What’s a great song? It’s not necessarily something we can define, but we know a great song when we hear one. Great songs never get old. They endure throughout the years, enjoyed by listeners new and old — despite changing music tastes and trends.
The best songs become musical touchstones, embedded so deeply in our culture that it’s impossible to imagine a world without them. Not only did they prove hugely successful upon release — frequently shooting up the music charts — but they’ve also permeated society in the years since, featuring prominently on radio, in movies, and being covered by other artists.
24/7 Tempo has determined the 100 absolute best songs of all time based on numerous metrics, including Billboard performance, number of cover versions, and recognition among music fans and professional critics.
While all musical genres were considered for this list, rock and roll accounts for many of those listed. Rock music has proved tremendously popular since its inception. Furthermore, artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys helped push the boundaries of not just of rock and roll, but popular music, too. These bands are now considered to be among the best ever. These are the most popular rock bands of all time.
The 1960s seem to have been the peak of creativity in popular music. While the list features songs from every decade from the 1950s through the 2000s, more than half charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 popular music chart in the 1960s. The work of artists active during that decade is held in higher esteem than most other artists active in other decades. These are the most famous musicians born the year you were born.
Regardless of release date, these are the songs that have both commercial as well as critical appeal, captivating music fans, reviewers, and performers.
Click here to see the 100 absolute best songs in history.
To determine the 100 best songs in history, 24/7 Tempo generated an index based on rankings on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and performance on Ranker.com’s user-generated list of the best songs. The number of times the song has been covered by other artists, as well as whether or not it was included — and, if so, its rank — on “Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list were also considered.
To be considered for inclusion, a song must have both charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and be included on Ranker.com’s list of the best songs of all time. How well a song performed on the Billboard Hot 100 was determined by awarding points based on the number of weeks it charted and its rank for each week. Data on the estimated number of times a song has been covered was provided by SecondHandSongs. Performers were not permitted to have more than three songs included on the list so as to increase variety. Songs performed under multiple names were not counted for the same tally, however. For instance “The Beatles” and “John Lennon” were counted as separate artists.
Source: David Redfern / Getty Images
100. Gimme Little Sign
> Artist: Brenton Wood
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 12, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: RB / Getty Images
99. Wild Thing
> Artist: The Troggs
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 25, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
98. Little Sister
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 21, 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
97. Red Rubber Ball
> Artist: The Cyrkle
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 21, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
96. Glad All Over
> Artist: The Dave Clark Five
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 15, 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Jim Dyson / Getty Images
95. The Old Man Down The Road
> Artist: John Fogerty
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 22, 1984
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
94. Ring of Fire
> Artist: Johnny Cash
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 1, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
93. White Room
> Artist: Cream
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 5, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
92. Love Is All Around
> Artist: The Troggs
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 24, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
91. Poison Ivy
> Artist: The Coasters
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 24, 1959
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
90. King of the Road
> Artist: Roger Miller
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 30, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
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Source: RB / Getty Images
89. In the Year 2525
> Artist: Zager & Evans
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 21, 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
88. My Boyfriend’s Back
> Artist: The Angels
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 3, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Mark Reinstein / Getty Images
87. Low Rider
> Artist: War
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 20, 1975
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
86. Eight Miles High
> Artist: The Byrds
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: April 9, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
Source: David Redfern / Getty Images
85. Duke of Earl
> Artist: Gene Chandler
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 13, 1962
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
84. You Got It
> Artist: Roy Orbison
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 21, 1989
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
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Source: Courtesy of Madison Records
83. Harlem Nocturne
> Artist: The Viscounts
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 28, 1959
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 29
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
82. Soldier Boy
> Artist: The Shirelles
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 24, 1962
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Vantage
81. Heart of Gold
> Artist: Neil Young
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 5, 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
80. Carrie-Anne
> Artist: The Hollies
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 17, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
79. La Bamba
> Artist: Ritchie Valens
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 29, 1958
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
78. You Don’t Own Me
> Artist: Lesley Gore
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 28, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
77. Summertime Blues
> Artist: Eddie Cochran
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 4, 1958
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
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Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
76. The Boys Are Back In Town
> Artist: Thin Lizzy
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 15, 1976
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 17
Source: mrmin123 / Flickr
75. Bullet With Butterfly Wings
> Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Nov. 11, 1995
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
74. He’s So Fine
> Artist: The Chiffons
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 23, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: RB / Getty Images
73. Baby Blue
> Artist: Badfinger
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 25, 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 10
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
72. The Letter
> Artist: The Box Tops
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 12, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
71. Incense and Peppermints
> Artist: Strawberry Alarm Clock
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 30, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Source: Express / Getty Images
70. Apache
> Artist: Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 23, 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 17
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
69. Venus
> Artist: The Shocking Blue
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 13, 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
68. Go All the Way
> Artist: Raspberries
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 1, 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
67. Whole Lotta Love
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Nov. 22, 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: Samir Hussein / Getty Images
66. Spill the Wine
> Artist: Eric Burdon And War
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 23, 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
65. Magic Carpet Ride
> Artist: Steppenwolf
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 5, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
64. 96 Tears
> Artist: ? & The Mysterians
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 3, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
63. Crying
> Artist: Roy Orbison
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 14, 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 16
Source: Fin Costello / Getty Images
62. Stray Cat Strut
> Artist: Stray Cats
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 25, 1982
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
61. Mr. Tambourine Man
> Artist: The Byrds
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 15, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: David Redfern / Getty Images
60. War
> Artist: Edwin Starr
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 11, 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
59. The Wanderer
> Artist: Dion
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 4, 1961
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
Source: Scott Gries / Getty Images
58. Seven Nation Army
> Artist: The White Stripes
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 24, 2003
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
Source: Topical Press Agency / Getty Images
57. Rock Around the Clock
> Artist: Bill Haley And His Comets
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 16, 1974
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Wikimedia Commons
56. Time Has Come Today
> Artist: The Chambers Brothers
