My next chart statistic will focus on those songs that peaked at #3. In seventeen and a half years of compiling a Top Ten Singles chart, 258 titles hit the top spot and 165 songs peaked at #2. I am curious to find out how many songs peaked at each position within the Top Ten, and then I will add them all up to answer the question I have long wondered about: how many songs hit my chart over all that time. My charts started in late 1983, too early for computers and a quick AutoSum. I will have to add them all the old-fashioned way.
Unlike my #2’s list where I also listed all the songs that kept the runners-up from hitting the summit, I will only list the song titles and the number of weeks they stayed at #3. I will do this for all the remaining peak-positions lists.
I had thought that the number of songs to peak at each position within the top ten would decrease as I descended the chart. I was thus surprised to find out that there were more songs that peaked at #3 than at #2. I can now see why: the runner-up spot was often occupied by future and former #1’s.
Song title–Artist (weeks at #3)
1983
001. Islands in the Stream–Kenny Rogers Duet with Dolly Parton (1) [a]
1984
002. Let the Music Play–Shannon (1)
003. Sleepless Night–Yoko Ono (2)
004. The Rhythm–Spoons (1)
005. Jump (For My Love)–Pointer Sisters (3)
006. State of Shock–Jacksons (2)
007. All of You–Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross (3)
008. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go–Wham! (1)
009. I Can Dream About You–Dan Hartman (1)
010. Torture–Jacksons (1)
011. The Wild Boys–Duran Duran (2)
1985
012. The Power of Love–Frankie Goes to Hollywood (2)
013. Take Me With U–Prince and the Revolution (duet with Apollonia) (2)
014. Raspberry Beret–Prince & the Revolution (1)
015. Freeway of Love–Aretha Franklin (3)
016. Looking Over My Shoulder–’til tuesday (1)
017. One of the Living–Tina Turner (3)
1986
018. These Dreams–Heart (2)
019. Addicted to Love–Robert Palmer (2)
020. Don’t You (Forget About Me) [live]–Simple Minds (3)
021. The Love Parade–The Dream Academy (2)
022. One Hit (to the Body)–The Rolling Stones (1)
023. Missionary Man–Eurythmics (3)
024. In Your Eyes–Peter Gabriel (2)
025. The Flame–Arcadia (2)
026. Say the Word–Arcadia (1)
027. Word Up–Cameo (1)
1987
028. Control–Janet Jackson (2)
029. (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)–Beastie Boys (1)
030. Mandolin Rain–Bruce Hornsby and the Range (1)
031. What’s Going On–Cyndi Lauper (3)
032. Ship of Fools–World Party (1)
033. Flames of Paradise–Jennifer Rush (Duet with Elton John) (1)
034. When Smokey Sings–ABC (2)
035. Love Power–Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne (2)
036. Hourglass–Squeeze (1)
037. Faith–George Michael (2)
1988
038. Hazy Shade of Winter–Bangles (1)
039. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man–Prince (2)
040. I Need a Man–Eurythmics (1)
041. Father Figure–George Michael (2)
042. I Get Weak–Belinda Carlisle (1)
043. One Step Up–Bruce Springsteen (1)
044. Sign Your Name–Terence Trent D’Arby (4)
045. Do You Love Me–The Contours (1)
046. How Does That Grab You, Darlin’?–Nancy Sinatra (1)
047. Pour Some Sugar on Me–Def Leppard (1)
048. I Hate Myself for Loving You–Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1)
049. Wait for Me–The Northern Pikes (1)
050. Chains of Love–Erasure (1)
051. Smooth Criminal–Michael Jackson (1)
052. Waiting for a Star to Fall–Boy Meets Girl (2)
1989
053. Don’t Rush Me–Taylor Dayne (1)
054. All She Wants Is–Duranduran (3)
055. Wild Thing–Tone Lōc (1)
056. Patience–Guns N’ Roses (1)
057. Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)–Roachford (2)
058. On Our Own–Bobby Brown (2)
059. Once Bitten Twice Shy–Great White (1)
060. You’re the One–Julian Lennon (2)
061. This One–Paul McCartney (2)
062. Kisses on the Wind–Neneh Cherry (2)
063. Bust a Move–Young MC (1)
064. Edie (Ciao Baby)–The Cult (3)
065. Feel So Good–Perrí (1)
066. Get Up–R.E.M. (3)
1990
067. Oh Father–Madonna (2)
068. Just Between You and Me–Lou Gramm (1)
069. Bushfire–The B-52’s (2)
070. Don’t Drop Bombs–Liza Minnelli (1)
071. All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You–Heart (2)
072. Spin That Wheel–Hi Tek 3 Featuring Ya Kid K (2)
073. Enjoy the Silence–Depeche Mode (2)
074. Knocked Out–Paula Abdul (2)
075. Hanky Panky–Madonna (2)
076. I’m Your Baby Tonight–Whitney Houston (3)
1991
077. Just Another Dream–Cathy Dennis (1)
078. All This Time–Sting (1)
079. You’re in Love–Wilson Phillips (1)
080. Baby Baby–Amy Grant (2)
081. It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over–Lenny Kravitz (2)
082. The Dream is Still Alive–Wilson Phillips (1)
083. Every Heartbeat–Amy Grant (1)
084. Something to Talk About–Bonnie Raitt (3)
085. The Promise of a New Day–Paula Abdul (1)
086. I Am Here–The Grapes of Wrath (3)
087. Gett Off–Prince And The N.P.G. (2)
088. Romantic–Karyn White (1)
089. Set Adrift on Memory Bliss–PM Dawn (2)
1992
090. Diamonds and Pearls–Prince And The N.P.G. (4)
091. Was it Worth It?–Pet Shop Boys (1)
092. Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven–Bryan Adams (3)
093. In the Closet–Michael Jackson (3)
094. Get the Message–Electronic (1)
095. You Won’t See Me Cry–Wilson Phillips (2)
096. Lord of Karma–Tears For Fears (2)
097. 57 Channels (and Nothin’ On)–Bruce Springsteen (2)
098. Too Funky–George Michael (1)
099. Make Love Like a Man–Def Leppard (2)
100. Humpin’ Around–Bobby Brown (2)
101. Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses–U2 (1)
1993
102. Man on the Moon–R.E.M. (5)
103. If I Ever Lose My Faith in You–Sting (1)
104. The World’s Green Laughter–The B-52’s (1)
105. Can’t Do a Thing (to Stop Me)–Chris Isaak (1)
106. That’s the Way Love Goes–Janet Jackson (3)
107. C’mon People–Paul McCartney (1)
108. Ruined in a Day–New Order (2)
109. Solitary Man–Chris Isaak (2)
110. Please Forgive Me–Bryan Adams (3)
1994
111. The Day After That–Liza Minnelli (5)
112. Dazzy Duks–Duice (4)
113. Tell it to My Heart–Pointer Sisters (2)
114. Streets of Philadelphia–Bruce Springsteen (1)
115. For Whom the Bell Tolls–Bee Gees (3)
116. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World—
(3)
117. Liberation–Pet Shop Boys (3)
118. Lifted By Love–k.d. lang (1)
119. Hush Sweet Lover–k.d. lang (2)
120. Secret–Madonna (2)
121. The Strangest Party (These are the Times)–INXS (1)
122. Son of a Gun–JX (2)
1995
123. Bang and Blame–R.E.M. (2)
124. Another Night–Real McCoy (2)
125. Take a Bow–Madonna (1)
126. You Gotta Be–Des’ree (1)
127. Excited–M People (2)
128. Whoops Now–Janet Jackson (2)
129. Throb–Janet Jackson (1)
130. The Sunshine After the Rain–New Atlantic/U4EA feat. Berri (2)
131. Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)–Scatman John (3)
132. Shameless–Pet Shop Boys (2)
133. Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)–Cyndi Lauper (2)
1996
134. You Oughta Know–Alanis Morissette (1)
135. Ironic–Alanis Morissette (3)
136. Theme from Mission: Impossible–Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen (2)
137. Before–Pet Shop Boys (3)
1997
138. Only Happy When it Rains–Garbage (3)
139. Say You’ll Be There–Spice Girls (4)
140. D’You Know What I Mean?–Oasis (3)
141. Barbie Girl–Aqua (1)
142. Tubthumping–Chumbawamba (5)
1998
143. How Do I Live–LeAnn Rimes (7) [b]
144. Too Much–Spice Girls (1)
145. angel st–m people (3)
146. Sweet Surrender–Sarah McLachlan (1)
147. Adia–Sarah McLachlan (3)
148. broken bones–loveinc (3)
149. shanti/ashtangi–Madonna (4)
150. Drowned World/Substitute for Love–Madonna (2)
151. Debbie–The B-52’s (3)
1999
152. Outside–George Michael (6)
153. when you’re gone–bryan adams featuring melanie c. (1)
154. you get what you give–Иew Radicals (1)
155. It’s Not Right But It’s Okay–Whitney Houston (6)
156. sexual (li da di)–Amber (2)
157. blue (da ba dee)–Eiffel 65 (6)
2000
158. Bailamos–Enrique Iglesias (1)
159. Lift Me Up–Geri Halliwell (1)
160. that don’t impress me much–Shania Twain (2)
161. When the Heartache is Over–Tina (2)
162. Mambo No. 5 (A little bit of…)–Lou Bega (1)
163. Go Let it Out–Oasis (2)
164. Sun is Shining–bob marley (1)
165. summerfling–k.d. lang (2)
2001
166. Itkin–Värttinä (2) [c]
167. Oi Dai–Värttinä (2) [c]
168. Pihi Neito–Värttinä (1) [c]
[a] Islands in the Stream had already been in release for four months and was on my chart when I started it in November 1983.
[b] The record for the longest run at #3.
[c] Album track, never released as a single. My chart ended shortly after I allowed album tracks and this song never had a chance to peak higher.