Songs that dominated Billboard charts the longest

Chris Walter/WireImage // Getty Images Every now and then, a new song releases and dominates radio airwaves, Spotify playlists, and, of course, the esteemed Billboard Hot 100 chart–and in terms of those types of hits, 2024 has been pretty impressive. Morgan Wallen and Post Malone’s collaboration “I Had Some Help” became the first major hit of the year. It spent six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was named the official song of the summer. The single was succeeded by another country-pop track, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which spent 19 nonconsecutive weeks at #1 from July to November 2024. The song tied the all-time record Lil Nas X set in 2019 with “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, and became the longest-running #1 of the 2020s. “A Bar Song” was also the first single from a Black male artist to top both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts. Historically, there have been many songs that, for whatever reason, just seem to stick, from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” to Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night.” So today, it’s time to inspect the top 100 songs that dominated the charts the longest. To determine the longest-serving songs, Stacker consulted the Billboard Hot 100 as of Dec. 14, 2024. Songs are ranked by the number of weeks they spent at #1 on the chart, and ties are broken by the number of weeks they spent on the charts in total. Every decade is represented since the Hot 100 came into existence with Bobby Darin’s 1959 serial killer-inspired ballad “Mack the Knife” representing the oldest song on this list. Some songs on the list almost didn’t come to pass. Beyoncé’s breakthrough single “Irreplaceable,” which became an anthem for female empowerment, was written by Ne-Yo from a male perspective and originally intended for country stars Shania Twain or Faith Hill. Others, like “Macarena” and Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” set off cultural phenomena that pushed celebrities and athletes to join the craze. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey is the only artist to have two songs make the top 10. Some tunes represented here were misinterpreted upon release, such as The Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” which was thought to be a love song, but lead singer Sting revealed it was about stalking. Whatever your musical preference, the wide variety of songs that have ruled the Billboard Hot 100 charts will leave you humming a tune in your head. Read on to find out which songs dominated Billboard’s charts the longest. You may also like: 20 hit songs you may not know were written by music icons 100. ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson Kevin Mazur/WireImage // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 25 – Topped the charts from March 5, 1983, to April 16, 1983 The second single from Michael Jackson’s iconic album “Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and its music video became synonymous with the singer’s iconic moonwalk dance. The unimaginable popularity that came from the freeze-frame video and the King of Pop’s slick slide launched a movement that prompted MTV to integrate more Black musicians on its network rather than just white rock bands. The autobiographical song, about a woman who claimed Jackson fathered her child, won two Grammy awards, including Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. “Billie Jean” continues to make headlines today, reaching an all-time high of #145 on Billboard’s global charts in October 2024. 99. ‘Hot in Herre’ by Nelly Scott Gries // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 26 – Topped the charts from June 29, 2002, to Aug. 10, 2002 This turn-of-the-century tune’s classic first line (“I was like, good gracious/ a– is bodacious”) brought Nelly to overnight fame, winning him the Grammy for Best Male Rap Solo Performance in 2003. Nelly worked with the Neptunes on the hit, based on Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers’ 1979 hit “Bustin’ Loose.” Fans streamed the song repeatedly in 2016 to help alleviate Nelly’s $2.4 million tax lien. 98. ‘Black Beatles’ by Rae Sremmurd (feat. Gucci Mane) Josh Sisk/For The Washington Post via Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 27 – Topped the charts from Nov. 26, 2016, to Jan. 14, 2017 The Mannequin Challenge, the 2016 internet video trend where people posed still while playing “Black Beatles” in the background, pushed this hit straight to the top of the Billboard charts. Even Paul McCartney shared his attempt at the challenge to the song, writing on Instagram, “Love those Black Beatles.” In 2018, Forbes reported that “Black Beatles” had sold 6 million units in domestic sales and sales equivalents, which included streams, giving Rae Sremmurd six-time platinum status. In December 2024, the song joined YouTube’s Billions Club, a collection of videos that have amassed over 1 billion views. 97. ‘Thank U, Next’ by Ariana Grande Kevin Mazur // Getty Images for AG – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 28 – Topped the charts from Nov. 17, 2018, to Jan. 5, 2019 In 2019, Ariana Grande admitted to Vogue that she doesn’t remember recording “Thank U, Next” because she was dealing with alcohol abuse and depression following the September 2018 overdose of ex-boyfriend Mac Miller. Recorded a month after Miller’s death, the empowering song lyrics, based on her past romantic relationships, won Grande Favorite Song at the 2019 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. 96. ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love (from ‘Sliver’)’ by UB40 David Corio/Redferns // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 29 – Topped the charts from July 24, 1993, to Sept. 4, 1993 The UB40 version of Elvis Presley’s 1961 original hit song appeared on the soundtrack of “Sliver,” a 1993 Sharon Stone film. As with the Presley remake, UB40 would later find success covering Neil Diamond’s “Red Red Wine,” which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. Though the English reggae band’s debut hit “Food for Thought” gave them initial fame, their rendition of Presley’s song gave them seven straight weeks at the top of America’s music chart. You may also like: The prison soul band that opened for Stevie Wonder 95. ‘Love the Way You Lie’ by Eminem (feat. Rihanna) MARK RALSTON // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 29 – Topped the charts from July 31, 2010, to Sept. 11, 2010 Off of Eminem’s seventh album, “Recovery,” “Love the Way You Lie” won notable awards, including Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the 2010 Soul Train Music Awards, Favorite Music Video and Favorite Song at the 2011 People’s Choice Awards, and earned five Grammy nominations. Eminem reportedly collaborated with Rihanna on the hit since they both had experienced violent domestic relationships. The song has been remade by the View frontman Kyle Falconer (who has struggled with sobriety) and singer Alissa Janine. 94. ‘This Is How We Do It’ by Montell Jordan Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 29 – Topped the charts from April 15, 1995, to May 27, 1995 In May 2019, Minister Montell Jordan switched up the lyrics to his original Def Jam Recordings hit about friends going to a club on the “American Idol” finale. Now a minister, Jordan cut out all the sex- and liquor-themed lyrics, which kept the original hit at #1 for seven weeks. Also the title of Jordan’s first album, “This Is How We Do It” was nominated for the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Grammy in 1996, but “For Your Love” by Stevie Wonder took the prize. 93. ‘Take a Bow’ by Madonna Joan Adlen // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 30 – Topped the charts from Feb. 25, 1995, to April 8, 1995 This Madonna and Babyface collaboration, recorded with a full orchestra, references the title “Take a Bow” in the first verse, but it’s never mentioned again. Along with winning Best Female Video at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, the song was also featured in the Season 1 finale of the ’90s hit television show “Friends,” when Rachel realizes Ross loves her but is now with another woman. 92. ‘Whatever You Like’ by T.I. Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 31 – Topped the charts from Sept. 6, 2008, to Nov. 8, 2008 Everybody liked T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”–produced by the famous Jim Jonsin, aka Jimmy J–so much that it broke the Billboard Hot 100 record in 2008, jumping from #71 to #1 in only a week. The song was included on T.I.’s album “Paper Trail,” so named because he’d penned his lyrics “old-school style” with pen and paper rather than just rapping freestyle in the studio. “Whatever You Like” also became “Weird Al” Yankovic’s only parody song to keep the same name as the original that inspired it. 91. ‘Crank That (Soulja Boy)’ by Soulja Boy Ben Rose/WireImage // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 32 – Topped the charts from Sept. 15, 2007, to Nov. 3, 2007 Originally self-published on Soulja Boy’s YouTube channel, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” would later top the ringtone sales chart. Highsnobiety reported that the “digital age” track, perfect for 10-second splicing, created a craze in addition to holding the #1 spot for seven straight weeks. “He helped to bring back the trend of tying hit rap songs in with [easy-to-learn] dances, something that persists even now,” Highsnobriety wrote. You may also like: Most popular songs from movies 90. ‘Umbrella’ by Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z) Chris Jackson // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 34 – Topped the charts from June 9, 2007, to July 21, 2007 Winning the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Grammy in 2008, “Umbrella” was reportedly not intended for Rihanna but for Britney Spears. And when the latter didn’t want it, it was offered to Mary J. Blige, who also turned it down. Naturally, the Barbadian singer took the song to #1. According to The Guardian, the tune goes down as the 2007 Song of the Summer for nine specific reasons including “the little details, like the splashy hi-hat sound on the first beat of each bar, or the subtle double-tracked vocals on certain words of the chorus.” “Umbrella” has remained an undisputed hit for more than a decade, earning a diamond certification in May 2024, while the music video joined YouTube’s Billions Club in February 2024. 89. ‘Waterfalls’ by TLC Steve Eichner // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 34 – Topped the charts from July 8, 1995, to Aug. 19, 1995 “Waterfalls” is not about cascading rain; it is about drug misuse and HIV. It was also the first song to reference the disease in its lyrics, according to HuffPost. TLC member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas said the band was shocked when the hit beat Michael Jackson to become the first song by a Black artist to win the 1995 MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year. 88. ‘SexyBack’ by Justin Timberlake Michael Buckner // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 7 – Total weeks on chart: 36 – Topped the charts from Sept. 9, 2006, to Oct. 21, 2006 Justin Timberlake told Entertainment Weekly he listened to David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” 15 times the day before he penned “SexyBack,” his first #1 Billboard Hot 100 single. “We really did want to make a statement at that time and do something just a little more bold,” he said of the song, which debuted at #90 on the Billboard Hot 100 before reaching #1 for seven weeks straight. The song, a collaboration with rapper Timbaland, won the 2007 Grammy for Best Dance Recording. 87. ‘Blank Space’ by Taylor Swift Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 21 – Topped the charts from April 25, 1992, to June 13, 1992 The teen duo, “Mac Daddy” and “Daddy Mac,” released this #1 single after being discovered in an Atlanta mall by the famed rapper-producer Jermaine Dupri. Known for wearing their clothing backward while performing, Kris Kross launched a temporary fashion revolution, and their debut single, “Jump,” has gone down in music history as a one-hit-wonder. 76. ‘Every Breath You Take’ by The Police Phil Dent/Redferns // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 22 – Topped the charts from July 9, 1983, to Aug. 27, 1983 After eight weeks at #1, “Every Breath You Take” was named Billboard’s #1 Year-End Hot 100 single of 1983. Frontman Sting surprised everyone when revealed the lyrics were about stalking. “It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn’t realize at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control,” he said, per Smooth. The song was believed to be inspired by Sting’s breakup with his then-wife, Frances Tomelty, as he began a relationship with her best friend and his future wife, Trudie Styler. You may also like: The one-hit wonders every country music fan will remember 75. ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ by Janet Jackson Wayne Wilson // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 23 – Topped the charts from May 15, 1993, to July 3, 1993 Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam wrote this song with Janet Jackson, who had to receive approval from James Brown to sample his song “Papa Don’t Take No Mess.” Other artists sampled on the track include B.T. Express, the Honey Drippers, and Toto. Songfacts reported that the eight-week stint at #1 “is not only longer than any other Janet Jackson single but also longer than any song released by her brother Michael.” 74. ‘Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)’ by Rod Stewart Paul Natkin // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 23 – Topped the charts from Nov. 13, 1976, to Jan. 1, 1977 This Rod Stewart classic quickly reached #1 after debuting at #81, making it the British rock singer’s second Billboard hit off his “A Night on the Town” album. The song’s meaning is clearly laid out in the lyrics: “C’mon, angel, my heart’s on fire/ Don’t deny your man’s desire/ You’d be a fool to stop this tide/ Spread your wings and let me come inside.” The BBC banned that last line before public demand lifted the boycott. 73. ‘Nice for What’ by Drake Jason Kempin // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 25 – Topped the charts from April 21, 2018, to July 14, 2018 Rolling Stone rated this tune the Song of the Summer in 2018, detailing how it debuted at the top and bumped another Drake hit, “God’s Plan,” to take the #1 spot. Sampling “Ex-Factor” by Lauryn Hill, “Nice for What” gained instant popularity for the strong feminist message of its video, which starred some of the entertainment industry’s leading women including Olivia Wilde, Michelle Rodriguez, and Rashida Jones. 72. ‘Fantasy’ by Mariah Carey Scott Gries // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 25 – Topped the charts from Sept. 30, 1995, to Nov. 18, 1995 As the lead single off her fifth album, “Daydream,” “Fantasy” is just one of several #1 songs Mariah Carey would rack up on the Billboard charts over the decades. Similar to the 1981 hit “Genius of Love,” by Tom Tom Club, “Fantasy,” a collaboration with Sean Combs, would become the second song to debut at #1, following Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone.” Carey may be second to Jackson in this conquest, but she is the first woman to debut at #1 on the Hot 100. 