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Most Popular Linkin Park Songs: Top 20 Greatest Hits

rBeatz editor's pick Linkin Park Top 20 Greatest Hits 0924

From the hills of California, Linkin Park rose to become one of the biggest bands in the world. With nu-metal vibes crossed with pop-rock hooks, this exciting group represented the sound of the new millennium. The first Linkin Park album was released in 2000, and when they split in 2017, they had released seven albums and dozens of hit singles.

Over 20 years, Linkin Park sold more than one million records and left an incredible legacy on the world of rock. In this article, we’ll look at 20 of the very best Linkin Park songs from radio hits to walk-up songs for baseball, these great tracks were the soundtrack of a generation.

#1

This track is Linkin Park's most successful single. Released on their debut Hybrid Theory album, it's what made the band true global superstars. "In the End" is an iconic noughties track, with singer Chester Bennington delivering an exposed vocal performance fueled by the anxiety of post-90s life. When Chester sings, "In the end, it doesn't even matter," you can almost hear an entire generation crying out in unison.

#2

This track was the third single from the album Meteora — and one of Linkin Park's most popular songs. Originally released in 2003, it took top place on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. "Numb" is the only song to top this chart for consecutive weeks in separate years, with the renewed "Numb/Encore" released in 2004 alongside hip-hop heavyweight Jay-Z. This collaboration brought Linkin Park into full mainstream consciousness, and it became the most-watched rock music video in YouTube history.

#3

Another track from Hybrid Theory, "Crawling" helped to put Linkin Park on the map. Chester sings of guilt and self-loathing, referencing his teenage abuse of crystal meth and the creeping feelings within. While this track had an anthem-like quality loved by fans, Chester had trouble performing it live due to the demons it brought to the surface. With lyrics of something "Beneath the surface / Consuming, confusing," this song was an early pointer to Chester's deep despair.

#4

This number came relatively late in Linkin Park's career. Released in 2014 on The Hunting Party album, it was influenced by Chester's work with his side band Dead by Sunrise. This is a real rock song full of heavy chugging riffs, but in true Linkin Park style, it also features a cameo from New York rap icon Rakim. Interestingly, this track was self-produced and released on the commercial mobile service Shazam.

#5

When the noughties rolled over, Linkin Park was struggling to regain the momentum of their early albums. The Living Things record from 2012 followed the band's more "experimental" period, as they attempted to return to their rollicking roots. While "Burn It Down" and other songs from the album still feature electronic experimentation, the band's vocals and rhythms anchor it more into pop-rock territory.

#6

As the third single from Hybrid Theory, this track sees Linkin Park riding the nu-metal wave. While "One Step Closer" hasn't necessarily aged well, its mix of crunchy rock guitars and vinyl scratches got people very excited at the time. This song encapsulates a different period in music history, when the distinct heavy music and hip-hop worlds came together in a fun-filled but slightly angry pop package.

#7

From the Meteora album in 2003, "Somewhere I Belong" was the lead single from a wildly anticipated release. This song is just as energetic as you'd expect, but it also kick-starts the band's brooding introspective period. Shinoda raps of being "stuck, hollow, and alone" in the opening verse, and Chester sings, "I wanna heal / I wanna feel what I thought was never real."

#8

Also from Meteora, this track saw the band dive deeper into electronics and new sounds. While many fans think this number was written by Chester due to his history of drug addiction, it was actually created by Shinoda. Unusual for Linkin Park or any nu-metal band from the time, "Breaking the Habit" features no guitar distortion or rapping whatsoever. Instead, it offers up rolling grooves, considered lyrics, and tight studio production.

#9

From the same "difficult" second album, "Faint" sees Linkin Park change things up significantly. Heavy rock riffs take a backseat once more, with the band instead focusing on beats and electronics. This song almost has a drum'n'bass feel, but it's also very smooth and orchestral. For many true fans, this radio-friendly pop-rock production is one of Linkin Park's best.

