10 Hit Songs That Somehow Never Made Number 1
Having a song crack the Billboard charts is a major accomplishment for any musician, and it’s an even bigger deal when a song hits Number 1. It’s easy to assume that songs with significant radio play and massive streaming numbers, songs that seemingly everyone knows and are played at everything from sporting events to weddings, would be Number 1 hits, but that’s not always the case.
Some of the most famous and even best-selling songs have shockingly never actually hit Number 1. The reasons can vary and be hard to pin down, but often, a Top 10 stacked with incredible songs whose popularity keeps growing with each passing day can mean stiff competition prevents a hit song from ever reaching the coveted top spot, despite its success. Often, the songs which have come up just short have been by some of the biggest names in music, responsible for kick-starting shifts in the industry.
10
“Wonderwall”
Oasis
British rock band Oasis, consisting of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, formed in 1991 and had a sound which helped usher in the Britpop movement of the ’90s. They released their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? in 1995. “Wonderwall” peaked at Number 8 on the Hot 100, although it did reach Number 1 on the alternative chart. It was the band’s only Top 40 hit in the US.
“Wonderwall” is one of the most memorable songs to come out of the ’90s, and it’s easily Oasis’ most famous. It’s a slow acoustic sound with a chorus that’s almost impossible not to sing along with. Although the band had greater success in the UK than they did in the US—and became infamous for the brothers’ bickering—it’s still a surprise that a song as huge and recognizable as “Wonderwall” never topped the charts.
9
“Mr. Brightside”
The Killers
After forming in 2001, Las Vegas rock band The Killers released their debut album, Hot Fuss, in 2004, with “Mr. Brightside” as the lead single. The track peaked at Number 10 on the charts in both the US and UK—it also passed up “Wonderwall” as the most successful song in the UK which has never hit Number 1 in the US. The band continues to tour and release music, and their releases often continue to place on the alternative charts.
Hot Fuss is a great album overall, but “Mr. Brightside” is one of its standouts.
It’s hard to think of another debut single that’s been as successful and beloved as “Mr. Brightside”—it’s an incredibly catchy song that’s held in particular high esteem by anyone who was a teenager when it was first released. Hot Fuss is a great album overall, but “Mr. Brightside” is one of its standouts. In addition to its sales numbers, it has an unbelievable 2 million streams and counting on Spotify.
8
“Bad Romance”
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga emerged in the early 2000s and quickly became known for her over-the-top costumes. She released her first album, The Fame, in 2008, followed by the EP The Fame Monster in 2009, which was a reissue of The Fame with eight new songs, including the opening track and lead single “Bad Romance.” It peaked at Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Gaga has continued to release music in the years since.
“Bad Romance” marked a shift for Lady Gaga. The Fame was full of electronic pop songs which fit perfectly into the pop landscape at the time, with lyrics about money, fame and partying. The Fame Monster and “Bad Romance” showed how skilled Gaga really was—and is—at writing a great pop song. It’s still considered to be one of her best, and it’s a surprise that, despite being a hit song with critical acclaim, it never hit Number 1.
7
“Love Story”
Taylor Swift
After beginning her career and finding success in country music, superstar Taylor Swift began to transition to pop music. Her second album, Fearless, was released in 2008 with a blend of country and pop, and “Love Story” was released as its lead single. The track peaked at Number 4 on the Billboard charts, but Swift has since become the only artist to hold all top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Love Story” remains a fan favorite and a staple of Swift’s live shows…
It’s hard to imagine any of Swift’s songs being anything but a Number 1 hit, especially one that’s so famous and had such an impact on her career—and given her history of not only hit albums and songs but smashing one record after another. “Love Story” remains a fan favorite and a staple of Swift’s live shows, and it holds up as a sweet love song, with lyrics referencing famous literary couple Romeo and Juliet.
6
“Don’t Speak ”
No Doubt
Rock band No Doubt formed in 1986 and released their third album, Tragic Kingdom, in 1995, which included the track “Don’t Speak,” with lyrics written by frontwoman Gwen Stefani about her breakup with fellow band member Tony Kanal, reworked from lyrics originally written by her brother, Eric Stefani. The song was never actually released as a single and therefore never charted on the Hot 100, despite receiving significant airplay and topping other charts.
