Musical Dice -- Top Songs Of 1991

Top Songs Of 1991

POS

TITLE

ARTIST

PEAK

COMMENTS

HM

Let's Talk About Sex

Salt 'N' Pepa

13

HM

Don't Want To Be A Fool

Luther Vandross

9

100

Shiny Happy People

R.E.M.

10

Featuring Kate Pierson of the B-52's on backup vocals. The B-52's are from Macon Georgia, and R.E.M. is from Athens Georgia.

99

The Motown Song

Rod Stewart

10

Featuring members of the Temptations on backup vocals. The one week this was in the top 10, so was "Motownphilly" by Boyz II Men.

98

Do You Want Me

Salt 'N' Pepa

21

The lowest-peaking song to make this list.

97

Miles Away

Winger

12

96

I Saw Red

Warrant

10

Warrant's 3rd and final top 10 hit.

95

Freedom

George Michael

8

Also referred to as "Freedom 90." George Michael had also written and sung lead on "Freedom" by Wham! (a #3 hit in 1985). George Michael did not appear in the video for this song, but several models like Naomi Campbell were in the video.

94

O.P.P.

Naughty By Nature

6

O.P.P. stands for Other People's Property.

93

The One And Only

Chesney Hawkes

10

From the movie "Doc Hollywood" starring Michael J. Fox.

92

All This Time

Sting

5

Dedicated to the memory of Sting's father. Tiffany also had a hit called "All This Time" (a #6 hit for her in 1989). Tiffany also shares a 10/2 birthday with Sting.

91

Groove Is In The Heart

Deee-Lite

4

90

Disappear

INXS

8

The seventh and final top ten hit for INXS.

89

Rico Suave

Gerardo

7

88

Strike It Up

Black Box

8

The second and final top ten hit for Black Box.

87

Just Another Dream

Cathy Dennis

9

Backup vocalist was thought to be Rick Astley, but it isn't

86

Everybody Plays The Fool

Aaron Neville

8

Original version was a #3 for the Main Ingredient in 1972.

85

Real Real Real

Jesus Jones

4

Jesus Jones only had top 40 hits in 1991, and thie was their second and final.

84

Piece Of My Heart

Tara Kemp

7

Tara Kemp only had top 40 hits in 1991, of which this was her second and last.

83

I'm Not In Love

Will To Power

7

Originally a #2 hit for 10cc in 1975.

82

Silent Lucidity

Queensryche

9

A very atypical song for Queensryche. Their only top 40 hit.

81

Round And Round

Tevin Campbell

12

Written and produced by Prince. From the movie "Grafitti Bridge." Not to be confused with Ratt's 1984 #12 hit "Round And Round."

80

Get Here

Oleta Adams

5

Popularized by the Gulf War. Produced by Roland Orzobal of Tears For Fears. Oleta Adams was the featured backup vocalist on Tears For Fears' hit "Woman In Chains." This was Oleta Adams' only top 40 hit.

79

Wicked Game

Chris Issak

6

Chris Issak's only top 40 hit.

78

Something To Believe In

Poison

4

Inspired by the death of a friend of lead singer Bret Michaels. This was Poison's sixth and final top ten hit.

77

Place In This World

Michael W. Smith

6

Michael W. Smith's first top 40 hit. Smith is a Christian singer. The song was written by another Christian singer, Amy Grant.

76

I'll Give All My Love To You

Keith Sweat

7

Keith's second top tem pop hit.

75

Crazy

Seal

7

Seal's first top 40 hit.

74

Too Many Walls

Cathy Dennis

8

The top Adult Contemporary hit of 1991. Also Cathy's fourth (counting her hit with D-Mob, "C'Mon And Get My Love") and final top ten hit.

73

Signs

Tesla

8

Originally a #3 hit for the Five Man Electrical Bane in 1971. This version was recorded live. This was Tesla's second and final top ten hit.

72

Here I Am (Come And Take Me)

UB40

7

Originally a #10 hit for Al Green in 1973

71

The Way You Do The Things You Do

UB40

6

Originally a #11 hit for the Temptations in 1964.

70

Cry For Help

Rick Astley

7

Written and produced by Rick Astley. This was Rick's 5th and final top ten hit.

69

Love Takes Time

Mariah Carey

1(3)

It also landed at #76 on 1990's list.

68

Show Me The Way

Styx

3

Popularized by the Gulf War. When Styx re-formed in 1990, they did so without lead guitarist Tommy Shaw, who had helped form Damn Yankees. This would be Styx's 9th and final top ten hit.