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 10, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Central Press / Getty Images
55. Hello, I Love You
> Artist: The Doors
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 6, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
54. Purple Haze
> Artist: Jimi Hendrix
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 26, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 0
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Source: Keystone / Getty Images
53. I Can See for Miles
> Artist: The Who
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 14, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
52. Bird Dog
> Artist: The Everly Brothers
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 4, 1958
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
Source: Express / Getty Images
51. People Are Strange
> Artist: The Doors
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 23, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
50. Black Dog
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 25, 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
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Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
49. Suzie Q
> Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 7, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
48. Cathy’s Clown
> Artist: The Everly Brothers
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: April 18, 1960
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 17
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
47. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)
> Artist: The Byrds
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 23, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
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Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
46. Rock The Casbah
> Artist: The Clash
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 2, 1982
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 24
Source: William Lovelace / Getty Images
45. Like A Rolling Stone
> Artist: Bob Dylan
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 24, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
44. Johnny B. Goode
> Artist: Chuck Berry
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 4, 1958
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 1
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Source: P.B. Rage / Wikimedia Commons
43. Come as You Are
> Artist: Nirvana
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 21, 1992
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
Source: David Redfern / Getty Images
42. Whip It
> Artist: Devo
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 30, 1980
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
Source: Tucker Ranson / Getty Images
41. Black Magic Woman
> Artist: Santana
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Nov. 14, 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
40. Let’s Dance
> Artist: David Bowie
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 26, 1983
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
39. You Were on My Mind
> Artist: We Five
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 24, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Watson / Getty Images
38. All Day and All of the Night
> Artist: The Kinks
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 26, 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 12
Source: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com
37. Loser
> Artist: Beck
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 29, 1994
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 24
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
36. Happy Together
> Artist: The Turtles
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 11, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief: Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Fotopersbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 - negatiefstroken zwart/wit, nummer toegang 2.24.01.05, bestanddeelnummer 919-3036 / Wikimedia Commons
35. I Am a Rock
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 7, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
Source: RCA Records / Getty Images
34. White Rabbit
> Artist: Jefferson Airplane
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 24, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 10
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Source: George Stroud / Getty Images
33. School’s Out
> Artist: Alice Cooper
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 3, 1972
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
32. Proud Mary
> Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 25, 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
31. Rockin’ Robin
> Artist: Bobby Day
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Aug. 4, 1958
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
30. Golden Years
> Artist: David Bowie
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 13, 1975
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 21
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Source: RB / Getty Images
29. Won’t Get Fooled Again
> Artist: The Who
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 17, 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
28. Surfin’ U.S.A.
> Artist: The Beach Boys
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 23, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 25
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
27. For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)
> Artist: Buffalo Springfield
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 28, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: Express / Getty Images
26. Space Oddity
> Artist: David Bowie
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Jan. 27, 1973
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
25. Bridge Over Troubled Water
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 7, 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
24. You Really Got Me
> Artist: The Kinks
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 26, 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
23. Born to Be Wild
> Artist: Steppenwolf
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 13, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
22. All Along the Watchtower
> Artist: Jimi Hendrix
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 21, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 0
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
21. Wipe Out
> Artist: The Surfaris
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 22, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 30
Source: Clive Limpkin / Getty Images
20. I Get Around
> Artist: The Beach Boys
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 23, 1964
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
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Source: Jim Summaria / Wikimedia Commons
19. Immigrant Song
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Nov. 21, 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 13
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
18. Honky Tonk Women
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 19, 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: David Redfern / Getty Images
17. Yesterday
> Artist: The Beatles
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 25, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
Source: Scandore/Shayne / Wikimedia Commons
16. Louie Louie
> Artist: The Kingsmen
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Nov. 9, 1963
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 18
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
15. Let It Be
> Artist: The Beatles
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: March 21, 1970
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Express / Getty Images
14. What a Wonderful World
> Artist: Louis Armstrong
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Feb. 20, 1988
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
13. Bad Moon Rising
> Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 3, 1969
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
12. Somebody to Love
> Artist: Jefferson Airplane
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: April 1, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 15
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
11. Walk, Don’t Run
> Artist: The Ventures
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: July 18, 1960
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 30
Source: Davies / Getty Images
10. Paint It, Black
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: May 14, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 11
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Source: J. Wilds / Getty Images
9. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
> Artist: The Rolling Stones
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 12, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
8. Good Vibrations
> Artist: The Beach Boys
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 22, 1966
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
7. Light My Fire
> Artist: The Doors
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 3, 1967
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 23
Source: Frank Micelotta / Getty Images
6. Hey Ya!
> Artist: Outkast
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 18, 2003
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 32
Source: David Redfern / Getty Images
5. Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel)
> Artist: Roy Orbison
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: June 6, 1960
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 30
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
4. The Sound of Silence
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Nov. 20, 1965
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 14
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Source: Harry Benson / Getty Images
3. Imagine
> Artist: John Lennon
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Oct. 23, 1971
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 9
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit
> Artist: Nirvana
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Dec. 7, 1991
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 20
Source: Parlophone Music Sweden / Wikimedia Commons
1. Hey Jude
> Artist: The Beatles
> Billboard Hot 100 entry date: Sept. 14, 1968
> Total weeks on Billboard Hot 100: 19
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