Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth. In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.
We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1992, the year I graduated high school, went away to college, and turned 18, in that order. My musical landscape was changing, as I had gotten my first CD player for Christmas in 1991 and my tastes were moving somewhat away from pop music and toward alternative rock thanks in part to Q101, who switched formats during the year. I also spent part of the year in the middle of Indiana, which didn’t always feature the same types of artists that I was exposed to back home in the Chicagoland area. At the same time, Billboard’s was changing as well, with the Hot 100 switched to electronic sales and radio airplay metrics rather than written reports at the end of November in 1991. A whopping 70 of the Hot 100 are familiar to me now, with 50 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.
#98: Def Leppard – Let’s Get Rocked
iTunes stats: 34 plays
The band’s first release after the death of guitarist Steve Clark, the first single from their first album in over four years hit #15 on the Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart.
#96: Amy Grant – I Will Remember You
iTunes stats: N/A
Peaking at #20, it became the first single from Grant’s ninth studio album to not break the top ten.
#93: En Vogue – Free Your Mind
iTunes stats: N/A
After spending 16 weeks in the Top 40, topping out at #8, the song garnered two Grammy nominations in 1993, for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Music Video, Short Form.
#91: Amy Grant – That’s What Love Is For
iTunes stats: N/A
The only song from Grant’s ninth studio album to be released to both pop and Christian radio, it reached #7 on the Hot 100.
#88: TLC – What About Your Friends
iTunes stats:27 plays
The third single from the group’s debut album, it peaked at #7 on the charts.
#86: The KLF – Justified and Ancient
iTunes stats: 13 plays
Released in late 1991, the song became an international hit, reaching #2 on the US dance chart while stalling out at #11 on the Hot 100.
#85: Mary J. Blige – Real Love
iTunes stats: N/A
The first top ten hit for Blige, it reached #7 as the second single from her debut album.
#84: Boyz II Men – Uhh Ahh
iTunes stats: 12 pays
The first single from the group to not crack the top ten, it peaked at #16.
#82: Firehouse – When I Look into Your Eyes
iTunes stats: 14 plays
The group’s second, and final, top ten hit, it reached #8 in October.
#80: Def Leppard – Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
iTunes stats: 17 plays
The highest charting single from the band’s fifth studio album, it stalled out at #12 on the Hot 100.
#77: Michael Bolton – Missing You Know
iTunes stats: N/A
Thanks in part to a video featuring Teri Hatcher and a sax solo from Kenny G, it peaked at #12 in March.
#76: Hammer – Addams Groove
iTunes stats: 29 plays
Featured on the soundtrack to The Addams Family, it was the fifth and final top ten hit for the rapper, reaching #7.
#75: Snap! – Rhythm is a Dancer
iTunes stats: 11 plays
The final single from the German troupe to chart in the US, it topped out at #5 and spent 39 weeks on the Hot 100.
#74: Bryan Adams – Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven
iTunes stats: N/A
Topping the charts in his native Canada, Adams peaked at #13 in the US with this track from his sixth studio album.
#73: Paula Abdul – Blowing Kisses in the Wind
iTunes stats: N/A
The final top ten hit of Abdul’s career, it spent three weeks stuck at #6, becoming just the second of her singles to enter the top ten and not hit #1.
#72: Ugly Kid Joe – Everything About You
iTunes stats: 25 plays
The band reached #9 with their debut single, which was featured in the Wayne’s World movie.
#71: The Cure – Friday I’m In Love
iTunes stats: 30 plays
The first song played on Q101 after transitioning to alternative rock, it topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart and made it to #18 on the Hot 100.
#70: Bryan Adams – Do I Have to Say the Words?
iTunes stats: N/A
The sixth single from his sixth studio album, it peaked at #11
#69: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – Wildside
iTunes stats: N/A
The second single from Mark Wahlberg and company, it borrows heavily from Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side and topped out at #10, the group’s final top ten hit.
#68: Genesis – No Son of Mine
iTunes stats: 1 play
The band’s first single to not enter the top ten since 1984, it peaked at #12 on the Hot 100.
