By Alexander Stone
Music is one of the most dynamic and diverse forms of art, culture, and communication. Music reflects the changes, challenges, and opportunities of different eras, societies, and regions. Music also influences and inspires other aspects of life, such as technology, fashion, and politics. In this article, we will explore the revolution of music, by looking at the most popular songs of each month since January 1990. We will also analyse the factors and forces that shaped the musical landscape over the past three decades.
The 1990s: The Decade of Dance, Rap, and Alternative
The 1990s was a decade of musical experimentation and innovation, marked by the rise of dance, rap, and alternative genres. Dance music, which originated in the 1970s, reached new levels of popularity and diversity, thanks to artists such as Madonna, C+C Music Factory, Snap!, and Ace of Base. Dance music was characterised by upbeat tempos, electronic beats, and catchy hooks. Rap music, which emerged in the 1980s, also continued to evolve and expand, with subgenres such as gangsta rap, conscious rap, and pop rap. Rap music was characterised by rhythmic vocals, sampled loops, and social commentary. Alternative music, which developed in the 1980s, also gained prominence and influence, with subgenres such as grunge, indie rock, and Britpop. Alternative music was characterised by distorted guitars, raw vocals, and anti-establishment attitudes.
Some of the most popular songs of the 1990s were:
- January 1990: Phil Collins – Another Day in Paradise
- February 1990: Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
- March 1990: Snap! – The Power
- April 1990: Madonna – Vogue
- May 1990: Sinitta – Hitchin’ a Ride
- June 1990: New Kids on the Block – Step by Step
- July 1990: Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
- August 1990: MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This
- September 1990: Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory
- October 1990: Maria McKee – Show Me Heaven
- November 1990: Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby
- December 1990: Cliff Richard – Saviour’s Day
- January 1991: Enigma – Sadeness (Part I)
- February 1991: The KLF – 3 a.m. Eternal
- March 1991: The Simpsons – Do the Bartman
- April 1991: Chesney Hawkes – The One and Only
- May 1991: Cher – The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)
- June 1991: Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up
- July 1991: Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do It for You
- August 1991: Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy
- September 1991: The Scorpions – Wind of Change
- October 1991: U2 – The Fly
- November 1991: Michael Jackson – Black or White
- December 1991: Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives
- January 1992: George Michael & Elton John – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- February 1992: Wet Wet Wet – Goodnight Girl
- March 1992: Shakespears Sister – Stay
- April 1992: Right Said Fred – Deeply Dippy
- May 1992: KWS – Please Don’t Go
- June 1992: Erasure – Abba-esque
- July 1992: Jimmy Nail – Ain’t No Doubt
- August 1992: Snap! – Rhythm Is a Dancer
- September 1992: The Shamen – Ebeneezer Goode
- October 1992: Tasmin Archer – Sleeping Satellite
- November 1992: Boyz II Men – End of the Road
- December 1992: Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
- January 1993: 2 Unlimited – No Limit
- February 1993: Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way
- March 1993: The Bluebells – Young at Heart
- April 1993: Ace of Base – All That She Wants
- May 1993: UB40 – (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love with You
- June 1993: Gabrielle – Dreams
- July 1993: Take That – Pray
- August 1993: Freddie Mercury – Living on My Own
- September 1993: Culture Beat – Mr. Vain
- October 1993: Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
- November 1993: Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting – All for Love
- December 1993: Mr Blobby – Mr Blobby
- January 1994: D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better
- February 1994: Mariah Carey – Without You
- March 1994: Doop – Doop
- April 1994: Take That – Everything Changes
- May 1994: Manchester United Football Squad – Come on You Reds
- June 1994: Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
- July 1994: Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
- August 1994: Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
- September 1994: Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
- October 1994: Whigfield – Saturday Night
- November 1994: Pato Banton – Baby Come Back
- December 1994: East 17 – Stay Another Day
- January 1995: Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
- February 1995: Celine Dion – Think Twice
- March 1995: Celine Dion – Think Twice
- April 1995: Outhere Brothers – Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)
- May 1995: Livin’ Joy – Dreamer
- June 1995: Robson & Jerome – Unchained Melody / (There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover
- July 1995: Outhere Brothers – Boom Boom Boom
- August 1995: Take That – Never Forget
- September 1995: Blur – Country House
- October 1995: Simply Red – Fairground
- November 1995: Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise
- December 1995: Michael Jackson – Earth Song
- January 1996: George Michael – Jesus to a Child
- February 1996: Babylon Zoo – Spaceman
- March 1996: Oasis – Don’t Look Back in Anger
- April 1996: Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack
- May 1996: George Michael – Fastlove
- June 1996: The Fugees – Killing Me Softly
- July 1996: Spice Girls – Wannabe
- August 1996: Spice Girls – Wannabe
- September 1996: Peter Andre – Flava
- October 1996: Boyzone – Words
- November 1996: Spice Girls – Say You’ll Be There
- December 1996: Spice Girls – 2 Become 1
- January 1997: Tori Amos – Professional Widow
- February 1997: LL Cool J – Ain’t Nobody
- March 1997: The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats
- April 1997: R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
- May 1997: Michael Jackson – Blood on the Dance Floor
- June 1997: Hanson – MMMBop
- July 1997: Puff Daddy & Faith Evans – I’ll Be Missing You
- August 1997: Oasis – D’You Know What I Mean?
- September 1997: Elton John – Candle in the Wind 1997 / Something About the Way You Look Tonight
- October 1997: Elton John – Candle in the Wind 1997 / Something About the Way You Look Tonight
- November 1997: Aqua – Barbie Girl
- December 1997: Teletubbies – Teletubbies Say Eh-oh!
- January 1998: All Saints – Never Ever
- February 1998: Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
- March 1998: Cornershop – Brimful of Asha
- April 1998: Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It’s Like That
- May 1998: All Saints – Under the Bridge / Lady Marmalade
- June 1998: B*Witched – C’est la Vie
- July 1998: Billie – Because We Want To
- August 1998: Boyzone – No Matter What
- September 1998: Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
- October 1998: B*Witched – Rollercoaster
- November 1998: Cher – Believe
- December 1998: Spice Girls – Goodbye
- January 1999: Steps – Heartbeat / Tragedy
- February 1999: Blondie – Maria
- March 1999: Boyzone – When the Going Gets Tough
- April 1999: Martine McCutcheon – Perfect Moment
- May 1999: Westlife – Swear It Again
- June 1999: Shanks & Bigfoot – Sweet Like Chocolate
- July 1999: Ricky Martin – Livin’ la Vida Loca
- August 1999: Ronan Keating – When You Say Nothing at All
- September 1999: Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)
- October 1999: Christina Aguilera – Genie in a Bottle
- November 1999: Five – Keep On Movin’
- December 1999: Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer