Squier “Everybody Wants You” (1982) M: 6 171. Pink Floyd “Keep Talking” (1994) M: 6 172. Bad Company “How About That” (1992) M: 6 173. Kenny Wayne Shepherd “Blue on Black” (1998) M: 6 174. Papa Roach “Lifeline” (2009) M: 6 175. ZZ Top “My Head’s in Mississippi” (1990) M: 6 176. Green Day “Still Breathing” (2016) M: 1, A: 5 177. Foo Fighters “DOA” (2005) A: 6 178. Yes “Lift Me Up” (1991) M: 6 179. Steve Miller Band “I Want to Make the World Turn Around” (1986) M: 6 180. Puddle of Mudd “Drift and Die” (2002) M: 6 181. Cage the Elephant “Shake Me Down” (2010) A: 6 182. Bush “The Sound of Winter” (2011) A: 6 183. Theory of a Deadman “RX (Medicate)” (2017) M: 6 184. Brother Cane “And Fools Shine On” (1995) M: 6 185. Nickelback “Animals” (2005) M: 6 186. Creed “What’s This Life For” (1997) M: 6 187. Soundgarden “Live to Rise” (2012) M: 6 188. Three Days Grace “Just Like You” M: 3, A: 3 189. Godsmack “Speak” (2006) M: 6 190. The Black Crowes “Hotel Illness” (1992) M: 6 191. Jesus Jones “The Devil You Know” (1993) A: 6 192. Van Halen “Me Wise Magic” (1996) M: 6 193. David Coverdale & Jimmy Page “Pride and Joy” (1993) M: 6 194. Morrissey “Tomorrow” (1992) A: 6 195. Royal Blood “I Only Lie When I Love You” (2017) M: 6 196. Shinedown “State of My Head” (2015) M: 6 197. Three Days Grace “I Am Machine” (2014) M: 6 198. Papa Roach “Help” (2017) M: 6 199. Van Halen “Without You” (1998) M: 6 200. Ozzy Osbourne “Under the Graveyard” (2019) M: 6 Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre-Specific Song Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre-Specific Song Lists” Billboard: “Mainstream Rock Chart” Billboard: “Alternative Rock Chart” Wikipedia: “List of Billboard Alternative Rock Number-One Songs”

The Rolling Stones charted with “Start Me Up”

Start Me Up The Rolling Stones

Writer(s): Mick Jagger, Keith Richards (see lyrics here) Released: August 14, 1981 First Charted: August 21, 1981 Peak: 2 US, 4 CB, 5 HR, 9 RR, 113 AR, 7 UK, 2 CN, 11 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.6 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 124.2 video, 450.34 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: A band that’s been around nearly 20 years isn’t supposed to still be such a presence on the pop charts, but no one told the Rolling Stones. 1981’s Tattoo You was the band’s eight consecutive #1 album in the United States. Its nine weeks atop the chart was more than any other Stones’ album. It also sold eight million copies worldwide; 1978’s Some Girls was their only studio album which did better. The lead single, “Start Me Up,” had a lot to do with the album’s success. One could practically hear lead singer Mick Jagger strutting his way through the stadium-rocking anthem which the band has frequently used since to open their shows. A video in which he did, in fact, do plenty of strutting, proved that the Rolling Stones could keep up with any of the newer acts when it came to getting played on the fledging MTV. Jagger consciously wanted to emulate the style of videos being showcased on the music network, saying it was “the future.” WK “Start Me Up” also found a home at album rock radio, and spent 13 weeks atop the album rock chart which Billboard launched that year. The song held the record for most weeks at #1 until 1994 when Stone Temple Pilots spent 15 weeks on top with “Interstate Love Song.” WK All Music Guide’s Stewart Mason called it “the last great Rolling Stones song.” AMG The song originated in 1978 during the sessions for Some Girls. It was originally a reggae-rock song called “Never Stop,” but they put it aside when it wasn’t coming together. When the group was prepping for a tour in 1981, they dug through the vaults for some “new” songs. The band’s engineer, Chris Kimsey, found a more rock version of the song in the midst of dozens of reggae versions of the song and the band added overdubs. WK The result was the song we now know as “a tough little rock & roll song powered by one of Keith Richards’ trademark riffs and a solid Charlie Watts backbeat.” AMG Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Rolling Stones AMG All Music Guide SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 2/7/2021; last updated 10/27/2022.