Can you remember which songs were popular in 2008 or which artists were topping the charts? Well, we’re going to explore the 35 best songs from 2008 that you might or might not know so that you can relive the memories and include them in your playlist!
1. Love Story – Taylor Swift
First on our list is Love Story by Taylor Swift, which comes from her album Fearless. This song takes inspiration from Romeo And Juliet except that the romance that’s in trouble ends in a marriage instead. This was one of her country tracks, and it went to number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, Mainstream Top 49, and Adult Contemporary charts. It landed at four on the Billboard Hot 100 and three on the Pop 100 chart.
2. Viva La Vida – Coldplay
Up next is Coldplay with one of their most successful songs, Viva La Vida, which has references to Christian values and history within it. On the Billboard Hot 100, it went to number one, and it also went to number one on the United Kingdom Singles chart, which made it their first track to peak at number one in both countries. They also won a Grammy Award for it in the Song of the Year category.
3. Poker Face – Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga makes our list with Poker Face, which comes from her debut album The Fame. It’s all about being bisexual and also references her ex-boyfriends who were all musicians. This song was incredibly popular, and it hit number one in more than 20 countries. She also won a Grammy Award in the Best Dance Recording category for the track.
4. It’s Not My Time – 3 Doors Down
Rock band 3 Doors Down had a hit with It’s Not My Time, which was supposed to be for the film The Poseidon Adventure, but the movie producers ended up not liking it, so the band kept it for their self-titled album instead. It peaked at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart and Adult Top 40 chart while landing at 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
5. Disturbia – Rihanna
Rihanna is on the list with Disturbia, which comes from her album Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded. This song was a huge hit, and it’s all about being confused, having anxiety, and dealing with anguish. It was dark but still received positive attention from the critics, and she was nominated for a Grammy, although she didn’t win. It hit number one in multiple countries including the United States, New Zealand, and Belgium.
6. I Kissed A Girl – Katy Perry
I Kissed A Girl was one of the biggest songs of 2008, which comes from pop singer Katy Perry and was her music debut from the album One Of The Boys. This track was controversial because she talks about kissing a girl and liking it, so it was all about being bicurious. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for seven weeks.
7. Heartless – Kanye West
Up next is Kayne West with his song Heartless, which comes from his album 808s & Heartbreak. This track was all about his recent breakup with a woman named Alexis Phifer. It went to number one on the Hot Rap Songs chart and two on the Billboard Hot 100, and it’s one of his most popular and well-known tracks.
8. Sex On Fire – Kings of Leon
Rock band Kings Of Leon makes the list with Sex On Fire, which was the lead single from the album Only By The Night. This song was their first hit in the United Kingdom, Finland, Australia, and Ireland, and it was successful in America too, peaking at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. This song helped the band win a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group.
9. Pork and Beans – Weezer
Weezer makes our list with Pork And Beans, which comes from The Red Album. This song didn’t have a guitar solo, which was the first time one of their tracks didn’t feature one. It wasn’t supposed to be on their album, but Geffen Records wanted a song for the album that was more commercial and upbeat, which is how this track was born. Funny enough, it became one of their biggest and most popular songs.
10. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
![Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (Official Video) [4K Remaster]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EkHTsc9PU2A/0.jpg)
Next on the list is Jason Mraz with I’m Yours, which is from his album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. This song didn’t win a Grammy but was nominated for two awards. It was highly successful and ended up spending 76 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which broke the record at the time. Digitally, this track had more than 12.2 million downloads worldwide and more than 6 million in the United States alone.
11. Whatever You Like – T.I.
![T.I. - Whatever You Like [Official Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nQJACVmankY/0.jpg)
Rapper T.I. makes our list with Whatever You Like from his album Paper Trail. This song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks and stayed in the top three of the chart for over 12 weeks. It’s considered one of the best tracks of the decade by Billboard, and it went number one in New Zealand too!
12. Forever – Chris Brown
Chris Brown makes the list with Forever, which was a song that was meant for a Doublemint advertisement, but it ended up being the lead single from his album Exclusive Forever Edition.
This track hit number one in multiple countries including New Zealand and Ireland, and it was within the Top 10 in other countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. On the American charts, it reached number one on the Mainstream Top 40 and peaked at two on the Billboard Hot 100.
13. Stop and Stare – OneRepublic
OneRepublic had a hit with Stop And Stare, which comes from their debut album Dreaming Out Loud. This song was a huge success worldwide and hit two on the Adult Top 40 chart and 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Worldwide, this track has had more than two million downloads digitally and landed at six on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. Considering the success of Apologize, Stop And Stare managed to avoid the sophomore slump and become nearly as successful.
14. So What – P!nk
So What by P!nk makes the list, which is about her separating from Carey Hart, and it comes from her album Funhouse. This song was a huge hit for her, peaking at number one in multiple countries, including the United States, and quickly becoming her biggest-selling single in America.
15. Paper Planes – M.I.A.
Calling all fans of Slumdog Millionaire, M.I.A is on the list with Paper Planes, which comes from her album Kala. This song is about how she had issues getting a Visa so that she could work in America, and it goes into how Americans view those coming in from other countries using satire. This track landed at four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and six on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
16. Burnin’ Up – Jonas Brothers
Rock and pop boy band Jonas Brothers had a hit with Burnin’ Up from their album A Little Bit Longer, and this song went to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was the first time the group had a track within the top five in America. It also landed at 12 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, and until 2019, it was the song that charted the highest in America.
