Musical Dice -- Top Songs Of 1992
Welcome to the music section of my Musical Dice website! For you music trivia enthusiasts, and those who love to learn about the stories behind the music, you've come to the right place! I love sharing my knowledge of music trivia, so that's why I created this section.
One of the main things that got me interested in music trivia was when I listened to American Top 40 with Casey Kasem (rest in peace, my good man), where he'd often tell interesting stories and facts about the songs and the artists behind the songs.
My favorite feature of American Top 40 was when it was a special countdown of the top (usually 100) songs of the year. This article is about the top 100 songs of 1992.
On a personal note, 1992 was the year that I'd started my career as a software developer. Also, every year from 1980 through 1992, I'd memorized all of the top 100 songs of the year. For years before and after then, I rely on corroborating documentation for the songs I didn't memorize. I started paying less and less attention to the music after 1992 because, in my opinion, more and more of it was, and is, just crap. 1992 was a pivotal year in many ways, and not just personally.
Top Songs Of 1992 | ||||
POS | TITLE | ARTIST | PEAK | COMMENTS |
HM | Layla | Eric Clapton | 12 | Recorded live and unplugged. New version of his rock and roll hit as Derek & the Dominoes, which went to #10 in 1972. Inspired by Eric's then-crush on fellow musician George Harrison's then-wife Pattie Boyd. Clapton would eventually marry Pattie Boyd in 1978, but they divorced om 1985. |
HM | Erotica | Madonna | 3 | Samples "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & the Gang. Surrpimded by A LOT of controversy, including some naked exhibitionism stunts. As a result, the song was relatively short-lived in the top 40 in late 1992. |
100 | I Can't Make You Love Me | Bonnie Raitt | 18 | |
99 | They Want EFX | Das EFX | 25 | Das EFX was featured in Ice Cube's 1993 hit "Check Yo Self." |
98 | We Got A Love Thang | CeCe Peniston | 20 | |
97 | Let's Get Rocked | Def Leppard | 15 | Def Leppard debuted this song on a TV special where other English recording acts were covering Queen songs, in honor of lead singer Freddie Mercury, who had passed away in November, 1991 of AIDS. |
96 | I Will Remember You | Amy Grant | 20 | |
95 | Just Take My Heart | Mr. Big | 16 | |
94 | Keep It Comin' | Keith Sweat | 17 | |
93 | Free Your Mind | En Vogue | 8 | |
92 | Keep Coming Back | Richard Marx | 12 | #1 A.C. (Aduly Contemporary) for 4 weeks. |
91 | That's What Love Is For | Amy Grant | 7 | |
90 | Would I Lie To You? | Charles & Eddie | 13 | Not the same song that the Eurythmics took to #5 in 1985. |
89 | Thinkin' Back | Color Me Badd | 16 | |
88 | What About Your Friends | TLC | 7 | |
87 | Slow Motion | Color Me Badd | 18 | |
86 | Justified And Ancient | The KLF feat. Tammy Wynette | 11 | Country singer Tammy Wynette turned 50 in 1992. |
85 | Rea; Love | Mary J. Blige | 7 | Mary J. Nlige's first hit, this one produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs. Not the same song that the Doobie Brithers took to #5 in 1980, nor is it the same song that Jody Wayley had at #2 for 2 weeks in 1989. |
84 | Uhh Ahh | Boyz II Men | 16 | |
83 | I Wanna Love You | Jade | 16 | From the movie "Strictly Business." |
82 | Fridau, I'm In Love | The Cure | 18 | |
81 | Take This Heart | Richard Marx | 20 | |
80 | Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad | Def Leppard | 12 | |
79 | Everything Changes | Kathy Troccoli | 14 | Written by Diane Warren. |
78 | Back To The Hotel | N2Deep | 23* | *Didn't reach its actual peak of #14 until January, 1993. Later sampled in "Rump Shaker" by Wrexx N Effect, which was in the top ten in January, 1993. |
77 | Missing You Now | Michael Bolton | 12 | Featuring Kenny G. on saxophone. |
76 | Addams Groove | Hammer | 7 | From the movie "The Addams Family." Hammer's fiftj and final top ten hit. |
75 | Rhythm Is A Dancer | Snap! | 6* | *Moved up to its actual peak of #5 in January 1993. |
74 | Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven | Bryan Adams | 13 | |
73 | Blowing Kisses In The Wind | Paula Abdul | 6 | Paula's 8th straight top ten hit. Also her eighth and final top ten hit. |
72 | Everything About You | Ugly Kid Joe | 9 | From the movie "Wayne's World." |
71 | When I Look Into Your Eyes | Firehouse | 8 | |
70 | Do I Have To Say The Words? | Bryan Adams | 11 | |
69 | Wildside | Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch | 10 | Samples "Walk In The Wildside" by Lou Reed. |
68 | No Son Of Mine | Genesis | 12 | |
67 | People Eberyday | Arrested Development | 8 | Melody taken from "Everyday People" by Sly & the Family Stone. |
66 | In The Closet | Michael Jackson | 6 | #1 R & B |
65 | Warm It Up | Kriss Kross | 13 | |
64 | Beauty And The Beast | Celine Dion/Peabo Bryson | 9 | Title track from the movie. |
63 | The Way I Feel About You | Karyn White | 12 | |
62 | Hold On My Heart | Genesis | 12 | The top A.C. song of 1992. |
61 | Keep On Walkin' | CeCe Peniston | 15 | |
60 | One | U2 | 10 | |
59 | How Do You Talk To An Angel | The Heights | 1(2) | From the TV show "The Heights." |
58 | Too Funky | George Michael | 10 | From a special albim whose proceeds went to benefit AIDS research. |
57 | Mysterious Ways | U2 | 9 | |
56 | Hazard | Richard Marx | 9 | |
55 | I Can't Dance | Genesis | 7 | Genesis' seventh and top ten hit. |
54 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Michael Bolton | 1(1) | Originally a hit for Percy Sledge in 1966 (#1 for 2 weeks). |
53 | All I Want | Toad The Wet Sprocket | 15 | |
52 | Good For Me | Amy Grant | 8 | Amy Grant's fifth and final top ten hit. |
51 | I'd Die Without You | PM Dawn | 3 | From the movie "Boomerang." |
50 | She's Playing Hard To Get | Hi-Five | 5 | Hi-Five's third and final top ten hit. |
49 | Wishin' On A Star | The Cover Girls | 9 | |
48 | Stay | Shakespear's Sister | 4 | |
47 | Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) | Mint Condition | 4 | Mint Condition used to open for Toni Braxton in concert. One of the members of Mint Condition used to be married to Toni Braxton. |
46 | 2 Legit 2 Quit | Hammer | 5 | Hammer's first hit after dropping the M.C. from his stage name. For a week, both this song and "Addams Groove" were in the top ten at the same time. |
45 | Please Don't Go | K.W.S. | 6 | Originally #1 for a week for KC & the Sunshine Band in 1980. |
44 | Set Adrift On Memory Bliss | PM Dawn | 1(1) | PM Dawn's first hit. Samples "True" by Spandau Ballet. |
43 | The One | Elton John | 9 | Beginning with this single, the proceeds from all of Elton John's U.S. singles went to benefit AIDS research. This is the title track from Elton John's first top ten album in 16 years. |
42 | Make It Happen | Mariah Carey | 5 | |
41 | The Best Things In Life Are Free | Luther Vandross/Janet Jackson | 10 | From the movie "Mo' Money." |
40 | Tennessee | Arrested Development | 6 | Arrested Development's first hit. They won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of 1992. |
39 | Bohemian Rhapsody | Queen | 2(1) | Originally a #9 hit for Queen in 1976. Re-issued in 1992 after lead singer Freddie Mercury's death from AIDS in November 1991, and when the song was featured in the movie "Wayne's World." |
38 | Move This | Technotronic feat. Ya Kid K. | 6 | From the 1989 album "Pump Up The Jam." The song was popularized when it was featured in the Revlon commercial in 1991 and 1992. |
37 | It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday | Boyz II Men | 2(4) | |
36 | Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg | TLC | 6 | TLC's first hit. Odd fact: The classic "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by the Temptations only peaked at #13 on the pop singles chart in 1966. |
35 | Tell Me What You Want Me To Do | Tevin Campbell | 6 | Tevin Campbell's first top ten hit on the pop singles chart. |
34 | Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover | Sophie B. Hawkins | 5 | |
33 | Humpin' Around | Bobby Brown | 3 | Written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface. For three weeks, the THREE top songs in the land were ALL written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface. For all three weeks that "Humpin' Around" was #3, plus three additional weeks, the #2 song was "Baby-Baby-Baby" by TLC, also written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface. And for those same six weeks, plis seven additional weeks, the #1 song was "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men, ALSO written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface! |
32 | Smells Like Teen Spirit | Nirvana | 6 | This song brought in the Grunge Era. |
31 | Come And Talk To Me | Jodeci | 11 | |
30 | Live And Learn | Joe Public | 4 | Joe Public's only top 40 pop hit. |
29 | Giving Him Something He Can Feel | En Vogue | 6 | Written by Curtis Mayfield. Originally a #28 hit for Aretha Franklin in 1976 as "Something He Can Feel." |
