Music in the 1990s was truly inspired. So many great, timeless songs were written and recorded by so many different types of artists, it’s impossible to list.
Every other week a new genre popped up. First it was Alternative, then SkaPunk, then Fusion, then RapRock — you get the idea. Musicians were blending styles like never before, aided by the affordability of digital recording equipment that could now operate in the artists’ homes.
Pop still sold strong. Country did well. Rap and hip-hop exploded. Industrial went mainstream. Even electronic music came to the forefront. I mean, if David Bowie does a drum n bass record you know it’s popular.
There was a rebirth of creativity and inspiration in the early to mid-90s. Much of music had gotten stale and old and a new, younger crop of musicians burst onto the scene and took control. Generation X was born.
Slowly electronics and orchestral elements crept back into the music that had been stripped down so much. The music got very interesting and became the basis for what most music sounds like today.
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Music engineers got really good in the 1990s. Being able to cut and paste sound files gave song writers and engineers and entirely new way of looping and constructing recorded music.
[ Skip to Complete List of #1 songs from the 1990s ]
Popular Artists from the 1990s
Who were the most popular musical artists in the 1990s?
- Paula Abdul
- Janet Jackson
- Madonna
- Mariah Carey
- Bon Jovi
- Vanilla Ice
- Whitney Houston
- C&C Music Factory
- Gloria Estefan
- Bryan Adams
- Michael Bolton
- Michael Jackson
- Boyz II Men
- Ace of Base
- Nirvana
- Stone Temple Pilots
- Pearl Jam
- N.W.A.
- Snoop Doggy Dogg
- Tupac Shakur
- TLC
- Coolio
- Celine Dion
- Bone Thugs N Harmony
- Spice Girls
- Elton John
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Puff Daddy
- Hanson
- Nine Inch Nails
- Radiohead
- Aerosmith
- Guns N Roses
- Britney Spears
- Matchbox Twenty
- Linkin Park
- Limp Bizkit
Music in 1991
Garth knows you loved him in 1991
In 1991, a new method for ranking top-selling music albums was used. The rankings were based on actual retail store sales using bar code data opposed to telephone or fax reports, which could be be manipulated.
In response to the Persian Gulf War, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and Lenny Kravitz resurrected John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” The song, recorded by a number of artists listed as the Peace Choir, was released on January 15, the UN’s deadline for Iraq to pull out of Kuwait.
Some concerts were just plain dangerous. Three fans were crushed to death at an AC/DC concert IN Salt Lake City and rioting destroyed a Guns N’ Roses concert in St. Louis after Axl Rose dove into the crowd during “Rocket Queen” to punch a dude with a camera (see video).
The rock n roll scene was still dominated by arena rock. Motely Crue, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Queensryche, Extreme, U2, Skid Row and Metallica all were selling strong.
Nirvana was beginning to catch on as well, but hadn’t quite taken over the entire music industry just yet.
Solo artists did well. Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger, Prince and Bryan Adams all sold a ton of albums.
Phil Collins was the Record of the Year Grammy Award for “Another Day in Paradise.”
Garth Brooks owned country music that year. His third album, Ropin’ the Wind, was the first country album ever to debut at number one.
Hip-hop and rap was gaining unprecedented popularity. Ice Cube & Ice-T both scored motion picture roles. N.W.A and Public Enemy had top-selling albums. “Can’t Truss It” was one of my favorite songs back then.
Natalie Cole covered her dad’s song “Unforgettable.” It was pretty sweet. Amy Grant even hit it big with “Baby Baby.”
Paul Simon held a free concert in NYC’s Central Park on August 15 in front of an astonishing 750,000 people.
“EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!” That’s right, 1991 gave us C&C Music Factory. What an awesome year.
Music in 1993
Photo of the In Utero back album cover without effects
In 1993, Many music stores revolted against high CD prices by selling used CDs. The music industry saw this as a conflict of interest and threatened to withhold advertising dollars from any dealers who sold used CDs.
Controversy over lyrics and graphics continued to create headlines in 1993. I remember one day when my grandma asked me to promise never to listen to Ice-T’s “Cop Killer” because my grandpa was a cop.
The back cover of Nirvana’s album In Utero showed human fetuses, so K-Mart and Wal-Mart refused to carry it. The highly anticipated follow up album to 1991’s Nevermind debuted at number one in September.
BET imposed a month-long ban on videos with gun images to protest violence in the African-American community.
Cypress Hill, whose album Sunday debuted at number one in July, drew media attention for their pro-marijuana stance.
In April, Prince announced his retirement from studio recording and changed his name in June to a symbol for which there is no word, representing male and female unity.
Meat Loaf enjoyed a huge and unexpected comeback in 1993 with his hit song “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”.
“Alternative” rock bands, whose name comes from not being mainstream, became mainstream. The shift occurred as album rock radio stations shifted from the long ruling 60s and 70s rock mainstays to the younger, harder guitar-based bands.
Bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Blind Melon, Soul Asylum and Alice in Chains led the way along with top dogs Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The latter’s album Vs. debuted at number one and had to be one of the most eagerly anticipated albums in rock history.
Murder was the case that they gave Snoop in 1993
Garth Brooks returned to his position at the top when his album In Pieces debuted in August at the top of the pop album charts. Other popular country artists in 1993 include Billy Ray Cyrus, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill and Wynonna.
Softer sounding music received a boost when MTV introduced “MTV Unplugged”, a concert where the musicians use only acoustic instruments.
Hardcore rap enjoyed unprecedented airplay on Top 40 and R&B radio stations in 1993. Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Onyx and Naughty by Nature all rose to prominence in the music scene.
Rappers were in frequent trouble with the law in 1993. Tupac Shakur was accused of shooting two off-duty police officers. Flavor Flav was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting a neighbor. Snoop Doggy Dogg got into the mix too after he was charged with murder in the August 25th shooting of a Los Angeles man.
And let’s close out 1993 with one of the most horrific songs ever made. Snow’s Informer was just plain terrible, but every middle schooler loved it for a couple weeks.
#1 Songs (1990-1999)
At the beginning of the 1990s, music was tame an unsure of where to go. There was pop everywhere and no one seemed to want to stray too far outside of it.
Sure there were tons of underground acts like Nine Inch Nails and The Melvins in the 80s, but as far as MTV was concerned (and the rest of middle class, suburban America), they didn’t exist.
That all changed when Kurt Cobain wrote that song with those four chords and that yell he does. Everyone went nuts. Including me. Kids everywhere connected with the raw, powerful sound and, as many people don’t give credit, Dave Grohl was also responsible for the massive improvement in Nirvana’s sound on their second album.
Little did we know at the time that Grohl would go on to become one of the greatest musicians of our generation.
First it was called Alternative and there were many bands that fit into this category. It was underground music, but with hooks, lyrics, accessible vocals and good production. Everyone looked at Seattle.
Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, even Green River — people bought whatever they could get their hands on. There was also a short lived punk revival.
At the same time, a massive shift in hip hop music began as a new type of rap called gangsta rap was becoming very popular. Suddenly everyone wanted to say they were from Compton so they would look hard. The movie Boyz N Tha Hood captures the 1991-ish feeling in LA perfectly.
After those explosions, there were several years of copycats. Stone Temple Pilots were huge rip-offs at first, but became pretty sweet in their second album.
Then electronic music started becoming more popular. It invaded all aspects of music, as did the rave culture. Even David Bowie had a mostly electronic album if that tells you anything.
In the late 90s, blending different types of music was a common thing to try and it was becoming difficult to fit bands into genres. Because of this new genres were being created almost as quickly as the albums were coming out.
There was a small British invasion in the 90s also, led by Oasis, Radiohead and Blur. Suddenly, after being shunned for most of the 80s as “music my mom and dad listen to”, The Beatles were cool to like again.
