BBC Radio Best Songs Ever - January 29th, 2021

BBC Radio has operated in the UK since 1927 under the banner of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. They provide various radio stations.

Over the years, they have presented a variety of best-of lists. This chart aggregates 12 song-focused lists. Four of them are more general, while the other eight are more specific, such as Motown, rap, or songs banned by the BBC.

Because of that, the lists have been weighted so that the four more general lists have more impact.

Compact View

Filter:

Number
1 Up by 1

Imagine
John Lennon
From the album: Imagine
Peak
1 (for 1 weeks)
Weeks
5
Number
2 Up by 3

Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen
From the album: A Night at the Opera
Peak
2
Weeks
3
Number
3 Debut

I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Marvin Gaye
From the album: In the Groove
Peak
3
Weeks
1
Number
4 Up by 2

Hey Jude
The Beatles
Peak
4
Weeks
6
Number
5 Up by 21

Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel
From the album: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Peak
5
Weeks
2
Number
6 Up by 26

Yesterday
The Beatles
From the album: Help!
Peak
6
Weeks
4
Number
7 Up by 8

Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin
From the album: Led Zeppelin IV
Peak
7
Weeks
4
Number
8 Debut

A Whiter Shade of Pale
Procol Harum
From the album: Procol Harum (US Release)
Peak
8
Weeks
1
Number
9 Up by 4

Hotel California
Eagles
From the album: Hotel California
Peak
9
Weeks
2
Number
10 Down by 7

One
U2
From the album: Achtung Baby
Peak
3
Weeks
5
Number
11 Re-Entry

With or Without You
U2
From the album: The Joshua Tree
Peak
7
Weeks
2
Number
12 Re-Entry

God Only Knows
The Beach Boys
From the album: Pet Sounds
Peak
12
Weeks
3
Number
13 Down by 12

Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
From the album: Nevermind
Peak
1 (for 1 weeks)
Weeks
6
Number
14 Re-Entry

American Pie
Don McLean
From the album: American Pie
Peak
13
Weeks
2
Number
15 Down by 8

Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan
From the album: Highway 61 Revisited
Peak
1 (for 2 weeks)
Weeks
4
Number
16 Re-Entry

Let It Be
The Beatles
From the album: Let It Be
Peak
16
Weeks
3
Number
17

Live Forever
Oasis
From the album: Definitely Maybe, Time Flies... (1994 - 2009), Stop The Clocks
Peak
1 (for 1 weeks)
Weeks
5
Number
18 Re-Entry

Wonderwall
Oasis
From the album: (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
Peak
7
Weeks
4
Number
19 Re-Entry

Losing My Religion
R.E.M.
From the album: Out of Time
Peak
19
Weeks
2
Number
20 Re-Entry

Angels
Robbie Williams
From the album: Life Thru a Lens
Peak
12
Weeks
2
Number
21 Re-Entry

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding
From the album: The Dock of the Bay
Peak
21
Weeks
3
Number
22 Re-Entry

Everybody Hurts
R.E.M.
From the album: Automatic for the People
Peak
6
Weeks
2
Number
23 Debut

Strawberry Fields Forever
The Beatles
From the album: Magical Mystery Tour
Peak
23
Weeks
1
Number
24 Up by 12

Every Breath You Take
The Police
From the album: Synchronicity
Peak
24
Weeks
3
Number
25 Debut

Nights in White Satin
The Moody Blues
From the album: Days of Future Passed
Peak
25
Weeks
1
Number
26 Debut

My Heart Will Go On
Céline Dion
From the album: Let's Talk About Love
Peak
26
Weeks
1
Number
27 Re-Entry

Unfinished Sympathy
Massive Attack
From the album: Blue Lines
Peak
1 (for 1 weeks)
Weeks
2
Number
28 Re-Entry

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Bryan Adams
From the album: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Waking Up the Neighbours
Peak
17
Weeks
2
Number
29 Debut

Baker Street
Gerry Rafferty
From the album: City to City
Peak
29
Weeks
1
Number
30 Debut

Something
The Beatles
From the album: Abbey Road
Peak
30
Weeks
1
Number
31 Debut

Without You
Nilsson
Peak
31
Weeks
1
Number
32 Debut

Careless Whisper
George Michael
From the album: Make It Big
Peak
32
Weeks
1
Number
33 Re-Entry

