12 Most Random No. 1 Songs of the ‘90s

Most of the time when you look at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 you’ll see a song that isn’t just familiar, but that you feel makes sense at No. 1.

In the ‘90s we had plenty of long-running No. 1's from legendary artists such as Mariah Carey, and Boyz II Men. We also, however, had our fair share of head scratchers, songs that made you go, “Really? That’s the No. 1 song in the country?”

The following are 12 of the most random No. 1 songs from the ‘90s. Some are songs we now remember fondly. A few we have zero recollection of at all, but apparently they were really popular for a week. All in all, it’s a veritable who’s who of the shrug emoticon.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Because yeah, we loved most of these songs, even if looking back, it’s weird that we loved them enough to vault them to No. 1.

 

Snow – "Informer"

Year: 1993

For seven weeks in 1993 Snow held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Informer,” and for seven weeks we attempted to decipher what on earth the Canadian hip-hop/reggae artist was saying.

MTV eventually ran a version of the video that featured the lyrics running across the bottom of the screen, and the reality of it all almost ruined the song. ALMOST!

 

Los del Rio – "Macarena"

Year: 1996

One of the longest reigning No. 1 songs of the ‘90s, spending an incredible 14 weeks in the top spot (the all-time record is 16 weeks held by the Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men collaboration “One Sweet Day”), “Macarena” was also one of the most random No. 1s of the ‘90s, and of all-time.

The dance associated with the song certainly helped propel the AARP-aged Latin duo of Los del Rio to the top spot, but even that’s pretty damned random.

 

Right Said Fred – "I’m Too Sexy"

Year: 1992

If I came up to you in 1992 and told you two ripped bald dudes sing-talking about how sexy they are was going to become one of the decade’s most memorable hits, you’d have called me crazy, but Right Said Fred made it happen, and God bless them for doing so.

 

Kris Kross – "Jump"

Year: 1992

Also in 1992, had I told you two kids who wear their clothes backwards and rap about jumping would end up with the No. 1 song in the country for eight weeks … well, if you were Jermaine Dupri you would have smiled wide, because he knew. Oh, he knew!

 

Vanilla Ice – "Ice Ice Baby"

Year: 1990

Back in 1990, well before the days of Eminem, the whole white rapper thing was more of a novelty than anything else. Sure, we had the Beastie Boys, but they were the exception to the rule. At the time they had already released Paul’s Boutique and were considered a true hip-hop act.

Whether it was fair or not, Vanilla Ice was viewed as a novelty. Sometimes, however, such as the case with the pet rock, and Beanie Babies, novelties blow up larger than anyone could’ve possibly imagined. “Ice Ice Baby” becoming the No. 1 song in the country was that moment for Vanilla Ice.

 

Ini Kamoze – "Here Comes The Hotstepper"

Year: 1994

The one and only crossover hit for reggae artist Ini Kamoze, “Here Comes The Hotstepper” came out of nowhere to dominate the airwaves.

And when we say it came out of nowhere, we mean it came out of nowhere, as this has been the only song of his to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

Extreme – "More Than Words"

Year: 1991

If you bought Extreme II: Pornograffitti hoping for a bunch of songs like their mega-hit “More Than Words” you quickly found out that this touching guitar ballad wasn’t exactly representative of the hard rockers’ catalog. It’s a great song, but the band is a lot closer to being metal than being balladeers.

 

The Heights – "How Do You Talk to an Angel"

Year: 1992

“How Do You Talk to an Angel” was the theme song for the TV series The Heights, and the song would prove to be far more popular than the show.

The Heights, in its first, and only, season, was cancelled exactly one week after “How Do You Talk to an Angel” fell from the top spot on the chart, a position it held for two weeks. It would be the only song ever released by The Heights.

 

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – "Good Vibrations"

Year: 1991

Now a classic party track, at the time it was kind of strange to see a guy who looked like an underwear model — and who would end up becoming an underwear model, among other things — as a rapper.

Actually, that’s still kind of strange.

 

Karyn White – "Romantic"

Year: 1991

While “Romantic” sounds like a song meant for Janet Jackson, it launched Karyn White to No. 1. The new jack swing sound would become one of R&B’s calling cards for the decade, but White, while at the forefront of the new jack swing explosion, wouldn’t see the top spot, or even the Top 10, again.

 

Sweet Sensation – "If Wishes Came True"

Year: 1990

I legitimately don’t remember this song at all, but judging by the vibe of the track, Sweet Sensation were distant cousins of Expose, and/or Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

 

Divine – "Lately"

Year: 1998

Here’s another No. 1 song that I have absolutely no recollection of. Did I black out for this particular week in 1998? (I was in college, so … maybe?) Regardless, it was the R&B trio’s only hit song, as they disbanded just two years later.

 

Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.

 

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