The Biggest Number 1 Hit Songs of Each Year in Austria, Ranked by Martin Canine

Still a contender for my favorite Beatles song (next to "Eleanor Rigby," "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," and "A Day in the Life"), this is an excellent display of George Harrison's songwriting skills. It's one of the ultimate guitar songs and a testament to how much feeling a melody can convey. Truly one of the best songs ever recorded.

After two massive uptempo country songs filled with fiddles and synthetic banjos, Rednex showed a softer, more vulnerable side with the release of their third single, which also became their third chart-topper in a row. The wistful tune is one of the greatest love ballads of the 1990s, and it outdid most other downtempo songs that were on the radio with its moving mix of delicate country guitars and powerful, lush pop.

Although "Still I'm Sad" was not the reason the double A-side single topped the charts and is not regarded as one of their best-known tracks, it's one of, if not the best track Boney M. has ever recorded. A cover of a Yardbirds song, it surpasses the original on every level with a more thought-out production and a more intense performance.

The group's great successes consist mostly of disco-oriented tracks (many of which rank among the absolute best of the genre), but people shouldn't overlook their catalog of slower songs.

So far, "Take Me to Church" is a very, very likely candidate for the title of the greatest song of the decade. A gospel-inspired rock ballad that criticizes religiously driven discrimination against certain forms of love, it's a musically astounding statement that a thing as beautiful as love (emotionally as well as physically) should be embraced, not frowned upon.

It's more than just a danceable disco song. "Ma Baker" tells an exciting, somewhat true story, and has a rocking melody that many power-pop artists can only dream of. It's not really a positive tale, but it's nevertheless infectious. Once heard, it won't leave your brain anytime soon.

Linda Perry's vocal delivery on this song is expressive as hell. Only Kate Bush and Nina Hagen have reached this level of intensity. How her voice ranges from soft high notes to roaring, deep, borderline screaming while never taking too many liberties with the melody is breathtaking. It makes this one of the great rock songs of the '90s.

Originally recorded in the '70s as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, Elton John performed a new version of his masterpiece after the death of Princess Diana. The intense emotion of the moment can be felt in every line. Comparing the two renditions, it's interesting how his voice has become deeper and stronger over the years.

With 18 weeks at number one, this is the biggest chart-topping hit in Austria to date.

One of the most bittersweet songs ever recorded. Its lyrics are told from the perspective of a person about to die, saying goodbye to the people he loves and remembering the good times.

What makes it so sad is that the melody is not entirely dark - there's a bit of sunshine between the raindrops, so to speak.

Peter Alexander was one of the biggest entertainers in post-war Germany and Austria alike. He acted and sang, both usually in a rather comical and light-hearted manner, with easy-going topics that everyone could have a good chuckle with. He was similar to American artists such as Dean Martin or dancer/actor Fred Astaire.

But this song is much deeper in its meaning: he addresses the listener, urging them not to leave a stranger who is in need out in the cold just because they don't know them.

This song audibly marks a transition from the '80s to the '90s, at least in terms of what music sounded like over here. There are rocking guitars, percussions, and synths, reminiscent of the Neue Deutsche Welle, but the fast melody and especially the groovy vocals are in sharp contrast to the monotonous singing style that was popular back then.

The song is about how a man realizes he's not as over his ex-wife as he thought.