Songs of the Century

Songs of the Century ist eine Liste von Liedern, die 2001 von der Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) erstellt und veröffentlicht wurde. Sie repräsentiert viele Genres und alle Zeiträume des 20. Jahrhunderts. Das Ziel der Liste war es, die musikalische Kultur der USA an den amerikanischen Schulen zu bewerben. Es wurden Hunderte von Politikern, Personen des Musik- und Mediengeschäfts, Lehrern und Studenten nach den wichtigsten Liedern befragt. Die Wähler wurden von der RIAA ausgewählt. Heraus kam eine Liste von 365 Songs und Instrumentalstücken.[1][2]

Songs of the Century

RangTitelInterpret
1Over the RainbowJudy Garland
2White ChristmasBing Crosby
3This Land Is Your LandWoody Guthrie
4RespectAretha Franklin
5American PieDon McLean
6Boogie Woogie Bugle BoyThe Andrews Sisters
7West Side Story (Album)Original Cast
8Take Me Out to the Ball GameBilly Murray
9You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’The Righteous Brothers
10The EntertainerScott Joplin
11In the MoodGlenn Miller Orchestra
12Rock Around the ClockBill Haley & His Comets
13When the Saints Go Marching InLouis Armstrong
14You Are My SunshineJimmie Davis
15Mack the KnifeBobby Darin
16(I Can’t Get No) SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones
17Take the “A” TrainDuke Ellington Orchestra
18Blueberry HillFats Domino
19God Bless America Kate Smith
20Stars and Stripes ForeverSousa’s Band
21I Heard It Through the GrapevineMarvin Gaye
22(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the BayOtis Redding
23I Left My Heart in San Francisco Tony Bennett
24Good VibrationsThe Beach Boys
25Stand by MeBen E. King
26Stormy WeatherLena Horne
27Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berry
28I Want to Hold Your HandThe Beatles
29Midnight Train to GeorgiaGladys Knight & the Pips
30ImagineJohn Lennon
31Rudolph the Red Nosed ReindeerGene Autry
32The TwistChubby Checker
33Happy TrailsRoy Rogers & Dale Evans
34Your Cheatin' HeartHank Williams
35Swing Low, Sweet ChariotFisk Jubilee Singers
36The Sound of Music (Album)Original Cast
37’Round MidnightThelonious Monk
38What’s Love Got to Do with ItTina Turner
39Over ThereThe American Quartet
40StardustHoagy Carmichael
41Ain’t Misbehavin’Fats Waller
42Georgia on My MindRay Charles
43Oh, Pretty WomanRoy Orbison
44Every Breath You TakeThe Police
45My GirlThe Temptations
46Hotel CaliforniaEagles
47Happy Days Are Here AgainBen Selvin
48Stand by Your ManTammy Wynette
49Take FiveDave Brubeck
50America the BeautifulLouise Homer
51When a Man Loves a WomanPercy Sledge
52Light My FireThe Doors
53Stairway to HeavenLed Zeppelin
54Sweet Georgia BrownBen Bernie & His Orchestra
55When You Wish upon a StarCliff Edwards
56YesterdayThe Beatles
57Louie LouieThe Kingsmen
58God Bless the ChildBillie Holiday
59Born in the U.S.A.Bruce Springsteen
60The Girl from IpanemaStan Getz/Astrud Gilberto
61I Walk the LineJohnny Cash
62The Star-Spangled BannerJohn McCormack
63Oh Happy DayThe Edwin Hawkins Singers
64Great Balls of FireJerry Lee Lewis
65What’s Going OnMarvin Gaye
66Oklahoma! (Album)Original Cast
67Zip-A-Dee-Doo-DahJohnny Mercer
68Don’t Be Cruel / Hound DogElvis Presley
69St. Louis BluesW. C. Handy
70Yankee DoodleVess L. Ossman
71California Dreamin’The Mamas and the Papas
72On the Road AgainWillie Nelson
73Auld Lang SyneFrank Stanley
74SummertimeSidney Bechet
75Theme from ShaftIsaac Hayes
76Beat ItMichael Jackson
77Sentimental JourneyLes Brown Orchestra/Doris Day
78Blue Suede ShoesCarl Perkins
79The Sound of SilenceSimon and Garfunkel
80Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
