4 Legendary Songs From the 90s That Debuted at No. 1

Although it’s not an easy feat, an artist can enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the No. 1 position. To do so, it takes years of a built-up fan base and release anticipation. Pre-release marketing is involved, as well as immediate radio airplay once released, especially in the 1990s. Debuting at No. 1 wasn’t achieved until the 90s, but the decade certainly had its share. Here are four legendary songs from the 90s that debuted at No. 1.

“You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson

In 1995, Michael Jackson became the first artist to debut at No. 1. “You Are Not Alone” broke a 37-year streak where no one had entered the top of the chart directly. Released on August 15, 1995, the single sold 120,000 copies in the first week. It debuted at the No. 1 position on September 2, 1995, and remained there for three weeks. Previously, Michael and Janet Jackson set a record for entering the chart at No. 5 with “Scream” in May 1995. It was later that year that the King of Pop would break his record, becoming the first artist in history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Jackson’s 13th and final No. 1 single on the chart.

“Fantasy” by Mariah Carey

It wasn’t long until another artist debuted at No. 1. Within a month, the feat was accomplished once again. Mariah Carey became the first female artist to debut at No. 1. “Fantasy” debuted at No. 1 on September 30, 1995, and remained there for eight weeks. This was the longest Carey remained at the top of the chart. Due to radio airplay, the single sold 229,000 copies, the highest of a single at the time. Previously, Whitney Houston set the record with “I Will Always Love You” in 1993. In the coming years, Mariah Carey would go on to debut at No. 1 three more times.

“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” by Whitney Houston

1995 saw multiple singles debut at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Whitney Houston debuted at No. 1 with “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” on November 25, 1995. She became the third artist to ever do so and the second female artist to do so. The song served as the lead single from the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack, becoming the first single from a soundtrack to debut at No. 1. It would be Houston’s 11th and final single to top the chart, remaining there for only one week.

“…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears

Closing out the decade, Britney Spears’ single “…Baby One More Time” debuted at No. 1 on January 30, 1999. The album of the same name also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first new artist to debut at No. 1 on both charts in the same week. The single topped the charts in 23 countries, signaling a global shift in pop music. Britney Spears became the new face of pop music, going into the new millennium. “…Baby One More Time” spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of the best-selling physical singles of all time. In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song the “greatest-selling debut single of all time.”