RockLists.com

Artist · chart history · #157 in alternative artist polls · #668 in indie & aaa artist polls

The The

Band London United Kingdom Formed 1979 English post‐punk band

The The formed in 1979 in London, United Kingdom. The The has 208 chart appearances on 86 radio countdowns from 25 stations on RockLists, spanning 1986–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “This Is The Day”, which appears on 44 lists with a best position of #45. The station that charted The The most often is CD101 (Columbus, OH), with 65 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 1989.

208appearances
86countdowns
17songs charted
25stations
0#1 finishes
1986–2026years

The The has always really meant one man: Matt Johnson, the London singer-songwriter who started the project in 1979 and has been its only constant member, and often its only member, full stop. From 1982 to 1987 it ran as a solo project, with guests dropping in along the way, Jools Holland, J.G. Thirlwell and Neneh Cherry among them, while Johnson steered.

Soul Mining, in 1983, is where it all clicked, a record of restless, rueful pop songs wrapped in synthesizers and bright, bittersweet melodies, sung by a man who sounds like he is arguing with himself and losing. "Uncertain Smile" and "This Is the Day" are the ones people still carry around with them. Infected followed in 1986 and became his most successful album, lasting 30 weeks on the UK chart, with "Heartland" and the title track among its songs.

In 1988 The The turned into a proper band, and a startling one, with Johnny Marr on guitar alongside James Eller and David Palmer. Mind Bomb in 1989 and Dusk in 1993 both went top 10 in Britain, and they carried "The Beaten Generation", "Kingdom of Rain", "Dogs of Lust", "Slow Emotion Replay" and "Love Is Stronger Than Death" out into the world. Marr stayed until 1994, and players such as Gail Ann Dorsey and D.C. Collard passed through in the '90s.

The band ran until 2002 and then went on hiatus for 15 years. The The returned in 2017, and in 2024 put out Ensoulment, the first new studio album under the name in 24 years. Across it all they have put 15 singles on the UK chart, 7 of them in the top 40, and on the countdowns "Uncertain Smile" is still the one that lingers.

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

Songs by The The on radio countdowns

#SongStrengthListsBest#1sPeak year
1 This Is The Day
2,559		 44 #45 – –
2 Uncertain Smile
2,536		 51 #3 – –
3 Dogs of Lust
1,267		 24 #78 – 1993
4 Infected
762		 23 #75 – 1987
5 The Beaten Generation
715		 16 #239 – –
6 Slow Emotion Replay
594		 16 #93 – 1993
7 Kingdom of Rain
504		 11 #22 – 1989
8 Perfect
206		 4 #68 – –
9 Love is Stronger than Death
186		 5 #25 – 1993
10 Gravitate to Me
85		 2 #772 – –
11 Jealous of Youth
81		 2 #57 – 1990
12 Cognitive Dissident
72		 1 #24 – 2024
13 I Saw The Light
48		 2 #506 – –
14 Heartland
38		 1 #32 – 1986
15 Jealous Youth
14		 1 #1725 – –
16 I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow
10		 1 #663 – –
17 Beat(en) Generation
7		 1 #86 – 1989

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.

