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.
PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 28: Willow Smith attends the Acne Studios Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on February 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Mouton/Getty Images for Acne)
DAYS OF OUR LIVES — Pictured: (l-r) Carl Anderson, Gloria Loring as Liz Chandler Curtis — (Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 07: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Deana Carter performs during CMA Fest 2025 at the main stage at Nissan Stadium on June 07, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 1980s: (L-R) Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock from the Australian rock group 'Air Supply' in the 1980s in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 02: Ella Langley performs during Stars for Second Harvest with ERNEST & Friends at the Ryman Auditorium on June 02, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
John Travolta during John Travolta Backstage After Opening in "Bus Stop" at Westchester Playhouse in Tuckahoe, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 5: Chris Cornell performs with Soundgarden in concert at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom on October 5, 1991 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage) *** Local caption *** Chris Cornell
