Rolling Stone: The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far

Rolling Stone has once again stirred conversation with a brand-new list — this time featuring The 250 Best Songs of the Century (So Far). We’ve gathered all the details for you, but we decided to dig a little deeper and take a closer look at the numbers.

Topping the list in terms of appearances are Beyoncé and Drake, with five songs each, followed by Taylor Swift and Rihanna with four apiece. It’s worth noting that no rock or metal artist managed to secure more than one entry.

“How many metal songs are there?” you might ask. Just two — Blood and Thunder by Mastodon at #230, and Chop Suey! by System of a Down at #174. As for the broader rock spectrum, there are roughly 30 songs in total out of 250 (not even a fifth of the list) — and we say “roughly” because we might have missed one or two.

Rock music does make it into the top ten, with the #1 song being a massive hit and a defining anthem of the early 2000s — though certainly not the best possible choice, if you ask us.

The first decade of the century dominates the list with 128 songs, followed by 104 from the 2010s. Only 18 songs represent the 2020s so far. The most recent entries are Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso from 2024, along with Bad Bunny’s Baile Inolvidable from this year.

That’s it for the stats — now go ahead and dive into the full list.

250–201

250: Train – ‘Drops of Jupiter’ (2001)
249: Tweet – ‘Oops (Oh My)’ (2002)
248: Fleet Foxes – ‘Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’ (2008)
247: Avicii – ‘Levels’ (2011)
246: Post Malone and Swae Lee – ‘Sunflower’ (2018)
245: Tego Calderón – ‘Pa’ Que Retozen’ (2002)
244: Warren Zevon – ‘Keep Me in Your Heart’ (2003)
243: Davido feat. Musa Keys – ‘Unavailable’ (2023)
242: Scarface – ‘My Block’ (2002)
241: Wheatus – ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ (2000)
240: Mac Miller – ‘2009’ (2018)
239: Skrillex feat. Sirah – ‘Bangarang’ (2011)
238: Bleachers – ‘I Wanna Get Better’ (2014)
237: Kid Cudi – ‘Day ‘n’ Nite’ (2008)
236: Shaboozey – ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ (2024)
235: Foo Fighters – ‘Times Like These’ (2002)
234: J Balvin and Willy William – ‘Mi Gente’ (2017)
233: John Prine – ‘Summer’s End’ (2018)
232: Tems – ‘Free Mind’ (2020)
231: Florida Georgia Line – ‘Cruise’ (2012)
230: Mastodon – ‘Blood and Thunder’ (2004)
229: Old 97’s – ‘Rollerskate Skinny’ (2001)
228: Rema – ‘Woman’ (2020)
227: Tyler Childers – ‘Feathered Indians’ (2017)
226: 5 Seconds of Summer – ‘Youngblood’ (2018)
225: Bright Eyes – ‘First Day of My Life’ (2005)
224: The Knife – ‘Heartbeats’ (2002)
223: Kanye West feat. Rihanna and Kid Cudi – ‘All of the Lights’ (2010)
222: Paul Simon – ‘Rewrite’ (2011)
221: The Mountain Goats – ‘No Children’ (2002)
220: Ke$ha – ‘Tik Tok’ (2009)
219: Father John Misty – ‘Holy Shit’ (2015)
218: T-Pain – ‘I’m Sprung’ (2005)
217: Rich Boy feat. Polow Da Don – ‘Throw Some D’s’ (2006)
216: Old Crow Medicine Show – ‘Wagon Wheel’ (2004)
215: Lizzo – ‘Truth Hurts’ (2017)
214: The Hold Steady – ‘Killer Parties’ (2004)
213: Taylor Swift – ‘Love Story’ (2008)
212: Doja Cat feat. SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’ (2021)
211: Alabama Shakes – ‘Hold On’ (2012)
210: Usher feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris – ‘Yeah!’ (2004)
209: Aventura feat. Don Omar – ‘Ella y Yo’ (2005)
208: Ashlee Simpson – ‘Pieces of Me’ (2004)
207: Rich Gang feat. Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan – ‘Lifestyle’ (2014)
206: NewJeans – ‘Hype Boy’ (2022)
205: Green Day – ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ (2004)
204: Pop Smoke – ‘Welcome to the Party’ (2019)
203: Koffee – ‘Toast’ (2019)
202: Rauw Alejandro – ‘Todo de Ti’ (2021)
201: Gucci Mane – ‘Lemonade’ (2009)

200–151

200: FKA Twigs – ‘Cellophane’ (2019)
199: Leonard Cohen – ‘You Want It Darker’ (2016)
198: Three 6 Mafia feat. Young Buck, 8Ball, and MJG – ‘Stay Fly’ (2005)
197: Toni Braxton – ‘He Wasn’t Man Enough’ (2000)
196: Radiohead – ‘There, There’ (2003)
195: Evanescence – ‘Bring Me to Life’ (2003)
194: SZA – ‘Drew Barrymore’ (2017)
193: Parquet Courts – ‘Stoned and Starving’ (2012)
192: Ed Sheeran – ‘The A Team’ (2011)
191: Phoenix – ‘1901’ (2009)
190: Rae Sremmurd – ‘No Flex Zone’ (2014)
189: Grimes – ‘Oblivion’ (2012)
188: Wisin & Yandel – ‘Rakata’ (2005)
187: MGMT – ‘Kids’ (2007)
186: Beyoncé – ‘Cuff It’ (2022)
185: Los Tigres del Norte – ‘Somos Más Americanos’ (2001)
184: OutKast – ‘Ms. Jackson’ (2000)
183: Billie Eilish – ‘Happier Than Ever’ (2021)
182: Brandi Carlile – ‘The Story’ (2007)
181: Rihanna feat. Drake – ‘Work’ (2016)
180: Kings of Leon – ‘Use Somebody’ (2008)
179: Juanes – ‘Es Por Ti’ (2002)
178: Amerie – ‘1 Thing’ (2005)
177: Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – ‘Shallow’ (2018)
176: Car Seat Headrest – ‘Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales’ (2016)
175: Aaliyah – ‘Rock the Boat’ (2001)
174: System of a Down – ‘Chop Suey!’ (2001)
173: Waxahatchee – ‘Lilacs’ (2020)
172: Ciara feat. Missy Elliott – ‘1, 2 Step’ (2004)
171: T.I. – ‘What You Know’ (2006)
170: Girls’ Generation – ‘Gee’ (2009)
169: Jimmy Eat World – ‘The Middle’ (2001)
168: The Chicks – ‘Long Time Gone’ (2002)
167: Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Espresso’ (2024)
166: Jay-Z and Linkin Park – ‘Numb/Encore’ (2004)
165: Café Tacvba – ‘Eres’ (2003)
164: The Flaming Lips – ‘Do You Realize??’ (2002)
163: TV on the Radio – ‘Wolf Like Me’ (2006)
162: Drake – ‘Marvins Room’ (2011)
161: Taylor Swift – ‘Cruel Summer’ (2019)
160: Chief Keef feat. Lil Reese – ‘I Don’t Like’ (2012)
159: Modest Mouse – ‘Float On’ (2004)
158: Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay Rock – ‘Money Trees’ (2012)
157: Johnny Cash – ‘Hurt’ (2002)
156: Blink-182 – ‘I Miss You’ (2003)
155: Alicia Keys – ‘Fallin’’ (2001)
154: J. Cole – ‘Middle Child’ (2019)
153: Beck – ‘Lost Cause’ (2002)
152: Pink – ‘So What’ (2008)
151: Vampire Weekend – ‘A-Punk’ (2008)

