A Transatlantic hit song is here defined as one that has sold at least a million copies in Britain and was number one in America. Public sales figures for America are way too incomplete to use, so instead I will go by the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and its earlier counterparts.
By year of release in Britain (rotting links go to YouTube):
1940s
- 1942: Bing Crosby: White Christmas
1950s
- 1954: Bill Haley & His Comets: Rock Around the Clock
- 1957: Paul Anka: Diana
1960s
- 1960: Elvis Presley: It’s Now or Never
- 1961: Acker Bilk: Stranger on the Shore
- 1963: The Beatles: She Loves You
- 1963: The Beatles: I Want to Hold Your Hand
- 1964: The Beatles: Can’t Buy Me Love
- 1964: The Beatles: I Feel Fine
- 1968: The Beatles: Hey Jude
- 1969: The Archies: Sugar, Sugar
1970s
- 1973: Tony Orlando & Dawn: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
- 1976: ABBA: Dancing Queen
- 1976: David Soul: Don’t Give Up on Us
- 1978: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John: You’re the One That I Want
- 1978: Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive
- 1979: Blondie: Heart of Glass
- 1979: Pink Floyd: Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)
1980s
- 1981: Human League: Don’t You Want Me
- 1982: Dexy’s Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express: Come On Eileen
- 1982: Survivor: Eye of the Tiger
- 1983: Culture Club: Karma Chameleon
- 1984: George Michael: Careless Whisper
- 1984: Stevie Wonder: I Just Called to Say I Love You
- 1984: Ray Parker, Jr: Ghostbusters
1990s
- 1991: Bryan Adams: (Everything I Do) I Do It for You
- 1992: Whitney Houston: I Will Always Love You
- 1995: Coolio featuring L.V.: Gangsta’s Paradise
- 1996: Spice Girls: Wannabe
- 1997: Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans: I’ll Be Missing You
- 1997: Elton John: Candle in the Wind 1997
- 1998: Celine Dion: My Heart Will Go On
- 1998: Aerosmith: I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
- 1998: Cher: Believe
- 1999: Britney Spears: Baby One More Time
2000s
- 2001: Shaggy: It Wasn’t Me
- 2007: Leona Lewis: Bleeding Love
- 2009: Lady Gaga: Poker Face
- 2009: The Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
2010s
- 2010: Eminem featuring Rihanna: Love The Way You Lie
- 2010: Bruno Mars: Just the Way You Are
- 2010: Rihanna: Only Girl (In The World)
- 2011: Adele: Someone Like You
- 2011: LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock: Party Rock Anthem
- 2011: Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera: Moves Like Jagger
- 2011: Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris: We Found Love
- 2011: fun. featuring Janelle Monáe: We Are Young
- 2011: Gotye featuring Kimbra: Somebody That I Used To Know
- 2012: Carly Rae Jepsen: Call Me Maybe
Demographics: Apart from The Beatles and Rihanna (the only artists with multiple hits), hits by British, Canadian, Irish, Black American and West Indian artists are roughly in proportion to the demographics of the English-speaking North Atlantic – despite the Black American roots of much of the music.
Bust-boom cycle: of 15 to 20 years:
- 1945-1965
- 1965-1985
- 1985-2000
- 2000-2015
The cycles are getting shorter and the booms bigger – despite the Internet.
Surprises:
- Michael Jackson’s and Paul McCartney’s big hits in Britain are little known in the States: “Earth Song” (1995) and “Mull of Kintyre” (1977), respectively.
- Elton John and the Bee Gees were big in America in the 1970s but not in their native Britain.
- No Macarena, Motown, Donna Summer, “Thriller” – and only one Elvis.
– Abagond, 2013.
Update (May 5th 2019): These songs have become transatlantic hits since writing this post:
- 2012: Rihanna: Diamonds
- 2013: Robin Thicke ft T.I. and Pharrell Williams: Blurred Lines
- 2013: Katy Perry: Roar
- 2014: Pharrell Williams: Happy
- 2014: John Legend: All of Me
- 2015: Mike Ronson ft Bruno Mars: Uptown Funk
Source: Wikipedia
See also:
- White American music
- Top R&B songs: 1946 to 2011
- songs I have posted by Transatlantic artists:
- My favourite Whitney Houston songs
- Tony Orlando & Dawn: Knock Three Times
- The Human League: Keep Feeling Fascination
- Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here
- Shaggy: Boombastic
- with other artists:
- B.o.B. & Bruno Mars: Nothin’ on You
- Sergio Mendes, will.i.am, Erykah Badu: That Heat – will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas
- mash-up: L’Trimm, Gary Numan, The Beatles: Cars That Go Boom
- Rihanna and the n-word
- Cher
C’mon Abagond, show Stevie Wonder some love! He wrote parts of two songs on the list. I Just Called To Say I Love You, which he wrote…and “Gangsta’s Paradise” that samples his “Pasttime Paradise.” Therefore, he gets a writer’s share of that song.
