Every summer, there’s a song that’s got everyone talking (and singing). Take a look back at the top tracks that have ruled the summer since 1985 (per Billboard’s Songs of the chart, which measures performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart each year from Memorial Day through Labor Day).
The Tears for Fears song peaked on the charts on Aug. 3, 1985 and spent three weeks at No. 1.
-
Tears for Fears: “Shout”, 1985
Every summer, there’s a song that’s got everyone talking (and singing). Take a look back at the top tracks that have ruled the summer since 1985 (per Billboard’s Songs of the chart, which measures performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart each year from Memorial Day through Labor Day).
The Tears for Fears song peaked on the charts on Aug. 3, 1985 and spent three weeks at No. 1.
-
Madonna: “Papa Don’t Preach”, 1986
The Material Girl’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on Aug. 16, 1986 and spent two weeks at No. 1.
-
Heart: “Alone”, 1987
The sister act’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 11, 1987 and spent three weeks at No. 1.
-
Steve Winwood: “Roll With It”, 1988
The Steve Winwood song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 30, 1988 and spent four weeks at No. 1.
-
Richard Marx, “Right Here Waiting”, 1989
The singer-songwriter’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on Aug. 12, 1989 and spent three weeks at No. 1.
-
Mariah Carey: “Vision of Love”, 1990
The pop diva’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on Aug. 4, 1990 and spent four weeks at No. 1.
-
Bryan Adams: “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”, 1991
The rocker’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 27, 1991 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
Sir Mix-a-Lot: “Baby Got Back”, 1992
The rapper’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 4, 1992 and spent five weeks at No. 1.
-
UB40: “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, 1993
The UB40 song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 24, 1993 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
All-4-One: “I Swear”, 1994
The quartet’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on May 21, 1994 and spent 11 weeks at No. 1.
-
TLC: “Waterfalls”, 1995
The trio’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 8, 1995 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
Los Del Rio: “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”, 1996
The Los Del Rio song peaked on the Hot 100 on Aug. 3, 1996 and spent 14 weeks at No. 1.
-
Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112: “I’ll Be Missing You”, 1997
The tribute song to Notorious B.I.G. peaked on the Hot 100 on June 14, 1997 and spent 11 weeks at No. 1.
-
Brandy and Monica: “The Boy Is Mine”, 1998
The R&B singers’ song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 6, 1998 and spent 13 weeks at No. 1.
-
Christina Aguilera: “Genie in a Bottle”, 1999
The budding diva’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 31, 1999 and spent five weeks at No. 1.
-
Matchbox Twenty: “Bent”, 2000
The Matchbox Twenty song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 22, 2000 and spent one week at No. 1.
-
Usher: “U Remind Me”, 2001
The track peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated July 7, 2001 and spent four total weeks at the summit.
-
Nelly: “Hot in Herre”, 2002
The hip-hop star’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 29, 2002 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
Beyonce featuring Jay Z: “Crazy in Love” 2003
The Beyonce/Jay Z song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 12, 2003 and spent eight weeks at No. 1.
-
Usher: “Confessions Part II”, 2004
The R&B singer’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 23, 2004 and spent two weeks at No. 1.
-
Mariah Carey: “We Belong Together”, 2005
The Mariah Carey song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 4, 2005 and spent 14 weeks at No. 1.
-
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland: “Promiscuous”, 2006
The Nelly Furtado/Timberland song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 8, 2006 and spent six weeks at No. 1.
-
Rihanna featuring Jay Z: “Umbrella”, 2007
The Rihanna/Jay Z song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 9, 2007 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
Katy Perry: “I Kissed a Girl”, 2008
The pop star’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 4, 2008 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
The Black Eyed Peas: “I Gotta Feeling”, 2009
The Black Eyed Peas song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 11,2009 and spent 14 weeks at No. 1.
-
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg: “California Gurls”, 2010
The Katy Perry song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 19, 2010 and spent six weeks at No. 1.
-
LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock: “Party Rock Anthem”, 2011
The LMFAO song peaked on the Hot 100 on July 16, 2011 and spent six weeks at No. 1.
-
Carly Rae Jepsen: “Call Me Maybe”, 2012
The Canadian singer’s song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 23, 2012 and spent nine weeks at No. 1.
-
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. + Pharrell: “Blurred Lines”, 2013
The Robin Thicke song peaked on the Hot 100 on June 22, 2013 and spent 12 weeks at No. 1.
-
Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX: “Fancy,” 2014
The boastful collab with Charli XCX reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 on June 7 and spent seven weeks at No. 1.
-
OMI: “Cheerleader,” 2015
The upbeat, reggae/pop love song reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 on July 25 and spent six weeks at No. 1.
-
Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla: “One Dance,” 2016
The collab topped the Hot 100 dated May 21, 2016, and ruled for 10 total weeks.
-
Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee: “Despacito”, 2017
The smash hit No. 1 on the May 27, 2017-dated Hot 100 and led for 16 weeks (through the chart dated Sept. 9), tying Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's 1995-96 hit "One Sweet Day" for the most time at No. 1 in the Hot 100's history.
READ MORE: Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber's 'Despacito' Is the No. 1 Song of the Summer