RockLists.com

KISW · Year-end countdown series

KISW 25 from 50

RockLists has 6 editions of the KISW 25 from 50, from 1978 to 1997. Across all of them, the most successful song is “Everlong” by Foo Fighters, which appears in 1 edition.

6editions
1978–1997years
6different #1s
14missing years

Every edition and its number one

YearCountdownNumber oneSize
1978 Top 25 Rock Songs from 1978 Hold The LineToto 25
1980 25 Greatest Rock Songs from 1980 I Will FollowU2 25
1981 25 Biggest Rock Songs from 1981 LimelightRush 25
1983 Top 25 Rock Songs from 1983 Middle of the RoadThe Pretenders 25
1994 25 Greatest Rock Songs from 1994 SeetherVeruca Salt 25
1997 Top 25 Songs from 1997 Du HastRammstein 25

Missing from the archive: 1979, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996. Have one of these?

How the top songs moved between editions

Each song’s position in every edition. A dash means it did not appear.

#Song'78'80'81'83'94'97
1 EverlongFoo Fighters – – – – – 1
2 For Those About to RockAC/DC – – 1 – – –
3 PhotographDef Leppard – – – 1 – –
4 Runnin' With The DevilVan Halen 1 – – – – –
5 Black Hole SunSoundgarden – – – – 1 –
6 Back in BlackAC/DC – 1 – – – –
7 Sharp Dressed ManZZ Top – – – 2 – –
8 Who Are YouThe Who 2 – – – – –
9 Better ManPearl Jam – – – – 2 –
10 And the Cradle Will RockVan Halen – 2 – – – –
11 FuelMetallica – – – – – 2
12 UnchainedVan Halen – – 2 – – –
13 Another One Bites the DustQueen – 3 – – – –
14 Gone AwayThe Offspring – – – – – 3
15 Don't Stop BelievingJourney – – 3 – – –
16 Rebel YellBilly Idol – – – 3 – –
17 Fat Bottomed GirlsQueen 3 – – – – –
18 No ExcusesAlice In Chains – – – – 3 –
19 Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)Journey – – – 4 – –
20 Don't Fear the ReaperBlue Oyster Cult 4 – – – – –
21 The Man Who Sold the WorldNirvana – – – – 4 –
22 Anyway You Want ItJourney – 4 – – – –
23 Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)Green Day – – – – – 4
24 I Love Rock-N-RollJoan Jett – – 4 – – –
25 LightsJourney 5 – – – – –
26 Interstate Love SongStone Temple Pilots – – – – 5 –
27 You Shook Me All Night LongAC/DC – 5 – – – –
28 My Own PrisonCreed – – – – – 5
29 CenterfoldJ. Geils Band – – 5 – – –
30 New Year's DayU2 – – – 5 – –
31 Jukebox HeroForeigner – – 6 – – –
32 Cum on Feel the NoizeQuiet Riot – – – 6 – –
33 Miss YouThe Rolling Stones 6 – – – – –
34 When I Come AroundGreen Day – – – – 6 –
35 Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne – 6 – – – –
36 Song 2Blur – – – – – 6
37 Owner of a Lonely HeartYes – – – 7 – –
38 RenegadeStyx 7 – – – – –
39 GlycerineBush – – – – 7 –
40 Don't Stand So Close to MeThe Police – 7 – – – –
41 Sex and CandyMarcy Playground – – – – – 7
42 The StrokeBilly Squier – – 7 – – –
43 Touch, Peel, and StandDays of the New – – – – – 8
44 In the Air TonightPhil Collins – – 8 – – –
45 Bark at the MoonOzzy Osbourne – – – 8 – –
46 Hollywood NightsBob Seger 8 – – – – –
47 CloserNine Inch Nails – – – – 8 –
48 The ZooScorpions – 8 – – – –
49 Let's DanceDavid Bowie – – – 9 – –
50 I Need to KnowTom Petty 9 – – – – –
51 Lightning CrashesLive – – – – 9 –
52 Whip ItDevo – 9 – – – –
53 My HeroFoo Fighters – – – – – 9
54 Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones – – 9 – – –
55 RoxanneThe Police 10 – – – – –
56 SabotageBeastie Boys – – – – 10 –
57 Even It UpHeart – 10 – – – –
58 Karma PoliceRadiohead – – – – – 10
59 Flying High AgainOzzy Osbourne – – 10 – – –
60 Holy DiverDio – – – 10 – –