81It Had to Be YouIsham Jones Orchestra
82Minnie the MoocherCab Calloway
83Sixteen TonsTennessee Ernie Ford
84What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
85Fire and RainJames Taylor
86Y.M.C.A.Village People
87Heartbreak HotelElvis Presley
88King of the RoadRoger Miller
89I Will SurviveGloria Gaynor
90Ave MariaMarian Anderson
91Begin the BeguineArtie Shaw Orchestra
92Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan
93Stop! In the Name of LoveThe Supremes
94Stayin’ AliveBee Gees
951999Prince
96Please Remember MeTim McGraw
97Porgy and Bess (Album)Original Cast
98Back in the Saddle AgainGene Autry
99Shake, Rattle and RollJoe Turner
100In the Still of the NightThe Five Satins
101Killing Me Softly with His SongRoberta Flack
102Friends in Low PlacesGarth Brooks
103CharlestonArthur Gibbs & His Gang
104A-Tisket, A-TasketElla Fitzgerald
105When Irish Eyes Are SmilingChauncey Olcott
106The Times They Are A-Changin’Bob Dylan
107I Fall to PiecesPatsy Cline
108I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston
109Mona LisaNat King Cole
110Blowin’ in the WindBob Dylan
111Peggy SueBuddy Holly
112Lean on MeBill Withers
113Kind of Blue (Album)Miles Davis
114I’m So Lonesome I Could CryHank Williams
115Proud MaryCreedence Clearwater Revival
116Will the Circle Be UnbrokenThe Carter Family
117Puttin’ on the RitzHarry Richman
118LaylaDerek and the Dominos
119JumpVan Halen
120I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking ForU2
121We Are the WorldUSA for Africa
122Girls Just Want to Have FunCyndi Lauper
123My Fair Lady (Album)Original Cast
124SwaneeAl Jolson
125Let Me Call You SweetheartThe Peerless Quartet
126Makin’ WhoopeeEddie Cantor
127The Tracks of My TearsThe Miracles
128I Wanna Be Loved by YouMarilyn Monroe
129Pennies from HeavenBing Crosby
130Tutti FruttiLittle Richard
131Brown Eyed GirlVan Morrison
132I Only Have Eyes for YouThe Flamingos
133Born to Be WildSteppenwolf
134SuperstitionStevie Wonder
135Born to RunBruce Springsteen
136On the Good Ship LollipopShirley Temple
137Wabash CannonballRoy Acuff
138Unchained MelodyAl Hibbler
139Dancing in the StreetMartha & the Vandellas
140Ain’t No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell
141Piano ManBilly Joel
142Joy to the WorldThree Dog Night
143Losing My ReligionR.E.M.
144My WayFrank Sinatra
145Let’s Stay TogetherAl Green
146We Are the Champions/We Will Rock YouQueen
147Purple RainPrince
148Dancing QueenABBA
149A Love Supreme (Album)John Coltrane
150Wake Up Little SusieThe Everly Brothers
151ShoutThe Isley Brothers
152I Got You (I Feel Good)James Brown
153The Thrill Is GoneB. B. King
154Alexander’s Ragtime BandBoswell Sisters
155Bo DiddleyBo Diddley
156Banana Boat (Day-O)Harry Belafonte
157Ring of FireJohnny Cash
158Donna / La BambaRitchie Valens
159The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Tokens
160Take Me Home, Country RoadsJohn Denver
161Material GirlMadonna
162Rapper’s DelightThe Sugarhill Gang
163Goodnight IreneLeadbelly
164TequilaThe Champs
165Que Sera, SeraDoris Day
166Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)The Byrds
167Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Album)The Beatles
168Soul ManSam & Dave
169You Are the Sunshine of My LifeStevie Wonder
170Thanks for the MemoryBob Hope / Shirley Ross
171Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My HeadB. J. Thomas
172Moon RiverHenry Mancini
173Free BirdLynyrd Skynyrd
174MistySarah Vaughan
175Chances AreJohnny Mathis
176Love LettersKetty Lester
177I Love Rock 'N RollJoan Jett & the Blackhearts
178Fast CarTracy Chapman
179Will You Love Me TomorrowThe Shirelles