I Am the Resurrection
The Stone Roses
From the album: The Stone Roses
Peak
8
Weeks
4
Number
34 Debut

Killing Me Softly
Fugees
From the album: The Score
Peak
34
Weeks
1
Number
35 Re-Entry

Don't Look Back in Anger
Oasis
From the album: (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, Time Flies... (1994 - 2009), Stop The Clocks
Peak
10
Weeks
3
Number
36 Down by 15

Over the Rainbow
Judy Garland
Peak
21
Weeks
2
Number
37 Down by 12

Creep
Radiohead
From the album: Pablo Honey
Peak
5
Weeks
5
Number
38 Down by 1

A Day in the Life
The Beatles
From the album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Peak
28
Weeks
4
Number
39 Debut

Summertime
Billie Holiday
Peak
39
Weeks
1
Number
40 Debut

Torn
Natalie Imbruglia
From the album: Left of the Middle
Peak
40
Weeks
1

Dropouts

Number
4 Dropout

Billie Jean
Michael Jackson
From the album: Thriller
Peak
1 (for 1 weeks)
Weeks
3
Number
8 Dropout

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones
From the album: Out of Our Heads
Peak
2
Weeks
3
Number
9 Dropout

God Save the Queen
Sex Pistols
From the album: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
Peak
9
Weeks
1
Number
10 Dropout

Sweet Child O' Mine
Guns N' Roses
From the album: Appetite for Destruction
Peak
10
Weeks
1
Number
11 Dropout

London Calling
The Clash
From the album: London Calling
Peak
11
Weeks
4
Number
12 Dropout

Waterloo Sunset
The Kinks
From the album: Something Else by The Kinks
Peak
12
Weeks
1
Number
14 Dropout

Your Song
Elton John
From the album: Elton John
Peak
14
Weeks
1
Number
16 Dropout

The Twist
Chubby Checker
From the album: Twist with Chubby Checker
Peak
1 (for 1 weeks)
Weeks
2
Number
18 Dropout

I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston
From the album: The Bodyguard (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Peak
18
Weeks
1
Number
19 Dropout

Life on Mars?
David Bowie
From the album: Hunky Dory
Peak
19
Weeks
1
Number
20 Dropout

Heartbreak Hotel
Elvis Presley
Peak
2
Weeks
30
Number
22 Dropout

What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
From the album: What's Going On
Peak
4
Weeks
3
Number
23 Dropout

Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
From the album: Born to Run
Peak
21
Weeks
3
Number
24 Dropout

Be My Baby
The Ronettes
From the album: Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
Peak
22
Weeks
3
Number
27 Dropout

Respect
Aretha Franklin
From the album: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Peak
5
Weeks
3
Number
28 Dropout

Family Affair
Sly & The Family Stone
From the album: There's a Riot Goin' On
Peak
28
Weeks
1
Number
29 Dropout

Dancing Queen
ABBA
From the album: Arrival
Peak
29
Weeks
1
Number
30 Dropout

Good Vibrations
The Beach Boys
From the album: Smiley Smile
Peak
5
Weeks
4
Number
31 Dropout

Purple Haze
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
From the album: Are You Experienced (US Release)
Peak
17
Weeks
3
Number
33 Dropout

Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry
From the album: Chuck Berry Is On Top
Peak
1 (for 4 weeks)
Weeks
29
Number
34 Dropout

No Woman, No Cry
Bob Marley & The Wailers
From the album: Natty Dread
Peak
34
Weeks
3
Number
35 Dropout

Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley
From the album: Grace
Peak
35
Weeks
1
Number
38 Dropout

Stand By Me
Ben E. King
From the album: Don't Play That Song
Peak
38
Weeks
1
Number
39 Dropout

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
James Brown
From the album: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
Peak
39
Weeks
1
Number
40 Dropout

Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones
From the album: Let It Bleed
Peak
38
Weeks
3

A chart by

Date

January 29, 2021

Songs

40

https://www.crownnote.com/charts/maxonwestley/bbc-radio-best-songs-ever-january-29th-2021

2 1 John Lennon – "Imagine" 1(×1) 5

5 2 Queen – "Bohemian Rhapsody" 2 3

NE 3 Marvin Gaye – "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" 3 1

6 4 The Beatles – "Hey Jude" 4 6

26 5 Simon and Garfunkel – "Bridge Over Troubled Water" 5 2

32 6 The Beatles – "Yesterday" 6 4

15 7 Led Zeppelin – "Stairway to Heaven" 7 4

NE 8 Procol Harum – "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 8 1

13 9 Eagles – "Hotel California" 9 2

3 10 U2 – "One" 3 5

RE 11 U2 – "With or Without You" 7 2

RE 12 The Beach Boys – "God Only Knows" 12 3

1 13 Nirvana – "Smells Like Teen Spirit" 1(×1) 6

RE 14 Don McLean – "American Pie" 13 2

7 15 Bob Dylan – "Like a Rolling Stone" 1(×2) 4

RE 16 The Beatles – "Let It Be" 16 3

17 17 Oasis – "Live Forever" 1(×1) 5

RE 18 Oasis – "Wonderwall" 7 4

RE 19 R.E.M. – "Losing My Religion" 19 2

RE 20 Robbie Williams – "Angels" 12 2

RE 21 Otis Redding – "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" 21 3

RE 22 R.E.M. – "Everybody Hurts" 6 2

NE 23 The Beatles – "Strawberry Fields Forever" 23 1

36 24 The Police – "Every Breath You Take" 24 3

NE 25 The Moody Blues – "Nights in White Satin" 25 1

NE 26 Céline Dion – "My Heart Will Go On" 26 1

RE 27 Massive Attack – "Unfinished Sympathy" 1(×1) 2

RE 28 Bryan Adams – "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" 17 2

NE 29 Gerry Rafferty – "Baker Street" 29 1

NE 30 The Beatles – "Something" 30 1

NE 31 Nilsson – "Without You" 31 1

NE 32 George Michael – "Careless Whisper" 32 1

RE 33 The Stone Roses – "I Am the Resurrection" 8 4

NE 34 Fugees – "Killing Me Softly" 34 1

RE 35 Oasis – "Don't Look Back in Anger" 10 3

21 36 Judy Garland – "Over the Rainbow" 21 2

25 37 Radiohead – "Creep" 5 5

37 38 The Beatles – "A Day in the Life" 28 4

NE 39 Billie Holiday – "Summertime" 39 1

NE 40 Natalie Imbruglia – "Torn" 40 1

DROPOUTS:

4 -- Michael Jackson – "Billie Jean" 1(×1) 3

8 -- The Rolling Stones – "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" 2 3

9 -- Sex Pistols – "God Save the Queen" 9 1

10 -- Guns N' Roses – "Sweet Child O' Mine" 10 1

11 -- The Clash – "London Calling" 11 4

12 -- The Kinks – "Waterloo Sunset" 12 1

14 -- Elton John – "Your Song" 14 1

16 -- Chubby Checker – "The Twist" 1(×1) 2

18 -- Whitney Houston – "I Will Always Love You" 18 1

19 -- David Bowie – "Life on Mars?" 19 1

20 -- Elvis Presley – "Heartbreak Hotel" 2 30

22 -- Marvin Gaye – "What's Going On" 4 3

23 -- Bruce Springsteen – "Born to Run" 21 3

24 -- The Ronettes – "Be My Baby" 22 3

27 -- Aretha Franklin – "Respect" 5 3

28 -- Sly & The Family Stone – "Family Affair" 28 1

29 -- ABBA – "Dancing Queen" 29 1

30 -- The Beach Boys – "Good Vibrations" 5 4

31 -- The Jimi Hendrix Experience – "Purple Haze" 17 3

33 -- Chuck Berry – "Johnny B. Goode" 1(×4) 29

34 -- Bob Marley & The Wailers – "No Woman, No Cry" 34 3

35 -- Jeff Buckley – "Hallelujah" 35 1

38 -- Ben E. King – "Stand By Me" 38 1

39 -- James Brown – "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" 39 1

40 -- The Rolling Stones – "Gimme Shelter" 38 3

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