The Top Songs by Decade, 1900-present

Originally posted 4/9/2012; updated 1/26/2020.

image from musiccanada.files.wordpress.com

Dave’s Music Database has compiled the best songs of all-time into a variety of lists over the years. Check out the full array of DMDB best-of lists here. However, this page – which at nearly 32,000 hits is the most visited on the DMDB blog – offers snapshots of the top 10 songs of each decade from 1900 to present. To see the full top 100 list for a decade, simply click on the badge.

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1. Uptown Funk!… Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars (2014)
2. Rolling in the Deep…Adele (2010)
3. Despacito…Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber (2017)
4. Shape of You…Ed Sheeran (2017)
5. Somebody That I Used to Know…Gotye with Kimbra (2011)
6. Hello…Adele (2015)
7. Happy…Pharrell Williams (2013)
8. Blurred Lines…Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams (2013)
9. See You Again …Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth (2015)
10. Closer…The Chainsmokers with Halsey (2016)

1. Hey Ya!...OutKast (2003)
2. Lose Yourself…Eminem (2002)
3. I Gotta Feeling…Black Eyed Peas (2009)
4. Yeah!...Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris (2004)
5. Umbrella…Rihanna with Jay-Z (2007)
6. Crazy…Gnarls Barkley (2006)
7. Crazy in Love… Beyoncé with Jay-Z (2003)
8. We Belong Together…Mariah Carey (2005)
9. Poker Face…Lady Gaga (2009)
10. Low…Flo Rida with T-Pain (2007)

1. I Will Always Love You…Whitney Houston (1992)
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit…Nirvana (1991)
3. Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)…Elton John (1997)
4. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You…Bryan Adams (1991)
5. My Heart Will Go On…Celine Dion (1997)
6. Nothing Compares 2 U…Sinéad O’Connor (1990)
7. Losing My Religion…R.E.M. (1991)
8. Baby One More Time…Britney Spears (1998)
9. One …U2 (1991)
10. Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)…Los Del Rio (1995)

1. Billie Jean…Michael Jackson (1982)
2. Every Breath You Take…The Police (1983)
3. Sweet Child O’ Mine…Guns N’ Roses (1987)
4. I Love Rock and Roll…Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1981)
5. When Doves Cry…Prince (1984)
6. We Are the World…U.S.A. for Africa (1985)
7. Endless Love…Lionel Richie & Diana Ross (1981)
8. Beat It…Michael Jackson (1983)
9. With or Without You…U2 (1987)
10. Bette Davis Eyes…Kim Carnes (1981)

1. Bohemian Rhapsody…Queen (1975)
2. Imagine…John Lennon (1971)
3. Bridge Over Troubled Water…Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
4. Hotel California…Eagles (1976)
5. Stayin’ Alive…Bee Gees (1977)
6. Layla…Derek & the Dominos (1970)
7. Let It Be…The Beatles (1970)
8. American Pie…Don McLean (1971)
9. Stairway to Heaven…Led Zeppelin (1971)
10. Dancing Queen…Abba (1976)

1. Hey Jude…The Beatles (1968)
2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction…The Rolling Stones (1965)
3. I Heard It Through the Grapevine…Marvin Gaye (1968)
4. Respect…Aretha Franklin (1967)
5. Good Vibrations…The Beach Boys (1966)
6. I Want to Hold Your Hand…The Beatles (1963)
7. Yesterday…The Beatles (1965)
8. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay…Otis Redding (1968)
9. Like a Rolling Stone…Bob Dylan (1965)
10. (Oh) Pretty Woman…Roy Orbison (1964)

1. We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock…Bill Haley & His Comets (1954)
2. Heartbreak Hotel…Elvis Presley (1956)
3. Don’t Be Cruel…Elvis Presley (1956)
4. Mack the Knife…Bobby Darin (1959)
5. Hound Dog…Elvis Presley (1956)
6. Jailhouse Rock…Elvis Presley (1957)
7. Johnny B. Goode…Chuck Berry (1958)
8. Tennessee Waltz…Patti Page (1950)
9. What’d I Say…Ray Charles (1959)
10. That’ll Be the Day…Buddy Holly & the Crickets (1957)

1. White Christmas...Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers (1942)
2. Stardust...Artie Shaw (1941)
3. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer...Gene Autry (1949)
4. As Time Goes By…Dooley Wilson (1942)
5. Sentimental Journey...Les Brown with Doris Day (1945)
6. Body and Soul...Coleman Hawkins (1940)
7. Paper Doll...The Mills Brothers (1943)
8. Peg O’ My Heart...The Harmonicats (1947)
9. When You Wish Upon a Star...Cliff Edwards (1940)
10. Chattanooga Choo Choo...Glenn Miller with Tex Beneke & the Four Modernaires (1941)

1. Over the Rainbow...Judy Garland (1939)
2. Night and Day...Fred Astaire with Leo Reisman (1932)
3. In the Mood...Glenn Miller (1939)
4. Cheek to Cheek...Fred Astaire with Leo Reisman (1935)
5. Begin the Beguine...Artie Shaw (1938)
6. Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)...Ethel Waters (1933)
7. The Way You Look Tonight...Fred Astaire with Johnny Green (1936)
8. All the Things You Are...Tommy Dorsey with Jack Leonard (1939)
9. Pennies from Heaven...Bing Crosby with George Stoll (1936)
10. A-Tisket, A-Tasket...Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb (1938)

1. My Blue Heaven...Gene Austin (1927)
2. Swanee...Al Jolson (1920)
3. St. Louis Blues...Bessie Smith with Louis Armstrong (1925)
4. Whispering...Paul Whiteman (1920)
5. April Showers...Al Jolson (1922)
6. Ol’ Man River...Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby (1928)
7. Ain’t Misbehavin’...Thomas “Fats” Waller (1929)
8. Tea for Two…Marion Harris (1925)
9. It Had to Be You...Isham Jones (1924)
10. Dardanella...Ben Selvin (1920)

1. Alexander’s Ragtime Band...Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan (1911)
2. Over There...American Quartet (1917)
3. Let Me Call You Sweetheart...Peerless Quartet (1911)
4. You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)...Al Jolson (1913)
5. Moonlight Bay...American Quartet (1912)
6. By the Light of the Silvery Moon...Billy Murray with the Haydn Quartet (1910)
7. Till We Meet Again...Henry Burr & Albert Campbell (1919)
8. Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody...Al Jolson (1918)
9. Tiger Rag...Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1918)
10. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling...Chauncey Olcott (1913)

1. You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)…Billy Murray (1906)
2. Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart)…Haydn Quartet (1904)
3. Take Me Out to the Ball Game…Haydn Quartet (1908)
4. Give My Regards to Broadway…Billy Murray (1905)
5. Meet Me in St. Louis Louis…Billy Murray (1904)
6. In the Good Old Summertime…Haydn Quartet (1903)
7. Shine on Harvest Moon…Harry MacDonough with Miss Walton (1909)
8. Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home…Arthur Collins (1902)
9. School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)…Byron Harlan (1907)
10. Yankee Doodle Boy…Billy Murray (1905)

Rod Stewart: Top 100 Songs

First posted 1/2/2020; updated 1/5/2020.