150–101

150: Nelly feat. City Spud – ‘Ride Wit Me’ (2000)
149: Alvvays – ‘Archie, Marry Me’ (2013)
148: Jason Isbell – ‘Cover Me Up’ (2013)
147: Travis Scott feat. Drake – ‘Sicko Mode’ (2018)
146: Ivy Queen – ‘Quiero Bailar’ (2003)
145: Miguel – ‘Adorn’ (2012)
144: Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves – ‘I Remember Everything’ (2023)
143: Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX – ‘I Love It’ (2012)
142: Blackpink – ‘Ddu-Du Ddu-Du’ (2018)
141: Coldplay – ‘The Scientist’ (2002)
140: M.O.P. feat. Busta Rhymes, Teflon, and Remi Martin – ‘Ante Up’ (2000)
139: Rilo Kiley – ‘Portions for Foxes’ (2004)
138: Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z – ‘Déjà Vu’ (2006)
137: Maren Morris – ‘My Church’ (2015)
136: Mike Jones feat. Slim Thug and Paul Wall – ‘Still Tippin’’ (2004)
135: Tyla – ‘Water’ (2023)
134: Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber – ‘Despacito’ (2017)
133: Rihanna feat. Jay-Z – ‘Umbrella’ (2007)
132: Avril Lavigne – ‘Complicated’ (2002)
131: Gorillaz – ‘Clint Eastwood’ (2001)
130: Selena Gomez – ‘Hands to Myself’ (2015)
129: Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé – ‘Savage Remix’ (2020)
128: The Postal Service – ‘Such Great Heights’ (2003)
127: Lorde – ‘Green Light’ (2017)
126: Lucy Dacus – ‘Night Shift’ (2017)
125: Gyptian – ‘Hold You’ (2010)
124: Mary J. Blige – ‘Family Affair’ (2001)
123: Fountains of Wayne – ‘Hackensack’ (2003)
122: Azealia Banks feat. Lazy Jay – ‘212’ (2011)
121: Eminem – ‘Stan’ (2000)
120: Destiny’s Child – ‘Survivor’ (2001)
119: Sky Ferreira – ‘You’re Not the One’ (2013)
118: Childish Gambino – ‘Redbone’ (2016)
117: The Shins – ‘New Slang’ (2001)
116: Bruce Springsteen – ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’ (2012)
115: Little Big Town – ‘Girl Crush’ (2014)
114: Taylor Swift – ‘Blank Space’ (2014)
113: Natalia Lafourcade – ‘Hasta La Raíz’ (2015)
112: Panic! at the Disco – ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ (2005)
111: Calle 13 – ‘Querido FBI’ (2005)
110: Courtney Barnett – ‘Depreston’ (2015)
109: Karol G and Nicki Minaj – ‘Tusa’ (2019)
108: The New Pornographers – ‘Letter From an Occupant’ (2000)
107: Kylie Minogue – ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ (2001)
106: One Direction – ‘Fireproof’ (2014)
105: Kelis – ‘Milkshake’ (2003)
104: Miley Cyrus – ‘Wrecking Ball’ (2013)
103: Florence + the Machine – ‘Dog Days Are Over’ (2008)
102: Lady Gaga – ‘Poker Face’ (2008)
101: Missy Elliott – ‘Work It’ (2002)

100–51

100: Frank Ocean – ‘Novacane’ (2011)
99: The Hives – ‘Hate to Say I Told You So’ (2000)
98: Carrie Underwood – ‘Before He Cheats’ (2005)
97: Lana Del Rey – ‘Video Games’ (2011)
96: My Chemical Romance – ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ (2006)
95: Burna Boy – ‘Last Last’ (2022)
94: Dua Lipa – ‘Levitating’ (2020)
93: Eric Church – ‘Springsteen’ (2011)
92: Sean Paul – ‘Get Busy’ (2002)
91: Tyler, the Creator – ‘Yonkers’ (2011)
90: Broken Social Scene – ‘Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl’ (2002)
89: Justin Timberlake – ‘Mirrors’ (2013)
88: Madonna – ‘Hung Up’ (2005)
87: Chris Stapleton – ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ (2015)
86: Charli XCX – ‘Vroom Vroom’ (2016)
85: Arctic Monkeys – ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ (2013)
84: Justin Bieber – ‘Sorry’ (2015)
83: The Rapture – ‘House of Jealous Lovers’ (2002)
82: OutKast – ‘Hey Ya!’ (2003)
81: Bad Bunny – ‘Baile Inolvidable’ (2025)
80: Boygenius – ‘Not Strong Enough’ (2023)
79: Fall Out Boy – ‘Sugar, We’re Goin Down’ (2005)
78: Future – ‘March Madness’ (2015)
77: Rosalía – ‘Malamente (Cap.1: Augurio)’ (2018)
76: Lil Nas X – ‘Old Town Road’ (2018)
75: Kanye West – ‘Jesus Walks’ (2004)
74: David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’ (2015)
73: Cardi B – ‘Bodak Yellow’ (2017)
72: Bon Iver – ‘Skinny Love’ (2007)
71: Harry Styles – ‘As It Was’ (2022)
70: Clipse feat. Ab-Liva – ‘Ride Around Shining’ (2006)
69: Arcade Fire – ‘Rebellion (Lies)’ (2004)
68: Miranda Lambert – ‘The House That Built Me’ (2009)
67: ’NSync – ‘Bye Bye Bye’ (2000)
66: Wilco – ‘Impossible Germany’ (2007)
65: Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’ (2024)
64: Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado – ‘Ella Baila Sola’ (2023)
63: Paramore – ‘Still Into You’ (2013)
62: Solange – ‘Cranes in the Sky’ (2016)
61: Bob Dylan – ‘Things Have Changed’ (2000)
60: Lil Wayne – ‘A Milli’ (2008)
59: Phoebe Bridgers – ‘Motion Sickness’ (2017)
58: DJ Snake feat. Lil Jon – ‘Turn Down for What’ (2013)
57: U2 – ‘Beautiful Day’ (2000)
56: Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz – ‘La Tortura’ (2005)
55: Katy Perry – ‘Teenage Dream’ (2010)
54: 50 Cent – ‘In Da Club’ (2003)
53: Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz – ‘Beez in the Trap’ (2012)
52: Franz Ferdinand – ‘Take Me Out’ (2004)
51: Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – ‘Latch’ (2012)

50–1

50: Haim – ‘The Wire’ (2013)
49: Maxwell – ‘Pretty Wings’ (2009)
48: M.I.A. – ‘Paper Planes’ (2007)
47: Lil Uzi Vert – ‘XO Tour Llif3’ (2017)
46: Amy Winehouse – ‘Back to Black’ (2006)
45: Kacey Musgraves – ‘Follow Your Arrow’ (2013)
44: Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert – ‘Bad and Boujee’ (2016)
43: Drake feat. Majid Jordan – ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ (2013)
42: Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘Call Me Maybe’ (2011)
41: The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’ (2019)
40: Ariana Grande – ‘Thank U, Next’ (2018)
39: Eminem – ‘Lose Yourself’ (2002)
38: Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Drivers License’ (2021)
37: BTS – ‘Spring Day’ (2017)
36: Mitski – ‘Your Best American Girl’ (2016)
35: LCD Soundsystem – ‘All My Friends’ (2007)
34: Lorde – ‘Ribs’ (2013)
33: Lana Del Rey – ‘Venice Bitch’ (2018)
32: Beyoncé – ‘Formation’ (2016)
31: Kelly Clarkson – ‘Since U Been Gone’ (2004)
30: Usher – ‘Confessions Part II’ (2004)
29: UGK feat. OutKast – ‘Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)’ (2007)
28: Daft Punk – ‘One More Time’ (2000)
27: Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris – ‘We Found Love’ (2011)
26: The Killers – ‘Mr. Brightside’ (2003)
25: Jay-Z – ‘99 Problems’ (2003)
24: D’Angelo – ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ (2000)
23: Chappell Roan – ‘Pink Pony Club’ (2020)
22: Wizkid feat. Tems – ‘Essence’ (2020)
21: Lady Gaga – ‘Bad Romance’ (2009)
20: Steve Lacy – ‘Bad Habit’ (2022)
19: Adele – ‘Someone Like You’ (2011)
18: Billie Eilish – ‘Bad Guy’ (2019)
17: Drake – ‘Hotline Bling’ (2015)
16: Mariah Carey – ‘We Belong Together’ (2005)
15: OutKast – ‘B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)’ (2000)
14: Daddy Yankee – ‘Gasolina’ (2004)
13: SZA – ‘Snooze’ (2022)
12: The Strokes – ‘Last Nite’ (2001)
11: Bad Bunny, Ñengo Flow, and Jowell & Randy – ‘Safaera’ (2020)
10: Frank Ocean – ‘Thinkin Bout You’ (2012)
9: Britney Spears – ‘Toxic’ (2003)
8: Radiohead – ‘Idioteque’ (2000)
7: Kendrick Lamar – ‘Alright’ (2015)
6: Robyn – ‘Dancing on My Own’ (2010)
5: Taylor Swift – ‘All Too Well’ (2012)
4: The White Stripes – ‘Seven Nation Army’ (2003)
3: Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z – ‘Crazy in Love’ (2003)
2: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Maps’ (2003)
1: Missy Elliott – ‘Get Ur Freak On’ (2001)