Of course a lot of songs never reach their "deserved" chart potential. What are some you think should have hit pole position?

I think Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was most definitely deserving.

Todd Rundgren has made a great number of pop songs that one can only wonder why they weren't number ones.

Novabreaker said:

You ain't lyin'!

Novabreaker said:

Not just #1s but songs that didn't chart at all. As many albums as he's had, he's charted less than a dozen singles on the pop chart. The pop world was not ready for him.

There are many songs that could fit this topic, but I'll stick with Todd for now and suggest Dream Goes on Forever. I love that song! Sooooo dreamy.

VoicesCarry said:

Agreed! This and Billie Jean are my two fave singles from the album.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven

It never even charted in the United States because it was never released as a single. At that time the Billboard charts would not recognize any song as a single unless it was released for sale. In fact, this was Billboard's policy until 2002, when the music industry had all but given up releasing any CD singles but Apple started offering digital downloads on iTunes. (The music industry had already basically began phasing out cassette singles by 1997-1998.) Ironically though, in 1999, at the behest of radio behemoths like Clear Channel and Infinity Radio, Billboard had altered their criteria for charting singles on the Hot 100 by changing the weighting of singles from 50% airplay and 50% sales to 90% airplay and 10% sales. (I.e., Billboard made a huge deal out of having a hit single just as the music industry was making it nearly impossible to purchase them prior to iTunes.) Had "Stairway To Heaven" charted under the current system, it probably would have been at Number One longer than the current reigning champ by Mariah Carey, "One Sweet Day," which was number one for 16 weeks.

Billy Lawrence :: Up & Down (1997)

RES- "They Say Vision"

Walk on the Wild Side.

Bobby Brown - On Our Own, and EVery Little Step should have been pop number one smash hits

Songs that define artist's careers, songs that are so closely associated with the artists that it's impossible to separate the two...

Madonna - Material Girl
Michael Jackson - Thriller
U2 - One
Prince - Purple Rain

You know what though? If they peak somewhere in the pop top 20, I'll probably remember it forever.

There's tons of R&B #1's that didn't go #1 on the pop charts that deserved it, but I don't have my fucken Joel Whitburn books with me.

I can think of about a bazillion Prince songs.

GangstaFam said:

Yep. "7" didn't even crack the top 40 in UK That song is supurb.

GangstaFam said:

Like "The Bird (Demo)"

CinisterCee said:

umm...no.

Madonna Express Yourself
Madonna Frozen
Madonna Hung Up, at least in America.

The Cranberries-Analyse (what can I say, I love this damn song!)

GangstaFam said:

Too many to name. A bunch of Prince songs, a bunch of MJ songs. There's been countless songs that I wish reached that #1 spot when they only managed to peak in the top 10.

thesexofit said:

7 reached #28 in the U.K.

VoicesCarry said:

Nice song but there are others of his that I think were more deserving of a #1.

"Don't Dream It's Over" - Crowded House

The song peaked at #2, but many people didn't buy the single because they couldn't find that "hey now, hey now" song. "Don't Dream It's Over (Hey Now)" would've taken the top spot in all likelihood.

Strawberry Fields Forever.

GangstaFam said:

Purple Rain for example.

Running Up That Hill.

Cloudbuster said:

Cloudbusting

Cheek said:

Can't argue with that.

Oh - Ciara

Patti Labelles "If You Ask Me To"

(please not no reference to "the usual suspects" within this forum)