In every era, there are songs that transcend genre and audience, becoming universal anthems known far and wide. In this article, we’ll take a journey through 30 songs that have achieved this rare status. Here are anthems that lasted and will last for generations.
These tracks are more than just melodies; they are shared cultural moments that resonate with listeners young and old, from all walks of life. Whether it’s a timeless classic that evokes waves of nostalgia or a recent hit that’s taken the world by storm, these songs have the remarkable ability to unite people in a collective experience of music.
Contents
- 1. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
- 2. “Shape Of You” by Ed Sheeran
- 3. “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X
- 4. “Barbie Girl” by Aqua
- 5. “Yeah!” by Usher Featuring Lil Jon And Ludacris
- 6. “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry
- 7. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
- 8. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
- 9. “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
- 10. “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
- 11. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
- 12. “Umbrella” by Rihanna ft. Jay-Z
- 13. “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
- 14. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
- 15. “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
- 16. “Sorry” by Justin Bieber
- 17. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men
- 18. “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
- 19. “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera
- 20. “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus
- 21. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
- 22. “Gangnam Style” by PSY
- 23. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
- 24. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
- 25. “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
- 26. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars
- 27. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
- 28. “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi
- 29. “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
- 30. “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
- Final Thoughts
1. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
The song “Wonderwall” by Oasis was released in October 1995 and quickly became one of the band’s most popular songs. It is still being listened to by people across the globe even today. The official video now has over 400 million Youtube streams!
2. “Shape Of You” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” was released in 2017 under his Divide album. It is one of the many hit songs on this award-winning album. Also, did you know that as of January 2022, it is the #1 most streamed song on Spotify with over 3 billion streams? It truly deserves a spot on this list.
3. “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X
“Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X is an unmistakable melody that has solidified its place in modern culture. It catapulted from a viral sensation on social media platforms to a chart-topping hit, sitting at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 19 consecutive weeks.
4. “Barbie Girl” by Aqua
“Barbie Girl” is a song by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua. It was released in 1997 as their third single overall, and became a massive hit, selling more than eight million copies worldwide. The song topped the charts in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom
5. “Yeah!” by Usher Featuring Lil Jon And Ludacris
“Yeah!” is a song by American R&B singer Usher. It features rapper Lil Jon and singer Ludacris. The song was released in 2004 and reached a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the same year. It also peaked in the UK Singles Chart, making it one of Usher’s most successful songs.
6. “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry
Almost everybody bopped to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” when it was released in 2010. The song became one of Perry’s most successful songs and was also nominated for various awards. As of today, its music video reached a whopping 290 million views!
7. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down,” oh you know what comes next. This remains a classic dance song that many people still enjoy today. It was released in 1987 by English singer Rick Astley and became a massive hit worldwide.
8. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
“Billie Jean” is a hit song by Michael Jackson that was released in 1982. The song became one of the most successful singles of all time and is often credited as being one of the reasons for Jackson’s widespread success. More than 10 million copies have been sold since its release, isn’t that iconic?
9. “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
Another song you surely danced along to is “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas. It was released in 2009 and quickly became one of the group’s most popular songs. It even won a Grammy award and an NRJ music award!
10. “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
“Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi is a timeless anthem that has transcended generations since its release in 1986. As a cornerstone of rock ‘n’ roll, this song features infectious guitar riffs, powerful vocals, and a sing-along chorus that is instantly recognizable.
11. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
Now, this is a Holiday classic that everyone knows. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey was released in 1994 and has become one of the best-selling singles of all time.
It has also been covered by many artists over the years. Her latest version was released in 2019 and it now has over 270 million views on Youtube!
12. “Umbrella” by Rihanna ft. Jay-Z
From the very first echoing beats that open the track, listeners are instantly transported into Rihanna’s empowering and steadfast world. Her distinctive, sultry voice, harmonizing with the smooth rap verses of Jay-Z, created a sound that was as refreshing as it was revolutionary at the time. “Umbrella” remains a go-to anthem for many, a song that feels like both a warm embrace and a call to dance.
13. “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
“A Thousand Miles” is the debut single of singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton. It was released in 2001 as part of her debut album and became a worldwide hit, and was even featured in famous movies like Legally Blonde and White Chicks. It also won a Grammy award and several other nominations and we can see why.
14. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
If you’re a fan of singing contests, then you’ve probably heard this song multiple times. “I Will Always Love You” is a song by Whitney Houston that was originally released in 1992.
It has been covered by many artists over the years, but Houston’s version remains the most popular one and an enhanced music video in 4k quality was recently uploaded which gained a whopping 1.2 billion views!
15. “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
“Shake it Off” is a pop song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released in 2014 and quickly became one of her most successful singles. As of today, the music video has been viewed more than 3 billion times on YouTube!
16. “Sorry” by Justin Bieber
Do you still remember when “Sorry” by Justin Bieber was all the rage? It was released in 2015 and topped the charts that same year. The song has been certified platinum in various countries and has sold more than 2 million copies in the US.
17. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men
“I’ll Make Love to You” is a song by the American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released in 1994 and quickly rose to the top of the charts, where it stayed for a record-breaking 14 weeks. As of today, the song is still widely listened to and has been covered by many artists.
18. “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner
“Proud Mary” is a song by Tina Turner that was originally released in 1971. The song is about a woman’s story of serving rich people as a maid. It sold more than 1 million copies worldwide and even won a Grammy.
19. “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera
“Moves like Jagger” is a song by the American pop-rock band Maroon 5. It was released in 2010 and features Christina Aguilera. The song became a worldwide hit with over 755 million Youtube views. Dance choreographies made this song even more popular.
20. “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus
Millennial girls probably grew up listening to this song on the radio. “Party in the USA” is a song by Miley Cyrus that was released in 2009. It became an instant hit and has been certified multi-platinum in various countries.
The music video also gained over 860 million views on YouTube! A lot of covers and parodies have been made of this song over the years.
21. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond is a melodic embrace that has united listeners in joyful harmony since its release in 1969. Regardless of where one is in the world, this song stands as a beloved anthem, instantly familiar and cherished across generations, solidifying its place as a staple in the soundtrack of life.
22. “Gangnam Style” by PSY
There is no way that this iconic song can be left off this list. “Gangnam Style” is a song by Korean rapper PSY. It was released in 2012 and became a hit, with the music video being the first-ever video to reach over a billion views on YouTube within months. The song has been credited with helping to spread K-pop internationally and making it more mainstream.
23. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
“My Heart Will Go On” is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion. It was released in 1997 and quickly became an international hit, selling more than 18 million copies worldwide.
The song was written for the movie Titanic and has since been adapted into various other versions, including a popular one by Japanese singer Shizuka Kudo.
24. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
“Since U Been Gone” is a pop music by Kelly Clarkson that was released in 2004. The song has been famous yet again since it was sung in the award-winning movie Pitch Perfect.
The song is an anthem for women finally moving on from an ex-boyfriend. It has been certified multi-platinum in various countries and its official music video garnered over 100 million views on Youtube.
25. “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
“Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga is an electrifying anthem that has captivated listeners since its debut in 2009. The accompanying music video, celebrated for its avant-garde visuals and fashion-forward statements, further solidifies “Bad Romance” as a groundbreaking work of art with a whopping 1.7 billion views on YouTube.
26. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars
Another dance craze that swept the world was “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. It was released in 2014 and the song has been certified diamond in multiple countries. Its official music video has been viewed over 4 billion times on YouTube.
27. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
This song is by American singer Cyndi Lauper. It was released in 1983 under her album “She’s So Unusual”. The song is about female empowerment and has been covered by many artists over the years.
28. “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi
This song is by the American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released in 2000 and quickly became a hit, with its music video garnering over 1 billion views on YouTube. The song is about living life to the fullest and taking control of your destiny.
29. “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
“Total Eclipse Of The Heart” is a song by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. It was released in 1983 and became one of the greatest songs of all time, selling more than six million copies worldwide. The song was written by Jim Steinman and has been covered by many renowned artists over the years.
30. “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
“Hollaback Girl” is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani. It was released in 2004 the song is about female empowerment and has been praised for its catchy beats and dance moves. To date, it is still one of Stefani’s most popular songs.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the most popular songs that everyone knows. Some of these songs have been around for decades while others are more recent hits.
What all of these songs have in common is that they are catchy, easy to sing along to, and have become international sensations. Whether you’re at a party, in the car, or just spending time with friends, these are the perfect songs to sing along to. Thanks for reading!
