1991: THE 100 GREATEST SONGS. This post: #100-1 (conclusion of this countdown).

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1991

THE GREATEST SONGS

MCMXCI

Iraqi forces left Kuwait following Operation Desert Storm. Apartheid was dismantled in South Africa. The Soviet Union’s demise began as Boris Yeltsin took over as the first popularly elected President. Lech Walesa became President of Poland. Music fans grieved the passing of Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury. Grunge attracted a wider audience. At the cinema, we flocked to see ‘Thelma and Louise’ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’.

Here are 100 songs representing the best music that was current during that year. 

1

 

LOSING MY RELIGION

R.E.M.

 

Often misunderstood, the song’s title is an expression used in the South of the United States. The mandolin riff grabs your attention and the track has managed to sound as fresh as it did in 1991 when it was the first single issued from the band’s ‘Out of Time’ album.

2

 

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

Nirvana

 

To the uninitiated, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was their introduction to grunge. Nirvana and its ‘Nevermind’ album was a watershed. This track became its calling card and remains grunge’s defining track.

 

3

 

MYSTERIOUS WAYS

U2

 

The Irish rock group was at the peak of its popularity and creativity when the ‘Achtung Baby’ album was unleashed. Its tracks, including “Mysterious Ways”, took the band down innovative musical directions.

 

4

 

IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER

Lenny Kravitz

 

This soulful nugget was the second single from sophomore Lenny Kravitz album ‘Mama Said’. Guest musicians on the single include The Phoenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire.

5

 

ONE

U2

 

Bono’s lyrics struck a chord with the public. The rest of the band helped complete the track. It was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno and was included on the ‘Achtung Baby’ album. Proceeds of the single were donated to A.I.D.S. charities.

6

 

BLACK OR WHITE

Michael Jackson

 

This was the lead single for Michael Jackson’s ‘Dangerous’ album. It was co-written and co-produced by the artist with Bill Bottrell. The song was a worldwide hit, topping the charts in the U.S.A., Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Israel.

7

 

I CAN’T MAKE YOU LOVE ME

Bonnie Raitt

 

This ballad began life as a more uptempo song. Once it was slowed down, songwriters Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin thought it would be perfect for Linda Ronstadt. When Bonnie Raitt heard it, she wanted to record the song instead. Her version was included on the ‘Luck Of The Draw’ album. It has been covered by numerous performers since.

8

 

UNFINISHED SYMPATHY

Massive Attack

 

Few records intoxicate the eardrums the way “Unfinished Sympathy” does. Apart from the infectious beat, Shara Nelson delivers an irresistible vocal.

9

 

UNDER THE BRIDGE

Red Hot Chili Peppers

 

The RHCP broke through internationally with this single that was produced by Rick Rubin. It was written about a location where lead singer Anthony Kiedis used to purchase drugs. Despite its subject matter, the single reached #2 in America.

 

10

 

LOVESICK

Gang Starr

 

By 1991, rap was making more significant inroads into the mainstream. Listeners were attracted to the genre’s innovative, if less offensive, tracks such as “Lovesick” by the East Coast duo Gang Starr.  

 

 

11 LITHIUM Nirvana

12 GET HERE Oleta Adams

13 JOYRIDE Roxette

14 SUCKER DJ Ben Liebrand Remix Dimples D/ Marly Marl

15 REMEMBER THE TIME Michael Jackson

16 FOR YOUR BABIES Simply Red

17 WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME

(I CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU) Pet Shop Boys

18 DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME Live

George Michael with Elton John

19 CREAM Prince & The New Power Generation

20 STARS Simply Red

 

21 ENTER SANDMAN Metallica

22 QUEEN IN THE BLACK Stevie Wonder

23 GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME Kylie Minogue

24 LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX Salt-N-Pepa

25 SPENDING MY TIME Roxette   

26 MAD ABOUT YOU Sting

27 GREASE MEGAMIX

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta

28 RUSH Big Audio Dynamite

29 JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT KLF ftg. Tammy Wynette   

30 INNUENDO Queen

 

31 GOOD VIBRATIONS

Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch

32 GET READY FOR THIS 2 Unlimited

33 SUMMERTIME DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

34 NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE Heavy D & The Boyz

35 I WANNA SEX YOU UP Color Me Badd

36 SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE R.E.M.

37 GETHSEMANE Michael Crawford

38 BLAME IT ON THE SUN Diana Ross

39 COME AS YOU ARE Nirvana

40 FANTASY Black Box

 

41 FADING LIKE A FLOWER Roxette

42 GYPSY WOMAN (SHE’S HOMELESS) Crystal Waters

43 EMOTIONS Mariah Carey

44 THE SHOW MUST GO ON Queen

45 WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME Diana Ross

46 DON’T GO NOW Ratcat

47 TOO BLIND TO SEE IT Kym Simms

48 DIAMONDS AND PEARLS

Prince & The New Power Generation     

49 WILL YOU BE THERE Michael Jackson   

50 MOTOWNPHILLY Boyz II Men

 

51 TREATY Remix Yothu Yindi

52 LOVE… THY WILL BE DONE Martika

53 THAT AIN’T BAD Ratcat  

54 DO YOU WANT ME Salt-N-Pepa   

55 JEREMY Pearl Jam

56 I’M TOO SEXY Right Said fred [aka RSF]

57 PUMP IT Icy Blu

58 HEAL THE WORLD Michael Jackson   

59 ROUTE 66 Natalie Cole

    60 MORE THAN WORDS Remix  Extreme

 

61 SEE RIGHT THROUGH Kate Ceberano   

    62 THE FLY U2

63 MISS FREELOVE ‘69  Hoodoo Gurus   

64 FALLING Julee Cruise   

65 MONEY DON’T MATTER 2 NITE Prince & The N.P.G.

66 BABY BABY Amy Grant

    67 OCEANS Pearl Jam   

68 EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING U2

69 I ADORE MI AMOR Color Me Badd

70 WILL YOU MARRY ME? Paula Abdul

 

71 HOW TO DANCE The Bingo Boys ftg. Princessa

72 GETT OFF Prince

73 ALWAYS ON THE RUN Lenny Kravitz

74 THE MOTOWN SONG Rod Stewart

75 THE BIG L Roxette

   76 UNFORGETTABLE Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole

     77 BAREFOOT K.D. Lang

    78 JUST THE WAY IT IS, BABY The Rembrandts  

79 YOU’VE GOT TO GIVE ME ROOM Oleta Adams

80 O.P.P. Naughty By Nature

 

81 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU Bryan Adams

     82 WIGGLE IT 2 In A Room

83 IT’S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO YESTERDAY

Boyz II Men

84 PLACES THAT BELONG TO YOU

Barbra Streisand & James Newton Howard

   85 CLOSE EVERY DOOR Jason Donovan

86 SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT Bonnie Raitt

87 L-O-V-E Natalie Cole

88 THE HORSES Daryl Braithwaite

89 HOLD ME TIGHT Tara Kemp

90 LET’S KISS (LIKE ANGELS DO) Wendy Matthews

 

91 STAND BY MY WOMAN Lenny Kravitz

92 JUST ANOTHER DREAM Cathy Dennis

93 ALL 4 LOVE Color Me Badd

94 ANY DREAM WILL DO Jason Donovan

95 SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS PM Dawn

96 3 A.M. ETERNAL The KLF

 97 RHYTHM OF MY HEART Rod Stewart

98 EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) Rozalla

99 TOO MANY WALLS Cathy Dennis

100 OPERAA HOUSE The World Famous Supreme Team Show