We apologize for the pop charts below. We realize that we will have to add other charts to give a more accurate picture of what music in the 90s was actually like. But yeah, the crap listed below was on the radio a lot.
So were really long Pink Floyd solos on the “Classic Rock” station.
Songs in 1990
What were the most popular songs in 1990?
| Dec. 23, 1989 – Jan. 19 Jan. 20 – Feb. 9 Febr. 10 – Mar. 2 Marc. 3 – Mar. 23 Mar. 24 – Apr. 6 Apr. 7 – Apr. 13 Apr. 14 – Apr. 20 Apr. 21 – May 18 May 19 – June 8 June 9 – June 15 June 16 – June 29 June 30 – July 21 July 21 – Aug. 3 Aug. 4 – Aug. 31 Sept. 1 – Sept. 7 Sept. 8 – Sept. 14 Sept. 15 – Sept. 29 Sept. 29 – Oct. 5 Oct. 6 – Oct. 12 Oct. 13 – Oct. 19 Oct. 20 – Oct. 26 Oct. 27 – Nov. 2 Nov. 3 – Nov. 9 Nov. 10 – Nov. 30 Dece. 1 – Dec. 7 Dec. 8 – Jan. 4, 1991 | Another Day In Paradise How Am I Supposed To Live Without You Opposites Attract Escapade Black Velvet Love Will Lead You Back I’ll Be Your Everything Nothing Compares 2 U Vogue Hold On It Must Have Been Love Step by Step She Ain’t Worth It Vision of Love If Wishes Came True Blaze of Glory Release Me (I Can’t Live Without Your) Love & Affection Close to You Praying for Time I Don’t Have the Heart Black Cat Ice Ice Baby Love Takes Time I’m Your Baby Tonight Because I Love You (The Postman Song) | Phil Collins Michael Bolton Paula Abdul with The Wild Pair Janet Jackson Alannah Myles Taylor Dayne Tommy Page Sinead O’Connor Madonna Wilson Phillips Roxette New Kids on the Block Glenn Medeiros feat. Bobby Brown Mariah Carey Sweet Sensation Bon Jovi Wilson Phillips Nelson Maxi Priest George Michael James Ingram Janet Jackson Vanilla Ice Mariah Carey Whitney Houston Stevie B |
#1 Songs in 1991
What were the most popular songs in 1991?
| Dec. 8, 1990 – Jan. 4 Jan. 5 – Jan. 18 Jan. 19 Jan. 25 Jan. 26 – Feb. 8 Feb. 9 – Feb. 22 Feb. 23 – Mar. 8 Mar. 9 – Mar. 22 Mar. 23 – Mar. 29 Mar. 30 – Apr. 12 Apr. 13 – Apr. 19 Apr. 20 – Apr. 26 Apr. 27 – May 10 May 11 – May 17 May 18 – May 24 May 25 – June 7 June 8 – June 14 June 15 – July 19 July 20 – July 26 July 27 – Sept. 13 Septe. 14 – Sept. 20 Sept. 21 – Oct. 4 Oct. 5 – Oct. 11 Oct. 12 – Nov. 1 Nov. 2 – Nov. 8 Nov. 9 – Nov. 22 Nov. 23 – Nov. 29 Nov. 30 – Dec. 6 Dec. 7 – Jan. 24, 1992 | Because I Love You (The Postman Song) Justify My Love Love Will Never Do (Without You) The First Time Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) All the Man That I Need Someday One More Try Coming out of the Dark I’ve Been Thinking About You You’re in Love Baby Baby Joyride I Like the Way (The Kissing Game) I Don’t Wanna Cry More Than Words Rush, Rush Unbelievable (Everything I Do) I Do It for You The Promise of a New Day I Adore Mi Amor Good Vibrations Emotions Romantic Cream When a Man Loves a Woman Set Adrift on Memory Bliss Black Or White | Stevie B Madonna Janet Jackson Surface C&C Music Factory Whitney Houston Mariah Carey Timmy T. Gloria Estefan Londonbeat Wilson Phillips Amy Grant Roxette Hi-Five Mariah Carey Extreme Paula Abdul EMF Bryan Adams Paula Abdul Color Me Badd Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch Mariah Carey Karyn White Prince & the New Power Generation Michael Bolton PM Dawn Michael Jackson |
#1 Songs in 1992
What were the most popular songs in 1992?