#67: Arrested Development – People Everyday
iTunes stats: 28 plays
The second single from the group’s debut album, it topped the Hot Rap Singles chart while reaching #8 on the Hot 100.
#65: Kris Kross – Warm It Up
iTunes stats: 31 plays
Used as the walkup music by Kris Bryant during his tenure with the Cubs, it topped out at #13.
#64: Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson – Beauty and the Beast
iTunes stats: N/A
Performed by Angela Landsbury in the film of the same name, this version for pop audiences reached #9, the first Disney song to reach the charts in 30 years.
#60: U2 – One
iTunes stats: 21 plays
Peaking at #10, proceeds from the single were donated towards AIDS research.
#59: The Heights – How Do You Talk to an Angel
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The theme song to the FOX television program The Heights, it spent two weeks at #1 in November, and the show was cancelled the following week.
#57: U2 – Mysterious Ways
iTunes stats: 21 plays
The second single from Achtung Baby, it topped the Modern Rock Tracks and Album Rock Tracks charts while hitting #9 on the Hot 100.
#55: Genesis – I Can’t Dance
iTunes stats: 15 plays
Hitting #7, the song earned the band a Grammy nom for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.
#54: Michael Bolton – When a Man Loves a Woman
iTunes stats: N/A
Originally hitting #1 in 1966 when performed by Percy Sledge, this cover spent a week atop the charts in November of 1991, the final #1 under the old reporting system.
#53: Toad the Wet Sprocket – All I Want
iTunes stats: 27 plays
The first single from the band to chart, it reached #15.
#51: P.M. Dawn – I’d Die Without You
iTunes stats: 28 plays
Featured on the Boomerang soundtrack, it peaked at #3 on the Hot 100.
#50: Hi-Five – She’s Playing Hard to Get
iTunes stats: 10 plays
The lead single from the group’s sophomore effort, it reached #5, becoming their final top ten hit.
#47: KWS – Please Don’t Go
iTunes stats: 10 plays
The debut release from the British group, this KC & the Sunshine Band cover hit #6 in October.
#46: Hammer – 2 Legit 2 Quit
iTunes stats: 9 plays
The title track from the newly-renamed rapper’s fourth album, it peaked at #5.
#45: Shakespears Sister – Stay
iTunes stats: 9 plays
The duo’s first charting single in the US, it reached #4 on the Hot 100.
#44: P.M. Dawn – Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
iTunes stats: 32 plays
The second release from the group’s debut album, it became the first #1 after the debut of the Nielsen SoundScan system, spending one week at the top of the charts in November of 1991.
#40: Arrested Development – Tennessee
iTunes stats: 23 plays
Peaking at #6, the debut single from the Atlanta-based group won the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1993 Grammys.
#39: Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
iTunes stats: 28 plays
Originally released in 1975, it reached #9 the following year and then, thanks to its appearance in Wayne’s World, it topped that in 1992 when it returned to the charts and went to #2.
#38: Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K – Move This
iTunes stats: 21 plays
The group’s third and final top ten hit, it topped out at #6.
#37: Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
iTunes stats: 67 plays
The second single from the group’s debut album, it topped the Hot R&B Singles chart while peaking at #2 on the Hot 100.
#36: TLC – Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg
iTunes stats: 32 plays
The debut single from the girl group peaked at #6, giving them their first top ten hit.
#34: Sophie B. Hawkins – Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
iTunes stats: 17 plays
The American singer-songwriter reached #5 and remains her highest charting single.
#33: Bobby Brown – Humpin’ Around
iTunes stats: 22 plays
Released in July as the lead single the singer’s third solo album, it hit #3 on the Hot 100 while spending two weeks atop the Hot R&B Singles chart.
#32: Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
iTunes stats: 36 plays
The lead single from the band’s major label debut, which ushered grunge into the mainstream, peaked at #6 on the Hot 100 despite being restricted to night-time play only on many Top 40 stations.
#30: Joe Public – Live and Learn
iTunes stats: 17 plays
The first and only Top 40 hit from the group, it topped out at #4.
#29: En Vogue – Giving Him Something He Can Feel
iTunes stats: N/A
The second single from the group’s second album, this cover reached #6.
#26: Elton John and George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
iTunes stats: N/A
Originally recorded and released by John in 1974, this duet spent a week at #1 in February.
#25: Prince and The New Power Generation – Diamonds and Pearls
iTunes stats: 14 plays
The title track from Prince’s 1991 album broke the top ten, topping out at #3.
#24: House of Pain – Jump Around
iTunes stats: 33 plays
The sole Top 40 hit of the group’s career, their debut single peaked at #3.
#22: Patty Smyth and Don Henley – Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough
iTunes stats: N/A
The duet spent six weeks at #2 and spent 20 weeks overall in the Top 40.
#21: Madonna – This Used To Be My Playground
iTunes stats: N/A
The theme song to the Madonna-starring A League of Their Own, which was left off the soundtrack due to contractual obligations, it spent a single week at #1, breaking the then-tie between Madonna and Whitney Houston for #1 singles.
#20: CeCe Peniston – Finally
iTunes stats: 16 plays
The debut single, featured on the debut album of the same name, it peaked at #5, becoming the only top ten hit of her career.
#19: Michael Jackson – Remember the Time
iTunes stats: N/A
The second single from Jackson’s eighth studio album, it reached #3 on the Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B Singles chart.
#18: Tom Cochrane – Life Is a Highway
iTunes stats: 36 plays
A chart-topping hit in his native Canada, it became his one and only hit in the US, hitting #6.
#17: Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
iTunes stats: 21 plays
The longest song to crack the top ten at the time of its release, it peaked at #3.
#16: Mariah Carey – I’ll Be There
iTunes stats: 21 plays
A cover of the Jackson 5 hit from her appearance on MTV Unplugged, it spent two weeks at #1 in June.
#15: Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart
iTunes stats: 17 plays
The debut single from the country star, it topped the Hot Country Songs chart while crossing over to the pop charts, peaking at #4.
#14: Michael Jackson – Black or White
iTunes stats: N/A
The lead single from Jackson’s eighth studio album, it spent seven weeks at #1 across the end of 1991 and the start of 1992, making Jackson the first artist to have #1 hits in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
#13: Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy
iTunes stats: 10 plays
The lone Top 40 hit from the British group, their debut single spent three weeks at #1.
#12: Mr. Big – To Be with You
iTunes stats: 17 plays
Spending three weeks at the top of the charts, this was the group’s first single to chart and remains their only top ten hit.
#11: Shanice – I Love Your Smile
iTunes stats: N/A
The lead single from her sophomore effort, it topped out at #2 on the Hot 100 while topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for four weeks.
#10: Jon Secada – Just Another Day
iTunes stats: N/A
The lead single from his debut album, it reached #5 and remains his highest-charting release.
#9: Color Me Badd – All 4 Love
iTunes stats: 38 plays
The one-time walkup song for former White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers, it became the group’s second and final #1 hit, spending a single week atop the charts.
#8: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The first release from the California band to crack the Top 40, peaking at #2 and helping the alternative rock genre cross over to the mainstream.
#7: En Vogue – My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)
iTunes stats: 13 plays
The lead single from the group’s sophomore release, it spent three weeks at #2 and spent thirteen weeks overall in the top ten.
#6: Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
iTunes stats: 15 plays
Written about the death of Clapton’s four-year-old son, it became his highest-selling single in the US, reaching #2.
#5: TLC – Baby-Baby-Baby
iTunes stats: 21 plays
The second single from their debut album, it became their second consecutive top ten hit, spending six weeks at #2.
#4: Vanessa Williams – Saving the Best for Last
iTunes stats: N/A
The biggest hit of Williams’ career. it spent five weeks at #1 and earned three Grammy nominations.
#3: Kris Kross – Jump
iTunes stats: 17 plays
The first single from the duo of young teens, it became their biggest hit, spending eight weeks on top of the Hit 100.
#2: Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back
iTunes stats: 46 plays
The lone Top 40 hit of his career, it spent five weeks at #1 in the summer of 1992.
#1: Boyz II Men – End of the Road
iTunes stats: 38 plays
Featured on the Boomerang soundtrack, it spent a then-record breaking thirteen weeks at #1