180Leader of the PackThe Shangri-Las
181In the Midnight HourWilson Pickett
182Why Do Fools Fall in LoveFrankie Lymon & the Teenagers
183I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash
184Oye Como VaSantana
185Coal Miner’s DaughterLoretta Lynn
186Cat’s in the CradleHarry Chapin
187Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be CowboysWaylon Jennings / Willie Nelson
188The GamblerKenny Rogers
189Bye Bye BlackbirdGene Austin
190Smoke Gets in Your EyesThe Platters
191(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)Beastie Boys
192We Are FamilySister Sledge
193(They Long to Be) Close to YouThe Carpenters
194Maggie MayRod Stewart
195Night and DayFred Astaire
196Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?Rudy Vallee
197Tom DooleyThe Kingston Trio
198Tennessee WaltzPatti Page
199If You Don’t Know Me by NowHarold Melvin and the Blue Notes
200Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadElton John
201U Can’t Touch ThisMC Hammer
202SmoothSantana & Rob Thomas
203Livin' La Vida LocaRicky Martin
204How Great Thou ArtGeorge Beverly Shea
205Sing Sing SingBenny Goodman Orchestra
206Hair (Album)Original Cast
207Tumbling TumbleweedsThe Sons of the Pioneers
208What the World Needs Now Is LoveJackie DeShannon
209CryingRoy Orbison
210Sweet Child o’ MineGuns N’ Roses
211One O’Clock JumpCount Basie Orchestra
212DowntownPetula Clark
213It’s Too Late / I Feel the Earth MoveCarole King
214CelebrationKool & The Gang
215So in LoveThe Tymes
216You’re So VainCarly Simon
217Heart of GlassBlondie
218Blue Moon of KentuckyBill Monroe / Blue Grass Boys
219Teen AngelMark Dinning
220Ornithology (Album)Charlie Parker Sextet
221We Shall OvercomeJoan Baez
222Something to Talk AboutBonnie Raitt
223Take My Hand, Precious LordThomas A. Dorsey
224South Pacific (Album)Original Cast
225Runaround SueDion and the Belmonts
226Tea for TwoArt Tatum
227Summertime BluesEddie Cochran
228Everybody Loves SomebodyDean Martin
229It’s My PartyLesley Gore
230The Loco-MotionLittle Eva
231On BroadwayThe Drifters
232Me and Bobby McGeeJanis Joplin
233Time in a BottleJim Croce
234MargaritavilleJimmy Buffett
235Bitches Brew (Album)Miles Davis
236Kansas CityWilbert Harrison
237Earth AngelThe Penguins
238Got My Mojo WorkingMuddy Waters
239People Get ReadyThe Impressions
240The House of the Rising SunThe Animals
241White RabbitJefferson Airplane
242GracelandPaul Simon
243Love ShackThe B-52’s
244I Believe I Can FlyR. Kelly
245All I Wanna DoSheryl Crow
246My Heart Will Go OnCéline Dion
247My Old Kentucky HomeGeraldine Farrar
248Abraham, Martin & JohnDion
249The King and I (Album)Original Cast
250At the HopDanny & the Juniors
251What’d I SayRay Charles
252Mr. SandmanThe Chordettes
253Be My BabyThe Ronettes
254I Got You BabeSonny and Cher
255The Devil Went Down to GeorgiaCharlie Daniels Band
256Flashdance... What a FeelingIrene Cara
257Burning Down the HouseTalking Heads
258Achy Breaky HeartBilly Ray Cyrus
259Wide Open SpacesDixie Chicks
260The Music Man (Album)Original Cast
261Walk On ByDionne Warwick
262Ramblin’ ManThe Allman Brothers Band
263Move On Up a Little HigherMahalia Jackson
264I’m So ExcitedThe Pointer Sisters
265That Old Black MagicLouis Prima/Keely Smith
266Reach Out I’ll Be ThereFour Tops
267Walk This WayAerosmith
268Bette Davis EyesKim Carnes
269The Wind Beneath My WingsBette Midler
270Change the WorldEric Clapton
271If I Didn’t CareThe Ink Spots
272Paper DollThe Mills Brothers
273Strange FruitBillie Holiday
274Ode to Billie JoeBobbie Gentry
275Strangers in the NightFrank Sinatra
276WarEdwin Starr
277Behind Closed DoorsCharlie Rich
