The Greatest Pop Music Hits of All Time

A list of the greatest pop music hits of all time, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Beyonce, and more.

The Beatles – “Hey Jude”

“Hey Jude” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from “Hey Jules”, a song McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon’s son, Julian, during his parents’ divorce. “Hey Jude” begins with a verse-bridge structure employing an open-ended chorus. After the fourth verse, the song shifts to a fade-out coda that lasts more than four minutes.

Released in August 1968 as the first single from the Beatles’ self-titled double album (also known as “the White Album”), “Hey Jude” was a number-one hit in Britain and many other countries. Starting with a slow build-up of an orchestral backing over which McCartneys sang what he described as “anthroprophic [sic] lyrics”, it gained momentum after its middle eight section; these eight bars were edited out when it was originally broadcast on radio in Britain. In Austrialia, “Hey Jude” spent nine weeks at number one – at that time, the longest stretches atop both the national singles and albums charts in history – and became one of only two songs ever to achieve five consecutive weeks at number one in Australia. In 2013, Billboard ranked it the 10th biggest song of all time.[4] In 2017, NME placed it at number 8 in its list of “The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”

“Billie Jean” is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on January 2, 1983, as the second single from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. “Billie Jean” was originally conceived as a rock-tinged song; however, Jones transformed it into a pop song that became a number-one hit on multiple charts worldwide, including the Hot 100 in the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries.

The song’s lyrics describe a woman who accuses the narrator of being the father of her child because he resembles her deceased lover. “Billie Jean” was one of the first songs to achieve widespread popularity via music videos aired on MTV. The single was certified double platinum, won three Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Jackson became the first artist to have a music video nominated for an Emmy Award. The song charted within the top ten in multiple countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom, France and Ireland. “Billie Jean” was ranked number 376 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2004.

A number of dance moves were popularized by Jackson during performances of “Billie Jean” in 1983, including the moonwalk—which was first performed on television during Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever—and later becoming his signature dance move. Jackson continued to perform the song during his Bad World Tour (1987–1989) and HIStory World Tour (1996–1997), as well as during several concerts such as halftime shows at Super Bowl XXVII (1993), Super Bowl XXXI (1997) and Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004), while also being featured in numerous other television appearances and specials. Since its release, “Billie Jean” has been covered by numerous artists and has been featured in using samples or interpolations in numerous hip hop songs.

Madonna – “Like a Prayer”

“Like a Prayer” is a song by American singer Madonna, from her fourth studio album of the same name. Sire Records released it as the album’s lead single on March 3, 1989. Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the track heralded an artistic and personal approach to songwriting for Madonna, who believed that she needed to be more than “just a singer” on Like a Prayer.

Musically, “Like a Prayer” is a pop rock ballad that featuresgospel-style choir followed by interpolations of “I Hear a Symphony” by The Supremes and Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria”. Lyrically, the song includes sexual references and explores themes of romance, religion, sex and personal struggles. The music video caused controversy due to its depiction of Catholic icons such as stigmata and cross burning, to which the Vatican reacted negatively.

Madonna has performed the song on all her tours since its inception. It received critical acclaim from music critics and was ranked as one of the greatest pop songs of all time in various music publications. Commercially, the song was an international success, topping charts in Australia, Belgium,, Ireland,, Italy,, Netherlands , New Zealand , South Africa , Spain , United Kingdom and Zimbabwe while reaching the top-ten in Finland , France , Germany , Japan and Sweden . In North America,, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song earned Madonna her second Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Female Artist at the 32nd Grammy Awards .

Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You”

Released in 1992, “I Will Always Love You” remains one of the most popular songs of all time. The song was originally written and performed by Dolly Parton, but it was Whitney Houston’s version that shot to the top of the charts. The song was included on the soundtrack to “The Bodyguard,” which starred Houston and Kevin Costner.

Mariah Carey – “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is one of the greatest pop music hits of all time. The song was released in 1994 and became an instant holiday classic. It has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide and has been covered by numerous artists. The song is about a woman who is longing for her lost love during the holiday season.

Elvis Presley – “Suspicious Minds”

Released in 1969, “Suspicious Minds” was Elvis Presley’s comeback hit after a decade of declining popularity. The song helped revive his career and is widely considered one of the greatest pop songs of all time. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the charts in the UK, Canada, and Australia.

ABBA – “Dancing Queen”

“Dancing Queen” is a Europop song by the Swedish group ABBA, and the lead single from their fourth studio album, Arrival. It was released in 1976, and became one of the most popular hits of the 1970s. The song hit number one in more than a dozen countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
With its operatic influences and epic six-minute running time, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was always going to be a bold choice for a pop single. But Queen’s gamble paid off in a big way, as the song became one of the most iconic and well-loved hits of all time.

Released in October 1975, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was part of the group’s fourth studio album, A Night at the Opera. The track was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, and it features a number of different sections, including a cappella vocals, guitar solos, and a dramatic conclusion.

Despite its length, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a huge commercial success, reaching the number one spot in the UK charts for nine weeks and selling more than a million copies in just two months. It was also popular in the US, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Though it was released more than four decades ago, “Bohemian Rhapsody” remains one of the most popular and iconic pop hits of all time.

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”
Released in 1966, this Brian Wilson-penned classic topped the charts in the US and UK. The Beach Boys were already a successful band by the time “Good Vibrations” was released, but this song took their career to new heights. The track features a distinctive theremin solo, which help contribute to its iconic sound.

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – “You’re the One That I Want”

This 1978 pop classic from the film “Grease” is one of the most popular karaoke songs of all time. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained there for three weeks. The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.