1950s
(1955) This song by Bill Haley is the first rock song to top the charts.
ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
(1965) This song by The Temptations was written in the Apollo Theater when the group was touring with The Miracles.
MY GIRL
(1970) This was Elton John’s first single to make it on the charts.
YOUR SONG
(1985) This song by A-Ha became a hit in the US mostly because of its music video where a cartoon figure beckons the reader to join him in a comic book story.
TAKE ON ME
(1994) This was originally a country hit. The band All-4-One turned it into an R&B song.
I SWEAR
(1957) This song was featured in an Elvis movie in which he is a wrongly accused convict who becomes a star when he gets out.
JAILHOUSE ROCK
(1966) Michelle Phillips, of the Mamas & The Papas, wrote this song during a cold winter in NYC. It tells of her homesickness for the state she was from.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
(1976) This song by the Eagles is their interpretation of the “high life” in Los Angeles.
HOTEL CALIFORNIA
(1985) This song was Aretha Franklin’s last #1 hit and is one of the most famous driving songs of all time.
FREEWAY OF LOVE
(1998) This song by Aerosmith was featured in the move Armageddon.
I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING
(1958) This song is based on Chuck Berry's life. It's a tale of a boy with humble beginnings with a talent for guitar.
JOHNNY B. GOODE
(1964) The frontman for the Kinks was inspired to write this song after watching girls dancing in a club.
YOU REALLY GOT ME
(1974) This song by Lynyrd Skynyrd is about southern pride.
SWEET HOME ALABAMA
(1981) .38 Special came up with the title of this song after hearing Dina Shore say it to a guest on her talk show who was talking about giving her husband space in their relationship.
HOLD ON LOOSELY
(2002) Performed by Christina Aguilera, as this song begins you can hear Christina tell her friend "Don't look at me", revealing her insecurities.
BEAUTIFUL
(1956) Performed by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - the lyrics to this song were written after a resident in Lymon's apartment building allowed Lymon to read a collection of love letters from his girlfriend.
WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE
(1966) Nancy Sinatra said she regretted singing this song because she felt that the image it portrayed of her was “hard, and I’m as soft as they come.”
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’
(1970) Written by Paul McCartney, this song was inspired by his mother, Mary, who died when he was 14.
LET IT BE
(1980) This smooth, soulful song tells of a deep connection between a couple: whatever happens, they can get through it together.
JUST THE TWO OF US
(2017) Ed Sheeran wrote this love song for his high-school sweetheart, now wife.
PERFECT
(1958) Performed by The Platters, this song was actually written in 1933 for the musical Roberta, starring Bob Hope.
SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
(1969) Norman Greenbaum wrote and sang this song. He said “it appeals to one’s inner self and the need for redemption.”
SPIRIT IN THE SKY
(1971) This song by The Temptations was written in the late 60s, but since psychedelic music was popular at the time, they decided to wait a few years to release it.
JUST MY IMAGINATION
(1986) This song by The Moody Blues is about “the one who got away.”
YOUR WILDEST DREAMS
(2018) This song by Lauren Daigle captures the power of faith as she sings about being accepted by God
YOU SAY