17. Paralyzer – Finger Eleven
Rock band Finger Eleven’s song Paralyzer is next, which comes from their album Them Vs. You Vs. Me. It went to number one on the Mainstream Rock chart and number one on the Alternative Airplay chart but only peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It even passed One Thing to become their biggest and most successful single.
18. Time Of My Life – David Cook
David Cook might have been on American Idol, but with Time Of My Life, he showed that he is a real musician, and this was his first song from his debut album. It landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number three while hitting two on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.
19. Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis is next with her song Bleeding Love, which comes from her album Spirit. This was her first single that was released from the debut album, and it was a major hit, coming in at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Adult Top 40 chart, and Adult Contemporary chart. It also was a major success internationally and is considered her signature song.
20. No One – Alicia Keys
Pop singer Alicia Keys makes the list with No One, which comes from her album As I Am and was the lead single released from it. This was a very commercially successful track and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Mainstream Top 40, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In America, it was placed sixth in the list of most successful tracks of the decade, and she won two Grammy Awards for it.
21. With You – Chris Brown
Next up is Chris Brown with the song With You, which comes from his album Exclusive. The track hit number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart while hitting two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also managed to be within the top five on the charts in countries outside of the United States including in New Zealand where it went to number one.
22. Decode – Paramore
![Paramore: Decode [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RvnkAtWcKYg/0.jpg)
Paramore had a smash hit with Decode, which was used in the movie soundtrack to Twilight. This song is a rock track that was not only a success in America but internationally as well. On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, this song came in at 33 while it hit within the top 20 in countries including New Zealand, France, and Australia.
23. Touch My Body – Mariah Carey
The next track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Dance Club Songs chart, and Pop 100 chart, which is Touch My Body by Mariah Carey. It is a track that not only talks about what sexual fantasies she has about her man but also is warning the man against coming out and talking about their hookups. While not her most famous song, it is one of her hottest tracks and proved she’s still got it after all these years.
24. Second Chance – Shinedown
![Shinedown - Second Chance (Official Video) [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WbsDPbr8qoM/0.jpg)
Calling all fans of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the next song on our list was used in the promo for this television show. We’re talking about Second Chance by Shinedown, which is from their album The Sound Of Madness. This track quickly became the one to chart the highest with it coming in at number one on the Adult Top 40, three on the Mainstream Top 40, and seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
25. Womanizer – Britney Spears
Britney Spears was still releasing hit music in 2008, and her song Womanizer was one of the best from her album Circus. It is a mix of dance and pop, and it is a female anthem all about the female knowing that the man in her life is a womanizer.
26. Clumsy – Fergie
Fergie had a hit with Clumsy, which comes from her debut album The Dutchess. This song was a massive hit, and it sampled Little Richard’s song The Girl Can’t Help It. On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the track made it to number five.
27. Tattoo – Jordin Sparks
Next is Jordin Sparks with Tattoo, and this song is from her self-titled debut studio album. It hit number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and landed at number five on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. The track was a hit outside of America too, reaching number five on the charts in Australia and number three on the Canadian charts.
28. Two Doors Down – Mystery Jets
Mystery Jets is a band you might not know, but their song Two Doors Down from their album Twenty One was a huge hit in 2008. This track hit 24 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart, and it was only their second-highest position on that chart behind the song The Boy Who Ran Away. This track managed to hit a record for most weeks on the chart by staying on it for eight weeks.
29. Chasing Pavements – Adele
Adele is on the list with Chasing Pavements, which was released on her debut album 19, and this song was about whether she should keep looking for romance after her relationship just ended or whether she should get back with the man she just broke up with. It’s thought to be one of her best tracks and was a worldwide hit, coming in at 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting number one in Norway.
30. Halo – Beyoncé
Next on the list is Halo by Beyoncé, and it comes from her album I Am… Sasha Fierce. This song is both an R&B and pop track that went to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and five on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
31. Closer – Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo had a hit song with Closer from the album Year Of The Gentleman, and the track hit seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also did well outside of the United States and managed to hit number one in the United Kingdom. It stayed within the Top 10 in multiple countries such as Ireland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Austria, to name a few.
32. See You Again – Miley Cyrus
Pop star Miley Cyrus makes the list with See You Again, which is from her debut album Meet Miley Cyrus, and this song is all about romance as a teenager. This was an incredibly popular track and hit four on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 21 on the Adult Top 40 chart.
33. Kim & Jessie – M83
Next on our list is Kim & Jessie by M83, and this song was released on the album Saturdays = Youth. This was a pretty big track in 2008, and it was rated five on the Pitchfork yearly top songs. The track was the best one from the entire album and is thought to be their signature song.
34. Our Song – Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is on the list again with Our Song, which comes from her debut album and it was about a couple that used their own life events to create a track. She wrote this during her high school talent show when she was just a freshman, and it quickly became a hit and hit number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, making her the youngest at just 17 to have a hit on this chart.
35. Sorry – Buckcherry
Last on our list is Sorry by Buckcherry, which comes from their album 15, and this song was incredibly successful for the band. It hit two on the Adult Top 40, which was the first time their track landed on this chart. It also peaked at five on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.
