In his autobiography Q, Quincy Jones wrote, “Numbers 2, 6, and 11 are my least-favorite chart positions.” It doesn’t take a Jones-like genius to find out why. Regardless of a transparent vote of public favor, every track that peaks at these ranks can include a pang of disappointment as a track’s creators and performers simply miss out on without end claiming a No. 1, prime 5 or prime 10 hit.
But, notably with No. 2-peaking hits, lots of these slim misses have advanced into iconic tracks with pop-culture legacies that rival and even eclipse their modern competitors. Some – together with a case a number of years in the past – maintain sufficient momentum to leapfrog No. 1 hits and grow to be the yr’s prime Sizzling 100 single, others present a springboard of momentum for artists to finally seize that chart-topping hit on a subsequent attempt, and a choose few dominate popular culture so strongly that you simply’d swear that they undoubtedly, certainly, undoubtedly topped the chart – earlier than the information reveal in any other case.
Whereas the No. 1s get loads of shine, let’s have a good time one other slate of hit singles that deserve a second within the highlight. Right here is Billboard’s official countdown of the highest 50 songs to peak at No. 2 on the Sizzling 100.
Billboard’s Greatest No. 2 Hits recap rating relies on weekly efficiency on the Sizzling 100 by way of Aug. 15, 2026, with eligibility restricted to songs that peaked at No. 2 and excluding vacation tracks which have seasonal returns to the chart. Songs are ranked based mostly on an inverse level system, with weeks at No. 1 incomes the best worth and weeks at decrease spots incomes the least. As a consequence of modifications in chart methodology through the years, eras are weighted in a different way to account for chart turnover charges throughout numerous intervals.
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En Vogue, “Don’t Let Go (Love)”
Weeks at No. 2: 4
Peak Date: Jan. 18, 1997
Simply Behind: Toni Braxton, “Un-Break My Coronary heart” -
Ritchie Valens, “Donna”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Feb. 23, 1959
Simply Behind: Lloyd Value, “Stagger Lee” -
The Spinners, “The Rubberband Man”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Dec. 4, 1976
Simply Behind: Rod Stewart, “Tonight’s the Night time (Gonna be Alright)” -
Eddie Murphy, “Celebration All of the Time”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Dec. 28, 1985
Simply Behind: Lionel Richie, “Say You, Say Me” -
Silver Conference, “Get Up and Boogie (That’s Proper)”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: June 12, 1976
Simply Behind: Wings, “Foolish Love Songs” -
The Everly Brothers, “Chicken Canine”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Sept. 15, 1958
Simply Behind: Domenico Modugno, “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” and Tommy Edwards, “It’s All within the Recreation” -
Woman Gaga, “Unhealthy Romance”
Weeks at No. 2: 7
Peak Date: Dec. 5, 2009
Simply Behind: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Thoughts” and Ke$ha, “TiK ToK” -
Ferrante & Teicher, “Exodus”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: Jan. 23, 1961
Simply Behind: Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra, “Wonderland by Night time” -
Ace of Base, “All That She Desires”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Nov. 6, 1993
Simply Behind: Meat Loaf, “I’d Do Something for Love (However I Received’t Do That)” -
Ciara That includes Missy Elliott, “1, 2 Step”
Weeks at No. 2: 7
Peak Date: Jan. 8, 2005
Simply Behind: Mario, “Let Me Love You” -
Sam Smith, “Keep With Me”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Aug. 16, 2014
Simply Behind: Magic!, “Impolite” -
John Lennon, “Lady”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: March 21, 1981
Simply Behind: REO Speedwagon, “Carry on Loving You” and Blondie, “Rapture” -
Céline Dion, “It’s All Coming Again to Me Now”
Weeks at No. 2: 5
Peak Date: Oct. 26, 1996
Simply Behind: Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Combine)” and BLACKstreet that includes Dr. Dre, “No Diggity” -
Laura Branigan, “Gloria”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Nov. 27, 1982
Simply Behind: Lionel Richie, “Actually” and Toni Basil, “Mickey” -
Donna Lewis, “I Love You All the time Ceaselessly”
Weeks at No. 2: 9
Peak Date: Aug. 24, 1996
Simply Behind: Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Combine)” -
Jackson 5, “Dancing Machine”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Could 18, 1974
Simply Behind: Ray Stevens, “The Streak” -
Keith Sweat, “Twisted”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: Aug. 17, 1996
Simply Behind: Los Del Rio, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Combine)” -
Deborah Cox, “No one’s Speculated to Be Right here”
Weeks at No. 2: 8
Peak Date: Dec. 5, 1998
Simply Behind: R. Kelly & Céline Dion, “I’m Your Angel” and Brandy, “Have You Ever?” -
Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: Aug. 22, 2009
Simply Behind: The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling” -
Chubby Checker, “Limbo Rock”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Dec. 22, 1962
Simply Behind: The Tornados, “Telstar” -