278Old Time Rock & RollBob Seger
279We Got the BeatThe Go-Go’s
280The MessageGrandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
281You’re the TopEthel Merman
282My GuyMary Wells
283You Send MeSam Cooke
284By the Time I Get to PhoenixGlen Campbell
285Everybody’s Talkin'Nilsson
286Heart of GoldNeil Young
287Jack & DianeJohn Mellencamp
288Fight the PowerPublic Enemy
289Me and My ShadowWhispering Jack Smith
290Deep in the Heart of TexasAlvino Rey Orchestra
291For What It’s WorthBuffalo Springfield
292That’s What Friends Are ForDionne Warwick & Friends
293You’re Still the OneShania Twain
294Birdland (Album)Weather Report
295Go Your Own WayFleetwood Mac
296Another Brick in the WallPink Floyd
297Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy LegendVaughn Monroe
298The Way We WereBarbra Streisand
2999 to 5Dolly Parton
300Grease (Album)Original Cast
301Don’t Worry, Be HappyBobby McFerrin
302Who’s Sorry NowConnie Francis
303That’s the Way (I Like It)KC and the Sunshine Band
304Yes! We Have No BananasBilly Jones
305On Top of Old SmokyThe Weavers
306You Really Got MeThe Kinks
307OhioCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young
308Free Fallin’Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
309This KissFaith Hill
310Body and SoulColeman Hawkins Orchestra
311I Am WomanHelen Reddy
312Show Boat (Album)Original Cast
313This MasqueradeGeorge Benson
314Some of These DaysSophie Tucker
315Down Hearted BluesBessie Smith
316New San Antonio RoseBob Wills & the Texas Playboys
317How High the MoonLes Paul/Mary Ford
318I’m SorryBrenda Lee
319Everyday PeopleSly & the Family Stone
320When Will I Be LovedLinda Ronstadt
321Uncle John’s BandGrateful Dead
322FaithGeorge Michael
323Up Where We BelongJoe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes
324All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over TonightHank Williams Jr.
325Candle in the WindElton John
326El ShaddaiAmy Grant
327Salt PeanutsDizzy Gillespie
328Zodiac Suite (Album)Mary Lou Williams
329Vesti La GiubbaEnrico Caruso
330WhisperingPaul Whiteman Orch.
331Blue Yodel (T for Texas)Jimmie Rodgers
332Boogie Chillen’John Lee Hooker
333The Battle of New OrleansJohnny Horton
334She Works Hard for the MoneyDonna Summer
335I Want You BackThe Jackson Five
336He Stopped Loving Her TodayGeorge Jones
337Men in BlackWill Smith
338El PasoMarty Robbins
339I’ll Fly AwayThe Chuck Wagon Gang
340RockitHerbie Hancock
341King Porter StompJelly Roll Morton
342Cross Road BluesRobert Johnson
343Cattle CallEddy Arnold
344Tiger RagThe Original Dixieland Jazz Band
345The Prisoner’s SongVernon Dalhart
346Yakety YakThe Coasters
347Big Yellow TaxiJoni Mitchell
348Higher LoveSteve Winwood
349No ChargeShirley Caesar
350My Home’s in AlabamaAlabama
351One Sweet DayMariah Carey & Boyz II Men
352I Hope You DanceLee Ann Womack
353Don’t Let Nobody Turn You AroundThe Fairfield Four
354The In CrowdRamsey Lewis Trio
355Near YouFrancis Craig Orchestra
356Sing Me Back HomeMerle Haggard
357DjangoModern Jazz Quartet
358Respect YourselfThe Staple Singers
359Doo Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill
360Mama He’s CrazyThe Judds
361No ScrubsTLC
362Saturday in the ParkChicago
363Bills, Bills, BillsDestiny’s Child
364Addictive LoveBeBe & CeCe Winans
365All Along the WatchtowerJimi Hendrix

Belege

  1. Songs of the Century. In: CNN. 7. März 2001, abgerufen am 16. Juli 2014 (Komplette Liste).
  2. New song list puts 'Rainbow' way up high. In: CNN. 7. März 2001, archiviert vom Original (nicht mehr online verfügbar) am 28. August 2004; abgerufen am 16. Juli 2014 (Pressebericht).