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 1994, the year I settled on a major, finished my second year of college, started my third year, and turned 20. Only 57 songs on the Hot 100 remain familiar to me today, with 42 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.
#97: Haddaway – What Is Love
iTunes stats: N/A
The debut single from the singer managed to make the year-end charts two years running despite peaking at #11 in the fall of 1993.
#95: General Public – I’ll Take You There
iTunes stats: N/A
Featured in the film Threesome, this cover of the classic by The Staple Singers reached #22 on the Hot 100.
#92: Melissa Etheridge – I’m the Only One
iTunes stats: 20 plays
The lead single from Etheridge’s fourth studio album, it was re-released following the success of Come to My Window and managed to surpass it, hitting #8.
#91: Bon Jovi – Always
iTunes stats: 2 plays
The requisite new song added to the greatest hits album, it became the band’s eleventh, and final, top ten hit, topping out at #4.
#89: The Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)
iTunes stats: 27 plays
This remix spent 27 weeks on the chart, matching its original run across 1975 and 1976, and peaked at #14.
#85: Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper
iTunes stats: N/A
Spending two weeks at #1 in December of 1994, it was the only single from the Jamaican artist to break into the Top 40.
#82: Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
iTunes stats: 21 plays
Confronting the disrespect of women in society and slurs against women in hip-hop culture, the song remains Latifah’s biggest pop hit, reaching #23.
#77: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
iTunes stats: 32 plays
Petty’s first Top 20 hit since 1989, it topped out at #13 on the Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.
#76: Culture Beat – Mr. Vain
iTunes stats: 13 plays
The German group’s only single to chart in the US, it went to #17.
#72: Aerosmith – Amazing
iTunes stats: 17 plays
Featuring backing vocals from Don Henley, the track peaked at #3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and #24 on the Hot 100.
#68: Aerosmith – Crazy
iTunes stats: 28 plays
Accompanied by a video featuring Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler, this last single from Get a Grip reached #17.
#65: 69 Boyz – Tootsee Roll
iTunes stats: 19 plays
The group’s debut single, it became the only one to crack the Top 30, topping out at #8.
#63: Real McCoy – Another Night
iTunes stats: 20 plays
The German group’s first single to chart in the US, it went all the way to #3, where it spent a record-setting eleven non-consecutive weeks.
#62: Snoop Doggy Dogg – What’s My Name?
iTunes stats: 57 plays
The first solo outing from the west coast rapper, it peaked at #8
#61: 2Pac – Keep Ya Head Up
iTunes stats: 19 plays
Focusing on black womanhood, the rap track reached #12.
#60: Jodeci – Cry for You
iTunes stats: 19 plays
Topping out at #15 on the Hot 100, the lead single from the group’s sophomore album sat atop both the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart and the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart.
#59: Warren G – This D.J.
iTunes stats: 15 plays
The second single from the rapper’s debut album, it was his second straight top ten hit, going to #9.
#55: Domino – Getto Jam
iTunes stats: 15 plays
The rapper’s debut single became his one and only top ten hit, peaking at #7.
#54: Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia
iTunes stats: N/A
Recorded for the soundtrack to Philadelphia, it reached #9, becoming Springsteen’s twelfth and final top ten hit.
#52: Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin and Juice
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Nominated for a Grammy, the second solo single from Snoop went to #8.
#51: Gin Blossoms – Found Out About You
iTunes stats: 23 plays
Originally written in the mid-80s by the band’s former guitarist, it peaked at #25.
#50: Beck – Loser
iTunes stats: 16 plays
Beck’s first single to chart on any major chart, it reached #10 in April and was named one of the 500 best pop songs of all time by Billboard magazine.
#49: The Cranberries – Linger
iTunes stats: 32 plays
Originally released in February of 1993, it took off after being re-released nearly a full year later, when it spent 24 weeks on the Hot 100, topping out at #8.
#46: Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love
iTunes stats: N/A
Spending a total of 45 weeks on the Hot 100, its highest position was #11.
#43: Melissa Etheridge – Come to My Window
iTunes stats: 17 plays
Her first hit after coming out as a lesbian, it peaked at #25
#42: Tag Team – Whoomp! (There It Is)
iTunes stats: 64 plays
Used locally by both the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Cubs, the party track charts for the second year in a row.
#41: Us3 – Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
iTunes stats: 15 plays
Featuring samples from Herbie Hancock and The Art Blakey Quintet, the track broke into the top ten, reaching #9.
#40: 10,000 Maniacs – Because the Night
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, this acoustic cover from the group’s MTV Unplugged performance went to #11, supassing the original.
#38: Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
iTunes stats: 22 plays
His first charting single since 1981, Meat Loaf spent five weeks at #1 with his biggest hit.
