Iconic songs that were just shy of No. 1

Blocked by "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and "TiK ToK" by Kesha 

Lady Gaga’s deluxe studio album, The Fame Monster, released in 2009, featured the electro and dance-pop classic “Bad Romance.” Critics have praised the single for the beat and lyrics, while others have called it Gaga’s best work. She won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Short Form Music Video at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. “Bad Romance” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 14, 2009, at No. 2 and stayed on the chart for over half of a year. 

Blocked by "Let Me Love You" by Mario

Ciara's debut album, Goodies, boosted the singer to superstardom in 2004. The 13-track project produced three top-five singles, “Goodies,” “Oh,” and “1,2 Step.” The latter featured rapper Missy Elliott, peaked at No. 2 and stayed there for seven weeks. Despite its initial release in '04, this track has remained one of Ciara’s most prominent and popular pieces of work. 

Blocked by "Rude" by Magic!

Although Sam Smith topped the Hot 100 in 2022 with the dance-pop track “Unholy,” the UK native has an extensive and moving catalog of ballads. “Stay With Me” is defined as a “gospel-inspired” song sung from the perspective of a lover begging their one-night stand not to leave them. 

Even though the single charted in Billboard ’s second-place position, “Stay With Me” won two Grammys, Song and Record of the Year, and has sold over 10,000,000 copies in the United States. Since its release, "SWM" has become extremely popular among fans and other musicians. Other artists, including Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, Patti LaBelle, and T-Pain, have covered the track.

Blocked by her own song, "7 Rings" 

It’s not often that we see an artist blocking their own song from reaching No. 1; however, Ariana Grande is in a league of her own. 

“Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” is the third single from Grande’s fifth album, Thank U, Next . The song features a mix of pop, R&B, and trap elements while sampling the bridge of NSYNC’s “It Makes Me Ill.” The song debuted at No. 2 the week of February 23, 2019. Not only were “7 Rings” and “BUWYGIB” No. 1 and 2 on the Hot 100, Ari's lead single “Thank U, Next” was No. 3. Rightfully so, Grande became the second musical act, following The Beatles, to have singles occupying Billboard's top three spots. 

Blocked by "I Gotta Feelin” by The Black Eyed Peas

Although Taylor has changed her sound tremendously from her earlier days, the global icon’s “You Belong With Me” is still considered one of her best performances. It’s the third single from her album Fearless, which received three Grammy nominations and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Music Video in 2009. 

Blocked by "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent

“Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson is a classic. In fact, it’s a global hit that has crushed records since 2004. The single was written by Max Martin and intended for other artists like Pink and Hilary Duff. After turning it down, the single landed in the American Idol winner’s hands, where she added more percussions for a heavier rock feel. 

Initially, the song entered the Hot 100 at No. 70 before moving to No. 53, 38, and 2. Following that, the track stayed in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 for 20 weeks. Clarkson has received numerous awards and certifications for her work on the song, including the Best Female Pop Vocal Grammy, a Teen Choice Award, and an XM Nation Music Award. 

Blocked by "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem

Another No. 2 hit Max Martin has writing credits on is the electro-pop and R&B single “Dynamite” by singer Taio Cruz. The club pumper is one of the best feel-good songs of 2010 — charting in Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. As of 2013, the song has sold more than eight million copies.  

Blocked by "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

‘Thinking Out Loud” makes you want to fall in love. This song, recorded by Ed Sheeran for his second album, X, was released in 2014 as the project’s third single. The soulful track is sung from Sheeran’s perspective about everlasting love — one that will surely last stand the test of time. It was nominated for the Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Solo Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards. He won the latter two. 

Blocked by "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

Fetty Wap is an American rapper who rose to fame after his 2015 hit, “Trap Queen,” blew up overnight. The song is an “affectionate tribute” to his “partner in crime,” whom he labels his trap queen. The single debuted at No. 86 on the Hot 100 before making its way up the charts to No. 2, where it stayed for three weeks. Later, “Trap Queen” became one of the five songs to surpass 400 million downloads in 2015. 

