Every year, songs shoot to the top of the charts, either for just one week, or for multiple weeks in a row. In a series of posts, we’re going to rank Billboard’s “The Hot 100” number one singles for each year of the 1980s and 1990s. Today, we’re looking at the year 1989.
Note: “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison started the year at number one, but it had previously also reached number one in 1988, and as is our rule, we will not include it here, since it was already included in our list for 1988.
As always, these lists are subjective, we’re not claiming to be the definitive ranking here. We’re not that important, but you are, so we hope seeing the below songs conjures up a friendly memory or two.
But first, to get you in the mood for the year 1989…
- In March, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, spilling around 11 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, and over 1000 miles of coastline were impacted.
- In April, the Game Boy was officially released in Japan — it came to the Americas a few months later.
- From April through June, students led demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in China, known as the Tiananmen Square protests, which led to many killings, with death toll estimates ranging from several hundred to several thousand.
- The Berlin Wall was officially dismantled on November 9 when the head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the German Democratic Republic could cross the border whenever they pleased.
- The Cold War officially ended in December when US President George Bush met with Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev at the Malta Summit.
- In March, the Exxon Valdez ran aground in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, spilling around 11 million gallons of crude oil into the ocean, and over 1000 miles of coastline were impacted.
- In April, the Game Boy was officially released in Japan — it came to the Americas a few months later.
- From April through June, students led demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in China, known as the Tiananmen Square protests, which led to many killings, with death toll estimates ranging from several hundred to several thousand.
- The Berlin Wall was officially dismantled on November 9 when the head of the East German Communist Party announced that citizens of the German Democratic Republic could cross the border whenever they pleased.
- The Cold War officially ended in December when US President George Bush met with Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev at the Malta Summit.
31. Milli Vanilli - Girl I’m Gonna Miss You
This infamous lip-synching duo had three hits reach the #1 spot in the Hot 100, and this was just one of the three, though none of them are their most famous song, “Girl You Know It’s True.”
30. Michael Damian - Rock On
This single is a cover of the 1973 original by David Essex, and was also covered again in 2005 by Def Leppard.
28. Prince - Batdance
From the soundtrack for the film Batman, the song was a last minute replacement for a brooding track called “Dancing with the Devil” that was never released.
22. Milli Vanilli - Blame It on the Rain
Along with “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” above, Weird Al parodied this song in his “The Plumbing Song,” which was released in 1992.
18. Gloria Estefan - Don’t Wanna Lose You
This song earned Estefan a Grammy nomination, and she performed the song live at the Awards show in 1990. She also recorded a Spanish version of the song called “Si Voy a Perderte.”
17. Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing
This song made its first appearance in the film Tin Men, in which FYC appeared as a nightclub band, performing this song along with three others.
15. Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
Though this song is famous for being in the movie Beaches, it’s actually a cover of a 1982 version by Kamahl, and was covered by many other people in the ’80s as well.
14. Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
David Fincher directed the music video for this song, which featured a young Elijah Wood playing a corporate executive.
11. Phil Collins - Two Hearts
From the soundtrack for the film Buster, which Collins also starred in, this song won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
9. Simply Red - If You Don’t Know Me By Now
Originally released in 1972 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Patti LaBelle also made the song part of her concert repertoire in 1982.
8. Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted
David Fincher also directed the music video for this song, and the inspiration for the video came from Bob Fosse’s choreography in the film All That Jazz.
5. Paula Abdul - Straight Up
The music video for this song garnered Abdul four MTV Video Music Awards — Abdul did the choreography herself, and it was also directed by David Fincher.
1. Madonna - Like a Prayer
The music video caused a lot of drama thanks to its religious imagery, including stigmata, burning crosses, and Madonna kissing a saint — the Vatican even condemned the video.
What’s your favorite single from 1989? Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know in the comments!
