Best Pop Songs of All Time

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.

1. 1
   MJ
   ▶

   Billie Jean

   Michael Jackson · from Thriller (1982) · Album scores 97/99

   The bassline, the beat, the moonwalk.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
2. 2
   MA
   ▶

   Like a Prayer

   Madonna · from Like a Prayer (1989) · Album scores 79/99

   Gospel choir and a giant hook.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
3. 3
   PR
   ▶

   When Doves Cry

   Prince · from Purple Rain (1984) · Album scores 99/99

   A number one with no bassline.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
4. 4
   KB
   ▶

   Running Up That Hill

   Kate Bush · from Hounds of Love (1985) · Album scores 95/99

   Art-pop that found a vast new audience.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
5. 5
   AB
   ▶

   Dancing Queen

   ABBA · from Arrival (1976) · Album scores 96/99

   Immaculate, euphoric Swedish pop.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
6. 6
   CL
   ▶

   Time After Time

   Cyndi Lauper · from She's So Unusual (1983) · Album scores 79/99

   A tender, timeless ballad.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
7. 7
   RO
   ▶

   Dancing on My Own

   Robyn · from Body Talk (2010) · Album scores 89/99

   Heartbreak on the dancefloor, perfected.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
8. 8
   LO
   ▶

   Royals

   Lorde · from Pure Heroine (2013) · Album scores 83/99

   Minimalism that reset teen pop.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
9. 9
   DL
   ▶

   Don't Start Now

   Dua Lipa · from Future Nostalgia (2020) · Album scores 85/99

   Disco-pop revival at its most irresistible.

   Vinyl →CD →Album →
   Listen → Watch →
10. 10
    TS
    ▶

    Blank Space

    Taylor Swift · from 1989 (2014) · Album scores 85/99

    A witty, self-aware pop smash.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
11. 11
    AD
    ▶

    Rolling in the Deep

    Adele · from 21 (2011) · Album scores 78/99

    A stomping, soulful global hit.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
12. 12
    WH
    ▶

    How Will I Know

    Whitney Houston · from Whitney Houston (1985) · Album scores 81/99

    Joyful, big-voiced 80s pop.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
13. 13
    MJ
    ▶

    Billie Jean

    Michael Jackson · from Thriller (1982) · Album scores 97/99

    The bassline, the isolated snare, the glove, the moonwalk — perfection.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
14. 14
    MA
    ▶

    Like a Prayer

    Madonna · from Like a Prayer (1989) · Album scores 79/99

    Gospel choir, burning crosses, and the most adventurous thing on the radio in 1989.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
15. 15
    WH
    ▶

    Greatest Love of All

    Whitney Houston · from Whitney Houston (1985) · Album scores 81/99

    The power ballad that made every subsequent ballad possible.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
16. 16
    PR
    ▶

    When Doves Cry

    Prince · from Purple Rain (1984) · Album scores 99/99

    No bass, synthetic drums, and still the best thing on the Purple Rain soundtrack.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
17. 17
    GM
    ▶

    Faith

    George Michael · from Faith (1987) · Album scores 85/99

    The Beatles riff, the leather jacket, the voice — pop at its most confident.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
18. 18
    CL
    ▶

    Girls Just Want to Have Fun

    Cyndi Lauper · from She's So Unusual (1983) · Album scores 79/99

    The Robert Hazard song completely reinvented as a joyful feminist statement.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
19. 19
    TT
    ▶

    What's Love Got to Do with It

    Tina Turner · from Private Dancer (1984) · Album scores 81/99

    The comeback single that made 45-year-old Tina Turner the biggest pop star in the world.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
20. 20
    AD
    ▶

    Someone Like You

    Adele · from 21 (2011) · Album scores 78/99

    Piano and voice: the purest pop distillation of grief ever charted.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
21. 21
    DL
    ▶

    Don't Start Now

    Dua Lipa · from Future Nostalgia (2020) · Album scores 85/99

    The disco revival's clearest mission statement.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
22. 22
    HS
    ▶

    Watermelon Sugar

    Harry Styles · from Fine Line (2019) · Album scores 78/99

    The easiest listen on any recent pop album — California warmth bottled.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →
23. 23
    BE
    ▶

    bad guy

    Billie Eilish · from When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) · Album scores 86/99

    The whispered verse and the bass drop that announced pop's next phase.

    Vinyl →CD →Album →
    Listen → Watch →

Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title or "Album" opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.