#37: Da Brat – Funkdafied
iTunes stats: 12 plays
The debut single from the Chicago rapper, it peaked at #6 in the summer of 1994.
#35: Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
iTunes stats: 31 plays
The Canadian group’s sole Top 40 hit, it reached #4.
#34: Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do
iTunes stats: 24 plays
The biggest hit of Crow’s career in the US, it topped out at #2, where it spent six weeks In October and November of 1994.
#33: Enigma – Return to Innocence
iTunes stats: N/A
The group’s biggest hit in this country, reaching #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #4 on the Hot 100.
#32: Michael Bolton – Said I Loved You… But I Lied
iTunes stats: N/A
The lead single from Bolton’s ninth studio album, it became his seventh and final top ten hit, topping out at #6.
#31: Collective Soul – Shine
iTunes stats: 22 plays
The debut single from the Georgia-based rock group spent eight weeks atop the Album Rock Tracks chart and peaked at #11 on the Hot 100.
#29: Salt-N-Pepa – Shoop
iTunes stats: 20 plays
The lead single from the rap group’s fourth studio album, it became their first top ten hit, peaking at #4.
#27: Bryan Adams – Please Forgive Me
iTunes stats: 12 plays
The requisite new song on the greatest hits package, it reached at #7.
#22: Warren G and Nate Dogg – Regulate
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Dr. Dre’s stepbrother, who introduced him to Snoop Dogg, made his own imprint on the west coast rap scene with this entry from the Above the Rim soundtrack, which went to #2.
#21: Big Mountain – Baby I Love Your Way
iTunes stats: N/A
Featured on the Reality Bites soundtrack, this reggae cover topped out at #6.
#20: Coolio – Fantastic Voyage
iTunes stats: 21 plays
His first charting single, it peaked at #3.
#19: Prince – The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
iTunes stats: 14 plays
The third release after changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol, it reached #3 but was his final top ten hit during his lifetime.
#18: Elton John – Can You Feel the Love Tonight
iTunes stats: N/A
John scored a top five hit with this song from The Lion King, which went to #4.
#16: Mariah Carey – Without You
iTunes stats: 19 plays
Based on Harry Nilsson’s cover of the Badfinger tune, it spent six weeks at #3.
#15: John Mellencamp and Meshell Ndegeocello – Wild Night
iTunes stats: N/A
The final top ten hit from Mellencamp, this duet covering the Van Morrison hit topped out at #3.
#14: Salt-N-Pepa featuring En Vogue – Whatta Man
iTunes stats: 12 plays
Peaking at #3, this reworking of an old 60s tune was ranked as the 99th top single of the 90s by The Village Voice.
#13: Madonna – I’ll Remember
iTunes stats: N/A
Madonna reached #2 with the lead single from the With Honors soundtrack.
#12: Janet Jackson – Again
iTunes stats: N/A
Spending two weeks at #1 in December of 1993, it makes the year end chart for the second year in a row.
#11: R. Kelly – Bump n’ Grind
iTunes stats: 11 plays
The second single from the debut album of the future convicted child sexual abuser, it spent four weeks atop the charts in the spring.
#10: Ace of Base – Don’t Turn Around
iTunes stats: 1 play
Released on Pi Day, this cover of the Tina Turner track from 1986 and peaked at #4.
#9: Ace of Base – All That She Wants
iTunes stats: 20 plays
Charting for the second year in a row, Billboard named it 38th biggest #2 Hot 100 hit of all time in 2022.
#8: Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting – All for Love
iTunes stats: 11 plays
Written and recorded for the soundtrack to The Three Musketeers, it spent three weeks at #1.
#7: Toni Braxton – Breathe Again
iTunes stats: N/A
Peaking at #3, it spent 17 weeks in the top ten.
#6: Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories – Stay (I Missed You)
iTunes stats: 32 plays
Featured on the Reality Bites soundtrack, it spent three weeks at #1 in August, making Loeb the first artist to top the charts without ever having signed a record deal.
#5: Mariah Carey – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A
Spending four weeks atop the Hot 100 across 1993 and 1994, it earned Carey a Grammy nomination.
#3: Boyz II Men – I’ll Make Love to You
iTunes stats: 21 plays
Written by Babyface, the song spent fourteen weeks at #1.
#2: All-4-One – I Swear
iTunes stats: N/A
Spending eleven weeks at #1, the song was also recorded by country artist John Michael Montgomery, which also charted on the Hot 100.
#1: Ace of Base – The Sign
iTunes stats: 12 plays
Spending six non-consecutive weeks on top of the Hot 100, it allowed the group to become the first Swedish act to have both the #1 album and song on the US charts.