Artist · chart history · #206 in alternative artist polls · #814 in indie & aaa artist polls

The Verve

Band Wigan United Kingdom Active 1989–2009

The Verve formed in 1989 in Wigan, United Kingdom and was active until 2009. The Verve has 209 chart appearances on 151 radio countdowns from 50 stations on RockLists, spanning 1992–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, which appears on 113 lists and was voted number one once. In total the artist has topped 1 countdown. The station that charted The Verve most often is CD101 (Columbus, OH), with 40 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 1997.

209appearances

151countdowns

8songs charted

50stations

1#1 finishes

1992–2026years

The Verve came out of Wigan with Richard Ashcroft singing, Nick McCabe on guitar, Simon Jones on bass and Peter Salisbury on drums, and for their first few years they sounded like a band trying to float clean off the ground. A Storm in Heaven, the debut, was all psychedelic haze and shoegaze swirl, McCabe's guitar smeared across the sky while Ashcroft's voice drifted through the middle of it.

The road up was a rough one. Name changes, lineup changes, breakups, lawsuits, health problems and a heavy appetite for drugs all took their toll, and by 1997 they had 3 EPs and 3 albums to show for it. The third was Urban Hymns, the record that finally broke them, and it ranks among the biggest sellers in British history. Simon Tong, on guitar and keyboards, had come aboard for this second go-round.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is the song that did it, strings sweeping in circles while Ashcroft's voice cuts a straight line through them, and "The Drugs Don't Work", "Lucky Man" and "Sonnet" showed he could write a ballad that aches without going soft. In 1998 they took 2 Brit Awards, including Best British Group, and in February 1999 "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was up for the Grammy for Best Rock Song. And then, right at the peak, they fell apart again in 1999, blaming conflicts inside the band.

For 8 years Ashcroft brushed off any talk of a reunion, joking that the four Beatles were a likelier bet. The Verve did get back together in 2007, released Forth in 2008 with "Love Is Noise" as its single, and broke up for a third time in 2009 as the old tensions flared. On the countdowns, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" still towers over everything around it.

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

Songs by The Verve on radio countdowns

#	Song	Strength	Lists	Best	#1s	Peak year
1	Bitter Sweet Symphony#224 of all time	7,834	113	#1	1	1997
2	Bittersweet Sympthony	1,385	20	#2	–	1997
3	Lucky Man	1,001	27	#31	–	1998
4	Sonnet	586	20	#8	–	1998
5	The Drugs Don't Work	571	15	#22	–	1997
6	Love Is Noise	199	7	#43	–	2008
7	On Your Own	37	1	#1267	–	–
8	All In The Mind	4	1	#49	–	1992

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.

92 97 98 08

Every countdown appearance

Year	#	Song	Countdown
2026	44	Bitter Sweet Symphony	101X 500 (2026)
2026	366	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026	452	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2026	912	The Drugs Don't Work	The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2025	70	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025)
2025	38	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2025	2	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Absolute Radio 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems
2025	31	Lucky Man	Absolute Radio 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems
2025	42	The Drugs Don't Work	Absolute Radio 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems
2025	69	Sonnet	Absolute Radio 100 Ultimate Britpop Anthems
2025	615	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs
2024	172	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2024	108	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Best Opening Tracks of All Time
2023	40	Bitter Sweet Symphony	ALT 104.5 Top 104 of ALT Time
2023	60	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023)
2023	72	Bitter Sweet Symphony	105.9 The X July 420 (2023)
2023	94	Bitter Sweet Symphony	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time
2023	7	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023	755	The Drugs Don't Work	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023	803	Lucky Man	The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2022	41	Bitter Sweet Symphony	101X 500 (2022)
2022	57	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022)
2022	60	Bitter Sweet Symphony	105.9 The X July 420 (2022)
2022	136	Bitter Sweet Symphony	X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time
2022	3	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022	527	Lucky Man	The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2021	33	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The End Obligatory Top 100 Alternative Songs of All Time (2021)
2021	59	Bitter Sweet Symphony	105.9 The X July 420 (2021)
2021	500	Bitter Sweet Symphony	99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021)
2021	31	Bitter Sweet Symphony	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021	366	Lucky Man	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2021	756	The Drugs Don't Work	90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2020	65	Bitter Sweet Symphony	105.9 The X July 420 (2020)
2020	89	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The DC101 Top 500
2020	290	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020	46	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Top DC101 of the 90's
2019	79	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019)
2019	160	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KEXP Listeners' Favorite Songs of All Time
2019	199	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019	199	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2019	19	Bitter Sweet Symphony	X96's Top 100 Songs of the 90's
2018	191	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Current's 893 Essential Songs
2016	367	Bitter Sweet Symphony	BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016)
2016	654	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2015	99	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015)
2014	35	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014	1194	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014	1363	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014	96	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014)
2014	192	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014)
2013	44	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013	1135	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013	1326	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013	5	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Triple J Hottest 100 of the Past 20 Years (2013)
2012	98	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012)
2012	229	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown
2012	878	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012)
2011	47	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011	1077	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011	1273	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011	1983	The Drugs Don't Work	CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011	94	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011)
2010	45	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010	1041	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010	1220	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010	1904	The Drugs Don't Work	CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010	95	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010)
2010	76	Bitter Sweet Symphony	102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010	295	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010)
2009	106	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009)
2009	51	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009	1004	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009	1314	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009	1853	The Drugs Don't Work	CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009	59	Bitter Sweet Symphony	102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009	377	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009	14	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009)
2009	40	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009	224	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009)
2008	73	Love Is Noise	91X Top 91 Songs of 2008
2008	49	Love Is Noise	102.1 The Edge's Top 102 Songs of 2008
2008	43	Love Is Noise	Studio Brussel De Eindafrekening 2008
2008	58	Love Is Noise	88.3 The Sting WBWC Top 88 Songs of 2008
2008	67	Love Is Noise	WXPN Year in Review: Top 100 Songs of 2008
2008	75	Love Is Noise	WXPK Top 107 Songs of 2008
2008	95	Love Is Noise	WEQX Top 102.7 of 2008
2008	164	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008)
2008	61	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008	983	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008	1288	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008	1823	The Drugs Don't Work	CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008	85	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008)
2007	53	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007	948	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007	1208	Lucky Man	CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007	1793	The Drugs Don't Work	CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007	149	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time
2007	81	Bittersweet Sympthony	KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007)
2007	95	Artist ranking	Live 105 Top 105.3 Artists of All-Time (May 2007)
2006	466	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006)
2006	148	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006)
2006	126	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006)
2006	410	Lucky Man	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006)
2006	19	Bittersweet Sympthony	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006)
2006	120	The Drugs Don't Work	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006)
2006	236	Lucky Man	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006)
2006	57	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The End Top 107 Songs of the '90s (December 2006)
2006	817	Artist ranking	WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Artists (2006)
2005	128	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005)
2005	423	Lucky Man	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005)
2005	459	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	1729	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	8	Bittersweet Sympthony	Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Songs of All-Time (May 2005)
2005	25	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KEDJ Top 103 on Independent Radio
2005	26	Bitter Sweet Symphony	99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005)
2005	49	Bittersweet Sympthony	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	56	The Drugs Don't Work	Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Songs of All-Time (May 2005)
2005	144	The Drugs Don't Work	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	304	Lucky Man	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2005	48	Bittersweet Sympthony	Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of the '90s (August 2005)
2005	56	Bitter Sweet Symphony	96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 90s
2004	79	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004)
2004	466	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	1727	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	288	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004)
2004	8	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	118	Lucky Man	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	153	The Drugs Don't Work	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	431	Sonnet	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004	456	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004)
2003	52	Bittersweet Sympthony	91X Top 91 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003	151	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003)
2003	466	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003	1727	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003	2	Bittersweet Sympthony	Virgin Radio VR10x10 (April 2003)
2003	67	Sonnet	Virgin Radio VR10x10 (April 2003)
2002	101	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002)
2002	466	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002	1744	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002	17	Bitter Sweet Symphony	The Buzz Top Songs of All-Time (Labor Day 2002, partial)
2002	631	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2002	30	Artist ranking	Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Artists of All-Time (December 2002)
2001	72	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001	466	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	1755	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	19	Bittersweet Sympthony	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	52	The Drugs Don't Work	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	195	Lucky Man	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	390	Sonnet	Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001	979	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001	1267	On Your Own	WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001	141	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001)
2000	70	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000	483	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000	1755	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000	92	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Y100 Top 300 Songs of the '90s (September 2000)
1999	233	Bitter Sweet Symphony	91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999)
1999	320	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	997	Lucky Man	Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	189	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	113	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999)
1999	115	Bittersweet Sympthony	The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	132	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999)
1999	488	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	1755	Sonnet	CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999	254	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999	485	Lucky Man	CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999	46	Bittersweet Sympthony	The Buzz Top 99 Songs of All-Time (1999)
1999	116	Bittersweet Sympthony	KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999)
1999	71	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999)
1999	86	Artist ranking	KROQ Top 106.7 Artists of All-Time (Year End 1999)
1999	91	Artist ranking	KROQ Top 106.7 Artists of All-Time (Memorial Day 1999)
1998	21	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1998
1998	56	Lucky Man	KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1998
1998	66	Sonnet	91X Top 91 Songs of 1998
1998	74	Lucky Man	91X Top 91 Songs of 1998
1998	5	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1998
1998	21	Bittersweet Sympthony	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	70	Lucky Man	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	26	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1998
1998	91	Lucky Man	WFNX Top 101.7 Songs of 1998
1998	69	Bittersweet Sympthony	The End Top 107 Songs of 1998
1998	99	Lucky Man	The End Top 107 Songs of 1998
1998	37	Lucky Man	The Buzz Top 99 Songs of 1998
1998	8	Sonnet	Virgin Radio Top 10 Songs of 1998
1998	8	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998	21	Bitter Sweet Symphony	DC101 Top 101 Songs of 1998
1998	71	Lucky Man	WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998	13	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Radio & Records Top 103 Songs of 1998
1998	71	Lucky Man	Radio & Records Top 103 Songs of 1998
1998	99	Bittersweet Sympthony	Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998)
1997	42	Bittersweet Sympthony	KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1997
1997	24	Bittersweet Sympthony	91X Top 91 Songs of 1997
1997	9	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of 1997
1997	40	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1997
1997	30	Bittersweet Sympthony	WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1997
1997	33	Bittersweet Sympthony	The End Top 107 Songs of 1997
1997	1	Bitter Sweet Symphony	Virgin Radio Top 10 Songs of 1997
1997	15	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KISW Top 25 Songs from 1997
1997	33	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WEQX Top 102.7 of 1997
1997	39 (tie)	Bitter Sweet Symphony	WBER Listener Countdown 1997
1997	48	Bitter Sweet Symphony	105.7 The Point Top 105.7 of 1997
1997	49	Bitter Sweet Symphony	KNRK Top 94 Songs of 1997
1997	96	Bitter Sweet Symphony	X103.9 Top 103.9 Songs of 1997
1997	4	Bittersweet Sympthony	Triple J Hottest 100 of 1997
1997	22	The Drugs Don't Work	Triple J Hottest 100 of 1997
1997	71	Bittersweet Sympthony	Radio & Records Top 97 Songs of 1997
1992	49	All In The Mind	John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1992
–	87	Bitter Sweet Symphony	CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s

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