THE
200 MOST ESSENTIAL
PERFECT
POP
SONGS
Sometimes it’s a hook, a gimmick or an irresistible
sound. Whatever that special ingredient is, it elevates a track to pop
perfection.
Here are 200 unforgettable examples of songs with that wow! factor…
60
I GOT YOU (I FEEL GOOD)
James Brown
(1964) #1
James Brown knocks out a funky punch with this energetic track. It topped the US R&B Chart and made #3 Pop.
59
SINGLE LADIES
(PUT A RING ON IT)
Beyonce'
(2008) #1
Queen B's dance routine for this hit went viral, propelling it to #1 in America and Brazil. The track was a Top 10 smash in Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel.
58
KOKOMO
Beach Boys
(1988) #1
Featured on the hit film 'Cocktail' soundtrack, the single revived The Beach Boys' chart fortunes. The disc returned the group to the top. It reached #1 in the US and Australia.
57
GET THE PARTY STARTED
Pink
(2001) #1
Pink reached #1 in Australia and New Zealand with this smash. It is still used to kick-start a festive occasion. In America, the track peaked at #4. It made #2 in the UK.
56
AFRICA
Toto
(1982) #1
The band Toto consisted of in-demand session musicians. Their studio perfection proved to be a double-edged sword. "Africa" reached #1 in America and Canada. On the British chart, the song peaked at #2.
55
NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS
Ike & Tina Turner
(1973) #1
Tina wrote it, setting the song in her hometown of Nutbush. Ike produced the funky rock track. To this day, it draws feet onto a dancefloor to do the routine known as "The Nutbush". The song reached #1 in Austria. It peaked at #4 in the UK and #22 in the USA.
54
STAND BY ME
Ben E. King
(1961) #1
Originally, this song was to be recorded by The Drifters. Lead singer and co-writer Ben E. King left the vocal group and released the song as a solo single. It made #1 R&B and climbed to #4 Pop in America.
53
WATERLOO
Abba
(1974) #1
This hit not only broke ABBA internationally, but it put Sweden on the pop music map. Its success at Eurovision changed the Song Contest forever. The single topped the charts in Britain, Europe and South Africa. It made the Top 10 in the USA, Canada, Australia, Rhodesia and New Zealand.
52
WE WILL ROCK YOU
Queen
(1977)
Although this single never topped the major charts, it remains a crowd favourite, especially at sporting events, inciting a sing-a-long while simultaneously stomping feet to the track. The song peaked at #4 US and #2 in the UK.
51
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
Whitney Houston
(1992) #1
Whitney Houston radically transformed the Dolly Parton ballad into a vocal tour de force. She attacked the song at the peak of her singing power. The public lapped it up, sending the track to #1 in America, Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Hear the songs as
they are added to the playlist available on spotify:
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
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