Billboard is regarded as the gold standard of pop music charts, but some of the most enduring songs in music history never even reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
From Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” (#41) all the way down to tracks by Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, and Beck that peaked at #100, I’ve collected the ultimate list of great songs that failed to enter the Top 40. We’re going to count them down, rung by rung, from 100 to 41.
In the old days, having a Top 40 hit was a huge deal, because it meant getting played on the weekly Top 40 countdown shows. You know what I’m talking about if you listened to the Top 40 countdowns hosted by Casey Kasem, Rick Dees, Shadoe Stevens, and Ryan Seacrest. In the streaming era, the Top 40 benchmark isn’t necessarily as meaningful, but it’s still considered a noteworthy achievement.
This list includes all types of music, from old-school Aretha and Beatles songs to modern streaming pop hits. We’ve got classic rock from the ’70s, early hip-hop anthems from the ’80s, country songs from the ’90s, pop-punk from the ’00s, and EDM from the ’10s.
Just about every major star you can think of is on this list, including classics from Etta James’ “At Last” (peaked at #47) to Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” (#60) to Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” (#65) to the Who’s “My Generation” (#74) to the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” (#76).
A Few Notes On This Exercise
–Chart positions were verified through the use of Joel Whitburn’s Pop Annual (Amazon link.) However, that book includes a lot of 1990s airplay-only songs that didn’t actually appear on the Hot 100. This article does not. This article only uses the official Hot 100 chart positions for each song, no exceptions.
–The eligibility period for this article starts with the first official Hot 100 countdown on August 4, 1958, running all the way through today. I’ll keep updating this article as new songs are released.
–You’d think the quality would rise as we get into the lower peak positions, but that’s not always the case. There are way more great songs that peaked at #70 than #43, for instance. It’s really kind of random.
–Songs from every era in history appear in this article, though some eras and genres have more representation. For instance, 1990s alt-rock hits regularly peaked in the lower half of the Hot 100, so you’ll see lots of appearances here by Weezer, the Offspring, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and so forth.
The ’60s and ’70s have fewer songs represented here, while many more songs from the streaming and digital download era (post-2005) make it onto the list.
–If you’re a chart nerd, see our list of every peak position of every song from the 1980s.
REWRITING GRAMMY HISTORY
We go back and select the songs that should have won Record of the Year for every year in Grammy history, from 1959 to 2026. Click to read the article!
The Best Songs That Peaked at Every Position From #100 To #41
Let’s count down the biggest and best songs in history that peaked between #41 and #100 on the Hot 100.
I’ll rank the five best songs for each peak position, list a bunch of honorable mentions for each spot, and then finish with an authoritative Top 40 countdown of the best songs that never hit the Top 40.
#100: Million Dollar Bill, Whitney Houston (2009)
Whitney Houston scored a whopping 11 #1 singles, but she also ended up at the bottom of the chart with “Million Dollar Bill.” The last great song of Whitney’s career was a dance floor banger from her final studio album, I Look to You.
The tune was written by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz. Though it barely cracked the Hot 100, it spent 30 weeks on the R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. Houston performed the song on several programs, including X Factor, Good Morning America, and Dancing With the Stars.
The Five Best #100 Peaks:
1 Million Dollar Bill, Whitney Houston (2009)
2 Try a Little Tenderness, Aretha Franklin (1962)
3 Wine, Beer & Whiskey, Little Big Town (2020)
4 Love Me, the 1975 (2015)
5 Girl, Beck (2005)
Other Notables: Do Somethin’, Britney Spears (2005); Die 4 Me, Halsey (2023); Idlewild Blue, Outkast (2006); Boss Bitch, Doja Cat (2020); Sound of Silence, Peaches & Herb (1971); Lady Madonna, Fats Domino (1968); Teenage Daughters, Martina McBride (2011); Kill Me, Phoebe Bridgers (2026); Summer Days, Martin Garrix featuring Macklemore & Fall Out Boy (2019)
#99: In Between Days, the Cure (1986)
Sadly, legendary rockers the Cure were experts at this “missing the Top 40” thing. They notched 11 different singles that peaked between 41 and 100. Those songs typically got rock radio airplay, but usually failed to breakthrough at pop radio, leaving them stuck in the bottom of the Hot 100.
“In Between Days” was the band’s first Hot 100 hit in the U.S. Like most of their best songs, it glides along on an upbeat bed of synths and guitars, which contrast with Robert Smith’s deeply sad lyrics.
The Five Best #99 Peaks:
1 In Between Days, the Cure (1986)
2 Make Me Feel, Janelle Monae (2018)
3 Head & Heart, Joel Corry featuring MNEK (2020)
4 Fat, Weird Al Yankovic (1988)
5 Like I Can, Sam Smith (2015)
Other Notables: Never Gonna Not Dance Again, Pink (2023); Ribs, Lorde (2025); Reflektor, Arcade Fire (2013); The Moon Was Yellow, Frank Sinatra (1962); Classy 101, Feid & Young Miko (2023); Pete Davidson, Ariana Grande (2018); Freakin’ It, Will Smith (2000); Youth Gone Wild, Skid Row (1989)
#98: Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order (1995)
New Order’s 1986 single “Bizarre Love Triangle” wasn’t a hit the first time around. But a 1994 re-release coinciding with a greatest hits album gave the song new life, and it edged onto the Hot 100.
Those glorious synth flourishes have become iconic, and allowed the song to endure far longer than its chart position would suggest. This slice of new wave fun was later included in Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest songs of all-time.
The Five Best #98 Peaks:
1 Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order (1995)
2 7 Seconds, Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry (1994)
3 Spirit, Beyonce (2019)
4 Cum On Feel the Noize, Slade (1973)
5 Rainbow, Kacey Musgraves (2019)
Other Notables: Sad But True, Metallica (1992); Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long, Barbra Streisand (1966); Fast Car, Jonas Blue featuring Dakota (2016); Thugs Get Lonely Too, 2Pac featuring Nate Dogg (2005); Thought I Knew You, Nicki Minaj featuring the Weeknd (2018); Juicebox, the Strokes (2005); Into the Unknown, Panic! at the Disco (2019); Take it to Heart, Michael McDonald (1990)
#97: Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stones (2003)
A few of my selections earn their place as the result of a technicality. Consider the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” The song never charted upon its release in 1968, but it went on to become a classic rock radio staple and a live concert favorite.
In 2003, a series of remixes boosted the song onto the Hot 100 for the first time. Its #97 chart peak obviously doesn’t reflect the track’s status as one of the great rock songs in history.
The Five Best #97 Peaks:
1 Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stones (2003)
2 Close to Me, the Cure (1991)
3 Vow, Garbage (1995)
4 Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own, U2 (2005)
5 Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves You), the Beatles (1964)
Other Notables: Wild Hearts, Keith Urban (2022); Am I Dreaming, Lil Nas X featuring Miley Cyrus (2021), I Just Call You Mine, Martina McBride (2009); F**k Him He’s a DJ, Kesha (2011)
#96: The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mott the Hoople (1974)
The David Bowie-affiliated British band Mott the Hoople scored a handful of hits during their brief heyday, notably the Bowie-penned “All the Young Dudes.”
Their 1974 track “The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll” should’ve been a much bigger hit. It’s pure glam rock deliciousness, with lively piano and horns powering a rollicking melody.
The Five Best #96 Peaks:
1 The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mott the Hoople (1974)
2 Cecilia and the Satellite, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (2015)
3 Love Me Anyway, Pink featuring Chris Stapleton (2019)
4 All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson (2010)
5 idontwannabeyouanymore, Billie Eilish (2019)
Other Notables: Electrolite, R.E.M. (1997); Play With Fire, the Rolling Stones (1965); The Inner Light, the Beatles (1968); Solo, Frank Ocean (2016); One Summer Day, Ray Parker Jr. & Helen Terry (1986); Everybody Loves a Nut, Johnny Cash (1966); Somebody’s Gonna Love You, Lee Greenwood (1986); That’s How I Beat Shaq, Aaron Carter (2001)
#95: (Night Time Is) The Right Time, Ray Charles, 1959
One of the oldest songs to earn a spot on my list is Ray Charles’ 1959 remake of Nappy Brown’s “(Night Time is) The Right Time.” The legendary performer shines on the bluesy-soul track, but his backup singers, the Raelettes, really take the spotlight, especially lead vocalist Margie Hendrix.
A new generation discovered the song when it appeared in a 1985 episode of The Cosby Show, with the Huxtable family hilariously lip-synching the track and six-year-old Keshia Knight Pulliam stealing the show. That scene has been ranked by TV Guide and other outlets as one of the most memorable scenes in television sitcom history.
The Five Best #95 Peaks:
1 (Night Time is) The Right Time, Ray Charles (1959)
2 Til it Happens to You, Lady Gaga (2016)
3 Daylight, Matt & Kim (2009)
4 Nice, the Carters (2018)
5 Kansas City, Little Richard (1959)
Other Notables: Robert DeNiro’s Waiting, Bananarama (1984); Girls in Their Summer Clothes, Bruce Springsteen (2008); Love the One You’re With, Luther Vandross (1995); Do You Remember, Chance the Rapper & Death Cab for Cutie (2019)
#94: Devils Haircut, Beck (1996)
It may be hard to believe now, but Beck was viewed as a likely one-hit wonder after his 1994 smash debut “Loser.” He put those thoughts to rest with his brilliant second album, Odelay.
The album ended up producing three songs that all peaked between 41 and 100: “Where It’s At” (#61), “The New Pollution” (#78), and “Devils Haircut.” All three were big hits on MTV, winning a total of six VMAs, and the record won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. Opening with a driving guitar riff, “Devils Haircut” remains one Beck’s most memorable songs.
Note: I would’ve chosen DMX’s “Ruff Ryders Anthem” for this spot, but after the rapper’s passing in 2021, that song re-entered the chart and reached a new peak of #16.
The Five Best #94 Peaks:
1 Devils Haircut, Beck (1996)
2 Speechless, Lady Gaga (2009)
3 Gold On the Ceiling, Black Keys (2012)
4 Fall on Me, R.E.M. (1986)
5 La Fama, Rosalia featuring the Weeknd (2021)
Other Notables: Solitude Standing, Suzanne Vega (1987); Dig, Incubus (2007); The Jungle, BB King (1967); There for You, Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan (2017); These Walls, Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise, and Thundercat (2015); We Didn’t Start the Fire, Fall Out Boy (2023)
#93: So What’cha Want, Beastie Boys (1992)
The Beastie Boys’ 1992 song “So What’cha Want” opens with an unexpected Hammond organ solo, before the drums kick in and the song goes hard for three minutes with no let up. Distorted vocals, guitar solos, and scratches all add to the beautiful chaos. It should’ve been a much bigger hit.
With their lengthy and wildly successful career, the Beasties are one of only a handful of rappers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Five Best #93 Peaks:
1 So What’cha Want, Beastie Boys (1992)
2 The Hillbillies, Kendrick Lamar & Baby Keem (2023)
3 Fear Inoculum, Tool (2019)
4 Dancing On My Own, Calum Scott (2017)
5 Killah, Lady Gaga featuring Gesaffelstein (2025)
Other Notables: Nightrain, Guns N Roses (1989); Kiss and Make Up, Dua Lipa & Blackpink (2018); Nothing Really Matters, Madonna (1999); Bobby, Phoebe Bridgers (2026); Crazy Beautiful Life, Kesha (2010)
#92: Psycho Killer, Talking Heads (1978)
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Talking Heads made their first chart appearance when “Psycho Killer” edged into the Hot 100 in 1978.
Singer David Byrne says he imagined Alice Cooper doing a Randy Newman-style song, and somehow, he pulled off that unusual template with the hooky new wave-ish track.
The Five Best #92 Peaks:
1 Psycho Killer, Talking Heads (1978)
2 The Birds Don’t Sing, Clipse featuring John Legend and Voices of Fire (2025)
3 You Keep Me Hangin’ On, Wilson Pickett (1969)
4 Vivir Mi Vida, Marc Anthony (2013)
5 Into the Great Wide Open, Tom Petty (1991)
Other Notables: Death of a Bachelor, Panic! at the Disco (2016); Falling to Pieces, Faith No More (1990); Soft and Wet, Prince (1978); Maybach Music 2, Rick Ross featuring Kanye West, T-Pain & Lil Wayne (2009); Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John & RuPaul (1994); Border Song, Elton John (1970); It’s Nice to Have a Friend, Taylor Swift (2019); Homemade Dynamite, Lorde featuring Khalid, Post Malone & SZA (2017); Nick of Time, Bonnie Raitt (1990); Moondance, Van Morrison (1977); Stick That in Your Country Song, Eric Church (2020); Check My Brain, Alice in Chains (2009)
#91: Kids, MGMT (2009)
Of the three brilliant singles from psych-rock duo MGMT’s debut album Oracular Spectacular, only “Kids” reached the Hot 100, peaking at #91 after “Time to Pretend” and “Electric Feel” fell just short of the chart.
The song’s Tetris-like synth riff made it an immediate earworm, so it’s surprising that Top 40 radio didn’t embrace the tune. “Kids” was a Top 10 hit on the Alternative charts and earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.
Interestingly, just a year later, rap duo Chiddy Bang sampled “Kids” in their song “Opposite of Adults” and reached one notch higher, peaking at #90.
The Five Best #91 Peaks:
1 Kids, MGMT (2009)
2 Once in a Lifetime (Live), Talking Heads (1986)
3 Love is Strong, Rolling Stones (1994)
4 Let Down, Radiohead (2025)
5 Video Games, Lana Del Rey (2012)
Other Notables: Come Into My World, Kylie Minogue (2003); Stranger in Moscow, Michael Jackson (1997); Dear Hate, Maren Morris & Vince Gill (2017)
#90: Closer, Tegan & Sara (2013)
Canadian twin sisters Tegan & Sara were one of the more prominent acts of the ’00s indie rock scene, performing at rock festivals and earning cred on music blogs with guitar-based tracks like “Walking With a Ghost,” “Seventeen,” and “Back in Your Head.”
But they never had a mainstream hit. So in 2012, they made a conscious effort to go pop, with the release of their Heartthrob album. Built around synths, the insanely catchy lead single “Closer” became a moderate hit, achieving Gold status and hitting #1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
The Five Best #90 Peaks:
1 Closer, Tegan & Sara (2013)
2 Only, Nine Inch Nails (2005)
3 Opposite of Adults, Chiddy Bang (2010)
4 Shut Up and Kiss Me, Mary Chapin Carpenter (1994)
5 DJ Play a Christmas Song, Cher (2024)
Other Notables: When I’m Gone, Alesso & Katy Perry (2022); Frederick, Patti Smith Group (1979); The Woman in Me, Shania Twain (1995); I Found Someone, Laura Branigan (1986); Happy Now, Zedd & Elley Duhe (2018); Mood 4 Eva, Beyonce, Jay-Z & Childish Gambino featuring Oumou Sangare (2019); Untitled 07 | 2014-2016, Kendrick Lamar (2016)
#89: Barbra Streisand, Duck Sauce (2011)
NYC-based electronic duo Duck Sauce scored an unlikely hit in 2011 with the quirky, mostly-instrumental “Barbra Streisand.” The song essentially takes Boney M.’s 1979 song “Gotta Go Home,” removes the vocals, and adds in a repetitive voice speaking the name “Barbra Streisand.”
The disco-house track became a hit online and in clubs. “Barbra Streisand” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording, but lost to Skrillex.
The Five Best #89 Peaks:
1 Barbra Streisand, Duck Sauce (2011)
2 Aqua Boogie, Parliament (1979)
3 Smack My B—- Up, the Prodigy (1998)
4 Galileo, Indigo Girls (1992)
5 Old Phone, Ed Sheeran (2025)
Other Notables: All Kinds of Kinds, Miranda Lambert (2013); When Your Heart Stops Beating, +44 (2006); Let Love Rule, Lenny Kravitz (1990); Victorious, Panic! at the Disco (2016); Daylight, Taylor Swift (2019)
#88: Gold Lion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2006)
Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs earned a ton of buzz with their 2004 debut album and single “Maps,” which reached #87 on the Hot 100. Their second album produced the hit “Gold Lion,” which landed one spot lower at #88, but is a superior track.
“Gold Lion” has a somewhat slow tempo, with piercing vocals and guitars that helped make it a Top 15 hit on Alternative Rock radio. Karen’s yelping vocals on the hook are what really make the song soar.
The Five Best #88 Peaks:
1 Gold Lion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2006)
2 No Money, Galantis (2016)
3 The Old Apartment, Barenaked Ladies (1997)
4 Famous Last Words, My Chemical Romance (2007)
5 Only If…, Enya (1998)
Other Notables: Gold, Prince (1995); Big Time Sensuality, Bjork (1994); Don’t Know Much, Bill Medley (1981); One of Me, Lil Nas X (2021)
#87: The Breaks, Kurtis Blow (1980)
“The Breaks” was among the first few rap songs ever to reach the Hot 100, and it was the very first rap to earn Gold certification. When Kurtis performed it on Soul Train, it became the first live performance of a rap song on national tv.
Kurtis returned to the Hot 100 one other time, with “Basketball” in 1984, a #71 peak. His music has been sampled by Nas, Lauryn Hill, Next, and many others.
The Five Best #87 Peaks:
1 The Breaks, Kurtis Blow (1980)
2 Body and Soul, Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse (2011)
3 Maps, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2004)
4 Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?, Shania Twain (1995)
5 You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), Jimmy Somerville (1990)
Other Notables: Friends, Whodini (1985); The Hardest Part of Breaking Up (Is Getting Back Your Stuff), 2Ge+her (2000); I’m Just Ken, Ryan Gosling (2023)
#86: I’m Not Okay (I Promise), My Chemical Romance (2005)
Gerard Way and his My Chemical Romance bandmates captured the angst of teens everywhere with the sing-along chorus of “I’m Not Okay,” one of the most prominent songs of the ’00s emo-pop-punk era.
Somehow the track only reached #86 on the pop chart, but it helped the band’s album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge go triple-platinum and set the stage for its even bigger follow-up, The Black Parade.
