Billboard Hot 100 Top #1 Singles of 1991 – RANKED

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 the hot 100 number one singles from the Billboard chart for each year of the 1980s and 1990s. Today, we’re looking at the year 1991.

Interestingly, every other year, the song that started out the year at number one was a holdover from the previous year, that’s not the case for this year. But if you’d still like to check out the previous year, head to our list for 1990.

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 1991…

The Cold War finally ended and the USSR dissolved, leaving 15 countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in its place.
Operation Desert Storm took place from January 17th to February 28th.
Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Sonic the Hedgehog was first released on the Sega Genesis.
Nirvana’s album Nevermind was released on September 24th, which included their most famous hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” though the song only made it to #6 on the Hot 100 chart, so it won’t be below, sadly.

The Cold War finally ended and the USSR dissolved, leaving 15 countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in its place.
Operation Desert Storm took place from January 17th to February 28th.
Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Sonic the Hedgehog was first released on the Sega Genesis.
Nirvana’s album Nevermind was released on September 24th, which included their most famous hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” though the song only made it to #6 on the Hot 100 chart, so it won’t be below, sadly.

27. Surface - The First Time

Fairly forgettable ballad, spent just two weeks at number one on the Hot 100 chart, though it did also make it on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.

26. Hi-Five - I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)

The biggest hit from this R&B quintet from Texas. Do you remember this song? No? Neither do we.

25. Color Me Badd - I Adore Mi Amore

Certainly not Color Me Badd’s most memorable song, but it can still get stuck in your head after a listen or two. In 1992, saxophonist Najee covered the song.

24. Prince and The New Power Generation - Cream

On MTV Unplugged in 2004, Prince joked that he wrote this song while looking at himself in the mirror.

23. Mariah Carey - I Don’t Wanna Cry

Though this was her fourth straight single, Mariah has since stated she doesn’t like the ballad and tries to sing it as rarely as possible.

22. Timmy T - One More Try

Timmy T wrote and produced this song, and has said he was inspired to create the song after breaking up with a girlfriend.

21. Karyn White - Romantic

This single is kind of a Janet Jackson/Whitney Houston hybrid, and is White’s only song to make it to number one.

20. Madonna - Justify My Love

One of the first Madonna songs where she doesn’t really sing, but instead whispers and speaks. It was the lead single from Madonna’s first greatest hits album The Immaculate Collection.

19. Whitney Houston - All The Man That I Need

This single is actually a cover of the 1982 song “All the Man I Need” by Linda Clifford, though it does change things up a bit with the addition of a saxophone and, of course, Whitney’s voice.

18. Wilson Phillips - You’re in Love

The third (and final) single from their debut album, this song is a little more low key than other hits “Hold On” and “Release Me,” and received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

17. Paula Abdul - The Promise of a New Day

The music video for this single received backlash due to its editing work — the footage was elongated to make Abdul look taller and thinner.

16. Londonbeat - I’ve Been Thinking About You

This single was first recorded as a demo in 1987, and was going to be on the band’s first album in 1988, but the record company told them to hold it back until they already had a following.

15. Mariah Carey - Someday

This song was part of Carey’s four-track demo recorded prior to signing a record contract. The original demo had horns instead of a guitar, and Carey didn’t like the change in the final version.

14. Roxette - Joyride

One of the biggest hits for Roxette, Joyride topped multiple international charts, and was the lead single from their second album.

13. Gloria Estefan - Coming Out of the Dark

The first single after Estefan had a near-fatal bus accident while on tour, and is one of the only songs to reference the accident as she didn’t want a pity party.

12. Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations

For those who don’t know, Marky Mark is, in fact, Mark Wahlberg. But this song is really made by the background music and Loleatta Holloway’s vocals.

11. Paula Abdul - Rush Rush

One of Abdul’s only ballads to be released as a single, the music video features a young Keanu Reeves in a reimagining of Rebel Without a Cause.

10. Michael Bolton - When a Man Loves a Woman

Originally recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966, the Michael Bolton version of the song became just as popular, and earned Bolton a Grammy.

9. C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)

A quintessential workout jam, this song was sung by Martha Wash and rapper Freedom Williams, though Wash was replaced with Zelma Davis lip-synching in the music video — Wash filed a lawsuit, which eventually settled in 1994.

8. PM Dawn - Set Adrift on Memory Bliss

A low key jam that used samples from multiple other songs to create a memorable tune, most notably Spandau Ballet’s “True,” which is a great song as well.

7. Amy Grant - Baby Baby

Inspired by seeing her daughter’s newborn face, Grant wrote the lyrics to the song in about ten minutes. This single is the biggest hit off of her Heart in Motion album.

6. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Released as part of the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack in conjunction with Adams’ sixth album, Adams and Mutt Lange wrote the song in just 45 minutes.

5. EMF - Unbelievable

This single features samples of comedian Andrew Dice Clay throughout, namely in the “oh!” exclamations and “it’s unbelievable” spoken during the bridge.

4. Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)

You probably remember the music video for this great song featuring Antonio Sabato Jr and Djimon Honsou alongside Janet. Producers originally considered making this song a duet, but in the end had Janet sing some of the song in a lower octave.

3. Mariah Carey - Emotions

One of the best examples of Mariah’s vocal range, “Emotions” was the namesake song of her second album, and was written and produced by Carey and C+C Music Factory.

2. Michael Jackson - Black or White

Another Michael hit, another great Michael music video, though this one did face some controversy over the final “Black Panther” dance sequence, which you can view in full here, starting at around the 6:23 mark.

1. Extreme - More Than Words

This ballad was a complete departure from Extreme’s typical funk metal style, which the band has said was both a blessing a curse due to its overwhelming success.