My rundown of the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 for the week ending September 14, 1991
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2025 2:48 am
You know, rundowns like this make me wish SiriusXM had some early 90s countdowns like they do for 80s on 8 because 1990 until about the end of 1992 still had some good top 40 music IMO, and even with hair metal experiencing its last throes there's a bit of Sludge to be found here. So take a break from debating Charlie Kirk and share your thoughts on this here top 40 countdown!
40 42 DON’T WANT TO BE A FOOL –•– Luther Vandross – 7 (40)
Luther's "Power of Love" album from '91 ended up being his most commercially successful, and the first two main singles, including the second one here, are a prime example of good slick well-produced R&B.
39 45 REAL REAL REAL –•– Jesus Jones – 4 (39)
Not as ubiquitous as "Right Here, Right Now", but it somehow managed to climb all the way to the top four. Solid, trippy, dance rock
38 44 THE REAL LOVE –•– Bob Seger – 4 (38)
Bob's final top 40 single is standard country rock, but it's what's always worked for him, hasn't it? Fair/good.
37 40 THE ONE AND ONLY –•– Chesney Hawkes – 7 (37)
One-hit wonder who sang and acted in an obscure movie called "Buddy's Song" that also featured Roger Daltrey as Buddy's father. This is the main song from that movie/album, and it's quite good.
36 33 POP GOES THE WEASEL –•– 3rd Bass – 10 (29)
Standard rap/hip-hop that samples Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" and takes you back to a time when rap and hip-hop actually sounded good.
35 25 TEMPTATION –•– Corina – 18 (6)
This is dancefloor freestyle as it was in the early 90's, mixing in with and paving the way for further examples of the Eurodance that was also becoming a thing at the time. Decent music to dance to.
34 39 THE TRUTH –•– Tami Show – 7 (34)
Female-fronted soft rock featuring the Massey sisters. Their only hit, and it's fairly good stuff. 6.5/10
33 36 THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE –•– .38 Special – 10 (33)
.38 Special's final Hot 100 hit is Southern-fried AOR as only they can do it. 7/10
32 34 LOVE… THY WILL BE DONE –•– Martika – 6 (32)
She's largely considered a one-hit wonder thanks to her classic hit "Toy Soldiers", but this one squeaked into the top ten over two years later. Not nearly as impressive as "Toy Soldiers", but it sounds okay when I'm in the mood for it.
31 32 I’LL BE THERE –•– The Escape Club – 17 (8)
Another surprise top ten from a musical act largely considered a one hit wonder for their signature hit (in this case "Wild, Wild West"), and here they do a soft rock/pop ballad. Not bad at all.
30 20 MY NAME IS NOT SUSAN –•– Whitney Houston – 8 (20)
Whitney's final top 40 single from "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was surprisingly only her fourth Hot 100 entry to miss the top ten, and it would end up being her last hit before that "I Will Always Love You" cover and "Bodyguard" starring role further secured her legacy as an international icon. 8/10
29 35 ENTER SANDMAN –•– Metallica – 4 (29)
No introduction needed. Just exit light, enter night, and bang your head to the almighty 'Tallica's ubiquitously iconic second crossover hit.
28 19 IT AIN’T OVER TIL IT’S OVER –•– Lenny Kravitz – 15 (2)
Lenny's first big hit on its way down the chart from top two. Good/very good.
27 21 SUMMERTIME –•– D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – 14 (4)
...followed by Will Smith and Jeffrey Townes' third and highest charting hit. Excellent laid back party hip-hop.
26 30 EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL –•– Aaron Neville – 9 (26)
Aaron Neville covering an early 70's soul classic which, like the original, also manages to go top ten. Solid enough R&B.
25 29 HOLE HEARTED –•– Extreme – 7 (25)
Two acoustic-driven hits in a row for Gary, Nuno, and Co., though, like "More Than Words", it kind of relies heavily on the sap. Still damn good, IMO.
24 15 FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) –•– Roxette – 14 (2)
You can thank Bryan Adams for keeping this superb pop rock ballad off the top spot, which is a shame because, like pretty much every hit Roxette has ever released, it sounds friggin' ahh-mazing. 10/10
23 27 ROMANTIC –•– Karyn White – 5 (23)
Her first #1 after three top ten hits in '89. Straightforward danceable new jack swing era-R&B, and very solidly done.
22 28 DO ANYTHING –•– Natural Selection – 6 (22)
There must have been something in the water in Minneapolis, because the funk pop/R&B scene there had plenty of good music beyond Prince, including this one which was kept from the top only by Mariah Carey.
21 23 IT HIT ME LIKE A HAMMER –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 9 (21)
Huey's final top 40 hit at its peak this week. Great song that I enjoy very much, but you get the sense that they were on their way out popularity-wise. At least we had Patrick Bateman to sing their praises years later...
20 14 UNFORGETTABLE –•– Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole – 10 (14)
Studio magic allowed father and daughter to duet, and it worked enough to get its fair share of fans. Far from my favorite on this countdown, but still listenable.
19 24 SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT –•– Bonnie Raitt – 9 (19)
Her biggest hit is a pristine slice of adult contemporary pop rock with her trademark bluesy twang. 10/10
18 13 EVERY HEARTBEAT –•– Amy Grant – 14 (2)
Amy Grant continuing to branch out from the Jeebus music with her '91 album's second big hit which, like Lenny Kravitz and Roxette, could've hit #1 if it weren't for Bryam Adams. This is actually my second favorite song of hers after the Peter Cetera duet.
17 26 EMOTIONS –•– Mariah Carey – 3 (17)
Her fifth straight #1 on its way up. Decent pop, though I never really got into this one as much at first. Those squeals at the end are a bit much, though. Like something so high-pitched only dogs can hear it...
16 22 SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE –•– R.E.M. – 8 (16)
The Athens, GA boys with their second "Out of Time" single, featuring fellow Athens legend Kate Pierson of the B-52's on backing vocals. Great peppy tune, and very fun video...
15 8 WIND OF CHANGE –•– Scorpions – 16 (4)
...followed by a trip along the Moskva down to Gorky Park, complete with whistling. Well, I like it, anyway.
14 17 NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE –•– Heavy D & The Boyz – 12 (14)
Heavy D was all about the booty-shaking house version of hip-hop, and here he turns an old O'Jays tune (later done by reggae group Third World in the late 70s as a very solid reggae-disco hybrid) into a good house jam. 7/10
13 10 I CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE –•– Hi-Five – 13 (8)
Second biggest hit from this new jack swing group that topped the chart a few months earlier with "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)". I've always liked a good new jack swing jam, and this one satisfies that craving nicely.
12 18 LOVE OF A LIFETIME –•– Firehouse – 12 (12)
Cheesy ballads like this might have been the death of hair metal, but they were cheesy in a fun way, IMO. Pour one out for C.J. and listen to this one while cuddling with your significant other.
11 16 THE MOTOWN SONG –•– Rod Stewart – 11 (11)
This is a fun song from Sir Rod featuring the Temptations on backing vocals, and it has a similar sound and lyrical theme to Elton John's "Club at the End of the Street" from a year earlier. It also has a similar animated video from the same production company featuring a live-action Rod:
...an animated Rod:
...as well as animations of the aforementioned Temptations:
Sir Elton (reprising his role from the "Club at the End of the Street" video and inexplicably bouncing a soccer ball):
Michael Jackson (who ends up moonwalking right into an open sewer hole):
Vanilla Ice (getting--duh--ice dumped on him, likely as an apparent jab by Rod at his white boy rap):
Madonna:
...and Sinead O'Connor:
Overall one of Sir Rod's best with a great groove! 10/10
10 5 3 A.M. ETERNAL –•– The KLF – 13 (5)
House jam that went top five. This one doesn't exactly sound like my thing, but it's still good to dance around to every now and then, I guess.
