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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Save It For LaterThe English Beat | 55 | 13 | #9 | – | 1983–2023 |
| 202 | Walk on the Wild SideLou Reed | 58 | 18 | #16 | – | 1987–2025 |
| 203 | ShoutTears for Fears | 60 | 15 | #5 | – | 1985–2025 |
| 204 | Cities in DustSiouxsie and the Banshees | 54 | 13 | #2 | – | 1985–2023 |
| 205 | Hunger StrikeTemple of the Dog | 51 | 16 | #7 | – | 1992–2025 |
| 206 | The MiddleJimmy Eat World | 48 | 17 | #2 | – | 2001–2024 |
| 207 | My HeroFoo Fighters | 66 | 20 | #11 | – | 1997–2026 |
| 208 | No Woman, No CryBob Marley | 55 | 15 | #17 | – | 1976–2024 |
| 209 | Let's DanceDavid Bowie | 61 | 18 | #6 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 210 | Cherub RockThe Smashing Pumpkins | 49 | 16 | #8 | – | 1993–2024 |
| 211 | Don't Look Back in AngerOasis | 56 | 16 | #1 | 1 | 1996–2026 |
| 212 | Bela Lugosi's DeadBauhaus | 46 | 14 | #3 | – | 1982–2022 |
| 213 | Like a HurricaneNeil Young | 56 | 8 | #8 | – | 1977–2025 |
| 214 | Fell On Black DaysSoundgarden | 54 | 18 | #11 | – | 1994–2025 |
| 215 | Alex ChiltonThe Replacements | 46 | 14 | #8 | – | 1987–2020 |
| 216 | By the WayRed Hot Chili Peppers | 45 | 20 | #1 | 1 | 2002–2024 |
| 217 | The EndThe Doors | 52 | 6 | #10 | – | 1987–2025 |
| 218 | Hey JudeThe Beatles | 39 | 9 | #2 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 219 | Hey Ya!Outkast | 46 | 19 | #2 | – | 2003–2024 |
| 220 | In a Big CountryBig Country | 63 | 15 | #3 | – | 1983–2025 |
| 221 | MandinkaSinéad O'Connor | 50 | 12 | #5 | – | 1987–2014 |
| 222 | I Don't Like MondaysBoomtown Rats | 48 | 12 | #47 | – | 1988–2024 |
| 223 | November RainGuns N Roses | 51 | 9 | #25 | – | 1992–2025 |
| 224 | Come On EileenDexy's Midnight Runners | 55 | 18 | #5 | – | 1982–2022 |
| 225 | All My LifeFoo Fighters | 47 | 20 | #4 | – | 2002–2024 |
| 226 | Higher GroundRed Hot Chili Peppers | 49 | 12 | #9 | – | 1989–2014 |
| 227 | Say It Ain't SoWeezer | 46 | 17 | #12 | – | 1995–2023 |
| 228 | Private IdahoThe B-52's | 51 | 11 | #25 | – | 1980–2026 |
| 229 | PanicThe Smiths | 51 | 14 | #5 | – | 1986–2014 |
| 230 | Our HouseMadness | 58 | 15 | #15 | – | 1983–2024 |
| 231 | Dammitblink-182 | 46 | 15 | #1 | 1 | 1997–2024 |
| 232 | Never ThereCake | 48 | 16 | #3 | – | 1998–2026 |
| 233 | Solsbury HillPeter Gabriel | 60 | 19 | #9 | – | 1987–2026 |
| 234 | VasolineStone Temple Pilots | 50 | 17 | #3 | – | 1994–2025 |
| 235 | AngieThe Rolling Stones | 50 | 8 | #1 | 4 | 1987–2026 |
| 236 | Add It UpViolent Femmes | 39 | 10 | #8 | – | 1990–2014 |
| 237 | Runaway TrainSoul Asylum | 56 | 19 | #6 | – | 1993–2025 |
| 238 | White WeddingBilly Idol | 65 | 19 | #7 | – | 1982–2026 |
| 239 | One Way or AnotherBlondie | 52 | 18 | #22 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 240 | What's My Age Again?blink-182 | 48 | 19 | #1 | 2 | 1999–2024 |
| 241 | This Charming ManThe Smiths | 43 | 12 | #2 | – | 1983–2022 |
| 242 | Mirror in the BathroomThe English Beat | 54 | 12 | #38 | – | 1981–2026 |
| 243 | NumbLinkin Park | 50 | 20 | #2 | – | 2003–2025 |
| 244 | Hash PipeWeezer | 44 | 17 | #2 | – | 2001–2024 |
| 245 | Stop!Jane's Addiction | 46 | 14 | #6 | – | 1990–2024 |
| 246 | SuedeheadMorrissey | 51 | 12 | #4 | – | 1988–2014 |
| 247 | She Blinded Me With ScienceThomas Dolby | 53 | 14 | #13 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 248 | StandR.E.M. | 52 | 14 | #4 | – | 1988–2022 |
| 249 | Crash Into MeDave Matthews Band | 46 | 16 | #4 | – | 1997–2023 |
| 250 | Dani CaliforniaRed Hot Chili Peppers | 41 | 19 | #1 | 5 | 2006–2025 |
| 251 | Policy of TruthDepeche Mode | 52 | 15 | #2 | – | 1990–2023 |
| 252 | UnbelievableEMF | 50 | 15 | #2 | – | 1990–2023 |
| 253 | Fake Plastic TreesRadiohead | 63 | 23 | #28 | – | 1995–2026 |
| 254 | DesireU2 | 50 | 17 | #2 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 255 | Clint EastwoodGorillaz | 49 | 19 | #3 | – | 2001–2024 |
| 256 | OthersideRed Hot Chili Peppers | 50 | 19 | #1 | 2 | 1999–2025 |
| 257 | The Impression That I GetThe Mighty Mighty Bosstones | 48 | 18 | #1 | 2 | 1997–2024 |
| 258 | Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small TownPearl Jam | 46 | 16 | #4 | – | 1993–2025 |
| 259 | Never Let Me Down AgainDepeche Mode | 51 | 14 | #7 | – | 1987–2026 |
| 260 | Down In ItNine Inch Nails | 47 | 10 | #47 | – | 1990–2014 |
| 261 | ComedownBush | 48 | 16 | #4 | – | 1995–2025 |
| 262 | Nothing Compares 2 USinéad O'Connor | 47 | 17 | #1 | 1 | 1990–2023 |
| 263 | Light My FireThe Doors | 44 | 9 | #5 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 264 | Brass in PocketThe Pretenders | 54 | 19 | #30 | – | 1980–2025 |
| 265 | There She GoesThe La's | 47 | 15 | #16 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 266 | Peek-A-BooSiouxsie and the Banshees | 46 | 10 | #1 | 1 | 1988–2014 |
| 267 | Fall On MeR.E.M. | 46 | 16 | #26 | – | 1986–2026 |
| 268 | I Wanna Be AdoredThe Stone Roses | 47 | 14 | #10 | – | 1989–2024 |
| 269 | Fell in Love With a GirlThe White Stripes | 45 | 20 | #1 | 2 | 2001–2024 |
| 270 | And She WasTalking Heads | 52 | 16 | #21 | – | 1985–2026 |
| 271 | Life During WartimeTalking Heads | 52 | 15 | #64 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 272 | The Hand That FeedsNine Inch Nails | 37 | 18 | #1 | 3 | 2005–2024 |
| 273 | TroySinéad O'Connor | 44 | 4 | #4 | – | 1988–2025 |
| 274 | Right Here, Right NowJesus Jones | 49 | 13 | #3 | – | 1990–2023 |
| 275 | GirlfriendMatthew Sweet | 43 | 15 | #2 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 276 | HurtJohnny Cash | 49 | 15 | #6 | – | 2003–2026 |
| 277 | Praise YouFatboy Slim | 53 | 21 | #1 | 1 | 1998–2025 |
| 278 | Brain StewGreen Day | 39 | 18 | #8 | – | 1995–2023 |
| 279 | Like a StoneAudioslave | 41 | 19 | #1 | 1 | 2002–2024 |
| 280 | Fade Into YouMazzy Star | 46 | 17 | #10 | – | 1993–2023 |
| 281 | Can't StopRed Hot Chili Peppers | 41 | 18 | #4 | – | 2002–2024 |
| 282 | Soul Meets BodyDeath Cab for Cutie | 42 | 18 | #2 | – | 2005–2025 |
| 283 | Down311 | 46 | 16 | #1 | 2 | 1996–2024 |
| 284 | Everyday Is Like SundayMorrissey | 47 | 14 | #5 | – | 1988–2020 |
| 285 | When You Were YoungThe Killers | 43 | 19 | #2 | – | 2006–2026 |
| 286 | Such Great HeightsThe Postal Service | 39 | 14 | #2 | – | 2003–2024 |
| 287 | HolidayGreen Day | 41 | 18 | #2 | – | 2004–2025 |
| 288 | The One ThingINXS | 44 | 12 | #10 | – | 1983–2024 |
| 289 | MiaGorki | 33 | 1 | #1 | 4 | 1993–2025 |
| 290 | The Killing MoonEcho and the Bunnymen | 53 | 16 | #9 | – | 1984–2026 |
| 291 | Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)Dramarama | 41 | 9 | #2 | – | 1986–2014 |
| 292 | I Can't Get No SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones | 34 | 8 | #2 | – | 1987–2026 |
| 293 | Don't Stand So Close to MeThe Police | 49 | 17 | #11 | – | 1980–2025 |
| 294 | So What'cha WantBeastie Boys | 54 | 16 | #34 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 295 | Beverly HillsWeezer | 36 | 18 | #4 | – | 2005–2025 |
| 296 | MachineheadBush | 40 | 16 | #1 | 1 | 1996–2023 |
| 297 | Learn to FlyFoo Fighters | 49 | 20 | #6 | – | 1999–2026 |
| 298 | Cult of PersonalityLiving Colour | 47 | 15 | #42 | – | 1989–2025 |
| 299 | No New Tale To TellLove and Rockets | 47 | 11 | #13 | – | 1987–2019 |
| 300 | Birdhouse In Your SoulThey Might Be Giants | 49 | 15 | #4 | – | 1990–2026 |