Some popular songs get stuck in your head for days. Others stay there for weeks. These 10 songs deserve to be stuck in your head for years. This comprehensive list of the 10 most popular songs of all time comes from Rolling Stone. Check out all 10 (plus a video for your listening pleasure) below.
Number Ten: Ray Charles – What I’d Say. “What I’d Say” was released in 1959. It spent 15 weeks on the charts and peaked at number six.
Number Nine: Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit. Nirvana’s anthemic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was written by Kurt Cobain and was released in 1991. It spent 20 weeks on the charts and peaked at number six.
Number Eight: The Beatles – Hey Jude. The ever-iconic “Hey Jude” was released in August of 1968. It spent 19 weeks on the chart and peaked at number one.
Number Seven: Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode. “Johnny B. Goode,” one of the first ever rock and roll songs glorifying stardom, was released in 1958. It spent 15 weeks on the charts and peaked at number eight.
Number Six: The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations. “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys was released in 1966 and spent 14 weeks on the chart. It peaked at number one.
Number Five: Aretha Franklin – Respect. This karaoke classic by Aretha Franklin was actually written by Otis Redding. It was released in 1967 and spent 12 weeks on the charts, peaking at number one.
Number Four: Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On. Soul crooner Marvin Gaye released “What’s Going On” in 1971. It spent 13 weeks on the charts and peaked at number two.
Number Three: John Lennon – Imagine. Imagine a world without “Imagine” – you probably can’t. This song spent a mere nine weeks on the charts and peaked at number three.
Number Two: The Rolling Stones – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. This song that rejects complacency was released in 1965. It spent 14 weeks on the charts, peaking at number one. Now there’s something satisfying.
Number One: Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone. Finally, at number one we have Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” More poetry than song, “Like a Rolling Stone” was released in 1965. It spent 12 weeks on the charts and peaked at number two. Dylan had just turned 24 when he wrote it.
