Best Pop Rock singles of all time - Rate Your Music
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Top Pop Rock singles of all time

Separate: live, archival, soundtracks and scores
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Updated: 28 May
Average Ratings Reviews
The Beatles - Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever, Cover art
Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever
The Beatles
4.44 4k 4,409 88 88
17 February 1967 Single
Psychedelic Pop Pop Rock Progressive Pop
Baroque Pop Psychedelic Rock Art Pop Music Hall
melodic psychedelic warm surreal lush playful progressive longing
4k Ratings 88 Reviews 4.44 Average
The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, Cover art
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Smiths
4.44 4k 4,309 50 50
June 1986 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Chamber Pop Neo-Acoustic
romantic bittersweet poetic melancholic death melodic passionate love
4k Ratings 50 Reviews 4.44 Average
Radiohead - Let Down / Karma Police, Cover art
Let Down / Karma Police
Radiohead
4.44 3k 3,442 31 31
1997 Single
Alternative Rock Post-Britpop
Art Rock Dream Pop Space Rock Revival
melancholic melodic bittersweet existential depressive mellow lush lonely
3k Ratings 31 Reviews 4.44 Average
The Cure - Just Like Heaven / Snow in Summer, Cover art
Just Like Heaven / Snow in Summer
The Cure
4.39 3k 2,532 28 28
20 October 1987 Single
New Wave Jangle Pop
Dream Pop Post-Punk Jangle Pop
romantic love melodic bittersweet ethereal passionate uplifting sentimental
3k Ratings 28 Reviews 4.39 Average
David Bowie - Starman / Suffragette City, Cover art
Starman / Suffragette City
David Bowie
4.37 3k 2,607 25 25
14 April 1972 Single
Glam Rock Pop Rock
Baroque Pop Proto-Punk Art Pop
science fiction melodic uplifting bittersweet optimistic passionate anthemic energetic
3k Ratings 25 Reviews 4.37 Average
Radiohead - No Surprises, Cover art
No Surprises
Radiohead
4.32 4k 3,611 25 25
12 January 1998 Single
Post-Britpop Alternative Rock
Art Pop Dream Pop Lullabies
suicide melancholic depressive lonely existential sad alienation melodic
4k Ratings 25 Reviews 4.32 Average
The Smiths - This Charming Man / Jeane, Cover art
This Charming Man / Jeane
The Smiths
4.31 3k 2,801 34 34
28 October 1983 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Post-Punk New Wave
LGBT bittersweet melodic energetic passionate rhythmic romantic playful
3k Ratings 34 Reviews 4.31 Average
The Beatles - Something / Come Together, Cover art
Something / Come Together
The Beatles
4.30 3k 2,791 29 29
31 October 1969 Single
Pop Rock
Blues Rock Psychedelic Rock Swamp Rock
romantic love melodic lush bittersweet mellow sentimental ballad
3k Ratings 29 Reviews 4.30 Average
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World / Pharaohs, Cover art
Everybody Wants to Rule the World / Pharaohs
Tears for Fears
4.27 2k 2,306 34 34
18 March 1985 Single
New Wave Pop Rock Big Music
Synthpop Sophisti-Pop
anthemic political melodic serious existential bittersweet passionate introspective
2k Ratings 34 Reviews 4.27 Average
Weyes Blood - Andromeda, Cover art
Andromeda
Weyes Blood
4.26 2k 2,039 14 14
17 January 2019 Single
Art Pop Psychedelic Pop Singer-Songwriter
Dream Pop Alt-Country Soft Rock Psychedelic Folk Countrypolitan
lush romantic space mellow psychedelic melodic warm ethereal
2k Ratings 14 Reviews 4.26 Average
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain / Go Your Own Way, Cover art
The Chain / Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac
4.26 1k 1,450 7 7
April 1977 Single
Pop Rock Country Rock
Hard Rock Blues Rock Country Rock Southern Rock
breakup passionate melancholic melodic anthemic sombre bittersweet vocal group
1k Ratings 7 Reviews 4.26 Average
