"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is composed by Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl. This song, performed by the famous and legendary band Nirvana, became one of the top hits of the 1990s. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" debuted at number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs Chart in September 1991. It is now one of the few songs on YouTube that has received a stunning 1 billion views. It is the main single and the opening tune from the band's second album, Nevermind (1991), published on DGC Records. The song's surprising success drove Nevermind to the top of multiple album charts at the beginning of 1992, an event often regarded as the moment when grunge hit the mainstream.

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" was Nirvana's biggest hit in most countries, peaking at the top of music industry charts worldwide in 1991 and 1992, including Belgium, France, New Zealand, and Spain. The song received great critical acclaim, topping the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll. The song was considered an "anthem for apathetic adolescents" of Generation X, but Nirvana became dissatisfied with the attention it received. Listeners and critics have continued to hail "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as one of the best songs of all time in the years since Kurt Cobain's death.

Artist: Nirvana
Album: Nevermind
Genres: Grunge, Rock

Billie Jean is a song by the legend - Michael Jackson that was released in 1983 by Epic Records as the second single from Jackson's sixth studio album, Thriller. It was produced by Jackson and Quincy Jones. "Billie Jean" has elements of post-disco, rhythm, blues, funk, and dance-pop. The lyrics tell the story of Billie Jean, a lady who claims the narrator is the father of her newborn boy, which he disputes. When he traveled with his older brothers as the Jackson 5, Jackson claimed the lyrics were inspired by groupies allegations about his older brothers.

"Billie Jean" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly rose to the top of the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, becoming Jackson's fastest-rising number one single since "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There" in 1970, all of which he recorded as a member of the Jackson 5. Billboard ranked it as the second most popular song of 1983. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified "Billie Jean" as 6 Platinum. Over 10 million copies of the song have been sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling songs of all time. It also charted at number one in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Switzerland, and Belgium, and reached the top ten in a number of additional countries. "Billie Jean" was one of 1983's best-selling singles, helping Thriller become the best-selling album of all time, and it also became Jackson's best-selling solo single.

Artist: Michael Jackson
Released: 1982

Genre: Pop

Stayin' Alive is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees that appears on the soundtrack of the film Saturday Night Fever. The song was released in 1977 as the second single from the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever. The song was co-produced by the band, Albhy Galuten, and Karl Richardson. It is one of the Bee Gees' most well-known tunes. Stayin' Alive was ranked 189th on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. "Stayin' Alive" was ranked 99th on the new Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs in 2021. It was ranked No. 9 on AFI's 100 Years, 100 Songs poll of best melodies in American cinema in 2004.

In a UK television poll conducted by ITV in December 2011, it was chosen fifth in the category of "The Nation's Favorite Bee Gees Song". When it was released, Stayin' Alive climbed the charts to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of February 4, 1978, and stayed there for four weeks. As a result, it became one of the band's most recognizable songs, thanks in part to its inclusion in the opening credits of Saturday Night Fever. In the United States, it became the second of six consecutive number-one singles, tying the Beatles for the most consecutive number ones in the country at the time.

Artist: Bee Gees
Released: 1977
Genres: Disco, Vocal/Easy Listening

I Will Survive is a song by Gloria Gaynor that was released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth studio album, Love Tracks (1978). Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris wrote the song. It is a popular disco anthem and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The lyrics of the song highlight the narrator's development of self strength following a traumatic breakup. It had a lot of radio in 1979, spending three weeks in a row at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, as well as topping the UK Singles Chart and the Irish Singles Chart. The song is also remembered as a symbol of female empowerment. Gaynor's original recording was designated as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" by the Library of Congress in 2016, and it was added to the National Recording Registry.

Artist: Gloria Gaynor
Released: 1978
Genres: Disco, Rock

The song Whole Lotta Love is performed by the English rock band, Led Zeppelin. It is the opening track on the band's second album named Led Zeppelin II, and was released as a single in numerous countries in 1969; no single was published in the United Kingdom, as with other Led Zeppelin songs. It was certified gold in the United States and became their first hit. Parts of the lyrics were borrowed from Willie Dixon's "You Need Love," which Muddy Waters recorded in 1962. Originally attributed to Dixon, a lawsuit in 1985 resulted in a payout to Dixon and credit on subsequent versions.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song 75th on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, while in March 2005, Q named "Whole Lotta Love" third on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. Rolling Stone ranked it 11th on a similar list. VH1 named it the third greatest hard rock song of all time in 2009. In 2014, BBC Radio 2 listeners chose Whole Lotta Love to have the greatest guitar riff of all time.

