53. Phil Collins, “Another Day in Paradise” [1991]
52. The 5th Dimension, “Up, Up and Away” [1968]
51. Olivia Newton-John, “I Honestly Love You” [1975]
50. Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On” [1999]
49. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, “A Taste of Honey” [1966]
48. Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” [1989]
47. Captain & Tennille, “Love Will Keep Us Together” [1976]
46. Shawn Colvin, “Sunny Came Home” [1998]
45. Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole, “Unforgettable” [1992]
44. Bette Midler, “Wind Beneath My Wings” [1990]
43. Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You” [1994]
42. Kings of Leon, “Use Somebody” [2010]
41. Henry Mancini, “Moon River” [1962]
40. Domenico Modugno, “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” [1959]
39. Henry Mancini, “Days of Wine and Roses” [1964]
38. Eric Clapton, “Change the World” [1997]
37. Seal, “Kiss from a Rose” [1996]
36. Toto, “Rosanna” [1983]
35. Roberta Flack, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” [1973]
34. Santana featuring Rob Thomas, “Smooth” [2000]
33. The 5th Dimension, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” [1970]
32. George Benson, “This Masquerade” [1977]
31. Ray Charles and Norah Jones, “Here We Go Again” [2005]
30. Sheryl Crow, “All I Wanna Do” [1995]
29. USA for Africa, “We Are the World” [1986]
28. The Doobie Brothers, “What a Fool Believes” [1980]
27. Roberta Flack, “Killing Me Softly with His Song” [1974]
26. Christopher Cross, “Sailing” [1981]
25. Frank Sinatra, “Strangers in the Night” [1967]
24. Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz, “The Girl from Ipanema” [1965]
23. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, “Please Read the Letter” [2009]
22. Eric Clapton, “Tears in Heaven” [1993]
21. Green Day, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” [2006]
20. Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now” [2011]
19. Norah Jones, “Don’t Know Why” [2003]
18. Steve Winwood, “Higher Love” [1987]
17. Simon & Garfunkel, “Bridge over Troubled Water” [1971]
16. Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice” [2007]
15. U2, “Walk On” [2002]
14. Tony Bennett, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” [1963]
13. Percy Faith, “Theme from A Summer Place” [1961]
12. The Eagles, “Hotel California” [1978]
11. Billy Joel, “Just the Way You Are” [1979]
10. Simon & Garfunkel, “Mrs. Robinson” [1969]
9. U2, “Beautiful Day” [2001]
8. Tina Turner, “What’s Love Got to Do with It” [1985]
7. Bobby Darin, “Mack the Knife” [1960]
6. Kim Carnes, “Bette Davis Eyes” [1982]
5. Paul Simon, “Graceland” [1988]
4. Carole King, “It’s Too Late” [1972]
3. Coldplay, “Clocks” [2004]
2. Amy Winehouse, “Rehab” [2008]
1. Michael Jackson, “Beat It” [1984]
This article from the Village Voice Archive was posted on February 8, 2012