Artist · chart history · #853 in indie & aaa artist polls

Semisonic

Band Minneapolis United States Formed 1993

Semisonic formed in 1993 in Minneapolis, United States. Semisonic has 102 chart appearances on 76 radio countdowns from 32 stations on RockLists, spanning 1998–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Closing Time”, which appears on 57 lists with a best position of #4. The station that charted Semisonic most often is CD101 (Columbus, OH), with 13 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 1998.

102appearances

76countdowns

12songs charted

32stations

0#1 finishes

1998–2026years

Semisonic were a Minneapolis trio with a gift for wistful, radio-ready rock, and in 1998 they cashed it in with "Closing Time", from Feeling Strangely Fine: a big, warm singalong with a chorus that sticks for days. Dan Wilson sang and played guitar and keyboards, John Munson handled bass, keys and harmonies, and Jacob Slichter played drums and percussion and chipped in on keyboards too.

They had been at it a couple of years already, and Great Divide in 1996 had "If I Run", "F.N.T." and "Delicious", tougher and moodier guitar songs. But Feeling Strangely Fine was the one that caught fire: "Secret Smile" is a slow, sly, slinky number, and "Singing in My Sleep" is a pure pop rush.

The band never quite repeated the moment, which is why a recent list of '90s post-grunge acts that should have been bigger made room for them. They came back with "You're Not Alone" in 2020 and a new record, Little Bit of Sun, in 2023, the same three players and the same knack for a melody that sneaks up on you.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

Songs by Semisonic on radio countdowns

#	Song	Strength	Lists	Best	#1s	Peak year
1	Closing Time	2,651	57	#4	–	1998
2	Singing In My Sleep	444	12	#59	–	1998
3	Secret Smile	396	8	#7	–	1999
4	You're Not Alone	325	7	#20	–	2020
5	Basement Tapes	212	4	#53	–	2020
6	Little Bit of Sun	163	2	#12	–	2023
7	F.N.T.	87	2	#426	–	–
8	If I Run	50	5	#810	–	–
9	The Rope	38	1	#63	–	2023
10	Chemistry	27	1	#663	–	–
11	Singing in Your Sleep	7	1	#94	–	1998
12	Delicious	5	1	#97	–	1999

Albums with charting songs

Where each song was first released, from MusicBrainz.

Year-end chart timeline

Combined year-end countdown points per year. Taller bars mean more songs placing higher across more stations.

98 99 20 23

Every countdown appearance

Year	#	Song	Countdown
2026	93	Closing Time	101X 500 (2026)
2025	219	Little Bit of Sun	893 Essential Songs of The Current: 2005 to Now
2025	660	You're Not Alone	893 Essential Songs of The Current: 2005 to Now
2025	860	Closing Time	Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025)
2025	137	Closing Time	WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2025	391	Singing In My Sleep	WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2024	857	Closing Time	WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2023	12	Little Bit of Sun	The Current Top 89 Songs of 2023
2023	63	The Rope	WXPN Top 100 Most Played Songs of 2023
2023	81	Closing Time	105.9 The X July 420 (2023)
2023	230	Closing Time	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023)
2023	889	Closing Time	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time
2023	980	Closing Time	Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023)
2023	22	Closing Time	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023	186	Singing In My Sleep	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023	593	F.N.T.	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023	810	If I Run	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2022	80	Closing Time	105.9 The X July 420 (2022)
2022	156	Closing Time	101X 500 (2022)
2022	208	Basement Tapes	The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022	324	You're Not Alone	The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022	1169	Closing Time	WYEP Countdown to Fall 2022
2022	303	Secret Smile	The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022	445	Closing Time	The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022	663	Chemistry	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the 2000s
2021	77	Closing Time	105.9 The X July 420 (2021)
2021	230	Secret Smile	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021	426	F.N.T.	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021	615	Singing In My Sleep	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021	849	Closing Time	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2020	20	You're Not Alone	WRNR Top 103.1 Songs of 2020
2020	42	You're Not Alone	WXPK Top 107 Songs of 2020
2020	50	You're Not Alone	The Current Top 89 Songs of 2020
2020	53	Basement Tapes	WXPK Top 107 Songs of 2020
2020	56	Basement Tapes	WTMD Top 89 Songs of 2020
2020	59	You're Not Alone	WEXT Top 97 of 2020
2020	61	Basement Tapes	WRNR Top 103.1 Songs of 2020
2020	200	You're Not Alone	Lightning 100 Top 200 Songs of 2020
2020	85	Closing Time	105.9 The X July 420 (2020)
2020	87	Closing Time	The DC101 Top 500
2020	45	Closing Time	Top DC101 of the 90's
2019	264	Closing Time	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019)
2018	463	Closing Time	The Current's 893 Essential Songs
2016	893	Closing Time	WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2015	380	Closing Time	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015)
2014	399	Closing Time	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014)
2008	1982	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2007	2007	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007	497	Closing Time	KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007)
2006	252	Secret Smile	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006)
2006	856	Artist ranking	WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Artists (2006)
2005	1481	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	423	Secret Smile	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	568	Closing Time	99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2004	1483	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	244	Secret Smile	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2003	306	Closing Time	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003	1483	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003	58	Secret Smile	Virgin Radio VR10x10 (April 2003)
2002	256	Closing Time	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002	1625	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002	1846	If I Run	CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002	139	Closing Time	The Buzz Top Songs of All-Time (Labor Day 2002, partial)
2001	118	Closing Time	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001	1633	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	1860	If I Run	CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	228	Secret Smile	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	321	Closing Time	WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001)
2000	116	Closing Time	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000	1633	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000	1853	If I Run	CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
1999	97	Delicious	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1999
1999	7	Secret Smile	Virgin Radio Top 10 Songs of 1999
1999	363	Closing Time	WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999)
1999	1069	Closing Time	The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	427	Closing Time	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999	1633	If I Run	CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	1853	Closing Time	CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	295	Closing Time	KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999)
1999	234	Closing Time	WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999)
1998	24	Closing Time	KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1998
1998	94	Singing In My Sleep	KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1998
1998	40	Closing Time	91X Top 91 Songs of 1998
1998	13	Closing Time	Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1998
1998	73	Singing In My Sleep	Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1998
1998	12	Closing Time	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	82	Singing In My Sleep	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	5	Closing Time	WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1998
1998	94	Singing in Your Sleep	WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1998
1998	13	Closing Time	WFNX Top 101.7 Songs of 1998
1998	61	Singing In My Sleep	WFNX Top 101.7 Songs of 1998
1998	20	Closing Time	The End Top 107 Songs of 1998
1998	66	Singing In My Sleep	The End Top 107 Songs of 1998
1998	4	Closing Time	The Buzz Top 99 Songs of 1998
1998	64	Singing In My Sleep	The Buzz Top 99 Songs of 1998
1998	4	Closing Time	WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998	10	Closing Time	DC101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	59	Singing In My Sleep	DC101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	60	Singing In My Sleep	WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998	78	Closing Time	WBER Listener Countdown 1998
1998	4	Closing Time	Radio & Records Top 103 Songs of 1998
1998	60	Singing In My Sleep	Radio & Records Top 103 Songs of 1998

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