The Five Best #86 Peaks:
1 I’m Not Okay (I Promise), My Chemical Romance (2005)
2 Hate to Say I Told You So, the Hives (2002)
3 Overprotected, Britney Spears (2002)
4 Pop Song 89, R.E.M. (1989)
5 Talk, Coldplay (2006)
Other Notables: Don’t Stop Me Now, Queen (1979); Drink, Swear, Steal & Lie, Michael Peterson (1997); More Bounce to the Ounce, Zapp (1980)
#85: Celebrity Skin, Hole (1998)
With guitar work from co-writer Billy Corgan, compelling vocals from Courtney Love, and crisp production from Michael Beinhorn, “Celebrity Skin” became one of Hole’s signature tracks.
It was Hole’s only chart-topper on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and it earned two Grammy nominations. The group’s next single, “Malibu,” did just a touch better, reaching #81.
The Five Best #85 Peaks:
1 Celebrity Skin, Hole (1998)
2 First of the Year (Equinox), Skrillex (2012)
3 These Arms of Mine, Otis Redding (1963)
4 Song for the Lonely, Cher (2002)
5 My Friends Over You, New Found Glory (2002)
Other Notables: Supernatural Superserious, R.E.M. (2008); Lost Boys, Phoebe Bridgers (2026); Marry You, Bruno Mars (2011); Zombieboy, Lady Gaga (2025); Humility, Gorillaz featuring George Benson (2018); Did I Shave My Legs for This?, Deana Carter (1998)
#84: 1901, Phoenix (2010)
“1901” is one of those songs that feels like it was a way bigger hit than it actually was. The bubbly song appeared in commercials, and Phoenix delivered live performances of the tune at numerous concert festivals and on tv shows.
Most recently, Phoenix performed the song as part of the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Paris. This song is just never going away — and it shouldn’t.
The Five Best #84 Peaks:
1 1901, Phoenix (2010)
2 Runnin’ With the Devil, Van Halen (1978)
3 Take a Walk, Passion Pit (2013)
4 Earth Intruders, Bjork (2007)
5 The Ghost of You, My Chemical Romance (2006)
Other Notables: No Roots, Alice Merton (2018); Wish I Knew You, Revivalists (2017); Horses and Divorces, Kacey Musgraves & Miranda Lambert (2026); Loose Booty, Sly & the Family Stone (1974); Englishman in New York, Sting (1988); I’m Bad, LL Cool J (1987); Burn Rubber, Gap Band (1981); I Heard it Through the Grapevine, California Raisins (1988)
#83: Coal Miner’s Daughter, Loretta Lynn (1970)
The #83 position had notable peaks from some massive stars, from Michael Jackson to Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen. But the best of the bunch was “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” the autobiographical tale from Loretta Lynn that described her experience growing up in the Great Depression.
The song became the country music legend’s signature song. Loretta Lynn is one of the country artists who deserve induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Five Best #83 Peaks:
1 Coal Miner’s Daughter, Loretta Lynn (1970)
2 Sandstorm, Darude (2001)
3 Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Bruce Springsteen (1976)
4 No One Else on Earth, Wynonna (1992)
5 Good Morning Gorgeous, Mary J. Blige (2022)
Other Notables: All I Want is You, U2 (1989); Good Music, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1986); Hope of Deliverance, Paul McCartney (1993); Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Theme from Cheers), Gary Portnoy (1983); One More Chance, Michael Jackson (2003); Shy Boy, Bananarama (1983); Walk, Foo Fighters (2011)
#82: Novacane, Frank Ocean (2011)
Alt-R&B star Frank Ocean’s first charting single was 2011’s “Novacane,” a wild lyrical ride about lust, decadence, youthful indiscretion, and self-destruction. It earned acclaim on numerous year-end lists from Pitchfork, Spin, and Rolling Stone.
Ocean would go on to become a superstar a year later, with the release of the Grammy-winning Channel Orange album and its Top 40 hit “Thinkin Bout You.”
The Five Best #82 Peaks:
1 Novacane, Frank Ocean (2011)
2 Kick Out the Jams, MC5 (1969)
3 Friends of P., the Rentals (1995)
4 Juice, Lizzo (2019)
5 Wherever I May Roam, Metallica (1992)
Other Notables: Maria, Blondie (1999); La Perla, Rosalia (2025); I’m in a Philly Mood, Daryl Hall (1993); Trustfall, Pink (2023); Another Postcard (Chimps), Barenaked Ladies (2003); Open Letter (To a Landlord), Living Colour (1989); Not a Dry Eye in the House, Meat Loaf (1996); Cowboy, Kid Rock (1999)
#81: Alright, Kendrick Lamar (2015)
Kendrick Lamar’s acclaimed 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly was a huge commercial success. Yet somehow, its four charting singles didn’t light up the charts. “i,” the lead single, got to #39, while the other three tracks failed to hit the Top 40.
“Alright” settled at #81, even though it won two Grammy Awards and earned a Song of the Year nomination. Gaining new significance during the Black Lives Matter protests, the song was named the best track of the 2010s decade by Pitchfork. Lamar performed it at the 2022 Super Bowl.
The Five Best #81 Peaks:
1 Alright, Kendrick Lamar (2015)
2 I Will Follow, U2 (1984)
3 Mame, Louis Armstrong (1966)
4 Sheena is a Punk Rocker, the Ramones (1977)
5 Malibu, Hole (1999)
Other Notables: My Kink is Karma, Chappell Roan (2024); (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To, Weezer (2009); Perfect Celebrity, Lady Gaga (2025); Graceland, Paul Simon (1987); I Lost on Jeopardy, Weird Al Yankovic (1984); For the Cool in You, Babyface (1993); Theme From Superman, London Symphony Orchestra & John Williams (1979); Sexcrime, Eurythmics (1984); Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008, Michael Jackson & Akon (2008)
#80: Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry (1958)
Here’s another asterisk. With its iconic “Go Johnny go!” hook, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” was a legit Top 10 hit, but its success just barely pre-dated the official Billboard Hot 100.
When the Hot 100 formally launched in August 1958, “Johnny B. Goode” was on its way down the chart, and spent a single week at #80, so that serves as its official chart peak. Berry was one of the most influential figures in rock and roll history, and this was one of his signature songs.
The Five Best #80 Peaks:
1 Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry (1958)
2 All Too Well, Taylor Swift (2012)
3 Chocolate, the 1975 (2014)
4 Ivy, Frank Ocean (2016)
5 Setting Sun, Chemical Brothers (1997)
Other Notables: Back to the Hop, Danny & the Juniors (1961); The Governor’s Waltz, Phoebe Bridgers (2026); My My My!, Troye Sivan (2018); Nookie, Limp Bizkit (1999)
#79: Jeremy, Pearl Jam (1995)
“Jeremy,” the grunge hit based on a troubled teen who took his life at school, could’ve been a Top 20 hit in 1992, but despite dominating radio and MTV, it was not released as a commercial single.
The official single release didn’t come until 1995, when the track inched up to #79. The gripping song remains perhaps Pearl Jam’s most famous track and appears on numerous “Greatest Rock Songs” lists.
The Five Best #79 Peaks:
1 Jeremy, Pearl Jam (1995)
2 Crawling, Linkin Park (2001)
3 Hey Hey My My (Into the Black), Neil Young (1979)
4 My Maria, Brooks & Dunn (1996)
5 I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On, Cherrelle (1984)
Other Notables: One of Your Girls, Troye Sivan (2023); Heavy is the Crown, Linkin Park (2025); Por Esos Ojos, Fuerza Regida (2025); I Cannot Believe It’s True, Phil Collins (1983); It Ain’t My Fault, Brothers Osbourne (2017); If You Asked Me To, Patti LaBelle (1989); Where the Green Grass Grows, Tim McGraw (1998); Minstrel in the Gallery, Jethro Tull (1975); Am I the Same Girl, Barbara Acklin (1969); Papercuts, Machine Gun Kelly (2021); On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons (2014)
#78: High and Dry, Radiohead (1996)
Radiohead singer Thom Yorke would disagree with this selection. In a 2016 interview, Yorke said of the song, “it’s very bad.” Perhaps that explains why the band never performed “High and Dry” live after 1998.
But for the millions of listeners who were blown away by the group’s 1995 album The Bends, “High and Dry” remains an essential track. A complete left turn from their grunge-influenced debut smash “Creep,” “High and Dry” embraces acoustic guitars and an intimate vocal that soars into falsetto on the beautiful hook. Accept it, Thom. You wrote a fantastic song.
The Five Best #78 Peaks:
1 High and Dry, Radiohead (1996)
2 Radio Free Europe, R.E.M. (1983)
3 The New Pollution, Beck (1997)
4 Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.), Motley Crue (1990)
5 Beautiful Trauma, Pink (2018)
Other Notables: Alright, Jamiroquai (1997); At the Stars, Better Than Ezra (1999); Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Warrant (1991); America’s Suitehearts, Fall Out Boy (2009); Kick Push, Lupe Fiasco (2006); Hey Stoopid, Alice Cooper (1991); Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, Madonna (1996)
#77: You Know I’m No Good, Amy Winehouse (2008)
One of the many memorable songs on Amy Winehouse’s 2007 masterpiece Back to Black, “You Know I’m No Good” was a vibrant retro-soul number that should’ve charted higher than it did.
Released in March 2007, “You Know I’m No Good” reached its peak chart position a full year later after she performed it on the 2008 Grammys as part of a medley with “Rehab.” The song re-entered at #77 following her memorable Grammy wins. Rapper Ghostface Killah appeared on a remix of the song, but wasn’t credited by Billboard on the chart.
The Five Best #77 Peaks:
1 You Know I’m No Good, Amy Winehouse (2008)
2 Rush, Troye Sivan (2023)
3 Can You Feel It, the Jacksons (1981)
4 The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage, Panic! at the Disco (2006)
5 Emo Girl, Machine Gun Kelly featuring Willow (2022)
Other Notables: I Can Love You Better, the Chicks (1998); Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), My Chemical Romance (2010); The House of the Rising Sun, Dolly Parton (1981); Pussycat, Missy Elliott (2003)
#76: Seven Nation Army, White Stripes (2003)
Here’s another alt-rock song that became legendary thanks to rock radio and MTV, yet never dominated the pop chart. Jack and Meg White had become household names with 2001’s White Blood Cells, but it wasn’t until 2003’s Elephant that they cracked the Hot 100.
“Seven Nation Army,” which NME notes was chosen as the lead single at Jack’s insistence, over the objections of his label, became the duo’s most memorable song with its bass-sounding guitar riff. It remains one of the most popular songs played at sporting events worldwide.
The Five Best #76 Peaks:
1 Seven Nation Army, White Stripes (2003)
2 To Be Young, Gifted and Black, Nina Simone (1970)
3 Chop Suey!, System of a Down (2002)
4 Hey Man Nice Shot, Filter (1995)
5 The Rockafeller Skank, Fatboy Slim (2000)
Other Notables: I Melt With You, Modern English (1990); How High the Moon, Ella Fitzgerald (1960); Deeper Well, Kacey Musgraves (2024); I Disappear, Metallica (2000); When Love Takes Over, David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland (2009); Brown Skin Girl, Beyonce, Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn & Wizkid (2019); One Night Standards, Ashley Mcbryde (2020); Make it Right, BTS featuring Lauv (2019)
#75: By Your Side, Sade (2001)
It takes a special act to earn constant love and acclaim despite only releasing six albums in 40 years. Sade is that artist. “By Your Side” is simply a gorgeous love song with beautiful synth pulses complementing an acoustic guitar.
Sade was nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Though she wasn’t chosen, she and her band will likely earn induction someday.
The Five Best #75 Peaks:
1 By Your Side, Sade (2001)
2 One Step Closer, Linkin Park (2001)
3 Talkin’ Bout a Revolution, Tracy Chapman (1988)
4 Crush, Dave Matthews Band (1999)
5 Sweetness, Jimmy Eat World (2002)
Other Notables: Tin Man, Miranda Lambert (2017); You Win Again, Bee Gees (1987); The Story, Brandi Carlile (2007); m.A.A.d. city, Kendrick Lamar (2014); Talk Talk, Talk Talk (1982); Baby Grand, Billy Joel with Ray Charles (1987); Soul Train ’75, Soul Train Gang (1976)
#74: My Generation, The Who (1966)
The Who’s “My Generation” was one of the first great hits showcasing teenage angst. Singer Roger Daltry and songwriter Pete Townshend played the role of the rebellious youth taking on close-minded older folks, with the unforgettable line “I hope I die before I get old.”
It was basically a punk rock song 10 years before punk rock became a thing. “My Generation” reached #2 in the group’s native U.K., but only #74 in the U.S., as the Who hadn’t yet become regulars on the charts.
The Five Best #74 Peaks:
1 My Generation, The Who (1966)
2 Message in a Bottle, the Police (1979)
3 Human, Rag’n’Bone Man (2017)
4 Private Idaho, B-52s (1980)
5 Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, Outkast (1994)
Other Notables: Why Don’t You Get a Job?, the Offspring (1999); (If You’re Not in it for Love) I’m Outta Here, Shania Twain! (1996); It Matters to Me, Faith Hill (1996); Break Every Rule, Tina Turner (1987); Paying the Price of Love, Bee Gees (1993)
#73: Give it Away, Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)
Lots of ’90s alt-rock songs were huge hits on alternative radio, but failed to climb into the pop Top 40, even though they went on to become iconic songs. “Give it Away” is an obvious example.
Perfectly capturing the funk-rock energy the Chili Peppers were known for early in their careers, “Give it Away” won a Grammy in 1993, and the group even performed it at the ceremomy with George Clinton.
The Five Best #73 Peaks:
1 Give it Away, Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992)
2 Possession, Sarah McLachlan (1994)
3 Mama, Genesis (1983)
4 I Don’t Like Mondays, Boomtown Rats (1980)
5 You Raise Me Up, Josh Groban (2004)
Other Notables: Speed Drive, Charli XCX (2024); Love Me More, Sam Smith (2022); If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night), Meshell Ndegeocello (1994); Change, Tears for Fears (1983)
#72: Midnight City, M83 (2012)
The three best #72 peaks all come from the year 2012, and I give the edge to French band M83, for the synth-tastic “Midnight City.” Though the verses of the track are nothing special, the instrumental hook is downright glorious.
Along with Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory,” which came out around the same time, “Midnight City” deserves credit for bringing back that long-forgotten staple of ’80s pop music — the saxophone solo, which ends the song on a euphoric high.
The Five Best #72 Peaks:
1 Midnight City, M83 (2012)
2 Shake it Out, Florence + the Machine (2012)
3 No Church in the Wild, Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream (2012)
4 Don’t Give Up, Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush (1987)
5 Delta Dawn, Tanya Tucker (1972)
Other Notables: Send Me On My Way, Rusted Root (1995); Babe, Sugarland featuring Taylor Swift (2018); Millennium, Robbie Williams (1999); Where the Streets Have No Name/Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Pet Shop Boys (1991)
#71: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles (1978)
How is it possible that the title track from perhaps the greatest album in rock & roll history only reached #71? As you may have guessed, it’s here on a technicality.
The Beatles didn’t issue any singles from that famous album when it came out in 1967. Eleven years later, when the ill-fated Sgt. Pepper movie starring the Bee Gees was released, EMI decided to issue the title track as a single for the first time. The song did receive some airplay, but couldn’t advance beyond #71, as the Beatles had already been broken up for nearly a decade.
The Five Best #71 Peaks:
1 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles (1978)
2 Tennis Court, Lorde (2013)
3 Rockit, Herbie Hancock (1983)
4 Countdown, Beyonce (2011)
5 No More Tears, Ozzy Osbourne (1992)
Other Notables: Celebration, Madonna (2009); The Rock Show, Blink-182 (2001); Pictures of You, the Cure (1990); Rosealia, Better Than Ezra (1995); Deep River Woman, Lionel Richie & Alabama (1987); Basketball, Kurtis Blow (1984)
#70: Controversy, Prince (1981)
“Am I black or white? / Am I straight or gay? / Do I believe in God? / Do I believe in me?,” Prince asked on “Controversy,” the title track and lead single from his fourth album.
This was a year before Prince blew up into the mainstream with “1999.” At this point, Prince was still viewed as a talented but mystifying oddball. He leaned into that perception and intentionally left questions unanswered on “Controversy,” while delivering a catchy and memorable funk rock melody.
The Five Best #70 Peaks:
1 Controversy, Prince (1981)
2 Learning to Fly, Pink Floyd (1987)
3 Breathe, Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul (2003)
4 Do I Wanna Know?, Arctic Monkeys (2014)
5 Father of Mine, Everclear (1998)
Other Notables: Suburbia, Pet Shop Boys (1987); I Will Possess Your Heart, Death Cab for Cutie (2008); My Baby You, Marc Anthony (2000); The Pill, Loretta Lynn (1975); Jerk it Out, Caesars (2005); Toxicity, System of a Down (2002); Fashion, David Bowie (1981); Posse on Broadway, Sir Mix-a-Lot (1989); Ultraviolence, Lana Del Rey (2014)
#69: It’s the End of the World as We Know It, R.E.M. (1988)
R.E.M. helped usher in the era of “college rock” in the 1980s, which became modern rock and alternative in the 1990s. The band scored numerous hits that peaked between #41 and #100, as they gained rock radio airplay but stalled at pop radio.
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It” somehow only managed to reach #69, but it has become one of their most famous songs, with its rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness lyrics.
The Five Best #69 Peaks:
1 It’s the End of the World as We Know It, R.E.M. (1988)
2 I Got You Babe, Etta James (1968)
3 Californication, Red Hot Chili Peppers (2000)
4 Homecoming, Kanye West featuring Chris Martin (2008)
5 Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, Skrillex (2012)
Other Notables: Guerrilla Radio, Rage Against the Machine (1999); We’ve Got it Goin’ On, Backstreet Boys (1995); How Bad Do U Want Me, Lady Gaga (2025); Can You Feel the Beat, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force (1985); Jack Sparrow, Lonely Island featuring Michael Bolton (2011); Hole in the World, Eagles (2003)
#68: Blue Monday 1988, New Order (1988)
“How… does it feel?,” goes the famous opening line, a monotone voice set against a vibrant electronic backdrop. Though it’s now a dance music classic, New Order’s “Blue Monday” did not enter the Hot 100 upon its initial release in 1983.
The song was revived in 1988 by legendary producer Quincy Jones, who helped remix the track. The re-release got to #68 and topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
The Five Best #68 Peaks:
1 Blue Monday 1988, New Order (1988)
2 Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel (1977)
3 Float On, Modest Mouse (2004)
4 When Love Comes to Town, U2 & BB King (1989)
5 Eminence Front, the Who (1983)
Other Notables: Brian Wilson, Barenaked Ladies (1998); Love Like Winter, AFI (2007); Shots, LMFAO featuring Lil Jon (2010); I Wanna Rock, Twisted Sister (1984); I’m Like a Lawyer With the Way I’m Always Trying to Get You Off, Fall Out Boy (2007); Trouble, Pink (2003); Lights, Journey (1978); It’s Good to Be King, Tom Petty (1995); 57 Channels (And Nothin’ On), Bruce Springsteen (1992)
#67: Only You, Yazoo (1983)
Known as Yaz in the U.S., the British group Yazoo created a memorable track with “Only You,” a song of love and regret written by band member Vince Clarke, who was also in Depeche Mode.
The bubbling synths contrasted with the husky vocals from singer Alison Moyet. The tune reached #2 in the U.K., and later made an unforgettable appearance in the dramatic final scene of the British version of The Office.
The Five Best #67 Peaks:
1 Only You, Yazoo (1983)
2 Foxey Lady, Jimi Hendrix (1968)
3 Carolina in My Mind, James Taylor (1970)
4 Pets, Porno for Pyros (1993)
5 At Last, Beyonce (2009)
Other Notables: Teenagers, My Chemical Romance (2007); If I Was Your Girlfriend, Prince (1987); Schism, Tool (2001); Candy Everybody Wants, 10,000 Maniacs (1993); I Kissed a Girl, Jill Sobule (1995); The Walker, Fitz & the Tantrums (2014); I Drive Myself Crazy, N Sync (1999); Thunderclouds, LSD (2018); DNA, BTS (2017); Fall to Pieces, Velvet Revolver (2004); I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto, 2 Pac (1997)
#66: The Blacker the Berry, Kendrick Lamar (2015)
The Black Lives Matter movement had not yet started in 2015, but Kendrick Lamar was already offering pointed commentary on racism, hatred, police brutality, and the tragic Trayvon Matrin killing on “The Blacker the Berry.”
On perhaps his most fiery performance ever, Lamar raps, “It’s evident that I’m irrelevant to society/ That’s what you’re telling me, penitentiary would only hire me.” The song was part of one of the more memorable performances in Grammy history, when Lamar appeared on stage in shackles in a prison set.
The Five Best #66 Peaks:
1 The Blacker the Berry, Kendrick Lamar (2015)
2 These Are Days, 10,000 Maniacs (1992)
3 Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand (2004)
4 Fat Lip, Sum 41 (2001)
5 Goodbye My Lover, James Blunt (2006)
Other Notables: Sexy MF, Prince (1992); Anna Molly, Incubus (2006); I’m Afraid of Americans, David Bowie (1997); Big in Japan, Alphaville (1985); Pressure, Ari Lennox (2022); Lick it Up, Kiss (1983); Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney (2018)
#65: Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix (1967)
Top 40 radio stations were not ready for Jimi Hendrix’s remarkable guitar virtuosity in the mid 1960s, and perhaps that helps explain why Hendrix rarely cracked the charts. In fact, he reached the Top 20 only once, with his cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.”
Released just after his unforgettable performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, “Purple Haze” at least managed to make the Hot 100, landing at #65 with “The Wind Cries Mary” as the flipside. It remains a certified classic today.
The Five Best #65 Peaks:
1 Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix (1967)
2 Forever Young, Alphaville (1988)
3 Walking On a Dream, Empire of the Sun (2016)
4 A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me, Fall Out Boy (2006)
5 E-Pro, Beck (2005)
Other Notables: Times Like These, Foo Fighters (2003); Video Phone, Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga (2009); Silent All These Years, Tori Amos (1997); Conviction of the Heart, Kenny Loggins (1991); Goodbye to You, Scandal (1982)
#64: Lithium, Nirvana (1992)
Kurt Cobain and Nirvana changed the course of music forever with their grunge masterpiece Nevermind and lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which became a Top 10 hit despite its heavy sound.
By the album’s third single, “Lithium,” pop radio airplay had dropped, but rock stations gave the song enough attention to push it to #64. The song was a huge MTV hit, thanks to its positively explosive chorus, which made it one of Nirvana’s best songs.
The Five Best #64 Peaks:
1 Lithium, Nirvana (1992)
2 Rebel Rebel, David Bowie (1974)
3 Low, Cracker (1994)
4 Pork and Beans, Weezer (2008)
5 Put Your Records On, Corinne Bailey Rae (2006)
Other Notables: Hot Mess, Cobra Starship (2009); Lonely Boy, Black Keys (2011); Beautiful Now, Zedd featuring Jon Bellion (2015); I Am Not a Woman, I’m a God, Halsey (2021); Tequila Sunrise, the Eagles (1973); Ghost Town, Adam Lambert (2015)
#63: The Weight, the Band (1968)
“I pulled in to Nazareth / Was feelin’ ’bout half past dead,” sings Levon Helm of the Band on the familiar opening of “The Weight.” The track successfully blends rock, country, and gospel elements, with a unique, in-the-round hook.
Odd fact: Jackie DeShannon, Aretha Franklin, and Diana Ross all recorded covers of the song that charted higher than the Band’s original.
The Five Best #63 Peaks:
1 The Weight, the Band (1968)
2 Higher Love, Kygo & Whitney Houston (2019)
3 Merry Go Round, Kacey Musgraves (2013)
4 Turning Tables, Adele (2011)
5 D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Tammy Wynette (1968)
Other Notables: Music is My Hot Hot Sex, CSS (2007); Breezin’, George Benson (1976); Soon You’ll Get Better, Taylor Swift featuring the Chicks (2019); Girl, So Confusing, Charli XCX with Lorde (2024); Bang the Drum All Day, Todd Rundgren (1983); Hold On, Good Charlotte (2004); Request Line, Black Eyed Peas featuring Macy Gray (2001); Sweetest Thing, U2 (1998); Remind Me to Forget, Kygo & Miguel (2018); End of the Line, Traveling Wilburys (1989); Go Away, Weezer featuring Best Coast (2026); Coney Island, Taylor Swift featuring the National (2020)
#62: The Message, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (1982)
Here’s another rap song from the ’80s that didn’t chart highly, but still became a legendary track. A lot of early hip hop hits were party music, but “The Message” brought social commentary to the genre.
In its seven minutes, the song packs in observations about poverty, homelessness, drugs, prostitution, inner city crime, the failing educational system, and economic inflation, before ending with a scene in which Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are arrested by the police for no obvious reason. “The Message” still resonates because it was way ahead of its time.
The Five Best #62 Peaks:
1 The Message, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (1982)
2 I Want Candy, Bow Wow Wow (1982)
3 Electricity, Silk City featuring Dua Lipa (2019)
4 Surrender, Cheap Trick (1978)
5 Kiss it Better, Rihanna (2016)
Other Notables: Music Sounds Better With You, Stardust (1998); I Know What Boys Like, the Waitresses (1982); Wild Wild West, Kool Moe Dee (1988); Ilomilo, Billie Eilish (2019); One More Time, Blink-182 (2023); Falling, Harry Styles (2019); Breakfast in America, Supertramp (1980); Sex (I’m A…), Berlin (1983); Red Red Wine, Neil Diamond (1968)
#61: One More Time, Daft Punk (2001)
The #61 peak position has one of the most extensive lists of great rock songs, but I have to choose “One More Time,” one of the greatest songs ever to come from the techno / EDM era.
The helmet-wearing robots of Daft Punk created an unstoppable anthem by ingeniously chopping up a sample from an obscure Eddie Johns song called “More Spell on You” and adding in Romanthony’s computerized vocals. This duo should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The Five Best #61 Peaks:
1 One More Time, Daft Punk (2001)
2 American Idiot, Green Day (2004)
3 Paranoid, Black Sabbath (1970)
4 Laid, James (1994)
5 Where It’s At, Beck (1996)
Other Notables: The Fly, U2 (1991); One Vision, Queen (1986); Around the World, Daft Punk (1997); Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy, the Tams (1968); Hang Tight Honey, Lainey Wilson (2024); Bringin’ on the Heartbreak, Def Leppard (1984); Kerosene, Miranda Lambert (2006); Edging, Blink-182 (2022); Broken Wing, Martina McBride (1997)
#60: Jolene, Dolly Parton (1974)
Though it somehow didn’t rise very far on the Hot 100. “Jolene” hit #1 on the Country chart and remains one of the great songs in the history of country music, helping to cement Dolly Parton’s legacy as a legend.
Dolly wrote the melodramatic classic herself. Famously, she has claimed that she wrote “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day, though she later clarified that she’s not sure about that — they were together on the same demo cassette, but might have been written a few days apart.
The Five Best #60 Peaks:
1 Jolene, Dolly Parton (1974)
2 Levels, Avicii (2012)
3 Leaving Las Vegas, Sheryl Crow (1994)
4 Follow Your Arrow, Kacey Musgraves (2014)
5 Say Amen (Saturday Night), Panic! at the Disco (2018)
Other Notables: Soul Meets Body, Death Cab for Cutie (2005); Wish You Were Here, Incubus (2001); Dark Fantasy, Kanye West (2010); Standing Room Only, Tim McGraw (2023); Sexual Healing, Max-A-Million (1995); The Emperor’s New Clothes, Sinead O’Connor (1990); Who We Be, DMX (2001); Scatman, Scatman John (1995); Swing, Swing, All-American Rejects (2003); Caught a Lite Sneeze, Tori Amos (1996); Bad Boys, Wham! (1983); Bat Country, Avenged Sevenfold (2006); Black Sweat, Prince (2006)
#59: Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen (2016)
“Hallelujah” is simply one of the greatest songs ever written. Leonard Cohen’s lyrics were gripping, mystical, and spiritual, yet vague enough for the listener to see just about anything they want in its words.
The song never charted when it was released in 1984, but it broke the Hot 100 after Cohen’s passing in 2016. Dozens of prominent artists have tried their hand at remaking it, including John Cale, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, and kd lang.
The Five Best #59 Peaks:
1 Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen (2016)
2 Pursuit of Happiness, Kid Cudi featuring Ratatat & MGMT (2009)
3 Girls & Boys, Blur (1994)
4 March of the Pigs, Nine Inch Nails (1994)
5 Fix You, Coldplay (2005)
Other Notables: Upgrade U, Beyonce featuring Jay-Z (2006); Listen to Her Heart, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1978); Tearin’ Up My Heart, N Sync (1998); Make Up Sex, Machine Gun Kelly x Blackbear (2022); Casual, Chappell Roan (2024); Crazy Bitch, Buckcherry (2006); Pops, We Love You, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & Stevie Wonder (1979); Come On Get Higher, Matt Nathanson (2009)
#58: Man in Black, Johnny Cash (1971)
Johnny Cash was already known as the Man in Black before 1971, so he wrote a song playing into that persona which explained that his decision not to wear colors is all about protest.
“I wear black for the poor and beaten down / Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,” Cash sings. He goes on to mention other groups of people for whom he wears black, including prisoners, the sick and lonely, atheists, and, most notably, soldiers who died in the Vietnam War.
The Five Best #58 Peaks:
1 Man in Black, Johnny Cash (1971)
2 What’s My Age Again?, Blink-182 (1999)
3 The Metro, Berlin (1983)
4 Sorry, Madonna (2006)
5 Turn it On Again, Genesis (1980)
Other Notables: King Kunta, Kendrick Lamar (2015); Doll Parts, Hole (1995); The Way I Am, Eminem (2000); Unsent, Alanis Morissette (1999); Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been, Relient K (2006); All You Zombies, the Hooters (1985); Always and Forever, Luther Vandross (1995); Mexican Radio, Wall of Voodoo (1983); Friday, Rebecca Black (2011); Forget Me, Lewis Capaldi (2023)
#57: Undone – The Sweater Song, Weezer (1994)
Many people aren’t aware that before Weezer took over the alt-rock world in 1994 with their catchy “Buddy Holly” song and its MTV-ready music video, the band actually issued “Undone – The Sweater Song” as its first single.
“Undone” got to #6 on Alternative rock radio, but was a little too weird for pop stations. It’s still a Weezer fan favorite and one of the standout tracks on the Blue Album.
The Five Best #57 Peaks:
1 Undone – The Sweater Song, Weezer (1994)
2 Clint Eastwood, Gorillaz (2001)
3 It’s Tricky, Run DMC (1987)
4 Diamonds are Forever, Shirley Bassey (1972)
5 Babylon, David Gray (2001)
Other Notables: Passionate Kisses, Mary Chapin Carpenter (1993); Wheel in the Sky, Journey (1978); Scenario, A Tribe Called Quest (1992); Grace Kelly, Mika (2007); Daysleeper, R.E.M. (1998); The Downeaster Alexa, Billy Joel (1990); My House, Beyonce (2023); Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (1988); Strong Enough, Cher (1999); Give Me the Reason, Luther Vandross (1986); Evermore, Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver (2020); I’m Not a Player, Big Pun (1997); Dangerously in Love, Beyonce (2004)
#56: Rock Lobster, the B-52’s (1980)
Potential future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the B-52’s created a masterpiece with “Rock Lobster,” a peppy song with a delicious quirkiness and a distinct Yoko Ono vibe.
In fact, John Lennon famously said “Rock Lobster” inspired him to come back to music in 1980 after five years off. The world may never have gotten Lennon’s final album, Double Fantasy, had it not been for “Rock Lobster.”
The Five Best #56 Peaks:
1 Rock Lobster, the B-52’s (1980)
2 Hot for Teacher, Van Halen (1984)
3 I Am the Walrus, Beatles (1967)
4 Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top (1983)
5 Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon (2008)
Other Notables: I’m on a Boat, Lonely Island featuring T-Pain (2009); Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy), Big & Rich (2004); Ready to Go, Republica (1996); House of Fire, Alice Cooper (1990); New Slaves, Kanye West (2013); You Send Me, Aretha Franklin (1968); Make it Sweet, Old Dominion (2019); Jam on It, Newcleus (1984); Right Beside You, Sophie B. Hawkins (1994); Money, Money, Money, ABBA (1977)
#55: Let’s Spend the Night Together, Rolling Stones (1967)
In 1967, it was still edgy to suggest spending the night together with someone in a song, so the Rolling Stones didn’t get as much radio play as they should have with this track, causing it to stall at #55.
On The Ed Sullivan Show, the group was famously required to change the words to “let’s spend some time together,” to make the song less suggestive. And as recently as 2006, the Chinese government refused to allow the Stones to perform this song (as well as four others) due to their lyrical content.
The Five Best #55 Peaks:
1 Let’s Spend the Night Together, Rolling Stones (1967)
2 Only Happy When it Rains, Garbage (1996)
3 Right Now, Van Halen (1992)
4 Rosa Parks, Outkast (1999)
5 Molly (Sixteen Candles), Sponge (1995)
Other Notables: Shut Up and Let Me Go, Ting Tings (2008); Dry Spell, Kacey Musgraves (2026); Megalomaniac, Incubus (2004); She Don’t Use Jelly, Flaming Lips (1995); Monsters, All Time Low featuring Blackbear (2021); 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready), Lizzo (2022); Anything, Jay-Z (2000); Sweetener, Ariana Grande (2018); Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny (2022); Little Red Wagon, Miranda Lambert (2015)
#54: And She Was, Talking Heads (1985)
The #54 position is an odd one, as there weren’t any iconic songs that peaked in this spot. There were a number of solid, underrated tracks, though. The list is headed by the Talking Heads’ “And She Was,” which charted in the fall of 1985.
The quirky and catchy song cracked the Top 20 in the UK and even appeared on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.
The Five Best #54 Peaks:
1 And She Was, Talking Heads (1985)
2 Steady As She Goes, Raconteurs (2006)
3 Set the Fire to the Third Bar, Snow Patrol featuring Martha Wainwright (2010)
4 Perfect, Smashing Pumpkins (1998)
5 Here Comes the Hammer, MC Hammer (1991)
Other Notables: Way Less Sad, AJR (2021); Say Yes to Heaven, Lana Del Rey (2023); But It’s Alright, Huey Lewis & the News (1994); Girl in a Country Song, Maddie & Tae (2014); Your Love is King, Sade (1985); Listen Like Thieves, INXS (1986)
#53: New Year’s Day, U2 (1983)
U2 had numerous songs stop short of the Top 40 over the years. “New Year’s Day” was their first charting single in America, introducing the group as an innovative rock band with thoughtful lyrics.
Among the group’s other noteworthy songs that peaked between #41 and #100: “I Will Follow” (#81, 1984); “In God’s Country” (#44, 1987); “When Love Comes to Town” with BB King (#68, 1989); “The Fly” (#61, 1991); and “Electrical Storm” (#77, 2002.)
The Five Best #53 Peaks:
1 New Year’s Day, U2 (1983)
2 I Will Always Love You, Dolly Parton (1982)
3 Peek-A-Boo, Siouxsie & the Banshees (1988)
4 If I Ruled the World, Nas featuring Lauryn Hill (1996)
5 Amish Paradise, Weird Al Yankovic (1996)
Other Notables: Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), the Offspring (1999); Angels, Robbie Williams (2000); When You Say Nothing at All, Alison Krauss & Union Station (1995); Bang Bang, David Sanborn (1992); I Called Mama, Tim McGraw (2020); Handclap, Fitz & the Tantrums (2017); If I Was a Cowboy, Miranda Lambert (2022); Boom! There She Was, Scritti Politti & Roger (1988); Let’s Try it Again, New Kids on the Block (1990); I.O.U., Lee Greenwood (1983); Luv 4 Luv, Robin S. (1993)
#52: Iron Man, Black Sabbath (1972)
Generally considered the first noteworthy heavy metal band, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Black Sabbath created several classics, from “Paranoid” to “War Pigs.”
“Iron Man” was the group’s highest-charting pop single. Rolling Stone referred to the song and Tony Iommi’s guitar riff as both “ominous” and “colossal” — a fitting description of the band’s entire catalogue, for that matter.
The Five Best #52 Peaks:
1 Iron Man, Black Sabbath (1972)
2 The Rising, Bruce Springsteen (2002)
3 The Bad Touch, Bloodhound Gang (2000)
4 Closer to Fine, Indigo Girls (1989)
5 Used to Love You, Gwen Stefani (2015)
Other Notables: Push It, Garbage (1998); The Call, Backstreet Boys (2001); Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, U2 (2001); Gunpowder & Lead, Miranda Lambert (2008); The Bird’s the Word, the Rivingtons (1963); Girls Chase Boys, Ingrid Michaelson (2014); Special, Lizzo (2023); Special, Garbage (1999); Let’s Pretend We’re Married, Prince (1984); Circles Around This Town, Maren Morris (2022); End of the World, Miley Cyrus (2025)
#51: Stan, Eminem featuring Dido (2000)
“Stan” is simply one of the greatest rap songs of all-time. Eminem’s gripping tale of an obsessed fan was so impactful that it created a brand new term for the hardcore music fan. Em’s increasingly unhinged verses, screamed from the perspective of the fan, contrast nicely with the sample of Dido’s voice.
Eminem’s version of “Stan” at the Grammys with Elton John remains one of the most talked-about performances in the award show’s history.
The Five Best #51 Peaks:
1 Stan, Eminem featuring Dido (2000)
2 Somebody Told Me, the Killers (2004)
3 Hard to Handle, Otis Redding (1968)
4 Landslide (Live), Fleetwood Mac (1998)
5 Fidelity, Regina Spektor (2007)
Other Notables: Electric Boogie, Marcia Griffiths (1990); My Own Worst Enemy, Lit (1999); Never Can Say Goodbye, Communards (1988); Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody, Kid ‘N Play (1992); Africa, Weezer (2018); This, Darius Rucker (2011); Tornado, Little Big Town (2013); Apple, Charli XCX (2024); Who’s That Chick?, David Guetta featuring Rihanna (2011); So Good, Halsey (2022); Perfect Situation, Weezer (2006); Like a Wrecking Ball, Eric Church (2015); Chantaje, Shakira featuring Maluma (2017); The Saints are Coming, U2 & Green Day (2006); Evergreen, Omar Apollo (2022); Ruthless People, Mick Jagger (1986); Nine in the Afternoon, Panic! at the Disco (2008)
#50: Can’t Truss It, Public Enemy (1991)
Like NWA, Public Enemy emerged in the late ’80s with a hip hop sound and message that were more hardcore and combative than the rappers who had come before. Songs like “Fight the Power” and “911 is a Joke” paired social commentary with hip hop beats, but few pop stations were comfortable playing those tracks.
By 1991, audiences were familiar enough with Public Enemy that the group was able to earn its first Hot 100 hit. Chuck D said, “‘Can’t Truss It’ is about how the corporate world of today is just a different kind of slavery. We don’t control what we create. And because of the media, we don’t control the way we think or run our lives.”
Public Enemy are one of the few rappers inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame.
The Five Best #50 Peaks:
1 Can’t Truss It, Public Enemy (1991)
2 I Want it All, Queen (1989)
3 Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Brooks & Dunn (1992)
4 A Little Less Conversation, Elvis Presley vs JXL (2002)
5 Somewhere Only We Know, Keane (2005)
Other Notables: Bloody Valentine, Machine Gun Kelly (2020); My Church, Maren Morris (2016); Axel F, Crazy Frog (2005)
#49: What I Like About You, Romantics (1980)
“What I Like About You” is one of those long-term success stories of a song that never cracked the Top 40 but became a classic over the decades.
It got more attention throughout the ’80s as MTV kept playing the video, and then surged in popularity after appearing in Budweiser commercials.
Today, the song is even more popular than the Romantics’ biggest hit, “Talking in Your Sleep,” which got to #3 in 1984. The Romantics happen to be one of my choices of the best two-hit wonders in music history.
The Five Best #49 Peaks:
1 What I Like About You, Romantics (1980)
2 Tie Your Mother Down, Queen (1977)
3 Tempted, Squeeze (1981)
4 (There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me, Lou Johnson (1964)
5 There She Goes, the La’s (1991)
Other Notables: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Beatles (1976); Hold My Hand, Lady Gaga (2022); You’ve Got a Way, Shania Twain (1999); IDGAF, Dua Lipa (2018); American Woman, Lenny Kravitz (1999); Mexico, James Taylor (1975); Smile, Lily Allen (2007); Only Love, Sophie B. Hawkins (1996); Heaven’s on Fire, Kiss (1984); Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince, Taylor Swift (2019); Have a Heart, Bonnie Raitt (1990)
#48: Yellow, Coldplay (2001)
When Coldplay arrived, many compared their sound to The Bends-era Radiohead. Coldplay ended up charting a very different music path over the next 25 years, but it’s to see why critics saw promise in “Yellow,” the group’s first U.S. hit.
The unapologetically earnest tone of the track and Chris Martin’s beautiful falsetto helped it hit the Top 10 on the Alternative Songs chart. It is now one of Coldplay’s most well-known songs.
The Five Best #48 Peaks:
1 Yellow, Coldplay (2001)
2 Smalltown Boy, Bronski Beat (1985)
3 Games Without Frontiers, Peter Gabriel (1980)
4 People Get Ready, Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart (1985)
5 Dirrty, Christina Aguilera featuring Redman (2002)
Other Notables: Brass Monkey, Beastie Boys (1987); Street Fighting Man, Rolling Stones (1968); Not Fade Away, Rolling Stones (1964); Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow, Rivingtons (1962); Desperately Wanting, Better Than Ezra (1997); Baby Can I Hold You, Tracy Chapman (1988); Baby Don’t Hurt Me, David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray (2023)
#47: At Last, Etta James (1961)
One of the most famous torch ballads of all-time, “At Last” was actually written way back in 1941 for the movie Sun Valley Serenade. But no matter who sings it, from Beyonce to Christina Aguilera, no one can touch the definitive Etta James version from 1961.
James’ powerful voice helped her score a string of hits and earned her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “At Last” ranks as one of the greatest soul songs in music history.
The Five Best #47 Peaks:
1 At Last, Etta James (1961)
2 Highway to Hell, AC/DC (1979)
3 Shout, Isley Brothers (1959)
4 Rock and Roll, Led Zeppelin (1972)
5 Greased Lightnin’, John Travolta (1978)
Other Notables: Mad Woman, Taylor Swift (2020); Concrete Angel, Martina McBride (2003); Video, India.Arie (2001); Backwater, Meat Puppets (1994); What You Waiting For?, Gwen Stefani (2004); Prisoner, the Weeknd & Lana Del Rey (2015); Like a Surgeon, Weird Al Yankovic (1985); Anything Could Happen, Ellie Goulding (2012)
#46: It’s Raining Men, Weather Girls (1983)
The post-disco classic “It’s Raining Men” didn’t initially sound like a hit. That’s why Donna Summer, Cher, and Diana Ross all turned it down. Martha Wash and Izora Armstead recorded it, changed their names to the Weather Girls, and the rest was history.
“It’s Raining Men” earned a Grammy nomination and hit #1 on the Dance Club Play songs chart, ultimately going on to become an anthem.
The Five Best #46 Peaks:
1 It’s Raining Men, Weather Girls (1983)
2 Rebel Yell, Billy Idol (1984)
3 Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne (2025)
4 Human Nature, Madonna (1995)
5 Chattahoochee, Alan Jackson (1993)
Other Notables: The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get, Morrissey (1994); Hello, Martin Solveig & Dragonette (2011); X Gon’ Give it to Ya, DMX (2021); The Perfect Drug, Nine Inch Nails (1997); Clothes Off!, Gym Class Heroes featuring Patrick Stump (2007); Heather, Conan Gray (2020); America, Prince (1985); To Die For, Sam Smith (2020); Fire, Bruce Springsteen (1987); Free Mind, Tems (2022); Bitter Tears, INXS (1991); Wrapped Up in You, Garth Brooks (2001)
#45: Should I Stay or Should I Go, the Clash (1982)
Influential punk rockers the Clash earned their biggest chart breakthrough in the U.S. with their 1982 album Combat Rock, which put a radio-friendly spin on their music.
After “Rock the Casbah” shot into the Top 10, follow-up single “Should I Stay or Should I Go” peaked at #45. The track appears on many lists of the best rock songs of all-time. It was re-released in Britain in 1991 after appearing in a Levi’s commercial, and got to #1 in the U.K. as a result.
