The most-charted alternative rock songs
Every song in the archive ranked by its combined results across all 597 countdowns: year-end lists, all-time lists and decade lists alike. A song rises here by appearing often and placing high. For rankings by year see songs by year; for the listener-voted all-time lists only, see the greatest songs of all time.
| # | Song | Lists | Stations | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 | (Nothing But) FlowersTalking Heads | 28 | 8 | #20 | – | 1988–2022 |
| 1002 | Break StuffLimp Bizkit | 20 | 14 | #1 | 1 | 2000–2026 |
| 1003 | A Girl Like YouThe Smithereens | 39 | 9 | #30 | – | 1989–2014 |
| 1004 | Lost CauseBeck | 29 | 13 | #7 | – | 2002–2026 |
| 1005 | Born in the U.S.A.Bruce Springsteen | 23 | 9 | #43 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 1006 | Divine ThingThe Soup Dragons | 27 | 9 | #8 | – | 1992–2014 |
| 1007 | DissidentPearl Jam | 24 | 11 | #21 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 1008 | Los AngelesX | 25 | 8 | #16 | – | 1980–2014 |
| 1009 | (I Can't Get No) SatisfactionDevo | 19 | 4 | #67 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 1010 | DesperadoThe Eagles | 19 | 5 | #82 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1011 | Girls And BoysBlur | 35 | 15 | #16 | – | 1994–2025 |
| 1012 | Low Spark of High Heeled BoysTraffic | 16 | 4 | #33 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1013 | Middle of NowhereHot Hot Heat | 20 | 12 | #6 | – | 2005–2014 |
| 1014 | Tom's DinerDNA (Featuring Suzanne Vega) | 22 | 6 | #14 | – | 1990–2014 |
| 1015 | Under PressureQueen | 20 | 8 | #50 | – | 1996–2025 |
| 1016 | Eleanor RigbyThe Beatles | 19 | 7 | #43 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1017 | BreatheThe Prodigy | 27 | 14 | #7 | – | 1996–2013 |
| 1018 | Life In A Northern TownThe Dream Academy | 24 | 6 | #190 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 1019 | Only a LadOingo Boingo | 23 | 5 | #6 | – | 1980–2023 |
| 1020 | Walking In My ShoesDepeche Mode | 26 | 7 | #19 | – | 1993–2023 |
| 1021 | Dope NoseWeezer | 24 | 14 | #8 | – | 2002–2014 |
| 1022 | I Am OneThe Smashing Pumpkins | 18 | 4 | #97 | – | 1996–2024 |
| 1023 | RoundaboutYes | 18 | 6 | #19 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1024 | Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)The Arcade Fire | 21 | 11 | #9 | – | 2005–2014 |
| 1025 | Always Something There To Remind MeNaked Eyes | 26 | 9 | #70 | – | 1988–2005 |
| 1026 | Blue MondayOrgy | 31 | 14 | #6 | – | 1998–2009 |
| 1027 | ClumsyOur Lady Peace | 34 | 12 | #12 | – | 1997–2014 |
| 1028 | HypnotizeSystem of a Down | 21 | 14 | #10 | – | 2005–2006 |
| 1029 | Everyday I Write The BookElvis Costello & the Attractions | 30 | 11 | #34 | – | 1983–2005 |
| 1030 | ReptileThe Church | 23 | 6 | #13 | – | 1988–2014 |
| 1031 | Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones | 19 | 9 | #7 | – | 1981–2025 |
| 1032 | Superman's SongCrash Test Dummies | 19 | 4 | #4 | – | 1991–2023 |
| 1033 | Fall to PiecesVelvet Revolver | 19 | 17 | #9 | – | 2004–2010 |
| 1034 | Romeo and JulietDire Straits | 25 | 7 | #32 | – | 1991–2025 |
| 1035 | TroutNeneh Cherry | 21 | 8 | #19 | – | 1992–2014 |
| 1036 | She Don't Use JellyThe Flaming Lips | 30 | 8 | #62 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 1037 | Mmm Mmm Mmm MmmCrash Test Dummies | 34 | 13 | #6 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 1038 | Simple ManLynyrd Skynyrd | 17 | 5 | #17 | – | 2004–2026 |
| 1039 | 21st Century Digital BoyBad Religion | 24 | 11 | #31 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 1040 | Livin' on a PrayerBon Jovi | 16 | 6 | #6 | – | 2001–2026 |
| 1041 | Time To PretendMGMT | 25 | 12 | #18 | – | 2008–2025 |
| 1042 | Carry On My Wayward SonKansas | 17 | 6 | #23 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1043 | 99 LuftballoonsNena | 23 | 9 | #15 | – | 1983–2005 |
| 1044 | I Will WaitMumford & Sons | 19 | 10 | #1 | 2 | 2012–2025 |
| 1045 | Into the MysticVan Morrison | 17 | 7 | #7 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1046 | Get BackThe Beatles | 22 | 6 | #29 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1047 | Down UnderMen At Work | 30 | 12 | #2 | – | 1982–2025 |
| 1048 | Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My HandPrimitive Radio Gods | 24 | 11 | #8 | – | 1996–2023 |
| 1049 | Look What You've DoneJet | 27 | 18 | #23 | – | 2004–2014 |
| 1050 | RocketThe Smashing Pumpkins | 23 | 7 | #94 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 1051 | Goodnight GoodnightHot Hot Heat | 20 | 12 | #15 | – | 2005–2014 |
| 1052 | Two TribesFrankie Goes to Hollywood | 34 | 9 | #1 | 1 | 1984–2006 |
| 1053 | The Sea Is DyingSteak Number Eight | 16 | 1 | #3 | – | 2011–2026 |
| 1054 | Crazy On YouHeart | 18 | 7 | #5 | – | 2010–2026 |
| 1055 | WonderfulAdam Ant | 21 | 7 | #52 | – | 1995–2014 |
| 1056 | Forgotten YearsMidnight Oil | 22 | 6 | #38 | – | 1990–2014 |
| 1057 | Life on MarsDavid Bowie | 20 | 9 | #29 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1058 | The Queen Is DeadThe Smiths | 18 | 8 | #7 | – | 1986–2024 |
| 1059 | HelpChannel Zero | 18 | 1 | #8 | – | 2009–2026 |
| 1060 | Virtual InsanityJamiroquai | 23 | 9 | #37 | – | 1996–2023 |
| 1061 | Walk This WayAerosmith | 20 | 9 | #24 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 1062 | Honky Tonk WomanThe Rolling Stones | 20 | 8 | #101 | – | 1991–2025 |
| 1063 | Brimful of AshaCornershop | 33 | 10 | #1 | 1 | 1997–2023 |
| 1064 | Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies BleedingElton John | 16 | 6 | #14 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 1065 | Golden YearsDavid Bowie | 29 | 11 | #154 | – | 1991–2024 |
| 1066 | Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)Green Day | 16 | 6 | #7 | – | 1997–2014 |
| 1067 | I Feel YouDepeche Mode | 25 | 10 | #11 | – | 1993–2024 |
| 1068 | Falling Away From MeKorn | 28 | 13 | #8 | – | 1999–2010 |
| 1069 | Do I Wanna KnowArctic Monkeys | 21 | 12 | #2 | – | 2013–2026 |
| 1070 | Into The FireSarah McLachlan | 24 | 7 | #47 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 1071 | I'm An Adult NowThe Pursuit of Happiness | 23 | 7 | #73 | – | 1988–2023 |
| 1072 | Elvis Is EverywhereMojo Nixon | 18 | 3 | #26 | – | 1989–2014 |
| 1073 | Big Time SensualityBjörk | 21 | 6 | #48 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 1074 | HeadstrongTrapt | 16 | 14 | #1 | 2 | 2002–2004 |
| 1075 | The Unforgettable FireU2 | 29 | 8 | #48 | – | 1988–2020 |
| 1076 | Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne | 19 | 8 | #1 | 1 | 1990–2026 |
| 1077 | RearviewmirrorPearl Jam | 25 | 8 | #8 | – | 1998–2023 |
| 1078 | JudithA Perfect Circle | 19 | 16 | #7 | – | 2000–2010 |
| 1079 | Rolling in the DeepAdele | 18 | 11 | #1 | 2 | 2011–2026 |
| 1080 | This FireFranz Ferdinand | 25 | 18 | #21 | – | 2004–2014 |
| 1081 | Black GoldSoul Asylum | 24 | 8 | #35 | – | 1992–2023 |
| 1082 | Youth of the NationP.O.D. | 20 | 14 | #1 | 1 | 2001–2008 |
| 1083 | Bedbugs and BallyhooEcho and the Bunnymen | 25 | 6 | #25 | – | 1988–2014 |
| 1084 | ElevationU2 | 24 | 11 | #23 | – | 2001–2014 |
| 1085 | Still WaitingSum 41 | 22 | 14 | #11 | – | 2002–2010 |
| 1086 | SecondsU2 | 19 | 4 | #165 | – | 1988–2014 |
| 1087 | Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)Cracker | 17 | 8 | #14 | – | 1992–2024 |
| 1088 | Let DownRadiohead | 26 | 7 | #62 | – | 1997–2023 |
| 1089 | Let Me GoHeaven 17 | 24 | 8 | #31 | – | 1983–2003 |
| 1090 | NauseaBeck | 21 | 13 | #8 | – | 2006–2014 |
| 1091 | OptimisticRadiohead | 36 | 16 | #12 | – | 2000–2024 |
| 1092 | Summer of LoveThe B-52's | 24 | 6 | #8 | – | 1986–2014 |
| 1093 | Dazed and ConfusedLed Zeppelin | 19 | 7 | #53 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 1094 | Stray Cat StrutThe Stray Cats | 26 | 8 | #53 | – | 1982–2014 |
| 1095 | ButterflyCrazytown | 25 | 15 | #10 | – | 2000–2024 |
| 1096 | Middle of the RoadThe Pretenders | 32 | 10 | #82 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 1097 | Jump AroundHouse of Pain | 23 | 10 | #3 | – | 1992–2023 |
| 1098 | The UnforgivenMetallica | 21 | 11 | #32 | – | 1991–2025 |
| 1099 | Glorified GPearl Jam | 22 | 6 | #32 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 1100 | BadlandsBruce Springsteen | 19 | 6 | #76 | – | 1996–2026 |