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side / Perfect Day, Cover art
Walk on the Wild Side / Perfect Day
Lou Reed
4.26 2k 2,119 28 28
December 1972 Single
Soft Rock Jazz Pop
Baroque Pop Art Pop Blue-Eyed Soul
LGBT bittersweet sexual drugs deadpan ballad urban melodic
2k Ratings 28 Reviews 4.26 Average
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams / Songbird, Cover art
Dreams / Songbird
Fleetwood Mac
4.25 2k 1,781 21 21
24 March 1977 Single
Soft Rock
Country Pop Singer-Songwriter Psychedelic Pop Urban Cowboy
soothing breakup melodic mellow soft melancholic lush atmospheric
2k Ratings 21 Reviews 4.25 Average
Soda Stereo - En la ciudad de la furia, Cover art
En la ciudad de la furia
Soda Stereo
4.28 401 401 1 1
1988 Single
Post-Punk Big Music New Wave
Gothic Rock New Wave Alternative Rock Jangle Pop
urban atmospheric nocturnal existential passionate poetic mysterious ethereal
401 Ratings 1 Reviews 4.28 Average
Radiohead - Karma Police, Cover art
Karma Police
Radiohead
4.24 3k 3,205 21 21
25 August 1997 Single
Alternative Rock Art Rock Post-Britpop
Piano Rock
melancholic melodic anxious existential atmospheric misanthropic bittersweet ominous
3k Ratings 21 Reviews 4.24 Average
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset / Act Nice and Gentle, Cover art
Waterloo Sunset / Act Nice and Gentle
The Kinks
4.24 2k 1,536 33 33
5 May 1967 Single
Pop Rock
Sunshine Pop
lonely autumn romantic poetic melodic sentimental warm introspective
2k Ratings 33 Reviews 4.24 Average
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love / The Handsome Cabin Boy, Cover art
Hounds of Love / The Handsome Cabin Boy
Kate Bush
4.23 1k 1,440 9 9
17 February 1986 Single
Art Pop Pop Rock
Synthpop Baroque Pop Big Music New Romantic
romantic passionate lush love epic bittersweet uplifting sampling
1k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.23 Average
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord / Isn't It a Pity, Cover art
My Sweet Lord / Isn't It a Pity
George Harrison
4.22 2k 1,546 24 24
23 November 1970 Single
Pop Rock Folk Pop Singer-Songwriter
Vedic Chant Gospel Soft Rock
spiritual religious passionate uplifting melodic longing mellow Wall of Sound
2k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.22 Average
The Cure - In Between Days / The Exploding Boy, Cover art
In Between Days / The Exploding Boy
The Cure
4.22 1k 1,450 15 15
9 July 1985 Single
New Wave Jangle Pop Neo-Psychedelia
Indie Pop
melodic bittersweet love melancholic energetic playful anxious longing
1k Ratings 15 Reviews 4.22 Average
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run / Meeting Across the River, Cover art
Born to Run / Meeting Across the River
Bruce Springsteen
4.19 1k 1,409 22 22
August 1975 Single
Heartland Rock Pop Rock
Singer-Songwriter Brill Building
anthemic triumphant Wall of Sound passionate epic uplifting energetic romantic
1k Ratings 22 Reviews 4.19 Average
Pulp - Common People, Cover art
Common People
Pulp
4.18 2k 1,846 17 17
22 May 1995 Single
Britpop
Synthpop New Wave
satirical anthemic sarcastic urban conscious energetic playful quirky
2k Ratings 17 Reviews 4.18 Average
Tears for Fears - Head Over Heels / When in Love With a Blind Man, Cover art
Head Over Heels / When in Love With a Blind Man
Tears for Fears
4.20 1k 1,329 24 24
June 1985 Single
Pop Rock Synthpop Sophisti-Pop
Art Pop New Wave Sophisti-Pop Big Music Progressive Pop
passionate melodic love bittersweet romantic longing melancholic lush
1k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.20 Average
Dean Blunt - 100, Cover art
100
Dean Blunt
4.20 1k 1,010 7 7
13 April 2015 Single
Dream Pop Jangle Pop Hypnagogic Pop
C86 Jangle Pop Neo-Psychedelia
longing romantic nocturnal lonely mellow melancholic melodic lush
1k Ratings 7 Reviews 4.20 Average
Magdalena Bay - You Lose!, Cover art
You Lose!
Magdalena Bay
4.18 2k 1,681 4 4
15 September 2021 Single
Noise Pop Pop Rock Indietronica
Bitpop Shoegaze
noisy dense anthemic bittersweet ethereal energetic atmospheric melodic
2k Ratings 4 Reviews 4.18 Average
The Beach Boys - I Get Around / Don't Worry Baby, Cover art
I Get Around / Don't Worry Baby
The Beach Boys
4.18 2k 1,841 41 41
11 May 1964 Single
Vocal Surf Sunshine Pop
Surf Rock Vocal Group Brill Building Doo-Wop
Wall of Sound vocal group summer melodic romantic lush optimistic playful
2k Ratings 41 Reviews 4.18 Average
Ween - Ocean Man, Cover art
Ocean Man
Ween
4.18 2k 1,570 5 5
1997 Single
Psychedelic Pop Alternative Rock Pop Rock
Neo-Psychedelia Surf Rock Power Pop Jangle Pop Geek Rock
uplifting aquatic summer playful psychedelic melodic warm quirky
2k Ratings 5 Reviews 4.18 Average
The Smiths - The Boy With the Thorn in His Side / Asleep, Cover art
The Boy With the Thorn in His Side / Asleep
The Smiths
4.18 2k 1,824 24 24
16 September 1985 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Chamber Pop Neo-Acoustic
lonely melancholic melodic passionate longing bittersweet existential alienation
2k Ratings 24 Reviews 4.18 Average
Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees, Cover art
Fake Plastic Trees
Radiohead
4.16 3k 3,078 25 25
15 May 1995 Single
Alternative Rock Post-Britpop
Acoustic Rock Dream Pop Britpop
melancholic melodic pessimistic bittersweet alienation existential lonely depressive
3k Ratings 25 Reviews 4.16 Average
The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again / Money Changes Everything, Cover art
Bigmouth Strikes Again / Money Changes Everything
The Smiths
4.17 2k 1,758 12 12
22 May 1986 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Post-Punk C86
sarcastic melodic humorous energetic melancholic anthemic violence anxious
2k Ratings 12 Reviews 4.17 Average
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper, Cover art
We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper
The Beatles
4.16 2k 2,201 36 36
3 December 1965 Single
Pop Rock
Merseybeat Baroque Pop Folk Pop Power Pop
melodic bittersweet optimistic uplifting energetic romantic breakup progressive
2k Ratings 36 Reviews 4.16 Average
The Beatles - Paperback Writer / Rain, Cover art
Paperback Writer / Rain
The Beatles
4.16 2k 2,373 48 48
30 May 1966 Single
Pop Rock Power Pop Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic Rock Freakbeat Psychedelic Pop
psychedelic melodic energetic summer uplifting raw rain sarcastic
2k Ratings 48 Reviews 4.16 Average
The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now / Suffer Little Children, Cover art
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now / Suffer Little Children
The Smiths
4.16 2k 1,841 17 17
21 May 1984 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Neo-Acoustic
melancholic misanthropic melodic lonely sarcastic alienation introspective pessimistic
2k Ratings 17 Reviews 4.16 Average
Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies), Cover art
Rebellion (Lies)
Arcade Fire
4.15 2k 1,782 14 14
5 September 2005 Single
Indie Rock Chamber Pop Big Music
Post-Punk Revival Art Pop
melodic uplifting energetic epic anxious lush anthemic triumphant
2k Ratings 14 Reviews 4.15 Average
Fiona Apple - Paper Bag, Cover art
Paper Bag
Fiona Apple
4.17 829 829 3 3
2000 Single
Singer-Songwriter Piano Rock Jazz Pop
Chamber Pop Vocal Jazz
longing introspective bittersweet melancholic melodic love poetic pessimistic
829 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.17 Average
The Cranberries - Dreams, Cover art
Dreams
The Cranberries
4.15 2k 1,509 12 12
29 September 1992 Single
Dream Pop Jangle Pop
Big Music Ethereal Wave
ethereal warm passionate melodic romantic uplifting love introspective
2k Ratings 12 Reviews 4.15 Average
Weezer - Say It Ain't So, Cover art
Say It Ain't So
Weezer
4.13 2k 2,040 10 10
13 July 1995 Single
Alternative Rock Power Pop
Grunge Emo Reggae Rock
alcohol passionate melodic introspective anxious lonely sad melancholic
2k Ratings 10 Reviews 4.13 Average
The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing / Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, Cover art
William, It Was Really Nothing / Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
The Smiths
4.15 2k 1,643 20 20
20 August 1984 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Neo-Acoustic Britfunk
LGBT melodic bittersweet energetic longing sarcastic poetic melancholic
2k Ratings 20 Reviews 4.15 Average
The Sundays - Here's Where the Story Ends, Cover art
Here's Where the Story Ends
The Sundays
4.16 944 944 11 11
January 1990 Single
Jangle Pop Indie Pop
Dream Pop Twee Pop
melancholic melodic bittersweet sentimental breakup alienation mellow introspective
944 Ratings 11 Reviews 4.16 Average
Alvvays - After the Earthquake, Cover art
After the Earthquake
Alvvays
4.15 855 855 3 3
5 October 2022 Single
Jangle Pop Twee Pop Neo-Psychedelia
C86 Dream Pop Post-Punk Noise Pop Indie Surf
energetic death melodic bittersweet melancholic lush breakup atmospheric
855 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.15 Average
The Replacements - Swingin Party / Left of the Dial, Cover art
Swingin Party / Left of the Dial
The Replacements
4.15 697 697 10 10
March 1986 Single
Jangle Pop
Power Pop Heartland Rock Indie Pop
melancholic lonely mellow introspective bittersweet suicide melodic poetic
697 Ratings 10 Reviews 4.15 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Prince - When Doves Cry / "17 Days (The Rain Will Come Down, Then U Will Have 2 Choose. If U Believe, Look 2 the Dawn and U Shall Never Lose.)", Cover art
    When Doves Cry / "17 Days (The Rain Will Come Down, Then U Will Have 2 Choose. If U Believe, Look 2 the Dawn and U Shall Never Lose.)"
    1984 Single
    2k Ratings 34 Reviews 4.29 Average
    4.29 2k 2,021 34 34
  • Bôa - Duvet, Cover art
    Duvet
    1998 Single
    3k Ratings 9 Reviews 4.27 Average
    4.27 3k 2,837 9 9
  • Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain / God, Cover art
    Purple Rain / God
    1984 Single
    2k Ratings 23 Reviews 4.24 Average
    4.24 2k 1,692 23 23
  • Prince and The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City ("Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive"), Cover art
    Let's Go Crazy / Erotic City ("Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive")
    1984 Single
    1k Ratings 28 Reviews 4.20 Average
    4.20 1k 1,391 28 28
  • YURiKA - 鏡面の波 (Kyoumen no nami), Cover art
    鏡面の波 (Kyoumen no nami)
    2017 Single
    306 Ratings 1 Reviews 4.17 Average
    4.17 306 306 1 1
    • See all 100 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Cheap Trick - I Want You to Want Me / Clock Strikes Ten, Cover art
    I Want You to Want Me / Clock Strikes Ten
    1979 Single
    484 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.80 Average
    3.80 484 484 9 9
  • Wings - Maybe I'm Amazed / Soily, Cover art
    Maybe I'm Amazed / Soily
    1977 Single
    248 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.85 Average
    3.85 248 248 10 10
  • U2 - Bad, Cover art
    Bad
    1985 Single
    222 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.93 Average
    3.93 222 222 4 4
  • Cyndi Lauper - Money Changes Everything, Cover art
    Money Changes Everything
    1984 Single
    209 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.56 Average
    3.56 209 209 3 3
  • The Anxiety - Meet Me at Our Spot, Cover art
    Meet Me at Our Spot
    2021 Single
    186 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.52 Average
    3.52 186 186 1 1
    • See all 76 Include in main chart

    Archival

  • Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here, Cover art
    Wish You Were Here
    2013 Single
    465 Ratings 2 Reviews 4.52 Average
    4.52 465 465 2 2
  • The Beatles - Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / Here Comes the Sun, Cover art
    Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / Here Comes the Sun
    1979 Single
    370 Ratings 2 Reviews 4.28 Average
    4.28 370 370 2 2
  • The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / With a Little Help From My Friends / A Day in the Life, Cover art
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / With a Little Help From My Friends / A Day in the Life
    1978 Single
    1k Ratings 15 Reviews 4.19 Average
    4.19 1k 1,083 15 15
  • The Smiths - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, Cover art
    Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
    2011 Single
    248 Ratings 4.35 Average
    4.35 248 248
  • The Beatles - Here, There and Everywhere / Good Day Sunshine, Cover art
    Here, There and Everywhere / Good Day Sunshine
    1996 Single
    366 Ratings 3 Reviews 4.00 Average
    4.00 366 366 3 3
    • See all 57 Include in main chart
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