67

Now That We've Found Love

Heavy D. & the Boyz

11

Originally recorded by Third World in 1979 (#47)

66

Cream

Prince

1(2)

The proper analogy here is rising to the top to reach one's goals, rising to the top like cream.

65

I'll Be There

The Escape Club

8

The Escape Club's second and last top ten hit. Inspired by the movie "Ghost?"

64

Around The Way Girl

L.L. Cool J.

9

Sampling a Rick James song. L.L. Cool J.'s first top ten pop hit.

63

Sadeness

Enigma

5

Featuring a Gregorian chant as well as French words. Enigma's first top ten hit.

62

Time, Love, And Tenderness

Michael Bolton

7

Co-written by Michael Bolton and Diane Warren.

61

3 A.M. Eternal

The KLF

5

KLF stands for Kindness, Love, and Friendship.

60

I Can't Wait Another Minute

Hi-Five

8

Hi-Five's second top ten hit.

59

Can't Stop This Thing We Started

Bryan Adams

2(1)

58

Temptation

Corinna

6

Corinna's only top 40 hit.

57

Play That Funky Music

Vanilla Ice

4

A rap remake of the #1 hit by Wild Cherry from 1976. Vanilla Ice's second and final top 40 hit.

56

After The Rain

Nelspm

6

Nelson's second and final top ten hit.

55

Something To Talk About

Bonnie Raitt

5

Bonnie Raitt's first hit, which didn't come until age 43.

54

Iesha

Another Bad Creation

9

Another Bad Creation was discovered by Michael Bivins of Bell Biv DeVoe, who also discovered Boyz II Men.

53

Tom's Diner

D.N.A. feat. Suzanne Vega

5

52

I Touch Myself

The Divinyls

4

The Divinyls' only top 40 hit.

51

Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

C + C Music Factory

4

Their third and final top ten hit.

50

Rhythm Of My Heart

Rod Stewart

5

49

Love Is A Wonderful Thing

Michael Bolton

4

Later deemed to have been stolen from an Isley Brothers song of the same title!

48

Impulsive

Wilson Phillips

4

Featuring lead vocals by Wendy Wilson

47

Power Of Love/Love Power

Luther Vandross

4

46

Hole Hearted

Extreme

4

Extreme never had hits outside of 1991, but this was their second and last top ten hit in 1991.

45

This House

Tracie Spencer

3

Tracie's first hit "Symptoms Of True Love" (#36) came in 1988 when she was just 12 years old. This was her second and final top 40 hit.

44

Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)

Roxette

2(1)

Roxette's sixth and final top ten hit.

43

Love Of A Lifetime

Firehouse

5

The first top ten hit for Firehouse.

42

I'm Your Baby Tonight

Whitney Houston

1(1)

Whitney's 8th #1 hit.

41

The Promise Of A New Day

Paula Abdul

1(1)

Paula's 3rd #1 in a row (and the second time she had such a streak!), and sixth and final #1 hit.

40

P.A.S.S.I.O.N.

Rythm Syndicate

2(2)

Their only top ten hit, not to be confused with the same title, but spelled out by Rod Stewart from 1981.

39

Wind Of Change

The Scorpions

4

The Scorpions' only top ten hit.

38

Summertime

D. J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

4

Samples "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang. This was D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's only top ten pop hit.

37

Where Does My Heart Beat Now

Celine Dion

4

Celine Dion's first hit not sung in French.

36

Here We Go

C + C Music Factory

3

The single version features Brazilian model Zelma Davis on backup vocals, instead of Martha Wash, the real backup vocalist.

35

It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over

Lenny Kravitz

2(1)

This song was written by Lenny, attempting to win back his wife, actress Lisa Bonet, who had left him, due to his cheating on her.

34

Coming Out Of The Dark

Gloria Estefan

1(2)

Inspired by her experience following her bus accident that injured her back in 1990.

33

Losing My Religion

R.E.M.

4

The song's title is a southern slang for losing one's temper.

32

Do Anything

Matural Selection

2(2)

Natural Selection's only top ten pop hit. The group was sometimes mistaken for Prince. Like Prince, Natural Selection hails from Minneapolis Minnesota. For a while, this song was in the top 10 at the same time as "Cream" by Prince.

31

I've Been Thinking About You

Londonbeat

1(1)

Londonbeat never had a hit outside of 1991, but had two in 1991, including this one top ten hit of theirs.

30

Touch Me (All Night Long)

Cathy Dennis

2(2)

Originally a disco song from the late 70's.

29

Sensitivity

Ralph Tresvant

4

Ralph T. is the lead singer of New Edition. This was his only top ten pop hit.

28

Every Heartbeat

Amy Grant

2(1)

27

You're In Love

Wilson Phillips

1(1)

Wilson Phillips' third #1 hit, and their fourth top ten hit. In both cases, it was their last.

26

I Don't Wanna Cry

Mariah Carey

1(2)

Mariah Carey's fourth #1 hit in a row, and all from her debut album--a record.

25

Hold You Tight

Tara Kemp

3

Tara Kemp's first hit.

24

Romantic

Karyn White

1(1)

Karyn White's fourth and final top ten pop hit.

23

Joyride

Roxette

1(1)

Tapping into the Beatles' way of writing songs, wanting them to be fun.

22

Emotions

Mariah Carey

1(3)

Each of Mariah's first five hits (of which this was the fifth) had gone to #1.

21

Justify My Love

Madonna

1(2)

Co-written by Lenny Kravitz, the backup vocalist on the song as well. Allegedly, a third person co-wrote the song, and she was the one Lenny was having the affair with, behind Lisa Bonet's back. The woman sued Lenny Kravitz and Madonna, and the lawsuit led to Lisa Bonet finding out about the affair.

20

Good Vibrations

Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch feat. Lolleata Holloway

1(1)

Samples a mid-70's song by Lolleata Holloway called "Good Vibrations." Not to be confused with "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys. Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg, the brother of Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids On The Block.

19

Love Will Never Do (Without You)

Janet Jackson

1(1)

The seventh hit single from Janet's album "Rhythm Nation," the first album to produce #1 hits in three separate calendar years!

18

I Adore Mi Amor

Color Me Badd

1(2)

Perhaps compensating for "I Wanna Sex You Up," their previous hit, not reaching #1.

17

Right Here, Right Now

Jesus Jones

2(1)

Jesus Jones' first hit.

16

All The Man That I Need

Whitney Houston

1(2)

Originally recorded by Sister Sledge in 1982.

15

From A Distance

Bette Midler

2(1)

Remained popular because of the Gulf War. Bette Midler's fourth and final top ten hit.

14

High Enough

Damn Yankees

3

Damn Yankees includes Ted Nugent, along with Tommy Shaw of Styx, and Jack Blades of Night Ranger.

13

Someday

Mariah Carey

1(2)

Mariah Carey has the most songs on this list (4 songs).

12

Because I Love You (The Postman Song)

Stevie B.

1(4)

Stevie B. usually does dance songs, but this ballad was the only top ten hit Stevie B. had.

11

Motownphilly

Boyz II Men

3

Co-written by Michael Bivins (of Bell Biv DeVoe and New Edition). Perhaps this was a way of promoting his discoveries as well as Boyz II Men (Bivins had discovered Boyz II Men, Another Bad Creation--ABC. and Bell Biv DeVoe--BBD).

10

Baby Baby

Amy Grant

1(2)

Referring to Amy's then-six-week-old daughter Millie.

9

The First Time

Surface

1(2)

Don't be deceived by the song title. This was actually the second time Surface had hit the top ten (the first time was actually with their #5 hit "Shower Me With Your Love" from 1989). On a personal note, I was with a girl at the time, and this song was our theme song.

8

I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)

Hi-Five

1(1)

Hi-Five's first hit.

7

More Than Words

Extreme

1(1)

Extreme's first hit.

6

Unbelievable

E.M.F.

1(1)

Featured in an episode of "Charmed," where Piper was acting out a scene from the movie "Coyote Ugly." E.M.F. never had a hit outside of 1991, but two hits in 1991, of which this was their first and only top ten hit.

5

One More Try

Timmy T.

1(1)

Tim Torres from Fresno California, wrote this song, trying to win his girlfriend back (after he had successfully done so with his previous hit "Time After Time" from 1990). But according to the ex-girlfriend, whenever she'd hear this song on the radio, she'd change the station!

4

Rush Rush

Paula Abdul

1(5)

Recorded in one take.

3

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

C + C Music Factory

1(2)

Martha Wash, who weighed over 300 pounds, wasn't given credit for the powerful backup vocals on this song. The group and the record company tried to pass them off on Brazilian model Zelma Davis (a lot easier on the eyes, and a lot easier to promote). Martha Wash of the Weather Girls successfully sued both C + C Music Factory and Jive Records.

2

I Wanna Sex You Up

Color Me Badd

2(4)

From the movie "New Jack City." This song was #2 for 4 weeks behind "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul.

1

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Bryan Adams

1(7)

From the movie "Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves" starring Kevin Costner. The movie makers wanted Bryan Adams to include musical instruments from the Renaissance Era, since that's the setting for the movie, but Bryan said "Come on, I'm writing a hit record, here." As a result, the song wasn't played until the rolling of the credits.