Billie Jean
1982 · From Thriller
That bassline, mixed and remixed until it gleamed, and the four minutes that integrated MTV.
★ 9.8
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.
The Tracks of My Tears
1965
Tarplin brought the guitar figure first, Robinson and Moore wrote words to it, and Motown got its saddest smile.
★ 8.1
Poker Face
2008
RedOne produced it at Record Plant, Gaga's mum-mum-mum-mah hook nodding to Boney M, and 2009's best-selling single worldwide.
★ 7.5
Where Did You Sleep Last Night
1994 · From MTV Unplugged in New York
Closing the Unplugged set at Sony Studios, a Lead Belly song, and a last verse Neil Young called unearthly.
★ 7.4
She's Not ThereThe Zombies
She's Not There
1964 · From Begin Here
A minor key, a Hohner Pianet solo, and a debut single Argent wrote to fit Blunstone's upper range.
★ 6.9
The Great PretenderThe Platters
The Great Pretender
1955
Twenty minutes in a Las Vegas hotel washroom, by Ram's account, and Tony Williams sings heartbreak behind a smile.
★ 6.9
Creep (TLC)
1994 · From CrazySexyCool
A trumpet loop, T-Boz half-whispering, and Left Eye objecting so strongly she threatened to tape her mouth shut.
★ 6.7
Just a Friend
1989
Freddie Scott's "(You) Got What I Need" rebuilt on piano, with Markie singing the hook himself, flat and irresistible.
★ 6.6
Poison
1990
Elliot Straite, as Dr. Freeze, turned a letter to an ex-girlfriend into new jack swing at its sharpest.
★ 6.3
Interstate Love Song
1994
Robert DeLeo worked it out as a bossa nova on nylon strings; Weiland nailed the Atlanta vocal in one take.
★ 6.3
Live to Tell
1986 · From True Blue
Leonard wrote it as a film instrumental that Paramount passed on; Madonna added the words and kept her demo vocal.
★ 6.0
Sail AwayRandy Newman
Sail Away
1972
A slave trader's sales pitch set to strings and Newman's warmest melody; Bobby Darin later sang it straight.
★ 5.6
Murder She WroteChaka Demus & Pliers
Murder She Wrote
1994
Sly and Robbie cut it over the Bam Bam riddim, and Omarion, Pitbull and Jason Derulo all borrowed it later.
★ 5.4
Karma Chameleon
1983
Judd Lander's harmonica, six weeks at number one in Britain, and Boy George singing about pleasing everybody.
★ 5.1
Sirius, Eye in the Sky
1982
Woolfson took the title from casino surveillance slang; Sirius became the music that introduced Michael Jordan's Bulls.
★ 4.8
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
1996
Two million US copies, a Stockholm session from 1995, and a vocal Nick Carter recorded once his voice settled.
★ 4.8
Honey Don'tCarl Perkins
Honey Don't
1956
Flipside of Blue Suede Shoes, cut at Sun with both Perkins brothers, and later Ringo's turn on Beatles for Sale.
★ 4.7
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
Run-Around
1994
Popper wrote it about an unrequited crush, then watched it sit on the Hot 100 for forty-nine weeks.
★ 4.1
One Thing Leads to Another
1983
Curnin called it an indictment of dishonest politicians, Rupert Hine produced it, and America took it to number four.
★ 3.8