Ascending to the top of the year-end chart is the quintessential harmony-pop anthem, . The group—comprised of Carnie and Wendy Wilson (daughters of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson) and Chynna Phillips (daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas)—captured the zeitgeist with their vocal harmonies and a message of perseverance.
| Rank | Song Title | Artist(s) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | "Hold On" | Wilson Phillips | | 2 | "It Must Have Been Love" | Roxette | | 3 | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | Sinéad O'Connor | | 4 | "Poison" | Bell Biv DeVoe | | 5 | "Vogue" | Madonna | | 6 | "Vision of Love" | Mariah Carey | | 7 | "Another Day in Paradise" | Phil Collins | | 8 | "Hold On" | En Vogue | | 9 | "Cradle of Love" | Billy Idol | | 10 | "Blaze of Glory" | Jon Bon Jovi | | 11 | "Do Me!" | Bell Biv DeVoe | | 12 | "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" | Michael Bolton | | 13 | "Pump Up the Jam" | Technotronic | | 14 | "Opposites Attract" | Paula Abdul (feat. The Wild Pair) | | 15 | "Escapade" | Janet Jackson | | 16 | "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" | Heart | | 17 | "Close to You" | Maxi Priest | | 18 | "Black Velvet" | Alannah Myles | | 19 | "U Can't Touch This" | MC Hammer | | 20 | "Love Will Lead You Back" | Taylor Dayne | | 21 | "Ice Ice Baby" | Vanilla Ice | | 22 | "Rub You the Right Way" | Johnny Gill | | 23 | "Step by Step" | New Kids on the Block | | 24 | "She Ain't Worth It" | Glenn Medeiros (feat. Bobby Brown) | | 25 | "Here We Are" | Gloria Estefan |
"Epic" brought weird, funky metal to the mainstream, foreshadowing the alternative rock boom.
Written by Prince, Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor transformed this track into a staggering, emotionally raw masterpiece. Driven by a stark, unforgettable close-up music video on MTV, the track topped charts globally and remains one of the most critically acclaimed vocal performances of the decade. 4. "Poison" — Bell Biv DeVoe
: Before grunge took over in 1991, the charts still featured rock veterans like Phil Collins and Aerosmith , alongside the haunting alternative success of Sinéad O'Connor . top 100 songs in 1990 top
The sound of 1990 was physically defined by the "New Jack Swing" beat—a fusion of hip-hop rhythms and soulful vocals spearheaded by producers like Teddy Riley. Artists like ("Poison") and En Vogue ("Hold On") created a soundtrack that was urbane, rhythmic, and impossibly catchy. Conclusion
by Nelson: A rock-pop smash that hit #1 in September, proving hair metal could still blend with melodic pop Amfm-magazine.
by Madonna – Bringing underground ballroom culture into mainstream radio, this legendary dance track topped global charts.
Redefining dance music, Hammer brought charisma and high-energy hip-hop to the top of the charts . Ascending to the top of the year-end chart
Rock music in 1990 was a mix of established legends and the calm before the grunge storm.
A standalone hit from the Young Guns II soundtrack, reaching #1 and becoming his only solo chart-topper.
by Sinéad O'Connor – Written by Prince, this starkly emotional ballad spent weeks atop the weekly charts and became a global visual anchor via MTV.
(41–60) [includes hits such as] Black Velvet; Step by Step; She Ain't Worth It; etc. The Wild Pair) | | 15 | "Escapade"
This comprehensive analysis breaks down the , exploring the historic Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles of 1990, the shifts in popular music, and the massive cultural hits that defined the start of a new decade. The Top 10 Songs of 1990
Two movies owned the 1990 charts: (Roxette, Go West) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the film’s theme song, “Turtle Power!” by Partners in Kryme, was bizarrely a top 20 hit). Don’t forget Ghost — while “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers was from 1965, it re-entered the top 20 in 1990 because of that pottery scene.
Below is the full ranked list based on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100. We have broken the list into thematic sections to help you navigate the defining genres of the year.