26 May 2017

Women in the charts: why 1990 was a great year

From Featured Audio, 12:30 pm on 26 May 2017
Chynna Phillips, Sinead O'Connor, Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Nancy and Ann Wilson of Heart.

Chynna Phillips, Sinead O'Connor, Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Nancy and Ann Wilson of Heart. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Flikr

On May 26th, 1990, something wonderful happened - for the first time in its history, the US singles chart was dominated by women.

Let’s face it, some pretty awful music came out in 1990: Bon Jovi’s ‘Blaze Of Glory’, ‘King of Wishful Thinking’ by Go West (I know - who? Also, they’re still going), and New Kids On The Block’s ‘Step by Step’.

There were a smattering of good ones: Happy Mondays released ‘Step On’, Beats International’s ‘Dub Be Good To Me’ came out, and George Michael had a hit with ‘Freedom 90!’.

But the main thing is, on May 26th, the top five positions on the US singles chart were held by women.

1. Madonna ‘Vogue’

2.  Heart - ‘All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You’

3. Sinead O'Connor - 'Nothing Compares To You'

4. Wilson Phillips - 'Hold On'

5. Janet Jackson - 'Escapade'