27 Best Songs From 1990
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21. “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins
Phil Collins dabbled in several genres throughout his storied career, and “Another Day in Paradise” saw him abandon dance-pop for a soft rock ballad. This song was his final number-one song in America, and he won a Grammy for it.
The song describes the singer noticing homelessness and wondering if there is anything they can do to put an end to it. The singer entreats the audience not to ignore the issues while enjoying living in paradise. Many critics found the song controversial at the time.
22. “Hold On” by En Vogue
“Hold On” by En Vogue has the dubious honor of being the second most famous song with that title in the year 1990. Just because it did not eclipse the Wilson Phillips song does not mean it does not have value, and this is good music from 1990.
The song blends R&B with new jack swing. En Vogue sampled James Brown for some of the instrumentation. “Hold On” went on to be one of the group’s biggest songs and released the song as its first single.
23. “Suicide Blonde” by INXS
INXS was already a popular band in Australia in the 1980s, but “Suicide Blonde” helped to usher the group into the new decade with new appreciation abroad. The song gathered inspiration from many genres, making it a mixture of electronic and rock music.
The band was inspired to write the song after watching the film The Delinquents. “Suicide Blonde” was the final song performed by band member Michael Hutchence live before his passing in 1997.
24. “Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction
Jane’s Addiction had its biggest hit in 1990 with “Been Caught Stealing.” The song established the band as a harbinger of the new sound of alternative rock in the 1990s. The song famously features dog barks that accidentally came from lead singer Perry Farrell’s recently-adopted dog.
The song describes people shoplifting from a store. The band created a humorous music video showcasing comedic moments of people attempting to steal from a business.
25. “She Talks To Angels” by Black Crowes
“She Talks to Angels” served as one of the singles from the Black Crowes’ debut album, Shake Your Money Maker. The group has taken on several inspirations during its life, including Southern rock, roots rock, and blues rock.
Songwriter Chris Robinson said he wrote this song about a girl he used to know who did drugs. “She Talks to Angels” is lighter in instrumentation than other songs in the group’s discography; it is an acoustic guitar-driven song closer to folk music than rock.
26. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses are a band that requires no introduction, and it was one of the biggest groups of the late 1980s. Entering the 1990s, the band hit the ground running with its cover of the Bob Dylan song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” This version of the song remains the most popular cover and perhaps even more admired than Dylan’s original.
Dylan wrote the song for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and penned the lyrics to describe a scene in the film. Divorced from that context, the song remains popular and is one of Guns N’ Roses best-remembered songs.
27. “All the Man That I Need” by Whitney Houston
“All the Man That I Need” was not a song written for or by Whitney Houston. Despite Houston’s version being a cover, she gave the song new life; it became one of the artist’s biggest hits. Houston was already a star before recording her version of the track, and it helped cement her as one of the country’s biggest icons.
“All the Man That I Need” describes a singer who almost gave up on love until they found the right man. Now they feel love, and things have never looked better.
Top Songs From 1990, Final Thoughts
The year 1990 was a turning point in the world and music. Many new styles and artists emerged as the millennium rapidly approached its end. Many critics consider the decade that follows one of the most vibrant for both popular and independent music.
What is your top songs of 1990? Was there any good music from 1990 we missed? Let us know in the comments!