71. ‘Crazy in Love’ by Beyonce (feat. Jay-Z) Frank Micelotta // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 27 – Topped the charts from July 12, 2003, to Aug. 30, 2003 With samples from “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)” by the Chi-Lite, “Crazy in Love,” featuring Beyoncé’s then-boyfriend, Jay-Z, would later become the soundtrack to the couple’s first dance when they married in 2008. Rich Harrison, who waited for some time to find the right artist to remix the original 1970 song, produced and played the famous horn riffs and all other instruments used on the track. You may also like: 50 best albums of the 21st century, according to critics 70. ‘Drivers License’ by Olivia Rodrigo Dave J Hogan // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 28 – Topped the charts from Jan. 23, 2021, to March 13, 2021 A new global female pop icon was born with the release of “Drivers License” in 2021. As the debut single from Olivia Rodrigo (and the lead from her first studio album, “Sour”), this power-piano ballad was immediately met with critical acclaim and had the young singer-songwriter garnering comparsions to the likes of Taylor Swift and Lorde. The song’s emotional description of heartbreak through the eyes of a teenage girl resonated with listeners both old and young, skyrocketing “Drivers License” to #1 for eight weeks. 69. ‘Dreamlover’ by Mariah Carey John Atashian // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 29 – Topped the charts from Sept. 11, 1993, to Oct. 30, 1993 Off of Mariah Carey’s third album, “Music Box,” “Dreamlover” would equal her 1995 hit “Fantasy” with eight weeks topping the charts. The song samples “Blind Alley,” a 1970s hit by the Emotions. David Morales, Carey’s collaborator on the song, said the duo revolutionized remixing with the hit. “Mariah opened up a whole other door, and not many people at that time were capable of that,” Morales said in an interview with Steven J. Horowitz. 68. ‘Burn’ by Usher Scott Gries // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 30 – Topped the charts from May 22, 2004, to July 17, 2004 This hit, which bumped Usher’s “Yeah!” from #1 on the Hot 100, would give the Texas-born R&B star 19 straight weeks at the top spot. Co-written with Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Fox, “Burn” was written about a breakup with a girlfriend–reportedly inspired by his relationship with Rozonda “Chili” Thomas of TLC. 67. ‘7 Rings’ by Ariana Grande Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 33 – Topped the charts from Feb. 2, 2019, to April 6, 2019 Sampling Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things,” Ariana Grande turned the classic “Sound of Music” tune into the true-life tale of how she bought seven rings for her friends when tipsy at Tiffany’s after breaking up with her boyfriend. However, the song caused some strife with Soulja Boy, who tweeted, “You’re a thief,” accusing the singer of stealing the flow of his song “Pretty Boy Swag.” Additionally, Grande apologized to fans for misusing the word “weave” in her song, which also ruffled some feathers. 66. ‘Rockstar’ by Post Malone (feat. 21 Savage) Ethan Miller // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 40 – Topped the charts from Oct. 28, 2017, to Dec. 16, 2017 In 2017, rap music made serious noise after dethroning rock ‘n’ roll as the most-listened-to genre. Post Malone’s nod to the ousted genre led the way. This was the first #1 single for both Post Malone and 21 Savage, which earned Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Performance nominations at the Grammys. “Rockstar” spent eight weeks at #1 before it was bumped by Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” You may also like: Exposing the music industry’s gender bias 65. ‘All About That Bass’ by Meghan Trainor Kevin Winter // Getty Images for iHeartMedia – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 47 – Topped the charts from Sept. 20, 2014, to Nov. 8, 2014 Long before singer Meghan Trainor wrote “All About That Bass” with producer Kevin Kadish, the pop star was penning lyrics for artists like Rascal Flatts. The song–more about the booty than the bass–is a self-acceptance anthem, according to Trainor, who told Billboard it is even for skinny girls despite the lyrical misinterpretation. Trainor’s first hit single, which held the #1 spot for eight weeks, was nominated for Record of the Year at the 57th Grammy Awards but lost to “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith. 64. ‘Mood’ by 24kGoldn (feat. iann dior) Kevin Mazur/AMA2020 // Getty Images for dcp – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 52 – Topped the charts from Oct. 24, 2020, to Jan. 16, 2021 The lead single from 24kGoldn’s debut studio album, “El Dorado,” “Mood” tells the story of a toxic relationship where one partner is “always in a mood.” According to 24kGoldn, the pop-rap track came together “by accident” while he and iann dior were playing “Call of Duty.” That accident earned the pair eight nonconsecutive weeks at #1 and 52 weeks on the chart altogether. 63. ‘Anti-Hero’ by Taylor Swift Brian Friedman // Shutterstock – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 53 – Topped the charts from Nov. 5, 2022, to Jan. 21, 2023 In the synth-pop lead single from her 10th studio album, “Midnights,” Taylor Swift repeatedly declares “Hi, it’s me. I’m the problem. It’s me.” This makes “Anti-Hero” one of the most self-critical and candid songs in Swift’s massive catalog, garnering respect from both critics and fans and landing her a long-running stint on the Hot 100. “Anti-Hero” stayed atop the chart for a week longer than “Blank Space.” 62. ‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus Kevin Winter // Getty Images for The Recording Academy – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 55 – Topped the charts from Jan. 28, 2023, to April 1, 2023 As the lead single from her eighth studio album, “Endless Summer Vacation,” this disco-influenced pop-rock anthem earned Miley Cyrus her first two career Grammys, Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. “Flowers” also became the singer’s second #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 after “Wrecking Ball” in 2013. Listeners have long speculated that the track may be about Cyrus’ ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. Despite her success with the record, Cyrus was hit with a copyright lawsuit over the track in September 2024. 61. ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ by Gotye (feat. Kimbra) Joseph Okpako/WireImage // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 8 – Total weeks on chart: 59 – Topped the charts from April 28, 2012, to June 16, 2012 Indie musician Gotye and Kimbra walked away with two Grammys in 2012 for this hit, including Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Since its release, the song–which deals with heartbreak and samples the nursery rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep with the xylophone–has become a universal anthem for the masses. You may also like: 17 essential Spanish-language songs from around Latin America to add to your holiday playlist 60. ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles Michael Webb // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 19 – Topped the charts from Sept. 28, 1968, to Nov. 23, 1968 The famous Beatles hit that spent nine weeks at #1 was written by Paul McCartney for Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s son, while his parents were divorcing. On the song’s 50th anniversary in 2018, Rolling Stone reported that the hit was released less than a week after Ringo Starr quit the band, marking the beginning of the notorious breakup of the Beatles. 59. ‘Theme from A Summer Place’ by Percy Faith and His Orchestra Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 21 – Topped the charts from Feb. 22, 1960, to April 18, 1960 As the longest-running #1 instrumental song in Billboard’s music chart history, the theme song produced by Percy Faith and composed by Max Steiner won Record of the Year at the Grammys in 1960. Sixteen years later, Faith turned the #1 hit into a disco version, titled “Summer Place ’76.” Ironically, the song made famous by “A Summer Place” is not the version played in the film. 58. ‘Candy Shop’ by 50 Cent (feat. Olivia) Evan Agostini // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 23 – Topped the charts from March 5, 2005, to April 30, 2005 50 Cent’s third #1 Billboard single, “Candy Shop,” has nothing to do with sweets–it’s all about sex. Billboard reported in 2005 that the hit bumped the nine-week #1 song “Let Me Love You’ by Mario, noting, “50 Cent can’t rest easy on top of the Hot 100, as Green Day’s ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ continues to push skyward, making a 3-2 move this week.” A cover version of the song by Dan Finnerty and the Dan Band was featured in “The Hangover” in 2009. The “Candy Shop” music video broke into YouTube’s Billions Club in November 2024. 57. ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ by Kim Carnes Gary Gershoff // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 26 – Topped the charts from May 16, 1981, to July 18, 1981 The famous song about a Hollywood actor’s eyes would win both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys in 1982, making Kim Carnes go down in music history. Co-written by Jackie DeShannon, who opened for the Beatles, and Donna Weiss, who toured with Joe Cocker, “Bette Davis Eyes” was also named Billboard’s #1 Year-End Hot 100 single of 1981. DeShannon first recorded the song in 1974 after watching “Now, Voyager” with Bette Davis. 