The year was topped by Wilson Phillips' "Hold On," Roxette’s "It Must Have Been Love," and Sinéad O'Connor’s "Nothing Compares 2 U". The top 10 also featured R&B hits like Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison" (No. 4) and En Vogue's "Hold On" (No. 8), along with iconic tracks from Madonna ("Vogue," No. 5) and Mariah Carey ("Vision of Love," No. 6). Other major hits that defined the year included Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise" (No. 7), Billy Idol's "Cradle of Love" (No. 9), and Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze of Glory" (No. 10). Key Highlights of the Year
The top of the charts was dominated by soaring vocals and emotional songwriting. took the #1 spot of the year with " Hold On ," a song that defined the optimistic yet vulnerable spirit of the time. Other massive hits followed this trend: Losing My Religion
While rock was dying its hair, Black pop was inventing the future. 1990 was the year perfected New Jack Swing —the fusion of hip-hop beats, R&B melody, and soulful singing.
Here’s a curated list of content related to the — including chart data, notable facts, and links to resources for further exploration.
These were the songs that didn’t fit mainstream radio but snuck in via MTV’s 120 Minutes .
But the real pathology of 1990 is found in the middle of the chart. by Vanilla Ice (#11) is the third biggest song of the year. It is a song built on a bass line stolen from Queen and David Bowie ("Under Pressure"). It is rap for people who were scared of rap. It is white, suburban, and manufactured. Yet, it sits just below the #10 song: "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey.