Top 20 Songs That Everyone Knows And Mostly Loves

There are certain songs that everyone just knows.

They’re the kind of catchy, infectious tunes that get stuck in your head for days on end.

These tracks tend to be pop hits that dominate the radio airwaves, but they can also be classic tracks that have stood the test of time.

When you hear one of these tunes, you can’t help but sing along, even if you don’t know all the words.

That’s part of the appeal! Hold me closer, Tony Danza!

C’mon, we know you know these songs! Sing along!

Old Town Road
by Lil Nas X

Old Town Road is the impressive debut single from American rapper Lil Nas X.

Billy Ray Cyrus praised this blend of country and rap and it took off like a jet fighter.

It was first released independently in December 2018 and the hook was stuck in our collective ears for most of 2019.

Listen to it here.

Livin’ On A Prayer
by Bon Jovi

The band’s biggest hit is, perhaps, the best-known rock song in history.

You only have to listen to the first bar and you’re already ready to sing along.

This is a party song like no other and everyone knows it by heart.

Listen to it here.

Stacy’s Mom
by Fountains Of Wayne

This is a ridiculously silly song with a ridiculously silly music video but that doesn’t make it any less memorable or addictive.

This is a song for all the moms in the nation and everybody knows it.

Listen to it here.

I Write Sins Not Tragedies
by Panic At The Disco

Emo may not have left a lasting impression on the global scene but this clever and amusing song was a major hit and it left a mark where its scene did not.

The music video is nothing to write home about but the song is a pure earworm.

Listen to it here.

Never Gonna Give You Up
by Rick Astley

The song that launched a thousand RickRolls is without a doubt a memorable and contagious number.

Stock, Aitken and Waterman knew what they were doing when they launched Rick’s career at the end of the 80s.

Listen to it here.

Bohemian Rhapsody
by Queen

It’s the opera-style falsetto and Wayne’s World that foisted this song on the entire world but there’s no doubt that Queen’s biggest hit is a song that we can all sing to.

This is an epic rock song that makes everyone feel good.

It’s one of our favorite 80s songs too.

Listen to it here.

Baby One More Time
by Britney Spears

With all the world’s attention on her recent court appearances, it’s hard to believe that Britney Spears was once only famous for this song. And the schoolgirl costume she wore in the video, infamously.

But there’s nobody who can’t sing “Hit me one more time” at the right moment.

Listen to it here.

Party In The USA
by Miley Cyrus

This song is one of the strongest releases of recent years and it has the absolute joy of being young and free contained within its sound.

The chorus makes this song completely addictive.

Listen to it here.

All Star
by Smash Mouth

A song that’s among the most meme-able in history.

And Shrek ensured that it would stay forever in our hearts.

Hey now, you’re an all-star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a rock star, get the show on, get paid

Listen to it here.

Wannabe
by Spice Girls

The British all-girl group released their biggest song to a global audience and they loved it.

And we still do.

It’s also one of our favorite prom songs and a great song to play for your BFFs.

Listen to it here.

I Want It That Way
by Backstreet Boys

“Tell me why” everyone knows when to sing it!

That’s what makes this guilty pleasure of a song so universally loved even if they were a manufactured boy band.

Tell me why/Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache
Tell me why/Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake
Tell me why/I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way

Listen to it here.

We Belong Together
by Mariah Carey

Sure, we could have included “All I Want for Christmas is You”.

Instead, we opted for this cracking pop song, instead, and you still know it, so no complaining.

Listen to it here.

I Will Always Love You
by Whitney Houston

There was a time when the best voice in the world began to Whitney.

On this record, she was hot, catchy, and sweet and it gave her an iconic popularity that transcended her personal downfall.

Listen to it here.

California Gurls
by Katy Perry

Take a catchy reworking of a familiar west-coast trope, add a super sexy video and then generously season with a hip-hop vibe from Snoop Dog.

Voila! You’ve got one of those songs that just won’t quit. Katy was on fire with this song.

Listen to it here.

Don’t Stop Believin
by Journey

This may be one of the best-known songs around the world.

It’s appeared in Glee, The Sopranos and many more movies and TV shows!

We all love it and the lyrics are engraved in our hearts.

Listen to it here.

Shallow
by Lady Gaga

So many tracks from this singer could have been on this list.

The lyrics to shallow, however, really stand out as does Bradley Cooper’s contribution to this pop/dance classic.

Listen to it here.

Single Ladies
by Beyonce

Word.

This is the most empowering song since Gwen Stefani came along!

The music is catchy but it’s the line “If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it” that made it a tune for the ages.

Listen to it here.

Billie Jean
by Michael Jackson

The King of Po may be gone but if you can’t dance to Billie Jean, you haven’t lived.

Released back in the 80s, it’s still a hot number in the 202Xs.

This is truly an iconic anthem.

Listen to it here.

Shake It Off
by Taylor Swift

Taylor was always going to make this list. Guaranteed.

But it’s this song that stands out the most to us and nearly everyone who hears it too.

I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain
That’s what people say, that’s what people say

Listen to it here.

Hard Knock Life
by Jay Z

It was a toss-up between this and Outkast’s Hey Ya to round out our list!

But this tune which would end up being parodied by Mike Myers was one of the songs that made hip-hop universally popular and it deserves its slot here.

Listen to it here.

Final Notes

So, there you have it. Great songs that you just can’t get out of your head after you hear them for the first time.

We hope you enjoyed singing along and we’d love to do it again sometime too.