Our next artist also had her major breakthrough in 1996 before becoming her generation’s next Anita Baker. While she’s had plenty of other great R&B hits, this song remains one of her all-time classics. The chorus remains indelible while at the same time heart-wrenching, and it remains one of the biggest slow R&B songs of the 90s. Coming in at #19 is Un-break My Heart by Toni Braxton.
There are not that many songs remembered for their instrumental themes, much less sung. Most are from movie soundtracks. This one is the rare exception. Again when your kids can sing it, you know it’s a popular tune, and this track is a great one. Honestly, and not to say it isn’t a great song, the only reason it didn’t rank higher is because it’s mainly the chorus that’s memorable (so memorable). Other than that, it earns a spot in this countdown at #19. It’s The Final Countdown by Europe .
Our countdown of the top 20 songs released in 1986 begins with once again a tinge of controversy. Not so much the song but which song. This was another banner year for this artist, and while another song (for its subject matter) is considered a classic, this one actually gets more airplay everywhere, and thus beat out the other track. It’s still a good song and proper one to start off our countdown. Coming in at #20 is Open Your Heart by Madonna.
We begin our countdown of the top 20 songs turning 30 years old this year with an artist that essentially made her mainstream debut in 1996. While an acquired taste for some, her songs remain a key fixture in both pop culture and adult contemporary music. While another song from this initial album might have been bigger, that wouldn’t come about until the following year. But this year, 1996, this song broke through and starts our list at #20 – it’s You Were Meant For Me by Jewel.
Wrapping up the top 20 songs released in 1985 proved to be really tough. All the prior tracks had enormous cred to stake their claim to the top spot, but in the end, this one track managed to do it. It is the defining song of this man’s career, and has managed to elude its encapsulation by the 80s decade sound, being a huge rock anthem and a song dedicated to all those artists who tried to make it big but decided other things in life were more important. The #1 song turning 40 years old this year is – …..more →
We have finally come to the #1 songs, and what song could possibly supersede the all-time Billboard chart classic? This one. Given the subject matter, it’s incredibly hooky chorus, and the fact it has remained a staple of the hip-hop/R&B music scene for decades, it’s hard not to put this song as the top song released in 1995. The #1 song turning 30 years old this year is – Waterfalls by TLC.