While the world of recorded music is filled with hidden treasures, some songs are universally loved. These gems have remained popular throughout the years, even as perhaps newer music temporarily grabbed the limelight.
The best songs become musical touchstones, embedded so deeply in our culture that it’s impossible to imagine a world without them. Aside from the rare detractor, these are the tracks that unite us when we hear them, the ones that excite a similar reaction from all — “oh, I love this one” — no matter how many times we hear them.
By creating an index based on sales from Recording Industry Association of America, Billboard performance, number of cover versions, and recognition among music fans, 24/7 Wall St. has determined the 100 absolute best songs of all time.
Click here to see the 100 best songs in history.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
100. Kung Fu Fighting
> Artist: Carl Douglas
> Year: 1974
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
> Number of times covered: 41
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99. Spirit In The Sky
> Artist: Norman Greenbaum
> Year: 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 35
98. Everyday People
> Artist: Sly & The Family Stone
> Year: 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
> Number of times covered: 0
97. Jump
> Artist: Van Halen
> Year: 1984
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
> Number of times covered: 39
96. Africa
> Artist: Toto
> Year: 1982
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
> Number of times covered: 72
95. Kiss Me
> Artist: Sixpence None The Richer
> Year: 1998
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 33
> Number of times covered: 13
94. Band Of Gold
> Artist: Freda Payne
> Year: 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
> Number of times covered: 22
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93. I Honestly Love You
> Artist: Olivia Newton-John
> Year: 1974
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 24
> Number of times covered: 42
92. Sweet Soul Music
> Artist: Arthur Conley
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 25
91. Dizzy
> Artist: Tommy Roe
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 22
90. Brand New Key
> Artist: Melanie
> Year: 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
> Number of times covered: 21
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89. My Girl
> Artist: The Temptations
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 155
88. Dreams
> Artist: Fleetwood Mac
> Year: 1977
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
> Number of times covered: 54
87. I Got You Babe
> Artist: Sonny & Cher
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 40
86. Crazy
> Artist: Gnarls Barkley
> Year: 2006
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 29
> Number of times covered: 61
85. Fame
> Artist: David Bowie
> Year: 1975
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
> Number of times covered: 36
84. Cherish
> Artist: The Association
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 31
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83. Another One Bites The Dust
> Artist: Queen
> Year: 1980
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 31
> Number of times covered: 45
82. Like A Virgin
> Artist: Madonna
> Year: 1984
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
> Number of times covered: 61
81. Thriller
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Year: 1984
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
> Number of times covered: 65
80. Get Back
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Number of times covered: 137
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79. Got To Get You Into My Life
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 108
78. Baby Love
> Artist: The Supremes
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 38
77. Green Onions
> Artist: Booker T. & The MG’s
> Year: 1962
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 58
76. Paperback Writer
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Number of times covered: 62
75. Angie
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Year: 1973
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 64
74. Theme From Shaft
> Artist: Isaac Hayes
> Year: 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 57
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73. Chain Of Fools
> Artist: Aretha Franklin
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Number of times covered: 61
72. Beat It
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Year: 1983
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Number of times covered: 77
71. Georgy Girl
> Artist: The Seekers
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 47
70. Let’s Dance
> Artist: David Bowie
> Year: 1983
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
> Number of times covered: 65
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69. Heart Of Gold
> Artist: Neil Young
> Year: 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 64
68. And I Love Her
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
> Number of times covered: 320
67. Time In A Bottle
> Artist: Jim Croce
> Year: 1973
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 74
66. How You Remind Me
> Artist: Nickelback
> Year: 2001
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 49
> Number of times covered: 12
65. Heart Of Glass
> Artist: Blondie
> Year: 1979
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
> Number of times covered: 69
64. Nowhere Man
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
> Number of times covered: 95
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63. 96 Tears
> Artist: ? & the Mysterians
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 42
62. I Get Around
> Artist: The Beach Boys
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 43
61. Whole Lotta Love
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 79
60. Gold Digger
> Artist: Kanye West Featuring Jamie Foxx
> Year: 2005
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 39
> Number of times covered: 0
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59. Stop! In The Name Of Love
> Artist: The Supremes
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Number of times covered: 72
58. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
> Artist: Paul Simon
> Year: 1975
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 17
> Number of times covered: 77
57. Annie’s Song
> Artist: John Denver
> Year: 1974
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 17
> Number of times covered: 92
56. Hello
> Artist: Lionel Richie
> Year: 1984
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 24
> Number of times covered: 77
55. Call Me
> Artist: Blondie
> Year: 1980
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Number of times covered: 63
54. To Sir With Love
> Artist: Lulu
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 17
> Number of times covered: 43
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53. Proud Mary
> Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 203
52. How To Save A Life
> Artist: The Fray
> Year: 2006
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 58
> Number of times covered: 18
51. Wooly Bully
> Artist: Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
> Number of times covered: 58
50. Born To Be Wild
> Artist: Steppenwolf
> Year: 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 90
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49. A Hard Day’s Night
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 227
48. Please Mr. Postman
> Artist: The Marvelettes
> Year: 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 23
> Number of times covered: 52
47. Yellow Submarine
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
> Number of times covered: 125
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46. I Feel Fine
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Number of times covered: 100
45. Light My Fire
> Artist: The Doors
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 23
> Number of times covered: 187
44. Lean On Me
> Artist: Bill Withers
> Year: 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
> Number of times covered: 103