28 | If You Asked Me To | Celine Dion | 4 | Written by Diane Warren. Originally a top ten R & B hit for Patti LaBelle in 1989. |
27 | Masterpiece | Atlantic Starr | 3 | Atlantic Starr's third and final top ten hit. Not the same song that was the Temptations' last top ten pop hit (#7 in 1973). |
26 | Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me | George Michael/Elton John | 1(1) | Recorded live at Wembley Stadium, the same stadium that Live Aid was held in 1985, when Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) was joined on stage by Elton John to perform this song. The program got interrupted during the performance! The original Elton John version was a #2 hit for 2 weeks in 1974. The original Elton John version is my favorite Elton John song. |
25 | Diamonds And Pearls | Prince | 3 | |
24 | Jump Around | House Of Pain | 3 | Samples "Jump" by Kriss Kross. |
23 | Can't Let Go | Mariah Carey | 2(1) | Mariah Carey's first hit single that failed to reach #1, after her first 5 singles did. |
22 | Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough | Patty Smyth feat. Don Henley | 2(6) | My favorite song from 1992. Patty Smyth, formerly of the group Scandal, would later be married to tennis star John McEnroe. |
21 | This Used To Be My Playground | Madonna | 1(1) | From the baseball movie "A League Of Their Own" co-starring Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna. |
20 | Finally | CeCe Peniston | 5 | |
19 | Remember The Time | Michael Jackson | 3 | #1 R & B for 2 weeks. |
18 | Life Is A Highway | Tom Cochrane | 6 | Tom Cochrane's only top 40 hit. In more recent years, this song was re-made by a country recording act. |
17 | November Rain | Guns 'N' Roses | 3 | At the time, the longest single to hit the top ten (clocking in at 8 minutes and 53 seconds). |
16 | I'll Be There | Mariah Carey | 1(2) | Recorded live and unplugged. Male vocalist is Trey Lorenz. Original version was #1 for 5 weeks for the Jackson 5 in 1970. |
15 | Achy Breaky Heart | Billy Ray Cyrus | 4 | |
14 | Black Or White | Michael Jackson | 1(7) | |
13 | I'm Too Sexy | Right Said Fred | 1(3) | |
12 | To Be With You | Mr. Big | 1(3) | |
11 | I Love Your Smile | Shanice | 2(3) | Produced by Prince. |
10 | Just Another Day | Jon Secada | 5 | Jon Secada played keyboards and co-wrote songs for Gloria Estefan. This song set a record for spending the most consecutive weeks in the top 40--30 (the old record was 27, set by "Melody Of Love" by Billy Baughn in 1957). Jon Secada's record would soon be tied by "Rhythm Is A Dancer" by Snap! in 1993, and broken about a year later by "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team. |
9 | All 4 Love | Color Me Badd | 1(1) | |
8 | Under The Bridge | The Red Hot Chili Peppers | 2(1) | Written by Anthony Kiedis, talking about his past struggles with drug addiction. |
7 | My Lovin (You're Never Gonna Get It) | En Vogue | 2(3) | |
6 | Tears In Heaven | Eric Clapton | 2(4) | Dedicated to the memory of Eric Clapton's 4-year-old son, who had fallen tragically to his death from a 53rd story window in March, 1991. |
5 | Baby-Baby-Baby | TLC | 2(6) | Written and produced bu L.A. Reid and Babyface. They were inspired to write this one because, according to Chili and T-Boz of TLC, every time their group-mate, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was on the phone, talking to then boyfriend, football star, Andre Rison, every other word coming out of their mouths was "Baby, baby, baby." For all six weeks this song was at #2, the #1 song was "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men, another song written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface. |
4 | Save The Best For Last | Vanessa Williams | 1(5) | |
3 | Jump | Kriss Kross | 1(8) | The youngest recording on this list--both members were 13 at the time. Coincidentally, according to American Top 40, "Jump" by Van Halen landed at #3 for the year 1984. |
2 | Baby Got Back | Sir Mix-A-Lot | 1(5) | Of course, the rap about big butts. Top selling single of 1992, selling over 2.1 million copies. |
1 | End Of The Road | Boyz II Men | 1(13) | Written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface. From the movie "Boomerang." This song took down a 36-year-old record, for the song that spent the most weeks at #1 in the Rock Era. The old record was held by "Don't Be Cruel" by Elvis Presley, which spent 11 weeks at #1 in 1956. However, Boyz II Men's record would be broken less than 4 months later, when "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston spent its 14th week at #1 in early 1993. |