This is our listing of the Top Pop Music from 1955-2015. Our Pop Culture Criteria is based upon factors such as position on the Billboard Hot 100 yearly charts, longevity and overall impression on our society.
This list of songs covers various varieties of musical genres. Credit to Billboard and the great works of Joel Whitburn and Record Research for much of the information, although we did try our best to compile our own uniquely curated list, which features the songs that lasted at #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 for the most weeks of each respective year.
Uptown Funk
Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars, 2015
#1 for 14 weeks & Charted for 56 weeks and Grammys for Record of the Year/Duo/Group Performance
Anytime a song charts for over a year you know it is Popular.
Happy
Pharrell Williams, 2014
#1 for 10 weeks & Charted for 47 weeks and Grammy for Pop Solo Performance
This song is off the Despicable Me 2 Soundtrack and was accompanied by a 24-hour music video.
Blurred Lines
Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. + Pharrell, 2013
#1 for 12 weeks & Charted for 48 weeks
Call Me Maybe
Carly Rae Jepsen, 2012
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 50 weeks
We Found Love
Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris, 2011
#1 for 10 weeks & Charted for 41 weeks
TiK ToK
Ke$ha, 2010
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 38 weeks
Top Pop Songs 2000-2009I Gotta Feeling
The Black Eyed Peas, 2009
#1 for 14 weeks & Charted for 56 weeks and received a Grammy for Pop Vocal Group
Low
Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain, 2008
#1 for 10 weeks & Charted for 40 weeks
Crank That (Soulja Boy)
Soulja Boy Tell’Em, 2007
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 32 weeks
Irreplaceable
Beyoncé, 2006
#1 for 10 weeks & Charted for 30 weeks
We Belong Together
Mariah Carey, 2005
#1 for 14 weeks & Charted for 43 weeks
Yeah!
USHER featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris, 2004
#1 for 12 weeks & Charted for 45 weeks
Hey Ya!
Outkast, 2003
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 32 weeks
Lose Yourself
Eminem, 2002
#1 for 12 weeks & Charted for 23 weeks and won Grammy for Rap Song and Oscar for Best Song
All for You
Janet Jackson, 2001
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 22 weeks
Between Janet, her brother Michael and the Jackson 5 there are a combined
Independent Women Part I
Destiny’s Child, 2000
#1 for 11 weeks & Charted for 28 weeks
Smooth
Santana with Rob Thomas, 1999
#1 for 12 weeks & Charted for 58 weeks
Santana’s first top ten hit came in 1970 and it would take 29 years for this iconic guitarist to make it back with this huge duo with Rob Thomas.
Top Pop Songs 1988-1998
The Boy is Mine
Brandy & Monica,1998
#1 for 13 weeks & Charted for 27 weeks
Candle in the Wind
Elton John ,1997
#1 for 14 weeks & Charted for 42 weeks and originally charted as a #6 song in 1987 tribute to Marylyn Monroe
Don’t Speak
No Doubt,1996
#1 for 16 weeks & Charted for 63 weeks
One Sweet Day
Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, 1995
#1 for 16 weeks & Charted for 27 weeks
I’ll Make Love to You
Boyz II Men, 1994
#1 for 14 weeks & Charted for 33 weeks
Dreamlover
Mariah Carey, 1993
#1 for 8 weeks & Charted for 29 weeks
I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston, 1992
#1 for 14 weeks & Charted for 26 weeks and Grammys for Pop Female Vocal and Record of the Year
Everything I Do I Do it For You
Bryan Adams, 1991
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 22 weeks and Grammy for Movie Song
Vision of Love
Mariah Carey, 1990
#1 for 4 weeks & Charted for 22 weeks and Grammy for Pop Female Vocal
Like A Prayer
Madonna, 1989
#1 for 3 weeks & Charted for 16 weeks
Don’t Worry Be Happy
Bobby McFerrin, 1988
#1 for 2 weeks & Charted for 26 weeks and Grammy for record and song of the year
Although #1 for only 2 weeks, the song charted for 26 weeks and received a.
Top Pop Songs 1977-1987
Faith
George Michael, 1987
#1 for 4 weeks & Charted for 20 weeks
Wham, he group that featured George Michael, was also very Popular…song also charted at #47 in 2017 as a reissue.
That’s What Friends Are For
Dionne & Friends, 1986
#1 for 4 weeks & Charted for 23 weeks and Grammy Song of the Year
We Are the World
USA for Africa, 1985
#1 for 4 weeks & Charted for 18 weeks and Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Pop Vocal Group
Perhaps the most Popular “Group” of all-time included solos by; Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Dianna Ross, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Daryl Hall, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Ray Charles, Kim Carnes, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins,Tina Turner, Al Jarreau, and James Ingram.
Like A Virgin
Madonna, 1984
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 19 weeks
Her first #1 hit. Louise Ciccone would go on to rank 5th most all-time with 12 #1 hits.
*Billie Jean/Beat It/Say Say SayMichael Jackson, Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney, 1983
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 24 weeks for Billie Jean, #1 for 3 weeks & Charted for 25 weeks for Beat It, #1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 22 weeks for Say Say Say.
Every Breathe You Take
The Police, 1983
#1 for 8 weeks & Charted for 22 weeks and received Grammys for Pop Vocal Group and Song of the Year
I Love Rock N’ Roll
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts1982
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 20 weeks
Physical
Olivia Newton John, 1981
#1 for 10 weeks & Charted for 26 weeks
The video to this song helped fuel the fitness craze across the nation.
Call Me
Blondie, 1980
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 25 weeks
Although Lady by Kenny Rogers may have been a bigger hit at the time, Call Me was the theme song to the Popular movie American Gigolo starring Richard Gere. Blondie had a four #1 hits in the span of 2 years with Heart of Glass, Call Me, The Tide is High and Rapture, which also had influence on the up and coming Rap genre.
My Sharona
The Knack, 1979
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 22 weeks
Night Fever
Bee Gees, 1978
The height of disco was captured by the movie Saturday Night Fever and its iconic soundtrack, which is one of the most Popular Movie Soundtracks of All-Time.
You Light Up My Life
Debbie Boone, 1977
#1 for 10 weeks & Charted for 25 weeks and won Grammy for Song of the Year and Oscar for Best Song
Her Father Pat Boone had 6 #1 hits. There were many Popular and memorable songs in 1977 that would be very Popular for years and decades to come. With hits such as Hotel California, Blinded By the Light, Rich Girl, Dancing Queen, Dreams and How Deep is Your Love, it was You Light Up My Life that was the #1 song for 10 weeks!
Top Pop Songs 1966-1976
Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)
Rod Stewart, 1976
#1 for 8 weeks & Charted for 23 weeks
With 4 # hits, Rod Stewart is one of the most Popular performers.
Love Will Keep Us Together
Captain & Tennille, 1975
#1 for 4 weeks & Charted for 23 weeks and won a Grammy for Record of the Year
This husband and wife duo was so Popular that they had there own TV Show.
TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)
MFSB featuring the Three Degrees, 1974
#1 for 2 weeks & Charted for 18 weeks Theme from the TV Show Soul Train
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Roberta Flack, 1973
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 18 weeks and Grammys for Record & Song of the Year
The song was also in the Popular movie Play Misty for Me,
American Pie (Parts I&II)
Don McLean, 1972
#1 for 1 weeks & Charted for 19 weeks
Joy to the World
Three Dog Night, 1971
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 17 weeks
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel, 1970
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 14 weeks and Grammys for Pop Song, Record & Song of the Year
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In
The 5th Dimension, 1969
#1 for 6 weeks & Charted for 17 weeks and Grammys for Pop Vocal Group and Record of the Year and featured Song of the Rock Musical Hair
Hey Jude
The Beatles, 1968
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 19 weeks
Many songs could have been featured for this year, which included Popular tunes such as; (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, Honey, This Guy’s In Love With You, Grazing in the Grass, and People Gotta Be Free among others.
Respect
Aretha Franklin, 1967
#1 for 2 weeks & Charted for 12 weeks
Although this tune was #1 for only two weeks and To Sir With Love by Lulu was #1 for 5 weeks, we are giving this one to the the Queen of Soul…I mean how could we have a Pop list and leave this All-Time classic entertainer off!?! This song has been used
I’m A Believer
The Monkees, 1966
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 15 weeks
With their Popular TV Show, featured Movie Head and unique story of formation.
Top Pop Songs 1955-1965
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones, 1965
#1 for 4 weeks & Charted for 14 weeks
Another huge year for Popular music had the charts packed with hits such as; Downtown, You’ve Lost That Lovin; Feelin’, My Girl, Eight Days A Week, Stop! In The Name of Love, Ticket to Ride, Help Me, Rhonda, I Got You Babe, Help!, Yesterday, Get Off Of My Cloud and Turn! Turn! Turn (To Everything There is a Season.)
I Want To Hold Your Hand
The Beatles, 1964
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 15 weeks *The Beatles also had five additional #1 hits in 1964 for a total of 17 weeks at #1!
I Want to Hold Your Hand was the first of 20 @1 hits, which is the most by an y artist!
My Boyfriend’s Back
The Angels, 1963
#1 for 3 weeks & Charted for 14 weeks
I Can’t Stop Loving You
Ray Charles, 1962
#1 for 5 weeks & Charted for 18 weeks
This.
When Major Motion Pictures are made about your life, 2004’s “Ray”, you know you are a Pop icon. Has lost his sight by age seven never held back the musical magnificence of Ray Charles Robinson. Ray is one only a handful of performers to be in the Grammy Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Kennedy Center Honors. Ray is featured on a US Postal Stamp, was in a dozen movies, seven TV shows, TV commercials and sang the America the Beautiful at many notable events such as Superbowl XXXV and the World Series.
Tossin And Turnin’
Bobby Lewis, 1961
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 23 weeks
The Theme From “A Summer Place”
Percy Faith, 1960
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 21 weeks and Grammy for Record of the Year
Mack The Knife
Bobby Darin, 1959
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 26 weeks and Grammy for Record of the Year
At The Hop (*On 8/4/58 Billboard Hot 100 Chart Debuts)
Danny & The Juniors, 1958
#1 for 7 weeks & Charted for 21 weeks
All Shook Up
Elvis Presley, 1957
#1 for 9 weeks & Charted for 30 weeks
The King of Rock & Roll. Elvis Aron Presley is among the biggest Pop Culture Icons of All-time. Elvis has the most weeks at #1 (80), Most Charted Hits (166), Most Top 40 Hits (104), Most Top Ten Hits (38), 2nd Most #1 Hits (18)
Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog
Elvis Presley, 1956
#1 for 11 weeks & Charted for 28 weeks
From March of 1956 through October of 1957 Elvis had nine #1 Hits for a total of 62 weeks with a #1 song!
Rock Around The Clock
Bill Haley & His Comets1955
#1 for 8 weeks & Charted for 24 weeks and also charted in 1974
This song served as theme for the first season of the hit TV show Happy Days
Iconic Songs
Happy Birthday to You
The Star-Spangled Banner
White Christmas
Yesterday
Amazing Grace
It’s A Small World
Like A Rolling Stone
Celebration
Taps
Imagine
We Are the Champions
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Hotel California
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Dream On
Stairway to Heaven
Good Vibrations
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Over the Rainbow
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Respect
Auld Lang Syne
