You only get one shot at a first impression. Some artists kick the doors down, rewrite the rules, and never look back. From jukebox classics to TikTok chart-toppers, here are 20 of the most unforgettable debut singles ever, across genres and generations.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand” – The Beatles (1963)
They weren’t the first boy band, but they became the blueprint. This jangly pop masterpiece made America swoon and lit the fuse for the British Invasion. Even Bob Dylan was like, “These guys might be onto something.”
“…Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears (1998)
A schoolgirl outfit, a Max Martin beat, and a chorus that embedded itself in the global consciousness. Britney didn’t just drop a debut — she launched a pop culture tidal wave.
“I Wanna Be Your Lover” – Prince (1979)
Before the Purple Rain, there was this. A falsetto-fueled funk jam that introduced the world to a genre-defying genius. Prince produced, wrote, and played nearly everything — because of course he did.
“Ocean Eyes” – Billie Eilish (2015)
Uploaded to SoundCloud, it was meant for her dance teacher. Instead, it became the haunting, whisper-pop ballad that started a new era of Gen Z stardom. Vulnerability never sounded so cool.
“Walk This Way” – Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith (1986)
Sure, Aerosmith had the original, but Run-D.M.C. made it a revolution. A Black hip-hop trio kicking down MTV’s segregated walls, inviting rock in for a remix, and showing what crossover really means.
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna (2005)
Before the fashion empire, the Super Bowl stage, and the memes, there was this island club banger. Seventeen-year-old Rihanna told the DJ to turn it up — and the world obeyed.
“Royals” – Lorde (2013)
Deadpan delivery. Minimalist production. A takedown of pop excess from a 16-year-old poet in New Zealand. With “Royals,” Lorde showed that you could whisper your way to No. 1.
“Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X (2019)
He bought a $30 beat online. He made a TikTok meme. He broke every record Billboard had. Lil Nas X didn’t just debut — he detonated the boundary between country and hip-hop, all while coming out as gay at the height of its success.
“Rebel Girl” – Bikini Kill (1993)
Feminist punk lit a fire with this riot grrrl rallying cry. Kathleen Hanna wasn’t asking for space — she was taking it. It’s a debut that still makes you want to paint your bedroom walls and start a zine.
“Tennessee” – Arrested Development (1992)
In an era of gangsta rap dominance, Arrested Development debuted with a spiritual, Southern-tinged track that asked big questions and sounded like a front porch prayer.
“Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman (1988)
No fireworks, just a guitar, a voice, and a story. Tracy Chapman’s debut was quiet, powerful, and impossible to ignore — a Black queer woman cutting through the noise with aching clarity.
“If I Had a Hammer” – Odetta (1956)
Folk wouldn’t be folk without her. With just her voice and a guitar, Odetta’s early singles channeled the civil rights movement into every note — and inspired Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and the decades to come.
“Drivers License” – Olivia Rodrigo (2021)
Teen heartbreak never sounded so cinematic. Olivia drove onto the scene with one of the most streamed debuts of all time, armed with Taylor Swift-level emotion and Gen Z storytelling precision.
“More Than a Feeling” – Boston (1976)
It starts with a gentle acoustic lick and explodes into arena-rock perfection. Boston arrived with soaring harmonies, guitar wizardry, and one of the most enduring rock anthems of all time. Pure FM radio gold.
“You Really Got Me” – The Kinks (1964)
One distorted power chord changed everything. The Kinks didn’t just debut — they invented the crunch that inspired punk, metal, and garage rock for decades. A debut that sounds like it’s still mid-riot.
“Creep” – Radiohead (1992)
Before OK Computer and global icon status, there was this brutally honest outsider anthem. Radiohead came out sad, loud, and self-loathing — and gave Gen X their most beloved nihilist singalong.
“Roxanne” – The Police (1978)
Who else could make a song about a man falling for a sex worker sound this catchy? The Police introduced themselves with reggae-tinged rock, Sting’s high notes, and enough storytelling swagger to fill a novel.
“Just What I Needed” – The Cars (1978)
Synths, sarcasm, and hooks for days. The Cars showed up sounding like the future, balancing new wave cool with rock attitude. It’s impossible to imagine the ‘80s without this starting point.
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper (1983)
Cyndi’s cover of Robert Hazard’s song became the feminist pop-rock anthem of the decade. With her technicolor style and vocal range from sugar to shriek, she turned fun into a revolution.
“Welcome to the Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses (1987)
If debut singles had warning labels, this would need several. Axl’s scream, Slash’s riff, and the feral energy of LA’s darkest corners turned this into one of the most dangerous intros in rock history.
