List of Billboard Alternative Songs number ones of the 2010s

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American rock band Portugal. The Man performed "Feel It Still", which spent a record-breaking 20 weeks atop the Alternative Songs chart. Portugal- The man performing in Kansas City, Missouri 2013-10-18 17-32.jpg
American rock band Portugal. The Man performed "Feel It Still", which spent a record-breaking 20 weeks atop the Alternative Songs chart.

Alternative Airplay is a record chart published by the music industry magazine Billboard that ranks the most-played songs on American modern rock radio stations. It was introduced by Billboard in September 1988. [1] During the 2010s, the chart was named Alternative Songs and based on electronically monitored airplay data compiled by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems from a panel of national rock radio stations, with songs being ranked by their total number of spins per week. [2]

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115 songs topped the Alternative Songs chart during the 2010s. [3] The first number one of the 2010s was "Uprising" by Muse, while the last was "Orphans" by Coldplay. [3] From October 2012 to February 2013, Muse's song "Madness" topped the chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, breaking the record for the most weeks spent at number one by a song in the chart's history. [4] In 2017, "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man broke this record by topping the chart for 20 weeks. [5] The American band Cage the Elephant attained nine Alternative Songs number-one hits during the 2010s, the most by any artist within the decade. [3]

Number-one songs

Key

Billboard year-end number-one song
– Return of a song to number one
Contents

Related Research Articles

The Billboard Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales, online streaming, and radio airplay in the U.S.

Alternative Airplay is a music chart published in the American magazine Billboard since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played songs on alternative and modern rock radio stations. Introduced as Modern Rock Tracks, the chart served as a companion to the Mainstream Rock chart, and its creation was prompted by the explosion of alternative music on American radio in the late 1980s. During the first several years of the chart, it regularly featured music that did not receive commercial radio airplay anywhere but on a few modern rock and college rock radio stations. This included many electronic and post-punk artists. Gradually, as alternative rock became more mainstream, alternative and mainstream rock radio stations began playing many of the same songs. By the late 2000s, the genres became more fully differentiated with only limited crossover. The Alternative Airplay chart features more alternative rock, indie pop, and pop punk artists while the Mainstream Rock chart leans towards more guitar-tinged blues rock, hard rock, and heavy metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pretender (Foo Fighters song)</span> 2007 single by Foo Fighters

"The Pretender" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was the first single from the group's 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. It is one of Foo Fighters' most successful songs; peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100, only "Learn to Fly" and "Best of You" beat its position on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uprising (song)</span> 2009 single by Muse

"Uprising" is a song by the English rock band Muse, released on 4 August 2009 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, The Resistance (2009). It was written by Matt Bellamy, produced by Muse and mixed by Spike Stent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody That I Used to Know</span> 2011 single by Gotye featuring Kimbra

"Somebody That I Used to Know" is a song written, produced and performed by Belgian-Australian musician and singer Gotye, featuring vocals from New Zealand singer Kimbra. The song samples Luiz Bonfá's 1967 instrumental song "Seville", with additional instrumentations of beats and a xylophone playing a melody based on "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep". The song was released in Australia and New Zealand through Eleven Music on 5 July 2011 as the second single from Gotye's third studio album, Making Mirrors (2011). It was later released by Universal Music in December 2011 in the United Kingdom, and 20 January 2012 in Ireland and the United States. "Somebody That I Used to Know" was written and recorded by Gotye at his parents' house on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, and is lyrically related to the experiences he has had with romantic relationships.

<i>The 2nd Law</i> 2012 studio album by Muse

The 2nd Law is the sixth studio album by English rock band Muse, first released on 28 September 2012 through Warner Bros. Records and the band's own Helium-3 imprint. Recording of the album took place in studios between London and Los Angeles County, beginning in October 2011 and ending in August 2012. The 2nd Law was Muse's second album to be solely self-produced, following The Resistance (2009), and features a plethora of additional musicians that performed brass, strings, and choir vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madness (Muse song)</span> 2012 single

"Madness" is a song by the English rock band Muse. It is the second track and second single from Muse's sixth studio album, The 2nd Law (2012), released as a download on 20 August 2012. It was written by singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy and produced by the band. The music video premiered on 5 September 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ho Hey</span> 2012 single by the Lumineers

"Ho Hey" is a song by American folk rock band the Lumineers. It was released on June 4, 2012, as the lead single from their self-titled debut studio album (2012). The music video was released on March 11, 2012. "Ho Hey" reached number one for 18 non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard Rock Songs chart, as well as two weeks in the top spot on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and eight weeks in the top spot on the Adult Pop Songs chart, and reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming their first single to do so, as well as their first top 5 single. It also reached number 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart, behind "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars. It is also their first single to be certified in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pompeii (song)</span> 2013 single by Bastille

"Pompeii" is a song by British pop rock band Bastille. It is the fourth single from their debut studio album Bad Blood and was released on 11 January 2013. The song's title and lyrics refer to the Roman town of the same name that was destroyed and buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweater Weather</span> 2012 single by the Neighbourhood

"Sweater Weather" is a song by American alternative band the Neighbourhood. The song was written by group members Jesse Rutherford, Zach Abels and Jeremy Freedman, and was produced by Justyn Pilbrow. It serves as the lead single from their debut studio album, I Love You (2013). "Sweater Weather" reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in June 2013, logging eleven non-consecutive weeks at the summit of the chart. Pentatonix covered the song for their 2018 album Christmas Is Here! with an accompanying music video. The song was also covered by Kurt Hugo Schneider, Alyson Stoner, and Max S in 2014. In mid-to-late 2020, the song experienced a resurgence in popularity due to it being used on the social media platform TikTok. The song gained over 5 million on-demand streams on Spotify within the month of November 2020. As of August 26th 2024, the song is ranked in the top 10 of the most streamed songs on Spotify. In late 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Alternative Airplay, Billboard ranked the song as the 15th-most successful in the chart's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do I Wanna Know?</span> 2013 single by Arctic Monkeys

"Do I Wanna Know?" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, with lyrics written by frontman Alex Turner. It was released on 19 June 2013 by Domino Recording Company as the second single from their fifth studio album, AM (2013). It received a digital download release through iTunes as well as an accompanying music video. Before its release as a single, the song was premiered by the band live in May 2013 on the AM Tour, where it was often played as the opening number. It is an indie rock, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, blues rock and alternative rock song, and is built around a stomping guitar riff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royals (song)</span> 2013 single by Lorde

"Royals" is the debut single by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, included in her debut extended play (EP) The Love Club EP (2012) and debut studio album Pure Heroine (2013). Lorde wrote the song with producer Joel Little. "Royals" is a minimalist art pop and electropop song with influences of hip hop, R&B, and indie pop. The track's lyrics critique the sumptuous lifestyle presented in songs and music videos by popular musicians, making them appear like modern-day royalty.

Adult Alternative Airplay is a record chart currently published by Billboard that ranks the most popular songs on adult album alternative radio stations. The 40-position chart is formulated based on each song's weekly radio spins, as measured by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. The earliest incarnation of the chart was first published on January 20, 1996, as a feature in Billboard sister publication Airplay Monitor. In 2006, Airplay Monitor ceased publication after Billboard parent company VNU Media's acquisition of rival radio trade magazine Radio & Records, which then subsequently incorporated Airplay Monitor's Nielsen-based Triple A chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven Knows (The Pretty Reckless song)</span> 2013 single by the Pretty Reckless

"Heaven Knows" is a song by American rock band the Pretty Reckless from their second studio album, Going to Hell (2014). It was written by Taylor Momsen and Ben Phillips, while Kato Khandwala handled the production. Released on November 19, 2013, as the album's second single, "Heaven Knows" is the band's first single to top a Billboard chart and their second single to top UK Rock Singles Chart, following their debut single "Make Me Wanna Die" (2010). The song later entered the Alternative Songs chart, peaking at number 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renegades (X Ambassadors song)</span> 2015 single by X Ambassadors

"Renegades" is a song by American rock band X Ambassadors. It was released as the second single from the band's debut studio album VHS on March 3, 2015. It peaked inside the top ten in ten countries, including France, Germany, Canada and Poland, where it reached number one. In the United States, the song peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song was nominated for the "Top Rock Song" award at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up All Night (Beck song)</span> 2017 single by Beck

"Up All Night" is a song by the American musician Beck. It is the third single from his thirteenth studio album Colors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wish I Knew You</span> 2016 single by the Revivalists

"Wish I Knew You" is a song by American rock band the Revivalists. The song was written by the band and was produced by Ben Ellman. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart, becoming the band's first chart-topper on the chart. The song also found success on a number of other rock radio formats, as well as adult contemporary stations. This song had also set a record in May 2017 for the most plays (spins) ever recorded during a week's time for any track on Alternative/Modern Rock radio since the inception of Mediabase tracking systems in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel It Still</span> 2017 single by Portugal. The Man

"Feel It Still" is a song by American rock band Portugal. The Man. The song draws on the melody from the Marvelettes' 1961 hit "Please Mr. Postman"; written by the band along with producers John Hill and Asa Taccone, "Feel It Still" also includes a credit for Motown songwriter Brian Holland. It serves as the second single and first radio single off their eighth studio album, Woodstock. The song reached number one on the US Alternative Songs, Mexican and Russian Tophit airplay chart. It was also their first entry on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a sleeper hit, as it took eight months to peak at number four in November 2017.

References

  1. Molanphy, Chris (April 19, 2012). "100 & Single: Gotye And fun. Help Alternative Rock Go Pop Once Again". The Village Voice . Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  2. "The Charts". Sun Herald . August 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 References for number-one songs:
  4. Trust, Gary (February 11, 2013). "Muse's 'Madness' Rewrites Record For Longest-Reigning Alternative Songs No. 1". Billboard . Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  5. Rutherford, Kevin (November 28, 2017). "Portugal. The Man's 'Feel It Still' Breaks Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard . Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  6. "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2010)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2011)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2012)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  9. "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2013)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  10. "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2014)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2015)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  12. "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2016)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2017)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2018)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  15. "Year-end Charts – Alternative Airplay Songs (2019)". Billboard . Retrieved October 20, 2022.