"Over the Rainbow" Is Century's Top Song

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America came up with the list. It was designed to teach appreciation of how music has developed.

An NEA official says the songs could also open a window on social and economic conditions of the times when they appeared.

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is second on the list, followed by Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land." Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is fourth, and "American Pie" by Don McLean is number five.

The 365 songs on the list are almost all American popular songs.


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Below are the top 365 songs of the 20th century, as selected by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America:

1. "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland

2. "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby

3. "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie

4. "Respect" by Aretha Franklin

5. "American Pie" by Don McLean

6. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by The Andrews Sisters

7. "West Side Story" by Original Cast

8. "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" by Billy Murray

9. "You've Lost That Lovin Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers

10. "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin

11. "In The Mood" Glenn Miller Orchestra

12. "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets

13. "When the Saints Go Marching In" by Louis Armstrong

14. "You Are My Sunshine" by Jimmie Davis

15. "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin

16. "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones

17. "Take the 'A' Train" by Duke Ellington Orchestra

18. "Blueberry Hill" by Fats Domino

19. "God Bless America" by Kate Smith

20. "Stars and Stripes Forever" by Sousa's Band

21. I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye

22. Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding

23. I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Tony Bennett

24. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys

25. Stand By Me, Ben E. King

26. Stormy Weather, Lena Horne

27. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry

28. I Want to Hold Your Hand, The Beatles

29. Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & The Pips

30. Imagine, John Lennon

31. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Gene Autry

32. The Twist, Chubby Checker

33. Happy Trails, Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

34. Your Cheatin' Heart, Hank Williams

35. Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Fist Jubilee Singers

36. The Sound of Music, Original Cast

37. Round Midnight, Thelonius Monk

38. What's Love Got to do With it, Tina Turner

39. Over There, The American Quartet

40. Star Dust, Hoagy Carmichael

41. Ain't Misbehavin, Fats Waller

42. Georgia on My Mind, Ray Charles

43. Oh Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison

44. Every Breath You Take, The Police

45. My Girl, The Temptations

46. Hotel California, The Eagles

47. Happy Days Are Here Again, Ben Selvin Orchestra

48. Stand By Your Man, Tammy Wynette

49. Take Five, Dave Brubeck

50. America the Beautiful, Louise Homer

51. When a Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge

52. Light My Fire, The Doors

53. Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin

54. Sweet Georgia Brown, Ben Bernie Orchestra

55. When You Wish Upon a Star, Cliff Edwards

56. Yesterday/Act Naturally, The Beatles

57. Louie Louie, The Kingsmen

58. God Bless the Child, Billie Holiday

59. Born in the USA, Bruce Springsteen

60. The Girl from Ipanema, Stan Getz/Astrud Gilberto

61. I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash

62. The Star Spangled Banner, John McCormick

63. O Happy Day, The Edwin Hawkins Singers

64. Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis

65. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye

66. Oklahoma, Original Cast

67. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Johnny Mercer

68. Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog, Elvis Presley

69. St. Louis Blues, W.C. Handy

70. Yankee Doodle, Vess Ossman

71. California Dreamin, The Mamas & Papas

72. On the Road Again, Willie Nelson

73. Auld Lang Syne, Frank Stanley

74. Summertime, Sidney Bechet

75. Theme from Shaft, Isaac Hayes

76. Beat It, Michael Jackson

77. Sentimental Journey, Les Brown Orchestra

78. Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins

79. The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel

80. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana

81. It Had to Be You, Isham Jones Orchestra

82. Minnie the Moocher, Cab Calloway

83. Sixteen Tons Tennessee, Ernie Ford

84. What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong

85. Fire and Rain, James Taylor

86. Y.M.C.A., The Village People

87. Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley

88. King of the Road, Roger Miller

89. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor

90. Ave Maria, Marian Anderson

91. Begin the Beguine, Artie Shaw Orchestra

92. Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan

93. Stop in the Name of Lov, The Supremes

94. Stayin' Alive, The Bee Gees

95. 1999, Prince

96. Please Remember Me, Tim McGraw

97. Porgy and Bess, Original Cast

98. Back in the Saddle Again, Gene Autry

99. Shake, Rattle and Roll, Joe Turner

100. In the Still of the Night, The Five Satins

101. Killing Me Softly With His Song, Roberta Flack

102. Friends in Low Places, Garth Brooks

103. Charleston Arthur, Gibbs & His Gang

104. A Tisket A Tasket, Ella Fitzgerald

105. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Chauncy Olcott

106. The Times They Are A Changin, Bob Dylan

107. I Fall to Pieces, Patsy Cline

108. I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston

109. Mona Lisa, Nat King Cole

110. Blowin' in the Wind, Peter, Paul & Mary

111. Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly

112. Lean on Me, Bill Withers

113. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis

114. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams

115. Proud Mary, Creedence Clearwater Revival

116. Can the Circle Be Unbroken, The Carter Family

117. Puttin' on the Ritz, Harry Richman

118. Layla, Derek & The Dominos

119. Jump, Van Halen

120. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, U2

121. We Are the World, USA for Africa

122. Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper

123. My Fair Lady, Original Cast

124. Swanee, Al Jolson

125. Let Me Call You Sweetheart, The Peerless Quartet

126. Makin' Whoopee, Eddie Cantor

127. The Tracks of My Tears, The Miracles

128. I Wanna Be Loved By You, Helen Kane

129. Pennies From Heaven, Bing Crosby

130. Tutti Frutti, Little Richard

131. Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison

132. I Only Have Eyes For You, The Flamingos

133. Born to Be Wild, Steppenwolf

134. Superstition, Stevie Wonder

135. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen

136. On the Good Ship Lollipop, Shirley Temple

137. Wabash Cannonball, Roy Acuff

138. Unchained Melody, Al Hibbler

139. Dancing in the Streets, Martha & The Vandellas

140. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, M. Gaye/Tammi Terrell

141. Piano Man Billy, Joel

142. Joy to the World, Three Dog Night

143. Losing My Religion, R.E.M.

144. My Way Frank, Sinatra

145. Let's Stay Together, Al Green

146. We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, Queen

147. Purple Rain, Prince

148. Dancing Queen, ABBA

149. A Love Supreme, John Coltrane

150. Wake Up Little Susie, The Everly Brothers

151. Shou The, Isley Brothers

152. I Got You (I Feel Good) James Brown

153. The Thrill is Gone, B.B. King

154. Alexander's Ragtime Band, The Boswell Sisters

155. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley

156. Banana Boat (Day-O), Harry Belafonte

157. Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash

158. Donna/La Bamba, Richie Valens

159. The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens

160. Take Me Home Country Roads, John Denver

161. Material Girl, Madonna

162. Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang

163. Goodnight Irene, Leadbelly

164. Tequila, The Champs

165. Que Sera Sera, Doris Day

166. Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds

167. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles

168. Soul Man, Sam & Dave

169. You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Stevie Wonder

170. Thanks for the Memory, Bob Hope/Shirley Ross

171. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, B.J. Thomas

172. Moon River, Henry Mancini

173. Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd

174. Misty Erroll, Garner Trio

175. Chances Are, Johnny Mathis

176. Love Letters, Ketty Lester

177. I Love Rock 'N' Roll, Joan Jett & Blackhearts

178. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman

179. Will You Love Me Tomorrow, The Shirelles

180. Leader of the Pack, The Shangri-las

181. In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett

182. Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Frankie Lymon/Teenagers

183. I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash

184. Oye Como Va, Santana

185. Coal Miner's Daughter, Loretta Lynn

186. The Cat's in the Cradle, Harry Chapin

187. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies ..., Waylon & Willie

