1
A Day in the Life
A 1967 Beatles song closing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," combining two unfinished pieces by Lennon and McCartney with a 40-piece orchestral crescendo.
This is the full songs index — 150 detailed songs, each with its own profile. Click any name to open the full entry.
For songs, every profile covers artist, year, album, genre, language, country, and duration.
All Songs
2
Africa
A 1982 soft-rock single by American band Toto, written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, featuring layered synthesizers and an evocative chorus about longing.
3
Africa Unite
A 1979 Bob Marley and the Wailers track from the album "Survival," a reggae anthem calling for pan-African political unity and shared identity.
4
All Along the Watchtower
A 1967 folk-rock song written by Bob Dylan, later transformed by Jimi Hendrix into a definitive electric rock interpretation in 1968.
5
Always on My Mind
A country ballad first cut by Brenda Lee in 1972, made a hit by Willie Nelson in 1982, and remade as a synth-pop single by Pet Shop Boys in 1987.
6
American Pie
An eight-and-a-half-minute 1971 folk-rock song by Don McLean that obliquely recounts the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.
7
Anaconda
A 2014 hip-hop single by Nicki Minaj, built on a sample of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back" with new verses and a music video that broke 24-hour view records.
8
Bad Romance
A 2009 electropop single by Lady Gaga, co-written with RedOne, built on a hooked vocal refrain and a heavily art-directed music video.
9
Billie Jean
A 1982 Michael Jackson single built on a distinctive bass riff, addressing a fan who claimed he had fathered her child, and a landmark in pop dance production.
10
Blowin' in the Wind
A 1963 Bob Dylan protest folk song featuring rhetorical questions about peace, war, and freedom, popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary.
11
Bohemian Rhapsody
A 1975 progressive rock epic by Queen, written by Freddie Mercury, fusing ballad, opera, and hard rock sections in a six-minute single.
12
Boogie Wonderland
A 1979 disco single by Earth, Wind and Fire featuring the Emotions on backing vocals, with brisk horn arrangements and a sustained dance groove.
13
Born to Run
A 1975 Bruce Springsteen single layered with dense Phil Spector-influenced production, depicting young lovers planning to escape a dead-end town.
14
Bridge Over Troubled Water
A 1970 piano-led ballad by Simon and Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon and sung by Art Garfunkel, drawing on gospel and soul vocal traditions.
15
California Dreamin'
A 1965 folk-rock song by the Mamas and the Papas, written by John and Michelle Phillips, evoking a longing for California during an East Coast winter.
16
Candle in the Wind
A 1973 piano ballad by Elton John and Bernie Taupin originally written about Marilyn Monroe, later rewritten in 1997 to memorialize Diana, Princess of Wales.
17
Careless Whisper
A 1984 saxophone-driven pop ballad written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, released as Michael's first solo single during the Wham! era.
18
Closing Time
A 1998 alternative rock single by Semisonic, written by Dan Wilson, ostensibly about a closing bar but partly inspired by impending parenthood.
19
Comfortably Numb
A 1979 progressive rock song by Pink Floyd from "The Wall," with verses by Roger Waters and a sustained David Gilmour guitar solo over an orchestral arrangement.
20
Crazy in Love
A 2003 R&B and hip-hop single by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, built on a horn sample from the Chi-Lites' "Are You My Woman."
21
Creep
A 1992 alternative rock single by Radiohead about social alienation, marked by a heavily distorted guitar transition into the chorus.
22
Dancing Queen
A 1976 ABBA single in disco-pop style, written by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Stig Anderson, describing a young woman on a Friday night.
23
Day Tripper
A 1965 Beatles single built on a riff by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, released as a double A-side with "We Can Work It Out."
24
Despacito
A 2017 Spanish-language reggaeton single by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee that became one of the most-streamed songs in recorded music history.
25
Don't Stop Believin'
A 1981 arena rock anthem by Journey, built on a sustained piano motif by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry's high lead vocal, set to a city girl meeting a small-town boy.
