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The Most Popular Songs Of All Time
20
items These lists showcase the most popular songs in music history, based on worldwide sales, equivalent digital downloads, and streaming figures.
Sections
2
The 10 Most Popular Songs Of All Time
The 10 Most Popular Christmas Songs Of All Time
The 10 Most Popular Songs Of All Time
The most popular songs in music history of all time based on worldwide physical sales, digital downloads and streaming.
Equivalent units sold: ~ 53.8 million
Genre: Christmas Pop
Written/Composed by: Irving Berlin (1940)
Most popular version released by: Bing Crosby (1942)
White Christmas is the song of all time and the best-selling single of all time by physical sales. Bing Crosby’s warm, timeless original version of the song turned the song into a global Christmas classic, played every Christmas season for more than ...
Genre: Christmas Pop
Written/Composed by: Irving Berlin (1940)
Most popular version released by: Bing Crosby (1942)
White Christmas is the song of all time and the best-selling single of all time by physical sales. Bing Crosby’s warm, timeless original version of the song turned the song into a global Christmas classic, played every Christmas season for more than ...
White Christmas
Equivalent units sold: ~ 44.5 million
Genre: Reggaeton
Written/Composed by: Luis Rodríguez, Ramón Ayala & Erika Ender (2016)
Most popular version released by: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (2017)
Despacito is the most popular song of the modern era. The song became an immediate worldwide phenomenon after its release in 2017, breaking streaming records and topping charts across dozens of countries. Its infectious Latin rhythm and crossover app...
Genre: Reggaeton
Written/Composed by: Luis Rodríguez, Ramón Ayala & Erika Ender (2016)
Most popular version released by: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee (2017)
Despacito is the most popular song of the modern era. The song became an immediate worldwide phenomenon after its release in 2017, breaking streaming records and topping charts across dozens of countries. Its infectious Latin rhythm and crossover app...
Despacito
Equivalent units sold: ~ 41.3 million
Genre: Pop
Written/Composed by: Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac & Johnny McDaid (2015)
Most popular version released by: Ed Sheeran (2017)
Shape of You dominated global streaming charts for years after its release, becoming the first song in history to be streamed 3 billion times. Its minimalist production, catchy hook, and universal appeal made it a defining pop hit of the streaming er...
Genre: Pop
Written/Composed by: Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac & Johnny McDaid (2015)
Most popular version released by: Ed Sheeran (2017)
Shape of You dominated global streaming charts for years after its release, becoming the first song in history to be streamed 3 billion times. Its minimalist production, catchy hook, and universal appeal made it a defining pop hit of the streaming er...
Shape of You
Equivalent units sold: ~ 34.6 million
Genre: Pop Ballad
Written/Composed by: Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1973)
Most popular version released by: Elton John (1997)
While Elton John released the song originally in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, his 1997 version of the song, rewritten in tribute to Princess Diana, turned the song into an all-time classic. The song became the fastest-selling single ever. Its...
Genre: Pop Ballad
Written/Composed by: Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1973)
Most popular version released by: Elton John (1997)
While Elton John released the song originally in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, his 1997 version of the song, rewritten in tribute to Princess Diana, turned the song into an all-time classic. The song became the fastest-selling single ever. Its...
Candle In The Wind
Equivalent units sold: ~ 34.2 million
Genre: R&B
Written/Composed by: Rik Annema, Leroy Sanchez & Wynne Bennett (2019)
Most popular version released by: Xiao Zhan (2020)
Spotlight, a song released by Chinese actor and singer Xiao Zhan in 2020, achieved massive commercial success driven by record-breaking digital sales and fan engagement during the Covid pandemic. Despite being practically unknown in the Western world...
Genre: R&B
Written/Composed by: Rik Annema, Leroy Sanchez & Wynne Bennett (2019)
Most popular version released by: Xiao Zhan (2020)
Spotlight, a song released by Chinese actor and singer Xiao Zhan in 2020, achieved massive commercial success driven by record-breaking digital sales and fan engagement during the Covid pandemic. Despite being practically unknown in the Western world...
Spotlight
Equivalent units sold: ~ 33.1 million
Genre: Christmas Carol
Written/Composed by: Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber (1818)
Most popular version released by: Bing Crosby (1935)
Silent Night is the single most translated, one of the most recorded and one of the most widely recognized songs in history and in the world. Its peaceful melody and universal message have transcended language and culture, making it a cornerstone of ...
Genre: Christmas Carol
Written/Composed by: Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber (1818)
Most popular version released by: Bing Crosby (1935)
Silent Night is the single most translated, one of the most recorded and one of the most widely recognized songs in history and in the world. Its peaceful melody and universal message have transcended language and culture, making it a cornerstone of ...
