Western R&B Popularity Ranking [2025]

Good DaysSZA50rank/position

SZA – Good Days (Official Video)

The end of summer brings a bittersweet feeling along with all the happy memories, doesn’t it? There’s a song by R&B artist SZA that gently stays close to that tender mood.

While swaying between past pain and regret, it seeks a glimmer of hope in the future, expressed through her husky, deeply emotive voice.

The lyrics’ world overlaps with the sentimental atmosphere of a summer evening, and listening to it makes your heart tighten.

Released in December 2020 and included on the album “SOS,” the track garnered major attention, reaching No.

3 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

It’s perfect for a quiet night alone, when you want to bask in the memories of a joyful summer.

It’s a song filled with a kind of magic that gently wraps your wistfulness in warmth.

Long As I LiveToni Braxton51rank/position

Toni Braxton – Long As I Live

Toni Braxton, who has had a remarkably long career in the R&B scene.

This is the song with which she returned to the Billboard charts, after having devoted herself to R&B since the ’80s.

With her compelling vocal power, she sounds not only unchanged from those days but even more captivating with the richness that comes with age.

And hats off to her for stepping onto the same stage as the younger generation, singing while dancing at the forefront.

PUSH 2 STARTTyla52rank/position

Tyla – PUSH 2 START (Official Music Video)

This is a track by Tyla, the South African artist who drew global attention with her 2024 Grammy win.

Featured on the deluxe edition Tyla+, an expansion of the acclaimed album Tyla, the song explores equality in romantic relationships.

With lyrics that tell a partner, “If we’re going to start something, show your worth through actions,” the confident protagonist comes vividly to life.

Its cool, smooth sound with Amapiano influences is perfect for a summer evening drive.

Maybe the secret to the best relationships is lifting each other up.

Why not take a positive step forward, believing in your own worth, while listening to this track?

RespectAretha Franklin53rank/position

Aretha Franklin – Respect [1967] (Aretha’s Original Version)

Known by epithets like the Queen of Soul and Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin was a legendary songstress who transcended the boundaries of soul music to shape popular music at large.

Beyond her overwhelming vocal prowess, she stood as an iconic figure of the women’s liberation movement and the civil rights movement.

Her life—marked by turbulence and far from unalloyed happiness—became a legend in itself, and her very presence influenced not only music but a wide range of cultures and even politics.

Her signature song “Respect” is a true gem—a masterpiece born of the greatness of Black music.

Originally written and composed by Otis Redding—himself, like Aretha, a legendary soul singer and a brilliant songwriter who tragically died young in an accident—the song was released as his own in 1965.

Then, in 1967, Aretha’s cover was released and became a massive hit.

“Respect,” which broke numerous records, was far more than just a hit single; because Aretha reworked it from a female perspective, it became an anthem of the civil rights and feminist movements, continuing to give courage and hope to women around the world.

The 2021 biographical film Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson, of course takes its title from this song, and Hudson’s powerful performance of it in the film is not to be missed.

Call MeBlondie54rank/position

Blondie – Call me

A classic by Blondie, a female band that epitomizes new wave, with their one-of-a-kind sound and super cool, edgy vocals.

They’re an electro band known for their groundbreaking sound that shattered the norms and conventions of the time.

It’s a new wave rock number with fans around the world, the kind you’ll occasionally feel like revisiting—never losing its luster no matter how much time passes.

Papa Was A Rolling StoneThe Temptations55rank/position

The Temptations Papa Was A Rolling Stone 1972 Single Version

The Temptations are one of the signature vocal groups representing the legendary Motown label—indispensable to any discussion of Black music history—and have continued to perform from their debut in the 1960s right up to the present day in the 2020s.

At this point, Otis Williams is the only remaining original member, but it’s truly remarkable that, despite repeated lineup changes, they’ve continued to release hits across different eras.

The song featured here, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” was first released in 1972 by a group called The Undisputed Truth.

In September of the same year, the Temptations covered it and released it as a single; not only did it hit number one on the U.

S.

charts and become a massive success, it also earned them a Grammy Award.

The greatness of this track owes much to producer and songwriter Norman Whitfield, whose presence was crucial.

Every Temptations release from 1966 to 1974 was created in partnership with Whitfield, who boldly infused the classic Motown sound with elements of psychedelic rock to forge a unique sonic identity.

One of the finest results of their collaboration is this very “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” Unfortunately, Whitfield’s emphasis on instrument-driven arrangements—despite working with a vocal group—ultimately led to their split.

Even so, the song’s fearsomely deep and cool forward-thinking edge is precisely the kind of work that deserves rediscovery by younger music fans.

Club TropicanaWham!56rank/position

Wham! – Club Tropicana (Official Video)

This is a track bursting with the breezy freedom of a tropical resort, woven from lively Latin jazz rhythms and post-disco sounds.

Released in July 1983 by the British pop duo Wham!, the song paints an ideal holiday scene unfolding poolside while satirically portraying escapism from society under the Thatcher government.

Included on their debut album Fantastic, it spent 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 4.

The music video, filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza, vividly captured the youth culture of the time, enhanced by its liberating atmosphere.

It’s a perfect pick for summer drives and vacation soundtracks, as well as a refreshing mood booster at work or parties.