The Hardest Thing
1999
David Frank and Steve Kipner handed a boy band a breakup song about ending an affair; it reached number five.
★ 1.6
The Songs canon
Sourced and sung.
Every song chosen by hand, with the recording to play it.
Browse all 2,393 songs or filter by genre, subject, artist, and year.
Browse all 2,393 songs or filter by genre, subject, artist, and year.
Whatcha Say
2009
J.R. Rotem looped Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek under a debut single, and Derulo had a number one within months.
★ 2.7
Loyal
Chris Brown and Lil Wayne
2013
Nic Nac's beat borrows from "Money Ain't a Thang," and three regional versions carried it thirty-six weeks on the chart.
★ 2.9
Every Morning
1998
Drummer Stan Frazier sang the hook on his way out of the studio, and the chorus borrows Malo's Suavecito.
★ 3.1
What You Want
1999 · From The Roots Come Alive
Jaguar Wright's hook over Philadelphia's finest, and lyrics so tied to The Best Man the film edited out a spoiler.
★ 3.6
Take it on the Run
1981
Epic wanted a different follow-up single; the band held out for Richrath's chain of hearsay and reached number five.
★ 3.6
Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)
2001
Dallas Austin wrote it, produced it, played bass and keys, and slipped a Sinatra snippet under Cantrell's revenge.
★ 3.9
It Wasn't Me
2000
A Hawaiian DJ pulled it off an MP3 site and put it on air; Britain's biggest seller of 2001 followed.
★ 4.3
Take a Bow
2008
StarGate and Ne-Yo tracked the ballad in three studios on two continents, and it vaulted from fifty-three to number one.
★ 4.3
I'm Not the Only One
2014
Smith and Jimmy Napes wrote it about someone else's marriage, and Simon Hale's strings carry the slow march.
★ 4.6
Human
1986 · From Crash
Jam and Lewis wrote it in Minneapolis, and Oakey called that vocal the best he ever gave.
★ 4.8
Your Love (The Outfield)
1986
Guitarist John Spinks wrote it, Tony Lewis sang it, and producer William Wittman pushed the band past their softer demo.
★ 4.8
Run to You
1984
Blue Oyster Cult passed, .38 Special passed, and Adams kept the riff; the first full take made the record.
★ 4.8
Keep On Loving You
1980
Cronin wrote it after his wife confessed an affair; Richrath's Les Paul turned a piano ballad into a number one.
★ 5.1
Saving All My Love For You
1985 · From Whitney Houston
Goffin and Masser's song, first recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.; Tom Scott's saxophone, Houston's first number one.
★ 5.1
What Goes Around...Comes Around
2006 · From FutureSex / LoveSounds
Danja's guitar riff started it in the studio; Timberlake's third straight number one turns betrayal into slow burn.
★ 5.3
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
2006
Pizzicato cello, a title lifted from Douglas Coupland, and a circus wedding video that won Video of the Year.
★ 5.6
Upside Down
1980
Rodgers and Edwards wrote the groove, Ross remixed the album to lift her vocal, and it topped the Hot 100.
★ 5.7