The cultural peak of parachute pants. Sampling Rick James’ “Super Freak,” this track wasn’t just a song; it was a dance craze, a fashion statement, and the first mainstream hip-hop pop crossover that didn’t apologize for being flashy.
(Actually released in 1992 – but its precursor, “Don’t Tell My Heart,” was written in 1990. I’ll substitute: "Friends in Low Places" – Garth Brooks (The 1990 country anthem that crossed over to pop radio via line dancing.) 92. "Love Without Anger" – Depeche Mode (B-side, but essential for fans.) 93. "Blue Savannah" – Erasure (The synth-pop duo’s happiest tragedy. A song about running away.) 94. "Policy of Truth" (Remix) – Depeche Mode (The single that ruled alternative clubs.) 95. "The Grease Megamix" – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (Yes, a 1990 remix of 1978 songs went Top 10. The nostalgia industry was born.) 96. "I'm Your Baby Tonight" – Whitney Houston (Her shift from adult contemporary to new jack swing. Underrated banger.) 97. "Higher Ground" – Stevie Wonder (Re-released as a double A-side with “Too High” after a car commercial.) 98. "All That She Wants" – Ace of Base (No – that’s 1992. "Unfinished Sympathy" – Massive Attack (The birth of trip-hop. 1990 in the UK. Changed production forever.) 99. "Personal Jesus" – Depeche Mode (Technically released late 1989, but it owned 1990 radio. The blues riff on a synth.) 100. "Sadeness (Part I)" – Enigma (Gregorian chants + erotic French whispers + dance beat. The weirdest #1 of the year. It closed out 1990 and opened the door for “new age” electronic music.) top 100 songs of 1990
The ultimate female harmony power ballad. Chynna Phillips (daughter of The Mamas & the Papas) and Carnie & Wendy Wilson (daughters of Brian Wilson) created a song about perseverance that still makes Gen X cry. The cultural peak of parachute pants
Unlike today’s fragmented streaming charts, 1990 was a year of monoculture: CD sales exploded, MTV was king, and the Billboard Hot 100 was a battleground for hair metal, newborn grunge, golden-age hip-hop, and the first waves of club culture. I’ll substitute: "Friends in Low Places" – Garth
(From Young Guns II – Western rock) 12. "Thunderstruck" – AC/DC (The greatest stadium intro riff of all time. Angus Young’s pickup.) 13. "She Ain't Worth It" – Glenn Medeiros ft. Bobby Brown (New jack swing perfection) 14. "Pump Up the Jam" – Technotronic (The song that taught America how to house dance) 15. "Black Velvet" – Alannah Myles (A sultry ode to Elvis Presley and Southern grit) 16. "Escapade" – Janet Jackson (Janet’s shift from control to joy. The “Rhythm Nation” lighter side) 17. "The Power" – Snap! (The “I’ve got the power” chant is one of the most sampled vocals in history) 18. "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" – Heart (Controversial lyrics about a one-night stand with a hitchhiker) 19. "Love Will Lead You Back" – Taylor Dayne (Diane Warren’s power ballad machine at full throttle) **20. "Blind" – Lifehouse? No. "Blind" – Michael Bolton? No. "Epic" – Faith No More (The missing link between hair metal and grunge. The video with the fish flopping on the floor is burned into memory) 21. "Close to You" – Maxi Priest (Reggae’s smoothest crossover since Eddy Grant) 22. "Here We Go" – C+C Music Factory (The house music explosion. “Everybody dance now!”) 23. "Unskinny Bop" – Poison (The stupidest, most fun song of the year. Bubblegum metal at its peak) 24. "Roam" – The B-52's (The party band goes global. A travelogue set to a surf guitar) 25. "Opposites Attract" – Paula Abdul (w/ The Wild Pair) (MC Skat Kat – the cartoon cat rapper. Peak late-80s/early-90s weirdness) 26. "Janie's Got a Gun" – Aerosmith (Dark, disturbing, brilliant. A song about child abuse with a Steven Tyler scream that cuts glass) 27. "Release Me" – Wilson Phillips (The second massive hit from that album) 28. "King of Wishful Thinking" – Go West (From Pretty Woman . The ultimate “I’m fine after the breakup” lie set to a happy riff) 29. "Policy of Truth" – Depeche Mode (Darker than “Enjoy the Silence.” About the pain of brutal honesty) 30. "Dangerous" – Roxette (The hard-rocking B-side to “Listen to Your Heart”)
From the film Pretty Woman. A Christmas song rewritten as a breakup ballad. The orchestral swells and Marie Fredriksson’s husky voice made it the wedding standard (and divorce anthem) of the year.
: Groups like Bell Biv DeVoe (with "Poison") and En Vogue (with their version of "Hold On") blended hip-hop beats with R&B melodies, creating a sound that would dominate urban radio for years.