Best Pop Songs of All Time
Decades of perfect singles — twelve pop songs that defined their eras, each from an album in the catalogue.
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1MJ
Billie Jean
The bassline, the beat, the moonwalk.
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2MA
Like a Prayer
Gospel choir and a giant hook.
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3PR
When Doves Cry
A number one with no bassline.
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4KB
Running Up That Hill
Art-pop that found a vast new audience.
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5AB
Dancing Queen
Immaculate, euphoric Swedish pop.
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6CL
Time After Time
A tender, timeless ballad.
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7RO
Dancing on My Own
Heartbreak on the dancefloor, perfected.
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8LO
Royals
Minimalism that reset teen pop.
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9DL
Don't Start Now
Disco-pop revival at its most irresistible.
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10TS
Blank Space
A witty, self-aware pop smash.
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11AD
Rolling in the Deep
A stomping, soulful global hit.
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12WH
How Will I Know
Joyful, big-voiced 80s pop.
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13MJ
Billie Jean
The bassline, the isolated snare, the glove, the moonwalk — perfection.
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14MA
Like a Prayer
Gospel choir, burning crosses, and the most adventurous thing on the radio in 1989.
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15WH
Greatest Love of All
The power ballad that made every subsequent ballad possible.
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16PR
When Doves Cry
No bass, synthetic drums, and still the best thing on the Purple Rain soundtrack.
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17GM
Faith
The Beatles riff, the leather jacket, the voice — pop at its most confident.
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18CL
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
The Robert Hazard song completely reinvented as a joyful feminist statement.
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19TT
What's Love Got to Do with It
The comeback single that made 45-year-old Tina Turner the biggest pop star in the world.
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20AD
Someone Like You
Piano and voice: the purest pop distillation of grief ever charted.
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21DL
Don't Start Now
The disco revival's clearest mission statement.
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22HS
Watermelon Sugar
The easiest listen on any recent pop album — California warmth bottled.
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23BE
bad guy
The whispered verse and the bass drop that announced pop's next phase.
Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.