[Music] welcome to msmojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 pop songs of all time for this list we're looking at the best tracks that this genre of music has offered us over the years did we miss one of your favorite pop songs let us know in the comments below number 20. california girls katy perry featuring snoop dogg by the late 2000s katy perry had brought a fun energy back to pop music she was ready to take her success to new heights and that is exactly what happened when she released california
girls [Music] in her tribute to the golden state perry delivers equal parts disco and funk with a bubbly production the singer creates the perfect song for a summer dance party to put the final stamp on the track famous california resident snoop dogg wraps his own enjoyable verse [Music] originally intended as a response to empire state of mind california girls stands on its own as one of the defining pop statements of 2010 [Applause] [Music] we belong together mariah carey starting in the early 90s mariah carey maintained a consistent run of number one songs that shattered pop
records and expectations [Music] some questioned if the singer could maintain that success into the 2000s but we belong together silenced her critics proving she could compete with the newest pop stars carrie delivered a song taylor made for her inimitable voice [Music] with one of the widest vocal ranges in the business the performer created a timeless pop and r b performance securing yet another number one single the record-breaking vocalist staked her claim as one of the most vital and enduring artists of her generation [Music] number 18 blinding lights the weekend steadily building a following through the
2010s the weekend ended the decade at the height of his powers [Music] released in late 2019 blinding lights was a runaway success that kept gaining traction in the months that followed trying out a radically different image and sound the artist blazed a new pop trail with one of the catchiest songs of its kind [Music] always one to push his vocals to the limit his towering range gets the ultimate workout on the song's many high notes featuring a throwback sound and amazing melody blinding lights secured the artist's place in pop history number 17 girls just want
to have fun cindy lopper from the billboard charts to broadway cindy lauper has conquered popular music several times over [Music] among her most successful tracks girls just want to have fun made the artist a formidable force in the 80s music scene combining a powerful message and a fun loving sound the singer created a definitive song from the new wave and synth pop era [Music] little do people know the single was actually a cover further demonstrating the performer's ability to turn silver into gold while lopper has gone on to give us many other great hits few
pieces can ever compete with girls just want to have fun number 16. bad guy billy eilish through the mid to late 2010s then teenager billy eilish began emerging as a unique artist working with her brother and producer phineas the singer unleashed the number one single bad guy [Music] lighting up the charts the complex track and the performer's idiosyncratic delivery pushed the boundaries of pop music a breakthrough hit for the artist the song's multi-genre hooks and tempo changes blew the minds of listeners everywhere [Music] as a precocious figure in the industry the young vocalist revolutionized the
genre with this work of art it charted a course for the future music legend who has since gone on to do great things like slay a james bond [Music] to theme number 15. dynamite bts while a number of groups and solo artists paved the way for bts the boy band has emerged as one of the most successful artists in k-pop history combining all the signature elements of a hit song dynamite signaled a changing tide for the genre bts's first all english track connected with a new and very large audience especially in the united states and
the talented group seemed more than ready for the spotlight while their track butter is also iconic dynamite is the hit that helped make them the international superstars they are today as they continue to spread amazing music it remains a shining example of the band's cultural hold on pop [Music] number 14 believe share whether it's her days with former partner sunny or her decades of solo pop dominance cher has been a cultural institution since the 1960s so it's only fitting that she would end the century with one of her greatest hits [Music] becoming one of the
first pop singers to use auto tune the artist reinvigorated her music career and proved that she could still surprise us she reminded everyone that she was a multi-generational talent a style icon and a pop ambassador [Music] to this day believe has a spot on playlists thanks to its endearing and inviting message that still feels fresh and innovative number 13 my heart will go on celine dion it will forever be known as the song from titanic but this iconic love song by the powerful canadian vocalist celine dion is so much more than jack and rose's theme
every night in my dreams i see you it's a song that won many accolades including several grammys as well as the oscar and golden globe for best original song it's one of the best selling singles of all time and it is the signature song of one of the most iconic voices of our generation [Music] my heart will go on is a reminder of the power of a great movie theme the good ones reinforce the film's message the best ones transcend their films to become a cultural phenomenon all their own and just think celine didn't want
to record it at all number 12 rolling in the deep adele when adele entered the entertainment world it was abundantly clear that she was going to be one of the next great vocalists in pop music her second album 21 reminded people that she was here to stay with its massive single rolling in the deep [Music] the s hit of her career captured the star in complete control vocally unparalleled the track carried a gravitas rarely seen in modern pop music [Music] bombastic and well produced the performer dished out a flawless performance that honored her many musical
influences selling millions of copies rolling in the deep was so well regarded that it made the artist a household name [Music] number eleven single ladies put a ring on it beyonce beyonce has created dozens of indelible songs throughout her amazing career and single ladies made sure the few remaining earthlights who hadn't yet heard her music would know her name creating a feel-good anthem for bachelorettes the singer brought a magnetic presence to this iconic recording there's no telling what the world would be like without this powerful pop number [Music] and that's without considering the hugely successful
video and dance crazy in love was a spectacular solo debut but the artist made an even bigger splash with this pop song securing her place in music history beyonce shook up pop culture and music with single ladies number 10 i want it that way backstreet boys among the most successful and enduring boy bands ever the backstreet boys rightfully conquered the charts with this pop ballad some may even argue that it's the definitive song of its kind setting a high bar for those that came after [Music] the 1999 hit was proof that the late 90s pop
