Top 200 Number 2 Songs

Researching charts is a hobby of mine and one day I got curious and wondered about all the songs that peaked at the number 2 position. Most surveys only include the #1 songs. So, I decided to do a chart listing the top 200 number 2 songs of all-time. Do you remember songs like “Last Date“, Ramblin’ Rose, Breathe, “Work It“? What these songs all have in common is they did not reach number 1. They finished second. It seems like we only care about who finishes first.

This survey is going to change all that. The top 200 number 2 songs will be able to help and provide the answers to the most popular number 2 songs of all-time for the period from 1955-2010.

I was intrigued and wanted to know which of these songs was the most popular from 1955-2010. After I found this out, I wanted to provide this information to the visitors of my site.

All the songs on this list peaked at the number 2 position on Billboard’s Top 100 Chart.

Note: We also have available the Top 250 #3 Hits from 1955-2011. Check them out by clicking on the link.

In unrelated news, now there is a way to preserve your vinyl records and convert them to the CD format. Click here for more information.

Ranking of the Top 200 Songs

The ranking of the top 200 songs was determined by the following formula:

Peak position

a. All songs had to peak at the #2 position.
b. Ties among these songs are broken in the following order:

Total weeks record held its peak position
Total weeks charted in the Top 10
Total weeks charted in the Top 40
Total weeks charted

If there are still ties, a computerized inverse point system was used to calculate a point total for each record based on its weekly chart positions. For each week, a record appears on the charts it is given points based on its chart position for that week (#2=99 points, #3 =98 points, etc.). These points are added together to create a raw point total for each record, which is used to break any remaining ties.

The year of 2011 was not included because the resource did not cover the entire year, but only the first 4 months.

The resource used for compiling this survey was “Pop Annual 1955-2011” by Joel Whitburn.

Top 200 Trivia

Here is some very interesting trivia regarding the top 200 number 2 songs.

There were a total of 490 records that peaked at the #2 position during this period.
To make the top 200 chart, each song had to peak at the #2 position for 2 weeks.
The year with the least number of number 2 songs for the whole year was 2006, with 2.
The year with the most number of number 2 songs for the whole year is 1969 with 16.
The year of 1981, had the most songs on the chart with 10. (Note: All ten songs made the top 200 chart.)
Thirteen artists tied with the most charted singles with two.
The song “One Headlight” holds the title of longevity by being on the charts for 70 weeks.
The highest instrumental song on this chart is “The Crazy Otto” by Johnny Maddox, released in 1955, at #15.
There are a total of five instrumental songs on the chart.
In order for a song to appear in the top 10, it must have peaked at #2 and stay at #2 for 8 weeks or more.
Every year from 1955-2010 had at least one song that made the chart.

Top 200 Number 2 Songs

Below is the listing of the top 200 #2 songs from 1955-2010.

Rank Title/Artist Peak Weeks (), Year of Release

Work It / Missy Elliott (10) 2002
Waiting For A Girl Like You / Foreigner (10) 1981
You’re Still The One / Shania Twain (9) 1998
I Love You Always Forever / Donna Lewis (9) 1996
Lovefool / The Cardigans (8) 1997
Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here / Deborah Cox (8) 1998
Back At One / Brian Mcknight (8) 1999
If I Ever Fall In Love / Shai (8) 1992
I Don’t Wanna Know / Mario Winana w/P. Daddy & Enya (8) 2004
Little Darlin’ / The Diamonds (8) 1957
Whoomp! / Tag Team (7) 1993
You Make Me Wanna / Usher (7) 1997
1,2 Step / Clara w/ Missy Elliott (7) 2005
Bad Romance / Lady GaGa (7) 2009
The Crazy Otto [I] / Johnny Maddox (7) 1955
Crazy / Gloria Barkley (7) 2006
What’s Luv? / Fat Joe w/ Ashanti (7) 2002
Survivor / Destiny’s Child (7) 2001
Moments To Remember / The Four Lads (6) 1955
With You / Chris Brown (6) 2008
All I Wanna Do / Sheryl Crow (6) 1994
Baby-Baby-Baby / TLC (6) 1992
Shake It Off / Mariah Carey (6) 2005
Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough / Patty Smyth w/ Don Herley (6) 1992
Party Like A Rock Star / Shop Boyz (6) 2007
Open Arms / Journey (6) 1982
Baker Street / Gerry Rafferty (6) 1978
Louie Louie / The Kingsmen (6) 1963
One Headlight / The Wallflowers (5) 1997
Breathe / Faith Hill (5) 2000
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now / Celine Dion (5) 1996
Right Thurr / Chingy (5) 2003
Smack That / Akon w/ Eminem (5) 2006
Ignition / R. Kelly (5) 2003
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams / Green Day (5) 2005
Dead And Gone / T. J. w/Justin Timberlake (5) 2009
Hate It Or Love It / The Game w/ 50 Cent (5) 2005
Without Me / Eminem (5) 2002
Rosanna / Toto (5) 1982
Return To Sender / Elvis Presley (5) 1962
One Call Away / Chingy w/ J. Weav (5) 2004
More Than I Can Say / Leo Sayer (5) 1980
Electric Avenue / Eddy Grant (5) 1983
How Do I Live / LeAnn Rimes (4) 1997
Apologize / Timbaland w/ OneRepublic (4) 2007
Hanging By A Moment / Lifehouse (4) 2001
So Rare / Jimmy Dorsey (4) 1957
Don’t Let Go / En Vogue (4) 1997
I Believe I Can Fly / R. Kelly (4) 1996
Hurts So Good / John Cougar (4) 1982
Bye Bye Love / The Everly Brothers (4) 1957
Tears In Heaven / Eric Clapton (4) 1992
Candy Rain / Soul For Real (4) 1995
Best I Ever Had / Drake (4) 2009
No, Not Much / The Four Lads (4) 1956
Gangsta Lovin’ / Eve w/ Alicia Keys (4) 2002
Bitch / Meredith Brooks (4) 1997
I Need A Girl / Puff Daddy w/ Usher & Loon (4) 2002
It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday / Boyz II Men (4) 1991
Blue Suede Shoes / Carl Perkins (4) 1956
Don’t Talk To Strangers / Rick Springfield (4) 1982
I’ll Remember / Madonna (4) 1994
All Out Of Love / Air Supply (4) 1980
I Wanna Sex You Up / Color Me Badd (4) 1991
Last Date [I] / Floyd Cramer (4) 1960
Say It Isn’t So / Daryl Hall & John Oates (4) 1983
Ride Like The Wind / Christopher Cross (4) 1980
Dancing In The Dark / Bruce Springsteen (4) 1984
Greenfields / The Brothers Four (4) 1960
We’ve Only Just Begun / Carpenters (4) 1970
Great Balls Of Fire / Jerry Lee Lewis (4) 1958
Shame On The Moon / Bob Seger (4) 1983
The Wild Boys / Duran Duran (4) 1984
Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron / The Royal Guardsmen (4) 1966
Twist And Shout / The Beatles (4) 1964
Can’t Get Used To Losing You / Andy Williams (4) 1963
(Theme From) Valley Of The Dolls / Dionne Warwick (4) 1968
Looking For A New Love / Jody Watley (4) 1987
Dueling Banjos [I] / Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell (4) 1973
Dynamite / Talo Cruz (3) 2010
All That She Wants / Ace Of Base (3) 1993
Killing Me Softly / Fugees (3) 1996
Party In The U.S.A. / Miley Cyrus (3) 2009
My Way / Usher (3) 1998
Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & II) [I] / Bill Doggett (3) 1956
Blueberry Hill / Fats Domino (3) 1957
Rump Shaker / Wreckx-N-Effect (3) 1992
What Ever Will Be, Will Be / Doris Day (3) 1956
Heartbreak Hotel / Whitney Houston (3) 1999
Don’t Cha / The Pussycat Dolls w/ Busta Rhymes (3) 2005
Don’t Take It Personal / Monica (3) 1995
I Hear You Knocking / Gale Storm (3) 1955
Case Of The Ex / Mya (3) 2000
My Lovin’ / En Vogue (3) 1992
Magic Stick / lil’ Kim w/ 50 Cent (3) 2003
Y.M.C.A. / Village People (3) 1979
He’ll Have To Go / Jim Reeves (3) 1960
Red Light Special / TLC (3) 1995
Woman / John Lenon (3) 1981
Pon De Replay / Rihanna (3) 2005
I Love Your Smile / Shanice (3) 1992
Start Me Up / The Rolling Stones (3) 1981
Regulate / Warren G. & Nate Dogg (3) 1994
Just The Two Of Us / Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers (3) 1981
