George Gershwin Popular Song Rankings [2026]

S WonderfulGeorge Gershwin15rank/position

‘s Wonderful

The song ‘’S Wonderful’ used in the commercial for Suntory Draft Beer MALT’S was composed in 1927 by the Gershwin brothers, Ira and George Gershwin.

In addition to being performed in the Broadway musical ‘Funny Face,’ it was also used as the theme song for the 1957 film ‘Funny Face.’ The commercial features a version arranged for strings by the Alban Berg Quartet, giving it a more leisurely and elegant atmosphere than the original.

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Hane Keisuke

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Someone To Watch Over MeGeorge Gershwin16rank/position

Gershwin: Someone to Watch Over Me — Someone Is Watching Me

A famous jazz standard used in commercials for Secom and elsewhere.

Many of Gershwin’s works have been used in musicals and as songs within plays, and this piece is one of the most popular among them.

Please enjoy the 1926 piano recording.

There are arrangements for various instruments, with the orchestral versions being quite powerful, and the uptempo renditions are wonderful as well.

I Got RhythmGeorge Gershwin17rank/position

Gershwin – I Got Rhythm – pianomaedaful

This is a piece by American composer George Gershwin.

Born in New York in 1898, Gershwin is known for his unique style that fuses jazz and classical music.

This work was released in 1930 as part of the musical Girl Crazy.

It is characterized by optimistic, joy-filled lyrics that portray the elements of happiness: “rhythm,” “music,” and a “beloved person.” Its appeal lies in a simple chord progression combined with complex rhythms, and it is widely loved as a jazz standard.

It’s a recommended song for anyone looking to feel bright and positive.

I Got RhythmGeorge Gershwin18rank/position

Grigory Gruzman plays G. Gershwin I got rhythm

George Gershwin was an American composer who left many works in both classical and popular music, forming a cornerstone of American music.

There is a collection called the Songbook, in which he arranged famous numbers from his musicals for solo piano himself, and this piece is one of them.

It also became a foundation of jazz harmonic progressions.

If aren’t necessary soGeorge Gershwin19rank/position

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess: It Ain’t Necessarily So

This piece is from the three-act, nine-scene opera Porgy and Bess, composed in 1935—two years before the death of American composer George Gershwin.

A pioneering work that paved the way for the modern musical, it portrays the lives of poor African Americans living in a Southern town in the early 1920s.

Please enjoy the distinctive rhythms characteristic of jazz and Black music.

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HATSUMI

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Cuban OvertureGeorge Gershwin20rank/position

Gibbons plays Gershwin: Cuban Overture

One of the signature works by American composer George Gershwin, who opened new horizons in classical music by incorporating elements of popular music and jazz, Cuban Overture is an orchestral piece reflecting impressions from his 1932 trip to Havana.

Gershwin was captivated by Cuban folk instruments and Caribbean rhythms, and he sought to fuse them with his existing musical themes.

Structured in an A–B–A form, the outer sections pulse with a fast, vibrant tempo, while the middle section is marked by a wistful oboe melody.

This richly colored work, blending Latin rhythms with classical music, is also well known in a popular piano arrangement.

SwanyGeorge Gershwin21rank/position

Swanee (Gershwin)

George Gershwin, who fused elements of jazz and classical music to open new horizons in American music.

One of his early signature works, “Swanee,” is a popular song renowned for its catchy yet emotional melody.

Best known through Al Jolson’s rendition, the song powerfully conveys love for one’s homeland and a heartfelt longing to return, resonating deeply with listeners.

The piano arrangement adds Gershwin’s distinctive jazz flavor, offering a different kind of appeal from the original.

It is a quintessential Gershwin piece that I recommend not only to fans of pop and jazz but also to lovers of classical music.