Look closely at the list. Poison, Warrant, and Mötley Crüe are notably absent from the top of the list compared to 1989. Their hits (“Cherry Pie” by Warrant peaked at #7 in late 1990, but by year’s end, the writing was on the wall). Nirvana was rehearsing in Aberdeen, Washington. The party was almost over.
If you want to relive the year in order, these were the heavy hitters: – Wilson Phillips "It Must Have Been Love" – Roxette "Nothing Compares 2 U" – Sinead O'Connor "Poison" – Bell Biv DeVoe "Vogue" – Madonna "Vision of Love" – Mariah Carey "Another Day in Paradise" – Phil Collins "Hold On" – En Vogue "U Can't Touch This" – M.C. Hammer "Do Me!" – Bell Biv DeVoe top 100 songs in 1990 top
The playlist was an instant hit at the radio station, with listeners tuning in from all over to hear the best songs of 1990. Alex's boss was thrilled, and the playlist became a staple of the station's programming. Look closely at the list
Musically, 1990 was the "calm before the storm." Just one year later, Nirvana's Nevermind would change everything, but in 1990, the world was still dancing to New Jack Swing, crying to power ballads from the Pretty Woman soundtrack, and witnessing the birth of modern R&B. Nirvana was rehearsing in Aberdeen, Washington