Billboard Hot 100

Which are the “hottest” songs of the past 50 years? That can be pretty subjective, of course, but Billboard attempted to bring a bit of reason to the process.

In August of 1958, Billboard launched its Hot 100. Rather than tracking songs by sales or plays on jukeboxes or on radio, the magazine began to measure popularity by incorporating both sales and radio play into the equation.

The 50th Anniversary Hot 100 Song and Artist charts are based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100, since the chart’s inception in August 1958 through the issue dated July 26, 2008. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least.

Who’s the hottest of the hot?

Here are the Top 10, in reverse order:

10. “Un-Break My Heart,” Tony Braxton (1996)
9. “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey (2005)
8. “Hey Jude,” The Beatles (1968)
7. “You Light Up My Life,” Debby Boone (1977)
6. “Physical,” Olivia Newton-John (1981)
5. “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix),” Los Del Rio (1996)
4. “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes (1997)
3. “Mack the Knife,” Bobby Darin (1959)
2. “Smooth,” Santana Featuring Rob Thomas (1999)
1. “The Twist,” Chubby Checker (1960 and 1962)

Source: Billboard