Editor’s Note: In the time since Journey initially tied Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower,” the RIAA issued a new certification in February that “Sunflower” has reached double diamond status for over 20 million units.
The biggest song in music history is now a rock song, and that honor belongs to none other than Journey with their 1981 hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Earlier this year, the song took a major jump forward when the RIAA revisited the band’s sales history and noted that the track was now certified for selling more than 18 million units. This consists of pure song sales as well as consumed music streams.
According to Forbes, this now moves the song technically into a tie with Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” at the 18 million certification mark, which for now gives it the title of being the biggest song in music history.
Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin'”
Why the Big Jump for Journey?
Simply put, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” has remained consistently in the public eye (or ear) since its 1981 release, and a number of pop culture moments have helped continue to drive interest.
The song was initially certified Gold (for 500,000 units) in November 2005. That wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire by barely eclipsing the half-million mark some 24 years after the song was released.
But pop culture got a hold of it and it’s usage in The Sopranos series finale scene really renewed interest in the song, which was certified five times platinum in 2005, the next time the RIAA reviewed the certification.
The Sopranos Final Scene
Since that time, the FOX series Glee sparked interest in the song in 2009. Sports has definitely played a role with Steve Perry leading San Francisco Giants fans in a sing-along at the 2014 World Series, Journey themselves playing the 2024 NFC Championship game, the Detroit Red Wings retiring Joe Louis Arena with the popular stadium anthem in 2017 and more.
Plus, it got significant TV time for its use in at 2020 commercial for the Toyota Hllux.
As of Jan. 26, 2024, the RIAA had tallied up the song’s jump to 18 times certified, pulling it into a tie as biggest song of all-time.
READ MORE: How a Deadly School Fire Inspired Lyrics for Massive Journey Hit
Journey’s Initial Radio Run for “Don’t Stop Believin'”
It was actually a fairly modest start for Journey when they released “Don’t Stop Believin'” back in the fall of 1981. It was actually released as the second single from the Escape album following “Who’s Crying Now.”
The song rose to No. 8 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, ensuring that it was a hit. But off the same album, the ballad “Open Arms” charted even higher at the time.
Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin'” (1981, Live)
Journey Respond to “Don’t Stop Believin'” Milestone
Founding guitarist Neal Schon commented on the news that “Don’t Stop Believin'” was now the biggest song in music history. “We now officially have the biggest song in the world ever in the history of music,” exclaimed the guitarist on social media. “Congratulations to all.”
The 60 Rock + Metal Songs With Over One Billion Spotify Streams
Recapping the rock and metal songs that have eclipsed one billion streams on Spotify.
NOT INCLUDED: The definition of rock is incredibly broad today and, in this list, we’ve elected not to include pop/rock acts such as Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, Twenty One Pilots, 5 Seconds of Summer, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, Gym Class heroes and Train.
Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita