Which song was number one for the longest in the 1990s?
The 1990s were a simpler time.
As Oasis embark on a monumental solo tour and shoddy remakes of the decade’s biggest films are commissioned, the idea that this current generation failed to experience one of history’s most vibrant chapters is forever rammed down our throats.
It was the last swansong of free and easy living. Phones hadn’t yet corrupted the fibre of spontaneity, and careers in the arts remained somewhat lucrative. Together, those two ideas coalesced and allowed a period of true creative liberation, both on screen and on the airwaves.
In the UK, Britpop and ‘Cool Britannia’ led the way, allowing for a healthy generation of alternative artists to flourish, while the US followed suit with a booming grunge scene and what many still define as the golden era of hip-hop.
Meanwhile, the silver screen sparkled with Hollywood opulence as studios continue to revel in massive budgets. Extravagant action movies were signed off, while comedies were still considered fit for theatre release. And somewhere in between, the appetite for the alternative grew stronger as the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Danny Boyle experienced box office success.
All this was attributed to a healthy cycle of art that saw audiences paying fair prices, which ultimately provided a financial platform for more great art to be made. The wheel kept on turning, and all parties were seemingly happy.
What’s more is that the charts were, for once, a fair reflection of music’s widespread landscape. As bubblegum pop assumed its normal position at the top, it didn’t just have to fend off rival boy bands for their spots; it was suddenly confronted with the baggy-dressed kids of the alternative world. Boyzone were up against Oasis and Blur, while the Backstreet Boys were suddenly facing off against Nirvana.
So, who came out on top in this battle of genres?
Assessing the charts of the UK and the US, it can’t be seen as a win for the alternative worlds. Although I’m sure they’re each happy with the everlasting sense of cultural impact they can all boast.
But in the UK, the top spot was a song that harnessed every inch of this new cultural real estate. The increased appetite for big-screen cinema and music was leveraged, as one of the decade’s biggest films had its soundtrack top the charts. Bryan Adams’ ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You’ sat in the top spot for a record 16 weeks, riding off the back of the success of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. A rather unsurprising result when you consider the success of the film, which was the second-highest-grossing of 1991, making $390.5million worldwide.
In the US, the number-one song was cut from a similarly commercial cloth but didn’t feature on a film soundtrack. ‘One Sweet Day’ by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men also spent 16 weeks at the top spot of the Billboard 100, making it the highest-selling US single of the 1990s. A fitting winner, given the fact that Mariah Carey was one of the most dominant artists of the decade, spending at least one week at the summit of the chart in each year of the 1990s.
