The list of 1993 #1 hits on the Billboard pop charts is short, with only ten songs. They all went platinum, and all but one topped the charts for multiple weeks. This year sees the continuation of the trend of women dominating the charts, as they did throughout the decade. It was unprecedented in recorded musical history, according to the authority on such things, the late Joel Whitburn.
Dreamlover– Mariah Carey, #1 for eight weeks. She was the decade’s biggest-selling pop artist.
That’s The Way Love Goes– Janet Jackson, #1 for eight weeks. I saw Janet perform live in 2018.
Can’t Help Falling In Love– UB40. #1 for seven weeks. The Elvis Presley cover. This is from the film Silver starring Sharon Stone and William Baldwin; I never heard of the movie.
Informer – Snow, #1 for seven weeks. I will admit that, to my recollection, I never heard this song before. Nor do I know the artist. It was #1 on my 40th birthday.
I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), #1 for five weeks. I always enjoyed the New York Times style guide referring to the late Marvin Lee Aday as Mr. Loaf.
Hero – Mariah Carey, #1 for four weeks
Freak Me – Silk, #1 for two weeks. Written and produced by Keith Sweat, it was also #1 on the RB charts for eight weeks.
Weak – SWV (Sisters With Voices), #1 for two weeks. I have an SWV CD.
Again – Janet Jackson, #1 for two weeks
A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) – Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. Yes, I saw the movie at the cinema.
Kept from the top
The most chart-worthy #2 is Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team. It spent 15 weeks longer on the Top 100, 19 weeks longer on the Top 40, and nine weeks longer in the Top 10 than any #1 song in the year. Also, it went quadruple platinum.
Yet it was stuck at #2 for seven weeks. It was kept out of the #1 slot by UB40 for five weeks and Carey’s Dreamlover for two. It DID go to #1 on the RB charts for a week.