Grunge/Post-Grunge: Top 100 Songs

Grunge/ Post-Grunge: Top 100 Songs

After Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell committed suicide in 2017, I posted a list of the top 50 grunge songs as a tribute. That list, as with amost Dave’s Music Database lists, was created by aggregating multiple other lists. However, there is a challenge with creating such a list. Grunge was a fusion of punk and heavy metal which originated out of Seattle and bands such as Nirvana, Pearl, Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. The movement developed in the latter half of the ‘80s and peaked in the early ‘90s. While its rise and fall was quick, it birthed a revival of interest in guitar-based, alternative rock. When record companies started rushing to sign similar-sounding bands, another movement was born: post-grunge. Often these groups have been critically dismissed as less authentic, cash-in versions of grunge. As with all genres, though, the lines are never completely clear. Some bands such as Bush and Collective Soul walked a tightrope, not clearly falling in one camp or the other. Others, such as Nickelback and Creed, sold boatloads but came to be reviled by critics. In any event, I’ve posted two lists – one focused on grunge and the other on post-grunge. Some songs qualified for both lists but were only listed on one. So here we go – the two lists – one on the top 50 grunge songs and the other on the top 50 post-grunge songs. Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Best of Grunge based on this list. It debuts August 31, 2021 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database. Top 50 Grunge Songs image from fanboysanonymous.com, l to r: Eddie Vedder, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley 1. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) 2. Alice in Chains “Would?” (1992) 3. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994) 4. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1991) 5. Temple of the Dog “Hunger Strike” (1991) 6. Pearl Jam “Alive” (1991) 7. Stone Temple Pilots “Plush” (1992) 8. Screaming Trees “Nearly Lost You” (1992) 9. Pearl Jam “Even Flow” (1991) 10. Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick” (1988) 11. Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song” (1994) 12. Soundgarden “Outshined’ (1991) 13. Mother Love Bone “Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns” (1989) 14. Pearl Jam “Black” (1991) 15. Nirvana “Lithium” (1991) 16. Mad Season “River of Deceit” (1995) 17. Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993) 18. Nirvana “Come As You Are” (1991) 19. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” (1991) 20. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993) 21. Alice in Chains “Rooster” (1992) 22. Soundgarden “Spoonman” (1994) 23. L7 Pretend We’re Dead” (1992) 24. Stone Temple Pilots “Big Empty” (1994) 25. Hole “Doll Parts” (1994) 26. Stone Temple Pilots “Sex Type Thing” (1992) 27. Nirvana “In Bloom” (1991) 28. Nirvana “You Know You’re Right” (1994) 29. Bush “Glycerine” (1995) 30. Alice in Chains “Them Bones” (1992) 31. Hole “Violet” (1994) 32. Blind Melon “No Rain” (1993) 33. Toadies “Possum Kingdom” (1994) 34. Temple of the Dog “Say Hello 2 Heaven” (1991) 35. Bush “Everything Zen” (1994) 36. Smashing Pumpkins “Cherub Rock” (1993) 37. Pearl Jam “Yellow Lebetter” (1992) 38. Nirvana “About a Girl” (1989) 39. Bush “Comedown” (1994) 40. Pearl Jam “Better Man” (1994) 41. Nirvana “Rape Me” (1993) 42. Soundgarden “Burden in My Hand” (1996) 43. Soundgarden “Jesus Christ Pose” (1991) 44. Stone Temple Pilots “Wicked Garden” (1992) 45. Stone Temple Pilots “Creep” (1992) 46. Alice in Chains “No Excuses” (1992) 47. Soundgarden “Rusty Cage” (1991) 48. Nirvana “Aneurysm” (1991) 49. Veruca Salt “Seether” (1994) 50. Pearl Jam “Daughter” (1993) Top 50 Post-Grunge Songs image from alternativenation.net 1. Foo Fighters “Everlong” (1997) 2. Puddle of Mudd “Blurry” (2001) 3. 3 Doors Down “Kryptonite” (2000) 4. Staind “It’s Been Awhile” (2001) 5. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001) 6. Candlebox “Far Behind” (1993) 7. Bush “Machinehead” (1994) 8. Live “I Alone” (1994) 9. Creed “My Own Prison” (1997) 10. Marcy Playground “Sex and Candy” (1997) 11. Three Days Grace “I Hate Everything About You” (2003) 12. Live “Lightning Crashes” (1994) 13. Silverchair “Tomorrow” (1994) 14. Collective Soul “Shine” (1993) 15. Filter “Hey Man, Nice Shot” (1995) 16. Better Than Ezra “Good” (1995) 17. Foo Fighters “The Pretender” (2007) 18. Everclear “Santa Monica (Watch the World Die)” (1995) 19. Seether “Fake It” (2007) 20. Creed “Higher” (1999) 21. Foo Fighters “My Hero” (1997) 22. Third Eye Blind “Semi-Charmed Life” (1997) 23. Fuel “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” (2000) 24. Incubus “Drive” (1999) 25. Breaking Benjamin “The Diary of Jane” (2006) 26. Incubus “Wish You Were Here” (2001) 27. Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly” (1999) 28. Sponge “Plowed” (1994) 29. Tonic “If You Could Only See” (1997) 30. Hoobastank “The Reason” (2003) 31. Creed “With Arms Wide Open” (1999) 32. The Verve Pipe “The Freshmen” (1996) 33. Alter Bridge “Metalingus” (2004) 34. Seether “Fine Again” (2002) 35. Local H “Bound for the Floor” (1996) 36. Semisonic “Closing Time” (1998) 37. Puddle of Mudd “She Hates Me” (2002) 38. Three Days Grace “Animal I Have Become” (2006) 39. Seether with Amy Lee “Broken” (2004) 40. Foo Fighters “All My Life” (2002) 41. Seven Mary Three “Cumbersome” (1995) 42. Audioslave “Like a Stone” (2002) 43. Foo Fighters “Best of You” (2005) 44. Foo Fighters “Big Me” (1995) 45. Hinder “Lips of an Angel” (2006) 46. Days of the New “Touch, Peel, and Stand” (1997) 47. 3 Doors Down “When I’m Gone” (2002) 48. Foo Fighters “Times Like These” (2002) 49. Foo Fighters “This Is a Call” (1995) 50. Candlebox “You” (1993) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” First posted 5/25/2017; last updated 8/30/2021.