26
Don't Stop Me Now
A 1978 Queen single written by Freddie Mercury, built on a fast piano figure and a chorus that celebrates a euphoric night out.
27
Dreams
A 1977 Fleetwood Mac single written by Stevie Nicks, drawn from her perspective on the relationship breakdown that shaped the "Rumours" album.
28
Drive
A 1999 alternative rock single by Incubus, a downtempo guitar ballad about anxiety and forward motion despite uncertainty.
29
Edge of Seventeen
A 1981 Stevie Nicks single built on a sixteenth-note guitar figure by Waddy Wachtel, written about the deaths of John Lennon and Nicks's uncle.
30
Empire State of Mind
A 2009 hip-hop single by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys, celebrating New York City with a piano hook built around Keys's chorus.
31
Englishman in New York
A 1987 single by Sting written about the writer Quentin Crisp, who had recently moved from London to Manhattan, with a Branford Marsalis saxophone solo.
32
Every Breath You Take
A 1983 single by The Police, written by Sting, that pairs a repeated guitar riff with possessive lyrics often misread as a tender love song.
33
Eye of the Tiger
A 1982 rock single by Survivor written for the film "Rocky III" at the request of Sylvester Stallone, built on a heavy palm-muted guitar opening.
34
Faith
A 1987 George Michael solo single that opens with a church organ rendering of "Freedom" before shifting to a rockabilly-influenced acoustic groove.
35
Fast Car
A 1988 folk-rock single by Tracy Chapman about a working-class couple trying to escape poverty, built on an arpeggiated acoustic guitar figure.
36
Firework
A 2010 pop single by Katy Perry, an empowerment-themed dance-pop song built on a kick-drum-driven chorus and Perry's belted vocal lines.
37
Folsom Prison Blues
A 1955 Johnny Cash country single later re-recorded live at Folsom State Prison in 1968, capturing a famous concert response from inmates.
38
Free Bird
A 1973 Lynyrd Skynyrd track that opens as a slide-guitar ballad and closes with an extended three-guitar instrumental jam, a defining Southern rock recording.
39
Friday I'm in Love
A 1992 single by The Cure, an unusually bright pop song from a band better known for darker textures, marking each day of the week.
40
Gangsta's Paradise
A 1995 hip-hop single by Coolio featuring L.V., built on a sample of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" and written for the film "Dangerous Minds."
41
Get Lucky
A 2013 disco-funk revival single by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, built on a sustained four-chord progression and live guitar.
42
God Only Knows
A 1966 Beach Boys song written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, featuring a French horn introduction and complex shifting harmonic motion.
43
Good Riddance
A 1997 acoustic ballad by Green Day, also known as "Time of Your Life," written by Billie Joe Armstrong about a former girlfriend.
44
Good Vibrations
A 1966 Beach Boys single produced by Brian Wilson over six months across multiple studios, featuring an Electro-Theremin and a modular sectional structure.
45
Hallelujah
A 1984 Leonard Cohen song, drawn from a long writing process and made widely famous through later interpretations by Jeff Buckley and others.
46
Happy
A 2013 Pharrell Williams single written for the soundtrack of the animated film "Despicable Me 2," built on a four-on-the-floor handclap beat.
47
Heartbreak Hotel
A 1956 Elvis Presley single, his first RCA release, inspired by a newspaper story about a suicide and built on a stark blues arrangement.
48
Heroes
A 1977 David Bowie single recorded in West Berlin, co-written with Brian Eno, partly inspired by a couple kissing near the Berlin Wall.
49
Hey Jude
A 1968 Beatles single written by Paul McCartney for John Lennon's son Julian, with a sustained four-minute coda built on a repeated "na na na" refrain.
50
Hotel California
A 1976 Eagles single, an allegorical song about excess and the American dream, featuring a closing dual-guitar harmony solo by Don Felder and Joe Walsh.
