The most-charted alternative rock songs
Every song in the archive ranked by its combined results across all 1,186 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | LongviewGreen Day | 113 | 38 | #1 | 2 | 1994–2026 |
| 102 | Every Breath You TakeThe Police | 124 | 42 | #3 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 103 | Basket CaseGreen Day | 120 | 41 | #1 | 1 | 1994–2026 |
| 104 | SabotageBeastie Boys | 111 | 38 | #3 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 105 | OneMetallica | 107 | 28 | #2 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 106 | CloserNine Inch Nails | 109 | 40 | #1 | 1 | 1994–2026 |
| 107 | In Your EyesPeter Gabriel | 123 | 40 | #2 | – | 1986–2026 |
| 108 | Heart-Shaped BoxNirvana | 122 | 44 | #6 | – | 1993–2026 |
| 109 | What I GotSublime | 106 | 41 | #1 | 2 | 1996–2026 |
| 110 | Over the Hills and Far AwayLed Zeppelin | 106 | 35 | #7 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 111 | Carry On My Wayward SonKansas | 97 | 31 | #5 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 112 | TimePink Floyd | 107 | 38 | #2 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 113 | Once in a LifetimeTalking Heads | 125 | 45 | #4 | – | 1980–2026 |
| 114 | Bitter Sweet SymphonyThe Verve | 113 | 47 | #1 | 1 | 1997–2026 |
| 115 | Smoke on the WaterDeep Purple | 122 | 38 | #4 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 116 | Ramble OnLed Zeppelin | 104 | 34 | #10 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 117 | Self-EsteemThe Offspring | 110 | 40 | #1 | 1 | 1994–2026 |
| 118 | 1979The Smashing Pumpkins | 115 | 47 | #2 | – | 1995–2026 |
| 119 | Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones | 108 | 37 | #7 | – | 1981–2026 |
| 120 | Karma PoliceRadiohead | 125 | 36 | #2 | – | 1997–2026 |
| 121 | Lightning CrashesLive | 110 | 45 | #1 | 4 | 1994–2026 |
| 122 | Jane SaysJane's Addiction | 106 | 36 | #2 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 123 | Blue MondayNew Order | 96 | 28 | #1 | 2 | 1983–2026 |
| 124 | Beautiful DayU2 | 124 | 46 | #1 | 2 | 2000–2026 |
| 125 | You Can't Always Get What You WantThe Rolling Stones | 106 | 36 | #11 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 126 | Pour Some Sugar On MeDef Leppard | 98 | 31 | #5 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 127 | Livin' on a PrayerBon Jovi | 97 | 33 | #5 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 128 | Come Out and PlayThe Offspring | 97 | 35 | #2 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 129 | Train in VainThe Clash | 120 | 39 | #10 | – | 1980–2026 |
| 130 | I Love Rock-N-RollJoan Jett | 115 | 41 | #2 | – | 1981–2026 |
| 131 | Riders on the StormThe Doors | 133 | 37 | #20 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 132 | When I Come AroundGreen Day | 119 | 43 | #2 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 133 | JumpVan Halen | 102 | 37 | #3 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 134 | Purple HazeJimi Hendrix | 98 | 36 | #1 | 1 | 1990–2026 |
| 135 | Go Your Own WayFleetwood Mac | 111 | 37 | #11 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 136 | Don't You (Forget About Me)Simple Minds | 125 | 39 | #1 | 1 | 1985–2026 |
| 137 | BarracudeHeart | 100 | 34 | #7 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 138 | November RainGuns N Roses | 119 | 32 | #22 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 139 | Yellow LedbetterPearl Jam | 117 | 41 | #2 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 140 | Running Down a DreamTom Petty | 108 | 30 | #8 | – | 1989–2026 |
| 141 | Would?Alice In Chains | 120 | 42 | #5 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 142 | Money for NothingDire Straits | 116 | 36 | #7 | – | 1985–2026 |
| 143 | PhotographDef Leppard | 95 | 32 | #1 | 1 | 1983–2026 |
| 144 | No One KnowsQueens of the Stone Age | 110 | 39 | #1 | 1 | 2002–2026 |
| 145 | LimelightRush | 98 | 33 | #25 | – | 1981–2026 |
| 146 | American GirlTom Petty & The Heartbreakers | 108 | 36 | #9 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 147 | Come TogetherThe Beatles | 99 | 36 | #8 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 148 | SchismTool | 92 | 34 | #1 | 2 | 2001–2026 |
| 149 | Behind Blue EyesThe Who | 97 | 30 | #24 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 150 | In the Air TonightPhil Collins | 99 | 37 | #8 | – | 1981–2026 |
| 151 | IntergalacticBeastie Boys | 93 | 34 | #1 | 7 | 1998–2026 |
| 152 | We Will Rock You/We Are the ChampionsQueen | 82 | 30 | #1 | 1 | 1982–2026 |
| 153 | RefugeeTom Petty & The Heartbreakers | 102 | 36 | #3 | – | 1980–2026 |
| 154 | Iron ManBlack Sabbath | 104 | 37 | #1 | 1 | 1982–2026 |
| 155 | The ChainFleetwood Mac | 102 | 32 | #1 | 2 | 1982–2026 |
| 156 | My HeroFoo Fighters | 130 | 47 | #9 | – | 1997–2026 |
| 157 | Head Like a HoleNine Inch Nails | 89 | 33 | #1 | 1 | 1990–2026 |
| 158 | Enjoy the SilenceDepeche Mode | 107 | 32 | #2 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 159 | No RainBlind Melon | 109 | 39 | #2 | – | 1993–2026 |
| 160 | Bizarre Love TriangleNew Order | 92 | 27 | #1 | 3 | 1986–2026 |
| 161 | In the EndLinkin Park | 92 | 39 | #1 | 4 | 2001–2026 |
| 162 | Mysterious WaysU2 | 135 | 47 | #1 | 1 | 1991–2026 |
| 163 | La GrangeZZ Top | 101 | 35 | #5 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 164 | The JokerSteve Miller Band | 98 | 33 | #9 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 165 | Bullet With Butterfly WingsThe Smashing Pumpkins | 104 | 38 | #1 | 2 | 1995–2026 |
| 166 | Boulevard of Broken DreamsGreen Day | 96 | 47 | #1 | 4 | 2004–2026 |
| 167 | Jumpin' Jack FlashThe Rolling Stones | 110 | 37 | #14 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 168 | Sharp Dressed ManZZ Top | 99 | 31 | #2 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 169 | I Melt With YouModern English | 96 | 27 | #2 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 170 | Message in a BottleThe Police | 127 | 42 | #24 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 171 | EpicFaith No More | 109 | 40 | #6 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 172 | Another One Bites the DustQueen | 92 | 33 | #3 | – | 1980–2026 |
| 173 | RevolutionThe Beatles | 97 | 34 | #2 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 174 | Hells BellsAC/DC | 96 | 34 | #1 | 1 | 1980–2026 |
| 175 | RoosterAlice In Chains | 115 | 42 | #6 | – | 1993–2026 |
| 176 | The UnforgivenMetallica | 96 | 38 | #5 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 177 | ClocksColdplay | 101 | 40 | #1 | 2 | 2002–2026 |
| 178 | Runnin' With The DevilVan Halen | 94 | 32 | #1 | 1 | 1978–2026 |
| 179 | Scar TissueRed Hot Chili Peppers | 104 | 43 | #2 | – | 1999–2026 |
| 180 | Foreplay/LongtimeBoston | 94 | 30 | #16 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 181 | Rock You Like a HurricaneScorpions | 92 | 32 | #11 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 182 | Buddy HollyWeezer | 97 | 38 | #2 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 183 | Float OnModest Mouse | 91 | 39 | #1 | 8 | 2004–2026 |
| 184 | I Won't Back DownTom Petty | 98 | 34 | #10 | – | 1996–2026 |
| 185 | Hey YouPink Floyd | 93 | 29 | #39 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 186 | Let It BeThe Beatles | 89 | 27 | #3 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 187 | Wanted Dead or AliveBon Jovi | 95 | 32 | #5 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 188 | Bad CompanyBad Company | 94 | 30 | #19 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 189 | Hunger StrikeTemple of the Dog | 104 | 39 | #7 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 190 | Chop SueySystem of a Down | 86 | 33 | #1 | 3 | 2001–2026 |
| 191 | Just What I NeededThe Cars | 109 | 40 | #23 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 192 | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt CheapAC/DC | 89 | 30 | #16 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 193 | Pumped up KicksFoster The People | 83 | 49 | #1 | 18 | 2010–2026 |
| 194 | SanteriaSublime | 92 | 38 | #1 | 1 | 1996–2026 |
| 195 | Feel Like Makin LoveBad Company | 95 | 31 | #22 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 196 | Anarchy in the U.K.The Sex Pistols | 96 | 29 | #1 | 5 | 1978–2026 |
| 197 | Crazy On YouHeart | 102 | 33 | #4 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 198 | Personal JesusDepeche Mode | 85 | 29 | #4 | – | 1989–2026 |
| 199 | Another Brick in the WallPink Floyd | 74 | 29 | #1 | 2 | 1980–2026 |
| 200 | Rock LobsterThe B-52's | 87 | 27 | #5 | – | 1988–2026 |