Adult Top 40: Top 100+ Songs

Adult Top 40, 1996-2021: Top 100+ Songs

In 2016, Billboard magazine celebrated its 20th anniversary of the Adult Pop Songs chart, a chart which it referred to as “Top 40 for people over 25.” They published a list of the top 50 “Greatest Of All Time Adult Pop Songs.” Dave’s Music Database has reworked the list to rank the songs based on most weeks at #1 and then, for ties, by overall points in Dave’s Music Database. All songs which spent at least 5 weeks at #1 are in the list below, pushing this a few notches past a top 100 list. Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 25 weeks: Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (1999) 23 weeks: The Calling “Wherever You Will Go” (2001) 20 weeks: The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (2019) 18 weeks: Nickelback “Photograph” (2005) Matchbox 20 “Unwell” (2002) 17 weeks: Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998) 16 weeks: Avril Lavigne “Complicated” (2002) 15 weeks: The Fray “How to Save a Life” (2005) Panic! At the Disco “High Hopes” (2018) 14 weeks: No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1995) Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” (2017) Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (1997) Train “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” (2001) Maroon 5 “Memories” (2019) Vertical Horizon “Everything You Want’ (1999) 13 weeks: Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (2010) Maroon 5 “This Love” (2002) 3 Doors Down “Here Without You” (2002) Matchbox 20 “Bent” (2000) Maroon 5 “She Will Be Loved” (2002) Colbie Caillat “Bubbly” (2007) Matchbox 20 “If You’re Gone” (2000) Santana with Michelle Branch “The Game of Love” (2002) 12 weeks: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017) Celine Dion “Because You Loved Me” (1996) Daniel Powter “Bad Day” (2005) 11 weeks: Green Day “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (2004) Kings of Leon “Use Somebody” (2008) Pink with Nate Ruess “Just Give Me a Reason” (2012) 10 weeks: Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” (2007) Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men “One Sweet Day” (1995) Hoobastank “The Reason” (2003) Sugar Ray “Every Morning” (1998) Avirl Lavigne “I’m with You” (2002) Rob Thomas “Lonely No More” (2005) KT Tunstall “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree” (2004) Matchbox 20 “3 A.M.” (1996) Daughtry “Home” (2007) 9 weeks: Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé “Perfect” (2017) Adele “Someone Like You (2011) Justin Timberlake “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (2016) Lady Antebellum “Need You Now” (2009) Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg “California Gurls” (2010) Sara Bareilles “Love Song” (2007) Kelly Clarkson “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” (2011) Jonas Brothers “Sucker” (2019) Smash Mouth “All Star” (1999) The Fray “You Found Me” (2008) Lifehouse “You and Me” (2005) Dido “Thank You” (2000) Maroon 5 with Kendrick Lamar “Don’t Wanna Know” (2016) Sheryl Crow “Soak Up the Sun” (2002) Daughtry “It’s Not Over” (2006) Santana with Chad Kroeger or Alex Band “Why Don’t You and I?” (2002) 8 weeks: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” (2008) Taylor Swift “Shake It Off” (2014) The Lumineers “Ho Hey” (2012) Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (1996) Creed “With Arms Wide Open” (1999) Maroon 5 “One More Night” (2012) Walk the Moon “Shut Up and Dance” (2014) Tracy Chapman “Give Me One Reason” (1995) Shawn Mullins “Lullaby (Rock-a-Bye)” (1998) Ava Max “Kings & Queens” (2020) Kelly Clarkson “Already Gone” (2009) Goo Goo Dolls “Give a Little Bit” (2004) 7 weeks: Adele “Hello” (2015) Sia with Sean Paul “Cheap Thrills” (2016) One Republic “Counting Stars” (2013) Fergie “Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal)” (2006) The Chainsmokers with Coldplay “Something Just Like This” (2017) Eric Clapton “Change the World” (1996) Pink “Raise Your Glass” (2010) Ed Sheeran with Justin Bieber “I Don’t Care” (2019) Imagine Dragons “Thunder” (2017) Shawn Colvin “Sunny Came Home” (1996) Zedd with Meren Morris & Grey “The Middle” (2018) Sarah McLachlan “Angel” (1997) Shinedown “Second Chance” (2008) Pink “Fuckin’ Perfect” (2010) The Script “Breakeven” (2008) Sister Hazel “All for You” (1997) Sophie B. Hawkins “As I Lay Me Down” (1995) 6 weeks: Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know” (2011) Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013) Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (2013) Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” (2014) Coldplay “Viva La Vida” (2008) Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (1994) Taylor Swift “Blank Space” (2014) One Republic with Timbaland “Apologize” (2006) Ricky Martin “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999) Train “Hey, Soul Sister” (2009) Maroon 5 with Wiz Khalifa “Payphone” (2012) Jewel “You Were Meant for Me” (1995) Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved” (2018) Imagine Dragons “Believer” (2017) Shawn Mendes “Treat You Better” (2016) Ed Sheeran “Photograph” (2014) Paula Cole “I Don’t Want to Wait” (1996) Nickelback “If Everyone Cared” (2005) Kelly Clarkson “Mr. Know It All” (2011) 5 weeks: Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are (Amazing)” (2010) Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (2015) Katy Perry “Firework” (2010) Katy Perry “Roar” (2013) James Blunt “You’re Beautiful” (2004) Magic! “Rude” (2013) Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (1997) Lifehouse “Hanging by a Moment” (2000) The Wallflowers “One Headlight” (1996) Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now” (2019) Jewel “Foolish Games” (1995) Nickelback “Far Away” (2005) Shawn Mendes “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (2016) Benny Blanco with Halsey & Khalid “Eastside” (2018) Pink “Blow Me One Last Kiss” (2012) Train “Calling All Angels” (2003) Kelly Clarkson “Behind These Hazel Eyes” (2004) Nickelback “Gotta Be Somebody” (2008) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” Wikipedia: “Billboard Top 40 #1 Songs” First posted 4/28/2019; last updated 5/8/2021.

Canadian Songs: Top 100

First posted 2/4/2021; updated 2/14/2021.

Canada: Top 100 Songs

These are the top songs by Canadian artists, as determined by an aggregate of 19 best-of lists. Songs which were only considered which were by artists born in Canada or groups which originated in Canada. Note: click here to see other genre-specific song lists. You can also check out the DMDB’s rating of Canada’s Biggest #1 Songs, most of which are not actually by Canadian artists. 1. Neil Young “Heart of Gold” (1972) 2. Bachman-Turner Overdrive “Takin’ Care of Business” (1974) 3. Bryan Adams “Summer of ‘69” (1984) 4. The Guess Who “American Woman” (1970) 5. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995) 6. The Band “The Weight” (1968) 7. Loverboy “Working for the Weekend” (1981) 8. Tom Cochrane “Life Is a Highway” (1992) 9. Gordon Lightfoot “If You Could Read My Mind” (1970) 10. Leonard Cohen “Hallelujah” (1984) 11. Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (1997) 12. Joni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970) 13. Corey Hart “Sunglasses at Night” (1984) 14. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001) 15. Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” (2011) 16. Bachman-Turner Overdrive “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” (1974) 17. Rush “Tom Sawyer” (1981) 18. Barenaked Ladies “If I Had a $1,000,000” (1992) 19. Gordon Lightfoot “Sundown” (1974) 20. Barenaked Ladies “One Week” (1998) 21. The Tragically Hip “Bobcaygeon” (1998) 22. Steppenwolf “Born to Be Wild” (1968) 23. Men Without Hats “The Safety Dance” (1982) 24. Alanis Morissette “Ironic” (1995) 25. The Guess Who “No Sugar Tonight” (1970) 26. Paul Anka “Diana” (1957) 27. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991) 28. k.d. lang “Constant Craving” (1992) 29. Avril Lavigne “Complicated” (2002) 30. Allanah Myles “Black Velvet” (1989) 31. Anne Murray “Snowbird” (1970) 32. Neil Young “Rockin’ in the Free World” (1989) 33. Trooper “Raise a Little Hell” (1978) 34. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976) 35. Spirit of the West “Home for a Rest” (1990) 36. Rush “The Spirit of Radio” (1980) 37. The Guess Who “These Eyes” (1969) 38. Glass Tiger “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone” (1986) 39. Steppenwolf “Magic Carpet Ride” (1968) 40. Justin Bieber “Sorry” (2015) 41. Andy Kim “Rock Me Gently” (1974) 42. Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun” (1974) 43. Bryan Adams “Heaven” (1984) 44. The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Face” (2015) 45. Daniel Powter “Bad Day” (2005) 46. Neil Young “Old Man” (1972) 47. Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (2015) 48. Arcade Fire “Wake Up” (2004) 49. Bruce Cockburn “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” (1984) 50. Tom Cochrane & Red Rider “Big League” (1988) 51. Rush “Closer to the Heart” (1977) 52. Five Man Electrical Band “Signs” (1971) 53. Celine Dion “Because You Loved Me” (1996) 54. The Weeknd with Daft Punk “Starboy” (2016) 55. Bryan Adams “Run to You” (1984) 56. Snow “Informer” (1993) 57. Celine Dion “The Power of Love” (1993) 58. The Tragically Hip “Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)” (1992) 59. The Weeknd “The Hills” (2015) 60. Martha & the Muffins “Echo Beach” (1980) 61. The Tragically Hip “New Orleans Is Sinking” (1989) 62. Nelly Furtado with Timbaland “Promiscuous” (2006) 63. Blue Rodeo “Lost Together” (1992) 64. Shania Twain “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” (1997) 65. Drake with Wizkid & Kyla “One Dance” (4/5/2016) 66. Magic! “Rude” (2013) 67. Nick Gilder “Hot Child in the City” (1978) 68. Nelly Furtado “Say It Right” (2006) 69. Sheriff “When I’m with You” (1983) 70. The Guess Who “Share the Land” (1970) 71. Paul Anka with Odia Coates “You’re Having My Baby” (1974) 72. Neil Young “My My Hey Hey (Into the Black)” (1979) 73. Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now” (1969) 74. Ian & Sylvia “Four Strong Winds” (1963) 75. Barenaked Ladies “Brian Wilson” (1992) 76. Bryan Adams “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” (1995) 77. Neil Young “Cinnamon Girl” (1969) 78. Anne Murray “You Needed Me” (1978) 79. Bryan Adams with Sting & Rod Stewart “All for Love” (1993) 80. Crash Test Dummies “Superman’s Song” (1991) 81. The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954) 82. Nickelback “Photograph” (2005) 83. Drake “In My Feelings” (2018) 84. Justin Bieber “What Do You Mean?” (2015) 85. The Tragically Hip “Wheat Kings” (1992) 86. Shania Twain “You’re Still the One” (1997) 87. Red Rider “Lunatic Fringe” (1981) 88. The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (2019) 89. Avril Lavigne “Girlfriend” (2007) 90. Shania Twain “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (1997) 91. The Guess Who “No Time” (1969) 92. Sarah McLachlan “Angel” (1997) 93. The Tragically Hip “Ahead by a Century” (1996) 94. Drake “Hotline Bling” (2015) 95. Drake “Nice for What” (2018) 96. Finger Eleven “Paralyzer” (2007) 97. Jeff Healey Band “Angel Eyes” (1988) 98. Celine Dion “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” (1996) 99. Neil Young with Crosby, Stills & Nash “Ohio” (1970) 100. Payola$ “Eyes of a Stranger” (1982) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Canada: Biggest #1 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 Top 50 Adult Top 40 Acts

Adult Top 40: Top 50 Acts

Wikipedia says the Adult Pop, or Adult Top 40, format is “a format in which the genre is geared more towards an adult audience who are not into hard rock, hip hop, or soft adult contemporary fare” the latter of which is typically more ballad-driven). “The main genres within this format are a mix of soft and energetic adult contemporary music alongside adult alternative rock and adult-oriented pop music.” These all-time rankings are based on actual performance on the weekly Adult Pop Songs chart (also known as Adult Top 40), from its launch in Billboard magazine dated March 16, 1996, through March 12, 2016. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre. Maroon 5 1. Maroon 5 2. Matchbox 20 3. Train 4. Nickelback 5. Pink 6. Kelly Clarkson 7. Katy Perry 8. Goo Goo Dolls 9. Daughtry 10. Taylor Swift 11. Lifehouse 12. John Mayer 13. Rob Thomas 14. One Republic 15. The Fray 16. 3 Doors Down 17. Bruno Mars 18. Colbie Caillat 19. Sheryl Crow 20. Adele 21. Coldplay 22. Avril Lavigne 23. Jewel 24. Ed Sheeran 25. Alanis Morissette 26. Santana 27. Sarah McLachlan 28. Smash Mouth 29. Sugar Ray 30. Jason Mraz 31. The Script 32. Sara Bareilles 33. Gavin DeGraw 34. No Doubt 35. Creed 36. Imagine Dragons 37. Third Eye Blind 38. Lady Gaga 39. Dave Matthews Band 40. Green Day 41. Fun. 42. Phillip Phillips 43. Celine Dion 44. Five for Fighting 45. Uncle Kracker 46. Vertical Horizon 47. Neon Trees 48. Lenny Kravitz 49. Justin Timberlake 50. Rihanna Resources/Related Links: Billboard: Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs Artists Wikipedia: Adult Pop Airplay Top 100 Adult Top 40 Songs Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre First posted 6/29/2026.

Of Pietropoli and Nickelback: The Worst of the Best

The other night, my seven-year-old son leapt up and down on the couch watching Shaun White win the men’s halfpipe. The guy had wrapped up the gold and then did an unnecessary third run and bested himself with a 48.4 score out of 50! Amazing!

How about that Manuel Pietropoli, though?

Who?

Yeah, he also competed in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In the halfpipe. While White glided to glory, Pietropoli stunk up the joint with a 9.3 in his first qualifying run and a 5.2 in his second. He’s what you might call “the worst of the best.”

I saw a comedian years ago do a hilarious routine about a runner in the Olympics. The comedian jogged in place at the mike, pondering what the last place runner might be thinking. “Four years. Four years I trained for this. So that I could be in last place. Last place. I could have done nothing and come here and taken last place.”

Pietropoli may have come in last place (although technically a 40th contestant didn’t take either run – don’t know why) and may be a punch line, but here’s the reality: he’s still an OLYMPIAN. I often joke about how much more impressive the Olympics would be if average Joes like me competed side by side with the world’s best. Watch me flip head over heels a couple times right into the back of an ambulance or a hearse and Manuel will look like a superstar. Which, of course, he is.

By now, you’re checking the name of this blog, thinking “did this change to Dave’s Sports Database? Uh, no. This entry is dedicated to the Manuel Pietropoli’s of the music world. If Shaun White is the Sgt. Pepper of the halfpipe world, then Pietropoli is the…Nickelback. That’s right. An also ran. A mocked contender. But one that still gets to boast of being one of the elite.

