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 1996 Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1996 by Alex Cosper TONI BRAXTON - Un-break My Heart NO DOUBT - Don't Speak CELINE DION - Because You Loved Me JEWEL - You Were Meant For Me MARIAH CAREY - Always Be My Baby CELINE DION - All By Myself MADONNA - Don't Cry For Me Argentina MARIAH CAREY - Forever WHITNEY HOUSTON - I Believe In You BRYAN ADAMS - Let's Make a Night To Remember 1996 Top Pop Hits 1996 Top Albums 1996 Top Ballads/Adult Contemporary 1996 Top Country Hits 1996 Top Dance Hits 1996 Top Modern/Alternative Hits 1996 Top R&B Hits 1996 Top Rock Hits More Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1996: SPICE GIRLS - 2 Became 1 WALLFLOWERS - One Headlight HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH - Old Man & Me ERIC CLAPTON - Change The World TRACY CHAPMAN - Give Me One Reason SEAL - Fly Like an Eagle GEORGE MICHAEL - Fastlove DONNA LEWIS - I Love You Always Forever TONI BRAXTON - You're Makin' Me High TINA TURNER - Missing You GEORGE MICHAEL - Jesus To a Child CARDIGANS - Lovefool SHERYL CROW - Every Day Is a Winding Road MADONNA - You Must Love Me JANN ARDEN - Insensitive JEWEL - Who Will Save Your Soul BACKSTREET BOYS - I'll Never Break Your Heart GLORIA ESTEFAN - Reach PHIL COLLINS - Dance Into The Light LIONEL RICHIE - Don't Wanna Lose Yuo JOHN MELLENCAMP - Key Wet Intermezzo DUNCAN SHEIK - Barely Breathing MAXWELL - Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) TINA TURNER - On Silent Wings WHITNEY HOUSTON - Why Does It Hurt So Bad GIN BLOSSOMS - Follow You Down SEAL - Don't Cry NATALIE MERCHANT - Jealousy BRAND, TAMIA, GLADY KNIGHT & CHAKA KAHN - Missing You Alternative radio format began its decline, fragmenting into multiple formats as artists like Dave Matthews and Sheryl Crow were becoming more of the adult contemporary establishment. A rising alternative star named Jewel had a big hit with "Who Will Save Your Soul." It wasn't necessarily as big at AC radio as it was at alternative, but the album Pieces of You sold millions of units and the follow-up single "You Were Meant For Me" made number one on the AC charts. Another signal that alternative radio was softening up and merging with the often criticized bland AC format was the smash hit "Don't Speak" by No Doubt. It became a multi-format hit, including on adult contemporary stations. The band had come on the scene with a ska sound, which was nowhere to be found on the adult contemporary format at the time. But the third single from the Tragic Kingdom album, "Don't Speak," was like a regular pop ballad with absolutely no hint of ska. By the end of the year the alternative format was being challenged by both the AAA format and an emerging format called "modern AC," which was syphoned off as many adult-sounding pop records from the alternative universe as possible. Fans of alternative music were growing older, as they had embraced "modern rock" since the late 70s. In many cases, there were fans of 60s/70s pop, who had also become a part of the alternative tribe, but were beginning to get alienated by the harder, more metallic and rappish sounds of alternative radio. |
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