Silent Night
Equivalent units sold: ~ 32.3 million
Genre: Pop
Written/Composed by: Michael Jackson (1982)
Most popular version released by: Michael Jackson (1983)
Billie Jean, written and performed by Michael Jackson, is possibly the single most influential pop song ever recorded. Its iconic bassline, groundbreaking music video, which also introduced the famous ‘Moonwalk’ to the world, and long-lasting global ...
Genre: Pop
Written/Composed by: Michael Jackson (1982)
Most popular version released by: Michael Jackson (1983)
Billie Jean, written and performed by Michael Jackson, is possibly the single most influential pop song ever recorded. Its iconic bassline, groundbreaking music video, which also introduced the famous ‘Moonwalk’ to the world, and long-lasting global ...
Billie Jean
Equivalent units sold: ~ 31.0 million
Genre: Grunge / Alternative Rock Written/Composed by: Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic & Dave Grohl (1991)
Most popular version released by: Nirvana (1991)
Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit became the anthem of Generation X and propelled the grunge genre into the mainstream. Its raw energy and alternative rock sound had a tremendous cultural impact and helped shape the music scene of the 1990s.
Genre: Grunge / Alternative Rock Written/Composed by: Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic & Dave Grohl (1991)
Most popular version released by: Nirvana (1991)
Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit became the anthem of Generation X and propelled the grunge genre into the mainstream. Its raw energy and alternative rock sound had a tremendous cultural impact and helped shape the music scene of the 1990s.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Equivalent units sold: ~ 30.8 million
Genre: Country Pop (original) / Soul Ballad (most popular version)
Written/Composed by: Dolly Parton (1974)
Most popular version released by: Whitney Houston (1992)
Originally written as a Country Pop song by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston’s powerful Soul Ballad rendition of I Will Always Love You, which became the official song for the 1992 movie ‘The Bodyguard’ which Houston stared in alongside Kevin Costner, t...
Genre: Country Pop (original) / Soul Ballad (most popular version)
Written/Composed by: Dolly Parton (1974)
Most popular version released by: Whitney Houston (1992)
Originally written as a Country Pop song by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston’s powerful Soul Ballad rendition of I Will Always Love You, which became the official song for the 1992 movie ‘The Bodyguard’ which Houston stared in alongside Kevin Costner, t...
I Will Always Love You
Equivalent units sold: ~ 30.5 million
Genre: Synth-Pop
Written/Composed by: Abel Tesfaye, Karl Sandberg, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Quenneville & Oscar Holter (2019)
Most popular version released by: The Weeknd (2019)
Blinding Lights, released in 2019 by Canadian singer The Weeknd, is so far the most popular song of the streaming era, becoming the first song in history to be streamed over 5 billion times. The song features a very retro-inspired sound and has defin...
Genre: Synth-Pop
Written/Composed by: Abel Tesfaye, Karl Sandberg, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Quenneville & Oscar Holter (2019)
Most popular version released by: The Weeknd (2019)
Blinding Lights, released in 2019 by Canadian singer The Weeknd, is so far the most popular song of the streaming era, becoming the first song in history to be streamed over 5 billion times. The song features a very retro-inspired sound and has defin...
Blinding Lights
The 10 Most Popular Christmas Songs Of All Time
The most popular Christmas songs in music history based on worldwide sales, equivalent digital downloads, and streaming figures.
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 56.1 million
Written/composed in: 1942
Genre: Christmas Pop
White Christmas is the best-selling single of all time by physical sales. Bing Crosby's warm, timeless performance turned the song into a global Christmas classic, having been played every Christmas season for more than eight decades now.
Written/composed in: 1942
Genre: Christmas Pop
White Christmas is the best-selling single of all time by physical sales. Bing Crosby's warm, timeless performance turned the song into a global Christmas classic, having been played every Christmas season for more than eight decades now.
White Christmas
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 34.6 million
Written/composed in: 1818
Genre: Christmas Carol
First performed on Christmas Eve of 1818 in a small Austrian village, Silent Night has since become one of the most beloved and widely recorded songs in history, while also being the most translated song in human history. Its simple melody and peacef...
Bing Crosby's 1935 version of the song is the most successful one to date.
Written/composed in: 1818
Genre: Christmas Carol
First performed on Christmas Eve of 1818 in a small Austrian village, Silent Night has since become one of the most beloved and widely recorded songs in history, while also being the most translated song in human history. Its simple melody and peacef...
Bing Crosby's 1935 version of the song is the most successful one to date.
Silent Night
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 30.7 million
Written/composed in: 1994
Genre: Christmas Pop
All I Want for Christmas Is You is the most successful modern Christmas song, and the most-streamed Christmas song ever released. Written and sung by Mariah Carey, the track blends classic Christmas music influences with contemporary pop music. Its a...
Written/composed in: 1994
Genre: Christmas Pop
All I Want for Christmas Is You is the most successful modern Christmas song, and the most-streamed Christmas song ever released. Written and sung by Mariah Carey, the track blends classic Christmas music influences with contemporary pop music. Its a...
All I Want for Christmas Is You
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 23.1 million
Written/composed in: 1984
Genre: Christmas Pop
Last Christmas is also one of the most recognizable Christmas songs of the modern era, dominating radio stations and streaming services during each Christmas season. Written by George Michael and released by his band Wham!, the track combines heartfe...
Written/composed in: 1984
Genre: Christmas Pop
Last Christmas is also one of the most recognizable Christmas songs of the modern era, dominating radio stations and streaming services during each Christmas season. Written by George Michael and released by his band Wham!, the track combines heartfe...
Last Christmas
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 20.5 million Written/composed in: 1958
Genre: Christmas Rock 'n Roll
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is one of the most enduring Christmas songs in modern music history. Recorded by Brenda Lee at just 13 years old, the song blends festive lyrics with the typical rockabilly groove of the 1950s, helping define the sou...
Genre: Christmas Rock 'n Roll
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is one of the most enduring Christmas songs in modern music history. Recorded by Brenda Lee at just 13 years old, the song blends festive lyrics with the typical rockabilly groove of the 1950s, helping define the sou...
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Equivalent record units sold: ~16.4 million
Written/composed in: 1857
Genre: Various
Even though it was never originally intended to be a Christmas song, Jingle Bells is now one of the most famous and widely recognized Christmas songs in the world. The song has become an absolute Christmas staple and has since been recorded in countl...
Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters released the commercially most successful version of the song.
Written/composed in: 1857
Genre: Various
Even though it was never originally intended to be a Christmas song, Jingle Bells is now one of the most famous and widely recognized Christmas songs in the world. The song has become an absolute Christmas staple and has since been recorded in countl...
Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters released the commercially most successful version of the song.
Jingle Bells
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 16.1 millionWritten/composed in: 1945
Genre: Christmas Pop
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! is the most enduring winter-themed song ever recorded. Written during a heatwave in Southern California in 1945, the song has become a holiday-season staple closely associated with the Christmas season, despite ...
Dean Martin's 1959 version of the song is the most widely known and successful one.
Genre: Christmas Pop
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! is the most enduring winter-themed song ever recorded. Written during a heatwave in Southern California in 1945, the song has become a holiday-season staple closely associated with the Christmas season, despite ...
Dean Martin's 1959 version of the song is the most widely known and successful one.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 15.9 million
Written/composed in: 1957
Genre: Christmas Rock 'n Roll
Jingle Bell Rock is also one of the most popular and most influential Christmas songs of all time. First recorded by Bobby Helms, the track introduced a rock 'n roll sound to Christmas music, helping modernize the genre. Its upbeat rhythm, continued ...
Written/composed in: 1957
Genre: Christmas Rock 'n Roll
Jingle Bell Rock is also one of the most popular and most influential Christmas songs of all time. First recorded by Bobby Helms, the track introduced a rock 'n roll sound to Christmas music, helping modernize the genre. Its upbeat rhythm, continued ...
Jingle Bell Rock
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 14.4 million
Written/composed in: 1970
Genre: Latin Pop
Feliz Navidad is one of the most successful and one of the most recognizable Christmas songs of all time. Written and sung by Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano, its simple, joyful message and catchy melody and bilingual lyrics (Spanish + English) he...
Written/composed in: 1970
Genre: Latin Pop
Feliz Navidad is one of the most successful and one of the most recognizable Christmas songs of all time. Written and sung by Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano, its simple, joyful message and catchy melody and bilingual lyrics (Spanish + English) he...
Feliz Navidad
Equivalent record units sold: ~ 14.2 million
Written/composed in: 1934
Genre: Various
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town is also among the most enduring and widely recorded Christmas songs ever written. Since its debut in the 1930s, the song has been covered by countless artists across genres, becoming a staple of Christmas season music. I...
Canadian singer Michael Bublé released the most successful version of the song, further pushing its all-time popularity into the 21st Century.
Written/composed in: 1934
Genre: Various
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town is also among the most enduring and widely recorded Christmas songs ever written. Since its debut in the 1930s, the song has been covered by countless artists across genres, becoming a staple of Christmas season music. I...
Canadian singer Michael Bublé released the most successful version of the song, further pushing its all-time popularity into the 21st Century.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town