Popular songs come out every day and fizzle away, but the true challenge of a song is how many years after its release will people still listen to it.
In a new data study, Polygraph's Matt Daniels takes a closer look at these patterns. He compiled all the Billboard Top 100 song lists from the 1950s to today and cross-referenced each song with its play count on streaming platform Spotify, to gauge present popularity.
In a new data study, Polygraph's Matt Daniels takes a closer look at these patterns. He compiled all the Billboard Top 100 song lists from the 1950s to today and cross-referenced each song with its play count on streaming platform Spotify, to gauge present popularity.
And the results are pretty interesting. For example, Linkin Park's popularity is still on, enduring longer than many would have forseen or expected.
The list still shows what could be considered classics among Spotify's 75 million users.
ADVERTISEMENT
While jams like Journey's ‘Don't stop believin’ make the list, some of the other tracks are surprising. Though it's only really relevant one month of the year, Mariah Carey's ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ has a spot on the list.
It's worth noting that several top artists, including The Beatles and Taylor Swift, are not available on Spotify, so they aren't factored into the data.
Find the 30 most timeless songs on Spotify.
30. "In Da Club" by 50 Cent, 2003
Spotify playcount: 29,193,048
ADVERTISEMENT
29. "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses, 1988
Spotify playcount: 29,245,122
28. "With Or Without You" by U2, 1987
Spotify playcount: 29,652,694
27. "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi, 1986
ADVERTISEMENT
Spotify playcount: 29,693,538
26. "Still D.R.E." by Dr. Dre, 1999
Spotify playcount: 30,309,920
25. "Come As You Are" by Nirvana, 1992
Spotify playcount: 30,368,401
ADVERTISEMENT
24. "No Diggity" by Blackstreet, 1996
Spotify playcount: 30,911,317
23. "The Next Episode" by Dr. Dre, 2000
Spotify playcount: 31,793,183
22. "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman, 1988
ADVERTISEMENT
Spotify playcount: 32,092,736
21. "Gold Digger" by Kanye West, 2005
Spotify playcount: 32,113,198
20. "Crazy In Love" by Beyonce, 2003
Spotify playcount: 32,150,597
ADVERTISEMENT
19. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, 1975
Spotify playcount: 32,298,690
18. "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" by Green Day, 2004
Spotify playcount: 32,343,283
17. "Under The Bridge" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1992
ADVERTISEMENT
Spotify playcount: 33,625,240
16. "Eye Of The Tiger" by Survivor, 1982
Spotify playcount: 34,225,439
15. "Wonderwall" by Oasis, 1996
Spotify playcount: 34,352,877
ADVERTISEMENT
14. "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, 1998
Spotify playcount:35,669,952
13. "Mockingbird" by Eminem, 2005
Spotify playcount: 36,065,242
12. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, 2000
ADVERTISEMENT
Spotify playcount: 36,253,472
11. "Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, 2000
Spotify playcount: 38,190,230
10. "Fix You" by Coldplay, 2005
Spotify playcount: 38,912,539
ADVERTISEMENT
9. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, 2003
Spotify playcount: 39,559,321
8. "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, 1983
Spotify playcount: 40,732,708
7. "Hey Ya!" by OutKast, 2003
ADVERTISEMENT
Spotify playcount: 41,296,582
6. "In The End" by Linkin Park, 2001
Spotify playcount: 43,025,894
5. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, 1991
Spotify playcount: 50,657,282
ADVERTISEMENT
4. "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, 1981
Spotify playcount: 50,855,135
3. "Numb" by Linkin Park, 2003
Spotify playcount: 52,969,898
2. "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers, 2005
ADVERTISEMENT
Spotify playcount: 54,367,533
1. "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, 2002
Spotify playcount: 59,039,765
