In case you missed Part 1 with the longer intro and Top 40 list of things I’ve Learned (and from whom): Josh Balogh’s Top 40 at 40 Part 1: What I’ve Learned

Josh Balogh’s Top 40 Mainstream Songs from 1981-2021

Lest you think I only ever have listened to Christian music. Haha.

While I wish I had the capacity to write about each of these songs, right now I just don’t. So for now, here they are with playlist at the bottom if you wanna jam along. Many of these I would have first heard and become a fan of as I started driving to baseball practice at age 16 and started listening to mainstream radio stations. FYI these are ordered by year of release (not importance or favorite) and follow my self-imposed rule to have to have been released between 1981-2021.

1. “Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (1981)

2. “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” – Chicago (1982)

3. “For the Longest Time” – Billy Joel (1983)

4. “You’re the Best” – Joe Esposito (1984)

5. “The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis & the News (1985)

6. “Glory of Love” – Peter Cetera (1986)

7. “More Than Words” – Extreme (1990)

8. “Two Princes” – Spin Doctors (1991)

9. “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” – Crash Test Dummies (1993)

10. “Dreams” – The Cranberries (1993)

11. “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley (1993)

12. “Water Runs Dry” – Boyz II Men (1994)

13. “Don’t Speak” – No Doubt (1995)

14. “One Headlight” – The Wallflowers (1996)

15. “All for You” – Sister Hazel (1997)

16. “No Surprises” – Radiohead (1997)

17. “How’s It Going to Be” – Third Eye Blind (1997)

18. “Iris” – The Goo Goo Dolls (1998)

19. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” – Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)

20. “Someday” – Sugar Ray (1998)

21. “Home” – Brian McKnight (1999)

22. “If I Fall You’re Going Down with Me” – The Dixie Chicks (1999)

23. “The Middle” – Jimmy Eat World (2001)

24. “Stay or Leave” – Dave Matthews (2003)

25. “Collide” – Howie Day (2003)

26. “Fix You” – Coldplay (2005)

27. “Closer” – Joshua Radin (2006)

28. “Please Forgive Me” – David Gray (2007)

29. “All Will Be Well” – Gabe Dixon (2008)

30. “To Make You Feel My Love” – Adele (2008)

31. “All the Right Moves” – One Republic (2009)

32. “Fireflies” – Owl City (2009)

33. “The Ladder” – Andrew Belle (2010)

34. “Why Don’t We Just Dance” – Josh Turner (2010)

35. “Mirrors” – Justin Timberlake (2013)

36. “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” – Daniela Andrade (2013)

37. “I’m Not the Only One” – Sam Smith (2014)

38. “Death of a Bachelor” – Panic at the Disco (2016)

39. “The Mistake” – Manchester Orchestra (2017)

40. “Jumpsuit” – Twenty One Pilots (2018)

Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1qWR8ETc232p9nN1gUdooN?si=Co6p1TvbTsaqHWc32qdZmg&dl_branch=1