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Cover of Superunknown by Soundgarden
Cover: Superunknown

Song · Soundgarden

“Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden

From the album Superunknown (1994)

“Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden appears on 154 radio countdowns from 57 stations between 1994 and 2026. It was first released in 1994 on the album Superunknown. Its best result is #1 on the KISW 25 Greatest Rock Songs from 1994. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #5 alternative song of 1994, #62 alternative song of all time and #32 of the '90s.

154countdowns
57stations
#1best position
1#1 finishes
14top 10 finishes
1994–2026years charted

Watch

Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

Video from YouTube (SoundgardenVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Black Hole Sun" was the third single from Superunknown, Soundgarden's fourth studio album, in 1994, and it's the band's signature song, a hazy, woozy daydream that slowly curdles into a nightmare. Chris Cornell wrote it alone, words and music, and he sings it as if he's floating somewhere above the wreckage, calm and eerie until the chorus drags him back down.

The guitars, played by Cornell and Kim Thayil, swirl and bend like a record warping in the sun, and then the solo tears the dream wide open. Ben Shepherd's bass and Matt Cameron's drums keep the whole thing moving at a heavy, deliberate sway. Michael Beinhorn produced it with the band, and Brendan O'Brien mixed it, keeping the psychedelic sheen without sanding off the weight.

It spent seven weeks on top of Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart and finished as the year's number-one modern rock track, and Howard Greenhalgh's video won Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.

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

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1994 5 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1994 107
1994 13 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1994 91
1994 7 Live 105 San Francisco, CA Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1994 106
1994 2 Q101 Chicago, IL Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1994 101
1994 8 WHFS Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1994 100
1994 1 KISW Seattle-Tacoma, WA KISW 25 Greatest Rock Songs from 1994 25
1994 22 Triple J Australia (national) Triple J Hottest 100 of 1994 100
1994 7 Radio & Records United States (national airplay chart) Radio & Records Top 94 Songs of 1994 94
1997 57 97.1 The Eagle Dallas-Fort Worth, TX KEGL The Eagle's Top 97 Songs of 1997 97

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 42 CRNC 90.1 CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s 91
1994 227 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 411 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1994) 1000
1995 107 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 217 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1995) 1000
1996 106 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 110 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996) 1000
1996 360 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 912 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1998 93 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998) 1000
1998 58 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998) 100
1999 102 KROQ KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999) 300
1999 47 WHFS WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999) 500
1999 12 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 128 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 55 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 9 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 382 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999) 500
1999 415 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 17 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 78 The Buzz The Buzz Top 99 Songs of All-Time (1999) 99
1999 86 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999) 998
2000 27 DC101 DC101 Top 101 Rock Songs of the 90s 101
2000 418 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 415 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 26 The Edge KEDJ Countdown 2000 (106 songs) 106
2001 420 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 415 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 61 KISW KISW Top 99 Rock Songs (2001) 99
2001 60 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 4 WFNX WFNX Top 50 Grunge Songs of All-Time (June 2002) 50
2002 268 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 415 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 13 KISW KISW Top 999 of All Time (2002) 999
2002 92 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 120 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 415 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2004 10 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 415 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 22 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 30 WBCN WBCN Grunge Top 104 (2004) 104
2005 21 Live 105 Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of the '90s (August 2005) 106
2005 11 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 90s 96
2005 111 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 417 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 12 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2006 10 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Songs of the '90s (December 2006) 107
2006 356 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 45 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2007 55 KROQ KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007) 500
2007 71 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2008 87 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 70 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 32 CFNY 102.1 The Edge The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge 200
2009 66 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 65 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 48 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009) 200
2010 34 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010) 200
2010 59 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 149 97.9 The Loop The Loop USO Rock 'N' Roll 500 (2010) 500
2011 60 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2012 17 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time 102
2012 736 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 61 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 375 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR CT 500 (2013) 500
2013 143 KBPI KBPI Top 200 Songs of All Time 200
2013 93 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years (2013) 100
2014 58 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 80 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014) 500
2014 154 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2015 76 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015) 500
2015 91 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2016 178 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 37 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2017 225 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2017 188 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2018 404 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 188 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 15 X96 X96's Top 100 Songs of the 90's 100
2019 71 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2019 70 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019) 500
2019 490 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 63 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 384 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2019 306 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2020 52 DC101 Top DC101 of the 90's 101
2020 102 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2020 330 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2020 96 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 130 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 7 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2020) 420
2020 486 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2021 18 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s 908
2021 47 107.7 The End The End Obligatory Top 100 Alternative Songs of All Time (2021) 100
2021 96 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2021 194 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 488 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2021 5 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2021) 420
2021 62 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2022 15 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s 900
2022 4 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2022) 420
2022 52 101X 101X 500 (2022) 498
2022 293 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 526 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 364 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 189 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 64 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 72 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 124 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 432 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2023 36 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s 893
2023 52 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of The Last 40 Years 91
2023 173 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 164 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2023 6 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2023) 420
2023 348 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 296 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 186 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 65 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023) 500
2023 32 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 45 ALT 104.5 ALT 104.5 Top 104 of ALT Time 104
2023 124 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 180 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2024 19 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2024) 400
2024 107 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 386 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 245 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 257 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 449 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2024) 498
2024 200 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 20 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2025 42 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s 500
2025 23 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2025) 400
2025 273 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2025 85 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 365 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2025 445 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2025) 498
2025 16 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 361 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2026 52 101X 101X 500 (2026) 500
2026 416 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500
2026 383 KXT KXT 917 Song Countdown 917
2026 21 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2026) 500
2026 193 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2026) 500
2026 20 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500

Charting alongside it in 1994

Best songs of 1994 →
  1. 2CloserNine Inch Nails
  2. 3Self-EsteemThe Offspring
  3. 4Interstate Love SongStone Temple Pilots
  4. 5Come Out and PlayThe Offspring
  5. 6Basket CaseGreen Day
  6. 7ZombieThe Cranberries

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