The Billboard Hot 100 chart ranks the top songs in the United States each week, blending streaming, radio airplay and sales figures (per data tracker Luminate). Unsurprisingly, the biggest hits tend to be relatively new at any given time, as they have been since the survey began in 1958. On the latest list, five acts are even enjoying their first top 10s: Shaboozey, Tommy Richman, Sabrina Carpenter – simultaneously logging her first two top 10s – Teddy Swims and Benson Boone.
But what about the current biggest hits that were released in past decades?
Nostalgia sells, and streams and attracts strong radio play, per a Billboard analysis of the best-performing songs in the July 12-18 tracking week that were originally released in the 2000s, 1990s, ‘80s, ‘70s and ‘60s.
Similarly, as Luminate revealed in its midyear report, catalog music (released 18 months or earlier) accounted for 73% of all album consumption in the first half of 2024, matching its share in 2023, and up slightly from its totals earlier this decade. (Even the Hot 100’s current No. 1 draws from the past, as Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song [Tipsy],” on top for a second week, interpolates J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy.”)
Below is a look at the top 10 songs this week from each decade from the ‘00s back to the ‘60s. Notably, the top track from the ‘00s experienced an unexpected surge: Following the July 13 shooting of former president Donald Trump during a campaign rally, memes emerged comparing him to 50 Cent, who was shot nine times in 2000. (Mused a shrugging 50 Cent, “Trump gets shot and now I’m trending.”)
The rapper’s “Many Men (Wish Death)” subsequently reigns as the biggest song from the 2000s July 12-18, led by 6.4 million official U.S. streams – up 224% week-over-week.
The song’s performance outpaces its original showing, as it bubbled under the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2003 and has yet to reach the ranking, or the Hot 100. Still, most of the titles below (and, happily, reflecting content of a more peaceable nature) were substantial hits upon their releases, with over 80% top 10 hits on the Hot 100 over the five decades analyzed.
Browse below the most prominent representation of songs from the 2000s (2000-09), 1990s, ‘80s, ‘70s and ‘60s over the past week, encompassing a wide variety of genres, from pop and hip-hop to new wave, classic rock and Motown.
Biggest Hits This Week From the 2000s
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“Many Men (Wish Death),” 50 Cent
“Yeah!,” Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris
“Mr. Brightside,” The Killers
“Party in the U.S.A.,” Miley Cyrus
“How You Remind Me,” Nickelback
“Viva La Vida,” Coldplay
“Unwritten,” Natasha Bedingfield
“In the End,” Linkin Park
“Without Me,” Eminem
“Lose Yourself,” Eminem
As noted above, 50 Cent’s 2003 track “Many Men (Wish Death)” bounded in streams July 12-18. It also vaulted by 5,848% to 3,000 sold.
Plus, Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” gains annually following July 4, while Eminem’s “Without Me” and “Lose Yourself” each increased by 4%, to 4.7 million and 4.2 million streams, respectively, as his new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), launches at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Biggest Hits This Week From the 1990s
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“Iris,” Goo Goo Dolls
“Thunderstruck,” AC/DC
“Everlong,” Foo Fighters
“No Scrubs,” TLC
“Santeria,” Sublime
“Under the Bridge,” Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
“All the Small Things,” Blink-182
“Creep,” Radiohead
“Linger,” The Cranberries
Leading a rock-heavy ‘90s recap, one of Goo Goo Dolls’ signature songs drew 4.8 million streams and 4.5 million in airplay audience (among over 1,000 stations that report to the Hot 100’s Radio Songs chart) in the latest tracking week. It hit No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1998 and led Radio Songs for 18 weeks – the most ever for song by a group.
The runner-up above, AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” has never hit the Hot 100, although it roared to No. 5 on Mainstream Rock Airplay in 1990 and has since scored numerous media and sports synchs.
Biggest Hits This Week From the ‘80s
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“Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey
“Everybody Wants To Rule the World,” Tears for Fears
“Your Love,” The Outfield
“Take On Me,” A-Ha
“You Shook Me All Night Long,” AC/DC
“Africa,” Toto
“Sweet Child o’ Mine,” Guns N’ Roses
“Livin’ on a Prayer,” Bon Jovi
“Billie Jean,” Michael Jackson
“Uptown Girl,” Billy Joel
Journey’s classic garnered 8 million streams, 4.5 million in Hot 100 radio reach and 1,000 in download sales July 12-18. The top current hit from the ‘80s peaked at No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1981 and its legacy has been further fortified since via tie-ins to The Sopranos, Glee and more.
Two spots above another AC/DC standard, The Outfield’s “Your Love” has drawn new cheers in 2024, its profile boosted by a remix with Diplo.
Biggest Hits This Week From the ‘70s
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“Dreams,” Fleetwood Mac
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Rich Girl,” Daryl Hall, John Oates
“Hotel California,” Eagles
“Listen to the Music,” The Doobie Brothers
“September,” Earth, Wind & Fire
“Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Come and Get Your Love,” Redbone
“Take It Easy,” Eagles
“The Chain,” Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks-sung “Dreams” earned 8.4 million streams and 871,000 airplay audience impressions in the past week. Originally a Hot 100 No. 1 in 1977, it, like 50 Cent and Journey’s current decade-leading hits, has benefited from new forms of discovery, as it returned to the chart, sparked by TikTok, and reached No. 12 in 2020.
Per another song above, this list will likely soon look different, specifically following the 21st night of September.
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
“Bad Moon Rising,” Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Paint It, Black,” The Rolling Stones
“For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound),” Buffalo Springfield
“California Dreamin’,” The Mamas & The Papas
Van Morrison’s breakthrough pop hit tallied 5.6 million streams July 12-18. It climbed to No. 10 on the Hot 100 in 1967.
Meanwhile, enduring love for The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” is reflected in comparison to other charted hits, unlike in 1969 when it was not released as a U.S. single from the band’s album Abbey Road.