Slow Hand / Pointer Sisters (3) 1981
Put Your Head On My Shoulder / Paul Anka (3) 1959
Gloria / Laura Branigan (3) 1982
Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue / Crystal Gayle (3) 1977
Love On The Rocks / Neil Diamond (3) 1981
One More Chance-Stay With Me / The Nortorious B.I.G. w/Faith Evens (3) 1995
Being With You / Smokey Robinson (3) 1981
Personality / Lloyd Price (3) 1959
The Girl Is Mine / Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney (3) 1983
Right Here/Human Nature / SWV Sisters with Voices (3) 1993
Do You Really Want To Hurt Me / Culture Club (3) 1983
Making Love Out Of Nothing At All / Air Supply (3) 1983
The Rubberband Man / Spinners (3) 1976
Get Up And Boggie / Silver Convention (3) 1976
We Got The Beat / Go-Go’s (3) 1982
Party All The Time / Eddie Murphy (3) 1985
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / Glady’s Knight & The Pips (3) 1967
Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So) / Perry Como (3) 1955
Crystal Blue Persuasion / Tommy James & The Shondells (3) 1969
Nobody Does It Better / Carly Simon (3) 1977
Dream Weaver / Gary Wright (3) 1976
26 Miles (Santa Catalina) / The Four Preps (3) 1958
Somebody’s Watching Me / Rockwell (3) 1984
Stood Up / Ricky Nelson (3) 1958
Young Girl / Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (3) 1968
What’s Going On / Marvin Gaye (3) 1971
The Boll Weevil Song / Brook Benton (3) 1961
Charlie Brown / The Coasters (3) 1959
Soul Man / Sam & Dave (3) 1967
Cherish / Kool & The Gang (3) 1985
Keep It Comin’ Love / KC & The Sunshine Band (3) 1977
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / Elton John (3) 1973
Those Were The Days / Mary Hopkin (3) 1968
Proud Mary / Creedence Clearwater Revival (3) 1969
Live And Let Die / Wings (3) 1973
Spinning Wheel / Blood, Sweat & Tears (3) 1969
A Boy Named Sue / Johnny Cash (3) 1969
Never Can Say Goodbye / The Jackson 5 (3) 1971
Sweet Little Sixteen / Chuck Berry (3) 1958
I Like It Like That / Chris Kenner (3) 1961
Mellow Yellow / Donovan (3) 1968
Don’t Wanna Fall In Love / Jane Chile (3) 1990
All By Myself / Eric Clapton (3) 1976
One Our Own / Bobby Brown (3) 1989
I’m In You / Peter Frampton (3) 1977
Shattered Dreams / Johnny Hates Jazz (3) 1988
Typical Male / Tina Turner (3) 1986
The Horse [I] / Cliff Nobles & Co. (3) 1968
Born To Be Wild / Steppenwolf (3) 1968
Ruby Baby / Dion (3) 1963
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy / Blood, Sweat & Tears (3) 1969
Be My Baby / The Ronettes (3) 1963
All Those Years Ago / George Harrison (3) 1981
A Lover’s Concerto / The Boys (3) 1965
Satisfy You / Puff Daddy (3) 1999
19th Nervous Breakdown / The Rolling Stones (3) 1966
Dedicated To The One I Love / The Mamas & The Paps (3) 1967
Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! / Allan Sherman (3) 1963
Short People / Randy Newman (3) 1978
I’m Not In Love / 10cc (3) 1975
You Don’t Own Me / Lesley Gore (3) 1964
Nobody Knows / The Tony Rich Project (2) 1996
You Were Meant For Me / Jewel (2) 1997
Quit Playing Games / Backstreet Boys (2) 1997
Need You Now / Lady Antebellum (2) 2010
Complicated / Avril Lavigne (2) 2002
Hit ‘Em Up Style / Blu Cantrell (2) 2001
Forever / Chris Brown (2) 2008
Canadian Sunset [I] / Hugo Winterhalter (2) 1956
Freak Like Me / Adina Howard (2) 1995
Allegheny Moon / Patti Page (2) 1956
Limbo Rock / Chubby Checker (2) 1962
Sittin’ Up In My Room / Brandy (2) 1996
He Love U Not / Dream (2) 2000
Sunshine / Lil’ Flip w/Lea (2) 2004
Queen Of Hearts / Juice Newton (2) 1981
Rock-in Robin / Bobby Day (2) 1958
Greatest American Hero / Joey Scarbury (2) 1981
Donna / Richie Valens (2) 1959
I’d Really Love To See You Tonight / England Dan & John Ford Coley (2) 1976
Not Gon’ Cry / Mary J. Blige (2) 1996
I Gotcha / Joe Tex (2) 1972
One Less Bell To Answer / The 5th Dimension (2) 1970
Love Me / Elvis Presley (2) 1957
Boggie Nights / Heatwave (2) 1977
Dancing Machine / The Jackson 5 (2) 1974
Pump Up The Jam / Technotronic w/Felly (2) 1990
Mashed Potato Time / Dee Dee Sharp (2) 1962
Dim All The Lights / Donna Summer (2) 1979
Wooly Bully / Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs (2) 1965
Bristol Stomp / The Dovells (2) 1961
This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race / Fall Out Boy (2) 2007
Time / Culture Club (2) 1983
After The Love Has Gone / Earth, Wind & Fire (2) 1979
Little Bit O’ Soul / The Music Explosion (2) 1967
Do Anything / Natural Selection w/ Nicki Harris (2) 1991

Note: A song title with an [I] after it denotes an instrumental song.

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