I’ve written previously about my iTunes library here and here, and had a comment requesting to know what the most-played songs were. I deferred answering that because I figured I would post about it. This is that post.
First, some updates. Here is the updated chart of songs by stars.
I still use three stars to keep songs off my frequently-played lists but to acknowledge that they have been listened to and don’t exactly stink, but aren’t going to be my favorites. Songs with one or two stars are probably the filler songs on complete albums because if I get a real stinker song and is not part of an album, I am likely to delete it entirely. [Blah, blah, blah. -ed]
Songs by number of plays continues to show that I have almost half my library that I have never listened to. [Slacker. -ed] Or, more accurately, I have not listened to the song completely. I should probably set out to get that number down, but my tolerance for listening to random B sides is fairly low.
This, however, brings me to the 14 songs that have been played more than 100 times. I was surprised at those songs in that I would not say they are my favorite songs. But, what they have in common, other than being either four or five star-rated is that they appear in a number of my playlists. “Ah ha,” I said to myself, “many of these songs appear in my workout playlists!” Since I run those playlists 300+ times a year, that makes sense to me.
So, without no further ado [Isn’t ‘Further Ado‘ the 2026 Blue Grass Stakes winner? -ed], here are the ten most listened to songs in my iTunes library along with random commentary and some runners up:
10. Vanity Kills – ABC from How to be a Zillionaire
9. Tainted Love – Soft Cell from Non-Stop Erotic Caberet
8. Stay with Me – Faces from A Nod is as Good as a Wink…to a Blind Horse
7. Hypnotize – The Notorious B.I.G. from Greatest Hits
6. Big Poppa – also The Notorious B.I.G. from Ready to Die
5. Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts from Bad Reputation
4. Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang – Snoop Doggy Dogg from the album of the same name
3. Get Money – another The Notorious B.I.G song also from Greatest Hits – this really did surprise me
2. Professor Booty – Beastie Boys from the deluxe version of Check Your Head
1. I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts from Fit to be Tied – Great Hits by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
As I said, I was surprised by these songs, so I looked at how they got where they are. Songs 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 all appear on a Hip Hop playlist that is upbeat. It is one I use to shoot baskets or to workout to, so that makes sense.
The two Joan Jett songs, numbers 1 and 5, appear on a number of playlists including workout playlists but also “Women of Rock and Roll” lists. That makes sense too.
The other songs worked there way onto the list by being good songs 🙂 That is not to say that the other songs are not good, but they had the benefit of being on playlists that I get all the way through regularly.
So, what songs a-l-m-o-s-t made the list?
12. Through Being Cool – Devo from their Greatest Hits album
13. Hyperactive – The Donnas off Get Skintight
16. Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield [what a great name! – ed] from The Very Best of Dusty Springfield album
17. I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
18. I Know What I Am – Band of Skulls
21. Buy Me a Boat – Chris Janson from Just Great Country Songs
That’s the list. I am surprised there is not more straight up rock and roll at the top, but it looks like what happens is that I rotate through more songs, so each good song gets fewer plays.
Let me know your reactions.