86 87 89 90 93 24

Every countdown appearance

Year#SongCountdown
2026 806 Dogs of Lust KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 258 This Is The Day WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s
2026 106 Uncertain Smile The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2026 491 This Is The Day The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2025 92 This Is The Day The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs
2024 24 Cognitive Dissident WBER Listener Countdown 2024
2024 775 This Is The Day WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2024 663 I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow The Best Opening Tracks of All Time
2024 825 I Saw The Light The Colorado Sound Top 850 Cover Songs
2023 804 This Is The Day 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time
2023 94 Uncertain Smile The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s
2023 151 This Is The Day The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s
2023 480 Kingdom of Rain The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s
2023 514 Slow Emotion Replay The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 652 Love is Stronger than Death The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 750 Perfect The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s
2023 844 Dogs of Lust The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2022 66 This Is The Day KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022)
2022 163 Uncertain Smile The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 298 This Is The Day The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 395 Uncertain Smile X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time
2022 469 Uncertain Smile KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022)
2022 155 Slow Emotion Replay The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022 302 Dogs of Lust The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2021 176 Dogs of Lust 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021 482 This Is The Day 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s
2021 764 Uncertain Smile 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s
2021 765 Kingdom of Rain 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s
2020 618 Uncertain Smile WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2019 45 This Is The Day KEXP Listeners' Favorite Songs of All Time
2019 363 Love is Stronger than Death KEXP Listeners' Favorite Songs of All Time
2016 506 I Saw The Light WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2014 797 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1349 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1853 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2013 793 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1306 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1794 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2011 783 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1282 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1775 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1976 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2010 754 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1230 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1706 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1894 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1989 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2009 739 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1194 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1667 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1846 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1937 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2008 819 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1170 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1646 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1813 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1901 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2007 929 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1173 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1681 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1829 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1918 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 397 Uncertain Smile WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time
2006 312 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006)
2006 358 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006)
2006 487 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006)
2006 671 Artist ranking WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Artists (2006)
2005 296 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005)
2005 369 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005)
2005 455 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005)
2005 175 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 308 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 708 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 782 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 1356 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005 272 Dogs of Lust 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2004 177 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 304 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 707 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 782 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1356 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2003 274 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003 308 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003 345 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003 177 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 304 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 707 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 782 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1356 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 19 Uncertain Smile Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 239 The Beaten Generation Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 601 Kingdom of Rain Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 721 Dogs of Lust Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 772 Gravitate to Me Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 1363 Jealous of Youth Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 1546 Infected Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2003 1580 Love is Stronger than Death Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003)
2002 186 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002 245 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002 323 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002 177 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 304 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 707 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 782 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1370 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 286 Infected Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002 495 The Beaten Generation Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002 652 Uncertain Smile Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002 825 Kingdom of Rain Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002 1004 Dogs of Lust Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002 1545 Gravitate to Me Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002 1725 Jealous Youth Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2001 159 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 214 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 273 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 177 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 304 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 707 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 771 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1371 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2000 157 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 211 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 272 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 175 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 292 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 706 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 771 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1369 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
1999 384 This Is The Day Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 584 Uncertain Smile Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 929 Slow Emotion Replay Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 280 Uncertain Smile WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999)
1999 486 Infected WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999)
1999 969 Infected The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 167 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999 285 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999 356 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999 175 This Is The Day CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 291 Dogs of Lust CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 706 The Beaten Generation CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1026 Slow Emotion Replay CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1369 Uncertain Smile CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 112 Perfect CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 433 Uncertain Smile CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 806 Dogs of Lust CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1998 411 Uncertain Smile KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1998)
1996 374 Uncertain Smile KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996)
1996 446 Infected KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996)
1996 143 Uncertain Smile Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996)
1996 306 This Is The Day Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996)
1996 444 Perfect Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996)
1996 122 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996)
1996 201 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996)
1996 253 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996)
1995 375 Uncertain Smile KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995)
1995 161 This Is The Day Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995)
1994 250 Uncertain Smile KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994)
1994 425 Infected KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994)
1994 75 Infected Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994)
1994 229 This Is The Day Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994)
1994 421 Love is Stronger than Death Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994)
1994 130 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994)
1994 199 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994)
1994 279 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994)
1994 481 Dogs of Lust WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994)
1993 78 Dogs of Lust KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1993
1993 25 Love is Stronger than Death Live 105 Top 105 Songs of 1993
1993 93 Slow Emotion Replay Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1993
1992 64 Uncertain Smile KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992)
1992 493 Kingdom of Rain KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992)
1992 241 Uncertain Smile Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1992)
1991 115 Uncertain Smile Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1991)
1991 149 This Is The Day Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1991)
1991 219 Kingdom of Rain Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1991)
1991 58 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1991)
1991 334 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1991)
1991 408 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1991)
1991 68 Perfect CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 142 Uncertain Smile CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 210 This Is The Day CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 13 Uncertain Smile Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1991)
1991 22 Artist ranking Live 105 Top 105 Artists of All-Time (1991)
1990 57 Jealous of Youth Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1990
1990 99 Kingdom of Rain Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990)
1990 149 Uncertain Smile Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990)
1990 271 This Is The Day Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990)
1990 4 Uncertain Smile Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1990)
1990 94 This Is The Day Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1990)
1989 25 Kingdom of Rain KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1989
1989 70 Kingdom of Rain 91X Top 91 Songs of 1989
1989 86 Beat(en) Generation 91X Top 91 Songs of 1989
1989 22 Kingdom of Rain Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1989
1989 430 Infected KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1989)
1989 47 Uncertain Smile WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1989)
1989 394 This Is The Day WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1989)
1989 468 Infected WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1989)
1989 3 Uncertain Smile Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1989)
1989 20 Uncertain Smile WFNX Top 101 Songs of the Decade (December 1989)
1989 65 Kingdom of Rain WFNX Top 101 Songs of the Decade (December 1989)
1989 76 Infected WFNX Top 101 Songs of the Decade (December 1989)
1989 97 Artist ranking Live 105 Top 105 Artists of All-Time (1989)
1988 468 Infected KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1988)
1988 168 Uncertain Smile Live 105 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1988)
1988 240 This Is The Day Live 105 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1988)
1988 106 Uncertain Smile WLIR Top 200 Songs of All-Time (1988)
1987 89 Infected KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1987
1987 87 Infected WLIR Top 100 Songs of 1987
1986 32 Heartland John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1986

Comments

Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about The The.

Be kind and stay on topic. Guidelines

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.