craze was not just a flash in the pan after all the group was making fans swoon and cheer with their lyrics and presents with powerful vocal performances and a relatable story the band arguably beat out their contemporaries in terms of style and quality although we know if you were an nsync fan those are fighting words needless to say we'll never get tired of hearing the backstreet boys sing their hearts out on i want it that way number nine hips don't lie shakira featuring wyclef jean colombian music star shakira became a sensation after hips don't lie
elevated by rapper wyclef jean's contributions the song blends latin flavor and expert production to create a tremendous cocktail of pop magic [Music] with a simple yet effective title the artist took the best of her local and international influences and turned them into a huge smash hit reaching a massive audience the pop sensibilities of hips don't lie never fail to put people in a dancing mood nobody has forgotten it and it stands as a brilliant example of shakira's brilliance hitting number one all around the world the undisputed reggaeton hit is a sensational pop listen [Music] number
eight wannabe spice girls pop groups could chase but never catch the spice girls in their heyday [Music] their lasting girl power anthem wannabe delivered an encouraging and powerful message to female listeners what's more the undeniable dance track features an infectious combo of hip-hop and pop the world would never be the same after hearing that iconic opening an insanely catchy chorus housing a progressive mission statement the track became a sort of calling card for a new brand of girl groups the spice girls brought their positivity to the industry with this changing song and revolutionized pop music
in the process [Music] number seven shake it off taylor swift after years of delivering amazing hits this singer-songwriter shed her country roots with shake it off which presented her as an undisputed pop star [Music] beyond its success the track also represented a shift in swift's sound amid her 1989 era the song's positive theme carried a universal feeling while also allowing the singer to respond to the negative press and tabloid stories about her [Music] from the first beat the self-aware hit was an odyssey of experimentation and artistry defiant of her critics swift confronted the haters in
a winning pop formula that ushered in the next great phase of her career [Music] number 6. dancing queen abba view music groups were as captivating or successful as abba was in the 1970s their most famous and catchy song dancing queen outlived disco and still has the same vitality of its initial release describing a dancehall scene with fun-loving lyrics the track goes for raw pop power and wins the group brought a beautiful melody and exciting lyrics together and it just worked in many ways the greatness of modern pop can be traced to acts like abba whose
songs like dancing queen crossed borders and barriers to this day it's hard not to get up or at least smile at the intro of this beloved single [Applause] number five pokerface lady gaga since her meteoric climb to the top lady gaga has had a firm hand in pop music and culture poker face was arguably the track that made audiences realize pop music would never be the same game [Music] the synth pop number off her debut album the single quickly became her most recognized work later winning a grammy the song achieved critical and commercial notice thanks
to its mix of throwback influences and futuristic vocal sounds [Music] bold and unafraid the hit's salacious and interpretive lyrics only made it more intriguing capturing her artistry and vision in its purest form pokerface ensured that gaga's new hold on pop music was only just beginning [Music] number four i will always love you whitney houston with the release of the bodyguard singer whitney houston made her first appearance on film more importantly the movie soundtrack featured her magnum opus i will always love you you have all you dreamed up it's hard to compete with a master at
the top of her game and this song truly encompassed her talents from every angle her every breath inflection and impeccable range took pop vocals to another level it's fair to say that the dolly parton written song which has been widely covered by artists will never be sung the same way there was only one whitney houston and her earth-shattering rendition of i will always love you is as memorable as they come number three baby one more time britney spears britney spears pushed pop music across the millennium divide conquering the landscape to claim a top spot among
the industry's plethora of artists and her talents were particularly apparent on her breakthrough hit baby one more time [Music] it was a fully formed and perfect encapsulation of her many talents it only took the hitmaker max martin's songwriting and spears's charming vocals to generate the ultimate late 90s pop song there were many more britney masterpieces to come like the fantastic toxic but this track marked the beginning of the star's storied career from the song's iconic video to its classic hook baby one more time remains one of the best pop debuts ever one more time number
two vogue madonna madonna didn't get the queen of pop moniker for nothing as the face of female pop music for decades the singer's release of vogue completely changed the game [Music] taking inspiration from the harlem ballroom scene she brought a variety of cultural influences into this dance hit accompanied by a memorable house music sound the artist threw out the names of a number of early hollywood icons [Music] putting a spotlight on many of her musical influences madonna walked into 1990 and completely owned the year with this acclaimed record never one to slow down this song's
compelling rhythm makes for one of the artists greatest achievements [Music] before we unveil our top pick here are some honorable mentions no tears left to cry ariana grande a show-stopping performance from grande in a melancholic pop hit [Music] bootylicious destiny's child the trio delivers skill and attitude [Music] adore you harry styles styles once again proves his power as a pop solo artist [Music] since you've been gone kelly clarkson this breakup anthem never lost its pop luster [Music] shape of you ed sheeran sharon embraces unbridled pop glory in one of his most successful hits [Music] before
we continue be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one billie jean michael jackson if you look up pop music in the dictionary you'll probably see michael jackson's name maybe not literally but you know what we mean there's no denying the impact the singer had on the genre with the release of his thriller album and billie
jean remains one of the work's artistic centerpieces the scandalous lyrics float over top of a perfectly constructed track there are few pop songs where the bass line is as recognizable as the vocals [Music] it's a testament to the care and attention to detail that went into crafting the song at every level thus jackson delivered what might just be his signature hit and an unbeatable pop masterpiece [Music] do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from ms mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest
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