Missy's early millennium hip-hop jam, complete with bawdy rhymes, a Run-D.M.C. break, and a hook literally sung backwards, took over airwaves in 2002 and sat in the runner-up spot on the chart for an entire season.
"Waiting For A Girl Like You" - Foreigner - Peak Date: Nov. 28, 1981 - #2 for 10 weeks
With Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" dominating the #1 spot for 10 weeks in late '81-early '82, Foreigner really was waiting for a girl, then Hall & Oates jumped over them and hit #1 with "I Can't Go For That".
"I Love You Always Forever" - Donna Lewis - Peak Date: Aug. 3, 1996 - #2 for 9 weeks
This pop smash spent 35 weeks in the top 40, but it's one of two long running #2 hits that were stuck behind the "Macarena".
"You're Still The One" - Shania Twain - Peak Date: March 14, 1998 - #2 for 9 weeks
This Country & A.C. #1 smash was held to #2 on the Pop chart by three R&B crossover hits: "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith, "All My Life" by K-Ci & JoJo, and "Too Close" by Next.
"If I Ever Fall In Love" - Shai - Peak Date: Nov. 28, 1992 - #2 for 8 weeks
This R&B mega-smash sold over 2 million copies, but was runner-up to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" for 8 consecutive weeks.
"Gangnam Style" - PSY - Peak Date: Sept. 27, 2012 - #2 for 7 weeks
It's hard to believe that the most watched video in You Tube history, and probably the biggest dance craze in over a decade, did not reach #1 on the Pop chart, but Maroon 5's "One More Night" held it back.
"Payphone" - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa - Peak Date: May 26, 2012 - #2 for 6 weeks
Though Maroon 5 has dominated the charts over the last few years, they did have this huge hit fall just short of #1.
"All I Wanna Do" - Sheryl Crow - Peak Date: Oct. 8, 1994 - #2 for 6 weeks
Sheryl Crow's easygoing rocker about partying "until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Blvd" didn't quite hit the chart's jackpot but almost two decades later, the song stands as perhaps her most famous.
"Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" - Patty Smyth With Don Henley - Peak Date: Sept. 26, 1992 - #2 for 6 weeks
This smash ballad dominated the charts in the fall of '92, but could only reach #2 as Boyz II Men's epic smash "End Of The Road" ruled #1 for 13 straight weeks.
"Open Arms" - Journey - Peak Date: Feb. 27, 1982 - #2 for 6 weeks
This all time power ballad was Journey's biggest hit single, but was blocked from reaching #1 by the J.Geils Band's "Centerfold" and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts "I Love Rock N Roll".
"Baker Street" - Gerry Rafferty - Peak Date: June 24, 1978 - #2 for 6 weeks
The former leader of Stealers Wheel had this huge hit in the summer of '78, but Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing" was just a little more popular...
"Louie Louie" - Kingsmen - Peak Date: Dec. 14, 1963 - #2 for 6 weeks
This all time rock n roll classic was a #2 hit on the charts, though the group did not receive any royalties from their record company. They had to win a lawsuit in 1998 to receive anything. They were also robbed by Bobby Vinton, who was #1 with "There, I Said It Again".
"Without Me" - Eminem - Peak Date: June 29, 2002 - #2 for 5 weeks
This monster hit for the Detroit rapper was one of the biggest selling singles of 2002, but was kept out of the #1 spot by Nelly's "Hot In Herre"
"Breathe" - Faith Hill - Peak Date: April 22, 2000 - #2 for 5 weeks
This country crossover smash spent 42 weeks in the Top 40, and was ranked by Billboard as the #1 single of 2000, but Santana's "Maria Maria" was #1 at the time.
"It's All Coming Back To Me Now" - Celine Dion - Peak Date: Oct. 26, 1996 - #2 for 5 weeks
This Jim Steinman-penned smash sold over 2 million copies, but Los Del Rio's "Macarena" was the sensation sweeping the nation at the time.
.......and some notable #3 peaks...
"Dawn(Go Away)" - Four Seasons - Peak Date: March 14, 1964 - #3 for 3 weeks
One of the biggest selling hits for Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, but only Beatles hits stood in the way of a 5 week run at #1.
"Please Please Me" - Beatles - Peak Date: Apr. 4, 1964 - #3 for 2 weeks
When the Beatles owned the top 5 of the chart, this song sold over 3 million copies, but was stuck behind "I Want To Hold Your Hand" at #1, and "She Loves You" at #2.
"Lay Down Sally" - Eric Clapton - Peak Date: Apr. 1, 1978 - #3 for 3 weeks
and
"Can't Smile Without You" - Barry Manilow - Peak Date: Apr. 22, 1978 - #3 for 4 weeks
These two songs were victims of bad timing. They both became big hits at the same time as the dominance of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. "Night Fever" and "Stayin Alive" by the Bee Gees were #1 & #2, ahead of "Lay Down Sally" and "Night Fever" and "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman blocked Barry Manilow from his 4th #1 single.
"Let's Groove" - Earth, Wind & Fire - Peak Date: December 5, 1981 - #3 for 5 weeks
A huge record during the holiday season of '81, but Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" and Foreigner's "Waiting For A Girl Like You" stood in the way of E,W & F reaching #1.
.......and some notable #3 peaks...
"Dawn(Go Away)" - Four Seasons - Peak Date: March 14, 1964 - #3 for 3 weeks
One of the biggest selling hits for Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, but only Beatles hits stood in the way of a 5 week run at #1.
"Please Please Me" - Beatles - Peak Date: Apr. 4, 1964 - #3 for 2 weeks
When the Beatles owned the top 5 of the chart, this song sold over 3 million copies, but was stuck behind "I Want To Hold Your Hand" at #1, and "She Loves You" at #2.
"Lay Down Sally" - Eric Clapton - Peak Date: Apr. 1, 1978 - #3 for 3 weeks
and
"Can't Smile Without You" - Barry Manilow - Peak Date: Apr. 22, 1978 - #3 for 4 weeks
These two songs were victims of bad timing. They both became big hits at the same time as the dominance of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. "Night Fever" and "Stayin Alive" by the Bee Gees were #1 & #2, ahead of "Lay Down Sally" and "Night Fever" and "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman blocked Barry Manilow from his 4th #1 single.
"Let's Groove" - Earth, Wind & Fire - Peak Date: December 5, 1981 - #3 for 5 weeks
A huge record during the holiday season of '81, but Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" and Foreigner's "Waiting For A Girl Like You" stood in the way of E,W & F reaching #1.
