Music is a source of pure joy for everyone. Some songs take you on a trip down memory lane while others get you excited about the future ahead. But whether they were written fifty or five years ago, some songs are simply timeless. Here's a definite ranking of some of the best songs ever created. Happy listening!
#49. Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor
Prince actually wrote and recorded this song first, but he never released his original 1984 version. Instead, he gave the anthem to the sensational Irish singer Sinead O'Connor.
Nothing Compares 2 U reached the top of the charts in 17 different countries after its release. The video is still iconic to this day. It's hard not to be touched by the one-shot of O'Connor, dramatically staring into the camera and crying.
#48. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
A list of the best songs ever wouldn't be complete without the king. In 1957, he released one of his biggest songs, and we're still enjoying it to this day. The song was featured in the film, Jailhouse Rock, where the king performed the song in a prison.
Jailhouse Rock is considered one of the gems of the 1950s and is a symbol of vintage Americana. 60 years later, many of us still love to dance to this tune. Don't you?
#47. Hit Me Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
Can you believe Hit Me Baby One More Time is already 21 years old? This classic pop anthem rose to the top of the charts worldwide upon its release.
In the memorable music video, 17-year-old Britney Spears is seen dressed as a young schoolgirl and dancing around the school. It's definitely one of the biggest songs of the decade.
#46. Let It Be – The Beatles
Everyone has a favorite The Beatles song, but we can all agree that Let It Be is a universal classic. The song was written by Paul McCartney in 1970 and features mainly 4 piano chords, which makes it a fun and easy song to play at home.
McCartney confirmed that the "Mother Mary" reference was actually about his mother, and not about the religious figure as many previously thought. Paul's mom passed away when he was 14, and years later she spoke to him in a dream and asked him to 'let it be'. The rest is history.
#45. We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
A massive R&B hit is Mariah Carey's We Belong Together, which spent an outstanding 14 weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard charts. And with that achievement, Carey set the record for longest time at the top of the charts in the 21st century. Go Mimi!
Mariah wears a wedding dress in the music video - the same one she actually wore to her wedding to Tommy Mottola in 1993. While the two did divorce a couple of years later, the song will be beloved forever.
#44. Yeah! – Usher feat. Lil’ Jon and Ludacris
Can you guess how many copies Yeah sold in its very first week upon release? An impressive one million! Oh yeah. And it goes without saying that the hit soard to #1 as soon as it came out.
It's been around fifteen years since its release, but this Usher hit is still being heard in parties around the world.
#43. Endless Love – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
One of the most romantic duets of all time, without a doubt, is Endless Love. It featured in the eponymous 1981 movie and while the film ended up being quite forgettable, everyone still knows and loves the song.
The two immensely successful stars had a hard time scheduling a recording time due to their conflicting schedules. And so, amazingly, the song was recorded at 3:30am after a Nevada concert.
#42. I’ll Make Love To You – Boyz II Men
It's no surprise that I'll Make Love To You won the 1994 Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Group. But it may come as a shock that the song apparently barely made it onto the album, according to Babyface, the song's writer.
And aren't we glad they decided to keep the song. Boyz II Men had an incredible year in 1994, as this hit reached #1 for 14 weeks straight. It's still considered one of the most romantic songs of all time.
#41. Lose Yourself – Eminem
8 Mile, Eminem's 2002 semi-biographical movie set in Detroit, had this iconic song as its soundtrack. It's easily one of Eminem's top songs.
Lose Yourself has a deeply relatable message and a catchy beat, making it popular even today. It's about chasing your own goals and the struggles that come with that. Eminem even won the Oscar for Best Soundtrack with this creation!
#40. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
The 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves had this popular ballad on its soundtrack, where we all heard it for the first time ever. But originally, the film studio was reluctant to approve the song because it was a mismatch for the era in which the movie was set.
(Everything I do) I do it for You was featured in the movie in the end. And it snagged the #1 spot for an impressive 16 weeks in the United Kingdom and for seven weeks in the United States.
#39. Last Christmas – Wham!
Wham!'s biggest hit is the unforgettable Christmas tune, Last Christmas. George Michael wrote and produced it in the middle of the 1980s. While the song itslef wasn't about the actual holiday, it became a Christmas hit.
