Special Report

Song of the Year at the Grammys the Year You Were Born

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

The Grammy Award for Song of the Year is one of the most prestigious awards the music industry can bestow, akin to a movie winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Song of the Year is one of just four Grammy Award categories in which different music genres compete against each other for one prize.

The award has been presented since 1959 and is given only to the composer or composers of the song. This is not to be confused with the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of the song. In the nearly 60-year history of the Grammy Awards, 29 of the winning songs have also been selected as Record of the Year.

For the first time since 2003, the Grammy Awards will be held in New York City at Madison Square Garden on January 28. In recognition of the music industry’s big night, 24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of every Song of the Year since the award was first presented.

Click here to see Grammy Awards Song of the Year the year you were born.

The history of the Song of the Year reflects the evolution of music culture. Early Song of the Year winners were from motion pictures such as “The Theme from Exodus,” “Moon River” for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and “Hello, Dolly!”, the theme song of the film/musical of the same name. It was only in the mid-60s that Rock ‘n’ roll would get recognized when John Lennon and Paul McCartney would win for the ballad “Michelle.” Other rock composers who would eventually be honored included Bruce Springsteen and Sting.

Singer/songwriters Paul Simon and Carole King would be cited as the 1970s began, indicating a shift in pop-culture music tastes.

African-American composers would not receive Song of the Year kudos until 1985, when Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie would receive the honor for the charity single “We Are the World.”

Multiple Song of the Year winners include Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer, U2 , and Adele. Songs written for Andy Williams, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, and Roberta Flack have received this award twice.

Not surprisingly, American composers have dominated the award. U.S. songwriters have won or shared the award with a composer from another country 42 times. British composers such as Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran have won the last three Song of the Year awards. However, that streak will end this year since no British songwriters have been nominated.

24/7 Wall St. used data from The Recording Academy to identify the Grammy “Song of the Year” winners, artists, and songwriters. Data on the number of weeks each song spent on the Top 40 chart comes from Billboard.

Here are the Grammy Award Song of the Year winners the year you were born.

Keystone / Getty Images

1959
> Song: Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)
> Artist: Domenico Modugno
> Songwriters: Domenico Modugno
> Weeks on Top 40: 13

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Records / AllCDCover

1960
> Song: The Battle of New Orleans
> Artist: Jimmy Driftwood
> Songwriters: Jimmy Driftwood
> Weeks on Top 40: 18

MGM Studios Inc. / IMDB

1961
> Song: Theme of Exodus
> Artist: Ernest Gold
> Songwriters: Ernest Gold
> Weeks on Top 40: N/A

Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

1962
> Song: Moon River
> Artist: Henry Mancini
> Songwriters: Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
> Weeks on Top 40: 16

[in-text-ad-2]

Jimmy Sime / Central Press / Getty Images

1963
> Song: What Kind Of Fool Am I
> Artist: Sammy Davis, Jr.
> Songwriters: Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
> Weeks on Top 40: 10

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

1964
> Song: Days Of Wine And Roses
> Artist: Henry Mancini
> Songwriters: Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
> Weeks on Top 40: 10

[in-text-ad]

Keystone / Getty Images

1965
> Song: Hello, Dolly!
> Artist: Louis Armstrong
> Songwriters: Jerry Herman
> Weeks on Top 40: 19

Central Press / Getty Images

1966
> Song: The Shadow Of Your Smile (Love Theme From “The Sandpiper”)
> Artist: Tony Bennett
> Songwriters: Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster
> Weeks on Top 40: N/A

Courtesy of Parlophone Records and Capitol Records / AllCDCovers

1967
> Song: Michelle
> Artist: The Beatles
> Songwriters: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
> Weeks on Top 40: N/A

[in-text-ad-2]

CMA-Marc Gordon Productions-management / Wikimedia Commons

1968
> Song: Up, Up And Away
> Artist: 5th Dimension
> Songwriters: Jimmy L. Webb
> Weeks on Top 40: 10

Courtesy of Columbia Records / Discogs

1969
> Song: Little Green Apples
> Artist: Roger Miller
> Songwriters: Bobby Russell
> Weeks on Top 40: 6

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Capitol Records -- Wikimedia Commons

1970
> Song: Games People Play
> Artist: Joe South
> Songwriters: Joe South
> Weeks on Top 40: 9

Central Press / Getty Images

1971
> Song: Bridge Over Troubled Water
> Artist: Simon And Garfunkel
> Songwriters: Paul Simon
> Weeks on Top 40: 13

King Kay / Daily Express / Getty Images

1972
> Song: You’ve Got A Friend
> Artist: Carole King
> Songwriters: Carole King
> Weeks on Top 40: N/A

[in-text-ad-2]

Keystone / Getty Images

1973
> Song: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
> Artist: Roberta Flack
> Songwriters: Ewan MacColl
> Weeks on Top 40: 15

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

1974
> Song: Killing Me Softly With His Song
> Artist: Roberta Flack
> Songwriters: Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel
> Weeks on Top 40: 13

[in-text-ad]

Clive Limpkin / Getty Images

1975
> Song: The Way We Were
> Artist: Barbra Streisand
> Songwriters: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch
> Weeks on Top 40: 17

Courtesy of Elektra Records / AllCDCovers

1976
> Song: Send In The Clowns
> Artist: Judy Collins
> Songwriters: Stephen Sondheim
> Weeks on Top 40: 11

Keystone / Getty Images

1977
> Song: I Write The Songs
> Artist: Barry Manilow
> Songwriters: Bruce Johnston
> Weeks on Top 40: 16

[in-text-ad-2]

Jeff Fusco / Getty Images

1978 (tie)
> Song: Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen)
> Artist: Barbra Streisand
> Songwriters: Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams
> Weeks on Top 40: 18

Curb Records / AllCDCovers

1978 (tie)
> Song: You Light Up My Life
> Artist: Debby Boone
> Songwriters: Joe Brooks
> Weeks on Top 40: 20

[in-text-ad]

Express Newspapers / Getty Images

1979
> Song: Just The Way You Are
> Artist: Billy Joel
> Songwriters: Billy Joel
> Weeks on Top 40: 17

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc. / AllCDCovers

1980
> Song: What A Fool Believes
> Artist: The Doobie Brothers
> Songwriters: Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald
> Weeks on Top 40: 14

Terry Wyatt / Getty Images

1981
> Song: Sailing
> Artist: Christopher Cross
> Songwriters: Christopher Cross
> Weeks on Top 40: 13

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of EMI America / Discogs

1982
> Song: Bette Davis Eyes
> Artist: Kim Carnes
> Songwriters: Donna Weiss, Jackie DeShannon
> Weeks on Top 40: 20

Jason Merritt / Getty

1983
> Song: Always On My Mind
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Songwriters: Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson
> Weeks on Top 40: 15

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of A and M Records / AllCDCovers

1984
> Song: Every Breath You Take
> Artist: The Police
> Songwriters: Sting
> Weeks on Top 40: 20

vinylmeister / Flickr

1985
> Song: What’s Love Got To Do With It
> Artist: Tina Turner
> Songwriters: Graham Lyle, Terry Britten
> Weeks on Top 40: 18

Courtesy of Columbia Records / AllCDCovers

1986
> Song: We Are The World
> Artist: USA For Africa – Various Artists
> Songwriters: Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson
> Weeks on Top 40: 12

[in-text-ad-2]

Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

1987
> Song: That’s What Friends Are For
> Artist: Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder
> Songwriters: Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager
> Weeks on Top 40: 16

Courtesy of Amblin Entertainment and Sullivan Bluth Studios / IMDB

1988
> Song: Somewhere Out There
> Artist: Linda Ronstadt, James Ingram
> Songwriters: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, James Horner
> Weeks on Top 40: 12

[in-text-ad]

Sarit Photography / Flickr

1989
> Song: Don’t Worry Be Happy
> Artist: Bobby McFerrin
> Songwriters: Bobby McFerrin
> Weeks on Top 40: 13

Alan Light / Flickr

1990
> Song: Wind Beneath My Wings
> Artist: Bette Midler
> Songwriters: Jeff Silbar, Larry Henley
> Weeks on Top 40: 15

Alan Light / Flickr

1991
> Song: From A Distance
> Artist: Bette Midler
> Songwriters: Julie Gold
> Weeks on Top 40: 18

[in-text-ad-2]

Lawren / Flickr

1992
> Song: Unforgettable
> Artist: Natalie Cole [With Nat “King” Cole]
> Songwriters: Irving Gordon
> Weeks on Top 40: 10