Artist: Led Zeppelin
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock

The American rock band Guns N' Roses was the one performing the soundtrack Sweet Child o' Mine. It was released as a single from the band's debut album, Appetite for Destruction. In June 1988, the song was released as the album's third single, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the band's only number-one single in the United States.

When it was reissued in 1989, it reached number six on the UK Singles Chart, and Sweet Child O'Mine was named 37th on Guitar World's list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos". It also came in third on Blender's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born and 198th on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Q magazine ranked it sixth on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks in March 2005. The renowned riff from the opening was named the number one riff of all time by Total Guitar magazine readers in 2004. It was also included in Rolling Stone's list of the 40 Greatest Songs That Changed the World. It is ranked number 7 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s and number 210 on the RIAA Songs of the Century list.

Artist: Guns N' Roses
Released: 1987

Genres: Hard rock, Glam metal, Rock

Scream and Shout is a song by Will.i.am and Britney Spears from the former's fourth studio album #willpower. It was released as the second single from the album by Interscope Records in 2012, and it was sent to mainstream radio in the United States on November 27. Will.i.am, Jef Martens, Tulisa, and Jean Baptiste wrote the song, which was produced by Martens under the identity Lazy Jay, with additional production by will.i.am. "Scream & Shout" is a fun dance pop song about having a wonderful time on a night out. It features a reference to Britney Spears' 2007 single "Gimme More" and the lyric "Britney, bitch".

Scream and Shout is a fun dance-pop song written in the key of F major with a moderate speed of 130 beats per minute. It has lyrics about having a good time on a night out. The song begins with Spears rapping the first eight lines with voice reminiscent of Nicki Minaj. Will.i.am joins Spears on vocals as the song progresses to the chorus. "Scream & Shout" contains a reference to the lyric "It's Britney, bitch", which initially appeared on Spears' 2007 single "Gimme More" and is featured before each breakdown on the track.

Artist: will.i.am
Featured artist: Britney Spears
Released: 2013
Genres: Electronic dance music, Pop

Santeria is a single by American ska punk band Sublime from their third studio album, also titled Sublime. On January 7, 1997, the song was released as a single. Despite the fact that they were released following the death of lead singer Bradley Nowell, "Santeria" and "What I Got" are widely recognized as the band's trademark songs. The bassline and guitar riff from Sublime's earlier song "Lincoln Highway Dub" from their 1994 album Robbin' the Hood is used in this song. Afro-Cubans in Cuba, South Florida, and other Caribbean countries practice Santera.

The music video was filmed following the death of lead singer Bradley Nowell, who appears in a stock footage cameo. His pet Lou Dog, as well as the other members of Sublime, are seen remembering him throughout the video. The video portrayed the events detailed in the song as a Western, with Tom Lister, Jr. playing Sancho. Lou Dog bit Lister on the lip during a scene in which he gets too close to Lou Dog's face.

Artist: Sublime
Released: 1996

Genre: Alternative/Indie

Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" is a single from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). It's a beautiful song about discovering hope in the midst of personal suffering, including uncredited vocals from co-producer Pharrell Williams throughout the chorus. In 2015, the fourth single from the album, "Alright", was released to radio stations. Most music journals praised it as one of the year's best songs and videos, highlighting the message's relevancy in the current social situation. Alright was nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song, and won two of them. It was also nominated for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.

The song became associated with Black Lives Matter after many youth-led protests were heard singing the chorus, with Rolling Stone, People, and Complex naming it the movement's "unifying soundtrack." In 2019, Pitchfork named it the best song of the decade.

Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Released: 2015
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

"Thrift Shop" is a song performed by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring vocals by American vocalist Wanz, that was released as the fourth single from their debut studio album, The Heist, on August 27, 2012. The song's lyrics show Macklemore's passion for thrift stores and saving money, rather than displaying fancy stuff as many rappers do. The song earned universal acclaim, with many music critics praising its amusing lyrics and social criticism.

The track was a breakthrough hit despite being released on Macklemore's independent record label and distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA), a Warner Music Group entity. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and has since sold over 6 million copies in that country alone. The song also topped the charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand. The song went on to become Billboard's number one hit in 2013, and in 2019, it was named the number one song of the 2010s on both the Hot Rap Songs and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Featured artist: Wanz
Released: 2012
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap