Western R&B Popularity Ranking [2025]

Pick Up Your FeelingsJazmine Sullivan92rank/position

Jazmine Sullivan – Pick Up Your Feelings (Official Acoustic Live Video)

Jazmine Sullivan is a female R&B singer whose exceptional vocal ability has earned high praise from critics.

She’s a top-tier artist who can master anything from contemporary slow jams to R&B that evokes soulful mid-school vibes.

Among her works, a song I especially recommend for summer is “Pick Up Your Feelings.” This time, I’m highlighting the acoustic version, and I think its light, breezy performance perfectly matches the summer mood.

If you like R&B with sophisticated vocal runs and embellishments, be sure to check it out.

Forever My LadyJodeci93rank/position

Jodeci – Forever My Lady

If you’re looking for a love song with beautifully gospel-infused choral work, Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady” is a great pick.

Included as the title track on their debut album and released as a single, it spent two weeks at No.

1 on the U.

S.

R&B chart.

The lyrics, which sing about a beloved partner and the new life soon to be born, convey a pure and profound affection.

Jodeci projected the image of streetwise young men, so the contrast of these tough-looking guys delivering a straightforward love song also contributed to its massive success.

Ain’t No Stopping Us NowMcFadden & Whitehead94rank/position

McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now (Official Audio)

This disco anthem carries a powerful message of overcoming adversity—“No one can stop us anymore!” It was the debut single released in April 1979 by the Philadelphia duo McFadden & Whitehead, a work that can be seen as their declaration of independence as ace songwriters.

Its exhilarating beat and lavish strings embody a fierce determination to face hardship, giving listeners a strong push forward.

Selling over eight million copies worldwide, the song has been used as a rallying anthem for Philadelphia’s professional sports teams and even in the 2008 U.

S.

presidential election.

It’s the kind of track that fills you with positive energy when you’re taking a new step forward.

Upside DownDiana Ross95rank/position

Upside Down

Diana Ross, who not only had the talent of a soul singer but also achieved great success in the pop field.

Released in 1980, this work is a dance classic she created in pursuit of a career breakthrough, teaming up with Chic, masters of the disco sound.

Over a groove woven from a funky bass and crisp guitar, it portrays a woman whose heart is thrown into chaos by a capricious lover.

From September 1980, the song spent four consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts, and the landmark album “diana” became the biggest hit of her career.

This timeless gem, which makes you want to start dancing, is perfect for those moments when you want to lift your spirits.

Truth or DareTyla96rank/position

Tyla – Truth or Dare (Official Visualizer)

Tyla’s new song “Truth or Dare,” released on December 1, 2023, is an impressive track rooted in Amapiano and Afrobeats.

Subtly infused with the essence of ’90s and ’00s R&B, it feels refined and mature.

Though the song is a brief 3 minutes and 10 seconds, it has a powerful resonance that goes beyond emotion and strikes the listener’s heart.

Tyla’s translucent vocals and lyrics that convey a strong sense of self-expression blend beautifully, making the track irresistibly captivating.

In Your HandsHalle97rank/position

Halle – In Your Hands (Official Video)

Halle Bailey’s song is a powerful R&B ballad that sings of deep love and commitment.

Her vocals convey devotion and protection toward her partner, resonating with listeners.

Released in March 2024, the track sparked major buzz on social media, inspiring over 170,000 TikTok videos.

As her second solo single, it reveals a new side of the Grammy-nominated artist.

It’s a recommended listen not only for those in love, but also for anyone who wants to reflect on someone special.

Boogie NightsHeatwave98rank/position

Boogie Nights (1976)

Boogie Nights became a big hit, entering the U.

S.

charts in 1977 and quickly reaching No.

2.

It sold over a million copies and was strong enough to have topped the chart, but unfortunately it had to settle for No.

2 because Debbie Boone was in the midst of setting a major record with “You Light Up My Life,” holding the No.

1 spot for 10 consecutive weeks.