The 1990s didn’t just start with a bang; they started with a massive key change, a new jack swing beat, and a duet between a pop diva and a pigeon. While the grunge revolution was lurking just around the corner (hello, 1991), 1990 was a fascinating melting pot of glossy hair metal, the birth of hip-hop pop crossover, and the last hurrah of the power ballad.

If you listen closely to the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart of 1990, you hear a world transitioning: the 80s were officially dead, but the 90s hadn't yet found its angsty voice. Instead, it was a year of pure, unapologetic joy, slick production, and unforgettable hooks.

If you want to feel nostalgic for a time when MTV played music videos and radios played everything from pop rap to tear-jerking duets, are the ultimate comfort listen.

Keywords: 1990 pop music, 90s hits, Wilson Phillips, Madonna Vogue, MC Hammer, best songs of 1990, 1990s nostalgia.