#10

From the same "difficult" second album, "Faint" sees Linkin Park change things up significantly. Heavy rock riffs take a backseat once more, with the band instead focusing on beats and electronics. This song almost has a drum'n'bass feel, but it's also very smooth and orchestral. For many true fans, this radio-friendly pop-rock production is one of Linkin Park's best.

#11

This track comes from the band's third studio album, Minutes to Midnight. Released in 2007 and featuring heavily on the Transformers soundtrack, it was the band's most successful single. Linkin Park sounds very different on this track, with the drums more raw, the guitars more distorted, and the vocals more up-front and natural. These changes are reflected in the lyrics, with the band saying goodbye to their old selves as they embrace a more mature phase.

#12

Mike Shinoda famously described this track as a "bizarre death-party-rap hoedown." It also comes from album number three, and once again, the band is playing around with a different sound. This track is fast and loose, building on a surprising foundation of hand claps and percussion to push the track forward. While "Bleed It Out" is just as energetic and urgent as previous releases, it's also somewhat unique.

#13

Released in 2012 on the Living Things album, this song sees Linkin Park continue down the pop road. With swirling electronics and a huge sing-along chorus, "Lost in the Echo" marks new ground while staying in familiar territory. The band plays around with new sounds, but the energetic vocal interplay between Chester and Mike embraces their early signature sound.

#14

This song comes from the 2010 album A Thousand Suns, which is under-represented in this list. The band's fourth long-player, it failed to induce the same excitement as the platinum albums that went before. A Thousand Suns was a concept album about the decline of society, and "When They Come for Me" definitely fits the mood. Musically, this is a hip-hop track with syncopated beats, a catchy wordless chorus, and lots of rapping by Mike Shinoda.

#15

Also from A Thousand Suns, this track sees the band in fertile middle ground between the old and the new. While "The Catalyst" doesn't always work from a musical perspective, it highlights the band's ongoing ambition and drive. This track sets a rather dystopian mood like most of the album, with string-like synths and off-beat drums giving way to an epic climax involving guitars, drums, and a piano.

#16

Also from A Thousand Suns, this track sees the band in fertile middle ground between the old and the new. While "The Catalyst" doesn't always work from a musical perspective, it highlights the band's ongoing ambition and drive. This track sets a rather dystopian mood like most of the album, with string-like synths and off-beat drums giving way to an epic climax involving guitars, drums, and a piano.

#17

This track is Linkin Park at their heavy best. Released in 2007 on Minutes to Midnight, it's a real highlight of the band's third album. "Given Up" is raw and aggressive, with momentum driving the track forward with every beat. The highlight of this song is Chester's impressive 18-second scream, which manages to say everything without saying much at all. When it comes to walk-up songs for baseball, "Given Up" is one of the very best.

#18

This is pure nu-metal glory from the band's debut album. "Points of Authority" is adolescent and angsty, which made it very popular in suburbs across the Western world. This track is a great example of old-school rock merging with cutting-edge tech, with the original guitar riff chopped up inside the computer. Along with the classic album track, there are lots of demos of this song available online.

#19

This is the title track from Linkin Park's seventh and final album. This was their softest and most introspective record — and a final statement of Chester's musical legacy.  "One More Light" is a tribute to a friend who died from cancer, but it took on a new meaning when Chester died from suicide on the record's release.  This song features these memorable lyrics: "We saw brilliance, when the world, was asleep / There are things that we can have, but can't keep."

#20

Of the entire Linkin Park discography, this song is the most poignant. "Talking to Myself" is the second single from the band's seventh studio album, One More Light. It was released on July 25, 2017, five days after Chester Bennington was found dead by his own hand. In fact, the music video for this track was released on the day he died. Chester had struggled with depression and drug problems for most of his life, but like many artists, he managed to share his struggles through music and help others along the way.

Playlist of Most Popular Linkin Park Songs

Final Thoughts

Linkin Park was a huge band and a massive inspiration for music lovers across the globe. From nu metal to pop rock, from electronica to rap, their wild and raucous sound made them one of the defining groups of their generation.

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