The song is about a broken relationship that happened around Christmas and New Year's Eve. Even though it has a bittersweet message, its catchy tune has made it an annual staple on the radio around the holidays.
#38. Dancing in the Street – Martha and The Vandellas
The 1964 hit Dancing in the Street. The Motown sound of this song ended up becoming a true symbol of the culture of the sixties and the changing culture of civil rights and social mobility.
The lyrics represents the romanticized swinging 60's era. But it has certainly become a timeless classic, and people keep on dancing to the feel-good beats to this very day.
#37. Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye Feat. Kimbra
You've heard this song everywhere. On the radio, at the mall, on TV commercials... It's the definition of a one hit wonder. Gotye wrote and performed the song in 2011 and collaborated with Kimbra.
The iconic music video features them singing and dancing among a mosaic of shifting colors. People from around the world resonated with the song's unique sound and it became a hit. It even won the Record of the Year at the 2013 Grammys.
#36. Sweet Child O’Mine – Guns N’ Roses
After hearing a hit song hundreds of times on the radio, it's easy to get sick of it. So imagine what it feels like for the band itself! The hit Sweet Child O'Mine definitely drove Guns N' Roses crazy at one point.
According to the band members, the song was born out of a Sunset Strip jam session. It quickly became their best-known song. It came to define the sound of late 1980s rock in many ways.
#35. Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
Even though he's now the famous and successful rock artist we know and love, Bruce Springsteen struggled at the beginning. 'Born to Run' was actually his last attempt to make it big in the music industry.
It was released in 1974 and had followed two unsuccessful music albums. But his perseverance paid off! It took 11 different guitar tracks on the record to get the iconic sound 'just right', according to Springsteen.
#34. Every Breath You Take – The Police
Every Breath You Take is, without a doubt, The Police's greatest hit. It accounts for about 30% of the band's entire income! The song celebrates its 36th birthday this year.
The ballad was written by Sting after his separation from Frances Tomelty. The classic '80s anthem captures a feeling of intense infatuation with the person of your dreams. A bit too intense, if you ask some people. Nevertheless, it's a beloved song.
#33. Macarena – Los Del Rio
It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from or what you do. You definitely know the dance moves to the 1993 song, Macarena.
The song spent 14 weeks at the #1 spot on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart at the time of its release. But the popular version we often play and dance to is actually a remix.
#32. Mambo No. 5 (a Little Bit of…) – Lou Bega
With this song, Lou Bega describes the loves of his life and pays homage to each lady with unique rhythms and a brass band. It makes for a catchy little number who everyone loves to dance to.
Bega won the NRJ Music Award for International Song of the Year when it was released. Nowadays, it's mainly a staple at weddings and other special occasions.
#31. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Since the hit song Shape of You was released on streaming services in 2017, it has become one of the most played songs in history. On Spotify alone, the song has more than two billion streams.
Sheeran is not only a talented singer, he's a legendary songwriter. He originally wrote this song for Rihanna but eventually decided it was a better fit for him.
#30. Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones
One of the many songs that came out during the Vietnam War, is the well known Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones. The 1969 anthem channels the fear of war, which everyone was feeling at the time.
It's been 60 years since the war, but the song is still played across the world as a relic of the hippy era and the swinging '60s. The iconic female vocals that can be heard on the song are sung by Mary Clayton.
#29. No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Another hit from the same decade is Bob Marley's reggae classic, No Woman No Cry. Though many misinterpret it to roughly mean 'without women, there's no trouble', the actual meaning is more along the lines of 'no woman, don't cry.'
The song was first released in 1975 but is still being played in college dorm rooms around the world.
#28. Dancing Queen – ABBA
By far the most successful song to have come of a Eurovision band is the unforgettable Dancing Queen. It's an iconic tune that anyone would instantly start dancing to.
Surprisingly, this is the only ABBA song to make it to the #1 spot in the US charts. But since the 1999 musical Mamma Mia! hit the stage in London, the band's repertoire has become a permanent pop staple.
#27. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
The iconic 1970's duo epitomizes the height of romanticism of the era. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have enjoyed quite a bit of success and recognition over the course of their career, but Bridge Over Troubled Water has been a special hit.
Simon said of the songwriting process, “I have no idea where it came from. It came all of a sudden. It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, ‘This is considerably better than I usually write.’”
#26. Hotel California – The Eagles
When it came out back in 1977, The Eagles did not predict the huge success that Hotel California would eventually become. Since then, the song has been consistently ranked among the best songs in history.
The song is actually based on a real place - the Beverly Hills Hotel. Through the song, the band expresses how the hotel has become a special place for each of them. It's an homage to a place that means so much to them, yet the song itself means a lot to each of us.
#25. Respect – Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin may have passed away in 2018, but her legacy will live on for years to come. Her most memorable song, Respect, was actually a cover of the Otis Redding original from two years prior - younger fans may not realize this.
Franklin brings her own special style and tone to the song and has turned it into a civil rights and feminist movement anthem. It's been half a century since then, but the song remains deeply relevant for many.
#24. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
A genre-defining Rock anthem, Stairway to Heaven has been hugely successful across many generations. The 1971 hit is 8-minutes long and progresses from a calm and low-key beginning to a huge climactic finale.
Guitarists from all over the world learn this song and pay tribute to the band's legacy, adding their own unique variations.
#23. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
When Smells Like Teen Spirit first hit the radios in 1990, it immediately became Nirvana's top hit. Kurt Cobain apparently sought to emulate The Pixies' style when writing the song.
Cobain admitted in an interview, “I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it.”
#22. Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Like A Rolling Stone came out in 1965, and fully embodied the zeitgeist of the swinging sixties. Musical historians often describe this song as the one that transformed Bob Dylan from a simple folk singer to an emerging rock star.
Though his career was fraught with ups and downs, Bob Dylan created plenty of all time classics and became a legendary musician. Like A Rolling Stone is considered one of the best songs ever written.
#21. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
There's no doubt that Uptown Funk will be at parties and celebrations for years to come. Since its release in the summer of 2014, the catchy tune has become a pop culture staple.
Ronson and Mars chose a classic nostalgic style for the production of the song and accompanying video, mirroring vintage 80's songs while modernizing the rhythm. We love it.
#20. Smooth – Santana ft. Rob Thomas
Smooth first played on the radio in 1999 and became an instant classic. The Santana and Rob Thomas collaboration is a popular Latin rock medley with an American soul.
It's been twenty years since the song was released and it remains as popular as ever.
#19. Imagine – John Lennon
A 'top songs of all times' list would be incomplete without John Lennon's song Imagine. It was written by Lennon with his wife Yoko Ono in mind in 1971. He even gave her a writing credit for the song since she served as a key inspiration for it.
The song asks the listeners to imagine a future free of conflict and war. While it's definitely universally beloved today, it actually wasn't embraced by all due to its subtly socialist message during a politically tense time.
#18. One – U2
Bono, the legendary lead singer of U2, wrote the song One. It was inspired by the many broken relationships experienced by the members of band. The relatable lyrics remind everyone of a heartbreak from their past.
Not many songs achieve the emotional intensity in the way that U2's One does. It has been nearly 30 years since it first came out but it remains as relevant now as it did back then.
#17. September – Earth, Wind, and Fire
A quintessential 1970's anthem is, of course, September. When lyricist Maurice White was asked about the meaning of 'ba-dee-ya' in an interview, he replied “Who cares? never let the lyrics get in the way of the groove.”
And indeed, we don't care about the meaning of 'ba-dee-ya', as long as we can groove to it. The song is a must-have records at any wedding.
#16. Daydream Believer – The Monkees
The 1967 Daydream Believer, performed by The Monkees, actually tells the tragic story of the end of a marriage. Through the lyrics, we hear the tale of a husband looking in the mirror and reflecting on the end of an era.
Yet the song has a feel-good rhythm and melody. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart where it remained for 4 weeks straight.
#15. Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Goode was mad famous by the 1985 song Back to the Future, and it became an iconic 1950s anthem. It tells the tale of a New Orleans man who couldn't read and write, but wowed people with his guitar skills.
The song originally refers to Johnny B. Goode as a 'colored boy', but when radio stations told Berry they couldn't play it as it was, he adjusted the lyrics.
#14. I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas
There have been many chart-topping hits from the Black Eyed Peas, but the most popular one has been I Gotta Feeling, released in 2009. It was a collaboration by the band's members and David Guetta.
The band's frontman, Will.I.Am, spoke of the party jam in an interview, saying “times are really hard for a lot of people and you want to give them escape and you want to make them feel good about life, especially at these low points.”
#13. Relax – Frankie Goes To Hollywood
This 1983 hit was made popular by the 2001 movie Zoolander. At first, Relax sparked quite the controversy due to its provocative sexual lyrics. It was even banned by the BBC from its radio.
Despite causing a stir, the '80s disco jam captured the spirit of its time perfectly and is still played by party-goers to this day.
#12. Happy – Pharrell Williams
Although it's a relatively recent hit, the 2014 Pharell Williams song Happy will surely become a feel-good classic. It boasted an incredible 13.9 million singles sold in the first year upon its release.
The song was featured on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, and instantly popularized Pharell and his music.
#11. Your Song – Elton John
Elton John reigned supreme in the music world during the 1970s. Bernie Taupin and him co-wrote the ballad with John. The sweet gentle melody is paired with impactful lyrics.
It’s been covered by musicians such as Ellie Goulding, Lady Gaga, and Ewan McGregor. Many consider it the best song ever written.
#10. Thriller – Michael Jackson
The recent allegations against the late Michael Jackson are creepy, to say the least. And creepiness was also the theme of the 1984 hit, Thriller.
The iconic music video was produced by Quincey Jones, and features a dance performance as well as a spooky voiceover.
#9. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations has been a feel-good anthem ever since it came out in 1966. Brian Wilson's interest in cosmic vibrations in space inspired the catchy tune, which explores the good vibes people or situations can give off.
The Beach Boys' classic '60s summer song is still featured on millions of beach playlists to this very day.
#8. My Way – Frank Sinatra
My Way was one of Sinatra's best songs, released at the height of his career as part of the 1969 album of the same name.
It is actually a remake of a French song with the same meaning. At the time of its release, the hit spent 75 weeks in the UK Top 40 list.
#7. Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye's 1982 album, Midnight Love, features the sensual single Sexual Healing. The song is the first one recorded by Marvin Gaye since leaving his Motown record label.
At the time it was a genre-defying pop, post-disco, soul and funk song. It's considered one of America's hottest and exciting songs, and has been remixed more than a few times.
#6. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
Comfortably Numb appeared on Pink Floyd's eleventh album, The Wall, released in 1980. It's been almost 40 years but the guitar solos and evocative lyrics resonate with many to this day.
A common misconception is that the song refers to a drug trip. Or at least, the band has denied this, but we can't know for sure. Roger Waters and David Gilmour, who co-wrote the song, continue to perform this song to this day.
#5. Wonderwall – Oasis
No song epitomizes the mid-90s quite as well as Oasis' Wonderwall. The song describes an “an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself”.
Wonderwall remains romantic classic. It's also a highly cover-able song and a go-to for beginning guitarists. Do you have a Wonderwall?
#4. Piano Man – Billy Joel
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Billy Joel started his career as a piano man, performing regularly at a local bar. He captured his experience with the beautiful Piano Man.
The different verses tell the stories of various characters Joel would meet while being a piano man.
#3. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Rumours is Fleetwood Mac's 1977 emotionally loaded album. It's full of hearbreak and turmoil, as it was recorded at a time when two of the band members divorced each other, another two were fighting during an an affair, and the fifth was having personal issues at home.
Dreams masterfully explores the feelings of heartbreak and love and remains incredibly powerful and meaningful to listeners worldwide.
#2. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
A strong contender for the top spot is Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit Superstition. It appeared on his Talking Heads album and stole the show. What a funky, electrifying song.
The bass lines and heavy funk are irresistible. Even though 40 years have passed, the song is still a go-to for weddings and celebrations, and gets everyone going on the dancefloor.
#1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
The undisputed number one song of all time is Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. It may come as a surprise that upon its release in 1975, the ballad was considered a gamble. The band produced an unbeatable 7-minute song including opera solos and grunge riffs, blended in with poetry and screams.
Somehow, the blend of sounds and styles works beautifully and harmonically and tells a unique story. You'll have a hard time finding anyone who doesn't know the lyrics to the song, to this very day.