The most overplayed song every year since 2001

In 2000, alternative rock band Lifehouse released their debut album No Name Face, which was led by the single “Hanging by a Moment.” The song took a few months before it landed on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at 76 in early February 2001, and four months later, peaking at No. 2. The song remained on the Hot 100 for 54 consecutive weeks and Billboard named it the chart’s most successful song of that year. 

“Without Me” was the lead single to rapper Eminem’s fourth studio album, The Eminem Show. On the song, Eminem highlights how his presence is a necessity to save the music industry, which is also showcased in the music video as the rapper portrays different superheroes. It was the type of music video that was always a fan favorite on video countdown shows like MTV’s Total Request Live. 

In 2003, the Black Eyed Peas expanded their sound and added new member Fergie to their group for their third album Elephunk. The album’s lead single, “Where Is the Love?” featured vocals from pop star Justin Timberlake and became the biggest-selling single of the year. Not to mention, the group used the song to highlight societal issues and the need for peace and love in the world. 

2004 was the year when rock band Hoobastank released their most commercially successful single to date, “The Reason.” Although the song debuted at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100, nearly three months later, the song rose to No. 2. 

There was no escaping Daniel Powter’s 2005 single “Bad Day,” it was literally everywhere. From being used in TV commercials, to being coined as the prime elimination song on American Idol, and becoming a top-ten most-watched video on the Internet that year, it was difficult to not hear the song being played. The single topped several Billboard charts, such as the Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and Pop 100. 

Gnarls Barkley’s debut single, “Crazy” is one of those tracks that listeners either loved or hated. Although some listeners got tired of hearing the song, it was a major success for the duo. “Crazy” was placed on multiple publications' “best of lists,” peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100, and won a Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. 

Alicia Keys is a master when it comes to writing a love song, it was no different in 2007 when she released her single “No One.” On the track, Keys describes how a couple can get through anything in life as long as they have the right partner by their side. 

In 2008, rock band Coldpay released their fourth album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, which featured the hit single “Viva la Vida.” The song heavily references historical tidbits such as fallen kingdoms and the French Revolution. “Viva la Vida” was heavily used in sports entertainment such as becoming the anthem for football clubs FC Barcelona and Hannover 96. 

There’s no doubt about it that the Black Eyed Peas were literally everywhere in the 2000s. They teamed up with producers David Guetta and Frédéric Riesterer on their hit single “I Gotta Feeling,” a track that was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks. It was the type of song that would grab a listener’s attention because it was a perfect celebratory track. 

Teenage girls everywhere fell in love with the newest heartthrob Justin Bieber, when he released his hit single “Baby.” The upbeat production from The-Dream and Tricky Stewart was the perfect sound as Bieber sings about a young love, something that his teenage fans absolutely adored. 

Electronic music duo LMFAO always knew how to make infectious tracks that were perfect for parties. It was no different in 2011 when the duo released their single “Sexy and I Know It.” Although the song had minimal lyrics, from radio to college parties, this song was heard everywhere. Within a matter of weeks upon release, “Sexy and I Know It” peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100. 

The thing that sold Psy’s “Gangnam Style” to the public was the viral dance craze that went along with the song. Not only did the song top multiple charts, but thanks to the dance being a worldwide phenomenon with people recreating their own versions, it became the first video to reach a billion views on YouTube. 

Alternative pop singer Lorde came onto the scene in full swing when she released her debut single “Royals.” On the song, Lorde highlights how people are completely enthralled by other people who live a lavish lifestyle, but she’s more into the simple things in life. 

Although Iggy Azalea released a few singles prior, it was her fourth single, “Fancy” from her debut album The New Classic, that brought her into mainstream status. Teaming up with pop singer Charli XCX, “Fancy” broke multiple records, including the most-streamed song on Spotify and the best-selling rap song in the US that year. 

Whether someone was out at a party or listening to the radio, there was no escaping hearing “Lean On” by Major Lazer, DJ Snake, and MØ. The song had also came out during a time when EDM saw a major resurgence by several artists. Listeners played the song so much, Spotify named it as its most streamed song of all time.

Pop duo The Chainsmokers teamed up with Halsey on their infectious hit single “Closer.” It’s one of those perfect tracks that fans hear out while at a party or gets the crowd going at a music festival. “Closer” was a No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks. 

Ed Sheeran is no stranger to releasing catchy songs, it was no different in 2017 when he dropped his hit single “Shape of You.” The song also created quite the buzz when listeners noticed that the song featured similar melodies and rhythms to TLC’s 1999 hit song “No Scrubs.” Sheeran and his team immediately gave the “No Scrubs” songwriters a percentage of writing credits and royalties. 

During the summer of 2018, rapper Drake released his fifth album Scorpion, which featured the hit single “In My Feelings.” Part of what made the song one of the year’s most popular tracks is how comedian Shiggy created a dance challenge for it that went viral, which also landed him a cameo on the music video. So many celebrities participated in the challenge, including Ciara, Will Smith, Dua Lipa, and Odell Beckham Jr. 

In 2019, when it came to people choosing a song of the summer, a top contender was the Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello collaboration “Señorita." Not only was the song one of the best-selling songs of the year, but it also racked up several awards including an American Music Award for Collaboration of the Year and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. 

In 2020, The Weeknd released his fourth studio album, After Hours, which featured his hit single “Blinding Lights.” On the track, The Weeknd truly honed in on the electropop and new wave sound that was reminiscent of the ‘80s. Not only did the track become the best-selling song of the year, but it also became a diamond-certified success. 

In 2021, the Kid Laroi teamed up with Justin Bieber on his breakout single “STAY.” On the track, the two detail the emotions of dealing with heartbreak and wanted their partner to stick it out with them. Within a matter of weeks upon release, “STAY” reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks consecutively. 

2022 was definitely the prime year for Harry Styles when he released “As It Was,” the lead single from his third album, Harry’s House. On top of the fact, Styles released the song during the Spring, which continued to feed everyone’s airwaves through the Summer. “As It Was” became the best-selling song in the world that year. 

Country star Morgan Wallen took over the Billboard charts in 2023, thanks to his hit songs like “Last Night.” It was Wallen’s first time earning a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 and was the first country song by a male artist to top the chart in the last four decades.

Is there ever a world in which Bruno Mars actually releases a bad song? Well, since his career started, the answer is no. Mars always releases music that fares well with audiences, and it’s no different when he’s a featured artist. K-pop artist Rosé teamed up with Mars on her hit single “APT,” a song that quickly garnered over 100 million streams on Spotify within a week of its release. Although the track was released in late 2024, the song’s popularity grew even more in 2025 thanks to massive airplay and live performances. 

Although Alex Warren released music independently for a few years, his breakthrough hit came in 2025 with his single “Ordinary.” The track helped Warren earn incredible feats, including a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 and Billboard crowning it as the song of the summer.