Pop Shots – A Look At The Charts … From 34 Years Ago

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week I’m hopping into my time machine again, this time setting the coordinates for 34 years ago this week.

Touching down in April of 1990, I turn the radio on and hear … the reason I loved growing up in the ‘90s!

Never has there been a time when more genres were sharing the same space in people’s ears, and on programmers’ playlists – pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, dance – we were literally listening to everything, and it was all represented on the Billboard Hot 100 this week back in 1990.

Sinead O’Connor had the number one song in the nation with “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which has since gone one to be recognized as one of the great ballads of all-time (shout out to Prince), and of the 99 songs listed after it I can recite the lyrics to a significant number of them. In fact, it was actually a challenge paring this column down to just 12 songs. At one point I had over 20 I wanted to write about!

With the 12 songs I’ve chosen to highlight there are legendary artists, one-hit wonders, and a band from Essex that was in the process of taking over the world with a sound that’s still highly influential all these years later.

So let’s get into this exploration in chart history! Of course, since this is Pop Shots, you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

2. Jane Child – Don’t Wanna Fall In Love

 

Jane Child introduced the world a very unique piece of fashion – having a nose ring connected to an earring via a small chain. That, combined with her hairdo that was one part spikes, one part braids, truly made her stand out in a crowd. Her hit single “Don’t Wanna Fall In Love” made her stand out on the radio. A great mixture of pop, and New Jack Swing era R&B, it was a perfect bridge from the ‘80s to the ‘90s.

3. Lisa Stansfield – All Around the World

 

In 1990 Lisa Stansfield was a traveling woman, having been “All Around the World” looking for her man. For those who thought the notion of dance music divas died with disco, Stansfield stood as evidence that women with great vocals could still bring people to the dance floor.

14. Alannah Myles – Black Velvet

 

Speaking of women with great vocals, Alannah Myles had everyone singing about “Black Velvet” back in 1990. With a voice that was equal parts bluesy, and sultry, Myles, in her black leather jacket, became the focal point of a lot of crushes. With all that she had going for her, it’s crazy she ended up a one-hit wonder, but if you read my One Hit Wondering column on her self-titled album, you know there was a lot more where “Black Velvet” came from.

29. Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison

 

If there’s only one thing you learn from this look at the charts, it’s that you should never trust a big butt and a smile. Never! Those, of course, were the words of Bell Biv DeVoe, and 34 years later, whenever the beat from “Poison” comes on it causes ANY crowd to go wild. From a middle school dance to a senior center soiree, everyone loves “Poison,” which has become a timeless classic that will live on forever.

30. Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance

 

Keeping with songs that always get the party started, Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance” featured a rare combination of wit, comedy, and dope emceeing that led to it being embraced by both hip-hop heads, and suburban crowds. Yeah, that’s a tough line to walk, which is why Digital Underground was such a special group.

34. Roxette – It Must Have Been Love

 

Roxette had two songs on this week’s chart, with “It Must Have Been Love” at #34 being followed by “Dangerous” at #56, but it’s the former that’s remembered as one of the greatest songs of the decade, and for good reason – it’s f*cking fantastic! A truly timeless classic (Sweden makes epic pop music!), it’s a song everyone who grew up in the ‘90s still cranks up, and sings along to every time it’s on the radio.

35. Janet Jackson – Escapade

 

Another artist pulling double duty on this week’s chart, Janet Jackson was feeling “Alright” at #24, and enjoying an “Escapade” at #35. If you know me, you already know one of my musical hot takes is that Janet has a better catalog than Michael – she conquered more genres, more sounds, and more eras, without a single misstep – so I don’t think you can’t go wrong with either song she had on this week’s chart. I chose to highlight “Escapade” because it never fails to make me feel good. As the kids say (or perhaps used to say), it’s a vibe.

38. Biz Markie – Just a Friend

 

If you haven’t sung along to this chorus doing your best Biz Markie impression, honestly, are you even a person?

Biz was personality on top of personality, but what only hip-hop heads realize is that he was also a fantastic emcee. Sure, everyone knows “Just a Friend,” it’s an absolute classic, but if you haven’t gone deeper than that, dive into his music sometime, I guarantee you’ll become an even bigger fan.

50. Paula Abdul w/ MC Skat Kat – Opposites Attract

 

It’s 1990, so yes, one of the biggest pop stars in the world did a duet with a rapping cartoon cat, and you know what – it’s still a beloved song, and video nearly 35 years later! 

Of course, the other reason I chose to highlight “Opposites Attract” is that back in 2019 I wrote the definitive story on MC Skat Kat, including how this song, and video came to be! If you missed it, just click here!

73. Depeche Mode – Enjoy The Silence

 

In March of 1990 Depeche Mode released their seventh studio album, Violator. Arguably one of the best, and most important albums of the decade, the sound the band from Essex created paved the way for a plethora of bands, and still resonates today.

By the time this edition of the Billboard Hot 100 came out in mid-April, the singles “Enjoy The Silence” (#73) and “Personal Jesus” (#88) were getting heavy radio airplay, and leaving an indelible mark on music.

89. Partners In Kryme – Turtle Power

 

I remember listening to Z100’s High 5 at 9 every night hoping to hear Partners In Kryme’s “Turtle Power,” which was from the soundtrack to the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. I was obsessed with all things TMNT, so a rap song about my faves? I was ALL IN!



Decades later I was working at a local radio station that was trying to clear out their back room by getting rid of old records, and CDs, and I spied the 45 of “Turtle Power” (the b-side is “Splinter’s Tale I & II”). I immediately grabbed it, and it’s been part of my collection ever since.

90. Young M.C. – Bust A Move

 

Being that I’m 45 years old, there are occasionally things that happen in life that make me feel old – having to take my glasses off to read small print, a sore muscle taking a week to recover instead of a day, and the first time I heard “Bust A Move” on my local oldies station. Sure, the station claims their format is now “classic hits,” but those of us who grew up with it know it’s the oldies station. That said, I still remember every word of the song, so I can’t be that old, right?

I guess there’s only one thing left to do … BUST A MOVE!

PS – Yes, that’s Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass!

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.