Although No Doubt has had other hit songs—and Stefani has also had a successful solo career—”Don’t Speak” remains their most famous, and it’s the one which launched their career. It’s a classic breakup song, equal parts heartbreak and anger. Not only was it everywhere in the ’90s after 16 weeks as the most-played song on the radio, but it still gets notable radio play today and is by far the band’s most popular song on streaming.
5
“Born in the U.S.A.”
Bruce Springsteen
Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen—nicknamed “The Boss”—began his career in 1973 with backing band the E Street Band. In 1984, he released his seventh studio album, Born in the U.S.A., with the titular song as its opening track. Although it’s a famous song, it peaked at number 9 on the Billboard charts. Springsteen has had a massive career in the decades since and continues to tour and release new music.
It’s often interpreted as a patriotic song and is used for political purposes, which ignores its lyrical content about a Vietnam veteran.
“Born in the U.S.A.” is one of Springsteen’s most famous and most acclaimed songs. It’s also been massively misunderstood—it’s often interpreted as a patriotic song and is used for political purposes, which ignores its lyrical content about a Vietnam veteran. Perhaps the only thing more shocking than the fact that it never hit Number 1 is the fact that Springsteen has never had a Number 1 song at all.
4
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Queen
British rock band Queen formed in 1970 and released their fourth album, A Night at the Opera, in 1975, with “Bohemian Rhapsody” as its lead single. Lead singer Freddie Mercury wrote the song, which peaked at Number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 but hit Number 1 on the UK charts. The band’s success both leading up to and following its release helped make them among the best-selling bands of all time.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a quintessential classic-rock song which has a slow piano start and explodes into a guitar-driven rock song. It’s a sprawling six-minute-long rock masterpiece, showcasing everything the band has become known for, from Mercury’s incredible vocal range to Brian May’s excellent work on guitar—and, of course, the band’s vocal harmonies. Given how beloved and successful it is to this day, it’s surprising it wasn’t a chart-topping hit.
3
“Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana
Nirvana formed in the late 1980s in Washington. Nevermind, their second album, was released in 1991, with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” as both the opening track and lead single. It peaked at Number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it did hit Number 1 on the alternative charts and in some other countries. In the years since, it’s sold over 13 million units across the world, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” as well as Nirvana’s other singles, still receives consistent radio play…
Nirvana’s popularity helped kick off the grunge movement of the ’90s—they introduced a distinctly different sound from the ’80s hair bands which had been popular and made up mainstream rock until then. Yet it’s surprising that a song with such staying power and influence never made it to Number 1 on the charts. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” as well as Nirvana’s other singles, still receives consistent radio play, from typical Top 40 stations to alternative and classic-rock ones.
2
“Don’t Stop Believin'”
Journey
Classic rock band Journey formed in the 1970s. Escape, their seventh album, was released in 1981, with opening track “Don’t Stop Believin'” released as its second single. Although it cracked the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and Escape itself hit Number 1, “Don’t Stop Believin'” peaked at number 9. Its legacy lives on, however—its popularity has endured, and it and Journey’s other hits helped make the band among the best-selling of all time.
The power ballad “Don’t Stop Believin'” was such a hit for Journey, it’s probably their most famous and most recognizable by far, with its opening piano chords and frontman Steve Perry’s unique voice—and some great moments for Perry to showcase his range. Journey still plays it live, and it’s guaranteed to get fans on their feet and singing along with every word at the top of their lungs, exactly as a great song should.
1
“Thriller”
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson began his career with The Jackson 5 when he was just six years old, then had a huge solo career as an adult. He released his sixth studio album, Thriller, in 1982, and “Thriller” was released as the album’s seventh and final single. Although it peaked at Number 4, the album itself is the best-selling of all time, and Jackson remains the best-selling artist of all time, with over 500 million records sold worldwide.
It’s an incredible song, and it’s especially popular during the Halloween season.
Jackson earned the nickname “the King of Pop” for good reason, and his songs are still radio staples, “Thriller” included. It’s an incredible song, and it’s especially popular during the Halloween season. Thanks to its creepy synthesizer, a voiceover from horror icon Vincent Price, and its iconic music video– essentially a short film depicting Jackson’s transformation into a zombie– featuring one of the most recognizable dances in pop culture ever, “Thriller” remains a staple in music.