51
Hurt
A 1995 Nine Inch Nails song written by Trent Reznor, transformed in 2002 into a defining late-period recording by Johnny Cash.
52
I Walk the Line
A 1956 Johnny Cash country single that pledges fidelity, built on a key-change pattern between verses and hummed inter-verse pitch references.
53
I Want It That Way
A 1999 Backstreet Boys single written by Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, with a chord pattern built around the tension between verse and chorus.
54
I Want to Hold Your Hand
A 1963 Beatles single that became the band's first U.S. number one and triggered the wave known as the British Invasion.
55
I Will Always Love You
A 1973 Dolly Parton country ballad transformed in 1992 into a worldwide pop hit by Whitney Houston for the film "The Bodyguard."
56
Imagine
A 1971 John Lennon ballad with piano and string arrangement, asking listeners to consider a world without borders, possessions, or religious divisions.
57
In the End
A 2001 Linkin Park single, combining Mike Shinoda's hip-hop verses with Chester Bennington's sung chorus over a piano-led arrangement and rock instrumentation.
58
Jailhouse Rock
A 1957 Elvis Presley single written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the film of the same name, opening with a famous repeated guitar punctuation.
59
Jeremy
A 1991 Pearl Jam single inspired by the real-life suicide of a 15-year-old Texas student in front of his classmates, with a music video that received heavy MTV play.
60
Jolene
A 1973 Dolly Parton country single, an address to another woman pleading with her not to take the singer's partner, set to a fast acoustic strum.
61
Juicy
A 1994 hip-hop single by The Notorious B.I.G., built on a sample of Mtume's "Juicy Fruit," recounting his rise from Brooklyn to stardom.
62
Jump
A 1984 Van Halen single built on a synthesizer hook by Eddie Van Halen, becoming the band's only Billboard Hot 100 number-one single.
63
Just the Way You Are
A 1977 Billy Joel ballad addressed to his first wife Elizabeth, featuring a soprano saxophone solo by Phil Woods on the original recording.
64
Karma Chameleon
A 1983 Culture Club single, a country-influenced pop song with a prominent harmonica part by Judd Lander and Boy George's sung lead vocal.
65
Karma Police
A 1997 Radiohead single from "OK Computer," a piano-led track with an extended ambient outro, with a music video shot in a single moving-vehicle take.
66
Kashmir
A 1975 Led Zeppelin track built on a sustained guitar riff in an unusual time signature, with strings and brass orchestration over a long instrumental form.
67
Kids
A 2007 indie electronic single by MGMT built around a sustained synthesizer hook, looking back nostalgically on a generation's childhood.
68
Killer Queen
A 1974 Queen single written by Freddie Mercury, an early commercial breakthrough featuring layered vocal harmonies and a vaudevillian piano arrangement.
69
Kiss
A 1986 Prince single, a stripped funk track with a falsetto lead vocal that originally began as a demo for the group Mazarati.
70
Layla
A 1970 Derek and the Dominos single, written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, with a sustained guitar riff opening and an extended piano coda.
71
Let It Be
A 1970 Beatles single written by Paul McCartney, inspired by a dream about his mother, with a gospel-influenced piano arrangement and a closing guitar solo.
72
Like a Rolling Stone
A 1965 Bob Dylan single, a six-minute electrified track that helped define the album-era expansion of pop song length and form.
73
Lithium
A 1992 Nirvana single from "Nevermind," its verses moving quietly against loud chorus crashes, a defining structural pattern of early 1990s alternative rock.
74
London Calling
A 1979 single by The Clash, a post-punk track addressing nuclear anxiety and the Three Mile Island accident, with a Morse-code "SOS" guitar coda.
75
Lose Yourself
A 2002 Eminem single from the soundtrack of the film "8 Mile," with a piano motif and Eminem's stark rap verses about seizing one opportunity.
76
Love Me Tender
A 1956 Elvis Presley ballad adapted from the 1861 Civil War-era folk song "Aura Lee," recorded for and named after his first film.
77
Mamma Mia
A 1975 ABBA single that gave its title to the later jukebox musical and film featuring the band's songs, with an arpeggiated marimba-like keyboard introduction.
78
Material Girl
A 1984 Madonna single from "Like a Virgin," a synth-pop song about an unapologetic pursuit of wealth, with a music video referencing Marilyn Monroe.
79
Money
A 1973 Pink Floyd single from "The Dark Side of the Moon," built on a seven-beat bass riff and featuring a sampled tape loop of cash registers.
80
Moves Like Jagger
A 2011 single by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, a whistled-hook dance-pop track named after Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.
81
Mr. Brightside
A 2004 single by The Killers, an indie-rock breakthrough about jealousy and an imagined infidelity, with a sustained eighth-note guitar pattern by Dave Keuning.
82
Mrs. Robinson
A 1968 Simon and Garfunkel single, written for the film "The Graduate," with references to Joe DiMaggio and a brisk acoustic guitar rhythm.
83
My Way
A 1969 Frank Sinatra single adapted from the 1967 French song "Comme d'habitude," with new English lyrics written by Paul Anka.
84
Nine to Five
A 1980 Dolly Parton single written for the film of the same name, a country-pop song about office workers featuring typewriter sound effects.
85
No Scrubs
A 1999 TLC single from the album "FanMail," a contemporary R&B song defining a slang term for an underachieving suitor.
86
Nothing Compares 2 U
A 1985 Prince song originally recorded by The Family, transformed in 1990 by Sinead O'Connor's stark vocal version into a worldwide number one.
87
November Rain
A 1991 Guns N' Roses single, an eight-and-a-half-minute piano-led rock ballad written by Axl Rose, with extended guitar solos by Slash.
88
Numb
A 2003 Linkin Park single, a downtempo nu-metal track combining Chester Bennington's sung lead with electronic textures and piano motif.
89
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
A 1968 Beatles song from "The White Album," with a ska-influenced rhythm written by Paul McCartney, telling a brief storybook narrative of Desmond and Molly.
90
Old Town Road
A 2018 country-trap single by Lil Nas X, built on a sample of a Nine Inch Nails instrumental, that became the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 number one.
91
One
A 1991 single by U2, a sustained ballad written during recording sessions in Berlin for "Achtung Baby," addressing fractured intimacy.
92
Only You
A 1982 single by British electronic duo Yazoo, written by Vince Clarke, with Alison Moyet's soul-influenced vocal over a synthesizer arrangement.
93
Oops I Did It Again
A 2000 Britney Spears single, the title track from her second album, with production by Max Martin and Rami Yacoub and a memorable spoken-word interlude.
94
Paint It Black
A 1966 Rolling Stones single in a minor key, with a sitar part by Brian Jones, opening with a tom and acoustic-guitar groove unusual in pop singles of its era.
95
Paper Planes
A 2007 alternative hip-hop single by M.I.A., built on a sample of The Clash's "Straight to Hell" and a chorus interrupted by gunshot sound effects.
96
Piano Man
A 1973 Billy Joel song narrating a slow night at a Los Angeles piano bar, drawn from his own experience working as a lounge pianist during a contract dispute.
97
Pretty Hurts
A 2013 Beyonce track from her self-titled visual album, with verses about beauty competition pressures and a music video set at a fictional pageant.
98
Pumped Up Kicks
A 2010 indie pop single by Foster the People with a whistle-driven hook, addressing a troubled narrator with implied violent thoughts in upbeat sound.
99
Purple Rain
A 1984 Prince single, the title track of his sixth album and the accompanying film, building over eight minutes through ballad and extended guitar solo sections.
100
Quando Quando Quando
A 1962 Italian bossa nova song composed by Tony Renis with lyrics by Alberto Testa, later widely recorded in English by Engelbert Humperdinck and others.
101
Queen of Hearts
A 1981 country-rock single by Juice Newton, written by Hank DeVito, becoming one of the year's most-played U.S. radio singles.
102
Quiet Storm
A 1975 Smokey Robinson song that gave its name to a U.S. R&B radio programming format featuring smooth, slow soul and jazz-influenced ballads.
103
Respect
A 1967 Aretha Franklin recording of an Otis Redding song, rearranged into a feminist anthem with a spelled-out title refrain and a sax solo by King Curtis.
104
Riders on the Storm
A 1971 song by The Doors, recorded shortly before Jim Morrison's death, featuring electric piano by Ray Manzarek and a sustained thunderstorm sound effect.
105
Rock with You
A 1979 Michael Jackson single from "Off the Wall," produced by Quincy Jones, with a smooth disco-funk arrangement and Jackson's tightly phrased lead vocal.
106
Rolling in the Deep
A 2010 Adele single, a soul-influenced rock track produced by Paul Epworth, blending acoustic guitar opening with a gospel-influenced chorus.
107
Royals
A 2013 minimal electro-pop single by New Zealand artist Lorde, addressing celebrity excess from the perspective of a suburban teenager.
108
Shape of You
A 2017 Ed Sheeran single, a dancehall-influenced pop track that topped charts in over forty countries and broke streaming records for its era.
109
Single Ladies
A 2008 Beyonce R&B single also known as "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," with a black-and-white music video that became one of the most-imitated of its era.
110
Smells Like Teen Spirit
A 1991 Nirvana single that helped break grunge into the mainstream, with a four-chord guitar riff and Kurt Cobain's mumbled vocal phrasing.
111
Somebody That I Used to Know
A 2011 indie pop single by Gotye featuring Kimbra, a dialogue duet about a breakup, built on a Luiz Bonfa guitar sample.
112
Stairway to Heaven
A 1971 Led Zeppelin track that opens with a fingerpicked acoustic guitar pattern, builds through electric instrumentation, and closes with a guitar solo by Jimmy Page.
113
Stand by Me
A 1961 soul single by Ben E. King, drawing on a gospel hymn, with a sustained walking bass line and Latin-influenced percussion.
114
Sweet Caroline
A 1969 Neil Diamond single inspired in part by a Life magazine photo of Caroline Kennedy as a child, with a singalong chorus phrase widely echoed at sports venues.
115
Sweet Child o' Mine
A 1987 Guns N' Roses single built on a Slash guitar riff that began as a string skipping exercise, with Axl Rose's lyric about his then-girlfriend.
116
Take Five
A 1959 instrumental jazz composition by Paul Desmond, performed by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, in 5/4 time, one of the best-selling jazz singles of all time.
117
Take On Me
A 1985 synth-pop single by Norwegian band a-ha, featuring a distinctive synthesizer hook by Magne Furuholmen and Morten Harket's high falsetto chorus.
118
Thriller
A 1983 Michael Jackson single, the title track of his sixth album, featuring a spoken-word coda by horror actor Vincent Price.
119
Time After Time
A 1984 Cyndi Lauper single, a soft-pop ballad with synthesizer texture and a chorus phrase echoed across decades of pop culture.
120
Tiny Dancer
A 1971 piano-led ballad by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin, written about Maxine Feibelman, Taupin's then-girlfriend and later wife.
121
Tom's Diner
A 1987 a cappella Suzanne Vega song remixed in 1990 by DNA into a club hit, and later used as the audio test signal for the development of the MP3 codec.
122
Toxic
A 2003 Britney Spears single, an electropop track produced by Bloodshy and Avant featuring an opening sample of "Tere Mere Beech Mein" by Lata Mangeshkar.
123
Umbrella
A 2007 Rihanna single featuring Jay-Z, with a "ella ella" chorus refrain that became one of the most recognizable pop phrases of its era.
124
Under Pressure
A 1981 collaboration between Queen and David Bowie, built on a bass riff developed during a jam session at Mountain Studios in Montreux.
125
Uptown Funk
A 2014 funk-influenced single by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, built on horn arrangements and a chord pattern referencing 1980s Minneapolis funk.
