Famous #1 Songs by Washington Musicians

Washington state has had its fair share of iconic artists, and these were their songs that became best-sellers countrywide.How many do you know?

White Christmas {Bing Crosby} 1942

Who knew that possibly the best-known Christmas song of all time was performed by an artist born in Tacoma,Washington? Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” was the first Christmas song to hit #1 and became a mammoth cultural sensation. The nation was enveloped in the darkest days of WWII and was dying for a sense of normalcy. Everything about White Christmas, from the silky sweet arrangement to the smooth voice and nostalgic lyrics, gave soldiers overseas and their anxious families at home something to fondly remember during uncertain times.

“These Dreams” and “Alone” {Heart} (1986, 1987)

While successful in the 1970s as a hard rock band, the Seattle-born Heart saw their best sales in the back half of the 1980s when they pivoted to a polished ballad/arena-rock sound. “These Dreams” and “Alone” both reached #1 and became iconic '80s power ballads in all their drama!

Rebecca Sapp, Getty Images

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” {Nirvana} (1992)

If any song ended the cultural '80s, it would be “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Fed up with corporate rock, hair metal, and towering ballads, the grunge movement rose in Seattle as an anti-establishment counterpart to the mainstream rock song.Cobain captured the spirit of disaffected youth in the song with lyrics such as “oh well, whatever, never mind.” Rock music would never be the same!

Last Kiss {Pearl Jam} (1999)

Originally going to #1 in 1964 as a bubblegum teen-tragedy song by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, the song was first recorded by Wayne Cochran in 1961 and forgotten by time until Eddie Vedder (frontman of Seattle-formed Pearl Jam) discovered it at an antique store. He had Pearl Jam record it and put it out as a special Christmas single for their fan club only. However, a completely unexpected boom in radio airplay led it to be released as a proper single. Giving a '60s bubblegum hit with a death theme a dark, grungy arrangement was exactly what the song needed, and it soared to #1!

Thrift Shop (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis) (2013)

Serving as a rare antithesis to typical hip-hop materialism, Thrift Shop became a rap anthem for anti-consumerism.Written by Seattle-born Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, the cultural sensation made “thrifting” cool again and won two Grammy awards!

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What’s your favorite, Yakima? Let us know!

Methodology:

Billboard Best Selling Singles (1940-1958, 1984-2004)

Billboard Best Selling Digital Singles (2005-2015)

Billboard Streaming Singles (2016-Present)

Variety Best Selling Singles (1958-1960, 1978-1984)

Cash Box Singles Sales (1960-1978)