29 Best Songs: One From Each Decade of Awesome Music

1. Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)

Catchy Melody: Shape of You's instantly memorable hook and playful rhythm cemented its place as a defining track of the 2010s, making it incredibly infectious and easy to love.

Global Phenomenon: Its ubiquitous presence across radio waves and social media platforms translated into a cultural moment, solidifying its status as a chart-topping hit for the decade.

Enduring Appeal: Even years later, the song's upbeat tempo and Sheeran's signature vocals retain a timeless quality, ensuring its continued relevance in defining the soundscape of the 2010s.

2. Uptown Funk (Uptown Special - 2025)

Genre-Defining Sound: Uptown Funk masterfully blends funk, soul, and pop, creating a vibrant and infectious groove that defined the 2010s sound.

Bruno Mars' Vocals: Mars' charismatic vocals and undeniable energy are central to the song's success, delivering a performance that's both powerful and playful.

Enduring Popularity: Its timeless appeal and undeniable catchiness solidified Uptown Funk as a decade-defining anthem, remaining a staple on playlists and dance floors even years after its release.

3. Rolling in the Deep

Sound: Adele's powerhouse vocals are perfectly complemented by a driving, soulful beat, creating a sound both anthemic and intimate—a hallmark of early 2010s pop.

Emotional Impact: The lyrics explore themes of betrayal and resilience with raw honesty, making "Rolling in the Deep" resonate deeply with listeners experiencing similar emotions. This raw emotion perfectly captures the spirit of the decade.

Pop Culture Moment: Its ubiquitous presence on radio and in popular culture solidified its place as a defining song of the 2010s, showcasing a blend of vulnerability and strength that connected with a generation.

4. Smells Like Teen Spirit

Sound: A grunge anthem defined by its distorted guitars, thunderous drums, and iconic, feedback-drenched riff, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" pioneered a raw, visceral sound that resonated deeply with a generation.

Cultural Impact: Its music video, with its chaotic energy and high school setting, became an instant classic, catapulting Nirvana to global superstardom and solidifying its place in 90s pop culture history.

Vocal Performance: Kurt Cobain's raw and emotionally charged vocals perfectly captured the angst and alienation of a generation, making the song instantly relatable and unforgettable.

5. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen - 1975)

Vocal Performance: Freddie Mercury's unmatched vocal range and theatrical delivery are on full display, showcasing his incredible talent and making this a defining performance of the 1970s.

Structure and Innovation: Bohemian Rhapsody's unconventional structure, seamlessly blending operatic sections with hard rock, was groundbreaking for its time and remains remarkably fresh decades later.

Enduring Legacy: Its iconic music video and enduring popularity cemented its place in pop culture history, making it a quintessential example of 70s rock and a song that continues to resonate with audiences across generations.

6. Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)

Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses

Iconic Guitar Riff: The instantly recognizable opening guitar riff, a staple of 80s hard rock, cemented its place in music history and remains instantly identifiable decades later.

Vocal Performance: Axl Rose's soaring vocals perfectly capture the youthful energy and romantic yearning of the lyrics, contributing to the song's enduring appeal.

Cultural Impact: Its appearance in numerous films and TV shows, alongside its continued popularity in radio rotation, highlights its lasting influence on the 80s and beyond, solidifying its status as a defining song of the decade.

7. Billie Jean

Iconic Bassline: Billie Jean's instantly recognizable bassline, played by Louis Johnson, is a cornerstone of 80s music and remains instantly recognizable even today, defining the song's unforgettable groove.

Michael Jackson's Vocals: Jackson's powerful and emotive vocals deliver a performance full of controlled energy and raw intensity, perfectly capturing the song's dramatic narrative.

Cultural Impact: The music video's innovative style and choreography, including the iconic moonwalk, cemented the song's place in pop culture history and significantly impacted the music video landscape of the 1980s.

8. I Will Always Love You (1993)

Vocal Performance: Whitney Houston's powerhouse vocals are the undeniable centerpiece of "I Will Always Love You" showcasing her incredible range and emotional depth, perfectly capturing the bittersweet nature of the song.

Emotional Resonance: Released in 1992, the ballad resonated deeply with audiences, becoming an anthem for heartbreak and enduring love, securing its place in the 90s music landscape.

Cultural Impact: Its iconic status transcends generations; "I Will Always Love You" remains a staple at weddings, funerals, and karaoke nights, solidifying its legacy as a defining song of the decade.

9. Eye of the Tiger

Iconic Anthem: Released in 1982, "Eye of the Tiger" became synonymous with the 80s, embodying the decade's spirit of ambition and triumph.

Unforgettable Sound: Its driving beat, powerful guitar riffs, and soaring vocals created an instantly recognizable and motivational sound that continues to resonate.

Cultural Impact: Featured prominently in the film *Rocky III*, the song transcended its cinematic origins to become a global anthem for perseverance and overcoming challenges, solidifying its place as a defining track of the 1980s.

10. Baby One More Time (1999)

Sound: A defining track of the late 90s, "Baby One More Time" blended bubblegum pop with a distinctly modern R&B influence, creating a sound both catchy and innovative for its time.

Pop Culture Impact: Britney Spears' debut single launched her into superstardom, instantly becoming a cultural phenomenon and shaping the landscape of pop music for years to come. The iconic schoolgirl video cemented its place in history.

Vocal Performance: Spears' breathy vocals and youthful energy perfectly captured the song's playful yet yearning mood, a performance that remains instantly recognizable and hugely influential.