Janet Jackson "Together Again"

After graduating from college in 1999, I returned to my part-time DJ job at Windy 100 (WNND-FM) in Chicago. At that time, the upstart Adult Contemporary radio station was about a year old and had already eaten away at 93.9 Lite-FM's (WLIT-FM) stronghold on the market. The heritage radio station continued to present itself as an at-work radio station that shuffled through a "safe" playlist of ballads and without talk (DJs with personality). By contrast, Windy 100 pounded their mantra of "No Lite, Sleepy, Snoring, or Boring" music. While the station certainly did play some soft music (see "My Heart Will Go On"), it surrounded those songs with more upbeat tunes. Lite-FM eventually followed Windy 100's lead and added more contemporary and uptempo songs like "Together Again" from Janet Jackson -- music that the old Lite-FM would never play. By 2000, Windy 100 overtook The Lite in key demographics which led to a revolving door of personnel changes at 93.9 including their longtime Program Director and numerous on-air voices.

Jesus Jones "Right Here, Right Now"

No '90s playlist is complete without the Jesus Jones hit "Right Here, Right Now". You likely know the bulk of the lyrics to this catchy song and for good reason.  The song hit #1 on the Alternative Chart and went all the way to #2 on the Hot 100 in 1991.

Shania Twain - "That Don't Impress Me Much"

Today we call them "playlists", but back in the '90s they were mixtapes (because, well, they were usually recorded on cassette tapes).  Sometime around 1999, my Grandma requested an upbeat mix of music for when she walked around her neighborhood.  A few weeks later, Grandma called back and said, "Hun, thank you for that tape you made me.  I'm really enjoying it although I don't care for that song about Elvis and a comb."  Elvis and a comb?  What the heck was Grandma talking about?  I don't know about any Elvis songs about combs.  I would later figure out that she was referring to lyrics from Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much".  Got it, Grandma...no Shania.

Dionne Farris - "I Know"

Adult Contemporary radio started turning in 1995.  Artists such as Alanis Morissette and Hootie & The Blowfish started turning up on AC radio stations.  Known particularly for ballads and "safe" music, AC radio started to get more contemporary.  Dionne Farris' "I Know" was one such song that AC radio played to death during the latter part of 1995.  Before long, core artists such as Amy Grant, Lionel Richie, and Billy Joel would soon fall off stations' playlists.

Fleetwood Mac - "Silver Springs"

"Silver Springs" was the song that wasn't good enough for inclusion on Fleetwood Mac's wildly successful Rumours album.  Instead, the haunting tune found its way out of obscurity nearly 20 years later during Fleetwood Mac's 1997 reunion tour.  After a live version of "Silver Springs" appeared on their album The Dance, Adult Contemporary radio stations couldn't wait to add it to their playlists.  The one lyric that sticks out in this ballad: "You'll never get away from the sound of the woman who loves you."

Shania Twain - "From This Moment On"

Shania Twain originally wanted Elton John to perform the male portion of duet, "From This Moment On".  That didn't work out, so fellow country singer Bryan White stepped in and helped put this song on wedding reception soundtracks from 1998 onward.

Billy Ocean - "Loverboy"

My "RUN" playlist on my iPhone is for (you guessed it!) running!  This playlist has some cliche songs (such as "Eye of the Tiger"), but it mostly is a collection of songs that I imagine no other human being has ever listened to while running.  One such example is Billy Ocean's "Loverboy"--a gem from 1985 that always kicks my ass up a gear.  I can't explain it nor will I ever try...I just accept it.