Top 100 Hits of 1991

 



1991: A Year of Transition

In 1991, I shifted from mainstream top 40 music to more alternative rock music. This was the year that pop music transitioned to more rap and hip hop songs, hence the transition to alternative rock. 

The songs on my Top 100 Hits of 1991 were all popular for different reasons. 

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was a cultural phenomenon that helped define the grunge movement and  generation. It turned out to be the band's first and only #1 hit and became their signature song.

"Valerie Loves Me" by Material Issue was a catchy power pop song that started the band's foray into titles named after women. R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" was a more thoughtful and introspective song that resonated with many people in 1991. 

Prince and the New Power Generation's "Cream" was a danceable and funky rock track that was perfect for parties. "Caribbean Blue" by Enya was a beautiful and ethereal ballad that transported listeners to another world. 

Seal's "Crazy" was a soulful and passionate love song that was sure to stir emotions, while EMF's "Unbelievable" was a quirky and experimental track that was ahead of its time. 

"Justified and Ancient" by The KLF and Tammy Wynette was a strange and unexpected collaboration that merged dance, funk and country into an unexpected but memorable hit. 

Sting's "All This Time" was a moving and heartfelt ballad about love and loss.

Yes, 1991 was a year of great musical transition. The rise of grunge and alternative rock challenged the dominance of synth-pop and hair metal, while hip hop and R&B continued to evolve. Meanwhile, genres like electronica and world music were also gaining ground.

THE TOP 100 HITS OF 1991

No.TitleArtist(s)
1Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
2Valerie Loves MeMaterial Issue
3Losing My ReligionR.E.M.
4CrazySeal
5Wicked GameChris Isaak
6Caribbean BlueEnya
7UnbelievableEMF
8I've Been Thinking About YouLondonbeat
9CreamPrince and The New Power Generation
10Justified And AncientThe KLF with Tammy Wynette
11Groove Is in the HeartDeee-Lite
12Alice EverydayBook of Love
13Shiny Happy PeopleR.E.M.
14Tom's DinerDNA featuring Suzanne Vega
15Nothing Else MattersMetallica
16Something to Talk AboutBonnie Raitt
17Silent LucidityQueensrÿche
18Sadeness (Part I)Enigma
19Kiss Them For MeSiouxsie & The Banshees
20All This TimeSting
21Justify My LoveMadonna
22Right Here, Right NowJesus Jones
23Give It AwayRed Hot Chili Peppers
24QuiverBook of Love
25So You Think I'm in LoveRobyn Hitchcok & The Egyptians
26JoyrideRoxette
27DianeMaterial Issue
28You Could Be MineGuns N' Roses
29Enter SandmanMetallica
30Here I Am (Come and Take Me)UB40
31Breaking the GirlRed Hot Chili Peppers
32I Touch MyselfDivinyls
33Mysterious WaysU2
34Baby BabyAmy Grant
35There She GoesThe La's
36I Wanna Sex You UpColor Me Badd
37Show Me the WayStyx
38Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance...)C+C Music Factory
39Black or WhiteMichael Jackson
40Near Wild HeavenR.E.M.
41Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me (live)Elton John with George Michael
42The Way You Do the Things You DoUB40
43Everybody Plays the FoolAaron Neville
44Learning to FlyTom Petty & The Heartbreakers
45The UnforgivenMetallica
46More Than WordsExtreme
47GirlfriendMatthew Sweet
48RushBig Audio Dynamite II
49MotownphillyBoyz II Men
50She Lives (In A Time of Her Own)The Judybats
51The Promise of a New DayPaula Abdul
52Don't Drop The BabyThe Judybats
53SignsTesla
54Wind of ChangeScorpions
55DisappearINXS
56Summer Kisses Winter TearsJulee Cruise
57Rush RushPaula Abdul
58Sunny DayBook of Love
59Right NowVan Halen
60Under The BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers
61Bitter TearsINXS
62Until The End of the WorldU2
63AlivePearl Jam
64Real Real RealJesus Jones
65I Can't DanceGenesis
66EmotionsMariah Carey
67Hole HeartedExtreme
68Good VibrationsMarky Mark And The Funky Bunch
69Live and Let DieGuns N Roses
70High EnoughDamn Yankees
71Kinky AfroHappy Mondays
72The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)Cher
73(Everything I Do) I Do It for YouBryan Adams
74I'm Your Baby TonightWhitney Houston
75I'm Too SexyRight Said Fred
76Into the Great Wide OpenTom Petty & the Heartbreakers
77Just Another DreamCathy Dennis
78It Ain't Over 'til It's OverLenny Kravitz
79Radio SongR.E.M.
80Rhythm of My HeartRod Stewart
81The Other Side of SummerElvis Costello
82The FlyU2
83O.P.P.Naughty by Nature
84It Hit Me Like a HammerHuey Lewis & The News
85November RainGuns N' Roses
86This HouseTracie Spencer
87Too Many WallsCathy Dennis
88Get A Leg UpJohn Mellencamp
89Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)Roxette
90SomedayMariah Carey
91Love Takes TimeMariah Carey
92The One and OnlyChesney Hawkes
93Love Will Never Do Without YouJanet Jackson
94SummertimeDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
95Touch Me (All Night Long)Cathy Dennis
96I Adore Mi AmorColor Me Badd
97I'm Not in LoveWill to Power
98Coming Out of the DarkGloria Estefan
99Here We GoC+C Music Factory
100Something to Believe InPoison


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