List of best-selling singles
Wikimedia music-related list
This is a list of best-selling singles in the world. The Guinness World Records named the holiday single "White Christmas" (1942) by Bing Crosby as the best-selling single worldwide. According to Guinness, "White Christmas" sold over 50 million copies. The single is known as the "best-selling single of all time". It was released before music charts were created. The song "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) by Elton John, is "the biggest-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s". The recording was a tribute to Princess Diana. It sold 33 million copies, making it the third best-selling single of all time.
Best-selling physical singles
15 million physical copies or more
| Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bing Crosby | "White Christmas" | 1942 | 50 | |
| Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997" | 1997 | 33 | |
| Mungo Jerry | "In the Summertime" | 1970 | 30[disputed ] | [1][2][3] |
| Bill Haley & His Comets | "Rock Around the Clock" | 1954 | 25 | [4] |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 1992 | 20 | [5] |
| Elvis Presley | "It's Now or Never" | 1960 | 20 | [6][7] |
| USA for Africa | "We Are the World" | 1985 | 20 | [8] |
| The Ink Spots | "If I Didn't Care" | 1939 | 19[disputed ] | [9] |
| Baccara | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" | 1977 | 18[disputed ] | [10] |
| Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 1997 | 18 | [11] |
| Mariah Carey | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | 1994 | 16 | [12] |
| Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 1991 | 15 | [13] |
| John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | "You're the One That I Want" | 1978 | 15 | [14] |
| Scorpions | "Wind of Change" | 1991 | 15[disputed ] | [15] |
10–14.9 million copies
| Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Andrews Sisters | "Bei Mir" | 1937 | 14 | [16] |
| Prince Nico Mbarga | "Sweet Mother" | 1976 | 13 | [17] |
| Kyu Sakamoto | "Sukiyaki" | 1963 | 13 | [18] |
| Trio | "Da Da Da" | 1982 | 13[disputed ] | [19] |
| Gene Autry | "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" | 1949 | 12.5 | [20] |
| The Beatles | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | 1963 | 12 | [6] |
| Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman | "Time to Say Goodbye" | 1996 | 12 | [21] |
| Village People | "Y.M.C.A." | 1978 | 12 | [22] |
| Band Aid | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | 1984 | 11.7 | [23] |
| Cher | "Believe" | 1998 | 11 | [24][25] |
| Carl Douglas | "Kung Fu Fighting" | 1974 | 11 | [26][27] |
| George McCrae | "Rock Your Baby" | 1974 | 11 | [6] |
| Mills Brothers | "Paper Doll" | 1943 | 11 | [6] |
| Roger Whittaker | "The Last Farewell" | 1975 | 11 | [28] |
| Bing Crosby | "Silent Night" | 1935 | 10 | [29] |
| ABBA | "Fernando" | 1976 | 10 | [30] |
| Roy Acuff | "Wabash Cannonball" | 1942 | 10 | [6] |
| Paul Anka | "Diana" | 1957 | 10 | [31][32] |
| Toni Braxton | "Un-Break My Heart" | 1996 | 10 | [33] |
| George Harrison | "My Sweet Lord" | 1970 | 10 | [34] |
| Los del Río | "Macarena" | 1995 | 10 | [35] |
| Middle of the Road | "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" | 1971 | 10 | [6] |
| The Monkees | "I'm a Believer" | 1966 | 10 | [6][36] |
| Panjabi MC | "Mundian To Bach Ke" | 1998 | 10[disputed ] | [37] |
| Patti Page | "Tennessee Waltz" | 1950 | 10 | [38][39][40] |
| The Penguins | "Earth Angel" | 1954 | 10 | [41] |
| Elvis Presley | "Hound Dog" | 1956 | 10 | [42] |
| Procol Harum | "A Whiter Shade of Pale" | 1967 | 10 | [6] |
| Britney Spears | "...Baby One More Time" | 1998 | 10 | [43] |
Best-selling digital singles
15 million digital copies or more
10–14.99 million copies
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Jancik, Wayne (1998). The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders. Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7622-9.
- Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-531373-9.
- Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd, illustrated ed.). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0-214-20480-4.
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