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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | MunichEditors | 11 | 4 | #24 | – | 2006–2014 |
| 2002 | VacationThe Go-Go's | 18 | 6 | #8 | – | 1982–2024 |
| 2003 | Don't GoThe Hothouse Flowers | 18 | 5 | #84 | – | 1988–2014 |
| 2004 | Welcome To The BoomtownDavid And David | 10 | 3 | #72 | – | 1994–2005 |
| 2005 | Alright GuyTodd Snider | 14 | 1 | #471 | – | 1999–2014 |
| 2006 | Band on the RunPaul McCartney | 13 | 6 | #66 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 2007 | Sometime Around MidnightThe Airborne Toxic Event | 18 | 9 | #22 | – | 2008–2024 |
| 2008 | Song For A Future GenerationThe B-52's | 18 | 3 | #65 | – | 1983–2014 |
| 2009 | Drawn To The RhythmSarah McLachlan | 16 | 2 | #83 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 2010 | MoviesAlien Ant Farm | 14 | 12 | #17 | – | 2001–2002 |
| 2011 | The BucketKings of Leon | 16 | 9 | #28 | – | 2004–2014 |
| 2012 | DogsPink Floyd | 11 | 2 | #103 | – | 2004–2025 |
| 2013 | Rock And Roll All NiteKiss | 9 | 5 | #35 | – | 1996–2025 |
| 2014 | Detroit Rock CityKiss | 10 | 6 | #13 | – | 1990–2025 |
| 2015 | FloodJars of Clay | 21 | 6 | #36 | – | 1996–2014 |
| 2016 | Little GirlsOingo Boingo | 11 | 3 | #47 | – | 1988–2008 |
| 2017 | Los Angeles Is BurningBad Religion | 13 | 5 | #21 | – | 2004–2014 |
| 2018 | All This TimeSting | 12 | 5 | #11 | – | 1991–2005 |
| 2019 | Downblink-182 | 21 | 14 | #15 | – | 2004–2014 |
| 2020 | Anything, AnythingDramarama | 11 | 6 | #6 | – | 1986–2023 |
| 2021 | GoPearl Jam | 22 | 11 | #8 | – | 1993–2024 |
| 2022 | Tattooed Love BoysThe Pretenders | 18 | 5 | #35 | – | 1980–2014 |
| 2023 | Spin The Black CirclePearl Jam | 19 | 6 | #29 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 2024 | Back in the SaddleAerosmith | 14 | 7 | #63 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 2025 | Time Won't Let Me GoThe Bravery | 16 | 8 | #13 | – | 2007–2014 |
| 2026 | D'You Know What I Mean?Oasis | 16 | 9 | #29 | – | 1997–2014 |
| 2027 | What a Wonderful WorldJoey Ramone | 10 | 2 | #32 | – | 2002–2014 |
| 2028 | Already GoneThe Eagles | 13 | 5 | #147 | – | 2010–2025 |
| 2029 | Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill MeU2 | 22 | 11 | #19 | – | 1995–2010 |
| 2030 | LiesThompson Twins | 25 | 8 | #50 | – | 1983–2014 |
| 2031 | The StandThe Alarm | 15 | 5 | #5 | – | 1983–2005 |
| 2032 | BelieveThe Bravery | 12 | 7 | #3 | – | 2007–2009 |
| 2033 | I Palindrome IThey Might Be Giants | 15 | 2 | #30 | – | 1992–2014 |
| 2034 | SocietyEddie Vedder | 9 | 1 | #5 | – | 2017–2025 |
| 2035 | That's GoodDevo | 15 | 2 | #76 | – | 1983–2014 |
| 2036 | Somewhere Out ThereOur Lady Peace | 15 | 13 | #13 | – | 2002–2012 |
| 2037 | Move Any MountainThe Shamen | 13 | 5 | #29 | – | 1991–2005 |
| 2038 | The Load Out/StayJackson Browne | 14 | 5 | #58 | – | 1987–2026 |
| 2039 | Tuesday MorningThe Pogues | 10 | 3 | #70 | – | 1993–2005 |
| 2040 | HeyThe Pixies | 10 | 3 | #214 | – | 2007–2022 |
| 2041 | Kinda I Want ToNine Inch Nails | 10 | 3 | #280 | – | 1991–2005 |
| 2042 | Glad GirlsGuided By Voices | 15 | 4 | #54 | – | 2001–2019 |
| 2043 | The AnthemGood Charlotte | 13 | 12 | #5 | – | 2003–2024 |
| 2044 | I Feel Better Than James BrownWas (Not Was) | 13 | 2 | #77 | – | 1991–2009 |
| 2045 | Desperately WantingBetter Than Ezra | 20 | 6 | #44 | – | 1997–2023 |
| 2046 | Piece of My HeartJanis Joplin | 10 | 4 | #24 | – | 1991–2025 |
| 2047 | Owner of a Lonely HeartYes | 14 | 8 | #54 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 2048 | I Will SurviveCake | 20 | 5 | #20 | – | 1997–2014 |
| 2049 | American WomanLenny Kravitz | 18 | 13 | #10 | – | 1999–2026 |
| 2050 | Rebirth of the CoolAfghan Whigs | 10 | 2 | #43 | – | 1994–2020 |
| 2051 | Steppin' OutJoe Jackson | 17 | 8 | #66 | – | 1982–2020 |
| 2052 | TrojansAtlas Genius | 13 | 8 | #4 | – | 2012–2026 |
| 2053 | Y-ControlYeah Yeah Yeahs | 10 | 4 | #46 | – | 2004–2024 |
| 2054 | GuiltyGravity Kills | 16 | 9 | #5 | – | 1996–2009 |
| 2055 | Thinking of a placeThe War On Drugs | 10 | 4 | #8 | – | 2017–2026 |
| 2056 | You Are the OneShiny Toy Guns | 12 | 5 | #6 | – | 2007–2014 |
| 2057 | Wynona's Big Brown BeaverPrimus | 22 | 13 | #40 | – | 1995–2007 |
| 2058 | Smalltown BoyBronski Beat | 18 | 7 | #36 | – | 1984–2020 |
| 2059 | Fortune FadedRed Hot Chili Peppers | 20 | 16 | #22 | – | 2003–2005 |
| 2060 | The OutsiderA Perfect Circle | 16 | 14 | #8 | – | 2003–2006 |
| 2061 | Cheated HeartsYeah Yeah Yeahs | 11 | 4 | #10 | – | 2006–2014 |
| 2062 | 3 A.M.Matchbox 20 | 15 | 7 | #30 | – | 1997–1999 |
| 2063 | WarningGreen Day | 18 | 14 | #18 | – | 2000–2010 |
| 2064 | Destination UnknownMissing Persons | 13 | 5 | #40 | – | 1982–2003 |
| 2065 | Big BratPhantom Planet | 21 | 12 | #20 | – | 2004–2014 |
| 2066 | Seasons (Waiting On You)Future Islands | 11 | 8 | #4 | – | 2014–2026 |
| 2067 | Crush With EyelinerR.E.M. | 18 | 9 | #50 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 2068 | Back in the U.S.S.R.The Beatles | 16 | 5 | #80 | – | 1991–2025 |
| 2069 | It's Only NaturalCrowded House | 20 | 5 | #35 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 2070 | MadnessMadness | 13 | 4 | #339 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 2071 | Strange CurrenciesR.E.M. | 16 | 8 | #31 | – | 1994–2005 |
| 2072 | Planet of SoundThe Pixies | 17 | 4 | #3 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 2073 | Pride and JoyStevie Ray Vaughan | 14 | 6 | #82 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 2074 | Dude Looks Like a LadyAerosmith | 16 | 8 | #37 | – | 1990–2025 |
| 2075 | Tuesday AfternoonThe Moody Blues | 15 | 4 | #132 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 2076 | Death Or GlorySocial Distortion | 10 | 3 | #56 | – | 2005–2014 |
| 2077 | BreezeblocksAlt J | 11 | 5 | #2 | – | 2012–2025 |
| 2078 | QuestionThe Moody Blues | 13 | 4 | #132 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 2079 | Jerk It OutThe Caesars | 22 | 9 | #17 | – | 2003–2025 |
| 2080 | Greedy FlyBush | 15 | 10 | #20 | – | 1996–2002 |
| 2081 | This Is Cracker SoulCracker | 14 | 1 | #807 | – | 1999–2014 |
| 2082 | I Built This Garden For UsLenny Kravitz | 15 | 2 | #65 | – | 1990–2014 |
| 2083 | I Love Rock n' RollJoan Jett and the Blackhearts | 13 | 6 | #21 | – | 2006–2026 |
| 2084 | Talent ShowThe Replacements | 17 | 3 | #304 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 2085 | Safety DanceMen Without Hats | 17 | 7 | #47 | – | 1983–2005 |
| 2086 | Train In Vain (Stand By Me)The Clash | 11 | 3 | #121 | – | 2007–2024 |
| 2087 | I'm Waiting For My ManThe Velvet Underground | 9 | 2 | #88 | – | 1999–2012 |
| 2088 | The Spirit Of RadioRush | 10 | 5 | #24 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 2089 | Little Black BackpackStroke 9 | 18 | 10 | #18 | – | 1999–2007 |
| 2090 | Love Like WinterAFI | 16 | 12 | #17 | – | 2006–2007 |
| 2091 | I Am So OrdinaryPaula Cole | 14 | 1 | #441 | – | 1999–2014 |
| 2092 | Groove Is In The HeartDee-Lite | 13 | 9 | #4 | – | 1990–2023 |
| 2093 | Start Choppin'Dinosaur Jr. | 20 | 10 | #45 | – | 1993–2023 |
| 2094 | ObviousJane's Addiction | 15 | 2 | #264 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 2095 | The Only Flame In TownElvis Costello & the Attractions | 11 | 4 | #29 | – | 1984–2005 |
| 2096 | I Send a MessageINXS | 20 | 8 | #9 | – | 1984–2005 |
| 2097 | A Letter To MemphisThe Pixies | 13 | 3 | #19 | – | 1991–2010 |
| 2098 | I Got a GirlTripping Daisy | 20 | 11 | #19 | – | 1995–2007 |
| 2099 | Know Your RightsThe Clash | 15 | 6 | #27 | – | 1982–2024 |
| 2100 | The OneFoo Fighters | 20 | 11 | #11 | – | 2001–2014 |