What Is the Most Popular Song in the World?
Music has proven to bring the world together. But that doesn’t mean that each song is created equal. There are several barriers to opening our hearts and ears to international music. However, even with the gap between countries when it comes to music, there are some songs that are known around the world. But what is the most popular song in the world?
Think beyond that pop song you hear on the radio or the recent country track released by your long-time favorite artist. These are the most popular songs in the world.
Related: Weird Songs: Did You Know the History Behind These Weird Songs?
What Is the Most Popular Song Right Now?
The most popular song in the world changes all the time when you’re thinking of recent hits. It’s hard to keep track due to new releases every single day. However, according to Spotify’s global charts and Billboard global hits, the top song recently has been “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
What Is the Most Purchased Single Worldwide?
But enough about pop songs, let’s talk about popular songs with real data backing them up. One item that hasn’t fluctuated in a long time is the best-selling singles. Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” which was released in 1942, is the best-selling single worldwide. The single has an estimated 50 million copies sold and has remained at the number one position for over 50 years now.
Do CDs Hold Any Value Today?
What Is the Most Popular Song in the World?
5. Amazing Grace
Hymns often find their way around the world, and the popular Christian hymn “Amazing Grace” is one of the many examples. The hymn was written in 1772 by John Newton and has since spread globally.
Newton was a slave ship captain, but in 1748 during a violent storm, he called upon God for mercy, which marked his spiritual conversion, which ended his seafaring and made him study Christian theology and become an abolitionist. The song is recognized for its spiritual connections and is sung in all corners of the globe.
4. Hallelujah
With over 360 recordings and thousands of performances, ”Hallelujah” has to be number four on the list of most popular songs in the world. The song by Leonard Cohen is one of the most well-known and is layered with symbolism.
What’s brilliant about the song is that it has so much emotion that each rendition brings a new level of meaning and stirs up impactful meaning and emotion each time. The title itself is derived from the Hebrew language meaning “Praise Yahweh,” which is a form of praise to God.
Check Out: Unreleased Songs by Popular Artists You May Never Hear
3. Silent Night
Some of the most popular songs also extend to the holidays. The popular Christmas carol, ”Silent Night,” can be translated into more than 300 languages. The origin of the song actually comes from Austria called ”Stille Nacht.” But even though it’s well-known around the world, it didn’t start that way.
The initial arrangement was produced by Joseph Mohr in 1820, in a new arrangement appeared in 1845 by Franz Gruber after his death, and then eventually 1900s was when the song started to shine. For a look into the song from around the world, check out Mama Lisa’s World list here.
2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Nursery rhymes can be found around the world in many different languages and cultures, and while they might not all share the same lyrics, the tune is well-known. One of the most popular songs in the world actually comes from a French song from the 18th century called “Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman.”
The lyrics that many of us recognize come from the poem by Jane Taylor which was first published in 1806. But there are dozens of renditions from around the world, which can be seen here. Some include the ”Alphabet” song in America, ”Bella Stella” in Italy, and ”Estrellita” in Mexico.
1. Happy Birthday
The number one pick for the most popular song in the world goes to Happy Birthday. The traditional birthday song is typically sung to the guest of honor when blowing out candles on their cake. The origins of the song can be traced back to the late 19th century and was published in a songbook in 1924.
While the song has finally entered the public domain, meaning anyone can use it freely without restrictions, in 2016, the song can be found around the world. It’s been translated into at least 18 languages and is part of celebrations everywhere.
Read More: Most Popular Songs of the 70s and 80s
More About:Pop Culture