9 12 TOO MANY WALLS –•– Cathy Dennis – 11 (9)
I've always had a soft spot for this one. It wasn't as big as her dance hit "Touch Me (All Night Long)", but it went top eight and still stands up to that track in greatness, IMO. A 10/10 for sure.
8 7 CRAZY –•– Seal – 13 (7)
Seal's first hit is a solid enough track, but of course it would have to suffer the misfortune of eventually getting overshadowed by "Kiss From a Rose". 7/10
7 9 TIME, LOVE AND TENDERNESS –•– Michael Bolton – 10 (7)
Bolton at his adult contemporary crooner best, though I kind of prefer the single before it ("Love Is a Wonderful Thing").
6 11 GOOD VIBRATIONS –•– Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch Featuring Loleatta Holloway – 9 (6)
Pre-Hollywood acting Mark Wahlberg begins his career in earnest with one of the most iconic examples of early 90s house hip-hop. A classic, IMO.
5 4 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM… –•– C&C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams – 9 (4)
More house dance-pop from the group that made us all sweat with "Everybody dance now!" earlier in the year. Like the previous two singles, this one also cracked top four and sounds pretty good for a dance hit.
4 3 MOTOWNPHILLY –•– Boyz II Men – 14 (3)
Boyz II Men were the bridge between new jack swing and the rest of 90s R&B. Here they sound more like the former, and do a good job of it. 9/10
3 1 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU –•– Bryan Adams – 12 (1)
The ultimate sappy adult contemporary soft rock ballad that practically made the "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" soundtrack and kept those aforementioned Lenny Kravitz, Roxette, and Amy Grant songs from the top spot for seven whole weeks. I prefer BA when he's rocking out, but this is defintely my favorite of his sappy moments. Very good/excellent.
2 6 I ADORE MI AMOR –•– Color Me Badd – 8 (2)
Definitely one of the whiter-looking R&B groups of the 90s. They were huge for about a year or so before becoming another "Where are they now?" case. 6.5/10
1 2 THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY –•– Paula Abdul – 9 (1)
If I had to pick my all-time favorite of Paula's hits, this one would be it without a doubt. Killer dance groove and a great video to boot!
40 42 DON’T WANT TO BE A FOOL –•– Luther Vandross – 7 (40)
Luther's "Power of Love" album from '91 ended up being his most commercially successful, and the first two main singles, including the second one here, are a prime example of good slick well-produced R&B.
39 45 REAL REAL REAL –•– Jesus Jones – 4 (39)
Not as ubiquitous as "Right Here, Right Now", but it somehow managed to climb all the way to the top four. Solid, trippy, dance rock
38 44 THE REAL LOVE –•– Bob Seger – 4 (38)
Bob's final top 40 single is standard country rock, but it's what's always worked for him, hasn't it? Fair/good.
37 40 THE ONE AND ONLY –•– Chesney Hawkes – 7 (37)
One-hit wonder who sang and acted in an obscure movie called "Buddy's Song" that also featured Roger Daltrey as Buddy's father. This is the main song from that movie/album, and it's quite good.
36 33 POP GOES THE WEASEL –•– 3rd Bass – 10 (29)
Standard rap/hip-hop that samples Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" and takes you back to a time when rap and hip-hop actually sounded good.
35 25 TEMPTATION –•– Corina – 18 (6)
This is dancefloor freestyle as it was in the early 90's, mixing in with and paving the way for further examples of the Eurodance that was also becoming a thing at the time. Decent music to dance to.
34 39 THE TRUTH –•– Tami Show – 7 (34)
Female-fronted soft rock featuring the Massey sisters. Their only hit, and it's fairly good stuff. 6.5/10
33 36 THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE –•– .38 Special – 10 (33)
.38 Special's final Hot 100 hit is Southern-fried AOR as only they can do it. 7/10
32 34 LOVE… THY WILL BE DONE –•– Martika – 6 (32)
She's largely considered a one-hit wonder thanks to her classic hit "Toy Soldiers", but this one squeaked into the top ten over two years later. Not nearly as impressive as "Toy Soldiers", but it sounds okay when I'm in the mood for it.
31 32 I’LL BE THERE –•– The Escape Club – 17 (8)
Another surprise top ten from a musical act largely considered a one hit wonder for their signature hit (in this case "Wild, Wild West"), and here they do a soft rock/pop ballad. Not bad at all.
30 20 MY NAME IS NOT SUSAN –•– Whitney Houston – 8 (20)
Whitney's final top 40 single from "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was surprisingly only her fourth Hot 100 entry to miss the top ten, and it would end up being her last hit before that "I Will Always Love You" cover and "Bodyguard" starring role further secured her legacy as an international icon. 8/10
29 35 ENTER SANDMAN –•– Metallica – 4 (29)
No introduction needed. Just exit light, enter night, and bang your head to the almighty 'Tallica's ubiquitously iconic second crossover hit.
28 19 IT AIN’T OVER TIL IT’S OVER –•– Lenny Kravitz – 15 (2)
Lenny's first big hit on its way down the chart from top two. Good/very good.
27 21 SUMMERTIME –•– D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – 14 (4)
...followed by Will Smith and Jeffrey Townes' third and highest charting hit. Excellent laid back party hip-hop.
26 30 EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL –•– Aaron Neville – 9 (26)
Aaron Neville covering an early 70's soul classic which, like the original, also manages to go top ten. Solid enough R&B.
25 29 HOLE HEARTED –•– Extreme – 7 (25)
Two acoustic-driven hits in a row for Gary, Nuno, and Co., though, like "More Than Words", it kind of relies heavily on the sap. Still damn good, IMO.
24 15 FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) –•– Roxette – 14 (2)
You can thank Bryan Adams for keeping this superb pop rock ballad off the top spot, which is a shame because, like pretty much every hit Roxette has ever released, it sounds friggin' ahh-mazing. 10/10
23 27 ROMANTIC –•– Karyn White – 5 (23)
Her first #1 after three top ten hits in '89. Straightforward danceable new jack swing era-R&B, and very solidly done.
22 28 DO ANYTHING –•– Natural Selection – 6 (22)
There must have been something in the water in Minneapolis, because the funk pop/R&B scene there had plenty of good music beyond Prince, including this one which was kept from the top only by Mariah Carey.
21 23 IT HIT ME LIKE A HAMMER –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 9 (21)
Huey's final top 40 hit at its peak this week. Great song that I enjoy very much, but you get the sense that they were on their way out popularity-wise. At least we had Patrick Bateman to sing their praises years later...
20 14 UNFORGETTABLE –•– Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole – 10 (14)
Studio magic allowed father and daughter to duet, and it worked enough to get its fair share of fans. Far from my favorite on this countdown, but still listenable.
19 24 SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT –•– Bonnie Raitt – 9 (19)
Her biggest hit is a pristine slice of adult contemporary pop rock with her trademark bluesy twang. 10/10
18 13 EVERY HEARTBEAT –•– Amy Grant – 14 (2)
Amy Grant continuing to branch out from the Jeebus music with her '91 album's second big hit which, like Lenny Kravitz and Roxette, could've hit #1 if it weren't for Bryam Adams. This is actually my second favorite song of hers after the Peter Cetera duet.
17 26 EMOTIONS –•– Mariah Carey – 3 (17)
Her fifth straight #1 on its way up. Decent pop, though I never really got into this one as much at first. Those squeals at the end are a bit much, though. Like something so high-pitched only dogs can hear it...
16 22 SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE –•– R.E.M. – 8 (16)
The Athens, GA boys with their second "Out of Time" single, featuring fellow Athens legend Kate Pierson of the B-52's on backing vocals. Great peppy tune, and very fun video...
15 8 WIND OF CHANGE –•– Scorpions – 16 (4)
...followed by a trip along the Moskva down to Gorky Park, complete with whistling. Well, I like it, anyway.
14 17 NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE –•– Heavy D & The Boyz – 12 (14)
Heavy D was all about the booty-shaking house version of hip-hop, and here he turns an old O'Jays tune (later done by reggae group Third World in the late 70s as a very solid reggae-disco hybrid) into a good house jam. 7/10
13 10 I CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE –•– Hi-Five – 13 (8)
Second biggest hit from this new jack swing group that topped the chart a few months earlier with "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)". I've always liked a good new jack swing jam, and this one satisfies that craving nicely.
12 18 LOVE OF A LIFETIME –•– Firehouse – 12 (12)
Cheesy ballads like this might have been the death of hair metal, but they were cheesy in a fun way, IMO. Pour one out for C.J. and listen to this one while cuddling with your significant other.
11 16 THE MOTOWN SONG –•– Rod Stewart – 11 (11)
This is a fun song from Sir Rod featuring the Temptations on backing vocals, and it has a similar sound and lyrical theme to Elton John's "Club at the End of the Street" from a year earlier. It also has a similar animated video from the same production company featuring a live-action Rod:
...an animated Rod:
...as well as animations of the aforementioned Temptations:
Sir Elton (reprising his role from the "Club at the End of the Street" video and inexplicably bouncing a soccer ball):
Michael Jackson (who ends up moonwalking right into an open sewer hole):
Vanilla Ice (getting--duh--ice dumped on him, likely as an apparent jab by Rod at his white boy rap):
Madonna:
...and Sinead O'Connor:
Overall one of Sir Rod's best with a great groove! 10/10
10 5 3 A.M. ETERNAL –•– The KLF – 13 (5)
House jam that went top five. This one doesn't exactly sound like my thing, but it's still good to dance around to every now and then, I guess.
9 12 TOO MANY WALLS –•– Cathy Dennis – 11 (9)
I've always had a soft spot for this one. It wasn't as big as her dance hit "Touch Me (All Night Long)", but it went top eight and still stands up to that track in greatness, IMO. A 10/10 for sure.
8 7 CRAZY –•– Seal – 13 (7)
Seal's first hit is a solid enough track, but of course it would have to suffer the misfortune of eventually getting overshadowed by "Kiss From a Rose". 7/10
7 9 TIME, LOVE AND TENDERNESS –•– Michael Bolton – 10 (7)
Bolton at his adult contemporary crooner best, though I kind of prefer the single before it ("Love Is a Wonderful Thing").
6 11 GOOD VIBRATIONS –•– Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch Featuring Loleatta Holloway – 9 (6)
Pre-Hollywood acting Mark Wahlberg begins his career in earnest with one of the most iconic examples of early 90s house hip-hop. A classic, IMO.
5 4 THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM… –•– C&C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams – 9 (4)
More house dance-pop from the group that made us all sweat with "Everybody dance now!" earlier in the year. Like the previous two singles, this one also cracked top four and sounds pretty good for a dance hit.
4 3 MOTOWNPHILLY –•– Boyz II Men – 14 (3)
Boyz II Men were the bridge between new jack swing and the rest of 90s R&B. Here they sound more like the former, and do a good job of it. 9/10
3 1 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU –•– Bryan Adams – 12 (1)
The ultimate sappy adult contemporary soft rock ballad that practically made the "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" soundtrack and kept those aforementioned Lenny Kravitz, Roxette, and Amy Grant songs from the top spot for seven whole weeks. I prefer BA when he's rocking out, but this is defintely my favorite of his sappy moments. Very good/excellent.
2 6 I ADORE MI AMOR –•– Color Me Badd – 8 (2)
Definitely one of the whiter-looking R&B groups of the 90s. They were huge for about a year or so before becoming another "Where are they now?" case. 6.5/10
1 2 THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY –•– Paula Abdul – 9 (1)
If I had to pick my all-time favorite of Paula's hits, this one would be it without a doubt. Killer dance groove and a great video to boot!