The Top Songs of 1993, from I Will Always Love You to Whoomp!

What was the number one song of 1993?

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston was the number one song of 1993 on Billboard's year-end Hot 100. It held the top spot from November 1992 until late February 1993, nine of those weeks in 1993. "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team was second for the year and UB40's "Can't Help Falling in Love" third.

The top 20 songs of 1993

1. "I Will Always Love You", Whitney Houston: her soaring version of Dolly Parton's song from The Bodyguard.
2. "Whoomp! (There It Is)", Tag Team: the party chant heard in every stadium that year.
3. "Can't Help Falling in Love", UB40: a reggae remake of the Elvis classic from the film Sliver.
4. "That's the Way Love Goes", Janet Jackson: a laid-back groove that spent eight weeks at number one.
5. "Freak Me", Silk: a slow-jam number one.
6. "Weak", SWV: a sweet R&B ballad and the group's first number one.
7. "If I Ever Fall in Love", Shai: an a cappella-style harmony hit.
8. "Dreamlover", Mariah Carey: a breezy, eight-week number one.
9. "Rump Shaker", Wreckx-n-Effect: a bouncy new jack swing party song.
10. "Informer", Snow: a Canadian reggae hit that spent seven weeks at number one.
11. "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", Dr. Dre: the West Coast G-funk classic with Snoop Doggy Dogg.
12. "In the Still of the Nite", Boyz II Men: an a cappella-flavored remake of the 1956 doo-wop song.
13. "Don't Walk Away", Jade: a smooth, upbeat R&B hit.
14. "Knockin' da Boots", H-Town: a slow-jam favorite.
15. "Lately", Jodeci: a soulful cover of the Stevie Wonder ballad.
16. "Dazzey Duks", Duice: a Miami bass party track.
17. "Show Me Love", Robin S.: a house music classic.
18. "A Whole New World", Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle: the Aladdin love duet.
19. "If", Janet Jackson: a hard-hitting single from janet.
20. "I'm So Into You", SWV: a sweet new jack swing hit.

More of the best songs from 1993 (21 to 40)

21. "Love Is", Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight
22. "Runaway Train", Soul Asylum
23. "I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)", Exposé
24. "Ditty", Paperboy
25. "Rhythm Is a Dancer", Snap!
26. "The River of Dreams", Billy Joel
27. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", the Proclaimers
28. "Two Princes", Spin Doctors
29. "Right Here (Human Nature)", SWV
30. "I Have Nothing", Whitney Houston
31. "Mr. Wendal", Arrested Development
32. "Have I Told You Lately", Rod Stewart
33. "Saving Forever for You", Shanice
34. "Ordinary World", Duran Duran
35. "If I Had No Loot", Tony! Toni! Toné!
36. "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)", Meat Loaf
37. "Slam", Onyx
38. "Looking Through Patient Eyes", P.M. Dawn
39. "I'm Every Woman", Whitney Houston
40. "Baby I'm Yours", Shai

Every number one song of 1993

Eleven songs were number one on the Billboard Hot 100 during 1993, in this order: "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston), "A Whole New World" (Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle), "Informer" (Snow), "Freak Me" (Silk), "That's the Way Love Goes" (Janet Jackson), "Weak" (SWV), "Can't Help Falling in Love" (UB40), "Dreamlover" (Mariah Carey), "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" (Meat Loaf), "Again" (Janet Jackson) and "Hero" (Mariah Carey). Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey were the only acts with two number ones that year.

The Bodyguard and I Will Always Love You

Dolly Parton wrote and recorded "I Will Always Love You" in the 70s as a farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner. Whitney Houston's version, recorded for the 1992 film The Bodyguard in which she starred with Kevin Costner, opened with an unaccompanied verse and built to one of the most famous vocal climaxes in pop. It spent 14 weeks at number one, a record at the time, and The Bodyguard became the best-selling soundtrack album of all time.

R&B harmony and new jack swing

The year-end chart of 1993 shows how much R&B ruled the radio. Vocal groups like SWV, Silk, Shai, Jodeci, H-Town and Boyz II Men filled the top 40 with lush harmonies and slow jams, new jack swing kept dance floors busy, and Janet Jackson's janet album added a smoother, sensual sound. For more, see our 90s wedding songs.

G-funk, grunge and the rest of 1993

Dr. Dre's The Chronic brought West Coast G-funk to the top 40 with "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", introducing Snoop Doggy Dogg, whose debut Doggystyle arrived that November. On rock radio, Nirvana released In Utero and Pearl Jam released Vs., Soul Asylum's "Runaway Train" used its video to show photos of missing children, and Meat Loaf returned with Bat Out of Hell II. For more, see our 90s rap songs and grunge rock songs.

Movie songs of 1993

Films gave 1993 many of its biggest hits: "I Will Always Love You", "I Have Nothing" and "I'm Every Woman" from The Bodyguard, "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, which also won the Oscar for Best Original Song, "Can't Help Falling in Love" from Sliver, and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", a 1988 song that finally became an American hit after appearing in Benny and Joon.

Dance and club hits of 1993

Club music crossed over in a big way in 1993. Robin S.'s "Show Me Love" became a house anthem, Snap!'s "Rhythm Is a Dancer" brought Eurodance to American radio, and Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)" and Duice's "Dazzey Duks" carried bass-heavy party rap into the top 20. Snow's "Informer" made dancehall reggae a number one, and UB40's reggae remake of "Can't Help Falling in Love" spent seven weeks at the top.

Songs of 1993 for an anniversary or a birthday

For a 1993 wedding anniversary or a birthday for someone born that year, build a playlist from the year's hits. For a slow dance, "A Whole New World", "Have I Told You Lately", "In the Still of the Nite", "Weak" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" are beautiful choices, and "Whoomp! (There It Is)", "Rhythm Is a Dancer", "Show Me Love" and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" get everyone dancing. For more, see our 90s female singers.

Top songs of other years

For more year-by-year hits, see our top songs of 1985, 1991, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2013.

A song as unforgettable as 1993

Every year has its soundtrack, and so does every love story. A personalized song can bring back the year you met, married or welcomed a child: their name, your memories and a sound inspired by the 90s. It makes a great gift for an anniversary or a milestone birthday.

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