Not too long ago I posted what has turned out to be a popular article listing The Worst #1 Songs of the 80s. If you did not see it, please click on the link and check it out. This concept came from a list I read on the Popdose website. They have not attacked the 90s as of yet, but based on the interest in my 80s list, I decided to publish a similar list for the decade of the 90s.

This list can only include songs that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for at least one week between 1990 and 1999. ALL songs will once again include links to the video if you are not familiar with the song or need a reminder. Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 WORST #1 SONGS OF THE 90s (+ Bonus 10):

20. "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" by Michael Bolton - #1 for 3 weeks (1/20-2/9/90) [link to video] - Bolton co-wrote the song, but it originally was released by Laura Branigan in 1983 before he covered it himself about 7 years later

19. "Opposites Attract" by Paula Abdul - #1 for 3 weeks (2/10-3/2/90) [link to video] - There is a rapping cat in the song... ‘Nuff said

18. "Can't Help Falling in Love" by UB40 - #1 for 7 weeks (7/24-9/10/93) [link to video] - Cover of the great 1961 Elvis Presley song appears on the movie soundtrack for Sliver

17. "Jump" by Kriss Kross - #1 for 8 weeks (4/25-6/19/92) [link to video]

16. "The First Night" by Monica - #1 for 5 weeks (10/3-10/16,10/24-11/13/9 8) [link to video]

15. "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf - #1 for 5 weeks (11/6-12/10/93) [link to video]

14. "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" by Bryan Adams - #1 for 5 weeks (6/3-7/7/95) [link to video] - Appears on the soundtrack for Don Juan DeMarco and there is a reason Adams wanted to wear a mask in this video

13. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot - #1 for 5 weeks (7/4-8/7/92) [link to video] - How does a song about a man's devotion to the derriere become a #1 hit?

12. "The Sign" by Ace of Base - #1 for 2 weeks (5/7-5/20/94) [link to video]

11. "Step By Step" by New Kids On The Block - #1 for 3 weeks (6/30-7/20/90) [link to video]

10. "Believe" by Cher - #1 for 4 weeks (3/13-4/9/99) [link to video] - The voice manipulations alone put it firmly on this list

9. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze - #1 for 2 weeks (12/17-12/30/94) [link to video] - Appears on the soundtrack for Prêt-à-Porte r (Ready to Wear)

8. "Wannabe" by Spice Girls - #1 for 4 weeks (2/22-3/21/97) [link to video]

7. "Informer" by Snow - #1 for 7 weeks (3/13-4/30/93) [link to video] - Can you understand any of the lyrics other than the song title?

6. "I've Been Thinking About You" by Londonbeat - #1 for 1 week (4/13-4/19/91) [link to video]

5. "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice - #1 for 1 week (11/3-11/9/90) [link to video] - Was surprised to find out it only stayed at the top for just one week.

4. "One More Try" by Timmy T - #1 for 1 week (3/23-3/29/91) [link to video]

3. "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" by Stevie B. - #1 for 4 weeks (12/8/90-1/4/91) [link to video]

2. "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred - #1 for 3 weeks (2/8-2/28/92) [link to video] - This one was too easy

1. "Macarena" by Los Del Rio - #1 for 14 weeks (8/3-11/8/96) [link to video] - This is just sad that this song not only reached #1, but stayed there for 3 entire months.  Wedding receptions have never been the same since.

There is my list for the 90s. I don't hold the music of that decade nearly as dear as I do the music from the 80s. One interesting thing I noticed about the 90s was that many songs held the #1 position for several weeks at a time. You see a couple examples on my list above with songs that held the top spot several times for 5 weeks plus a 7 week, 8 week and 14 week run.

There were some other significant reigns at the top of the charts during the 90s. These other songs were not candidates to be on the worst songs list above (actually quite the opposite in most cases). Here are some of the impressive lengthy stays at the top of the charts during that decade:
> "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men - 13 weeks in 1992!
> "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston - 14 weeks in 1992-93!
> "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men - 14 weeks in 1994!
> "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - a record 16 weeks in 1995-96! - Appears on both my Top Duets of All Time list as well as my Top Mariah Carey Songs list.
> "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 - 11 weeks in 1997
> "Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle In The Wind 1997" by Elton John - 14 weeks in 1997-98!
> "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy & Monica - 13 weeks in 1998
> "Smooth" by Santana & Rob Thomas - 12 weeks in 1999-2000

Those 8 singles alone spent a combined 107 weeks in the #1 position (out of possible 520 weeks) which is over 20% of the decade. The good thing about that is that it did somewhat limit the number of bad songs to make it to the top of the charts. Thanks again to Popdose for providing me with this interesting angle to explore and I will be interested to see their list for the 90s when they decide to publish it.

That wraps up another issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks for reading and I always appreciate the comments and support. If you are looking for more of Old School's Top 10 lists, click on that link and you will be taken to a summary. You can always click on the Archives buttons in the upper left hand column to find any previous issues that you may have missed. Peace and much love.

Check this out: Here are some funny editorial cartoons regarding the current gasoline prices...

Quote of the day: "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Download this: "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - Originally released in 1972, but also covered by Simply Red in 1989