The scope of music history is vast, especially when considering the history of number one singles. A song from any genre for any reason can reach the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 and become instantly legitimized. It's unbelievable which songs go number one sometimes. The accolade doesn't just solidify the song's popularity, but solidifies its place in music history.

This is especially the case for music records which find their way to the top spot for numerous weeks at a time. Any popular song can go number one, but the difference between a popular song and a classic is its cultural impact. When a song impacts the culture in the way that Taylor Swift's number ones have many times, that's a different brand of staying power. It's then that the song is legitimized as not only an excellent song, but a significant one that the masses will be talking about for years to come. Here are the longest-running number one singles to do exactly that.

14 "Uptown Funk"

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

There are pop songs with manage to supercede the genre, and then there are pop songs that define the genre. "Uptown Funk" falls into the latter category and there's nothing wrong with that. Checking off all the boxes that make up a prototypical pop song is why the record was able to maintain such rigorous lasting power on the charts for 14 weeks. If anything, borrowing lyrics from Trinidad James' "All Gold Everything" definitely didn't hurt either. Don't believe me? Just watch. C'mon.

13 "I Gotta Feeling"

Black Eyed Peas

Throughout the late 2000s, The Black Eyed Peas personified the term hitmaker. From "Let's Get It Started," to "My Humps," to "Boom Boom Pow," it was as if everything the troupe touched turned platinum. "I Gotta Feeling" ranks as easily their biggest of them all, seeing as it lasted 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Most impressively, before hitting the number one spot, the song debuted at number two, and what was number one? "Boom Boom Pow," making The Black Eyed Peas one of only 11 musicians to have hit songs in the top one and two Billboard spots.

12 "We Belong Together"

Mariah Carey

The second single from her classic 10th album, The Emancipation of Mimi, "We Belong Together" is one of numerous hit records she'd collaborate on with master producer/writer Jermaine Dupri. This is, by far, the duo's best and most successful work together. After 14 weeks on Billboard, this was at one point the second-longest-running number one Billboard song of all time. As a testament to Carey's skill level, number one at the time was a record she shared with Boyz II Men, called "One Sweet Day." More on that later.

11 TIE - "Candle in the Wind 1997" and "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"

Elton John

It is wholly impressive that Elton John not only managed to get two of his songs to chart at number one for weeks at a time, but both songs did so at 14 weeks a piece. Granted, the tie comes as a technicality, as this single was released as a double-A-side, allowing for both songs to chart at the same time and for the same amount of time upon release. "Candle in the Wind 1997" largely found success for being a tribute song to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

10 "Macarena" (Bayside Boys mix)

Los del Rio

More than the song itself, the Macarena dance move turned into a cultural phenomenon during the 90s. The dance routine was enough to steer "Macarena" to becoming a hit record, but at the time, at least during the song's initial release, it only peaked at number 45 on the Billboard chart. The song would receive a new life thanks to the 1995 Bayside Boys remix, and a year later, the song re-entered the Billboard charts for 14 weeks at number one.

Such a sudden shift is unheard in the scope of music, but again, the dance craze was a big factor in the remix's success. The more that the dance started to catch on in different markets of the planet, the more in demand that the song became, offering it sustained longevity.

9 "I'll Make Love to You"

Boyz II Men

When it comes time to rank the greatest boy bands of all time, people are quick to name NSYNC or Backstreet Boys, but too many people tend to overlook Boyz II Men. "Boy band" is a term normally attributed to pop sensations, but this boy band was an R&B sensation who remained just as vital and important to music history. If their impact can't be felt by those who don't listen to the genre, then their impact cannot be denied when looking at how many hit songs they contributed to the Billboard charts.

One of those big charters was "I'll Make Love to You." The straightforward serenade spent 14 weeks on Billboard's number one position. In total, it was the third best performing song of the entire 90s decade. Beyond its staying power, the song won Boyz II Men the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

8 "I Will Always Love You"

Whitney Houston

It's rare when a cover song has the power to sur the original to the point that people forget it was a cover to begin with. This is such an example, as people often forget that "I Will Always Love You" was originally a Dolly Parton song from 1973. 19 years later, Whitney Houston would revisit the record for The Bodyguard's movie soundtrack. Unexpectedly, the song became the best-selling single from a female artist in the history of music, a record that still stands today.

For 14 weeks, Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" was a global hit. To call it a hit almost feels like an understatement to call the Record of the Year given the fame that it achieved and continues to achieve today. The song itself earned a place in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, establishing just how important this song became to pop culture.

7 "As It Was"

Harry Styles

The lead single for his third studio album, Harry's House, proved to be as much of a hit overseas in his home country as it was in the United States. On both the US charts and the UK Singles Chart, it was the longest-running number one record of the year. Ultimately, it was the hottest global single of the year, sporting more than two billion streams worldwide. All of this success grew congruently with Styles' song charting for 15 weeks in total.

Charting high in multiple countries at the same time is nearly unheard of, even for hit Billboard songs of this caliber. Long removed from his days as a member of One Direction, his star power continues to afford him a longevity that boy band alums can only dream of. The adoration for Styles continues as his fans eagerly anticipate his next album.

6 "Last Night"

Morgan Wallen

In many ways, Morgan Wallen has become one of the leading faces of the country music genre. Even when he's at the center of controversies like with his Tate McCrae song, he remains an engaging talking point with audiences. One of his bigger, more positive talking points surrounding his music centers around his song, "Last Night." "Last Night" was the third single off of his One Thing at a Time album and undoubtedly the biggest single he would release for the project.

The song served as the biggest number one single of 2023, and the sixth highest-charting single of all time after spending 16 weeks on the Billboard charts. For six months, this Grammy-nominated Best Country Song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first song to earn one billion streams in a single year.

5 "Despacito"

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber

During his days of megastardom, there was a time when Justin Bieber dominated the charts for years, dating back to "Baby" when he was 15-years old. Surprisingly, his only presence on the all-time charting singles list is on a feature rather than one of his own hit songs. Still, though, if there had to be only one song from him to chart to this extent, the fact that it's "Despacito" should come as no surprise. "Despacito" was, on an international level, playing everywhere imaginable. Listeners couldn't escape the record, nor would they want to escape its catchiness.

As if having the biggest pop star of the era wasn't big enough, Luis Fonsi's latin pop song received the ultimate stamp of approval from the King of Reggaeton himself, Daddy Yankee. All of these elements combined made "Desacito" a hit for 16 weeks straight.