The song that defined your birth year: Millennial edition. Do you agree?
Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996, and the music at the top of the charts across those years tells a story that spans synthesizer pop, new wave, hair metal, R&B, grunge, and hip-hop. No generation’s birth years cover more stylistic ground on the Billboard year-end chart.
Data comes from Billboard’s archive and Wikipedia, the two most comprehensive sources for cumulative chart performance by calendar year.
Find your year below.
Born in 1981: “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” spent ten weeks, tying a record at the time, and topped the year-end chart for 1981. Its aerobics-era video was banned by several stations for suggestive content.
Born in 1982: “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
According to Songfacts, “Eye of the Tiger” came second for the year, edged out by Newton-John’s accumulated chart points across both years.
Born in 1983: “Every breath you take” by The Police
Sting wrote “Every Breath You Take” in twenty minutes. It spent eight weeks at number one and won the Grammy for Song of the Year in 1984. Sting has always said it is about obsession, not romance. This has not stopped it from being played at weddings.
Born in 1984: “When doves cry” by Prince
Prince wrote, performed, and produced it alone, then removed the bass line before release. It was the year-end No. 1 the same year he released Purple Rain.
Born in 1985: “Careless whisper” by Wham! featuring George Michael
George Michael wrote it at 17 on a bus. The saxophone intro became one of the most recognized sounds in pop history. Year-end No. 1.
Born in 1986: “That’s what friends are for” by Dionne and friends
A charity single for AIDS research featuring Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. It raised three million dollars for AIDS research and topped the 1986 year-end chart.
Born in 1987: “Walk like an Egyptian” by The Bangles
The Bangles became the first female group to top the Billboard year-end chart. Written by Liam Sternberg, watching passengers sway on a ferry. The Bangles did not want to record it.
Born in 1988: “Faith” by George Michael
George Michael’s second appearance on this list, as a solo artist this time. “Faith” spent four weeks at number one and topped the chart for 1988. He became the first solo male artist to top the year-end chart twice in the same decade.
Born in 1989: “Look away” by Chicago
“Look Away” reached number one in late 1988 and accumulated enough points to the 1989 top, one of the stranger year-end outcomes in chart history.
Born in 1990: “Hold on” by Wilson Phillips
The daughters of Brian Wilson and John and Michelle Phillips spent six weeks writing a song in under two hours. The key change before the final chorus became one of the most recognizable moments in early-1990s pop.
Born in 1991: “(Everything I do) I do it for you” by Bryan Adams
Written for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, it spent seven weeks at No. 1 in the US and a then-record sixteen weeks in the UK.
Born in 1992: “End of the road” by Boyz II Men
It broke the record for the longest run at No. 1, spending 13 weeks at the top. Babyface wrote and produced it for the Boomerang soundtrack.
Born in 1993: “I will always love you” by Whitney Houston
Houston recorded it in one take. Dolly Parton wrote it in 1974. It spent 14 weeks at No. 1.
Born in 1994: “The sign” by Ace of Base
The group’s debut became the best-selling debut in US history at the time. Six weeks at No. 1.
Born in 1995: “Gangsta’s paradise” by Coolio featuring L.V.
The first rap song to top the year-end. Coolio sampled Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise” and said he never expected it to be a hit.
Born in 1996: “Macarena” by Los Del Rio
The Bayside Boys remix spent fourteen weeks at No. 1, the longest run of the decade.
Wrap up
Sixteen years, sixteen songs, from aerobics-era pop to hip-hop’s commercial breakthrough. Which one is yours?
Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!
Related:
- The song that defined your birth year: Boomer edition. Do you agree?
- The most controversial songs of the ’60s: Do you agree?
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.co.
