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.
HEMPSTEAD, NY – FEBRUARY 26: Bob Dylan plays a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar as he performs on stage at the Island Garden on February 26, 1966 in Hempstead, New York. (Photo by Alice Ochs/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at BC Place on December 06, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
Shania Twain, in London two weeks ago, recorded a performance of her new single "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" to be shown this weekend, November 9th, on cd:uk, the U.K's top weekend music show. (Photo by Justin Goff Photos for cd:uk/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 08: Cyndi Lauper performs onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for RRHOF)
Alanis Morissette during Alanis Morissette in 1995 Concert at John Hanson Ford Theater in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
