To help you connect with your musical cohort, however belatedly — and also as an illustration of how much our national musical tastes have changed over the decades — 24/7 Tempo has assembled a list revealing the most popular song in America for every year since 1958, the earliest year for which this data is available. (For a different list dating even further back, here is the most famous musician born every year since 1930.)
Among the 60-plus songs on this list, you’ll find old-school rock-and-roll (like Chubby Checker’s classic ‘The Twist”), instrumentals (“Harlem Nocturne”), pop (“I Just Want to Be Your Everything”), reggae fusion (“Red, Red Wine”), novelty songs (“The Macarena”), and country (“If I Die Young”), among other musical idioms, before the likes of Post Malone (“Sunflower,” “Circles”) and The Weeknd (“Blinding Lights”) make an appearance.
Click here to see the most popular song the year you were born
Some of the songs here, listened to today, might inspire you to reach for the mute button; others are timeless classics that merit hearing again and again, no matter when they — or you — were born. (Speaking of classics, these are the 50 absolute best songs in history.)
To identify each year’s most popular song, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the Billboard Hot 100 to learn which single remained on the chart for the longest period during every 12-month period beginning in 1958, the first year the publication compiled this data. Total number of weeks and each song’s peak on the chart are also drawn from the Hot 100. According to Billboard, the Hot 100 “is ranked by radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen BDS, sales data compiled by Nielsen Soundscan (both at retail and digitally) and streaming activity provided by online music sources.”
1958: Chantilly Lace
> Artist: Big Bopper
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 22
> Peak: #6 for 12 weeks
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1959: Robbin’ The Cradle
> Artist: Tony Bellus
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 26
> Peak: #25 for 10 weeks
1960: Running Bear
> Artist: Johnny Preston
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 27
> Peak: #1 for 14 weeks
1961: Never On Sunday
> Artist: Don Costa And His Orchestra And Chorus
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 26
> Peak: #19 for 15 weeks
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1962: The Twist
> Artist: Chubby Checker
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 39
> Peak: #1 for 32 weeks
1963: Limbo Rock
> Artist: Chubby Checker
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 23
> Peak: #2 for 8 weeks
1964: Tall Cool One
> Artist: The Wailers
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 23
> Peak: #36 for 18 weeks
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1965: Harlem Nocturne
> Artist: The Viscounts
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Peak: #39 for 4 weeks
1966: Wipe Out
> Artist: The Surfaris
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 30
> Peak: #2 for 23 weeks
1967: Born Free
> Artist: Roger Williams
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
> Peak: #7 for 5 weeks
1968: Sunshine Of Your Love
> Artist: Cream
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 26
> Peak: #5 for 4 weeks
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1969: Get Together
> Artist: The Youngbloods
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Peak: #5 for 7 weeks
1970: Solitary Man
> Artist: Neil Diamond
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 24
> Peak: #21 for 5 weeks
1971: Superstar
> Artist: Murray Head With The Trinidad Singers
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 31
> Peak: #14 for 5 weeks
1972: Layla
> Artist: Derek & The Dominos
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
> Peak: #10 for 3 weeks
1973: Why Me
> Artist: Kris Kristofferson
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 38
> Peak: #16 for 7 weeks
1974: One Hell Of A Woman
> Artist: Mac Davis
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 28
> Peak: #11 for 13 weeks
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1975: Feelings
> Artist: Morris Albert
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 28
> Peak: #6 for 14 weeks
1976: Feelings
> Artist: Morris Albert
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 32
> Peak: #6 for 14 weeks
1977: I Just Want To Be Your Everything
> Artist: Andy Gibb
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 31
> Peak: #1 for 17 weeks
1978: I Go Crazy
> Artist: Paul Davis
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 40
> Peak: #7 for 11 weeks
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1979: Hot Child In The City
> Artist: Nick Gilder
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 31
> Peak: #1 for 11 weeks
1980: With You I’m Born Again
> Artist: Billy Preston & Syreeta
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 29
> Peak: #4 for 10 weeks
1981: Jessie’s Girl
> Artist: Rick Springfield
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 32
> Peak: #1 for 14 weeks
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1982: Tainted Love
> Artist: Soft Cell
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 43
> Peak: #8 for 17 weeks
1983: Gloria
> Artist: Laura Branigan
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 36
> Peak: #2 for 16 weeks
1984: I’m So Excited
> Artist: The Pointer Sisters
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 38
> Peak: #9 for 12 weeks
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1985: I’m So Excited
> Artist: The Pointer Sisters
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 40
> Peak: #9 for 12 weeks
1986: I Miss You
> Artist: Klymaxx
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 29
> Peak: #5 for 14 weeks
1987: Stand By Me
> Artist: Ben E. King
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 35
> Peak: #4 for 30 weeks
1988: Red Red Wine
> Artist: UB40
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 36
> Peak: #1 for 16 weeks
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1989: Red Red Wine
> Artist: UB40
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 40
> Peak: #1 for 16 weeks
1990: Bust A Move
> Artist: Young M.C.
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 39
> Peak: #7 for 28 weeks
1991: Close To You
> Artist: Maxi Priest
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 30
> Peak: #1 for 16 weeks
1992: Bohemian Rhapsody
> Artist: Queen
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 41
> Peak: #2 for 13 weeks
1993: Dazzey Duks
> Artist: Duice
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 40
> Peak: #12 for 14 weeks
1994: Whoomp! (There It Is)
> Artist: Tag Team
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 45
> Peak: #2 for 36 weeks
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1995: 100% Pure Love
> Artist: Crystal Waters
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 45
> Peak: #11 for 26 weeks
1996: Missing
> Artist: Everything But The Girl
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 55
> Peak: #2 for 28 weeks
1997: Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)
> Artist: Los Del Rio
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 60
> Peak: #1 for 28 weeks
1998: How Do I Live
> Artist: LeAnn Rimes
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 69
> Peak: #2 for 44 weeks
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1999: Too Close
> Artist: Next
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 53
> Peak: #1 for 43 weeks
2000: Smooth
> Artist: Santana Featuring Rob Thomas
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 58
> Peak: #1 for 46 weeks
2001: The Way You Love Me
> Artist: Faith Hill
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 56
> Peak: #6 for 20 weeks
2002: Hanging By A Moment
> Artist: Lifehouse
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 54
> Peak: #2 for 36 weeks
2003: When I’m Gone
> Artist: 3 Doors Down
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 45
> Peak: #4 for 23 weeks
2004: Unwell
> Artist: matchbox twenty
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 54
> Peak: #5 for 37 weeks
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2005: Breakaway
> Artist: Kelly Clarkson
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 46
> Peak: #6 for 34 weeks
2006: You And Me
> Artist: Lifehouse
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 62
> Peak: #5 for 35 weeks
2007: Before He Cheats
> Artist: Carrie Underwood
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 64
> Peak: #8 for 27 weeks
2008: Paralyzer
> Artist: Finger Eleven
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 50
> Peak: #6 for 22 weeks
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2009: I’m Yours
> Artist: Jason Mraz
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 76
> Peak: #6 for 56 weeks
2010: Need You Now
> Artist: Lady Antebellum
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 60
> Peak: #2 for 31 weeks
2011: If I Die Young
> Artist: The Band Perry
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 53
> Peak: #14 for 18 weeks
2012: Party Rock Anthem
> Artist: LMFAO Featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 68
> Peak: #1 for 54 weeks
2013: Radioactive
> Artist: Imagine Dragons
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 68
> Peak: #3 for 45 weeks
2014: Radioactive
> Artist: Imagine Dragons
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 87
> Peak: #3 for 45 weeks
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2015: Thinking Out Loud
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 58
> Peak: #2 for 44 weeks
2016: Uptown Funk!
> Artist: Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 56
> Peak: #1 for 49 weeks
2017: Cheap Thrills
> Artist: Sia Featuring Sean Paul
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 52
> Peak: #1 for 30 weeks
2018: Shape Of You
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 59
> Peak: #1 for 58 weeks
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2019: Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)
> Artist: Post Malone & Swae Lee
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 53
> Peak: #1 for 42 weeks
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2020: Circles
> Artist: Post Malone
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 61
> Peak: #1 for 50 weeks
2021: Blinding Lights
> Artist: The Weeknd
> Weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 75
> Peak: #1 for 59 weeks
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