List of Billboard Alternative Songs number ones of the 2010s

Last updated

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]

Contents

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
SongArtistReached number one [3] Weeks at
number one [3]
"Uprising" [6] Muse October 17, 200915
"Kings and Queens" Thirty Seconds to Mars January 30, 20103
"1901" Phoenix February 20, 20102
"Back Against the Wall" Cage the Elephant March 6, 20102
"Resistance" Muse March 20, 20103
"Mountain Man" Crash Kings April 10, 20101
"Resistance" ↑ Muse April 17, 20101
"Between the Lines" Stone Temple Pilots April 24, 20103
"Lay Me Down" The Dirty Heads featuring Rome Ramirez May 15, 201011
"This Is War" Thirty Seconds to Mars July 31, 20101
"In One Ear" Cage the Elephant August 7, 20104
" The Catalyst " Linkin Park September 4, 20104
"Animal" Neon Trees October 2, 20101
"Little Lion Man" Mumford & Sons October 9, 20101
"Radioactive" Kings of Leon October 16, 20103
"Tighten Up" The Black Keys November 6, 20109
"Waiting for the End" Linkin Park January 8, 20113
"Tighten Up" ↑ The Black Keys January 29, 20111
"Waiting for the End" ↑ Linkin Park February 5, 20111
"Shake Me Down" Cage the Elephant February 12, 20116
"Rope" Foo Fighters March 26, 201113
"Pumped Up Kicks" [7] Foster the People June 25, 20112
"You Are a Tourist" Death Cab for Cutie July 9, 20111
"Pumped Up Kicks" ↑ [7] Foster the People July 16, 20113
"Walk" Foo Fighters August 6, 20112
" The Adventures of Raindance Maggie " Red Hot Chili Peppers August 20, 20114
"Walk" ↑ Foo Fighters September 17, 20116
" The Sound of Winter " Bush October 29, 20115
"Paradise" Coldplay December 3, 20111
" The Sound of Winter " ↑ Bush December 10, 20111
"Lonely Boy" The Black Keys December 17, 201111
"Somebody That I Used to Know" [8] Gotye featuring Kimbra March 3, 20127
"We Are Young" Fun featuring Janelle Monáe April 21, 20122
"Somebody That I Used to Know" ↑ [8] Gotye featuring Kimbra May 5, 20125
"Gold on the Ceiling" The Black Keys June 9, 20123
"Tongue Tied" Grouplove June 30, 20121
"Gold on the Ceiling" ↑ The Black Keys July 7, 20122
"Little Talks" Of Monsters and Men July 21, 20122
"Burn It Down" Linkin Park August 4, 20121
"Some Nights" Fun August 11, 20122
"Too Close" Alex Clare August 25, 20124
"Some Nights" ↑ Fun September 22, 20121
"Ho Hey" The Lumineers September 29, 20122
"Madness" Muse October 13, 20121
"I Will Wait" Mumford & Sons October 20, 20121
"Madness" ↑ Muse October 27, 201218
"Radioactive" [9] Imagine Dragons March 2, 201313
"Sweater Weather" The Neighbourhood June 1, 20132
"Safe and Sound" Capital Cities June 15, 20131
"Sweater Weather" ↑ The Neighbourhood June 22, 20139
"Royals" Lorde August 24, 20137
"Out of My League" Fitz and the Tantrums October 12, 20132
"Pompeii" Bastille October 26, 20134
"Come a Little Closer" Cage the Elephant November 23, 201310
"Do I Wanna Know?" [10] Arctic Monkeys February 1, 201410
"Come with Me Now" Kongos April 12, 20143
" The Walker " Fitz and the Tantrums May 3, 20141
"Come with Me Now" ↑ Kongos May 10, 20142
"Fever" The Black Keys May 24, 201411
"I Wanna Get Better" Bleachers August 9, 20141
"Dangerous" Big Data featuring Joywave August 16, 20141
"Riptide" Vance Joy August 23, 20145
"Stolen Dance" Milky Chance September 27, 201410
"Something from Nothing" Foo Fighters December 6, 20148
"Cigarette Daydreams" Cage the Elephant January 31, 20154
"Shut Up and Dance" Walk the Moon February 28, 20154
"Lampshades on Fire" Modest Mouse March 28, 20153
"Believe" Mumford & Sons April 18, 20153
"Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)" Awolnation May 9, 20152
"Dead Inside" Muse May 23, 20155
"Renegades" [11] X Ambassadors June 27, 201511
"First" Cold War Kids September 12, 20151
"Ex's & Oh's" Elle King September 19, 20153
"First" ↑ Cold War Kids October 10, 20156
"Stressed Out" Twenty One Pilots November 21, 201512
"Mess Around" Cage the Elephant February 13, 20161
"Adventure of a Lifetime" Coldplay February 20, 20162
"Mess Around" ↑ Cage the Elephant March 5, 20162
"Mountain at My Gates" Foals March 19, 20161
"Trip Switch" Nothing but Thieves March 26, 20162
"Ride" Twenty One Pilots April 9, 20166
"Spirits" The Strumbellas May 21, 20162
"Ride" ↑ Twenty One Pilots June 4, 20161
"Ophelia" [12] The Lumineers June 11, 20164
"Bored to Death" Blink-182 July 9, 20165
"Dark Necessities" Red Hot Chili Peppers August 13, 20161
"Way Down We Go" Kaleo August 20, 20162
"Trouble" Cage the Elephant September 3, 20161
"Heathens" Twenty One Pilots September 10, 20169
"Bang Bang" Green Day November 12, 20161
"Heathens" ↑ Twenty One Pilots November 19, 20162
"Waste a Moment" Kings of Leon December 3, 20161
"All We Ever Knew" The Head and the Heart December 10, 20161
"Waste a Moment" ↑ Kings of Leon December 17, 20163
"Take It All Back" Judah & the Lion January 7, 20174
"Still Breathing" Green Day February 4, 20175
"Cleopatra" The Lumineers March 11, 20172
"Human" Rag'n'Bone Man March 25, 20171
"Believer" [13] Imagine Dragons April 1, 20177
"Wish I Knew You" The Revivalists May 20, 20171
"Believer" ↑ [13] Imagine Dragons May 27, 20176
"Feel It Still" Portugal. The Man July 8, 201717
"Thunder" Imagine Dragons November 4, 20173
"Feel It Still" ↑ Portugal. The Man November 25, 20173
"Up All Night" Beck December 16, 20177
"One Foot" Walk the Moon January 27, 20184
"No Roots" Alice Merton February 24, 20181
"Sober Up" AJR featuring Rivers Cuomo March 3, 20182
"Whatever It Takes" Imagine Dragons March 17, 20182
"Live in the Moment" Portugal. The Man March 31, 20182
"Whatever It Takes" ↑ Imagine Dragons April 14, 20181
"Broken" [14] Lovelytheband April 21, 20187
"Thought Contagion" Muse June 9, 20181
"Broken" ↑ [14] Lovelytheband June 16, 20182
"Say Amen (Saturday Night)" Panic! at the Disco June 30, 20181
"I Feel Like I'm Drowning" Two Feet July 7, 20182
"Say Amen (Saturday Night)" ↑ Panic! at the Disco July 21, 20181
"Jumpsuit" Twenty One Pilots July 28, 20182
"Africa" Weezer August 11, 20183
"Jumpsuit" ↑ Twenty One Pilots September 1, 20181
"Natural" Imagine Dragons September 8, 20189
"Happier" Marshmello and Bastille November 10, 20181
"High Hopes" Panic! at the Disco November 17, 201810
"Guiding Light" Mumford & Sons January 26, 20191
"High Hopes" ↑ Panic! at the Disco February 2, 20196
"Ready to Let Go" Cage the Elephant March 16, 20196
"Chlorine" Twenty One Pilots April 27, 20193
"Lo/Hi" The Black Keys May 18, 20191
"Bury a Friend" Billie Eilish May 25, 20192
"Trampoline" [15] Shaed June 8, 20192
"Gloria" The Lumineers June 22, 20195
"Missed Connection" The Head and the Heart July 27, 20192
"Bad Guy" Billie Eilish August 10, 20192
"Cringe" Matt Maeson August 24, 20194
"3 Nights" Dominic Fike September 21, 20191
"Doin' Time" Lana Del Rey September 28, 20193
"Social Cues" Cage the Elephant October 19, 20192
" The Hype " Twenty One Pilots November 2, 20197
"Orphans" Coldplay December 21, 20194

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. It was released on 4 August 2009 as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, The Resistance (2009). The song was written by band member Matt Bellamy, produced by the band, and mixed by Spike Stent. "Uprising" peaked at number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and peaked in the top 10 in seven countries. It was certified platinum in the United Kingdom, gold in four countries, platinum in five countries, and double-platinum in the United States, making it Muse's best-selling single. The song is based on the 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, written by George Orwell.

<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 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 January 5, 2022, the song is ranked in the top 100 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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Monkey</span> 2019 single by Tones and I

"Dance Monkey" is a song by Australian singer Tones and I, released on 10 May 2019 as the second single from Tones and I's debut EP, The Kids Are Coming. The song was produced and mixed by Konstantin Kersting.

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.