With The List, American Songwriter details the best, the brightest, the most enduring, the worst, the most hated, and the most surprising songs ever–among many other qualifiers. If you’re looking for our definitive rankings on music, you’ll find them below.
Stevie Wonder (born in 1950), American singer-songwriter, during a concert at the Olympia. Paris (9th arrondissement), October 16, 1967. (Photo by Christian Rose/Roger Viollet via Getty Images)
1977: American R&B group The Floaters: James Mitchell, Paul Mitchell, Larry Cunningham, Charles Clark, Ralph Mitchell. (Photo by BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – MARCH 7: Singer Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performs at the Chicago Stadium on March 7, 1994 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Wire Image)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 04: Noel Gallagher in attendance during the Dereck Chisora v Deontay Wilder: 100 fight night at The O2 Arena on April 04, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
(MANDATORY CREDIT Ebet Roberts/Getty Images) Musician and singer-songwriter Billy Idol performing live at RPI Fieldhouse in Troy, New York, US, 12th April 1987. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 07: Dolly Parton performs onstage during the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards at Allegiant Stadium on March 07, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ACM)