Rod Stewart image from Billboard.com

Rock singer Roderick David Stewart was born on this day (January 10) in 1945 in Highgate, London, England. He worked with the Shotgun Express (1966), the Jeff Beck Group (1967-69), and The Faces (69-75) and has maintained a solo career since 1969. His song, “Maggie May,” is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Stewart’s work with the Jeff Beck Group and The Faces are includes as well as his solo material. Songs are solo hits unless noted otherwise. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. Maggie May (1971) #1 US, CB, HR, UK, CN, AU 2. Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) (1976) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, CN 3. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (1978) #1 US, CB, HR, RR, UK, CN, AU DMDB Top 5%: 4. All for Love (Bryan Adams with Sting & Rod Stewart, 1993) #1 US, CB, RR, CN, AU 5. Sailing (1975) #1 UK 6. You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (1977) #1 RR, CN, AU 7. Have I Told You Lately (1991) #1 AC, CN 8. Stay with Me (The Faces, 1971) 9. The First Cut Is the Deepest (1976) 10. Downtown Train (1989) #1 CB, RR, AC, AR, CN DMDB Top 10%: 11. I Don’t Want to Talk About It (1975) #1 UK 12. You Wear It Well (1972) #1 UK 13. Reason to Believe (1971) 14. Young Turks (1981) 15. This Old Heart of Mine (Rod Stewart & Ron Isley, 1989) #1 AC 16. Rhythm of My Heart (1991) #1 CB, CN 17. Passion (1980) 18. Tonight I’m Yours (1981) 19. I Know I’m Losing You (The Faces, 1971) 20. Forever Young (1988) 21. Hot Legs (1977) DMDB Top 20%: 22. The Motown Song (Rod Stewart & the Temptations, 1991) #1 CN 23. Blue Moon (Rod Stewart & Eric Clapton, 2004) 24. Baby Jane (1983) #1 UK 25. People Get Ready (Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck, 1985) 26. Some Guys Have All the Luck (1984) 27. Handbags and Gladrags (1969) 28. The Killing of Georgie (1976) 29. Infatuation (1984) 30. Leave Virginia Alone (1995) #1 CN 31. I Was Only Joking (1977) 32. Twistin’ the Night Away (1972) 33. Love Touch (1986) 34. Get Back (1976) 35. They Can’t Take That Away from Me (2002) 36. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Rod Stewart & Cher, 2003) 37. What Am I Gonna Do? (1983) 38. Your Song (1992) 39. Broken Arrow (1991) 40. My Heart Can’t Tell You No (1988) 41. Someone to Watch Over Me (2003) 42. Ain’t Love a Bitch (1978) 43. Angel (The Faces, 1972) 44. Lost in You (1988) 45. These Foolish Things Remind Me of You (2002) 46. Oh No, Not My Baby (1973) 47. Having a Party (live with Ron Wood, 1993) 48. In a Broken Dream (Python Lee Jackson with Rod Stewart, 1969) 49. Cindy Incidentally (The Faces, 1973) 50. Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) 51. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Rod Stewart with Dave Koz, 2012) #1 AC Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 52. Reason to Believe (live with Ron Wood, 1993) 53. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2012) 54. It Takes Two (Rod Stewart & Tina Turner, 1990) 55. You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (The Faces, 1974) 56. Winter Wonderland (Rod Stewart & Michael Buble, 2012) 57. Another Heartache (1986) 58. This Old Heart of Mine (1975) 59. Ooh La La (1998) 60. Every Beat of My Heart (1986) 61. Gasoline Alley (1970) 62. Baby It’s Cold Outside (Rod Stewart & Dolly Parton, 2004) 63. If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right (1977) 64. If We Fall in Love Tonight (1996) 65. I’ve Got a Crush on You (Rod Stewart & Diana Ross, 2005) 66. Crazy About Her (1988) 67. I Can’t Deny It (2001) 68. How Long (1981) 69. So Far Away (1995) 70. What Made Milwaukee Famous (1972) 71. What a Wonderful World (Rod Stewart & Stevie Wonder, 2004) 72. Farewell/Bring It on Home to Me/You Send Me (1974) 73. Debris (The Faces, 1971) 74. I Don’t Want to Talk About It (1989) 75. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (2005) 76. Somebody Speical (1980) 77. Have You Ever Seen the Rain? (2006) 78. Mandolin Wind (1971) 79. Ole Ola (Muhler Brasileia) (Rod Stewart & the Scottish World Cup Squad, 1978) 80. I’ve Been Drinking (Jeff Beck Group, 1968) 81. Twistin’ the Night Away (1987) 82. Time After Time (2003) 83. Faith of the Heart (1999) 84. Pool Hall Richard (The Faces, 1973) 85. Street Fighting Man (1969) 86. It’s All Over Now (1970) 87. Cut Across Shorty (Rod Stewart live Ron Wood, 1993) 88. All Right Now (1984) 89. Beck’s Bolero (Jeff Beck Group, 1968) 90. Tom Traubert’s Blues (Waltzing Matilda) (1992) 91. Love Is Blue (L’Amour Est Blue) (Jeff Beck Group, 1968) 92. Blondes Have More Fun (1978) 93. Mine for Me (1974) 94. Gi’ Me Wings (1980) 95. My Girl (1980) 96. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (N-Trance with Rod Stewart, 1997) 97. Tora Tora Tora (Out with the Boys) (1981) 98. Jealous (1981) 99. Don’t Come Around Here (Rod Stewart with Helicopter Girl, 2001) 100. Guess I’ll Always Love You (live, 1998) Resources and Related Links: Rod Stewart’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry