Here Are Some of the Uk’s Most Streamed Songs From 1952 to 2022

What do The Notorious B.I.G.'s rap anthem Juicy and Gene Kelly's Singin' in the Rain have in common? No, it's not a contagious sense of happiness or a lot of references to drug use for recreational purposes. Instead, they are the songs that received the most streams in the UK during the year they were released. The Official Chart Company, which determined the largest streaming hit each year from the chart's establishment in 1952, confirms this. Furthermore, the UK singles chart has been in existence for 70 years, and their findings will be broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 the following weekend. Additionally, the list includes celebrities like Adele, Harry Styles, the Beatles, and Elvis, along with songs that were neglected upon release but later came to be recognized as masterpieces One of these is the San Francisco rock band Journey, whose 1982 single Don't Stop Believin' peaked at number 62 but later rose to become a rock classic after appearing in TV programs like The Sopranos and Glee. It has since surpassed modern hits like Come On Eileen (1982's biggest-selling record in the UK) and Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger. [caption id="attachment_58665" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] image credit: officialcharts[/caption] Moreover, I Got A Woman by Ray Charles, used in Kanye West's 2005 single Gold Digger, has seen a similar second life. The song achieved silver certification (indicating 200,000 sales) through streams alone and is currently the most-played hit from 1954.

Additional details on UK's most streamed songs

In contrast, the Official Charts list completely omits some of the most popular songs of their time. For instance, although Bryan Adams' Everything I Do (I Do It For You) held the top spot on the charts for 16 weeks straight in 1991, setting a new record, streaming lovers today prefer Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke, the song with the most sales in 2013, has likewise lost popularity, replaced by the beach ballad Riptide by Vance Joy. [caption id="attachment_58667" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] image credit: officialcharts[/caption] On another note, some of the entries are more predictable. The most played song of 2003 was Mr. Brightside by The Killers, which spent an unparalleled 338 weeks at the top of the UK singles chart. Additionally, the king of streaming Ed Sheeran is included three times on the list for the songs Thinking Out Loud (2014), Shape Of You (2017), and Bad Habits (2021). On the other hand, the list of the UK's most streamed songs from 1952 to 2022 does not include Christmas songs. Additionally, BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 will air the complete chart decade by decade with special guest hosts Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker, Fearne Cotton, and Jack Saunders on November 11 and 12. The special programs are currently streamable on BBC Sounds as well. [caption id="attachment_58668" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] image credit: bbc[/caption] Robert Gallacher, commissioning editor at BBC Radio, said: "It's particularly fascinating to see which classic songs from the past are rated by today's music consumers, and how that appeal can be driven by exposure on TV, adverts and social media. This chart is a true testament to the timelessness of brilliant pop music."