Top 100 Songs Of The 90s

Picture of the Group The Goo-Goo-Dolls
Picture of the Group The Goo-Goo-Dolls

During the decade of the 90’s there were a lot of new faces coming on the scene in the music industry. Knowing which songs of this era was the most popular this is where the top 100 songs of the 90’s can help.

Some of the new artists that came on the scene in this decade were Britney Spears, TLC, Aerosmith, Goo Goo Dolls and Amy Grant just to name a few. They all had hits on the top 100 charts.

In the music industry, Billboard compiled their 75-position Top 40 Radio Monitor pop chart from actual monitored airplay provided by Broadcast Data Systems (BDS) in the early 90’s. On July 17, 1993, the Top 40 Radio Monitor chart was renamed the Hot 100 Airplay chart which is being used today to monitor a songs popularity.

In unrelated news, now there is a way to preserve your vinyl records and convert them to the CD format. Click here for more information.

Headlines

  • In politics, Bill Clinton wins two elections, becoming the first democrat to win two terms since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  • In 1997, Princess Diana dies in an automobile accident in 1997.
  • In 1990, the Gulf War begins.
  • In 1991, the Soviet Union collapses.
  • In 1993, Waco goes up in flames.
  • In 1994, millions of Americans see OJ make a brake for it on TV.
  • The Oklahoma bombing occurs in 1995.
  • In 1998, Bill Clinton is brought up on impeachment charges and is acquitted.
  • Finally, in 1991, the shooting in Columbine High School makes big news.
Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men Performing One Sweet Day
Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men Performing One Sweet Day

In music, the song “Iris” hits the charts in 1998, and sets the all-time record for the most weeks at #1 with 18. The prior record was 16 weeks. See the update below.

Update: The song Iris with 18 weeks on the top spot is not actually accepted as the all-time number one record holder because the rules at that time required a single be produced commercially for it to be considered on the Hot 100 chart. The same is true for “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt, which spent 16 weeks at the top spot and would be #2 on this chart. It also did not release a commercial single until later in the year after it peaked at the #1 position. Both of these records are not included on this chart because of these rules. Don’t Speak did peak at #9 when the single was released commercially.

Therefore, One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, with 16 weeks at number one, shall be considered the record holder for the song holding the number one position the longest on the Hot 100 chart.

Interesting Musical Facts

  • The year of 1998, had the most songs on the chart with 14.
  • There were a total of 231 songs that peaked at the #1 position in the decade.
  • The artist with the most charted singes on the chart was Mariah Carey with 10.
  • For a song to make the top 10, it had to be #1 for a minimum of 12 weeks.
  • For a song to make the top 40, it had to be #1 for 5 weeks.
  • The song “One Headlight” by The Wildflowers in 1997 holds the longevity title by staying on the chart for 70 weeks. However, in 2008 the song “I’m Yours” by Jason Marz, stays on the charts for 76 weeks, breaking the record of 1998. This song still holds the all-time longevity record as of December, 2011.
  • The year of 1990, did not place any song in the top 50. Its highest position is #53.

Criteria Used For Compiling Top 100 Songs

Following is the method used in the ranking of the top 100 songs:

  1. The title’s peak position
  2. Ties at the peak position are broken in the following order:
  • Total weeks title held the #1 position
  • Total weeks charted in Top 10
  • Total weeks charted in Top 40
  • Total weeks charted
Top 100 Best Hits of the 90s
Top 100 Best Hits of the 90s

If there are still ties among titles, a computerized inverse point system is used to calculate a point total for each hit based on its weekly chart positions. These points are added together to create a raw point total for each title, which is used to break any remaining ties.

The source used for compiling the top 100 songs for 1990-1999 is the “Pop Annual 1955-2011” by Joel Whitburn.