Jo Hale / Getty Images

1993
> Song: Tears In Heaven
> Artist: Eric Clapton
> Songwriters: Eric Clapton, Will Jennings
> Weeks on Top 40: 23

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures / IMDB

1994
> Song: A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme)
> Artist: Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle
> Songwriters: Alan Menken, Tim Rice
> Weeks on Top 40: 18

Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

1995
> Song: Streets Of Philadelphia
> Artist: Bruce Springsteen
> Songwriters: Bruce Springsteen
> Weeks on Top 40: 15

Amanda Edwards / Getty Images

1996
> Song: Kiss From A Rose
> Artist: Seal
> Songwriters: Seal
> Weeks on Top 40: 32

[in-text-ad-2]

Larry Busacca / Getty Images

1997
> Song: Change The World
> Artist: Eric Clapton
> Songwriters: Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims, Wayne Kirkpatrick
> Weeks on Top 40: 36

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

1998
> Song: Sunny Came Home
> Artist: Shawn Colvin
> Songwriters: John Leventhal, Shawn Colvin
> Weeks on Top 40: 23

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Sony Classical

1999
> Song: My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)
> Artist: Celine Dion
> Songwriters: James Horner, Will Jennings
> Weeks on Top 40: 16

Scott Gries / Getty Images

2000
> Song: Smooth
> Artist: Santana Featuring Rob Thomas
> Songwriters: Itaal Shur, Rob Thomas
> Weeks on Top 40: 50

David McNew / Getty Images

2001
> Song: Beautiful Day
> Artist: U2
> Songwriters: U2
> Weeks on Top 40: 15

[in-text-ad-2]

Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

2002
> Song: Fallin’
> Artist: Alicia Keys
> Songwriters: Alicia Keys
> Weeks on Top 40: 29

Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

2003
> Song: Don’t Know Why
> Artist: Norah Jones
> Songwriters: Jesse Harris
> Weeks on Top 40: 6

[in-text-ad]

Scott Harrison / Getty Images

2004
> Song: Dance With My Father
> Artist: Luther Vandross
> Songwriters: Luther Vandross, Richard Marx
> Weeks on Top 40: 4

Carlo Allegri / Getty Images

2005
> Song: Daughters
> Artist: John Mayer
> Songwriters: John Mayer
> Weeks on Top 40: 17

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

2006
> Song: Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
> Artist: U2
> Songwriters: U2
> Weeks on Top 40: N/A

[in-text-ad-2]

Vince Bucci / Getty Images

2007
> Song: Not Ready To Make Nice
> Artist: Dixie Chicks
> Songwriters: Dan Wilson, Emily Robison, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines
> Weeks on Top 40: 7

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

2008
> Song: Rehab
> Artist: Amy Winehouse
> Songwriters: Amy Winehouse
> Weeks on Top 40: 9

[in-text-ad]

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

2009
> Song: Viva La Vida
> Artist: Coldplay
> Songwriters: Coldplay
> Weeks on Top 40: 46

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

2010
> Song: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
> Artist: Beyoncé
> Songwriters: Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash, Christopher Stewart
> Weeks on Top 40: 22

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

2011
> Song: Need You Now
> Artist: Lady Antebellum
> Songwriters: Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
> Weeks on Top 40: 50

[in-text-ad-2]

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

2012
> Song: Rolling In The Deep
> Artist: Adele
> Songwriters: Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth
> Weeks on Top 40: 53

Jason Merritt / Getty Images

2013
> Song: We Are Young
> Artist: Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
> Songwriters: Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost, Nate Ruess
> Weeks on Top 40: 33

[in-text-ad]

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

2014
> Song: Royals
> Artist: Lorde
> Songwriters: Joel Little, Ella Yelich O’Connor
> Weeks on Top 40: 37

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

2015
> Song: Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)
> Artist: Sam Smith
> Songwriters: James Napier, William Phillips, Sam Smith
> Weeks on Top 40: 45

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

2016
> Song: Thinking Out Loud
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Songwriters: Ed Sheeran, Amy Wadge
> Weeks on Top 40: 50

[in-text-ad-2]

Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

2017
> Song: Hello
> Artist: Adele
> Songwriters: Adele Adkins, Greg Kurstin
> Weeks on Top 40: 26

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.