The 100 Best Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 Hits: Staff List
Some of the greatest hits of the Hot 100 era never made it all the way to No. 1. Here's our 100 favorites that fell one spot short.
The task of reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 comes with significant challenges. It demands a perfect blend of exceptional pop music, cultural relevance, effective marketing, and timing. Additionally, artists must resonate with an audience that is constantly changing. Despite executing every aspect flawlessly, as seen with Olivia Dean's "Man I Need," some songs fall just short of the top spot.
This song, though immediately appealing, modern-sounding, and highly promoted across various media, reached No. 2, trailing only behind the chart-topping Ella Langley's "Choosin’ Texas." Throughout music history, countless renowned artists have experienced similar setbacks. Bruce Springsteen, for instance, achieved a rock star status comparable to other legends, but his "Dancing in the Dark" was eclipsed by Prince's "When Doves Cry" for three weeks on the Hot 100.
Similarly, Dr. Dre’s "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" was too edgy to surpass Snow’s "Informer" during its 1993 chart run. Creedence Clearwater Revival, a Hall of Fame rock band, achieved a remarkable feat of peaking at No. 2 on the chart five times between 1969 and 1970, never quite breaking into the top spot. Such instances are common and carry no stigma.
To honor these historic runner-ups, a list of the top 100 No. 2 hits in Billboard's chart history has been compiled. This includes the songs that blocked their ascent to No. 1, allowing for a retrospective reflection on the injustices. For one particularly notable No. 2 hit, the opportunity to reach No. 1 on a Billboard list was granted belatedly.
The resulting list provides an opportunity to appreciate the competitive nature of pop music that has produced so many classic bests.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