Dave’s Music Database Top 1000 Albums of All Time are determined by the consolidation of hundreds of best-of-all-time album lists mixed in with sales figures, chart numbers, and album ratings from critics. The resulting list showcases a lot of the expected “winners” on top of the leader board. But what about the bottom?

If you sort all 1000 albums by critics’ ratings, the bottom ten of the list are the duds that sold by the bucket loads even as they made music snobs wince. Here’s the thing to remember, though – no matter how Pietropoli-like the scores, these albums still made the big time – the “musical Olympics.” They may be overshadowed by the Shaun White’s of the music world, but they still bested thousands of others who didn’t even make the cut.

These albums may be flash-in-the-pans, but each represents a spot on the musical landscape. You may wretch at the impact of Garth Brooks or the Spice Girls (neither of which makes this list), but they sold hoards not just because they were well marketed, but because they tapped into the public conscience. Throw your nose in the air in disgust, but the unwashed masses say you’re wrong. They scooped ‘em up – and, if you’re honest, chances are there’s something on this list that you bought as well. I’ll admit to owning three of them, but danged if I’ll admit which ones.

Enough talk. Here’s the * ahem * slightly less than the cream of the crop:

10. Elvis Presley – Blue Hawaii (1961)
9. Celine Dion – The Colour of My Love (1993)
8. New Kids on the Block – Hangin’ Tough (1988)
7. Celine Dion – Let’s Talk about Love (1997)
6. Genesis – We Can’t Dance (1991)
5. MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)
4. Backstreet Boys – Black & Blue (2000)
3. Britney Spears – Baby One More Time (1999)
2. Nickelback – All the Right Reasons (2005)
1. Vanilla Ice – To the Extreme (1990)

Congrats to all the competitors. You didn’t win, but despite what anyone says, you didn’t lose either.


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Nickelback All the Right Reasons hit #1

All the Right Reasons Nickelback

Released: October 4, 2005 Peak: 11 US, 13 UK, 14 CN, 2 AU Sales (in millions): 8.0 US, 0.6 UK, 18.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: mainstream rock

Tracks: Song Title (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts. Follow You Home Fight for All the Wrong Reasons Photograph (8/20/05, 2 US, 18 UK, 16 AC, 1 AR, 3 MR, 1 AA, sales: 0.8 m, air: 0.5 m) Animals (11/26/05, 97 US, 1 AR, 16 MR, air: 0.1 m) Savin’ Me (3/11/06, 19 US, 29 AC, 11 AR, 29 MR, 2 AA, air: 0.3 m) Far Away (1/28/06, 8 US, 40 UK, 5 AC, 1 AA, air: 0.4 m) Next Contestant Side of a Bullet (3/17/07, 7 AR) If Everyone Cared (2/3/07, 17 US, 17 AC, 37 AR, 1 AA, air: 0.2 m) Someone That You’re With Rockstar (7/29/06, 6 US, 2 UK, 4 AR, 37 MR, 6 AA, sales: 3.09 m, air: 0.5 m) Total Running Time: 41:33 The Players: Chad Kroeger (vocals, guitar) Ryan Peake (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) Mike Kroeger (bass, backing vocals) Daniel Adair (drums, backing vocals)

Rating: 3.542 out of 5.00 (average of 28 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: Before Nickelback became the go-to punching bag of 21st century rock, they were one of the most successful rock bands on the planet. They formed in 1995 in Alberta, Canada. Their first two albums, 1996’s Curb and 1998’s The State, only reached #182 and #130 on the Billboard album chart. In 2001, however, the band exploded with the success of #1 single “How You Remind Me” and its parent album, Silver Side Up, got to #2 and sold ten million copies worldwide. The 2003 follow-up, The Long Road, was another hit peaking at #6 and selling five million worldwide. Then 2005’s All the Right Reasons became the commercial highlight of Nickelback’s career, topping the Billboard album chart and selling 18 million copies worldwide. It is one of only a handful of rock albums to generate five or more top-20 hits in the U.S. WK At this point, the disconnect between fans and critics was apparent. AllMusic.com’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine called them “unspeakably awful,” STE a saying they “favor clumsy, plodding riffs, still incessantly rewrite the same chords and melody, still harmonize exactly the same way on every song, [and lead singer Chad] Kroeger still sounds as if he’s singing with a hernia [and] he still writes shockingly stupid lines.” STE The New York Times’ Kelefa Sanneh called the album “another brash but sullen CD with more of the worst rock lyrics ever recorded.” WK On this, their fourth outing, “Nickelback ditches any pretense of being a grunge band and finally acknowledges they’re a straight-up heavy rock band. Not that they’ve left the angst of grunge behind…there’s lots of tortured emotions threaded throughout the 11 songs here. But where their previous albums roiled with anger – their breakthrough ‘How You Remind Me’ was not affectionate, it was snide and cynical – there’s a surprisingly large sentimental streak running throughout All the Right Reasons, and it’s not just limited to heart-on-sleeve power ballads like Far Away and Savin’ Me, the latter being the latest entry in their soundalike sweepstakes.” STE “Kroeger is in a particularly pensive mood here, looking back fondly at his crazy times in high school on Photograph (‘Look at this photograph/ Every time I do it makes me laugh/ How did our eyes get so red?/ And what the hell is on Joey’s head?’), lamenting the murder of Dimebag Darrell on Side of a Bullet (where a Dimebag solo is overdubbed), and, most touching of all, imagining ‘the day when nobody died’ on If Everyone Cared.” STE “Appropriately enough for an album that finds Kroeger’s emotional palette opening up, Nickelback try a few new things here, adding more pianos, keyboards, and acoustic guitars to not just their ballads, but a few of their big, anthemic rockers; they even sound a little bit light and limber on Someone That You’re With, the fastest tune here and a bit of relief after all the heavy guitars.” STE In yet another vein, “despite the attempted sarcasm of Rockstar, he still shows no discernible sense of humor.” STE “All this makes for a more varied Nickelback album, but it doesn’t really change their essence.” STE

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Nickelback STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide WK Wikipedia First posted 2/19/2010; last updated 3/3/2024.

Nickelback “Photograph” released

Photograph Nickelback

Writer(s): Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Daniel Adair (see lyrics here) Released: August 8, 2005 First Charted: August 20, 2005 Peak: 2 BB, 11 DG, 3 RR, 16 AC, 118 A40, 17 AR, 3 MR, 18 UK, 3 CN, 3 AU, 14 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.6 UK, 2.69 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.50 radio, 360.80 video, 377.58 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Poor Nickelback. They’ve become the punching bag of rock and roll in the 21st century. Sure, they aren’t exactly the equivalent of Beethoven, but it’s hard to grasp how a band who’ve sold more than 40 million albums have been ridiculed like they were a flash-in-the-pan one-hit wonder. The band was formed in 1995 by the Kroeger brothers Chad (vocals, guitar) and Mike (bass) with their cousin Brandon (drums) and Ryan Peake (rhythm guitar). The band cycled through a few drummers before Daniel Adair landed the job in 2005. The group landed a #1 hit with “How You Remind Me” from their third album, 2001’s Silver Side Up. Their next album, 2003’s The Long Road, gaven them another top-10 hit. Their commercial peak, however, came in 2005. The band exploded in 2005 with their fifth album, All the Right Reasons. it sold 18 million copies worldwide and gave the band three more top-10 hits with “Photograph,” “Far Away,” and “Rockstar.” The song “is about reviewing the memories - missed and forgotten - from the band's childhood in Hanna, Alberta. The lyrics are a chronicle of real events and personal landmarks lead singer Chad Kroeger recalled as he wrote it.” SF He said, “It’s just nostalgia, growing up in a small town, and you can’t go back to your childhood. Saying goodbye to friends that you’ve drifted away from, where you grew up, where you went to school, who you hung out with and the dumb stuff you used to do as a kid, the first love – all of those things. Everyone has one or two of those memories that they are fond of, so this song is really just the bridge for all that.” WK The video was shot in Hanna, Alberta, with the band revisiting old stomping grounds. The photograph which Chad holds up in the video was the inspiration for the song. The picture is of him and Joey Moi, the band’s producer, at a New Year’s Eve party. In the song he says, “What the hell’s on Joey’s head?” It’s a chiller for champagne. SF The shot of Chad holding up the photo has become a meme with people substituting other images in the photograph. Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/27/2026.

