Canon-forming and pop

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

On today's poll thread Cis raises the spectre (which may be a benign spectre, and may not be spectral at all) of a 'pop canon'.

I have a couple of questions which may or may not relate to it:

Are there any very well-known (and ideally well-loved) pop songs that weren't especially popular when first released?

Are there any very well-known and well-loved pop songs that have never actually been hit singles?

Comments

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

No, not meaning 'Danger Zone' by Kenny Loggins, nor 'Take My Breath Away' by Berlin, but the actual theme (I believe it was called 'Top Gun Anthem' on the soundtrack)... ah, look, here's a YouTube video with it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCTJmXrgsFg).