60. Sarah McLachlan - "Adia"
Courtesy Arista
Sarah McLachlan's voice is almost other-worldly in its beauty. This single came out as the Lilith Fair all-female concert tour, organized by McLachlan, was kicking into gear.
59. Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way"
Courtesy Jive Records
"I Want It That Way" is simply one of the great ballads in pop music history. It gave the Backstreet Boys the perfect opportunity to let their polished voices shine and became one of their biggest hits.
58. Whitney Houston - "It's Not Right, But It's Okay"
Courtesy Arista
By the time the 90s headed toward a close, it had been 8 years since the last new Whitney Houston studio album. Music industry legend Clive Davis coaxed her back into the studio for a new set and the resulting album My Love Is Your Love has some of her best work. "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" is a hard-hitting anthem for women on the way out of relationships that sounded great on the radio or on the dancefloor.
57. Los Del Rio - "Macarena"
Courtesy RCA
Today most people seem to simply think of "Macarena" as being ridiculously overplayed and forever identified as a quirky relic for wedding reception dances. The truth is it was one of the most instantly entertaining and catchy hits of the decade...the first 50 times you heard it.
56. Janet Jackson - "Escapade"
Courtesy A&M Records
Taken from Janet Jackson's hit-filled concept album Rhythm Nation: 1814, "Escapade" at first seems like simple a light piece of pop fluff. After listening to it multiple times, however, it's escapist charm sinks in. This was one of the most joy-filled hits of 1990, an atmosphere further enhanced by the accompanying video.
55. Wreckz N Effect - "Rump Shaker"
Courtesy MCA
"All I wanna do...zooma zoom zoom zoom..." Hip hop began to walk the fine line between pop radio acceptability and unacceptably explicit sexual content. "Rump Shaker" is innocent by today's standards, but it pushed boundaries in its day.
54. Collective Soul - "The World I Know"
Courtesy Atlantic
"So I walk up on high / And I step to the edge / To see my world below." Rock band Collective Soul pulled out all of the stops musically, including soaring strings, to support their beautiful ballad of self-awareness? absurdity? resignation? An outstanding music video added even more resonance to this powerful song.
53. Melissa Etheridge - "Come To My Window"
Courtesy Island Records
Although she is often accused of being overly earnest in her style of rock, "Come To My Window" conjures up a powerful picture of romantic angst and erotic tension that can be felt through Etheridge's raspy words. The lightly rocking background is nearly irrelevant as the words are what grabs the listener's attention.
52. TLC - "No Scrubs"
Courtesy LaFace
The r&b trio TLC electrified the pop music world with their phenomenal album Crazysexycool released in 1994. Then it was a long 5 year wait for the next installment. Fortunately, Fan Mail was nearly as good as its predecessor. "No Scrubs," the leadoff single, is picture perfect late 90s R&B.
51. EMF - "Unbelievable"
Courtesy EMI
EMF rode the British invasion wave that broke on U.S. shores in the wake of the U.K.'s infatuation with the Manchester dance scene. "Unbelievable" mixed intoxicating rhythms, sweet high vocals from lead singer James Atkin, and rousing shouts to storm the top of the pop charts.
