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Here are the best pop songs of the 21st century, from pop legends Kelis and MIA to 2023 tunes from Madonna and Dua Lipa.
- Andy Kryza
- Kylie Minogue, "Padam Padam" (2023) Why It’s Great: A sly, slow-burning slice of dance-pop seduction, “Padam Padam” found Aussie legend Kylie Minogue delivering an onomatopoeic chorus that became TikTok shorthand for damn near anything (sort of like a Zoomer version of “yadda yadda yadda”) in the summer of 2023.
- The Who, "The Kids Are Alright" (1966) Why It’s Great: The Who’s oft-referenced mod anthem was also an early textbook for later power-pop purveyors — though few of them would’ve started a song with a lyric about trusting their girlfriend to dance with their male friends.
- Martina McBride, "Independence Day" (1993) Why It’s Great: Few ’90s country singles have endured as well as Martina McBride’s rousing revenge story song, about her mother’s declaration of independence from an abusive relationship.
- Frankie Knuckles, "The Whistle Song" (1991) Why It’s Great: The aptly named instrumental is indeed built around perhaps the most inefctious whistle hook you’ve ever heard, an undeniable pop moment for the Chicago house legend.
Our picks for the 500 best pop songs of the Hot 100 era, as well the full story of our No. 1 and a list of the 100 best pop songs to miss the chart.
- “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi Ft. Daddy Yankee
- “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
- “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars
- “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
- “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry Ft. Juicy J
- “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem Ft. Rihanna
- “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars
- “Cheap Thrills” by Sia Ft. Sean Paul
- “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
- “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
Arguably the best Spanish-language pop song, “Despacito” is a mix of Latin pop and reggaeton. The original song was recorded by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee in 2017 for Fonsi’s album Vida. A few months later, a remix was released featuring Justin Bieber. This melodic song has since caught the attention of many listeners. No doubt, you’ve also ...
In 2017, Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape of You” hit the radio airwaves. It was one of the double lead singles on Sheeran’s album, ÷. Winning a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance, it’s only right to include it on our list. “Shape of You” has a simple but addictive and danceable beat to support the lyrics. At its core, the song is about a budding romance betw...
While the prior examples are a bit slower, Mark Ronson‘s “Uptown Funk” is more upbeat. The song, a cross between pop and funk, was the lead single in Ronson’s fourth studio album, Uptown Special. Bruno Marsprovided the lead vocals for the song. “Uptown Funk” is fun to dance and sing along to. The lyrics encourage the listeners to get into the groov...
In 2013, OneRepublic released its third studio album, Native. The most successful single from the album is “Counting Stars.” The song features a slow and steady beat, plus a big crescendo to the song’s climax during the chorus. In the lyrics, the singer is struggling financially. His goal is to provide for his love to the point that they will be “c...
Another one of the best pop songs of all time comes from Katy Perry. “Dark Horse” was released in 2013 from Perry’s fourth album, Prism. She collaborated with American rapper Juicy J who did the intro and rapped the bridge. “Dark Horse” sounds almost ethereal, with lyrics warning a man to stay away from the singer or she’d be his last. The lyrics, ...
Up next on our list is a pop-rap song by Eminem featuring Rihanna. “Love the Way You Lie” was released in 2010 from Eminem’s album, Recovery. It’s safe to assume that Eminem chose Rihanna to sing the chorus because of their similar experiences in difficult relationships. “Love the Way You Lie” tackles an abusive relationship where the couple still ...
Another popular hit from Bruno Mars is “Just the Way You Are,” released in 2010. This was his debut solo single from his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans. The lyrics may appear corny, but what most people like about the song is that it celebrates a woman’s beauty. The singer declares that there’s nothing he’s going to change about her. She’s lovel...
What makes “Cheap Thrills” special is that this was Sia‘s first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The original version was released in 2015. The remix version featuring Sean Paul was released in 2016 in the album This is Acting. “Cheap Thrills” has an almost Caribbean beat that makes it a great dance track. It became super popular after its initial rele...
One of the earliest songs from Lady Gaga is “Bad Romance.” It has become one of the biggest pop hits since its release in 2009 from her album The Fame Monster. There’s a reason why the American Psychological Association considered this song the catchiest in the world. You’ll get addicted to the song’s chorus, hook, and beat. Lyrics-wise, Gaga wrote...
Considered a teen pop and dance-pop song, Carly Rae Jepsen‘s “Call Me Maybe” was released in 2011. The lyrics reflect the inconveniences a girl goes through as she wishes that a new crush would give her a call. “Call Me Maybe” proved to be a hit among listeners, and it’s easy to see why. The song is catchy, with its hook easy to remember. These fac...
- Prince and the Revolution: 'When Doves Cry' (1984) The image of Prince in a bathtub that opens the music video for "When Doves Cry" is one of the most memorable from the golden era of MTV.
- Mariah Carey: 'Fantasy' (1995) "Fantasy," driven by a sample from Tom Tom Club's hit "Genius of Love," was released at the peak of Mariah Carey's commercial success.
- Impressions: 'People Get Ready' (1965) This gospel-influenced classic was written by Curtis Mayfield of the vocal group the Impressions. It only reached No. 14 on the pop singles chart, but its social and political overtones were perfect for the times.
- Bill Haley and His Comets: 'Rock Around the Clock' (1954) There has been a significant amount of discussion through the years about what was actually the first rock-and-roll song.
The Greatest of All-Time Pop Songs Artists and Songs rankings are based on weekly performance on the Pop Songs chart (from its Oct. 3, 1992, inception through Sept. 30, 2017).
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The 1960s marked a significant era for pop music, witnessing the British Invasion with bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who crossing over to international fame. This decade also saw the rise of Motown, a record label that produced iconic pop-soul hits from artists like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder.