The Killers charted with “Mr. Brightside”

Mr. Brightside The Killers

Writer(s): Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (see lyrics here) Released: September 29, 2003 First Charted: June 26, 2004 Peak: 10 US, 10 RR, 11 A40, 3 AR, 10 UK, 5 CN, 29 AU, 6 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 4.8 UK, 10.54 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.5 radio, 467.0 video, 1797.97 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The Killers “crawled out of Vegas armed with glitzy beats and faux Bowie accents.” RS’09 “Merging Duran Duran makeup, New Order hi-hats, and Bruce Springsteen-ian grandiosity, they gave rock fans a non-geriatric arena-ready alternative to the world’s Nickelbacks this decade.” PF The group might have just been another of the pack of the new millennium’s wave of new dance-rock, but “‘Mr. Brightside’ made them famous.” RS’09 “Preening and posturing and fusing high drama, power pop, and rock gravitas into one perfectly transcendent song.” LR “In a stroke of genius they never quite equaled, these Las Vegas rockers married the infectious grooves of the then-trendy dance-rock scene to a surging melody straight out of the U2/ Coldplay handbook.” MX They brought along “a story line that sums up the first two seasons of Gossip Girl.” RS’09 The Killers’ lead singer Brandon Flowers had a girlfriend who cheated on him and the band’s guitarist, Dave Keuning, extracted revenge with this song about her. Flowers told Q magazine about discovering her unfaithfulness. “I was asleep and I knew something was wrong. I have these instincts. I went to the Crown and Anchor [a Vegas pub] and my girlfriend was there with another guy.” PF However, Flowers’ anguish proved to have a “bright side.” The song didn’t just give The Killers their biggest hit, but one thoroughly embraced by fans. UK radio station XFM wrapped the decade with a listener poll to determine the top 1000 songs of all time and “Mr. Brightside” topped the list. While such a lofty position showed the weaknesses of turning an “all time” poll over to voters, it still showed just how much fans cherished the song. Resources: DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry for The Killers MX Atlanta Metromix (11/24/09). “Best songs of the decade” FL FasterLouder.com.au (1/5/2010). “The Killers #1 on ‘Top 1,000 Songs of All Time’” LR LowResolution.blogspot.com (1/4/2010). “Retrospecticus: 100 Favorite Songs of the Decade” PF Pitchfork.com (8/19/09) The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s RS’09 Rolling Stone (12/9/09). “Songs of the Decade.” Related Links: Last updated 7/24/2023.

Nickelback hit #1 with “How You Remind Me”

How You Remind Me Nickelback

Writer(s): Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Ryan Vikedal (see lyrics here) Released: August 21, 2001 First Charted: July 28, 2001 Peak: 14 US, 18 RR, 2 A40, 11 AA, 113 AR, 113 MR, 4 UK, 1 CN, 2 AU, 9 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 1.2 UK, 3.15 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 7.25.8 video, 685.19 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: When Nickelback recorded “How You Remind Me” in about ten minutes as a last minute edition to their Silver Side Up album, they had something special. SF The band has amassed a legion of detractors, and this song is “a guilty pleasure, to be sure,” TG but an “absolutely undeniable” TG “example of mainstream songwriting chops and flawlessly slick production.” TG This was the first top 40 hit for the Canadian rock band and only the second #1 song by a Canadian group, the first being the Guess Who’s “American Woman.” SF “Remind Me” was the most-played song of 2002 in the U.S. SF and topped the Billboard year-end chart. Billboard named it the #1 rock song of the decade. WK Lead singer Chad Kroeger has referred to what is often considered their signature song as “the song that put Nickelback on the map.” WK Kroeger told MTV he penned this song about an ex-girlfriend with whom he’d had a rather dysfunctional relationship. However, he kept the lyrics ambiguous so that listeners could relate to the idea of an ex pointing out one’s faults. SF The band’s drum tech, Andrew Mawhinney, suggested the idea of the band dropping out at the last chorus in which Kroeger bellows, “for handing you a heart worth breaking!” Mawhinney was rewarded by the band for the suggestion with $5000. SF Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Nickelback BB Billboard (9/08). “All-Time Hot 100” TG About.com (2009). “Top 20 Rock Songs of the ‘00s” by Tim Grierson SF Songfacts.com WK Wikipedia.org First posted 4/23/2020; last updated 11/7/2022.