Singles Ranking (144 views)

[Alex61]

I've been listening to a fair few artists recently whose output I would say is more based on their singles than their albums. Since we've had another thread ranking artists' best albums or songs standalone, I thought it'd be interesting to have one ranking their best singles, especially since singles are generally released more with more of a commercial mindset than an artistic one. As an example below:

Girls Aloud:
1. "Untouchable" (2009)
2. "Sound of the Underground" (2002)
3. "Love Machine" (2004)
4. "Sexy! No No No…" (2007)
5. "Biology" (2005)
6. "Wake Me Up" (2005)
7. "No Good Advice" (2003)
8. "Something New" (2012)
9. "The Promise" (2008)
10. "Something Kinda Ooooh" (2006)
11. "The Loving Kind" (2009)
12. "Call the Shots" (2007)
13. "Can't Speak French" (2008)
14. "Whole Lotta History" (2006)
15. "Long Hot Summer" (2005)
16. "Life Got Cold" (2003)
17. "The Show" (2004)
18. "Jump" (2003)
19. "Beautiful 'Cause You Love Me" (2012)
20. "I'll Stand By You" (2004)
21. "Walk This Way" (2007)
22. "I Think We're Alone Now" (2006)
23. "See the Day" (2005)

Best Non-Single: "On the Metro" (would've ranked probably at 4 or 5)
Best Album (Based Only on Singles): Sound of the Underground
Most Underperforming Single: "Untouchable" (UK #11)
Most Overperforming Single: "Walk This Way (UK #1)

Those last parts aren't necessary obviously, I just found them interesting to include.

As always, this is purely down to personal opinion, though I thought this should be rather interesting to compare

[galaxyseal]

Since Taylor Swift is my favourite artist, thought I may as well contribute my two cents to this as well! Also, this is based off what's listed as singles on Wikipedia and solely based on my enjoyment of each of these songs respectively rather than their commercial success and whatnot. Also, release dates are in relation to when each song was released as a single, not when the album it was on released (i.e. Cruel Summer was released as a single in 2023, but it's from her 2019 album, Lover).

I'll get around to ranking promo singles and everything collectively when I feel like it lol this shit is exhausting.

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{Taylor Swift singles ranking:}

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{Collective ranking:}TBA...

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{Singles as a lead artist:}1. "Style" (2015) [from 1989]
2. "New Romantics" (2016) [from 1989]
3. "Fearless" (2010) [from Fearless]
4. "Sparks Fly" (2011) [from Speak Now]
5. "Mine" (2010) [from Speak Now]
6. ""Slut!"" (2023) [from 1989 (Taylor's Version)]
7. "cardigan" (2020) [from folklore]
8. "Blank Space" (2014) [from 1989]
9. "exile" (2020) [from folklore]
10. "You Belong With Me" (2009) [from Fearless]
11. "Cruel Summer" (2023) [from Lover]
12. "The Story of Us" (2011) [from Speak Now]
13. "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" (2024) [from The Tortured Poets Department]
14. "Our Song" (2007) [from Taylor Swift]
15. "22" (2013) [from Red]
16. "Lover" (2019) [from Lover]
17. "Lavender Haze" (2022) [from Midnights]
18. "I Knew You Were Trouble" (2012) [from Red]
19. "Love Story" (2008) [from Fearless]
20. "Anti-Hero" (2022) [from Midnights]
21. "New Year's Day" (2017) [from reputation]
22. "Fortnight" (2024) (featuring Post Malone) [from The Tortured Poets Department]
23. "willow" (2020) [from evermore]
24. "betty" (2020) [from folklore]
25. "Wildest Dreams" (2015) [from 1989]
26. "...Ready for It?" (2017) [from reputation]
27. "coney island" (2021) (featuring The National) [from evermore]
28. "Back to December" (2010) [from Speak Now]
29. "Shake It Off" (2014) [from 1989]
30. "Message in a Bottle" (2021) [from Red (Taylor's Version)]
31. "Picture to Burn" (2008) [from Taylor Swift]
32. "The Last Time" (2013) [from Red]
33. "Is It Over Now?" (2023) [from 1989 (Taylor's Version)]
34. "no body, no crime" (2021) (featuring HAIM) [from evermore]
35. "Christmas Tree Farm" (2019) [non-album single]
36. "Ours" (2011) [from Speak Now]
37. "Delicate" (2018) [from reputation]
38. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012) [from Red]
39. "End Game" (2017) (featuring Ed Sheeran and Future) [from reputation]
40. "You Need to Calm Down" (2019) [from Lover]
41. "Look What You Made Me Do" (2017) [from reputation]
42. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" (2016) [from Fifty Shades Darker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
43. "Everything Has Changed" (2013) (featuring Ed Sheeran) [from Red]
44. "Fifteen" (2009) [from Fearless]
45. "Getaway Car" (2018) [from reputation]
46. "Out of the Woods" (2016) [from 1989]
47. "Karma" (2023) (featuring Ice Spice) [from Midnights]
48. "Red" (2013) [from Red]
49. "Eyes Open" (2012) [from The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond]
50. "Mean" (2011) [from Speak Now]
51. "Teardrops on My Guitar" (2007) [from Taylor Swift]
52. "Tim McGraw" (2006) [from Taylor Swift]
53. "I Bet You Think About Me" (2021) (featuring Chris Stapleton) [from Red (Taylor's Version)]
54. "The Man" (2020) [from Lover]
55. "Bad Blood" (2015) (featuring Kendrick Lamar) [from 1989]
56. "Today Was a Fairytale" (2010) [from Valentine's Day (soundtrack) & Fearless (Taylor's Version)]
57. "ME!" (2019) (featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco) [from Lover]
58. "Begin Again" (2012) [from Red]
59. "Should've Said No" (2008) [from Taylor Swift]
60. "Ronan" (2012) [non-album charity single, later included on Red (Taylor's Version)]
61. "White Horse" (2008) [from Fearless]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Singles as a featured artist:}1. "Renegade" (with Big Red Machine) [2021]
2. "Gasoline" (2021) (with HAIM)
3. "Two Is Better Than One" (2009) (with BOYS LIKE GIRLS)
4. "Babe" (2018) (with Sugarland)
5. "The Alcott" (2023) (with The National)
6. "The Joker and the Queen" (2022) (with Ed Sheeran)
7. "Both of Us" (2012) (with B.o.B.)
8. "Half of My Heart" (2009) (with John Mayer)
9. "Highway Don't Care" (2013) (with Tim McGraw, featuring Keith Urban)

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{Promotional singles:}TBA...

[clem]

Iron Maiden

1. Run to the Hills
2. The Trooper
3. Flight of Icarus
4. 2 Minutes to Midnight
5. The Number of the Beast
6. Aces High
7. Bring Your Daughter... To the Slaughter
8. The Evil That Men Do
9. Twilight Zone/Wrathchild
10. El Dorado
11. Wasted Years
12. Can I Play With Madness
13. Satellite 15... The Final Frontier
14. Different World
15. Running Free
16. Empire of the Clouds
17. The Wicker Man
18. The Writing on the Wall
19. Sanctuary
20. Stratego
21. Stranger In a Strange Land
22. Be Quick or Be Dead
23. The Clairvoyant
24. Coming Home
25. Purgatory
26. Man on the Edge
27. Women in Uniform
28. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
29. Rainmaker
30. Wasting Love
31. Out of the Silent Planet
32. From Here to Eternity
33. Futureal
34. Lord of the Flies
35. Holy Smoke
36. Speed of Light
37. Virus
38. Wildest Dreams
39. The Angel and the Gambler