1992: THE 100 GREATEST SONGS. This post: 100-1.

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1992

THE 100 GREATEST SONGS

MCMLXCII

1992 saw a formal end to the Cold War; violence erupted in Los Angeles after officers accused of beating Rodney King were acquitted; Bill Clinton was elected US President; Apartheid ended in South Africa; Steffi Graf & Andre Agassi won Wimbledon; Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics; Charles & Diana separated; movie audiences flocked to see ‘Sister Act’, ‘A Few Good Men’, ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘The Bodyguard’.

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

1

 

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU

Whitney Houston

 

A cover was always intended for ‘The Bodyguard’, but originally, that remake was to be “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” before the planet’s best tonsils totally transformed a country song into a crossover tour de force. Houston not only sang tracks for the film’s soundtrack but also starred in ‘The Bodyguard’ opposite Kevin Costner. Dolly Parton wrote and recorded the original version of the song which had previously been used in the film ‘The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas’. Houston’s execution of the ballad remains one of the yardsticks of vocal prowess. This is reflected in its international success. The single spent 14 weeks at #1 in America (surpassing Boyz II Men’s previous achievement); 13 weeks ruling in Europe and 10 at the top in the UK and Australia plus 8 weeks at #1 in Canada. It remains one of the best-selling physical singles of all time.

2

 

CONSTANT CRAVING

K.D. Lang

 

This was the perfect introduction to Lang’s ‘Ingenue’ album. The song demonstrates her impressive range and vocal skill. 

 

3

 

SLEEPING SATELLITE

Tasmin Archer

 

The public discovered this English singer via her debut single which topped the UK charts and even dented the American Top 40. 

 

4

 

NIGHTSWIMMING

R.E.M.

 

‘Automatic For The People’ finds R.E.M. arguably at its best. This is that album’s most sublime moment. 

 

5

 

JUMP AROUND

House Of Pain

 

Irish-American group House Of Pain formed in 1990. Two years later, the band released this sole hit that remains one of the most infectious rap tracks ever recorded. 

 

6

 

STILL THRIVES THIS LOVE

K.D. Lang

 

Previously known only to a small circle of country music fans, this Canadian vocalist introduced herself to a wider audience with her stunning ‘Ingenue’ album which featured songs she co-wrote and co-produced such as this track delivered with delicious power. It marked a shift for Lang from country to a blend of pop, adult contemporary and country/ folk music.

 

7

 

END OF THE ROAD

Boyz II Men

 

Few songs alter the course of a music genre with as much impact as this new jack swing ballad. Suddenly, Motown was dominating the charts again (as it had in the 1960s). This song was featured on the ‘Boomerang’ film soundtrack. Released as a single, it broke the record for longest reign atop the US Pop chart. Its 13-week residency at the summit, was a fortnight longer than previous record-holder Elvis Presley had enjoyed back in 1956 (with “Don’t Be Cruel” / “Hound Dog”). The boy band would score even greater success following this smash hit. 

 

8

 

SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST

Vanessa Williams

 

All the infamy surrounding her being forced to renounce the Miss America crown because she had posed for Penthouse magazine, suddenly dissipated with this unforgettable ballad which managed to top Billboard’s Pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.

 

9

 

IRON LION ZION

Bob Marley

 

Although recorded in the 1970s, this funky reggae track was finally unleashed posthumously in 1992.

 

10

 

MY LOVIN’

(YOU’RE NEVER GONNA GET IT)

En Vogue

 

Before Destiny’s Child and TLC, there was En Vogue. A female hip hop group that paved the way for empowered females ready to redress imbalances in society. This was the lead single from the women’s sophomore album ‘Funky Divas’. 

