“Teenager In Love” was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. This song was released on March 30, 1959. Many bands have done covers of this song including the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bob Marley & the Wailers.

I like this song because it feels like an upbeat song, but the lyrics are kind of under the weather. I feel like it’s a pretty relatable song no matter what the decade it is.

To listen to “Teenager in Love” click here.

“It’s Only Make Believe” was released on July 14, 1958. It was written by Conway Twitty and Jack Nance. Many artists such as Clay Aiken have done covers of this song.

I think this song is good enough to be on this list because it is also a very relatable song for any era. I also like the sadness that resonates through the song. It’s a sweet sadness that is easy to understand.

To listen to “It’s Only Make Believe” click here.

Released in 1955, this song was originally written by Buck Ram. The ex-Beatle Ringo Starr did a cover of this song.

I believe this song belongs on this list because it embodies a lot of what I feel (despite not having lived it and only seeing it on TV) the ‘50s were like. I really enjoy the doo-wop feel and the harmonies are extraordinarily impressive as well.

To listen to “Only You (And You Alone)” click here.

This song was written by Bobby Darin in 1959.

I believe this song should be on this list because of its hopeful tone and lyrics. The rhythm is catchy, despite its chorus not being. My favorite part of this song are the verses.

To listen to “Dream Lover” click here.

This song was recorded in 1957 by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty. Due to legal issues, only Holly was credited. Many artists have done covers of this song, including John Denver, Patrick Stump, Tina Robin, and many others.

I absolutely love everything about this song. From the lyrics, to the rhythm, to the instrumentals. I think the entire song is absolutely amazing.

To listen to “Everyday” click here.

“The Great Pretender” was written by Buck Ram and was originally released in 1955. Many artists have done covers of this beautiful song. Some of these artists include Freddie Mercury, Dolly Parton, and Pat Boone.

This song does a great job of capturing what it’s like to pretend everything is fine. It has phenomenal harmonies as well. It is another great song from the ‘50s.

To listen to “The Great Pretender” click here. 

“Rockin Robin” was Bobby Day’s only top 40 hit but it was still a classic song from the time period. It was written by Leon René and one of three songs he wrote for Day. This song has been covered by many artists including Chuck Berry and Gene Vincent.

I think this song deserves to be on this list because there’s a lot of people who still bop to this song and it’s an overall good song.

To listen to “Rockin’ Robin” click here.

“16 Candles” was written by Luther Dixon and Allyson R. Khent and released in 1958. It was also featured in the 1984 film classic “Sixteen Candles” starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.

I really enjoy this song because of the movie. I think the song is almost as good as the movie is.

To listen to “16 Candles” click here.

“Jailhouse Rock” was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was released in 1957 alongside Presley’s motion picture of the same name.

I think this song is a number two worthy song because people today still rock out to it. It also has a pretty rockin vibe and is a great song to listen to if you need to be cheered up.

To listen to “Jailhouse Rock” click here. 

Before we get to my number one choice, here are some honorable mentions:

“Tequila” by Champs

“Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard

“Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino

“That’ll Be the Day” was written by Buddy Holly in about thirty minutes, according to J.I. Allison (the Crickets first drummer). This song has become a rock ‘n’ roll anthem over the years and despite its long climb to the top, I believe it is the greatest song of the ‘50s. This song has been an inspiration to many artists over the years.

To listen to “That’ll Be The Day” click here.

Are there any songs you guys think I missed? Let me know in the comments below!