Best Rhythm & Blues Songs of the ’90s
The 90s music scene was unique and diverse. Today, R&B has become the leading genre of contemporary pop music. Let’s take a look at some of the best songs from this era.
As early as 1989, Whitney Houston became the biggest female star in America. Her song I Will Always Love You became a hit after her death. In 1992, Mariah Carey released one of the most influential albums ever titled, Glitter. According to Baccarat University website, this album went platinum within 3 months and had top-selling singles such as When You Believe and Dreams Without End. These two artists dominated the charts during the late 1990s.
In 1998, Janet Jackson shocked everyone with her suggestive performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. She wore little more than a G-string and appeared dancing seductively with Justin Timberlake. That same year, Britney Spears was at the height of her popularity. On January 20th, 1999 she released Oops!… I Did It Again. This song broke a lot of records for being the fastest-selling single by any artist up to that time. Since then, she has been the number 1 female singer in the world.
Now, let us look at the best Rn’B songs from the ’90s.
Best Rhythm & Blues Songs of the ’90s
1. “I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston
To this day, this song remains one of the greatest songs of all time. It is impossible not to listen to this song without shedding tears.
2. “Oops!…I Did It Again” – Britney Spears
This song made history when it peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
3. “If My Heart Had Windows” – Faith Evans
Faith Evans is an American R’n’B singer who came into prominence in the mid-1990s. She started singing as a background vocalist but eventually became a solo artist. She has worked with other well-known artists such as Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Dru Hill, Monica, Jay-Z, and Beyonce.
4. “My All” – Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin is an American soul singer, pianist, composer, and gospel musician whose career spanned six decades. Born August 16, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, she was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and received musical training while attending high school there. After graduating from college in 1964, she moved to New York City where she began working professionally.
5. “All Night Long (All Night)” – Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. They have sold over 170 million albums worldwide.
6. “What About Us?” – Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B group, consisting of three members: Shawn Stockman, Michael McCary, and Wanya Morris. They gained major success in their native United States and later achieved international fame.
7. “Love Is Pain” – Brandy Norwood
Brandy Ann Nicole Corbin is an American recording artist, actress, and model. After releasing her debut studio album, Never Say Goodbye in 1996, she found immediate commercial success with follow-up albums A Special Season and Full Moon & Empty Arms.
8. “You’re Still My Man” – Celine Dion
Celine Dion is a Canadian-French singer, songwriter, and entertainer. She rose to stardom in the 1980s, winning five Grammy Awards, five World Music Awards, four Juno Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 10 People’s Choice Awards, and 24 Billboard Music Awards among others.
9. “I’m Too Sexy” – Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred was a British pop duo formed in 1992 by English musicians Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield and Jon ‘Jonny 2D’ Davies, both former members of the dance project The Bodysnatchers. Their first two singles, “Too Sexy”, which reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1994, and “I’m Too Sexy”, were successful internationally, reaching #1 in Australia and peaking within the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
10. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” – Elvis Presley
This love ballad was written by Otis Blackwell and originally recorded by him on his 1962 self-titled single. Blackwell’s version spent four weeks atop the US R&B chart in early 1963. Another cover version was released in 1966 by Brenda Lee, which went to number one in Canada, Germany, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
11. “Killing Me Softly With His Song” – Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra (born September 20, 1915) was an American crooner and actor from Hoboken, New Jersey. He was nicknamed “Ol’ Blue Eyes”. During his long career, he became one of the most popular singers in the world. Sinatra had more than 150 singles reach the Billboard Top 40 chart between 1946 and 1960.
12. “Uptown Girl” – Lou Reed
Lou Reed is an American rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. He has been called “one of the greatest lyricists in the history of rock music.” Rolling Stone magazine listed him as No. 28 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.