 

 

11 FIND THE RIVER R.E.M.   

12 JUMP Kris Kross

13 THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE

Janet Jackson & Luther Vandross

14 TEARS IN HEAVEN Eric Clapton

15 FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE The Cure

16 CREEP Radiohead

17 I’M EVERY WOMAN Whitney Houston

18 EVERYBODY HURTS R.E.M.   

19 FOUR SEASONS IN ONE DAY Crowded House

20 FREE YOUR MIND En Vogue

 

21 COULD IT BE MAGIC Take That

22 DEEPER AND DEEPER Madonna

23 MY SWEET SENORITA Treble & Bass

24 LOVE IS Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight

25 GLI UOMINI NON CAMBIANO Mia Martini

26 THE ONE Elton John

27 BE MY BABY Vanessa Paradis

28 MAN IN THE MOON R.E.M.

29 MISS CHATELAINE K.D. Lang   

30 I LOVE YOUR SMILE Shanice

 

31 NOVEMBER RAIN Guns N’ Roses

32 TEQUILA A.L.T. & The Lost Civilization

33 THE MIND OF LOVE K.D. Lang   

34 BEAUTIFUL GIRL INXS

35 HUMPIN’ AROUND Bobby Brown

36 TOO FUNKY George Michael

37 THE LAST SONG Elton John

38 THE CRYING GAME Boy George

39 I HAVE NOTHING Whitney Houston

40 FALL AT YOUR FEET Crowded House

 

41 DRIVE R.E.M.

42 QUEEN OF THE NIGHT Whitney Houston

43 REAL LOVE Mary J. Blige

44 MR. WENDAL Arrested Development

45 I CAN FEEL IT Radio Freedom

46 RAPSODIA Mia Martini

47 I THINK I LOVE YOU Voice Of The Beehive

48 MY DESTINY Lionel Richie     

49 WEATHER WITH YOU Crowded House

50 DAMN I WISH WAS YOUR LOVER Sophie B. Hawkins

 

51 JUST ANOTHER DAY Jon Secada

52 THE MAGIC FRIEND 2 Unlimited

53 FINALLY CeCe Peniston   

54 SEXY MF Prince & The New Power Generation   

55 TETRIS Doctor Spin

56 THE DAY YOU WENT AWAY Wendy Matthews

57 I DROVE ALL NIGHT Roy Orbison   

58 NON AMARMI Francesca Alotta & Aleandro Baldi

59 ACCIDENTALLY KELLY STREET Frente!

    60 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade

 

61 SALTWATER Julian Lennon

    62 HOUSE OF LOVE East 17

63 GIVE IT UP, TURN IT LOOSE En Vogue

64 TO BE WITH YOU Mr. Big

65 BABY GOT BACK Sir Mix-a-Lot

66 TENNESSEE Arrested Development

    67 RHYTHM IS A DANCER Snap!   

68 EVERYTHING’S ALRIGHT

Kate Ceberano, John Farnham & Jon Stevens

69 NEVER LET HER SLIP AWAY Undercover

70 WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS Annie Lennox

 

71 THE SIDEWINDER SLEEPS TONITE R.E.M.

72 ORDINARY WORLD Duran Duran

73 HAZARD Richard Marx

74 I’LL BE THERE Mariah Carey ftg. Trey Lorenz

75 MISERERE Zucchero with Luciano Pavarotti

   76 WOULD I LIE TO YOU? Charles & Eddie

     77 BABY DON’T CRY INXS

    78 A WHOLE NEW WORLD Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson 

79 STAY Shakespear’s Sister

80 EBENEEZER GOODE Shamen

 

81 IT WAS A GOOD DAY Ice Cube

     82 NO SON OF MINE Genesis

83 THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND Madonna

84 HELP YOURSELF Julian Lennon

    85 SUPERMODEL RuPaul

86 IN YOUR ROOM Toni Pearen

87 DEEPLY DIPPY Right Said Fred [aka: R.S.F.]

88 ONE IN A MILLION Euphoria

89 JOY Soul II Soul

90 LIVE AND LEARN Joe Public

 

91 IT’S ONLY NATURAL Crowded House

92 RAIN Madonna

93 IF I EVER FALL IN LOVE Shai

94 LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME Erasure

95 LOVE YOU RIGHT Euphoria

96 EROTICA Madonna

 97 HEAVEN ON THEIR MINDS Jon Stevens

98 I’M GONNA GET YOU Bizarre Inc. ftg. Angie Brown

99 VOULEZ VOUS Erasure

100 SOMETHING GOOD Utah Saints

 

Check out the playlist on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5TbfhFTDdDLwAagsaTovRv?si=7faf805799ee4615