List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1996

Last updated
Celine Dion's song "Because You Loved Me" held the number one position for a record-breaking 19 weeks. Celine Dion en concierto.jpg
Celine Dion's song "Because You Loved Me" held the number one position for a record-breaking 19 weeks.

Adult Contemporary is a chart published by Billboard ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1996, five different songs topped the chart in 52 issues of the magazine, based on weekly airplay data from radio stations compiled by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. The chart was published under the title Hot Adult Contemporary through the issue of Billboard dated March 9 and Adult Contemporary thereafter.

Contents

For the first ten months of the year, only three songs occupied the top spot, each of which had an unbroken run of at least 12 weeks at number one. In the year's first issue of Billboard the number one position was held by "One Sweet Day", a collaboration between Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, which retained its position from the last chart of 1995. [1] The R&B ballad held the top spot for the first 12 weeks of 1996 for a final total of 13 weeks at number one, a new record for the Adult Contemporary listing. [2] "One Sweet Day" also topped Billboard's all-genre chart, the Hot 100, for a record-breaking 16 weeks. [3] In a 2011 poll, the readers of music magazine Rolling Stone voted it the best collaboration of all time. [4] The song's record for the longest stay atop the AC chart was broken, however, by the very next track to reach number one. In the issue of Billboard dated March 30, "One Sweet Day" was displaced from the top spot by "Because You Loved Me" by Canadian singer Celine Dion, which remained at number one for 19 consecutive weeks, another new record. [5] Dion would return to number one for five weeks beginning in November with "It's All Coming Back to Me Now", meaning that she topped the chart in almost half the issues of Billboard published in 1996.

The third song to have a lengthy run at number one in 1996 was "Change the World" by British singer-guitarist Eric Clapton, from the soundtrack of the film Phenomenon , [6] which replaced "Because You Loved Me" in the top spot in the issue of Billboard dated August 10 and stayed at number one for 13 weeks. In addition to being a radio hit, the song also won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1997 awards ceremony. [7] The final number one of 1996 was "When You Love a Woman" by the band Journey, which occupied the top spot for the final three weeks of the year. The song was taken from the album Trial by Fire , the first release by the band for ten years, but the last to feature longtime lead vocalist Steve Perry, who left the band after its release following a dispute over his refusal to have surgery for a degenerative hip condition. [8] [9]

Chart history

Mariah Carey's collaboration with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day", was number one for the first 12 weeks of the year. Mariah Carey WBLS 2018 Interview 4.jpg
Mariah Carey's collaboration with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day", was number one for the first 12 weeks of the year.
Eric Clapton was the third artist to have a lengthy run at number one in 1996, with the song "Change the World". Eric Clapton 01May2015.jpg
Eric Clapton was the third artist to have a lengthy run at number one in 1996, with the song "Change the World".
American rock band Journey ended the year at number one with "When You Love a Woman". It was one of the band's last hits to feature Steve Perry on lead vocals. Steve Perry 02.jpg
American rock band Journey ended the year at number one with "When You Love a Woman". It was one of the band's last hits to feature Steve Perry on lead vocals.
Key
Billboard ranked "Back for Good" by Take That as the best-performing AC song of 1996, though it never reached the top position. [10]
Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
January 6"One Sweet Day" Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men [1]
January 13 [11]
January 20 [12]
January 27 [13]
February 3 [14]
February 10 [15]
February 17 [16]
February 24 [17]
March 2 [18]
March 9 [19]
March 16 [20]
March 23 [21]
March 30"Because You Loved Me" Celine Dion [22]
April 6 [23]
April 13 [24]
April 20 [25]
April 27 [26]
May 4 [27]
May 11 [28]
May 18 [29]
May 25 [30]
June 1 [31]
June 8 [32]
June 15 [33]
June 22 [34]
June 29 [35]
July 6 [36]
July 13 [37]
July 20 [38]
July 27 [39]
August 3 [40]
August 10"Change the World" Eric Clapton [41]
August 17 [42]
August 24 [43]
August 31 [44]
September 7 [45]
September 14 [46]
September 21 [47]
September 28 [48]
October 5 [49]
October 12 [50]
October 19 [51]
October 26 [52]
November 2 [53]
November 9"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" Celine Dion [54]
November 16 [55]
November 23 [56]
November 30 [57]
December 7 [58]
December 14"When You Love a Woman" Journey [59]
December 21 [60]
December 28 [61]

References

  1. 1 2 "Adult Contemporary: January 6, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 13, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits. Billboard Books. pp. 64, 390. ISBN   9780823076932.
  3. Chappell, Carmin (July 23, 2019). "'Old Town Road' is now the longest-running No. 1 song—and the beat Lil Nas X used only cost $30". CNBC . Retrieved October 15, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. "Readers Poll: Best Collaborations of All Time". Rolling Stone . August 10, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. Evans Price, Deborah (January 1, 1997). "Diane Warren : An Overall Songwriter". American Songwriter . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. Van Nguyen, Dean (August 4, 2015). "Mac DeMarco covers Eric Clapton's 'Change The World' – listen". NME . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  7. "Winners of the 1997 Grammy Awards". New York Times . February 28, 1997. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  8. Ruhlmann, William. "Journey Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  9. Prato, Greg. "Steve Perry Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  10. "Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks Year End, 1996" (PDF). Billboard . Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  11. "Adult Contemporary: January 13, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  12. "Adult Contemporary: January 20, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  13. "Adult Contemporary: January 27, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  14. "Adult Contemporary: February 3, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  15. "Adult Contemporary: February 10, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  16. "Adult Contemporary: February 17, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  17. "Adult Contemporary: February 2, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  18. "Adult Contemporary: March 2, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  19. "Adult Contemporary: March 9, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  20. "Adult Contemporary: March 16, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  21. "Adult Contemporary: March 23, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  22. "Adult Contemporary: March 30, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  23. "Adult Contemporary: April 6, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  24. "Adult Contemporary: April 13, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  25. "Adult Contemporary: April 20, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  26. "Adult Contemporary: April 27, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  27. "Adult Contemporary: May 4, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  28. "Adult Contemporary: May 11, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  29. "Adult Contemporary: May 18, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  30. "Adult Contemporary: May 25, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  31. "Adult Contemporary: June 1, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  32. "Adult Contemporary: June 8, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  33. "Adult Contemporary: June 15, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  34. "Adult Contemporary: June 22, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  35. "Adult Contemporary: June 29, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  36. "Adult Contemporary: July 6, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  37. "Adult Contemporary: July 13, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  38. "Adult Contemporary: July 20, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  39. "Adult Contemporary: July 27, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  40. "Adult Contemporary: August 3, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  41. "Adult Contemporary: August 10, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  42. "Adult Contemporary: August 17, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  43. "Adult Contemporary: August 24, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  44. "Adult Contemporary: August 31, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  45. "Adult Contemporary: September 7, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  46. "Adult Contemporary: September 14, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  47. "Adult Contemporary: September 21, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  48. "Adult Contemporary: September 28, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  49. "Adult Contemporary: October 5, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  50. "Adult Contemporary: October 12, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  51. "Adult Contemporary: October 19, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  52. "Adult Contemporary: October 26, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  53. "Adult Contemporary: November 2, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  54. "Adult Contemporary: November 9, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  55. "Adult Contemporary: November 16, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  56. "Adult Contemporary: November 23, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  57. "Adult Contemporary: November 30, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  58. "Adult Contemporary: December 7, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  59. "Adult Contemporary: December 14, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  60. "Adult Contemporary: December 21, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  61. "Adult Contemporary: December 28, 1996". Billboard . Retrieved October 13, 2019.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

See also