The Five Best #45 Peaks:
1 Should I Stay or Should I Go, the Clash (1982)
2 Little Lion Man, Mumford & Sons (2011)
3 Handle with Care, Traveling Wilburys (1988)
4 Supermodel (You Better Work), RuPaul (1993)
5 I Want to Break Free, Queen (1984)
Other Notables: Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), Baz Luhrmann (1999); 6 Underground, Sneaker Pimps (1997); Somebody’s Crying, Chris Isaak (1995); Weird Science, Oingo Boingo (1985); Go West, Village People (1979); The Cup of Life, Ricky Martin (1999); I Wanna B With U, Fun Factory (1995); At the Beginning, Donna Lewis & Richard Marx (1997); Breathe, Anna Nalick (2006); Am I the Same Girl?, Swing Out Sister (1992); Hot Hot Hot, Buster Poindexter (1988); Love on Your Side, Thompson Twins (1983); You Know You’re Right, Nirvana (2002); O-H-I-O, Ohio Players (1977); Theme From Charlie’s Angels, Henry Mancini (1977); Welcome to My Nightmare, Alice Cooper (1975); My Head & My Heart, Ava Max (2021)
#44: Fade Into You, Mazzy Star (1994)
As Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Soundgarden were dominating radio with aggressive grunge rock songs, Santa Monica alt-rock band Mazzy Star went in the other direction, with a down-tempo tune built around Hope Sandoval’s dreamy vocals.
The track hit #3 on the rock radio charts, but somehow stopped at #44 on the Hot 100. “Fade Into You” is said to have influenced Lana Del Rey’s vocal style, and the song is still referenced as a comparison point whenever a female artist records a slow song with a dreamy vocal, like Taylor Swift’s “Lover.”
The Five Best #44 Peaks:
1 Fade Into You, Mazzy Star (1994)
2 Cannonball, Breeders (1994)
3 Tom Sawyer, Rush (1981)
4 Can You Stand the Rain, New Edition (1989)
5 Centerfield, John Fogerty (1985)
Other Notables: Forget Me Too, Machine Gun Kelly featuring Halsey (2020); Record Year, Eric Church (2016); Let Me Talk, Earth, Wind & Fire (1980); Hero, David Crosby & Phil Collins (1993); She’s All I Wanna Be, Tate McRae (2022); Dusk Till Dawn, Zayn featuring Sia (2017)
#43: Diamonds From Sierra Leone, Kanye West (2005)
For the first 10 years of his career, Kanye West truly was a genius. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” was a textbook example, as he turned Shirley Bassey’s 1971 Bond theme “Diamonds are Forever” and Outkast’s “Forever ever?” lyric into the hook of a brand new song.
“Diamonds From Sierra Leone” was actually released as the lead single from West’s 2005 album Late Registration, but its #43 peak paled in comparison to its legendary #1 follow-up single, “Gold Digger.”
The Five Best #43 Peaks:
1 Diamonds From Sierra Leone, Kanye West (2005)
2 Machinehead, Bush (1996)
3 In Your Love, Tyler Childers (2023)
4 Selling the Drama, Live (1994)
5 The Anthem, Good Charlotte (2003)
Other Notables: Popular, the Weeknd, Playboy Carti & Madonna (2023); I’m Alright, Jo Dee Messina (1998); Dura, Daddy Yankee (2018); The Worst, Jhene Aiko (2014); Two Tribes, Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984)
#42: You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Rolling Stones (1973)
The Stones are one of only four acts (along with New Order, Kendrick Lamar, and Talking Heads) to occupy multiple positions on this list. They’re the only group to hold down three spots, coming in at #97 with “Sympathy for the Devil,” #55 with “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and #42 with “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
Originally the B-side of “Honky Tonk Women” in 1969, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was re-released in 1973 and just missed the Top 40. The mid-tempo track has an unusual opening, with choir chants, before opening into a celebratory groove featuring French horn, church organ, congas, and maracas. It’s now regarded as one of the best rock songs in history.
The Five Best #42 Peaks:
1 You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Rolling Stones (1973)
2 I Miss You, Blink-182 (2004)
3 Torn, Natalie Imbruglia (1998)
4 Badlands, Bruce Springsteen (1978)
5 Touch the Sky, Kanye West featuring Lupe Fiasco (2006)
Other Notables: Dreams, Cranberries (1994); Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson (1978); Shimmer, Fuel (1998); Betty, Taylor Swift (2020); Lego House, Ed Sheeran (2013); Blood on the Dance Floor, Michael Jackson (1997); These Are My People, Rodney Atkins (2007); Dreamboat Annie, Heart (1977); Seventeen Forever, Metro Station (2009); Coming Down from Love, Bobby Caldwell (1980)
#41: Tiny Dancer, Elton John (1972)
The #41 position is by far the most competitive position on this list. More than a dozen legendary songs stopped in the #41 spot, just missing the Top 40.
With apologies to Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, and the Cars, Elton John deserves this spot for “Tiny Dancer,” which somehow became an all-time classic despite its mediocre chart position.
Part of the reason it didn’t get enough radio play was its 6:12 running time. But today, that length adds to its appeal, as the listener gets to enjoy two and a half minutes of colorful, picture-painting lyrics before getting the payoff of that first chorus.
The Five Best #41 Peaks:
1 Tiny Dancer, Elton John (1972)
2 Closer, Nine Inch Nails (1994)
3 Changes, David Bowie (1975)
4 Wide Open Spaces, the Chicks (1998)
5 Daddy Lessons, Beyonce (2016)
Other Notables: Good Times Roll, the Cars (1979); You Should See Me in a Crown, Billie Eilish (2019); 360, Charli XCX (2024); Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Kanye West (2007); Pretty in Pink, Psychedelic Furs (1986); Bloody Mary, Lady Gaga (2023); 12 to 12, Sombr (2026); La Grange, ZZ Top (1974); Plastic Off the Sofa, Beyonce (2022); Okie from Muskogee, Merle Haggard (1970); Something’s Always Wrong, Toad the Wet Sprocket (1994); Ease On Down the Road, Diana Ross & Michael Jackson (1978); Play That Song, Train (2017); Overpass Graffiti, Ed Sheeran (2021); Superbowl Shuffle, Chicago Bears Shufflin’ Crew (1986); Workin’ for a Livin’, Huey Lewis & the News (1982)
The 40 Best Songs That Never Reached the Top 40
I like the irony of doing a Top 40 countdown for songs that never hit the Top 40. So here they are, the very best songs which peaked between 41 and 100.
Imagine the voice of Casey Kasem reading out these titles as you scroll.
This is entirely my subjective opinion. Feel free to leave a comment with your own personal list!
40. Only You, Yazoo (#67, 1983)
39. Chop Suey!, System of a Down (#76, 2002)
38. Smalltown Boy, Bronski Beat (#48, 1985)
37. I Miss You, Blink-182 (#42, 2004)
36. To Be Young, Gifted and Black, Nina Simone (#76, 1970)
35. (Night Time Is) The Right Time, Ray Charles (#95, 1959)
34. New Year’s Day, U2 (#53, 1983)
33. Psycho Killer, Talking Heads (#92, 1978)
32. Controversy, Prince (#70, 1981)
31. You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Rolling Stones (#42, 1973)
30. Jeremy, Pearl Jam (#79, 1995)
29. Paranoid, Black Sabbath (#61, 1970)
28. Give it Away, Red Hot Chili Peppers (#73, 1992)
27. Hard to Handle, Otis Redding (#51, 1968)
26. What I Like About You, Romantics (#49, 1980)
25. It’s the End of the World As We Know It, R.E.M. (#69, 1988)
24. Fade Into You, Mazzy Star (#44, 1994)
23. Yellow, Coldplay (#48, 2001)
22. The Message, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (#62, 1982)
21. I’m Not Okay, My Chemical Romance (#86, 2005)
20. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles (#71, 1978)
19. Lithium, Nirvana (#64, 1992)
18. Changes, David Bowie (#41, 1975)
17. Closer, Nine Inch Nails (#41, 1994)
16. American Idiot, Green Day (#61, 2004)
15. Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stones (#97, 2003)
14. Somebody Told Me, the Killers (#51, 2004)
13. Shout, Isley Brothers (#47, 1959)
12. Seven Nation Army, White Stripes (#76, 2003)
11. Stan, Eminem featuring Dido (#51, 2000)
10. One More Time, Daft Punk (#61, 2001)
9. Highway to Hell, AC/DC (#47, 1979)
8. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry (#80, 1958)
7. Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix (#65, 1967)
6. The Weight, the Band (#63, 1968)
5. Jolene, Dolly Parton (#60, 1974)
4. Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen (#59, 2016)
3. Iron Man, Black Sabbath (#52, 1972)
2. At Last, Etta James (#47, 1961)
1. Tiny Dancer, Elton John (#41, 1972)
I’m going with “Tiny Dancer,” one of the most enduring pop songs of the 1970s, as the best song in history to chart outside the Top 40.
What would you choose as the best song never to reach the Billboard Top 40?
Last Updated on September 11, 2026