56. ‘Mack the Knife’ by Bobby Darin Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 26 – Topped the charts from Oct. 5, 1959, to Dec. 7, 1959 Bobby Darin started performing “Mack the Knife” in nightclubs after hearing it in a Greenwich Village production of “The Threepenny Opera,” for which it was written. Though Darin kept “Mack the Knife,” a song about a serial killer, at #1 for nine weeks, several other artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, brought the song fame. Fitzgerald famously once forgot the words while singing, so she came up with a now-famous scat on the spot. You may also like: 50 songs you won’t believe are turning 50 this year 55. ‘Endless Love’ by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie PHILIPPE WOJAZER/AFP // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 27 – Topped the charts from Aug. 15, 1981, to Oct. 10, 1981 The title song for the 1981 film “Endless Love” would later be famously covered by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross in 1994. Precisely 30 years after it held the top spot, Billboard christened the love song the greatest duet of all time, reporting it was both Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s biggest #1 hit, staying on the famous music chart for 27 weeks. The coming-of-age movie starring Brooke Shields was also a big part of the song’s success. 54. ‘Baby Boy’ by Beyonce (feat. Sean Paul) Mark Mainz // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 29 – Topped the charts from Oct. 4, 2003, to Nov. 29, 2003 Like many of Beyoncé’s songs, Jay-Z co-wrote this tune along with dancehall-reggae singer Sean Paul, as well as Robert Waller and Scott Storch. Long after the song saw nine straight weeks at #1, the song reentered the spotlight for alleged copyright infringement by songwriter Jennifer Armour. Beyoncé won the suit, saying it was a shame it even happened and that she was happy to move on. Needless to say, she did. 53. ‘In Da Club’ by 50 Cent Scott Gries // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 30 – Topped the charts from March 8, 2003, to May 3, 2003 Where can you find 50 Cent? “You can find me in a club, bottle full of bub,” is the opening line to the famous rapper’s biggest Billboard hit. Co-written by Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo, “In Da Club,” faced an infringement lawsuit in 2006 by copyright owner Joseph Weinberger, who alleged 50 Cent stole the line “It’s your birthday” from the Luther Campbell song of the same title. The case was dismissed, with artists like Beyoncé and Usher sampling the song and singers like Mary J. Blige and P. Diddy remixing it. 52. ‘Hey Ya!’ by OutKast Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 32 – Topped the charts from Dec. 13, 2003, to Feb. 7, 2004 Singer André 3000 told HuffPost all about “Hey Ya!” on its 10th anniversary, saying it had several working titles and isn’t autobiographical. What’s real is the song was inspired by the Ramones, the Smiths, and the Buzzcocks, three artists the rapper was listening to “heavily” before he wrote it. As for the famous line “Shake it like a Polaroid picture,” André admits you’re actually not supposed to shake the film, but it sounded good while writing the lyrics. 51. ‘Work’ by Rihanna (feat. Drake) Jeff Gross // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 36 – Topped the charts from March 5, 2016, to April 30, 2016 Barbadian singer Rihanna and Canadian rapper Drake had many other writers work on this #1 hit, including Rupert “Sevn” Thomas, who sampled the dancehall rhythm with an urban and island vibe refrain. With “Work,” Rihanna achieved a #1 Billboard hit off all seven of her albums, breaking Mariah Carey’s record for doing the same with six consecutive records, according to Songfacts. The song also scored a diamond certification in May 2024. You may also like: Iconic karaoke songs from the ’80s 50. ‘Let Me Love You’ by Mario Michael Buckner // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 36 – Topped the charts from Jan. 1, 2005, to Feb. 26, 2005 Mario may have sung this hit, but Ne-Yo wrote it. The tune would be Mario’s only #1 song, which appeared on his second album, “Turning Point.” Nominated for several accolades, including a Grammy and two Teen Choice Awards, to no avail, “Let Me Love You,” is one of the Baltimore-born R&B singer’s signature hits. 49. ‘TiK ToK’ by Kesha Kevork Djansezian // Getty Images for DCP. – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 38 – Topped the charts from Jan. 2, 2010, to Feb. 27, 2010 Kesha wrote the famed opening lyric, “Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy,” after waking up one morning surrounded by 10 beautiful women. A completely random phone call from Diddy to Kesha’s producer, Dr. Luke (Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald), a few hours later led the music mogul to contribute a couple of lines to the song. “TiK ToK” dominated digital sales in 2010, with 12.9 million downloads, 3 million more than Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” Four years later, in 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit accusing Dr. Luke of sexual assault among other things, spurring a brutal legal battle between the singer and her mother, Dr. Luke, and Sony. In 2024, Kesha announced her plans to change that iconic first line to “F— P. Diddy” following allegations of sex trafficking against the rapper. 48. ‘One More Night’ by Maroon 5 Christopher Polk/AMA2016 // Getty Images for dcp – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 42 – Topped the charts from Sept. 29, 2012, to Nov. 24, 2012 One More Night was Maroon 5’s third #1 hit on the Hot 100, joining “Makes Me Wonder” and “Moves Like Jagger.” The song, about a dysfunctional relationship, debuted at #42 in early July 2012 and took almost three months to reach the pinnacle spot. The song was the second of the same name to top the Hot 100 after Phil Collins’ composition spent two weeks at #1 in 1985. 