Oasis Anthem Declared Top British Song Ever, Radio X Reveals Full 50 List
Oasis have topped Radio X’s listener poll again. Live Forever was voted the favourite British song for a fourth consecutive year.
The station expanded its annual Best of British poll from a top 100 to a top 500. The full listener-ranked list was broadcast across the bank holiday weekend. The number one track was crowned at 7pm on Easter Monday, 6 April 2026.
How the poll worked
The poll has run for a decade. This year’s vote drew on tracks played across Radio X and its sister stations. Those included Radio X Classic Rock, Radio X 00s, Radio X 90s and Radio X Chilled.
Oasis dominance and regional trends
Oasis placed eight songs inside the all-time top 50. Slide Away and Champagne Supernova joined Live Forever in the top five. The band’s strong 2025 profile helped secure more votes.
Greater Manchester acts dominated the top 20. More than half of those entries came from the region. London was the most represented city overall, with 148 songs from 39 artists. Manchester placed second with 91 songs from 14 artists.
Key movements and notable entries
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody held second place. The Stone Roses moved up to third with I Am The Resurrection. The placement served as a tribute after the death of bass player Mani in November.
Fleetwood Mac entered the top 10 for the first time since the chart’s expansion. The Chain reached ninth. Wolf Alice had The Sofa debut at number 21. They also placed songs at 70 and 94, giving them three entries in the 500.
Amy Winehouse was the highest-charting solo female artist. Back To Black landed at number 18. The 1990s supplied more than one in four songs on the list.
Oasis Anthem Declared Top British Song Ever. Radio X Reveals Full 50 List of the upper ranks, highlighting Manchester bands and classic acts.
Selected highlights from the top 50
| Rank | Artist — Song |
|---|---|
| 1 | Oasis — Live Forever |
| 2 | Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody |
| 3 | The Stone Roses — I Am The Resurrection |
| 4 | Oasis — Slide Away |
| 5 | Oasis — Champagne Supernova |
| 6 | The Rolling Stones — Gimme Shelter |
| 7 | The Verve — Bittersweet Symphony |
| 8 | Arctic Monkeys — 505 |
| 9 | Fleetwood Mac — The Chain |
| 10 | Courteeners — Not Nineteen Forever |
| 11 | Pulp — Common People |
| 12 | Sam Fender — Seventeen Going Under |
| 13 | David Bowie — Heroes |
| 14 | Oasis — Acquiesce |
| 15 | Joy Division — Love Will Tear Us Apart |
| 16 | Stereophonics — Dakota |
| 17 | Oasis — Don’t Look Back In Anger |
| 18 | Amy Winehouse — Back To Black |
| 19 | The Smiths — There Is A Light That Never Goes Out |
| 20 | The Stone Roses — I Wanna Be Adored |
| 21 | Wolf Alice — The Sofa |
| 22 | David Bowie — Life on Mars? |
| 23 | The Who — Baba O’Riley |
| 24 | Oasis — The Masterplan |
| 25 | The Rolling Stones — Sympathy for the Devil |
| 26 | Led Zeppelin — Stairway to Heaven |
| 27 | Radiohead — Creep |
| 28 | Arctic Monkeys — A Certain Romance |
| 29 | Queen & David Bowie — Under Pressure |
| 30 | The Smiths — How Soon Is Now? |
| 31 | Muse — Knights of Cydonia |
| 32 | David Bowie — Modern Love |
| 33 | Sam Fender — People Watching |
| 34 | New Order — Blue Monday |
| 35 | The Beatles — Hey Jude |
| 36 | Arctic Monkeys — I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor |
| 37 | Florence + The Machine — Dog Days Are Over |
| 38 | The Verve — Lucky Man |
| 39 | Oasis — Supersonic |
| 40 | The Rolling Stones — Paint It, Black |
| 41 | The Stone Roses — Fools Gold |
| 42 | Pink Floyd — Wish You Were Here |
| 43 | Stereophonics — Local Boy in the Photograph |
| 44 | Radiohead — Fake Plastic Trees |
| 45 | Oasis — Cigarettes and Alcohol |
| 46 | The Stone Roses — Sally Cinnamon |
| 47 | Shed Seven — Chasing Rainbows |
| 48 | Biffy Clyro — Bubbles |
| 49 | Snow Patrol — Chasing Cars |
| 50 | Sam Fender — Hypersonic Missile |
Additional placements
Black Sabbath’s Paranoid entered the top 100 at 69. Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train and Mama I’m Coming Home placed at 231 and 409 respectively. Those entries reflected long careers and ongoing interest.
Matt Deverson, Managing Editor of Radio X, described the ballot as a landmark countdown. He said it showed the depth and lasting influence of British music. He noted Live Forever’s continued emotional pull for listeners.
Filmogaz.com carries the full countdown and further coverage. The Radio X Best of British 500 is available in full on the station’s channels. Fans can consult Filmogaz.com for the complete list and analysis.
