Madonna’s “Vogue” Turns 25: Here Are 10 Other Songs That Were Hits In Spring 1990

Robbie Daw | March 20, 2015 11:08 am

Sinead O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U” Like Madonna, Irish singer Sinead was a polarizing figure, given her views on the Catholic church. “Nothing Compares 2 U,” a heartbreaking ballad written by Prince, was a #1 single that spent four weeks on the Hot 100 summit, before being knocked off by “Vogue” in May 1990.

Wilson Phillips, “Hold On” Ah, Wilson Phillips — not merely a fictitious band dreamed up for a scene in Bridesmaids, kids! This harmonic trio, comprised of the daughters of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and the Mamas & The Papas’ John and Michelle Phillips, broke out with debut single “Hold On,” the first of three #1s for the group. Interestingly, producer Glen Ballard jumped from doing this pop fare to Alanis Morissette’s far edgier Jagged Little Pill album four years later.

Bell Biv DeVoe, “Poison” Where are all our New Jack and New Jill Swing enthusiasts? When New Edition went on hiatus, following the rise of Bobby Brown’s solo career, members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe spun off as trio Bell Biv DeVoe, and saw their debut, Platinum-certified single “Poison” land at #3 in the spring of 1990. The group later went on to give Boyz II Men their big break when Bivins signed on to manage them.

Lisa Stansfield, “All Around The World” Like Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison,” this soulful single by British singer Lisa Stansfield contained a New Jack Swing beat and peaked at #3 on the Hot 100. The song was a standout on radio in the early months of 1990 — as was Lisa’s trademark kiss curl (which she cut off in the video for her follow-up hit, “You Can’t Deny It”) — and it earned Stansfield Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best New Artist.

Janet Jackson, “Alright” The fourth single from Janet’s Rhythm Nation 1814 LP, “Alright” was accompanied by an eye-popping throwback video that paid tribute to Golden Age Hollywood musicals and gangster films. And, honestly — nothing is more fly than Miss Jackson in a zoot suit!

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