| Dec. 7, 1991- Jan. 24 Jan. 25 – Jan. 31 Feb. 1 – Feb. 7 Feb. 8 – Feb. 28 Feb. 29 – Mar. 20 Mar. 21 – Apr. 24 April 25 – June 19 June 20 -July 3 July 4 – Aug. 7 Aug. 8 – Aug. 14 Aug. 15 – Nov. 13 Nov. 14 – Nov. 28 Nov. 29 – Mar. 5, 1993 | Black Or White All 4 Love Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me I’m Too Sexy To Be With You Save the Best For Last Jump I’ll Be There Baby Got Back This Used To Be My Playground End of the Road How Do You Talk To An Angelb I Will Always Love You | Michael Jackson Color Me Badd George Michael/Elton John Right Said Fred Mr. Big Vanessa Williams Kris Kross Mariah Carey Sir Mix-A-Lot Madonna Boyz II Men The Heights Whitney Houston |
#1 Songs in 1993
What were the most popular songs in 1993?
| Nov. 29, 1992 – Mar. 5 Mar. 6 – Mar. 12 Mar. 13 – Apr. 30 May 1 – May 14 May 15 – July 9 July 10 – July 23 July 24 – Sept. 11 Sept. 11 – Nov. 5 Nov. 6 – Dece. 10 Dec. 11 – Dec. 24 Dec. 25 – Jan. 21, 1994 | I Will Always Love You A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) Informer Freak Me That’s The Way Love Goes Weak I Can’t Help Falling In Love Dreamlover I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) Again Hero | Whitney Houston Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle Snow Silk Janet Jackson SWV (Sisters With Voices) UB40 Mariah Carey Meat Loaf Janet Jackson Mariah Carey |
#1 Songs in 1994
What were the most popular songs in 1994?
| Dec. 25, 1993 – Jan. 21 Jan. 22 – Feb. 11 Feb. 12 – Mar. 11 Mar. 12 – Apr. 8 Apr. 9 – May. 6 May 7 – May 20 May 21 – Aug. 5 Aug. 6 – Aug. 26 Aug. 27 – Dec. 2 Dec. 3 – Dec. 16 Dec. 17 – Dec. 30 Dec. 31 – Jan. 27, 1995 | Hero All For Love Power of Love The Sign Bump N’ Grind The Sign I Swear Stay (I Missed You) I’ll Make Love To You On Bended Knee Here Comes the Hotstepper On Bended Knee | Mariah Carey Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting Celine Dion Ace of Base R. Kelly Ace of Base All-4-One Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories Boyz II Men Boyz II Men Ini Kamoze Boyz II Men |
#1 Songs in 1995
What were the most popular songs in 1995?
| Dec. 3, 1994 – Jan. 27 Jan. 28 – Feb. 24 Feb. 25 – Apr. 14 Apr. 15 – June 2 June 3 – July 7 July 8 – Aug. 25 Aug. 26 – Sept.. 1 Sept. 2 – Sept. 8 Sept. 9 – Sept. 29 Sept. 30 – Nov. 24 Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 Dec. 2 – Mar. 22, 1996 | On Bended Knee Creep Take A Bow This Is How We Do It Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman Waterfalls Kiss From A Rose You Are Not Alone Gangsta’s Paradise Fantasy Exhale (Shoop Shoop) One Sweet Day | Boyz II Men TLC Madonna Montell Jordan Bryan Adams TLC Seal Michael Jackson Coolio Mariah Carey Whitney Houston Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men |
#1 Songs in 1996
What were the most popular songs in 1996?
