There's no single "number one song of all time" as it depends on the criteria (sales, charts, critical acclaim, personal taste), but popular contenders include Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" (Rolling Stone's pick), The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" (Billboard's biggest Hot 100 hit), The Beatles' "Hey Jude" (long-running chart success), and Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" (longest-running US #1).
The "number one played song in the world" depends on the metric: The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" is the most-streamed song ever on Spotify (over 5.231 billion streams), while Djo's "End of Beginning" was a top global song recently on Spotify; historically, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best-selling single of all time, and Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" is the biggest-selling single since charts began, but in terms of current global popularity, it's a rotating list with many contenders.
There's no single definitive "top 5," as it's subjective, but major lists often feature classics like Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles' "Hey Jude," and David Bowie's "Heroes," while some modern hits like The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" appear on chart-based lists, showing a blend of critical acclaim and commercial success across different eras.
No, the most recorded song of all time is, in fact, 'Summertime' by George Gershwin. Forget the 4,000 versions of 'Yesterday' and 6,600 recordings of 'Amazing Grace' — 'Summertime' has been recorded no less than 67,591 times by the likes of Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, and Sam Cooke.
According to Guinness World Records, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (1942) is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
The Beatles have the most No. 1 hits among all acts in the chart's history, with 20.
There's no single "catchiest song ever," as it's subjective, but scientific studies often point to Spice Girls' "Wannabe" for quick memorability, while other research highlights anthems like Queen's "We Are the Champions" and novelty hits like Village People's "YMCA", all featuring strong hooks, vocal effort, and memorable melodies that stick in your head. Pop, rock, and even children's songs like "Baby Shark" frequently appear on lists, showing catchiness crosses genres.
The song “One Sweet Day,” by Mariah Carey, which she recorded with Boyz II Men, holds the longest- running number one song in history.
The number one streamed song of all time, primarily on Spotify, is "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd, having surpassed 5 billion streams and holding the top spot over other massive hits like Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" and The Weeknd's "Starboy".
Hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts is the absolute "Olympic Gold Medal" measure for a songwriter. In the Billboard Charts' Hot 100's 57-year history, only Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26) boast more leaders as writers.
The "most successful song" depends on the metric, but Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best-selling single by physical copies (over 50M), while Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the biggest-selling single since modern charts began (33M), and The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" is Spotify's most-streamed song. In digital sales, Xiao Zhan's "Spotlight" holds the record for downloads, and Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" is the highest-certified single.
Paul McCartney called The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" the greatest song ever written, often citing it as a masterpiece that reduces him to tears and showcases Brian Wilson's genius, though he also holds his own song, "Here, There and Everywhere," as a personal favorite he'd written when pushed. He's also expressed admiration for other songs, like Sting's "Fields of Gold", but "God Only Knows" is the one he famously praised as the "greatest song ever written".
There's no single "number 1 artist of all time" as it's subjective, but Leonardo da Vinci often tops lists for visual art due to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, while The Beatles are frequently cited as the best-selling music group ever, and Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley are often named as top solo music artists by sales and influence. Modern metrics like Spotify streams point to artists like Bad Bunny or Taylor Swift for recent dominance.
500 Greatest Songs
There's no single "best" hype song as it's subjective, but top contenders often cited include classics like Queen's "We Will Rock You", rock anthems like AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", rap bangers like Fort Minor's "Remember the Name" and Kendrick Lamar's "DNA.", and modern stadium hits like Imagine Dragons' "Thunder" and Panic! At The Disco's "High Hopes", with selections depending on genre preference, from stadium rock to hip-hop.
The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band topped the list, with Rolling Stone's editors describing it as "the most important rock 'n' roll album ever made". The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds (1966) was ranked second in recognition of its influence on Sgt.
To get people dancing, use high-energy, universally loved anthems like "Uptown Funk" (Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars), "September" (Earth, Wind & Fire), "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (Whitney Houston), "Don't Stop Believin'" (Journey), or "Dancing Queen" (ABBA), plus modern hits like Lizzo's "About Damn Time" or Dua Lipa's "Levitating", and classics like "Hey Ya!" (Outkast) or "Mr. Brightside" (The Killers). A good mix of decades ensures everyone from older guests to younger crowds finds a song to love.