It’s tough to accept at the time – a single catches fire with the public, flies up the chart and lands just shy of the top spot. Despite peaking at No. 2 on the weekly Billboard Hot 100, many songs that initially take the silver medal still emerge as massive winners in the end.
Some, including a case just two years ago, sustain enough momentum to leapfrog No. 1 hits to become the year’s top Hot 100 single; others become the springboard for artists to eventually capture that chart-topping hit; and a select few dominate pop culture so much that you’d swear that they, surely, definitely, unquestionably have topped the chart — before the facts reveal otherwise.
While the No. 1s get plenty of shine, let’s take a moment to celebrate another slate of hit singles. For 2/2, here is Billboard’s countdown of the top 50 songs to peak at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Billboard’s Biggest No. 2 Hits ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot 100 through Feb. 4, 2023, and includes only songs that peaked at No. 2 on the list. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.
50. Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville, “Don’t Know Much” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Dec. 23, 1989 Just Behind: Phil Collins, “Another Day in Paradise”
49. Technotronic featuring Felly, “Pump up the Jam” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Jan. 20, 1990 Just Behind: Michael Bolton, “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You”
48. En Vogue, “Don’t Let Go (Love)” Weeks at No. 2: four Peak Date: Jan. 18, 1997 Just Behind: Toni Braxton, “Un-Break My Heart”
47. Ritchie Valens, “Donna” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Feb. 23, 1959 Just Behind: Lloyd Price, “Stagger Lee”
46. The Spinners, “The Rubberband Man” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Dec. 4, 1976 Just Behind: Rod Stewart, “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna be Alright)”
45. Eddie Murphy, “Party All the Time” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Dec. 28, 1985 Just Behind: Lionel Richie, “Say You, Say Me”
44. Silver Convention, “Get up and Boogie (That’s Right)” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: June 12, 1976 Just Behind: Wings, “Silly Love Songs”
43. Brenda Lee, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” Weeks at No. 2: nine Peak Date: Dec. 28, 2019 Just Behind: Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
42. The Everly Brothers, “Bird Dog” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Sept. 15, 1958 Just Behind: Domenico Modugno, “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” and Tommy Edwards, “It’s All in the Game”
41. Lady Gaga, “Bad Romance” Weeks at No. 2: seven Peak Date: Dec. 5, 2009 Just Behind: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind” and Ke$ha, “TiK ToK”
40. Ferrante & Teicher, “Exodus” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: Jan. 23, 1961 Just Behind: Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra, “Wonderland by Night”
39. Ace of Base, “All That She Wants” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Nov. 6, 1993 Just Behind: Meat Loaf, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”
38. Ciara featuring Missy Elliott, “1, 2 Step” Weeks at No. 2: seven Peak Date: Jan. 8, 2005 Just Behind: Mario, “Let Me Love You”
37. Sam Smith, “Stay With Me” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Aug. 16, 2014 Just Behind: Magic!, “Rude”
36. John Lennon, “Woman” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: March 21, 1981 Just Behind: REO Speedwagon, “Keep on Loving You” and Blondie, “Rapture”
35. Céline Dion, “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” Weeks at No. 2: five Peak Date: Oct. 26, 1996 Just Behind: Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” and BLACKstreet featuring Dr. Dre, “No Diggity”
34. Laura Branigan, “Gloria” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Nov. 27, 1982 Just Behind: Lionel Richie, “Truly” and Toni Basil, “Mickey”
33. Donna Lewis, “I Love You Always Forever” Weeks at No. 2: nine Peak Date: Aug. 24, 1996 Just Behind: Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”
32. Jackson 5, “Dancing Machine” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: May 18, 1974 Just Behind: Ray Stevens, “The Streak”
31. Keith Sweat, “Twisted” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: Aug. 17, 1996 Just Behind: Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)”
30. Deborah Cox, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” Weeks at No. 2: eight Peak Date: Dec. 5, 1998 Just Behind: R. Kelly & Céline Dion, “I’m Your Angel” and Brandy, “Have You Ever?”
29. Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: Aug. 22, 2009 Just Behind: The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”
28. Chubby Checker, “Limbo Rock” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Dec. 22, 1962 Just Behind: The Tornados, “Telstar”
27. Backstreet Boys, “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Sept. 6, 1997 Just Behind: The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy & Mase, “Mo Money Mo Problems” and Mariah Carey, “Honey”
26. Kelly Clarkson, “Since U Been Gone” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: April 9, 2005 Just Behind: 50 Cent featuring Olivia, “Candy Shop”
25. Village People, “Y.M.C.A.” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Feb. 3, 1979 Just Behind: Chic, “Le Freak” and Rod Stewart, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
24. England Dan & John Ford Coley, “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Sept. 25, 1976 Just Behind: Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music”
23. Juice WRLD, “Lucid Dreams” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Oct. 6, 2018 Just Behind: Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B, “Girls Like You”
22. Taio Cruz, “Dynamite” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: Aug. 21, 2010 Just Behind: Eminem featuring Rihanna, “Love the Way You Lie”
21. Bette Midler, “From a Distance” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: Dec. 15, 1990 Just Behind: Stevie B, “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)”
20. Marshmello & Bastille, “Happier” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: Feb. 16, 2019 Just Behind: Ariana Grande, “7 Rings”
19. Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud” Weeks at No. 2: eight Peak Date: Jan. 31, 2015 Just Behind: Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
18. Color Me Badd, “I Wanna Sex You Up” Weeks at No. 2: four Peak Date: June 8, 1991 Just Behind: Extreme, “More Than Words” and Paula Abdul, “Rush Rush”
17. Lady Antebellum, “Need You Now” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: March 20, 2010 Just Behind: Taio Cruz featuring Ludacris, “Break Your Heart” and Rihanna, “Rude Boy”
16. Jim Reeves, “He’ll Have to Go” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: March 7, 1960 Just Behind: Percy Faith and His Orchestra, “The Theme from “A Summer Place””
15. Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen” Weeks at No. 2: three Peak Date: May 16, 2015 Just Behind: Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
14. Ed Sheeran, “Bad Habits“ Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Aug. 28, 2021 Just Behind: The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Stay”
13. Lifehouse, “Hanging by a Moment” Weeks at No. 2: four Peak Date: June 16, 2001 Just Behind: Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & P!nk, “Lady Marmalade” and Usher, “U Remind Me”
12. Faith Hill, “Breathe” Weeks at No. 2: five Peak Date: April 22, 2000 Just Behind: Santana featuring The Product G&B, “Maria Maria” and Aaliyah, “Try Again”
11. OneRepublic, “Counting Stars” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: Jan. 18, 2014 Just Behind: Pitbull featuring Ke$ha, “Timber”
10. The Tony Rich Project, “Nobody Knows” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: March 23, 1996 Just Behind: Céline Dion, “Because You Loved Me”
9. Usher, “You Make Me Wanna…” Weeks at No. 2: seven Peak Date: Oct. 25, 1997 Just Behind: Elton John, “Candle in the Wind 1997 / Something About the Way You Look Tonight”
8. John Cougar, “Hurts So Good” Weeks at No. 2: four Peak Date: Aug. 7, 1982 Just Behind: Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger”
7. Foreigner, “Waiting for a Girl Like You” Weeks at No. 2: 10 Peak Date: Nov. 28, 1981 Just Behind: Olivia Newton-John, “Physical” and Daryl Hall & John Oates, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”
6. Shania Twain, “You’re Still the One” Weeks at No. 2: nine Peak Date: May 2, 1998 Just Behind: Next, “Too Close” and Brandy & Monica, “The Boy Is Mine”
5. Tag Team, “Whoomp! (There It Is)” Weeks at No. 2: seven Peak Date: July 31, 1993 Just Behind: UB40, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and Mariah Carey, “Dreamlover”
4. Timbaland featuring OneRepublic, “Apologize” Weeks at No. 2: four Peak Date: Nov. 10, 2007 Just Behind: Chris Brown featuring T-Pain, “Kiss Kiss” and Alicia Keys, “No One”
3. Jewel, “Foolish Games/You Were Meant for Me” Weeks at No. 2: two Peak Date: April 19, 1997 Just Behind: Puff Daddy featuring Mase, “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” and The Notorious B.I.G., “Hypnotize”
2. Dua Lipa, “Levitating” Weeks at No. 2: one Peak Date: May 22, 2021 Just Behind: Silk Sonic, “Leave the Door Open”
1. LeAnn Rimes, “How Do I Live” Weeks at No. 2: four Peak Date: Dec. 13, 1997 Just Behind: Elton John, “Candle in the Wind 1997 / Something About the Way You Look Tonight” and Savage Garden, “Truly Madly Deeply”
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