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.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 19: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Chris Stapleton performs onstage during the 59th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
James Taylor and Joni Mitchell talk to Carole King in the control room of A&M Records Recording Studio during the recording of King's album 'Tapestry' in January 1971 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jim McCrary/Redferns)
LONDON, ENGLAND – Keith Flint of The Prodigy perform live on stage at O2 Academy Brixton on December 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images)
A group portrait of English rock band The Who, circa 1965. Left to right are Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Pete Townshend and Keith Moon. (Photo by The Visualeyes Archive/Redferns)