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43. Honky Tonk Women
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 93
42. King Of The Road
> Artist: Roger Miller
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 132
41. Penny Lane
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Number of times covered: 136
40. Billie Jean
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Year: 1983
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Number of times covered: 113
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39. The Rose
> Artist: Bette Midler
> Year: 1980
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Number of times covered: 137
38. Pumped Up Kicks
> Artist: Foster The People
> Year: 2010
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 40
> Number of times covered: 37
37. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
> Artist: The Shirelles
> Year: 1960
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Number of times covered: 269
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36. I’m A Believer
> Artist: The Monkees
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 98
35. What A Wonderful World
> Artist: Louis Armstrong
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Number of times covered: 405
34. Oh, Pretty Woman
> Artist: Roy Orbison
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 108
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33. We Can Work It Out
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
> Number of times covered: 133
32. Mrs. Robinson
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Year: 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 132
31. Imagine
> Artist: John Lennon
> Year: 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
> Number of times covered: 331
30. Downtown
> Artist: Petula Clark
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 119
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29. When A Man Loves A Woman
> Artist: Percy Sledge
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 148
28. I Can See Clearly Now
> Artist: Johnny Nash
> Year: 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
> Number of times covered: 132
27. Lose Yourself
> Artist: Eminem
> Year: 2002
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 23
> Number of times covered: 12
26. The Letter
> Artist: The Box Tops
> Year: 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 126
25. Eye Of The Tiger
> Artist: Survivor
> Year: 1982
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Number of times covered: 54
24. Time After Time
> Artist: Cyndi Lauper
> Year: 1984
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
> Number of times covered: 177
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23. Just The Way You Are
> Artist: Billy Joel
> Year: 1977
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 27
> Number of times covered: 172
22. Come Together
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 297
21. These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
> Artist: Nancy Sinatra
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 165
20. Can’t Buy Me Love
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 10
> Number of times covered: 192
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19. Wichita Lineman
> Artist: Glen Campbell
> Year: 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 183
18. Stand By Me
> Artist: Ben E. King
> Year: 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 35
> Number of times covered: 241
17. Help!
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
> Number of times covered: 178
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16. Something
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 6
> Number of times covered: 338
15. Eleanor Rigby
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 8
> Number of times covered: 452
14. Happy
> Artist: Pharrell Williams
> Year: 2013
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 47
> Number of times covered: 58
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13. The Sound Of Silence
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 201
12. I Want To Hold Your Hand
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
> Number of times covered: 173
11. Can’t Help Falling In Love
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Year: 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 365
10. Ain’t No Sunshine
> Artist: Bill Withers
> Year: 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
> Number of times covered: 231
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9. Let It Be
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 316
8. Bohemian Rhapsody
> Artist: Queen
> Year: 1975
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 41
> Number of times covered: 121
7. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 243
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6. Bad Romance
> Artist: Lady Gaga
> Year: 2009
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 35
> Number of times covered: 44
5. All Of Me
> Artist: John Legend
> Year: 2013
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 59
> Number of times covered: 88
4. Hey Jude
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
> Number of times covered: 330
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3. Rolling In The Deep
> Artist: Adele
> Year: 2010
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 65
> Number of times covered: 84
2. Bridge Over Troubled Water
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Year: 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
> Number of times covered: 411
1. Yesterday
> Artist: The Beatles
> Year: 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
> Number of times covered: 665
Detailed findings
Slightly more than half of the best songs on our list were released during the 1960s, a period of great talent and creativity in popular music. While rock music may have been the dominant genre of the decade, our list includes soul, folk, and pop songs from the 1960s as well, featuring prolific hitmakers like the recently passed Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.
Many of these older songs have had more time, and therefore opportunities, to be covered or recorded by other artists – a key metric in our ranking. Eighteen of the 100 best songs have been covered or adapted over 200 times, and all but four of those 18 were released in the 1960s. Those four outliers were all released during the early 1970s.
Some performers, such as Michael Jackson, one of the best-selling Grammy Award winners of all time, and Simon & Garfunkel, have multiple songs on the list. The most dominant group, by far, is the Beatles. The Fab Four wrote memorable songs like few other artists and have had more No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 than any other performer, with 20 hits. The consistent quality and creativity of the Beatles – largely driven by lead songwriters John Lennon and Paul McCartney – are the primary reasons for their lasting legacy as one of the 100 most popular bands of all time.
Methodology
To determine the 100 absolute best songs in history, 24/7 Wall St. generated an index based on rankings on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, lifetime U.S. single sales, and the number of times a song has been covered or adapted. To be included, a song must appear on Ranker.com’s user-generated list of the best songs.
A band’s total certified U.S. single sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America and was given half weight in the index. The RIAA tracks album sales released in the American market with a threshold of 500,000 units sold. How well a song performed on the Billboard Hot 100 was determined by awarding points based on the number of weeks it was on the list and its rank for each week. This measure was given half weight in the index. A song’s peak position on the Billboard Hot 100 was also given a full weight in the index. Data on the estimated number of times a song has been covered was provided by SecondHandSongs and was given full weight in the index.
Novelty songs such as “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt Kickers were removed at 24/7 Wall St.’s discretion.
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