Kenny G "The Moment"

Adult Contemporary radio in 1996 continued its transformation from "safe" core artists such as Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, and Elton John as well as embracing newer contemporary artists like Sheryl Crow, Jewel, and Hootie & The Blowfish.  At that time, instrumentals on Adult Contemporary stations were considered a thing of the past that died along with the "beautiful music" format long popular in the 70s and 80s.  Somehow, the year 1996 proved to be an exception as three instrumentals found their way back on AC and Top 40 radio station: Robert Miles' "Children" and"Theme from Mission: Impossible" from Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. (of U2) joined Kenny G's "The Moment" with significant airplay on the radio.

Robert Miles - "One and One"

Plenty of songs feature a breathy angelic-sounding female voice (think Donna Lewis "I Love You Always Forever").  One such voice who could convince me to sign away my life savings is Maria Nayler.  Nayler (whose name sounds similar to something else her voice makes me want to do to her) teamed up with Robert Miles (the David Guetta of 1996) for the catchy hit "One and One".  Call me, Maria.

Robert Miles - "Children"

The foundations of the Adult Contemporary format come from instrumentals.  I remember my Grandma working a jigsaw puzzle back in the early-80s and listening to "beautiful music" on FM100.  The station somehow was a ratings juggernaut while playing such songs as "The Theme From Hill Street Blues".  Fast forward to 1996, and pop radio was playing "Children", an instrumental from Italian DJ Robert Miles--think of him as 1996's Calvin Harris or Avicci.