3 Songs That Spent the Most Weeks at No. 1 Across the 1990s

The ’90s were a great time for music—the decade brought the explosion of grunge and the rise of pop superstars and boy bands. But when it comes to the decade’s most popular songs, R&B clearly dominated, with artists like Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, and Toni Braxton taking the top spots.

Some of the decade’s biggest hits have proven to have staying power and remain radio staples, cementing their legacy in music history. In some instances, the biggest songs of the decade don’t just speak to cultural trends of the time but are closely tied to the decade’s biggest events.

“One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men

Singer Mariah Carey and R&B vocal group Boyz II Men collaborated on “One Sweet Day,” released in 1995 as the second single from Carey’s fifth album, Daydream. The song spent 16 weeks at No. 1, making it the biggest hit of not just the year but the decade itself—as well as the longest-running No. 1 song in history at the time, which it remained for 23 years. It’s a moving, emotional track with lyrics about missing a loved one and reuniting one day in the afterlife, inspired in part by the AIDS epidemic of the time.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

In 1992, Whitney Houston made her acting debut in The Bodyguard and recorded a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” for the film’s soundtrack—and ended up making music history. The song topped the Billboard charts for 14 weeks and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling single of all time by a female solo artist. But the song wasn’t just popular. It also earned Houston two Grammy wins for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

“Candle in the Wind 1997” and “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” by Elton John

After his friend Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car accident in 1997, Elton John paid tribute to her with a version of “Candle in the Wind” with new lyrics—the original version had been a tribute to actress Marilyn Monroe. The song was released as a double A-side with “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” and sold a record-breaking 33 million copies. It remains the best-selling single of all time, and its massive sales led the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to create the Diamond certification, which recognizes sales of 10 million.

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