| Dec. 2, 1995 – Mar. 22 Mar. 23 – May 3 May 4 – May 17 May 18 – July 12 July 13 – July 26 July 27 – Aug. 2 Aug. 3 – Nov. 9 Nov. 9 – Dec. 6 Dec. 7 – Feb.21, 1997 | One Sweet Day Because You Loved Me Always Be My Baby Tha Crossroads How Do U Want It You’re Makin’ Me High Macarena (bayside boys remix) No Diggity Un-Break My Heart | Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men Celine Dion Mariah Carey Bone Thugs N Harmony 2Pac feat. K-Ci and JoJo Toni Braxton Los Del Rio Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre Toni Braxton |
#1 Songs in 1997
What were the most popular songs in 1997?
| Dec. 7, 1996 – Feb. 21 Feb. 22 – May 21 March 22 – May 2 May 3 – May 23 May 24 – June 13 June 14 – Aug. 30 Aug. 30 – Sept. 12 Sept. 13 – Oct. 3 Oct. 4 – Oct. 10 Oct. 11 – Jan. 16, 1998 | Un-Break My Heart Wannabe Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down Hypnotize MMMBop I’ll Be Missing You Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems Honey 4 Seasons of Loneliness Candle In The Wind 1997 | Toni Braxton Spice Girls Puff Daddy and Ma$e The Notorious B.I.G. Hanson Puff Daddy/Faith Evans/112 The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy / Mase Mariah Carey Boyz II Men Elton John |
#1 Songs in 1998
What were the most popular songs in 1998?
| Oct. 11 – Jan. 16, 1998 Jan. 17 – Jan. 30 Jan. 31 – Feb. 13 Feb. 14 – Feb. 27 Feb. 28 – Mar. 13 Mar. 14 – Apr. 3 Apr. 4 – Apr. 24 Apr. 25 – May 29 May 30 – June 5 June 6 – Sept. 4 Sept. 5 – Oct. 2 Oct. 3 – Nov. 6 Nov. 7 – Nov. 13 Nov. 14 – Nov. 27 Nov. 28- Dec. 4 Dec. 5 – Jan. 15 | Candle In The Wind 1997 Truly Madly Deeply Together Again Nice & Slow My Heart Will Go On Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It All My Life Too Close My All The Boy Is Mine I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing The First Night One Week Doo Wop (That Thing) Lately I’m Your Angel | Elton John Savage Garden Janet Jackson Usher Celine Dion Will Smith K-ci and JoJo Next Mariah Carey Brandy & Monica Aerosmith Monica Barenaked Ladies Lauryn Hill Divine R. Kelly & Celine Dion |
#1 Songs in 1999
What were the most popular songs in 1999?
| Dec. 5, 1998 – Jan. 15 Jan. 16 – Jan. 29 Jan. 30 – Feb. 7 Feb. 13 – Mar. 12 Mar. 13 – Apr. 9 Apr. 10 – May 7 May 8 – June 4 June 5 – July 16 July 17 – July 23 July 24 – July 30 July 31 – Sept. 3 Sept.4 – Sept. 17 Sept. 18 – Oct. 8 Oct. 9 – Oct. 22 Oct. 23 – Jan. 14, 2000 | I’m Your Angel Have You Ever …Baby One More Time Angel Of Mine Believe No Scrubs Livin’ La Vida Loca If You Had My Love Bills, Bills, Bills Wild Wild West Genie In A Bottle Bailamos Unpretty Heartbreaker Smooth | R. Kelly & Celine Dion Brandy Britney Spears Monica Cher TLC Ricky Martin Jennifer Lopez Destiny’s Child Will Smith feat. Dru Hill / Kool Moe Dee Christina Aguilera Enrique Iglesias TLC Mariah Carey featuring Jay-Z Santana feat. Rob Thomas |
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