The Name Game: The Charts’ Hottest “Re-Run” Titles – Part Three!

As we count down Numbers 20-11 of the most popular song titles on the charts, I remember the question of “Repeated Titles” being asked on “American Top 40.”

And several of the titles Casey Kasem referenced are in this week’s set.

20. “Runaway.” Here, the guideline I set up about punctuation makes a difference. Real McCoy’s 20-week hit “Run Away” is not part of this set. What is included? Top 20 smashes from the Jefferson Starship and Janet Jackson, and of course:

The rock classic from Del Shannon.

19. TIE! “Smile.” The oft-covered Charlie Chaplin composition isn’t the biggest Hot 100 hit with this title. Rather, it’s Uncle Kracker’s 2010 AC-pop hit that takes that honor.

I’ll go with Uncle on this one.

And “Last Night.” This one will keep rising so long as Morgan Wallen’s current hit remains on the chart (58 weeks and counting).

Of the other compositions, I’ll go with Az Yet’s 1996 hit.

18. TIE! “Believe.” Elton John, Brooks and Dunn, and Mumford and Sons all have contenders here.

But no one can really stand up to the No. 1 comeback for then-52-year-old Cher.  

And “Let It Go.” Although TNOCS readers who are parents might want to thank (or blame) the hit song from Frozen, it’s one of six compositions with that title to chart. This doesn’t include the Prince track from 1994, which was in true Prince fashion, titled “Letitgo.”

My pick is James Bay’s 2016 hit.

17. “Always.” I’m not a fan of either of the biggest songs with this title, Atlantic Starr’s 1987 No. 1 or Bon Jovi’s rock ballad from 1994.

But another 1994 composition with that title, Erasure’s pop dance hit, is superb.

16. TIE: “Perfect.” Again, our guidelines for this countdown take hold, as the song most folks might remember with this title, Pink’s hit from 2011, had a vulgar modifying adjective, disqualifying it from this list.

Of the six compositions that counted, Ed Sheeran’s was the biggest.   

And “Lady.” Top 10 hits from Styx and Little River Band are credible contenders, and Lenny Kravitz and the Whispers have solid tunes with their ladies. The Commodores’ 1981 hit is excluded from this set because of its subtitle, “You Bring Me Up.”

But writer Lionel Richie needn’t worry; he’s the author of the leading song with this title, Kenny Rogers’ multiformat smash of a year earlier.

15. “Home.” Before the 21^st century, only Depeche Mode had hit the Hot 100 with this title. In the past two decades, five other acts joined them, including two with “American Idol” connections. I like both. But I’m struggling to recall the Phillip Phillips melody right now.

So I’ll go with Daughtry.

14. “Magic.” Olivia Newton-John’s TNOCS fave is just one of seven compositions with this title to score. Although I like it, I’ll have to rank it behind the Cars’ 1984 smash and my favorite:

Pilot’s Top 10 from 1975.

13. TIE! “Call Me.” If this were strictly a countdown of titles with the most compositions on the charts, this would be in the Top 10, with 10 different songs. But its total number of chart weeks falls behind more than a dozen others.

Of this set, Blondie’s 1980 smash is the standout.

And, “I Want You.” If the title of Elvis Presley’s 1956 chart-topper, “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You,” were broken into its three separate sentences, it would match titles in positions 31, 13 and … coming right up.

As it stands, the big winner in this set is Savage Garden’s “chic-a-cherry-cola” track.

12. “Missing You.” Remakes don’t count toward total chart weeks, so Tina Turner and Brooks and Dunn’s takes on John Waite’s No. 1 pop hit aren’t included here. Still, big hits by Dan Fogelberg, Diana Ross...

and the collective of Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan help Waite lift this title.

11. “I Love You.” Those three simple words have been the title of 10 separate charting compositions, with the biggest being:

The Climax Blues Band’s ballad from 1981 (a favorite of mine since that was my senior year of high school).

Here’s a Spotify compilation of songs from this week:

And stop by next week for: The Final 10!

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