When it comes to pop music, songs typically last around 3 to 5 minutes. However, some artists have pushed the boundaries when it comes to song length and created epically long pop songs. So what is the longest pop song ever made? Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders for the longest pop songs and see which track holds the record.
What Qualifies as a Pop Song?
Before diving into the longest pop songs, it’s helpful to define what exactly makes a song “pop.” Pop music is a broad genre that encompasses many different styles and artists. In general, pop songs have a strong melody, catchy hook, and accessible, mainstream sound that makes them popular and radio-friendly. Pop music is often produced using electronic instruments, amplifiers, and effects. While pop originated in the 1950s and 60s, it continues to evolve across different decades and subgenres.
For this discussion, we’ll consider any song that fits within the general pop genre, whether it’s pop rock, dance pop, pop rap, or synthpop. The songs may incorporate elements from other genres but should have an overall catchy, polished pop sound. We’ll avoid classifying progressive rock, jam bands, classical, or other songs that don’t fit the pop music mold as pop for this purpose. With this definition in mind, let’s look at some extra long pop songs and see how they stack up.
Top Contenders for Longest Pop Song
“Sadie”
One extremely long pop song is “Sadie” by the British rock band The Spinners. Released in 1974, this pop ballad tells the story of a young woman named Sadie who leaves home to make it in the world and becomes a famous star, only to end up alone later in life. Clocking in at 12 minutes and 7 seconds long, “Sadie” is exceptionally lengthy for a pop single. The song does have pop elements like melody-driven vocals, orchestral strings, and romantic lyrics. However, the long run time and progressive rock influences likely disqualify it as true pop.
“Music”
In 2016, the DJ Marshmello released an EDM-pop song called “Music” featuring vocals from singer KYLE. With a length of 10 minutes and 1 second, this energetic, electronic dance track is substantially longer than most pop songs. Marshmello is known for creating radio-friendly EDM-pop crossover songs, so “Music” fits the pop genre well. The extended run time allows for long instrumental breaks and buildups that give the song an epic feel.
“November Rain”
The rock band Guns N’ Roses dropped the pop ballad “November Rain” in 1992, which runs for 8 minutes and 57 seconds. Frontman Axl Rose wrote the song about his turbulent relationship, packing it with layered production, orchestral elements, and guitar solos that extend the runtime. While Guns N’ Roses originated as a hard rock band, “November Rain” has a sweeping, melodic sound that allowed it to cross over to pop radio. However, the song may stretch the definition of pop slightly.
“Hold Up”
Pop/R&B superstar Beyoncé released the track “Hold Up” in 2016 as part of her album Lemonade. Co-written by Diplo and Ezra Koenig, this catchy pop song incorporates dancehall and reggae influences while running for 5 minutes and 15 seconds. The runtime allows for an extended intro and outro bookending the pop-friendly verses and chorus. With its mainstream crossover sound, “Hold Up” fits securely in the pop category.
“Countdown”
As another contender for longest pop song, Beyoncé also recorded the single “Countdown” in 2011 for her album 4. Blending together pop, R&B, funk, and hip hop, this dance track lasts for 3 minutes and 33 seconds without sacrificing mainstream appeal. The syncopated chorus, SNL-inspired music video, and uplifting lyrics give “Countdown” an definitively pop vibe.
“Dance (A$$)”
In 2011, Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj released the pop-rap track “Dance (A$$)” as a single from his debut album Finally Famous. With provocative lyrics, pulsing electronica production, and catchy hooks, this song fits comfortably in the pop genre. At 4 minutes and 23 seconds long, it’s on the lengthier side for a radio-friendly pop-rap crossover hit. The extended time allows Nicki Minaj to deliver her rapid-fire rap verses alongside Big Sean’s more melodic pop choruses.
The Longest Pop Song
Based on this analysis of extra long pop songs, the longest pop single ever released is “Music” by Marshmello featuring KYLE at 10 minutes and 1 second. While other songs like “Sadie,” “November Rain,” and “Hold Up” meet or exceed that length, they don’t adhere to the pop genre as strictly. “Music” remains tightly within the EDM-pop realm from start to finish, allowing its 10-minute runtime to stand out as the longest continuous pop track.
Here are some key details about the longest pop song “Music”:
| Title | Music |
|---|---|
| Artist | Marshmello featuring KYLE |
| Year released | 2016 |
| Length | 10 minutes 1 second |
| Genre | Pop, EDM |
Key Elements of the Longest Pop Song
Marshmello’s epic track “Music” works well as an extended pop song for several reasons:
Mainstream Melodic Vocals
While Marshmello creates the electronic production, KYLE’s melodic singing gives “Music” a mainstream pop sound. His smooth vocals and catchy hooks help offset the longer instrumental sections.
Driving Dance Beats
As an EDM-pop crossover, “Music” incorporates pulsing dance beats throughout its 10-minute run. The propulsive rhythms power the song forward during extended instrumental breaks.
Uplifting Dance Energy
Despite its lengthy timeline, “Music” maintains an upbeat, dance-driven energy from start to finish. This prevents the song from dragging and keeps listeners engaged.
Dynamic Shifts and Buildups
Instead of just repeating the core song elements, “Music” includes major dynamic shifts, builds, and drops that introduce different musical sections over its 10 minutes. This keeps the song progressing.
Padding for Live DJ Sets
Marshmello likely produced “Music” with long instrumental sections so he could mix, beatmatch, and pad it out when performing live. Many EDM songs are lengthened to allow for more flexible DJ mixes.
Shortest Pop Songs
On the other end of the spectrum from the longest pop tracks, here are some examples of much shorter pop songs:
| Song | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Freak | Doja Cat | 1:58 |
| Run Away With Me | Carly Rae Jepsen | 3:45 |
| Rude | MAGIC! | 3:44 |
| Talk Dirty | Jason Derulo | 3:32 |
Most pop songs on the radio sit in the 3 to 4-minute range. Anything shorter than 2 minutes is exceptionally rare for a pop single. These examples show how pop songs tend to max out around 4 minutes, with Marshmello’s 10-minute “Music” being an outlier on the long side.
Short Pop Songs Can Succeed Through:
Condensed Song Structure
Short pop songs often feature truncated song sections, removing extended intros, choruses, or instrumental breaks.
Repetition and Hook-Focused
Repeating the catchiest melodic hooks and choruses helps shorter songs feel complete.
High Energy
Upbeat tempos and energetic deliveries offset a shorter runtime.
abbreviated 3-4 lines lyric verses
With less time, lyrics are shortened to key phrases and hooks.
Conclusion
When examining the longest pop songs in music history, Marshmello’s EDM track “Music” clocks in at a whopping 10 minutes and 1 second, making it the longest continuous pop single ever released. Songs like “Sadie,” “November Rain,” and “Hold Up” exceed 10 minutes but bend the pop genre too much. On the flip side, most radio-friendly pop songs cap out around 3-4 minutes. While length offers no definitive measure of a song’s quality, Marshmello used the extended runtime of “Music” to create dynamic EDM shifts for clubs while keeping melodic pop vocals upfront. So next time you hear a pop song that seems to never end, you’ll know Marshmello holds the definitive record for longest pop track ever.