1990 Top 100 Songs < Works 100% >

The arrival of a legend. When Mariah hit those whistle tones at the end of this song, the music industry stopped. Every singer since has been trying to replicate this debut.

Stop! Hammer time. You couldn't go to a wedding, a roller rink, or a school dance without hearing this sample-laden (Rick James, anyone?) hip-hop smash. The pants were ridiculous, but the beat was undeniable. 1990 top 100 songs

Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 for 1990 is a wild ride. Let’s break down the top 20 and give a nod to the forgotten gems that made up the rest of this iconic list. 1. "Hold On" – Wilson Phillips The unofficial anthem of 1990. When Chynna, Carnie, and Wendy told you to "hold on for one more day," you believed them. It was the biggest-selling single of the year and the perfect blend of California sunshine and heartbreak harmony. The arrival of a legend

1990 was a musical fork in the road. On one side, the shiny, synth-driven pop of the late ‘80s was still holding court. On the other, grunge was sharpening its axes in Seattle, and hip-hop was becoming the voice of a new generation. It was the year of the Vanilla Ice high-top fade, the MC Hammer parachute pants, and the birth of the power ballad that could bring a stadium to tears. The pants were ridiculous, but the beat was undeniable