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Another thing about these monster hits is they are overwhelmingly feminine. There are a few uni-sex hits there but most of those songs are female oriented or ‘chick music’. I’m not so sure about the modern ones as I’ve barely a clue who the artists are or what their music sounds like.
Your assertion about the Bee Gees and Elton John are incorrect, both were very popular in Britain during the 70’s, though the Bee Gees did have a career lull after their initial Beatlesesque hits in the 60’s. Their later disco hits were loved just as much as they were in the States.
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Notice The Beatles biggest hits, bar Hey Jude, were their early teeny bopper tunes that made 12 year old girls pee their panties, whereas the stuff they are most remembered for, their more experimental later music, isn’t as popular. I’m also surprised that ‘Yesterday’ didn’t make the list as that has made them the most money due to radio play, publishing rights etc.
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I was wondering if there was ever an American Invasion of Britain like the other way around.
Before I had already noticed how not much of the Beach Boys and Cliff Richard crossed their respective sides of the Atlantic, and they were popular at the same time. Ditto with Dusty Springfield & Robbie Williams
Also knew about Backstreet Boys vs. Westlife.
Expected to see at least some of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.
Noticed both Motown and Country songs rarely crossed the Atlantic.
Surprised to see the following missing:
Perry Como
Johnny Mathis
Dave Clark 5
Billy Idol
Carpenters
Finally, I find it curious what prompted the need to find some demographic connection. Is there any more scientific analysis about that?
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So surprised not to see ANY Michael Jackson. I thought he was bigger overseas than he was here? Billboard’s numbers are based solely on record sales, is that correct? It’s kind of amazing the artists who made it, vs. artists who didn’t. Who’d have thought Coolio would be one of the most successful rappers?
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What. I can’t believe there is not a single Michael Jackson hit on this list.
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I love some of the songs listed but I am surprised MJ was listed.
I love the Beatles’ song, Hey Jude so so much!
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@Dave
Glad you posted that Led Zeppelin song. Nothing gets me more rattled up than Led Zeppein, Queen, the Beatles and Michael Jackson! I love Led Zeppelin!
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The other thing about some of these super hits is there’s not a lot of longevity or career depth among the artists represented. One mention of Elvis, no Michael Jackson, no Frank Sinatra — and even with some of the stalwarts like The Beatles and Stevie Wonder, it’s not necessarily their best or even best known work.
I still can’t believe Dexy’s Midnight Runners made the list, but Michael Jackson didn’t. You have Rhianna a couple of times, but no Barbara Streisand, no Aretha Franklin, no Chaka Khan, no Ella Fitzgerald, not even Beyonce.
It’s odd.
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“It’s odd.”
Setting the limit for inclusion for British singles at 1 million is veeeeeery high. million-sellers have always been rare there. The UK aint that big, and most years there has been zero million sellers there (excluding the singles-crazzy early 80s). 750,000 would have been more reasonable
The lack of Beatles is also due to them not releasing the same singles in the UK and the US a lot of the time.
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I think Michael Jackson was always more an “album seller” than a “single seller”.
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anyone notice that the one black female in the SPICE girls was named SCARY
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son2380 writes:
“anyone notice that the one black female in the SPICE girls was named SCARY”
– – –
I recall hearing at the time (mid-to-late 90’s) that it was because of the way she wore her hair that she was called “Scary Spice”. The hairstyle that she was famous for — bushy tendrils, not just hanging limply, but standing out boldly all over her head — had sort of a fright wig effect for some people, as it wasn’t as commonly worn then as it is now…some 15 plus years later.
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Oops! Didn’t mean to post under “Caffeine & Nicotine”. Sorry!
Anyway, here’s one I like from the English band Free, “All Right Now”.
The bandmates were still teenagers when the song was written in 1968 and when they recorded it 2 years later in 1970 (I would have guessed it was from the mid-late 70’s or even the 80’s). The lead singer sounds like a fully grown man to me…and he also sounds sorta like a Black man lol
Oh, and the song also contains an infamous ‘mondegreen’ or set of frequently misheard lyrics.
Where the lyrics as sung are: “lets move before they raise the parking rate”, they are frequently misheard as: ‘lets move before they raise the f-cking rent.’
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny7vW6dgnUY)
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Baby-faced, British teenager Steve Winwood sounded a bit like the late Bluesman Ray Charles in “Gimme Some Lovin” ~ Spencer Davis Group
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxA3atHD2QM)
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I absolutely love this one —
“Layla” ~ Derek and the Dominoes
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From Britain —
Lisa Stansfield “All around the World”
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@Bulanik..<3
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neil young was very accepted in Britain-(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh44QPT1mPE)
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Beatles-(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMUqV6G3PY0)
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final studio album-(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJSpNyUQj-k)
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The best Phil Collins song IMO
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoTz3WgZm4c)
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(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G26-bU7ADo)
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(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoTz3WgZm4c)
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Ramble on! The Hobbit! Zeppelin! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLkOE4XDBis)
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U2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucuBimT-9m4)
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“Reflections of My Life”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79NiN7ISW7E)
Beautiful song by the Scottish band “The Marmalade”. Contains bluesy elements.
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(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAbqego8wZ8) Not really a hit by itself… but Led Zep ‘s entire catalog was transatlantic for many. “In the light”
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“True” ~ Spandau Ballet
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR8D2yqgQ1U)
One of my favorite songs from my youth. I thought the lead singer was especially good-looking, though I doubted he liked girls (he now has four children, so I guess he like girls at least a little). I also liked the the guy on the piano — something about his lips and teeth was calling my name lol.
They no longer look like they did back in the 80s …a shame, really as, back then, they were all gorgeous to me
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“Something About You” ~ Level 42, 1985
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-zP66eSLto)
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Iron Maiden.. still a transatlantic hit with air guitarists today. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEcpwSenouQ)
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Maiden… we all have some of these… “Wasted years” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvVFg1wLtBs)
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Something inspired by the book of revelations (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn_j9T_DD4k)
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(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e665wmkhMeg)
Beatles tribute Alicia Keys and John Legend. I’m sure this was very acceptable in Britain as well as the USA.
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What charts are earlier counterparts to the Hot 100?
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@ Abagond
Does the song have to have been number 1 on the Hot 100?
Selecting Pif’s selection of True by Spandau Ballet, I see the song reached number 4 on the hot 100 but number 1 on another American chart category. The song is still a Transatlantic hit, as far as I am concerned but may not be one by the definition of the original post.
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“Something About You” did not go to number 1 in the Hot 100 either but was an immense Transatlantic Hit and did get into the Top 10.
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Oops!!
When I posted those videos I had certainly forgotten all about the “Number One” hit aspect of this blog article.
My selections are more along the lines of “PiF’s Favorite Transatlantic Songs” than are anything else.
Abagond, my apologies to you; and Legion, to you as well.
I will try to remember to re-read older blog articles before making posts to their comment section.
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than they are anything else.
Abagond, please correct it for me. It’s the fifth line in my above comment.
Thank you! 🙂
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@ Pay it Forward
My observation was not a criticism or a protest; no harm done. 🙂
I’ve been at a total loss to post anything to this thread because every song I thought of simply had not made it to #1 on the Hot 100. Top 10? Yes, but not quite the top spot. I believe I will try to keep to the definition given by Abagond, in any future posts I might make, the restraint feels like a useful exercise. I do understand the temptation to take liberties, though or showcase personal favorites.
Here’s one of mine. Definitely a Transatlantic Hit by broader definition but amazingly did not hit #1 (It is crucial context to recall that her competition back then ranged from The Beatles to Aretha Franklin, not exactly a walk in the park, to put it lightly.)
Her voice is like silk. I think she would have performed magic with some of the Billie Holiday song book, but that wasn’t a direction she took and her influence and working idioms were primarily pop and soul.
Incidentally, she refused to play South Africa back in the 60’s as a protest against Apartheid.
(http://youtu.be/DjydOI4MEIw)
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Legion,
Yes, Dusty Springfield!
I’m a fan of hers as well. My favorite from her is “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”.
Her voice is smooth & sweet on “Son of A Preacher Man” (and being a Brit, she also had a good delivery of the Southern US accent), and a powerhouse on my favorite.
She had a truly magnificent voice.
I had not heard about her refusal to perform at South Africa in protest of apartheid. This is yet another reason to admire her.
May she rest in peace,
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Stones (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGyOaCXr8Lw)
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No Duran Duran? I would have thought they would qualify?
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Update (May 5th 2019): These songs have become transatlantic hits since writing this post:
2012: Rihanna: Diamonds
2013: Robin Thicke ft T.I. and Pharrell Williams: Blurred Lines
2013: Katy Perry: Roar
2014: Pharrell Williams: Happy
2014: John Legend: All of Me
2015: Mike Ronson ft Bruno Mars: Uptown Funk
I linked to their respective YouTube videos in the post above.
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