20 of the most iconic record-breaking songs in pop music history

Gabbi ShawMay 16, 2020, 22:44 IST

Cher has the longest gap between No. 1 hits.Eric McCandless / Contributor / Getty Images

While these 20 songs couldn't be more different, they all have one thing in common: They've broken records.
From remaining on the charts for almost two years to being the best-selling song of all time, each of these songs has carved out a space in music history.
"Say So" by Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj earned the "Anaconda" rapper her first No. 1, after 108 previous entries on the Hot 100.
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There's an infinite number of records to break out there, from the most expensive pair of sneakers sold at auction ($437,000) to the heaviest cabbage (138.25 pounds). But these records held by 20 songs all have to do with the varied, ever-changing world of pop music.

Ever wondered what the best-selling song of all time is? Or who the oldest person to top the Hot 100 was? Look no further — here are 20 iconic songs that have broken records throughout musical history.

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When "Believe" hit No.1 in 1999, it was Cher's first chart-topper since her 1974 hit, "Dark Lady." That 25-year gap is still the biggest between two No. 1s.

Cher in 1971. AP

And "Dur dur d'être bébé! (It's Tough to Be a Baby)" made 4-year-old Jordy Lemoine, known as Jordy, the youngest musician to top the charts.

French singer Jordy and his parents Claude Lemoine and Patricia Clerget in 1993. Alain BUU/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

When "Hello, Dolly!" reached No. 1, it did two things: It made Louis Armstrong the oldest person to have a No. 1 song, and it ended The Beatles' three-song reign.

Louis Armstrong in 1971. Eddie Adams/AP

"Can't Buy Me Love" made The Beatles the only act in history to replace themselves twice for three consecutive No. 1s.

The Beatles perform in November 1963. Getty Images

"My Life Would Suck Without You" holds the record for largest jump to No. 1. It rocketed to the top from No. 97.

Kelly Clarkson. Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran is the most streamed song ever on Spotify. It's garnered over 2.3 billion streams.

Ed Sheeran. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Michael Jackson made history when his single "You Are Not Alone" debuted at the top of the Hot 100.

Michael Jackson in 1984. Doug Pizac/AP Images

Both "Work It" by Missy Elliott and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner are the longest-running No. 2s that never hit No. 1. They each sat at the second spot for 10 weeks.

Missy Elliott and Foreigner. Jeff Lombardo, Robert E. Klein/AP

Both "Work It" by Missy Elliott and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner are the longest-running No. 2s that never hit No. 1. They each sat at the second spot for 10 weeks.

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling single of all time.

Bing Crosby in 1944. AP Images

The shortest song to ever hit No. 1 is Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs' "Stay," which is just a minute and 38 seconds long.

Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs. GAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images

"Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons holds the record for the longest time on the Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 87 weeks, or almost two years.

Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons performs in 2018. John Salangsang/Invision/AP

"Jingle Bell Rock" helped Bobby Helms set the record for a musician with the longest gap between their first Hot 100 song and a place within the top 10.

Country singer Bobby Helms poses for a portrait holding an acoustic guitar circa 1957. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The song with the longest journey to No. 1 is none other than "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio, which took 33 weeks to reach the top of the charts.

Los Del Rio members Rafael Ruiz, left, and Antonio Romero Monge. Lionel Cironneau/AP Photo

The very first song to ever take the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 was Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" in August 1958.

Ricky Nelson in September 1958. AP

The music video for "Boy With Luv" by BTS and Halsey broke the record for the most YouTube views within the first 24 hours of release.

Halsey and BTS. John Shearer/Getty Images for dcp

Before "Old Town Road," the longest-running No. 1 song was "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. It topped the charts for 16 weeks.

Mariah Carey with Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men. Eric Draper/AP

"Old Town Road" became the longest-running No. 1 song of all time when it topped the charts for 19 consecutive weeks last summer.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X. Columbia Records

The Nicki Minaj remix of "Say So" gave the rapper her first No. 1 hit, earning her the record for the longest wait for a first Hot 100 No. 1. It's her 109th song to chart on the Hot 100.

Nicki Minaj. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The Nicki Minaj remix of "Say So" gave the rapper her first No. 1 hit, earning her the record for the longest wait for a first Hot 100 No. 1. It's her 109th song to chart on the Hot 100.

With "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Mariah Carey became the first person to have No. 1 songs in four different decades.

Mariah Carey. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

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20 of the most iconic record-breaking songs in pop music history

When "Believe" hit No.1 in 1999, it was Cher's first chart-topper since her 1974 hit, "Dark Lady." That 25-year gap is still the biggest between two No. 1s.

And "Dur dur d'être bébé! (It's Tough to Be a Baby)" made 4-year-old Jordy Lemoine, known as Jordy, the youngest musician to top the charts.

When "Hello, Dolly!" reached No. 1, it did two things: It made Louis Armstrong the oldest person to have a No. 1 song, and it ended The Beatles' three-song reign.

"Can't Buy Me Love" made The Beatles the only act in history to replace themselves twice for three consecutive No. 1s.

"My Life Would Suck Without You" holds the record for largest jump to No. 1. It rocketed to the top from No. 97.

"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran is the most streamed song ever on Spotify. It's garnered over 2.3 billion streams.

Michael Jackson made history when his single "You Are Not Alone" debuted at the top of the Hot 100.

Both "Work It" by Missy Elliott and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner are the longest-running No. 2s that never hit No. 1. They each sat at the second spot for 10 weeks.

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling single of all time.

The shortest song to ever hit No. 1 is Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs' "Stay," which is just a minute and 38 seconds long.

"Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons holds the record for the longest time on the Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 87 weeks, or almost two years.

"Jingle Bell Rock" helped Bobby Helms set the record for a musician with the longest gap between their first Hot 100 song and a place within the top 10.

The song with the longest journey to No. 1 is none other than "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio, which took 33 weeks to reach the top of the charts.

The very first song to ever take the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 was Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool" in August 1958.

The music video for "Boy With Luv" by BTS and Halsey broke the record for the most YouTube views within the first 24 hours of release.

Before "Old Town Road," the longest-running No. 1 song was "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. It topped the charts for 16 weeks.

"Old Town Road" became the longest-running No. 1 song of all time when it topped the charts for 19 consecutive weeks last summer.

The Nicki Minaj remix of "Say So" gave the rapper her first No. 1 hit, earning her the record for the longest wait for a first Hot 100 No. 1. It's her 109th song to chart on the Hot 100.

With "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Mariah Carey became the first person to have No. 1 songs in four different decades.