188. The Gambler, Kenny Rogers

189. Bye Bye Blackbird, Gene Austin

190. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, The Platters

191. Fight for Your Right (to Party), The Beastie Boys

192. We Are Family, Sister Sledge

193. Close to You, The Carpenters

194. Maggie May Rod Stewart

195. Night and Day, Fred Astaire

196. Brother Can You Spare a Dime, Rudy Vallee

197. Tom Dooley, The Kingston Trio

198. The Tennessee Waltz, Patti Page

199. If You Don't Know Me By Now, Harold Melvin/Blue Note

200. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John

201. U Can't Touch This, M.C. Hammer

202. Smooth, Santana & Rob Thomas

203. Livin' La Vida Loca, Ricky Martin

204. How Great Thou Art, George Beverly Shea

205. Sing Sing Sing, Benny Goodman Orchestra

206. Hair, Original Cast

207. Tumbling Tumbleweeds, The Sons of the Pioneers

208. What the World Needs Now is Love, Jackie DeShannon

209. Crying, Roy Orbison

210. Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns N' Roses

211. One O'clock Jump, Count Basie Orchestra

212. Downtown, Petula Clark

213. It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move, Carole King

214. Celebration, Kool & The Gang

215. So In Love, The Tymes

216. You're So Vain, Carly Simon

217. Heart of Glass, Blondie

218. Blue Moon of Kentucky, Bill Monroe/Blue Grass Boys

219. Teen Angel, Mark Dinning

220. Ornithology, Charlie Parker Sextet

221. We Shall Overcome, Joan Baez

222. Something to Talk About, Bonnie Raitt

223. Take My Hand Precious Lord, Thomas Dorsey

224. South Pacific, Original Cast

225. Runaround Sue, Dion

226. Tea for Two, Art Tatum

227. Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran

228. Everybody Loves Somebody, Dean Martin

229. It's My Party, Lesley Gore

230. The Loco Motion, Little Eva

231. On Broadway, The Drifters

232. Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin

233. Time in a Bottle, Jim Croce

234. Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett

235. Bitches Brew, Miles Davis

236. Kansas City, Wilbert Harrison

237. Earth Angel, The Penguins

238. Got My Mojo Working, Muddy Waters

239. People Get Ready, The Impressions

240. House of the Rising Sun, The Animals

241. White Rabbit, The Jefferson Airplane

242. Graceland, Paul Simon

243. Love Shack, The B-52s

244. I Believe I Can Fly, R. Kelly

245. All I Wanna Do, Sheryl Crow

246. My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion

247. My Old Kentucky Home, Geraldine Farrar

248. Abraham, Martin & John Dion

249. The King and I, Original Cast

250. At the Hop, Danny & The Juniors

251. What'd I Say, Ray Charles

252. Mr. Sandman, The Chordettes

253. Be My Baby, The Ronettes

254. I Got You Babe, Sonny & Cher

255. The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band

256. Flashdance (What a Feeling), Irene Cara

257. Burning Down the House, Talking Heads

258. Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus

259. Wide Open Spaces, Dixie Chicks

260. The Music Man, Original Cast

261. Walk On By, Dionne Warwick

262. Ramblin' Man, Allman Brothers Band

263. Move On Up a Little Higher, Mahalia Jackson

264. I'm So Excited, The Pointer Sisters

265. That Old Black Magic, Louis Prima/Keely Smith

266. Reach Out I'll Be There, The Four Tops

267. Walk This Way, Aerosmith

268. Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes

269. The Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler

270. Change the World Eric Clapton

271. If I Didn't Care, The Ink Spots

272. Paper Doll, The Mills Brothers

273. Strange Fruit, Billie Holiday

274. Ode to Billy Joe, Bobbie Gentry

275. Strangers in the Night, Frank Sinatra

276. War, Edwin Starr

277. Behind Closed Doors, Charlie Rich

278. Old Time Rock 'N' Roll, Bob Seger

279. We Got the Beat, The Go-Gos

280. The Message, Grandmaster Flash/Furious 5

281. You're the Top, Cole Porter

282. My Guy, Mary Wells

283. You Send Me, Sam Cooke

284. By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Glen Campbell

285. Everybody's Talkin', Nilsson

286. Heart of Gold, Neil Young

287. Jack & Diane, John Cougar Mellencamp

288. Fight the Power, Public Enemy

289. Me and My Shadow Whispering, Jack Smith

290. Deep in the Heart of Texas, Alvino Ray Orchestra

291. For What It's Worth, Buffalo Springfield

292. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick & Friends

293. You're Still the One, Shania Twain

294. Birdland, Weather Report

295. Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac

296. Another Brick in the Wall, Pink Floyd

297. (Ghost) Riders in the Sky, Vaughn Monroe

298. The Way We Were, Barbra Streisand

299. 9 to 5, Dolly Parton

300. Grease, Cast/Soundtrack

301. Don't Worry Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin

302. Who's Sorry Now, Connie Francis

303. That's the Way (I Like It), K.C. & Sunshine Band

304. Yes We Have No Bananas, Billy Jones

305. On Top of Old Smoky, The Weavers

306. You Really Got Me, The Kinks

307. Ohio, Crosby Stills Nash Young

308. Free Fallin', Tom Petty/Heartbreakers

309. This Kiss, Faith Hill

310. Body and Soul, Coleman Hawkins Orchestra

311. I Am Woman, Helen Reddy

312. Show Boat, Original Cast

313. This Masquerade, George Benson

314. Some of These Days, Sophie Tucker

315. Down Hearted Blues, Bessie Smith

316. New San Antonio, Rose Bob Wills/Texas Playboys

317. How High the Moon, Les Paul & Mary Ford

318. I'm Sorry, Brenda Lee

319. Everyday People, Sly & The Family Stone

320. When Will I Be Loved ,Linda Ronstadt

321. Uncle John's Band, The Grateful Dead

322. Faith George Michael

323. Up Where We Belong, Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes

324. All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over, Hank Williams Jr.

325. Candle in the Wind, Elton John

326. El Shaddai, Amy Grant

327. Salt Peanuts, Dizzy Gillespie

328. Zodiac Suite, Mary Lou Williams

329. Vesti La Giubba, Enrico Caruso

330. Whispering, Paul Whiteman Orchestra

331. Blue Yodel (T for Texas), Jimmie Rodgers

332. Boogie Chillun, John Lee Hooker

333. The Battle of New Orleans, Johnny Horton

334. She Works Hard for the Money, Donna Summer

335. I Want You Back, The Jackson 5

336. He Stopped Loving Her Today, George Jones

337. Men in Black, Will Smith

338. El Paso, Marty Robbins

339. I'll Fly Away, The Chuck Wagon Gang

340. Rockit, Herbie Hancock

341. King Porter Stomp, Jelly Roll Morton

342. Cross Road Blues, Robert Johnson

343. Cattle Call, Eddy Arnold

344. Tiger Rag, The Original Dixieland Jazz Band

345. The Prisoner's Song, Vernon Dalhart

346. Yakety Yak, The Coasters

347. Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

348. Higher Love, Steve Winwood

349. No Charge, Shirley Caesar

350. My Home's In Alabama, Alabama

351. One Sweet Day, Boyz II Men/Mariah Carey

352. I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack

353. Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around, The Fairfield Four

354. The In Crowd, Ramsey Lewis Trio

355. Near You Francis, Craig Orchestra

356. Sing Me Back Home, Merle Haggard

357. Django, The Modern Jazz Quartet

358. Respect Yourself, The Staple Singers

359. Doo Wop (That Thing), Lauryn Hill

360. Mama He's Crazy ,The Judds

361. No Scrubs, TLC

362. Saturday in the Park, Chicago

363. Bills, Bills, Bills, Destiny's Child

364. Addictive Love, Bebe & Cece Winans

365. All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix