Many of these tunes maintain their stature based on the impact they had decades ago. Plenty of these hits have become generational, passed down like family heirlooms. Additionally, some receive a boost when featured in various forms of media. Nonetheless,the fact they have stayed in the mainstream demonstrates just how good they are. In fact, some musicians have created not just one, but multiple hits that reached overone billion streams on Spotify, making it even more impressive.
10Bryan Adams - Summer Of ‘69
Album: Reckless (1985)
Trying to break into the rock genre as a solo artist in the late 1970s was no easy task. Many legendary bands were performing at a high level, and with their spectacular songs, it took a perfect solo artist to set themselves apart to compete. The likes of Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie were able to distinguish unique personalities, butalso in that mix was Bryan Adams. He worked tirelessly until finally releasing his debut solo album in 1980.
Adams produced a hit with a message that resonates in any decade.
After that, he took off and would eventually release his 5x Platinum album,Reckless, in 1984.It has gone on to sell over 12 million records worldwide, and a big part of that was due to the song “Summer of ‘69.” Known for its charming lyrics, it was a tune that allowed listeners to look back and think of a simpler time in their lives. It was also helped by its popular music video during theMTV Generation. Given its continued streaming success, it’s easy to see that Adams produced a hit with a message that resonates in any decade.
9Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams
Album: Voices (1980)
Although Hall and Oates have had a tumultuous relationship over the years, it doesn’t take away from the incredible career they were able to build together. The duo formed all the way back in 1970. They maintained prominence asthey blended many genres together, including rock, soul, and blues. During that time, they released 18 studio albums, with their 1980 release,Voices, containing one of their biggest hits, “You Make My Dreams.”
The popularity of the song was easily visible from the moment it was released, as it reached the 5th spot on theBillboardHot 100.Perhaps there were enough songs about heartbreak, so this catchy upbeat tune about love is what everyone wanted to hear. Over the years, it has certainly helped make the duo’s dreams come true as it assisted in making this record regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
8Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
Album: Agent Provocateur (1984)
At a time when power ballads were becoming a hot commodity, it was becoming increasingly more difficult for artists to stand out. A song had to be truly different, sparking feelings in listeners that they weren’t getting anywhere else. Foreigner was one band up for the challenge, as they had been creating hits since their arrival in the late ’70s. However, in 1984, they didn’t create just another hit; they made a love song built to last.
The tune they created was called “I Want to Know What Love Is” and it came from their 3x Platinum album,Agent Provocateur.After its release, it became a number-one hit onBillboard’sHot 100 chart and on their Mainstream Rock chart. The song has become so popular that it not only helps tell the story of Foreigner, but can also be considered among the biggest tunes that have defined the entire 1980s.
7Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Album: Second Helping (1974)
When it comes to Southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd is consistently revered as one of the greatest bands to ever grace the genre. They immediately set high standards for themselves, astheir debut studio album included hits such as “Simple Man” and “Free Bird.“While those songs seemed like they would be among the hits to have reached over one billion streams on Spotify for the band, it is actually the one they followed them up with.
Knowing that they needed to live up to the high expectations they set, the band returned with the classic anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” on their sophomore album. This became their biggest hit single and even broke into the Top 10 on theBillboardHot 100. Over the years,it has achieved even greater success, being used many times in the mainstream media, including for the 2002 Reese Witherspoon film that shares the same name.
6Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Album: Blowin’ Your Mind (1967)
Beginning his career in the early ’60s, Van Morrison had a lot of work to do in order to stand out among legends such as the Beatles and theRolling Stones.He started things off with one of his biggest hits ever, “Brown Eyed Girl.” The song made it into the Top 10 of theBillboardHot 100 and helped solidify the name of the rising star. Fans quickly fell in love with the song’s catchy melody and its upbeat nature.
The song made it into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and helped solidify the name of the rising star.
To make the song even greater,it featured backing vocals from R&B girl group, Sweet Inspirations. The group was famous for being founded by Cissy Houston, who was the mother of Whitney Houston. Ultimately, Van Morrison’s huge hit set the stage for his Hall of Fame career. Throughout his decades as an artist, he has won countless awards, and has been acknowledged many times over by the biggest institutions.
5Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive
Album: Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977)
The Bee Gees were another group that worked for many years to perfect their style. They built a solid name for themselves from the late ’60s into the ’70s. They even had an unusual period when founding member Robin Gibb left for an album.Things truly clicked for them once they switched their sound to a more radio-friendly one, which included elements of disco. One of their biggest breaks was when they landed on a major movie soundtrack.
The film wasSaturday Night Fever, and it starred John Travolta. The soundtrack featured one of the Bee Gees’ greatest songs, “Stayin’ Alive.“It became a number-one single for the bandand over the years has been considered one of the best tunes ever made. Its musical qualities led to a significant cultural impact. Interestingly enough, due to the beats in the song, it is even referred to as a guide when administering CPR.
4Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2
Album: The Wall (1979)
By the time 1979 arrived, Pink Floyd had already established themselves as a major rock band. Ten records into their career, including the best-sellingThe Dark Side of the Moon,the band sought to create a rock opera titledThe Wall. One of the crowning achievements of the album was the three-part song “Another Brick in the Wall.” Each part addresses the protagonist’s different stages of grief following a death in the family.
While one may think the beginning or the end is the section listeners have come to adore, it’s actually the middle, “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” Not only did the song incorporate elements of disco that were very popular at the time, butit also served as a rebellious anthem against the strict constraints of schooling. Perhaps this is what has allowed the song to withstand the test of time, as the message is one that people still relate to. Of course, school is important, but it’s not every kid’s favorite.
3Aerosmith - Dream On
Album: Aerosmith (1973)
One of the most perfect songs ever created for a debut album is “Dream On.” As musicians begin their careers, the sky is the limit. They all have plans of getting a hit single, a hit album, building on that success, and creating a legacy. Aerosmith was no different, and"Dream On” was their ticket to early stardom, as the song was their first major hit. Instantly, it became a radio favorite and, with its constant play, it has never left circulation.
Over the years, the song has even been sampled by Eminem, which helped the tune resonate with a brand-new audience. On Spotify, Aerosmith also has a second song that has reached over one billion streams, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” However, what makes “Dream On” that much more of an accomplishment is the fact that it didn’t have a major movie likeArmageddonto back it. Instead,it has had to grow with the band throughout the decades, maintaining its charm since 1973.
2Toto - Hold The Line
Album: Toto (1978)
In the era of streaming, Toto deserves credit for the historical feats they have accomplished. Firstly, it is no surprise to see their signature song “Africa” reach over one billion streams. However, the fact that it has over two billion is significant. That’s a milestone that some legends have not achieved with their songs. On that same note,there are plenty of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bands that have only one song past the historical mark, but Toto has two.
In the era of streaming, Toto deserves credit for the historical feats they have accomplished.
Besides “Africa,” Toto’s first major hit, “Hold the Line,” has also surpassed one billion streams. The song comes from the band’s debut self-titled studio album, which was released in 1978. It is known for its energetic style and strong harmonies, perfectly blending rock and pop.Since its initial release, the song has remained popular, ranking 5th on theBillboardHot 100. Today, it continues to be just as revered.
1Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Album: The Game (1980)
If the band Smile had never ended, Queen wouldn’t have happened. Luckily, things turned out the way they did, and one of the greatest rock bands ever was born. With Freddie Mercury at the helm, they became unstoppable. Due to his showmanship, it felt like there was nothing he couldn’t turn into a hit song. On Spotify,the band has six songs with over one billion streams, with more on their way to passing that mark.
The sixth one just past this milestone was “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” It was truly impressive, asthe band is reaching territories that only the most esteemed artists do. The fact that they can still compete with today’s stars, having not put out new music since the ’90s, speaks to just how good their discography is. Since Mercury’s death in 1991, the rest of the band has remained cultural icons. Guitarist Brian May even recently showed up at Coachella, which will probably help the band achieve even greater heights.
