Wiki Pop Music: The Top Pop Songs of All Time
Contents
Wiki Pop Music is the ultimate pop music destination. Find out the top pop songs of all time, according to the experts.
Introduction
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms “popular music” and “pop music” are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many diverse styles. “Pop” and “rock” were roughly synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.
Generally, rock is a heavier, guitar-based sound, while pop is lighter and softer. Pop also incorporates elements of other genres, including soul, R&B, hip hop, electronica, and even jazz. The Top Pop Songs of All Time list reflects this diversity, with a wide range of artists represented here, from Madonna and Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.
The Top Pop Songs of All Time list is compiled using data from Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, which ranks the week’s most popular songs across all genres. The list includes only songs that have reached the top spot on the Hot 100 chart.
What is Pop Music?
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms “popular music” and “pop music” are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many diverse styles. “Pop” and “rock” were roughly synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.
Generally, pop music is catchy, easy to listen to, and reflects the trends of its time. It is produced for mass consumption and typically distributed through the mainstream record industry. Pop music has been spread around the world through live performances, broadcasts, films, and recordings. It has also become closely associated with certain lifestyles, fashions, and values.
The term “pop music” can be used to describe a wide range of different genres and subgenres that have emerged since the 1950s. These include: rock ‘n’ roll, soul, Motown, disco, punk rock, new wave, synth-pop, hip hop, grime, EDM (electronic dance music), and many more.
The Evolution of Pop Music
The genre of pop music started in the mid-1950s with artists like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, and has continued to evolve over the years. While early pop music was influenced by jazz and classical music, it eventually came to be characterized by a simple, catchy melody and a focus on consumerism.
In the 1960s, artists like The Beatles and The Beach Boys brought pop music to new heights with their combination of catchy melodies and clever lyrics. The Beatles in particular became known for their ability to write songs that appealed to both young and old audiences. As the 1960s progressed, however, many pop musicians began to experiment with drugs and other forms of self-destructive behavior, which led to the label “flower power.”
The 1970s saw the rise of disco music, which dominated the charts for much of the decade. Although disco was eventually eclipsed by other genres, it remains an important part of pop music history. In the 1980s, pop music became more synthesized and electronic, thanks in part to new technology like the drum machine. This decade also saw the rise of MTV, which had a profound impact on both the sound and image of pop music.
The 1990s were a more diverse decade for pop music, with grunge rockers like Nirvana coexisting with boy bands like *NSYNC. In the early 2000s, popular music became more fragmented as audiences began to niche down into smaller subgenres. This trend has continued in recent years, making it more difficult than ever to define what “pop” music actually is.
The Top Pop Songs of All Time
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms “popular music” and “pop music” are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many diverse styles.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston’s performance of “I Will Always Love You” at The Bodyguard World Premiere was hailed as “a showstopper” by Rolling Stone. The song went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
“Billie Jean” is a song by American singer 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 Jackson and Quincy Jones. “Billie Jean” blends post-disco, rhythm and blues, funk and rock elements. The lyrics describe a woman’s claim that the narrator is the father of her illegitimate child (“Billie Jean is not my lover / She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one / But the kid is not my son”).
The song features an iconic bassline by musician Louis Johnson, which has been ranked as one of the greatest basslines of all time. The song also features Jackson’s vocal hiccups. “Billie Jean” was a commercial success; it became one of the best-selling singles of 1983 and went to number one in 13 countries, including the United States, where it spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It remains one of Jackson’s signature songs and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Like a Prayer” by Madonna
“Like a Prayer” is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for 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 felt she needed to be more involved in every aspect of her work. “Like a Prayer” is a pop rock ballad that features a gospel-chorus and expresses a longing for religious harmony.
Critical reviews were positive, with critics praising its lyrical content and social message as well as Madonna’s vocal performance. Commercially, “Like a Prayer” topped the record charts in multiple countries worldwide, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and United States; it was also nominated for several Grammy Awards. The music video stirred up controversy due to its depiction of Catholic iconography and because of input from the Vatican regarding its blasphemous imagery.
” Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band’s 1975 album A Night at the Opera. The song is a six-minute suite, consisting of several sections without a chorus: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part and a reflective coda. The single reached number one in the UK in 1976 and became Queen’s first hit single in the US where it peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. It topped the charts for nine weeks in the UK and remained in the top position for five weeks in Australia and Canada. In 1992, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as “a masterpiece that should stand as one of pedigree examples of pop songwriting”.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it number 136 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”, while in March 2005 Q Magazine placed it at number 51 in its list of “The 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks”. In October 2011, Rolling Stone ranked it number one on their list of “The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos”. As of November 2019, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data US sales stand at 5 million copies.
In 2018, following its use in the film Bohemian Rhapsody, worldwide sales increased to more than 10 million making it one of Britain’s best-selling singles ever. The band have announced that all proceeds from future releases will go to UK charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). On January 1st 2021 Queen’s manager Jim Beach confirmed that combined streaming and sales had now pushed “Bohemian Rhapsody” past 20 million globally since its release 45 years prior.”
“Imagine” by John Lennon
“Imagine” is a song by English musician John Lennon from his 1971 album of the same name. The best-selling single of his solo career, its lyrics encourage the listener to imagine a world at peace without the barriers of borders or the divisions of religion and nationality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the top pop songs of all time according to Wiki Pop Music. This list was created by taking the total number of votes for each song and ranking them accordingly. The top pop songs of all time are a reflection of the popular culture at the time they were released and continue to be popular today.