Backstreet Boys, “Stop Enjoying Video games (With My Coronary heart)”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Sept. 6, 1997
Simply Behind: The Infamous B.I.G. that includes Puff Daddy & Mase, “Mo Cash Mo Issues” and Mariah Carey, “Honey” -
Kelly Clarkson, “Since U Been Gone”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: April 9, 2005
Simply Behind: 50 Cent that includes Olivia, “Sweet Store” -
Village Folks, “Y.M.C.A.”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Feb. 3, 1979
Simply Behind: Stylish, “Le Freak” and Rod Stewart, “Da Ya Assume I’m Attractive?” -
England Dan & John Ford Coley, “I’d Actually Love To See You Tonight”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Sept. 25, 1976
Simply Behind: Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music” -
Juice WRLD, “Lucid Goals”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Oct. 6, 2018
Simply Behind: Maroon 5 that includes Cardi B, “Women Like You” -
Ed Sheeran, “Unhealthy Habits”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Aug. 28, 2021
Simply Behind: The Child LAROI & Justin Bieber, “Keep” -
Olivia Dean, “Man I Want”
Weeks at No. 2: 7
Peak Date: Jan. 31, 2026
Simply Behind: Bruno Mars, “I Simply May” and Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas” -
Taio Cruz, “Dynamite”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Aug. 21, 2010
Simply Behind: Eminem that includes Rihanna, “Love the Manner You Lie” -
Bette Midler, “From a Distance”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: Dec. 15, 1990
Simply Behind: Stevie B, “As a result of I Love You (The Postman Tune)” -
Marshmello & Bastille, “Happier”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: Feb. 16, 2019
Simply Behind: Ariana Grande, “7 Rings” -
Ed Sheeran, “Pondering Out Loud”
Weeks at No. 2: 8
Peak Date: Jan. 31, 2015
Simply Behind: Mark Ronson that includes Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!” -
Colour Me Badd, “I Wanna Intercourse You Up”
Weeks at No. 2: 4
Peak Date: June 8, 1991
Simply Behind: Excessive, “Extra Than Phrases” and Paula Abdul, “Rush Rush” -
Woman A, “Want You Now”
Picture Credit score: Courtesy Picture Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: March 20, 2010
Simply Behind: Taio Cruz that includes Ludacris, “Break Your Coronary heart” and Rihanna, “Impolite Boy” -
Jim Reeves, “He’ll Have To Go”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: March 7, 1960
Simply Behind: Percy Religion and His Orchestra, “The Theme from A Summer season Place” -
Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Oct. 12, 2024
Simply Behind: Shaboozey, “A Bar Tune (Tipsy)” -
Fetty Wap, “Lure Queen”
Weeks at No. 2: 3
Peak Date: Could 16, 2015
Simply Behind: Wiz Khalifa that includes Charlie Puth, “See You Once more” -
Lifehouse, “Hanging by a Second”
Weeks at No. 2: 4
Peak Date: June 16, 2001
Simply Behind: Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & P!nk, “Woman Marmalade” and Usher, “U Remind Me” -
Religion Hill, “Breathe”
Weeks at No. 2: 5
Peak Date: April 22, 2000
Simply Behind: Santana that includes The Product G&B, “Maria Maria” and Aaliyah, “Attempt Once more” -
OneRepublic, “Counting Stars”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: Jan. 18, 2014
Simply Behind: Pitbull that includes Ke$ha, “Timber” -
The Tony Wealthy Mission, “No one Is aware of”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: March 23, 1996
Simply Behind: Céline Dion, “As a result of You Cherished Me” -
Usher, “You Make Me Wanna…”
Weeks at No. 2: 7
Peak Date: Oct. 25, 1997
Simply Behind: Elton John, “Candle within the Wind 1997” / “One thing In regards to the Manner You Look Tonight” -
John Cougar (Mellencamp), “Hurts So Good”
Weeks at No. 2: 4
Peak Date: Aug. 7, 1982
Simply Behind: Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger” -
Foreigner, “Ready for a Woman Like You”
Weeks at No. 2: 10
Peak Date: Nov. 28, 1981
Simply Behind: Olivia Newton-John, “Bodily” and Daryl Corridor John Oates, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” -
Shania Twain, “You’re Nonetheless the One”
Weeks at No. 2: 9
Peak Date: Could 2, 1998
Simply Behind: Subsequent, “Too Shut” and Brandy & Monica, “The Boy Is Mine” -
Tag Staff, “Whoomp! (There It Is)”
Weeks at No. 2: 7
Peak Date: July 31, 1993
Simply Behind: UB40, “Can’t Assist Falling in Love” and Mariah Carey, “Dreamlover” -
Timbaland that includes OneRepublic, “Apologize”
Weeks at No. 2: 4
Peak Date: Nov. 10, 2007
Simply Behind: Chris Brown that includes T-Ache, “Kiss Kiss” and Alicia Keys, “No One” -
Benson Boone, “Lovely Issues”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: March 30, 2024
Simply Behind: Teddy Swims, “Lose Management” -
Jewel, “You Have been Meant for Me”
Weeks at No. 2: 2
Peak Date: April 19, 1997
Simply Behind: Puff Daddy that includes Mase, “Can’t No one Maintain Me Down” and The Infamous B.I.G., “Hypnotize” -
Dua Lipa, “Levitating”
Weeks at No. 2: 1
Peak Date: Could 22, 2021
Simply Behind: Silk Sonic, “Go away the Door Open” -
LeAnn Rimes, “How Do I Dwell”
Weeks at No. 2: 4
Peak Date: Dec. 13, 1997
Simply Behind: Elton John, “Candle within the Wind 1997” / “One thing In regards to the Manner You Look Tonight” and Savage Backyard, “Actually Madly Deeply”