Do you remember the #1 pop song from your senior year of high school?


From Wham! to Whitney Houston to Faith Hill, find out if you remember the number one pop song from your senior year of high school...


George Michael, Cher, Coolio split image© Getty Images
Tess Hill
Tess HillNews and Features Writer
57 minutes ago

There are some songs that stick in your head, no matter how long ago they came out. For many of us, our favorite songs were released when we were seniors in high school.

I graduated from my all-girls high school in 2014 and the number one pop song that year was "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. The singer wrote the song for the animated film, Despicable Me 2, and it became nothing short of an earworm.

Keep reading to see if you remember the top pop hit from your senior year of high school.

1976:  American rock group Blondie (L-R: Gary Valentine, Clem Burke, Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Jimmy Destri) pose for portrait to promote their debut album 'Blondie' in 1976© Getty Images

The song was from the band's album, American Gigolo

1980 – "Call Me" by Blondie

Blondie formed in 1974, led by singer Debbie Harry, who was of course, a blonde. The new wave band released their first album, Blondie, in 1976 and were immediately beloved. "Call Me" was number one for six consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

American Rock and Pop singer Kim Carnes performs onstage at the Savoy, New York, New York, August 25, 1981. © Getty Images

JoJo Siwa released a cover of this song in 2025

1981 – "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes

Kim Carnes broke through with her hit song "Bette Davis Eyes." The song was originally written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon before being made popular by Kim. It referenced the actress Bette Davis, who was the first person to accrue ten Academy Award nominations, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress twice.

Los Angeles, CA - 1982: Olivia Newton-John promotional photo for the ABC tv special 'Olivia Newton-John: Let's Get Physical'. © Getty Images

Olivia passed away in August 2022

1982 – "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John

Four years after starring as Sandy Olsson in the hit musical film GreaseOlivia Newton-John released "Physical" from her eleventh studio album. The punchy song was an immediate smash hit, shipping two million copies in the United States, where it was certified Platinum.

Black and white photo of the rock band The Police, with members Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, circa 1983. © Getty Images

Sting left The Police in 1984

1983 – "Every Breath You Take" by The Police

The Police were a rock band that defined the 80s. Led by Sting, the band, including Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, formed in 1977 and released several songs that stood the test of time. "Every Breath You Take" was the best-performing single on the band's fifth and final studio album, Synchronicity.

American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actor, and filmmaker Prince (1958-2016) performs onstage during the 1984 Purple Rain Tour on November 4, 1984, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.© Getty Images

Prince passed away from an accidental overdose in 2016

1984 – "When Doves Cry" by Prince

Prince landed the top song of the year in 1984 with "When Doves Cry," the lead single from Prince's sixth studio album, Purple Rain. Starting with a guitar riff, the song includes all the synth-beats-goodness that fans came to expect from the singer.

George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley of "Wham" perform on the TV Show "Solid Gold" in their first American TV appearance.© WireImage via Getty Images

George and Andrew met in 1975 as students

1985 – "Careless Whisper" by Wham!

George Michael was part of the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley and is known for dozens of songs that are still popular today. When George was 17, he wrote "Careless Whisper" while riding the bus. The saxophone riff that starts the song is now iconic and memed all over the internet.

Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Elizabeth Taylor, Gladys Knight, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager at a performance of the song 'That's What Friends Are For' on the television show 'Solid Gold' in Los Angeles, USA, 1986. On the left is Clive Davis, President of Arista Records. The proceeds from the song's sale will go to amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.© Getty Images

The song started a trend of artists coming together for a cause

1986 – "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne and Friends

This now iconic song was first recorded by Rod Stewart for the film Night Shift, but fans probably know the Dionne Warwick version better. In 1985, the singer recorded "That's What Friends Are For" with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, and was released as a charity single for HIV/AIDS research and prevention, raising more than $3 million.

(L-R) American rock musician and songwriter Vicki Peterson, American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer Michael Steele, American singer-songwriter Susanna Hoffs and American drummer Debbi Peterson, of the American pop rock band The Bangles, pose for a portrait circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California© Getty Images

The Bangles are still performing decades later

1987 – "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles

The Bangles was one of the first girl groups to make waves. Formed in 1981 by Susanna Hoffs and sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson, the band released "Walk Like an Egyptian." The song received some criticism, but regardless, it stayed at the top of the charts for four weeks.

George Michael posing© Getty Images

George passed away on Christmas Day in 2016

1988 – "Faith" by George Michael

George went solo in 1987 and landed another top pop song a year later. "Faith" catapulted the singer into stardom and its music video made him into a superstar.

US songwriter Diane Warren arrives for the 2023 Women in Film Honors © VALERIE MACON

Diane Warren penned the song and went on to be nominated for 17 Academy Awards

1989 – "Look Away" by Chicago

The American rock band, Chicago, came together in 1967. With a large group of current and past members, it released 26 studio albums. "Look Away" was written by Diane Warren and spent two weeks as the number one pop song.

Wendy Wilson, Chynna Phillips and Carnie Wilson: Wilson Phillips in Los Angeles, California© Getty Images

The girl group formed in 1989

1990 – "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips

Wilson Phillips includes Chynna Phillips (daughter of John and Michelle Phillips), Wendy Wilson, and Carnie Wilson (daughters of Brian Wilson). The girl group's song "Hold On" was the lead single from their debut studio album.

Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and photographer Bryan Adams is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance, Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States, June 1, 1996.© Getty Images

The singer's nickname is the "Groover from Vancouver"

1991 – "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" by Bryan Adams

Canadian singer Bryan Adams released "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" in 1991. The song was written for the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, won a Grammy, and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Boyz II Men during Boyz II Men Music Video Shoot - September 1, 1997 at London in London, Great Britain. © Getty Images

The group hails from Philadelphia

1992 – "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men

Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, Wayná Morris, and Michael McCary formed Boyz II Men in 1985. By 1992, they had a top song. "End of the Road" set a record when it spent 13 weeks at number one on the charts.

Whitney Houston at the 1988 Grammy Awards © Getty

Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton were good friends

1993 – "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

Written by the late-Dolly Parton, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston is thought of as one of the most iconic songs of all time. It sold over 20 million copies and cemented Whitney as an icon.

MTV AWARDS EUROPE  Photo of ACE OF BASE  (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns)© Getty Images

Ace of Base have never officially called it quits, but they’ve been largely inactive since the late 2000s

1994 – "The Sign" by Ace of Base

The Swedish band, Ace of Base, created a techno-pop ballad in "The Sign." The song was a global hit and helped the band receive a Grammy nomination at the 1995 awards.

Rapper Coolio (Artis Leon Ivey, Jr..) poses for photos at the Soul Train Awards Sprite Night Party at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Los Angeles, California in March 1995. © Getty Images

The rapper won a Grammy Award for the smash hit

1995 – "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio

Coolio, who passed away in 2022, was one of the first wildly successful rappers in history. "Gangsta's Paradise" became the first rap single ever to go straight to number one in Britain and is continually thought of as one of the best songs of all time.

Los Del Rio's Raphael Ruiz and Antonio Romero stand with dancers at a Coconuts music store October 15, 1996 in New York City. Los Del Rio had recorded over 30 albums of traditional Spanish music, until they recorded the worldwide smash hit the "Macarena" which made Billboard's Hot 100 chart for seven weeks.© Getty Images

The Macarena is a classic dance

1996 – "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los del Rio

If you've been to a wedding, you've heard "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los del Rio. It's now a cultural phenomenon, with its own dance and a legacy that is seemingly never ending.

Elton John at piano in teal robe and colourful sunglasses.© Redferns via Getty Images

Elton was knighted on February 24, 1998

1997 – "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John

Elton John made history when he released the two songs together as a double A-side single, which became the best-selling chart single of all time. The British singer's "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" and "Candle in the Wind 1997" were dedicated to Princess Diana, who died that year.

Singers Robert Lavelle ‘R.L.’ Huggar, Terry ‘T-Low’ Brown and Raphael ‘Tweety’ Brown of Next poses for photos prior to rehearsals for their performance on 'The Jenny Jones Show' in Chicago, Illinois in August 2000.  © Getty Images

Next's last single was released in 2002

1998 – "Too Close" by Next

Next was formed in 1992 by Robert "R.L." Huggar, Terry "T-Low" Brown, and Raphael "Tweety" Brown. Their hit song "Too Close" is a party hit that kept people on the dance floor.

Singer and actress Cher poses for a portrait in 1980 in Los Angeles, California.© Getty Images

The hit single won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording and was nominated for Record of the Year

1999 – "Believe" by Cher

Cher is an American icon with five number one hits. "Believe" was from the singer's 22nd studio album and was one of the first songs to feature Auto-Tune.

faith hill sitting in a chair © Getty Images

Faith married fellow singer Tim McGraw in 1996

2000 – "Breathe" by Faith Hill

Faith Hill's "Breathe" spent six weeks at number one and was nominated for Song of the Year at the Grammys.

More US
See more
Conversation

For more information on our conversation section, please read our Community Guidelines. Comments featured and views shared are not endorsed by HELLO!.