1. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Courtesy DGC Records
The emergence of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as a top 10 pop hit remains one of the most dramatic events in pop music of the 1990s. Kurt Cobain's sardonic view of teenagers set amid a pop melody pounded out by drums and guitars bathed in fuzzed up distortion rattled the pop music establishment. It was all accompanied by a music video that presented a memorable and unrelentingly dark view of the classic school pep rally. Grunge had arrived.
2. Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
Courtesy Arista Records
The original version of this song was written and recorded in stunning fashion by Dolly Parton. Whitney Houston's version was included on the soundtrack to her film The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner. This recording of "I Will Always Love You" became the biggest pop hit of all time. One of pop music's most beautiful voices met one of the most stunning ballads ever written, and it made history.
3. U2 - "Mysterious Ways"
Courtesy Island Records
After their dramatic success with The Joshua Tree and an epic concert tour of the U.S., U2 completely reinvented their musical style on the album Achtung Baby. Glorious pretensions gave way to some of the sexiest funky rock of the decade. "Mysterious Ways" features sinuous guitar work from The Edge and gospel-influenced vocals from Bono that drive home one of U2's most uninhibited pop-rock songs on record.
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Under the Bridge"
Courtesy Warner Bros.
It's ironic that a gentle ballad became the breakthrough hit for a band best known for blending classic uptempo funk with alternative rock. The song emerged out of lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis' struggles to overcome heroin addiction. After the addiction destroyed a number of his personal relationships, Kiedis' reflected on his relationship with the city of Los Angeles itself. "Under the Bridge" made it all the way to #2 on the pop singles chart.
5. 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.
6. Michael Jackson - "Black Or White"
Courtesy Epic
This is the last great Michael Jackson single. It features Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash ushering in an uplifting message about racial unity. As was the norm for Michael Jackson releases at the time, the song was accompanied by a big budget video. This one was directed by John Landis and featured actors Macaulay Culkin, George Wendt and Peggy Lipton.
7. House Of Pain - "Jump Around"
Courtesy XL Recordings
For a brief period of time it looked like a blend of edgy rock and hip hop was workable. "Jump Around" is incredibly infectious or annoying depending on your tolerance for the incessant siren that accompanies the pounding beats. Unfortunately, House Of Pain never did recapture these moments of greatness.
8. Boyz II Men - "End Of the Road"
Courtesy Motown
While their swiftly growing group of adoring fans waited for a second album, Boyz II Men recorded this ballad for the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang. The four part crooning and gorgeous pleading fade were irresistible. Along with Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," this became the second hit of 1992 to place on the all time top 10 list of pop hits.
9. Arrested Development - "Tennessee"
Courtesy Chrysalis Records
Arrested Development finished their banner year by being awarded the Grammy for Best New Artist of 1992 in February 1993. The spiritual quest detailed in "Tennessee" was a big part of the band's success. The uplifting, intelligent lyrics and positive tone seemed to herald a new direction for rap, but the gangsta takeover was just a year away.
10. Eric Clapton - "Tears In Heaven"
Courtesy Warner Bros.
In retrospect the song is rather treacly and certainly not a match for a number of other Eric Clapton classics, but in its historical context "Tears In Heaven" was a song that brought comfort to millions whose lives were touched by tragedy. The gentle ballad, written in response to the circumstances that took the life of Clapton's young son, Conor, was featured in the soundtrack to the film Rush. It returned in an even more popular acoustic rendition on Eric Clapton's Unplugged collection.
