The Top 50 Songs of 1996*: #20-11

In 1996, U.S. President Bill Clinton signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty while the Republicans nominated Bob Dole for president.  The Dallas Cowboys downed the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 to win the Super Bowl. 

Thirty-eight songs from 1996 are included in The Top 5000 Songs of the Rock Era*, which is about half of the average year from 60 years of music.  These 10 songs are included in that group:

#20:

Twisted

Keith Sweat

This artist also placed "Nobody" at #12.  At #20, a huge R&B hit that also landed at #2 on the Popular chart.

#19:

Let It Flow

Toni Braxton

Up next, another artist who had a great 1996, including two songs in the top 20.  Toni Braxton was one of the best-selling artists of the '90s, thanks to songs like this from the movie Waiting to Exhale.

#18:

Who Will Save Your Soul

Jewel

In 1996, this artist from Alaska recorded a phenomenal debut album, Pieces of You.  Although she never came close to matching it, it contains The #18 song of the Year*.

#17:

You're Makin' Me High

Toni Braxton

Here is the other half of a dynamite double-sided hit for Braxton.

#16:

No Diggity

Blackstreet with Dr. Dre

This is the song that ended the 14-week reign of "Macarena" at #1.  Blackstreet won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and was nominated for Best R&B Song.  It ranks sixth among songs from 1996 in YouTube views. 

#15:

The Crossroads

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Winners of the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, this song has slipped quite a bit since 1996.

#14:

One Of Us

Joan Osborne

Song #14 was written by Eric Bazilian of the Hooters--you might remember them from their song "All You Zombies".  "One Of Us" went to #1 in Canada, Australia, Sweden and Belgium, #2 in Denmark and Norway, #4 in the United States and #6 in the U.K. and Osborne earned Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Album of the Year.

#13:

Change The World

Eric Clapton

In 1992, Eric Clapton ventured into unknown territory when his song "Tears In Heaven" was one of the Top 20 songs of the year.  He did it again four years later with this song from the movie Phenomenon.

#12:

Give Me One Reason

Tracy Chapman

Here's the artist that gave us one of the great debut albums in history with her self-titled release.  In 1996, Tracy Chapman proved she was no fluke with her album New Beginning.  The lead single raced to #3, won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, sold over one million copies, and Chapman was also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

#11:

I Love You Always Forever

Donna Lewis

Here's one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era*, one which remained in the runner-up position for nine weeks.  A Gold record, it was inspired by the H.E. Bates novel Love For Lydia.