Rolling Stone loves publishing lists and we are here for it. There's the "100 Greatest Songwriters," "The 50 Greatest Concerts of the Last 50 Years" and now, behold: "The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century — So Far."
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We're only 18 years into the 21st century, so it may seem like an odd time to curate a list commemorating a century's worth of songs, since we still have decades to go before we reach the turn of the next century. Yet given the sheer volume of music already released, it seems rather prudent to get to work now.
To curate the list, Rolling Stone let artists, producers, critics, and industry experts weigh in on their top picks before culling the information into one inclusive list. The result captures a wide range of genres and a diverse group of artists. But we'll cut to the chase. Here's the short version so you don't have to scroll.
Topping the list — so far — is "Crazy In Love" by the incomparable Beyoncé, featuring Jay-Z. Currently in the midst of a joint tour as the Carters, their ranking at the top of the list should not surprise anyone who's seen them live. The single also earned two wins at the 46th GRAMMY Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best R&B Song.
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Rounding out the Top 5 are M.I.A.'s GRAMMY-nominated "Paper Planes" at No. 2, the White Stripes' GRAMMY-winning "Seven Nation Army" at No. 3, Outkast's GRAMMY-winning "Hey Ya!" at No. 4, and Jay-Z's GRAMMY-winning "99 Problems" at No. 5. Having fun? I am. Let's keep going. Yeah Yeah Yeahs notch No. 6 with "Maps," Kanye West with Pusha T takes No. 7 with "Runaway," Adele lands at No. 8 with "Rolling In The Deep," Lorde locks in No. 9 with "Royals," and the Strokes' "Last Night" wraps up the Top 10.
Other artists featured on the list span Missy Elliott and Kendrick Lamar to Kelly Clarkson and Britney Spears as well as Haim, Cardi B, the Flaming Lips, Grimes, Sia, Lana Del Rey, Daddy Yankee, and Kylie Minogue. If you've been counting along, exactly 76 additional songs round out the list. (I dare you to check the math on that, though artists such as Beyoncé rightly have multiple entries on the list, so you may get me on a technicality.)
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So did your favorite song make the list? What do you think is in store for the next 18.49 years?
