In honor of her birthday weekend, here are all her runner up songs

There aren’t enough superlatives to properly describe the pop music career of Madonna, who turns 57 on Sunday, but here are a few eye-opening statistics:

* She’s sold more than 300 million records worldwide.

* The Guinness World Records acknowledged her as the best-selling female recording artist and the fourth best-selling act of all time, behind The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson.

* Madonna holds the record for the most number-ones on all combined Billboard charts, including twelve number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and eight number-one albums on the Billboard 200.

* Starting with “Borderline” in 1984, she’s racked up 38 top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100, more than other artist in history.

But there’s one stat that isn’t discussed much, and it’s just as remarkable: Madonna has six songs that peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, more than other artist in history.

As we celebrate her 57th birthday weekend, let’s rank those hits that just narrowly missed the top spot. These were all songs that were oh so close, but no cigar.

6. “Causing A Commotion”

#2 Peak: November 7, 1987

The second single from the ill-fated and ill-advised Who’s That Girl spent three weeks at #2 starting at the end of October 1987, kept out of the top spot by Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now.”

5. “Material Girl”

#2 Peak: March 30, 1985

The second single from Like A Virgin was Madonna’s first time in the runner-up position, spending two weeks at #2 in March 1985, kept from #1 by REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and Phil Collins’ “One More Night.”

4. “Express Yourself”

#2 Peak: July 22, 1989

The second single from Like A Prayer spent two weeks at #2 in July 1989, denied the top by Simply Red’s “If You Don’t Know Me Know” and Martika’s “Toy Soldiers.”

3. “Cherish”

#2 Peak: October 14, 1989

Madonna’s lovely throwback to the love songs of the 60’s was the third single from Like A Prayer , and like “Express Yourself” spent two weeks at #2, with Janet Jackson’s “Miss You Much” barring the way.

2. “I’ll Remember”

#2 Peak: May 30, 1994

A gorgeous ballad from the soundtrack of With Honors. It spent four weeks at #2 in May 1994, kept out of #1 by All-4-One’s “I Swear,” and its success couldn’t have come at a better time. Madonna had taken a lot of heat the previous couple of years for the debacle of Body Of Evidence, the Sex book, and the maligned but vastly underrated Erotica album, which didn’t sell as well as her previous studio albums. This put her back near the top of the charts, and would segue nicely into Bedtime Stories later that year.

1. “Frozen”

#2 Peak: April 2, 1998

The first single from her greatest album of the ’90s, Ray of Light, it was Madonna reinventing herself again, this time with producer William Orbit. It debuted on the Hot 100 at #8 and peaked at #2 in April 1998, stuck behind K-Ci & JoJo’s “All My Life” for some reason.

Okay, your turn! Which of these close calls is your favorite?