George Michael "I Can't Make You Love Me"

While Bonnie Raitt make this somber ballad famous in 1991, many other artists quickly adopted the song and added it to their respective setlists. George Michael along with Bruce Hornsby, Boyz II Men and Adele are just some of the many artists who embraced the touching tune. Ironically, the song was written by two Nashville songwriters who envisioned Bette Midler, Linda Ronstadt or Bonnie Raitt performing it.

Boyz II Men "Four Seasons of Loneliness"

"Four Seasons of Loneliness" entered the Hot 100 at #2 during the autumn of 1997. A week later, the ballad climbed to the top of the charts, but immediately got bumped back down by Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind 1997". Ultimately, this song was the R&B group's final #1 song.

Hootie & The Blowfish "Hold My Hand"

Let's take a look at the top songs of 1994 on Top 40 radio:

• Ace of Base "The Sign"
• All-4-One "I Swear"
• Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You"
• Celine Dion "The Power of Love"
• Mariah Carey "Hero"

By 1994 standards, Top 40 radio heavily leaned on R&B and Hip-Hop artists and music. A peak further down the Top 100 of 1994 turned up music from artists such as Salt-n-Peppa, R. Kelly, Coolio, and Warren G. This gave the pop-rock group Hootie & The Blowfish some struggles to find a mainstream radio format to embrace the band. Somehow, the Adult Contemporary format answered the call and immediately helped launch Hootie's career. Within 12 months, AC radio stations playlists featured four songs from Cracked Rear View (Hootie's debut album) as well as "I Go Blind" (prominently featured on the TV show Friends). Soon, Top 40 added Hootie's music--though most song charted higher on the Adult Contemporary Chart than the Hot 100--and the band's over-saturation likely attributed to its demise. 

Go West "What You Won't Do For Love"

What do Bobby Caldwell, Go West and Boyz II Men have in common? They all recorded "What You Won't Do For Love". For Go West, they were one of over a dozen over bands to remake the Caldwell tune. It  peaked at #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1993.

Whitney Houston - "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)"

The summer of 2016 saw Justin Timberlake debut "Can't Stop the Feeling" in the #1 spot.  This begs the question: how often do songs debut in the #1 spot on the Hot 100?  Actually, not often.  In fact, it's only happened 26 times in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 -- including a record-setting four times in 1995.  That year saw not only Whitney Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" debut at #1, but also "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson, "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey, and "One Sweet Day" by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey.

After 7 - "Ready or Not"

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds had his hands all over R&B music during the late-80s and 90s.  He was part of the '80s group Deele and later became a super producer responsible for hits from Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, and Madonna.  Babyface also founded Soda Pop Records and co-founded LaFace Records -- a record label responsible for TLC, Usher, and Toni Braxton.  Heck, the state of Indiana even renamed a portion of I-65 in Indianapolis after the successful singer, songwriter, producer, and Hoosier.  As someone who has driven I-65 numerous times, I am well aware how little there is to see aside from the creepy wind farm.  His brothers, Melvin and Kevon, performed in After 7 and produced the Top 10 hit "Ready or Not" in 1990.

Boyz II Men - "On Bended Knee"

Knocking Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love to You" from the #1 spot was...well, Boyz II Men.  Their follow-up single "On Bended Knee" replaced "I'll Make Love to You" atop the Hot 100 in December 1994.  This was a feat only The Beatles has previously accomplished.

Boyz II Men - "In The Still of the Nite"

The quartet from Philadelphia that made up Boyz II Men were arguable the biggest act on the planet in the early-90s.  Their pop-soul sound took over the radio beginning with 1991's "Motownphilly" and their reign didn't loosen until well into the decade.  Sandwiched between two #1 songs ("End of the Road" and "I'll Make Love to You") was the group's a cappella cover of The Platters' "In The Still of the Night".

Surface - "The First Time"

Before R&B supergroup Boyz II Men would take radio by storm, early-90s R&B performers such as Timmy T., Stevie B., and Surface enjoyed mild success.  "The First Time" spent two weeks atop the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1991.

Boyz II Men - "On Bended Knee"

Lost in the shuffle of "I'll Make Love To You" was "On Bended Knee"...Boyz II Men's other big hit from their second album (properly entitled II).  The significance of "On Bended Knee" is that it replaced "I'll Make Love To You" atop the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.  The last group who did this?  The Beatles.

Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - "One Sweet Day"

Two of the most powerful acts of the early-1990s teamed up for a ballad that became one of the longest running and most successful number one song of all time.  "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men hit the radio in November 1995 and held the #1 spot for 16 consecutive weeks.  The Adult Contemporary format was built on power ballads, and "One Sweet Day" set the standard.

Babyface - "When Can I See You?"

Growing up in Indiana, I had to do a project in the 4th grade about famous people from the state of Indiana.  I chose the great Tim Stoddard, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched in one game for the White Sox in 1975.  I had his baseball card and noticed that he was from East Chicago, Indiana--hear my home.  I remember standing in front of my 4th grade class tediously reading stats from the back of Stoddard's baseball card.  Instead, I should have chose Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds for my project.  Born in Indianapolis, Babyface wrote and produced for Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Pink, Phil Collins and numerous other acts (Wikipedia lists over 40 different artists).  Babyface had a big hit himself in 1994 with the acoustic ballad "When Can I See You".