47. ‘Royals’ by Lorde Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 44 – Topped the charts from Oct. 12, 2013, to Dec. 7, 2013 Ella Yelich-O’Connor, aka Lorde, broke several barriers with her smash hit when, at just 16, she became the youngest artist to write and perform a chart-topping song on the Hot 100. “Royals” was written as a sort of diss track against the lavish lifestyle and excesses of many pop stars but got its title when Lorde saw a picture of Kansas City Royals star George Brett in a magazine. “It was just that word. It’s really cool,” she told VH1 of the song, which would earn her a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2014. 46. ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 9 – Total weeks on chart: 50 – Topped the charts from June 23, 2012, to Aug. 18, 2012 Carly Rae Jepsen produced a cultural phenomenon with her 2012 hit, with everyone from athletes to pop stars Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez singing the iconic line, “Hey, I just met you and this is crazy/ But here’s my number so call me maybe.” Billboard ranked the track at #21 on its list of the catchiest songs of all time. The nine-week stint at the pinnacle of the charts was the longest ever by a Canadian woman, passing Celine Dion and Nelly Furtado, who each had #1 tracks to last six weeks on the chart, respectively. You may also like: 10 popular ’90s artists on tour in 2024 45. ‘Butter’ by BTS Kevin Winter // Getty Images for MRC – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 20 – Topped the charts from June 5, 2021, to Sept. 11, 2021 Recorded by South Korean boy band BTS, “Butter” is revered as a smooth summer dance-pop hit. It marks the group’s second English-language song after “Dynamite.” According to Forbes, “Butter” also helped BTS set a new record for the longest #1 debut streak ever held by a group. BTS took the title away from Aersomith, who had held the record for almost 23 years after “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” debuted at #1 and remained there for four consecutive weeks. 44. ‘In My Feelings’ by Drake BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 22 – Topped the charts from July 21, 2018, to Sept. 22, 2018 2018 was the year of Drake, and “In My Feelings” became the artist’s sixth overall song to top the Hot 100. The song replaced the Canadian recording artist’s own “Nice for What,” which replaced “God’s Plan,” making him the fourth artist ever to swap #1s twice, joining Justin Bieber, Usher, and the Beatles. Rolling Stone also named it the best song of 2018. 43. ‘You Light Up My Life’ by Debby Boone Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 25 – Topped the charts from Oct. 15, 1977, to Dec. 17, 1977 “You Light Up My Life” was the title track from the movie of the same name and was originally performed by jingle singer Kasey Cisyk, with Debby Boone rerecording it when studios wouldn’t release the movie. The song, which shared the Grammy for Song of the Year (in a rare tie) with Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams’ “Evergreen (Love Theme from ‘A Star Is Born’),” actually appeared twice at the same time on the Hot 100. The “original cast” version (performed by Cisyk) reached #80, and Boone’s version reigned despite the song’s dark past. 42. ‘Hello’ by Adele Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 26 – Topped the charts from Nov. 14, 2015, to Jan. 16, 2016 “Hello” was all Adele had to say to return to the limelight after nearly a four-year hiatus following the astounding success of “Rolling in the Deep.” And a triumphant return it was, as the album on which the song appeared, “25,” broke multiple records and sold 2.3 million copies in a week. “Hello” would earn the British singer another five Grammys, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. 41. ‘Physical’ by Olivia Newton-John Hulton Archive // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 26 – Topped the charts from Nov. 21, 1981, to Jan. 23, 1982 “Physical” was released just one week after MTV went on the air, making it one of the first videos to replay on the new station. Unassuming Australian singer Olivia Newton-John had concerns about singing the song, which was originally written for Rod Stewart, so the video was created as a distraction from the fact that the song was about sex. Her worry was for naught: “Physical” won the Grammy for Video of the Year in 1982. You may also like: With Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter,’ Black country music fans are front and center, at last 40. ‘Maria Maria’ by Santana (feat. The Product G&B) HECTOR MATA/AFP // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 26 – Topped the charts from April 8, 2000, to June 10, 2000 The sultry song “Maria Maria” won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2000. The tune returned to the airwaves in 2017 when Rihanna, DJ Khaled, and Bryson Tiller sampled it in “Wild Thoughts.” 39. ‘Dilemma’ by Nelly (feat. Kelly Rowland) Frank Micelotta // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 29 – Topped the charts from Aug. 17, 2002, to Nov. 2, 2002 Before Beyoncé rose to become queen, former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland found the top of the charts by teaming up with superstar Nelly for “Dilemma.” The duo earned the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for the song, which sampled Patti LaBelle’s “Love, Need and Want You.” Nelly became the fifth artist to replace himself in the top spot, knocking “Hot in Herre” from #1. 38. ‘Irreplaceable’ by Beyonce Scott Gries // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 30 – Topped the charts from Dec. 16, 2006, to Feb. 17, 2007 “To the left, to the left–everything you own in a box to the left” became a rallying cry for women when it reigned over the Hot 100 in 2007. “Irreplaceable,” off Beyoncé’s second solo album, “B’Day,” helped establish the superstar as the Queen B. Written by Ne-Yo, the song was originally intended as a country ballad with Shania Twain or Faith Hill in mind. 37. ‘Easy on Me’ by Adele David M. Benett/Dave Benett // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 31 – Topped the charts from Oct. 30, 2021, to Jan. 29, 2022 “Easy on Me” marked Adele’s return in 2021 after a six-year hiatus. The ballad served as the lead single for the English singer’s fourth studio album, “30,” and was the first song fans heard after Adele filed for divorce from her ex-husband Simon Konecki in September 2019. “Easy on Me” became Adele’s fifth #1 hit. 36. ‘Foolish’ by Ashanti Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 32 – Topped the charts from April 20, 2002, to June 22, 2002 Off Ashanti’s self-titled debut album, “Foolish,” samples the family group DeBarge’s song “Stay with Me.” Other artists who have sampled the same tune include the Notorious B.I.G. in “One More Chance” and Mariah Carey in “I’ll Be Lovin U Long Time.” You may also like: A Carnegie Hall concert series designed for mental health 35. ‘One Dance’ by Drake (feat. WizKid and Kyla) Ethan Miller // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 36 – Topped the charts from May 21, 2016, to July 30, 2016 Drake dominated yet another year in 2016, with “One Dance” earning the Canadian rapper his first #1 on the Hot 100. The song, featuring Afrobeat artist WizKid and sampling Kyla’s 2008 song “Do You Mind,” became Spotify’s most-streamed song at the time with over 882 million listens. “One Dance” has since passed the 3 billion mark as of 2024. “Old Town Road” later overtook “One Dance” as the longest-running #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. 34. ‘Gold Digger’ by Kanye West (feat. Jamie Foxx) Ethan Miller // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 39 – Topped the charts from Sept. 17, 2005, to Nov. 19, 2005 Jamie Foxx wanted to break into the music industry, and if it weren’t for Kanye West, it never would have happened. Though West and Fox sampled Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman” to make “Gold Digger,” which won the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2006, the song was originally intended for female rapper Shawnna. 33. ‘Low’ by Flo Rida (feat. T-Pain) Kevin Winter // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 40 – Topped the charts from Jan. 5, 2008, to March 8, 2008 Flo Rida introduces his “Shawty” wearing Apple Bottom jeans and boots with fur in “Low,” the first #1 and longest-running song on the Hot 100 in 2008. Featuring T-Pain, who co-wrote it, the tune details just how low the song’s protagonist can go on the dance floor after giving “that big booty a smack.” According to Flo, it took less than an hour to record all the verses. 32. ‘We Found Love’ by Rihanna (feat. Calvin Harris) Ross Gilmore/Redferns via Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 42 – Topped the charts from Nov. 12, 2011, to Jan. 28, 2012 “We Found Love” made history for Rihanna as her longest-running #1 hit. It became her 20th top 10 hit in six years and four months, a feat Rihanna accomplished five months quicker than Madonna. Rihanna wasn’t writer-producer Calvin Harris’s first choice, however: Nicole Scherzinger passed on the song. Leona Lewis recorded a different version of the track, too, but didn’t want it to be the leader on her album, prompting Harris to go with Rihanna. 31. ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams Ferdy Damman/AFP // Getty Images – Weeks at #1: 10 – Total weeks on chart: 47 – Topped the charts from March 8, 2014, to May 10, 2014 The famous song from “Despicable Me 2” was written by Pharrell Williams, who also wrote the lead single for “Despicable Me.” The catchy tune spent 10 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100, with the movie’s success helping it soar to the top of the charts. To ensure fans could get enough of his song, Pharrell created the first 24-hour music video, a continuous loop of his track that featured different people, including Steve Carell, who voiced Gru in the “Despicable Me” movies. You may also like: 20 iconic rock songs written on the spot 30. ‘Independent Women Part I’ by Destiny’s Child