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Top Songs Of The Years
1970 through 2005

Tunecaster® The Interactive Pop And Rock Music Encyclopedia™, a music chart free online encyclopedia, presents this TOP SONG OF THE YEAR list page. The pop music top song of the year is the most important and well known song for the period.

early play
peak play
hear
US
NY
Rock
#
title
artist
Feb 1970
Mar 1970
1
1
1
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water featured pianist Knechtel, from Bread. The song won the Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Writer--Paul Simon.
Mar 1971
Apr 1971
1
1
2
Joy To The World
Three Dog Night
Jun 1972
Aug 1972
1
1
3
Alone Again (Naturally)
Writer--Gilbert O'Sullivan.
Jan 1973
Feb 1973
1
1
4
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Killing Me Softly With His Song won the Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year, giving Roberta Flack two consecutive wins in both categories. The song was written for Don McLean. Don McLean's song was American Pie.
Jan 1974
Mar 1974
1
1
5
Seasons In The Sun
Terry Jacks
Terry Jacks wrote Seasons In The Sun as an imaginary goodbye from a friend of his that passed away. Seasons In The Sun was recorded ten years earlier as an album track for The Kingston Trio.
Apr 1975
Jun 1975
1
1
6
Love Will Keep Us Together
Love Will Keep Us Together won the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year. This song spent three weeks at number one. The writer, Neil Sedaka, recorded Love Will Keep Us Together as an album track a few months before.
Oct 1976
Nov 1976
1
1
7
Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)
Tonight's The Night spent three weeks at number one.
Apr 1977
Jul 1977
1
1
8
I Just Want To Be Your Everything
I Just Want To Be Your Everything spent four weeks at number one. The song was written by members of Bee Gees who were older brothers of Andy Gibb. I Just Want To Be Your Everything became the top song of the decade, edging out the second biggest song of the same year, You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone.
Dec 1977
Jan 1978
1
1
9
Stayin' Alive
Stayin' Alive spent four weeks at number one. Writer(s)--Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Stayin' Alive was from the movie Saturday Night Fever.
Dec 1978
Jan 1979
1
1
10
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy spent five weeks at number one. 1979 was the second time that Rod Stewart had the top song of the year. See 1976.
Apr 1980
Jun 1980
1
1
1
11
Coming Up (Live At Glasgow)
Coming Up spent three weeks at number one. the single featured a studio version that was very different from the popular live version.
Apr 1981
May 1981
1
1
12
12
Bette Davis Eyes
Bette Davis Eyes won the Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Bette Davis Eyes spent three weeks at number one. Bette Davis Eyes was written by Jackie DeShannon.
Apr 1982
May 1982
1
1
13
Ebony And Ivory
Ebony And Ivory spent five weeks at number one, and became the top song of the decade of the 1980s. Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder recorded their parts to the song separately.
May 1983
Jul 1983
1
1
1
14
Every Breath You Take
Every Breath You Take won the Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. Puff Daddy (aka P. Diddy) borrowed from this song in his rap song I'll Be Missing You, which also became a number one hit. Every Breath You Take spent four weeks at number one. The lead singer of The Police, Sting, wrote Every Breath You Take.
Jan 1984
Feb 1984
1
1
1
15
Jump
Jump spent three weeks at number one.
Mar 1985
Apr 1985
1
1
16
We Are The World
Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson cowrote We Are The World. The song featured many major singing stars and the proceeds were donated to charities. It won the Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. We Are The World spent three weeks at number one.
Nov 1985
Jan 1986
1
1
17
That's What Friends Are For
Dionne And Friends
Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John sang That's What Friends Are For. The song won the Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. That's What Friends Are For spent three weeks at number one.
Dec 1986
Feb 1987
1
1
1
18
Livin' On A Prayer
Livin' On A Prayer spent three weeks at number one. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi later said Livin' On A Prayer was written to describe the Reagan years..
Apr 1988
May 1988
1
1
19
One More Try
One More Try spent three weeks at number one.
Mar 1989
Apr 1989
1
1
20
Like A Prayer
The video for Like A Prayer was denounced as blashphemy. As a result, Pepsi stopped running a commercial for soda which featured the song. Like A Prayer spent three weeks at number one.
Jun 1990
Jul 1990
1
1
21
Vision Of Love
Vision Of Love spent four weeks at number one.
Jul 1991
Jul 1991
1
1
16
22
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
I Do It For You spent four weeks at number one.
Jul 1992
Aug 1992
1
1
23
End Of The Road
End Of The Road spent six weeks at number one.
Nov 1992
Dec 1992
1
1
24
I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You won the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year. The song was written by Dolly Parton. I Will Always Love You was the top song of the year 1993, spending five weeks at number one. Although the song hit number one in December, it was still number one in January. If it were counted for 1992, it would have been number two. The song was from the movie The Bodyguard.
Aug 1994
Aug 1994
1
1
25
I'll Make Love To You
I'll Make Love To You spent four weeks at number one.
Oct 1995
Nov 1995
1
1
26
One Sweet Day
One Sweet Day spent six nonconsecutive weeks at number one, and became the most played record in pop music history. 1995 was the third time that Boyz II Men had the top song of the year.
Sep 1995
Jul 1996
1
1
27
MacArena (Bayside Boys Mix)
Los Del Rio
MacArena spent four weeks at number one.
Jan 1997
Feb 1997
1
1
28
Wannabe
Wannabe spent three weeks at number one.
Jun 1998
Jul 1998
1
1
22
29
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing spent three weeks at number one.
Jul 1999
Sep 1999
1
1
10
30
Smooth
Santana Featuring Rob Thomas
Smooth won the Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Rob Thomas was the lead singer from Matchbox 20, aka Matchbox Twenty. Smooth spent three weeks at number one.
Nov 2000
Dec 2000
1
1
31
It Wasn't Me
Shaggy Featuring Ricardo Rikrok Ducent
It Wasn't Me spent four nonconsecutive weeks at number one.
Nov 2000
Apr 2001
2
1
1
32
Hanging By A Moment
Lifehouse
Hanging By A Moment spent one lonely week at number one. This song edged out many songs that spent more than one week at number one because of its strong staying power, and three weeks at number two also.
Sep 2002
Oct 2002
1
1
2
33
Lose Yourself
Lose Yourself spent four weeks at number one. Lose Yourself was from the movie 8 Mile.
Dec 2002
Feb 2003
1