The Top 100 Songs 1990-1999 Rank     

Title / Artist / Peak Weeks () / Year of Release

  1. One Sweet Day / Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16) 1995
  2. Macarena / Los Del Rio (14) 1996
  3. I’ll  Make Love To You / Boyz II Men (14) 1994
  4. Candle In The Wind 1997 / Elton John (14) 1997
  5. I Will Always Love You / Whitney Houston (14) 1992
  6. End Of The Road / Boyz II Men (13) 1992
  7. The Boy is Mine / Brandy & Monica (13) 1998
  8. Smooth / Santana w/Rob Thomas (12) 1999
  9. Torn / Natalie Imbruglia (11) 1998
  10. Un-Break My Heart / Toni Braxton (11) 1996
  11. I Swear / All-4-One (11) 1994
  12. I’ll Be Missing You / Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (11) 1997
  13. Fantasy / Mariah Carey  (8) 1995
  14. Dreamlover / Mariah Carey (8) 1993
  15. That’s The Way Love Goes / Janet Jackson (8) 1993
  16. Jump / Kris Cross (8) 1992
  17. The Crossroads / Bone Thugs N Harmony (8) 1996
  18. Waterfalls / TLC (7) 1995
  19. Take A Bow / Madonna (7) 1995
  20. Can’t Help Falling In Love / UB40 (7) 1993
  21. This Is How We Do It / Montell Jordan (7) 1995
  22. Informer / Snow (7) 1993
  23. Do It For You / Bryan Adams (7) 1991
  24. Black On White / Michael Jackson (7) 1997
  25. Fly / Sugar Ray w/Super Cat (6) 1997
  26. The Sign / Ace Of Base (6) 1994
  27. Because You Loved Me / Celine Dion (6) 1996
  28. On Bended Knee / Boyz II Men (6) 1994
  29. Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down / Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (6) 1997
  30. I’m Your Angel / R. Kelly & Celine Dion (6) 1998
  31. Too Close / Next (5) 1998
  32. The First Night / Monica (5) 1998
  33. Baby Got Back / Sir Mix-A-Lot (5) 1992
  34. If You Had My Love / Jennifer Lopez (5) 1999
  35. Genie In A Bottle / Christina Aguilera (5) 1999
  36. I’d Do Anything For Love / Meat Loaf (5) 1993
  37. Linin’ La Dida  Loca / Ricky Martin (5) 1999
  38. Save The Best For Last / Vanessa Williams (5) 1992
  39. Have You Really Ever Really Loved A Woman? / Bryan Adams (5) 1995
  40. Rush, Rush / Paula Abdul (5) 1991
  41. Creep / TLC (4) 1995
  42. No Diggity / Blackstreet w/Dr. Dre (4) 1996
  43. No Scrubs / TLC (4) 1999
  44. The Power Of Love / Celine Dion (4) 1994
  45. Believe / Cher (4) 1999
  46. Hero / Mariah Carey (4) 1993
  47. Angel Of Mine / Monica (4) 1999
  48. Wannabe / Spice Girls (4) 1997
  49. Bump N’ Grind / R. Kelly (4) 1994
  50. Men In Black / Will Smith (4) 1997
  51. Because I Love You / Stevie B (4) 1990
  52. Nothing Compares 2 U / Sinead O’ Connor (4) 1990
  53. I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing / Aerosmith (4) 1998
  54. Vision Of Love / Mariah Carey (4) 1990
  55. Gangsta’s Paradise / Coolio w/L.V. (3) 1995
  56. Stay / Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories (3) 1994
  57. Unpretty / TLC (3) 1999
  58. All For Love / Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting (3) 1994
  59. All My Life / K-Ci & JoJo (3) 1998
  60. MMMBop / Hanson (3) 1997
  61. I’m Too Sexy / R*S*F (3) 1992
  62. To Be With You / Mr. Big (3) 1992
  63. Honey / Mariah Carey (3) 1997
  64. Vogue / Madonna (3) 1990
  65. Hypnotize / The Nortorius B.I.G. (3) 1997
  66. Escapade / Janet Jackson (3) 1990
  67. Emotions / Mariah Carey (3)  1991
  68. Love Takes Time / Mariah Carey (3) 1990
  69. Opposites Attract / Paula Abdul (3) 1990
  70. Step By Step / New Kids On The Block (3) 1990
  71. Getting’ Jiggy With It / Will Smith (3) 1998
  72. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You / Michael Bolton (3) 1990
  73. Truly Mady Deeply / Savage Garden (2) 1998
  74. Freak Me / Silk (2) 1993
  75. Always Be My Baby / Mariah Carey (2) 1996
  76. Here Comes The Hotstepper / Ini Kamoze (2) 1994
  77. Weak / SWV (2) 1993
  78. Again / Janet Jackson (2) 1993
  79. Together Again / Janet Jackson (2) 1998
  80. Baby One More Time / Britney Spears (2) 1999
  81. Nice & Slow / Usher w/Jagged Edge (2) 1998
  82. Have You Ever? / Brandy (2) 1999
  83. Mo Money Mo Problems / The Nortorius B.I.G. & Puff Daddy (2) 1997
  84. Doo Wop / Lauryn Hill (2) 1998
  85. How Do U Want It / 2 Pac w/KC & JoJo (2) 1996
  86. How Do You Talk With An Angel / The Heights (2) 1992
  87. Gonna Make You Sweet / C & C Music Factory (2) 1991
  88. It Must Have Been Love / Roxette (2) 1990
  89. The First Time / Surface (2) 1991
  90. My Heart Will Go On / Celine Dion (2) 1998
  91. I’ll Be There / Mariah Carey (2) 1992
  92. Heartbreaker / Mariah Carey w/Jay-Z (2) 1999
  93. I Don’t Wanna Cry / Mariah Carey (2) 1991
  94. Justify My Love / Madonna (2) 1991
  95. Baby Baby / Amy Grant (2) 1991
  96. Cream / Prince (2) 1991
  97. Black Velvet / Alannah Myles (2) 1990
  98. All The Man That I Need / Whitney Houston (2) 1991
  99. Release Me / Wilson Phillips (2) 1990
  100. She Ain’t Worth It / Glenn Medeiros w/ Bobby Brown (2) 1990

Shop Greatest Hits of the 1990’s

You can shop the greatest hits of the 1990’s by clicking on the link. You will be taken to Amazon Try Prime Digital Music ordering page where there are over 2,600 selections to choose from. Note: Some of the recording may not be the originals. Listen to the brief recording before buying. To aide in your search, try typing in the artist’s name in the search box. The system returns all of the songs in it’s database for that artist.

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