Blocked by “Leave The Door Open” by Silk Sonic 

“Levitating,” released in October 2020, is one of Dua Lipa’s most praised productions. The song incorporates musical elements from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s and has a remix featuring iconic music superstars Madonna and Missy Elliot. Like some other songs in the last few years, TikTok gave this song an extra boost — going from No. 73 to No. 2 on the Hot 100. 

Blocked by "Closer" by The Chainsmokers

“Heathens” is a funky rap and rock song performed by the group musical duo Twenty One Pilots. The song was released as the lead single for the DC Comics film Suıcide Squad on June 16, 2016. It entered the Hot 100 in July 2016 before spending four weeks in the runner-up spot that coming September. “Heathens” stayed on the chart for 39 weeks and is tied with “Stressed Out” for the group’s highest-charting single. 

Blocked by "The Hills" by The Weeknd and "Hello" by Adele 

This chill track by the Canadian rapper and singer Drake debuted on the Hot 100 at No. 66 before slowly reaching No. 2. Since July 2022, “Hotline Bling” has been sold over 10 million times. 

Blocked by "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift

Sampling Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” Nicki Minaj released another banger that still goes hard today. “Anaconda” is the second single from her album, The Pinkprint, and features spicy yet catchy lyrics. Initially, the song debuted at No. 19 on the chart before claiming silver on September 6, 2014. As of July 2023, the song’s music video has received over 1 billion views on YouTube. 

Blocked by "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift

Hozier is a popular Irish musician who experienced international success from his 2013 single “Take Me To Church.” Despite the religious themes in the song’s lyrics, Hozier told New York Magazine that the song is not about faith. “The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love. Turning your back on the theoretical thing, something that’s not tangible, and choosing to worship or love something that is tangible and real — something that can be experienced,” Hozier said. 

Blocked by "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry

“Drunk In Love” is a No. 2 hit performed by none other than the legendary Beyoncé. The single was released as one of the lead singles from her masterpiece album, Beyoncé, on December 17, 2013. It spent eight weeks in the top ten, won a Grammy at the 57th Annual Awards, and Best Collaboration at the MTV Video Music Awards. The hip-hop and R&B song is compared by many to her 2003 chart-topping single, “Crazy In Love,” and has been performed in later years at Coachella, The Formation World Tour, On The Run Tour, and On The Run Tour II. 

Blocked by "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas

“Blame It” is the most successful single from Jamie Foxx’s third album, Intuition. The track became an instant hit, peaking at No. 2 right behind The Black Eyed Peas. It’s Foxx’s highest-charting single as a lead artist and his second Top 10 hit. In 2010, he and T-Pain won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. 

Blocked by "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” is nothing short of an eight-minute masterpiece. It hails from the former boy bander's third studio album, The 20/20 Experience, and is the follow-up to his second, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006). The R&B ballad was written and produced by Timberlake along with Timbaland, J-Roc, and James Fauntleroy. The track debuted at No. 24 on the Hot 100 before falling to No. 97. During its fourth week on the chart, the song rose to its 77th spot before reaching No. 13. In June 2013, “Mirrors” peaked at No. 2, and went on to receive two MTV Video Music Awards, one Billboard nomination, and one Grammy nod. 

Blocked by "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey

Rihanna is no stranger to spending time on Billboard’s Hot 100. The singer has 32 top-10 hits and 14 No. 1s. Among those is the dance track “Pon de Replay.” The single from her album Music of the Sun peaked at No. 2 and has sold three million copies in the US.

Blocked by "Irreplaceable" by Beyoncé

"Fergalicious" is the second single from Fergie’s debut album, The Dutchess, and is her second most popular song behind “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” The track entered the Hot 100 at No. 79 before peaking at No. 2. 

Blocked by "Lose Yourself" by Eminem

Missy Elliott needs no introduction. The icon has collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, and J. Cole and created smash hits, including “Get Ur Freak On,” “Lose Control,” and “Work It.” The latter stayed at No. 2 on the Hot 100 for 10 weeks, sold three million copies, and won a Grammy for Best Female Rap Solo Performance in 2004.