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The world's best-selling single cannot be listed officially, since there is no international body to count global record sales. Historical data before the 1980s and from developing countries are also incomplete. Information is also lacking for non-English language singles.
Singles are listed in alphabetical order of the artists name, rather than singles sold. Groupings are based on different sales benchmarks. Multiple entries from the same artist are listed in chronological order:
Contents |
30 - 37 million copies
| Artist | Single | Year | Genre | Sales (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" | 1997 | Pop | 37[1] |
| Bing Crosby | "White Christmas" | 1942 | Pop | 30[1][2] |
| Bing Crosby | "Silent Night" | 1935 | Traditional pop | 30[3] |
15 - 30 million copies
| Artist | Single | Year | Genre | Sales (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Haley & His Comets | "Rock Around the Clock" | 1954 | Rock and roll | 25 [4] |
| Teixeirinha | "Coração de Luto" | 1960 | Folk | 25 [5] |
| Elvis Presley | "It's Now or Never" | 1960 | Pop | 20 [6] |
| USA for Africa | "We Are the World" | 1985 | Pop | 20[7] |
| Zager and Evans | "In the Year 2525" | 1969 | Pop | 20[8] |
| The Ink Spots | "If I Didn't Care" | 1936 | Doo-wop | 19 [9] |
| Baccara | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" | 1977 | pop | 18 [3] |
10 - 15 million copies
5 - 10 million copies
|
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e "World Best Selling Singles, Uk'S All Time Best Singles". Philbrodieband.com. http://philbrodieband.com/muso_solo_bestselling_singles.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Pop Memories 1890-1954: Joel Whitburn; ISBN 0-89820-083-0; Published 1986
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb The Book of Golden Disks: by Joseph Murrells - ISBN 0 214 205126
- ^ "Best Selling Singles in the World". Neosoul.com. http://www.neosoul.com/riaa/19971002news.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ [1] (in Portuguese)
- ^ [[2]]
- ^ Breznican, Anthony (June 30, 2009). "The many faces of Michael Jackson". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-06-26-jackson-faces_N.htm. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
- ^ "Denny Zager Zager & Evans". Zager Guitar. http://www.zagerguitar.com/?event=public.store.lessons.dennyzager. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ The Paramount Theater -- Ink Spots Set The World On Fire with Paramount Concert (November 13, 2007)
- ^ Karen Collins (2008-01-12). "Fernando the Flute - Details". Tagg.org. http://www.tagg.org/mmmsp/fernando.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "The UK Number Ones : 1970-1974". Onlineweb.com. http://www.onlineweb.com/theones/1970_1974.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Bot generated title ->". Celine Dion Sales<!. http://celinedionsales.com.sapo.pt/. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Cher and Share Alike". Web.archive.org. 2006-10-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20061012081844/http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2003/20030909_cher.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Goombay Dance Band Biography". Goombaydanceband.net. http://www.goombaydanceband.net/bio.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ [3] (in Japanese)
- ^ [4] (in Japanese)
- ^ "Overnight Success - Celebrities". Javno. 2007-06-08. http://www.javno.com/en-celebrities/overnight-success_51247. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Songwriters Hall of Fame[dead link]
- ^ "Roger Whittaker Biography". Rogerwhittaker.com. 1936-03-22. http://www.rogerwhittaker.com/bio.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ http://www.prefixmag.com/news/shakira-and-britney-dominate-list-of-the-20-best-s/32422/
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ CNN.com[dead link]
- ^ "Behind the glitter and glitz, the real Dolly Parton shines". Seattlepi.nwsource.com. 2008-11-08. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/374360_dolly11q.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Published: 12:00AM GMT 16 Mar 2001 (2001-03-16). "Glenn Hughes". Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1326570/Glenn-Hughes.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Top Singles 1985". Tsort.info. 2007-10-08. http://tsort.info/music/yr1985.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ [7] (in French)
- ^ "Biggest Selling Singles Since the Year 2000". Yahoo. 2009-09-01. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/41097/biggest-selling-singles-since-the-year-2000/. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
- ^ "Radio 2 - Sold On Song - Top 100 - No.91". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/everythingido.shtml. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "HMV.co.jp". HMV.co.jp. http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1944287. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "BBC.com Michael seeking 'a quieter life'". BBC News. 2008-06-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7449964.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ a b http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2009.pdf
- ^ Masley, Ed. "Boy bands throughout history". Azcentral.com. http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/feedback/articles/1010topboybands.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Janet: Queen Of Music & Media". Mitglied.lycos.de. http://mitglied.lycos.de/jdjgermany/index2_frame.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Published: 11:59AM BST 21 Oct 2008 (2008-10-21). "2008". Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3233689/Katy-Perry-admits-she-has-kissed-a-girl---and-liked-it.html. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ Published: 11:59AM BST 21 Oct 2008 (2008-10-21). "2008". Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3233689/Katy-Perry-admits-she-has-kissed-a-girl---and-liked-it.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Week Ending May 24, 2009: The Kris/Adam Duel Moves To The Charts - Chart Watch". New.music.yahoo.com. 2009-05-27. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/33699/week-ending-may-24-2009-the-krisadam-duel-moves-to-the-charts/. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Lady Gaga scores UK chart double | News". Nme.Com. 2009-04-05. http://www.nme.com/news/lady-gaga/43888. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2009Singles.htm". Aria.com.au. 2009-06-30. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accr.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Digital Home - Canadian digital album sales up 69% in 2008". Digitalhome.ca. 2009-01-09. http://www.digitalhome.ca/content/view/3292/284/. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ http://promusicae.org/listastonos/listas/historial/TOP%2050%20CANCIONES%2009_17.pdf
- ^ "RIANZ". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding_Love#cite_note-76
- ^ These 2 million copies are Gramophone record, 4 million copies are sonosheet. [8] (in Japanese)
- ^ "All I Want for Christmas is You Ringtone - Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You Ringtone". Articlesbase.com. 2008-12-01. http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-ringtone-mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-ringtone-665663.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ [9][dead link]
- ^ "MariahCentral.Com...Charts". Mariahcentral.com. http://www.mariahcentral.com/charts.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Dieter Bohlen - Germany's Prince of Pop | Culture & Lifestyle | Deutsche Welle | 12.02.2003". Dw-world.de. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,776871,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "BBC ON THIS DAY | 8 | 1994: Rock musician Kurt Cobain 'shoots himself'". BBC News. 1953-04-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/8/newsid_3522000/3522702.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ http://www.pinkspage.wg.am/diskografie.html
- ^ "» clanotopiaDOTde » the young music-fun-lifestyle-community". Clanotopia.com. http://www.clanotopia.com/music_promis/starcorner.php?action=biografie&group_id=72. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Spice Girls, PMS On The Money". MTV. 1997-10-01. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434516/19971001/spice_girls.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS
- ^ "InfoDisc : Les 45 T. / Singles les plus vendus en France". Infodisc.fr. http://www.infodisc.fr/S_ToutTemps.php. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Art Arena: http://myweb.absa.co.za/artarena/. "3rd Ear Music Forum - A Lion’s Trial?". 3rdearmusic.com. http://www.3rdearmusic.com/forum/forumaug04/thisday.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
References
- The Guinness Book of Records 2007 states that "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the biggest selling single: 'since records began'. Bing Crosby's White Christmas was covered and has had countless different versions performed of it, sales of which were not included. Elton's 1997 song, has sold the most copies as verified in Guinness World Records.. ISBN 1-904994-11-3.
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