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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | Pump It UpElvis Costello & the Attractions | 43 | 14 | #24 | – | 1988–2010 |
| 302 | Like a Rolling StoneBob Dylan | 48 | 12 | #2 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 303 | Big EmptyStone Temple Pilots | 43 | 14 | #10 | – | 1994–2025 |
| 304 | LingerThe Cranberries | 42 | 17 | #3 | – | 1993–2023 |
| 305 | Times Like TheseFoo Fighters | 37 | 19 | #3 | – | 2002–2024 |
| 306 | Rebel RebelDavid Bowie | 42 | 15 | #63 | – | 1988–2025 |
| 307 | Rebel YellBilly Idol | 58 | 16 | #8 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 308 | About A GirlNirvana | 45 | 18 | #7 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 309 | Don't Dream It's OverCrowded House | 47 | 15 | #5 | – | 1988–2025 |
| 310 | Modern LoveDavid Bowie | 53 | 16 | #12 | – | 1983–2025 |
| 311 | SupermanR.E.M. | 48 | 13 | #8 | – | 1986–2022 |
| 312 | DreamsThe Cranberries | 49 | 16 | #2 | – | 1993–2023 |
| 313 | LaylaDerek and the Dominos | 37 | 12 | #2 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 314 | Fast CarTracy Chapman | 43 | 13 | #1 | 1 | 1988–2022 |
| 315 | Nearly Lost YouScreaming Trees | 52 | 15 | #21 | – | 1992–2022 |
| 316 | Watching the DetectivesElvis Costello | 48 | 17 | #25 | – | 1978–2026 |
| 317 | Heart of GlassBlondie | 44 | 16 | #14 | – | 1989–2024 |
| 318 | Let It BeThe Beatles | 36 | 8 | #3 | – | 1987–2026 |
| 319 | Shine On You Crazy DiamondPink Floyd | 36 | 7 | #7 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 320 | The RiverBruce Springsteen | 48 | 5 | #5 | – | 1987–2025 |
| 321 | Silent All These YearsTori Amos | 41 | 11 | #10 | – | 1992–2023 |
| 322 | The Ghost In YouThe Psychedelic Furs | 42 | 11 | #30 | – | 1984–2014 |
| 323 | Master and ServantDepeche Mode | 43 | 10 | #5 | – | 1984–2014 |
| 324 | Sweet Child o' MineGuns N Roses | 44 | 17 | #3 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 325 | Take Me to the RiverTalking Heads | 47 | 14 | #66 | – | 1988–2025 |
| 326 | MapsYeah Yeah Yeahs | 40 | 20 | #4 | – | 2003–2024 |
| 327 | Cornflake GirlTori Amos | 51 | 19 | #16 | – | 1994–2026 |
| 328 | Turning JapaneseThe Vapors | 49 | 12 | #14 | – | 1980–2014 |
| 329 | Man on the MoonR.E.M. | 44 | 21 | #24 | – | 1992–2025 |
| 330 | Kiss OffViolent Femmes | 39 | 13 | #3 | – | 1991–2019 |
| 331 | It's My LifeTalk Talk | 55 | 12 | #18 | – | 1984–2022 |
| 332 | What It's LikeEverlast | 45 | 17 | #2 | – | 1998–2009 |
| 333 | American MusicViolent Femmes | 39 | 12 | #14 | – | 1991–2023 |
| 334 | What Would You SayDave Matthews Band | 37 | 13 | #5 | – | 1994–2014 |
| 335 | RushBig Audio Dynamite II | 40 | 13 | #5 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 336 | Jerry Was A Race Car DriverPrimus | 48 | 10 | #26 | – | 1991–2023 |
| 337 | Cuts You UpPeter Murphy | 51 | 13 | #10 | – | 1990–2019 |
| 338 | ToxicitySystem of a Down | 43 | 14 | #2 | – | 2001–2026 |
| 339 | Riders on the StormThe Doors | 53 | 10 | #20 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 340 | KashmirLed Zeppelin | 38 | 13 | #2 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 341 | You Oughta KnowAlanis Morissette | 46 | 19 | #2 | – | 1995–2023 |
| 342 | A Day in the LifeThe Beatles | 44 | 10 | #4 | – | 1976–2026 |
| 343 | SpoonmanSoundgarden | 46 | 17 | #27 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 344 | I Bet You Look Good on the DancefloorArctic Monkeys | 42 | 19 | #2 | – | 2005–2025 |
| 345 | Need You TonightINXS | 52 | 19 | #5 | – | 1987–2025 |
| 346 | Don't ChangeINXS | 48 | 13 | #28 | – | 1983–2022 |
| 347 | Fascination StreetThe Cure | 43 | 15 | #5 | – | 1989–2026 |
| 348 | Sheena Is A Punk RockerThe Ramones | 55 | 14 | #46 | – | 1988–2022 |
| 349 | SledgehammerPeter Gabriel | 58 | 18 | #2 | – | 1986–2026 |
| 350 | Holiday In CambodiaDead Kennedys | 47 | 13 | #6 | – | 1980–2019 |
| 351 | Freak on a LeashKorn | 52 | 17 | #2 | – | 1999–2026 |
| 352 | Soul to SqueezeRed Hot Chili Peppers | 38 | 14 | #9 | – | 1993–2025 |
| 353 | JoeyConcrete Blonde | 43 | 11 | #15 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 354 | All Mixed Up311 | 42 | 13 | #15 | – | 1996–2014 |
| 355 | Everything CountsDepeche Mode | 41 | 12 | #24 | – | 1984–2026 |
| 356 | SituationYaz | 44 | 11 | #8 | – | 1984–2014 |
| 357 | DriveR.E.M. | 45 | 14 | #3 | – | 1992–2024 |
| 358 | Kiss Them for MeSiouxsie and the Banshees | 48 | 14 | #3 | – | 1991–2023 |
| 359 | Red Red WineUB40 | 43 | 12 | #1 | 1 | 1983–2023 |
| 360 | Wicked GameChris Isaak | 42 | 14 | #7 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 361 | Last GoodbyeJeff Buckley | 41 | 14 | #3 | – | 1995–2026 |
| 362 | Kryptonite3 Doors Down | 38 | 15 | #1 | 1 | 2000–2025 |
| 363 | Mrs. RobinsonThe Lemonheads | 44 | 15 | #19 | – | 1992–2026 |
| 364 | Live ForeverOasis | 43 | 22 | #4 | – | 1995–2026 |
| 365 | Gone Daddy GoneViolent Femmes | 34 | 10 | #45 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 366 | Sweet JaneCowboy Junkies | 43 | 15 | #17 | – | 1991–2020 |
| 367 | RisePublic Image Ltd. | 41 | 8 | #24 | – | 1986–2014 |
| 368 | Don't Let's StartThey Might Be Giants | 47 | 10 | #39 | – | 1987–2014 |
| 369 | No ExcusesAlice In Chains | 43 | 17 | #12 | – | 1994–2023 |
| 370 | TomorrowSilverchair | 43 | 16 | #1 | 2 | 1994–2025 |
| 371 | Story of My LifeSocial Distortion | 36 | 10 | #7 | – | 1990–2024 |
| 372 | HallelujahJeff Buckley | 36 | 6 | #3 | – | 1999–2023 |
| 373 | Don't SpeakNo Doubt | 43 | 14 | #3 | – | 1996–2023 |
| 374 | Ace of SpadesMotorhead | 38 | 6 | #3 | – | 1990–2026 |
| 375 | CorduroyPearl Jam | 43 | 15 | #5 | – | 1994–2025 |
| 376 | Radio RadioElvis Costello & the Attractions | 34 | 7 | #22 | – | 1988–2014 |
| 377 | HurtNine Inch Nails | 45 | 15 | #2 | – | 1995–2023 |
| 378 | InstitutionalizedSuicidal Tendencies | 37 | 10 | #3 | – | 1983–2022 |
| 379 | BirthdayThe Sugarcubes | 40 | 12 | #1 | 1 | 1987–2026 |
| 380 | VertigoU2 | 45 | 22 | #4 | – | 2004–2025 |
| 381 | RaptureBlondie | 46 | 13 | #31 | – | 1988–2022 |
| 382 | YesterdayThe Beatles | 36 | 9 | #12 | – | 1987–2026 |
| 383 | Only Happy When It RainsGarbage | 48 | 18 | #14 | – | 1996–2026 |
| 384 | Breaking the GirlRed Hot Chili Peppers | 37 | 12 | #26 | – | 1991–2014 |
| 385 | Dancing With MyselfBilly Idol | 47 | 13 | #18 | – | 1983–2026 |
| 386 | RoosterAlice In Chains | 49 | 16 | #20 | – | 1993–2025 |
| 387 | CreepStone Temple Pilots | 35 | 12 | #44 | – | 1993–2025 |
| 388 | Gimme ShelterThe Rolling Stones | 34 | 13 | #4 | – | 1991–2026 |
| 389 | Hungry Like the WolfDuran Duran | 53 | 15 | #22 | – | 1982–2025 |
| 390 | Hey Man Nice ShotFilter | 38 | 16 | #6 | – | 1995–2023 |
| 391 | Go!Tones on Tail | 42 | 8 | #35 | – | 1984–2014 |
| 392 | Shock the MonkeyPeter Gabriel | 48 | 13 | #21 | – | 1982–2022 |
| 393 | Down by the WaterPJ Harvey | 43 | 16 | #17 | – | 1995–2023 |
| 394 | Valerie Loves MeMaterial Issue | 42 | 10 | #19 | – | 1991–2023 |
| 395 | Ziggy StardustDavid Bowie | 45 | 14 | #61 | – | 1988–2026 |
| 396 | Fly AwayLenny Kravitz | 53 | 17 | #6 | – | 1998–2025 |
| 397 | SouthsideMoby | 41 | 18 | #7 | – | 2000–2026 |
| 398 | Ashes to AshesDavid Bowie | 39 | 16 | #23 | – | 1980–2026 |
| 399 | Blasphemous RumoursDepeche Mode | 32 | 11 | #1 | 1 | 1984–2014 |
| 400 | What You NeedINXS | 52 | 15 | #7 | – | 1985–2024 |