Having a No. 1 hit is impressive, but having a No. 1 hit with staying power? That’s the stuff of legends.
The ‘90s featured a number of legendary artists, including the teaming of two legendary acts to give us the longest reigning No. 1 song of all-time.
That teaming leads our list of the 15 longest reigning number one songs of the ‘90s, a list that’s dominated by R&B, features a number of tributes to lost loved ones and may inspire you to break out some old dance moves.
Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men – "One Sweet Day"
Weeks at No. 1: 16
Years: 1995-1996
“One Sweet Day” holds the record for the most weeks at No. 1 ever. EVER! It’s also the first of three appearances on this list for both Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. Saying they ruled the ‘90s would be an understatement.
Whitney Houston – "I Will Always Love You"
Weeks at No. 1: 14
Years: 1992-1993
How do you make a Dolly Parton hit from the ‘70s even bigger? In the case of “I Will Always Love You,” you get Whitney Houston to sing it, and put it on the soundtrack to The Bodyguard. This was Whitney at her best.
Boyz II Men – "I’ll Make Love To You"
Weeks at No. 1: 14
Year: 1994
Want to know how big Boyz II Men were in the ‘90s? After 14 weeks at No. 1, the only thing that could knock “I’ll Make Love To You” out of the top spot was another Boyz II Men song, “On Bended Knee.”
It’s safe to say a whole lotta babies were made during during this incredible run of chart success.
Los Del Rio – "Macarena"
Weeks at No. 1: 14
Year: 1996
Every era has its dance craze. In the ‘90s we had the Macarena, and no, we’re not sorry about it. The dance was ridiculously simple, and the song that sparked the craze made an AARP-aged Latin duo named Los Del Rio the most unlikeliest of pop stars.
Word is wedding DJs still have this in rotation, along with Marcia Griffiths’ “Electric Boogie.”
Elton John – "Candle in the Wind"
Weeks at No. 1: 14
Years: 1997-1998
Originally written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin in 1973 in honor of Marilyn Monroe, “Candle in the Wind” was rewritten in 1997 as a tribute to the late Princess Diana. It currently holds the record as the second best-selling single of all-time, behind only Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.”
Boyz II Men – "End of the Road"
Weeks at No. 1: 13
Year: 1992
Breakups can be tough, but for artists, they can also inspire amazing songs, just ask Taylor Swift (we love you Taylor)!
Boyz II Men’s breakup anthem “End of the Road” came at just the right time for a lot of folks, as it stayed at #1 for 13 weeks.
Brandy & Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
Weeks at No. 1: 13
Year: 1997
Back in 1997 Brandy and Monica were two of the hottest young names in R&B, so when they decided to work together everyone was ready for greatness. The duo delivered, releasing “The Boy Is Mine,” a fictional beef over a man, which become one of the best back-and-forth songs of all-time.
Santana with Rob Thomas – "Smooth"
Weeks at No. 1: 12
Years: 1999-2000
Do we really have to explain this one? An all-time great guitarist, and one of the most popular male vocalists of the time, joined forces to give us a song that starts playing in your head as soon as you mention their names together.
“Smooth” technically split time between decades, spending 10 weeks at No. 1 in 1999, and two more weeks in the top spot to kick off the millennium.
All-4-One – "I Swear"
Weeks at No. 1: 11
Year: 1994
Boyz II Men were, inarguably, the biggest R&B group of the ‘90s, but they weren’t the only R&B group to spend a significant amount of time at the top of the chart. Case in point: All-4-One.
All-4-One’s version of “I Swear” — which was released in the same year by country singer John Michael Montgomery, and hit No. 1 for Montgomery on the the US Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart — spent 11 weeks at No. 1 for the soulful foursome.
Again, 1994 was a time when a lot of babies were made.
Puff Daddy – "I’ll Be Missing You"
Weeks at No. 1: 11
Year: 1997
Puffy’s ode to Biggie, which was actually written by Sauce Money, and heavily sampled The Police hit “Every Breath You Take,” was eventually knocked out of the top spot by another song Puffy was featured on, “Mo Money Mo Problems.”
Kris Kross – "Jump"
Weeks at No. 1: 8
Year: 1992
Not only did we vault two kids who wore their clothes backwards all the way to the top of the chart, we kept them at the top spot for two months. Admit it, you still love the song. Denying that would be wiggity wiggity wiggity wack.
Janet Jackson – "That’s The Way Love Goes"
Weeks at No. 1: 8
Year: 1993
“That’s The Way Love Goes” was the debut of the sexy reinvention of Janet Jackson, and holy heck was that reinvention a success. Yes, I’m saying this as someone who had a Janet Jackson poster in his bedroom back in the day (that Rolling Stone cover … you know which one I’m talking about!). Eight weeks at the top of the chart was another clear indicator that everyone loved the new Janet.
Mariah Carey – "Dreamlover"
Weeks at No. 1: 8
Year: 1993
The lead single off of Mariah’s third studio album, “Dreamlover,” is a song filled with the springtime vibe of hopeful love. We still crank up the volume and sing along when it comes on the radio.
Mariah Carey – "Fantasy"
Weeks at No. 1: 8
Year: 1995
Let’s be real, for as much as everyone loved Mariah back in the day, “Fantasy,” which sampled Tom Tom Club’s “Genius of Love,” had its run at the top due in large part to the remix, which featured ODB. He and Mariah went back like babies with pacifiers.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – "Tha Crossroads"
Weeks at No. 1: 8
Year: 1996
This is technically the second version of “Tha Crossroads,” as Bone Thugs rewrote the song after their mentor, Eazy-E, passed away from AIDS. The message struck a chord with listeners, who kept the song at the top of the chart for eight weeks.
Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.
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