126
Uptown Girl
A 1983 Billy Joel single written about the woman who became his second wife, model Christie Brinkley, in a doo-wop style with a Frankie Valli vocal reference.
127
Use Somebody
A 2008 Kings of Leon single, a slow-burn alternative rock track that became the band's commercial breakthrough in the United States and Europe.
128
Venus
A 1969 Dutch rock band Shocking Blue single, later transformed in 1986 by Bananarama into a Hi-NRG dance-pop number-one, with a distinctive ascending guitar lick.
129
Video Killed the Radio Star
A 1979 single by British synth-pop duo The Buggles, lamenting changes brought to popular music by television, which famously became MTV's first music video.
130
Vincent
A 1971 Don McLean acoustic ballad about the painter Vincent van Gogh, often referred to by the opening line "Starry, Starry Night."
131
Viva la Vida
A 2008 Coldplay single, a string-driven anthem about the fall of a king, with a baroque arrangement and a title borrowed from a Frida Kahlo painting.
132
Vogue
A 1990 Madonna single, a house-influenced dance track referencing the New York ballroom dance practice and namechecking Old Hollywood stars.
133
Wake Me Up
A 2013 single by Swedish DJ Avicii featuring vocals by Aloe Blacc, combining country guitar with electronic dance production for a folktronica chart success.
134
Waterloo
A 1974 ABBA single that won the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden, becoming the band's international breakthrough.
135
We Are the Champions
A 1977 Queen anthem written by Freddie Mercury, often paired with "We Will Rock You" on sports broadcasts and at championship events worldwide.
136
What's Going On
A 1971 Marvin Gaye single from his concept album of the same name, addressing the Vietnam War, civil rights, and the conditions of urban America.
137
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
A 1968 Beatles song written by George Harrison from "The White Album," featuring an uncredited lead guitar performance by Eric Clapton.
138
Wicked Game
A 1989 Chris Isaak rock single, a slow-burning track with reverb-heavy guitar that became widely known after featuring in David Lynch's 1990 film "Wild at Heart."
139
Wonderwall
A 1995 Oasis single written by Noel Gallagher, with an open-tuned acoustic guitar pattern and Liam Gallagher's lead vocal, becoming the band's signature track.
140
X Gon' Give It to Ya
A 2002 DMX single from the soundtrack to the film "Cradle 2 the Grave," produced by Shatek King with a heavy synth bass riff.
141
Xanadu
A 1980 single by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, the title track to the 1980 film of the same name, a roller-skating disco-pop fantasy.
142
XO
A 2013 Beyonce single, a midtempo pop song addressed to a partner against a sense of mortality, with production by Ryan Tedder and Beyonce.
143
Yellow
A 2000 Coldplay single from their debut album "Parachutes," a guitar-led ballad that became the band's international breakthrough.
144
Yesterday
A 1965 Beatles single composed by Paul McCartney as a melody he dreamed, recorded with a string quartet arrangement and McCartney as the sole performing Beatle.
145
YMCA
A 1978 Village People single, a disco track about the Young Men's Christian Association with a chorus accompanied by a widely-known arm-spelling dance.
146
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
A 1972 Stevie Wonder single, a soft soul ballad with electric piano and an introductory verse sung by Jim Gilstrap and Lani Groves.
147
You've Got a Friend
A 1971 Carole King song from her album "Tapestry," and also a 1971 James Taylor recording that became his only U.S. number-one single.
148
Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah
A 1946 song written for the Disney film "Song of the South" by Allie Wrubel and Ray Gilbert, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
149
Zombie
A 1994 Cranberries single written by Dolores O'Riordan about a 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington, with a distorted guitar arrangement uncommon in the band's earlier work.
150
Zorba's Dance
A 1964 instrumental piece by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, written for the film "Zorba the Greek" and adapted from a traditional Cretan dance form.
About this songs index
That's our current full list of songs. We add new entries every week — if there's a song you'd like us to cover, let us know and we'll write it up.
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