Traditional rock and heavy metal still held immense ground, delivering timeless stadium anthems. Released: July 1990 Tie-in: Young Guns II movie soundtrack. Success: Golden Globe winner, Oscar nominee. "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips Released: February 1990 Genre: Soft rock, vocal pop. Stat: Billboard's number one song of 1990. "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC Released: September 1990 Energy: High-octane arena rock. Feature: Iconic opening guitar riff. R&B and New Jack Swing
Looking back, 1990 was a year of "both/and." It was both the grand finale of the 80s and the first chapter of the 90s. It was a year where a party rap song could sit comfortably next to a socially conscious hip-hop anthem on the charts. It was the year the synthesizer began its slow walk to the exit, while the sampler and the distorted guitar started to creep in. songs that came out in 1990
While Nirvana’s Nevermind was still a year away, the blueprints for the 90s were being drawn in 1990. released Been Caught Stealing , a funky, chaotic, and utterly weird song with a video featuring a dog and a lot of shoplifting. It became an unlikely MTV hit and brought "alternative rock" to the suburbs. Traditional rock and heavy metal still held immense
If the 80s put hip-hop on the map, 1990 was the year it demanded to be taken seriously. released 911 Is a Joke , a scathing critique of emergency services in Black neighborhoods. LL Cool J crossed over to the pop charts with the romantic and innovative Around the Way Girl , while Digital Underground brought the party with the P-Funk-inspired novelty hit The Humpty Dance . "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips Released: February 1990
The smooth, synchronized beats of New Jack Swing dominated urban contemporary radio. Released: February 1990 Style: Hardcore pop, New Jack Swing. Quote: "Never trust a big butt and smile." "Hold On" by En Vogue Released: March 1990 Vibe: Powerful four-part girl group harmonies. Impact: Set the template for '90s R&B.