Top 10 Best Selling Songs in Austria in 1993
Eurodance and dramatic ballads, often peppered with rock, further established themselves as the distinctive sound of the decade in 1993. Some of the most iconic songs of the '90s were released during this year. Many of the tracks on this list are among the first that come to an Austrian's mind when they think of the '90s.Much like "Let's Talk About Sex" by Salt-N-Pepa before it, another massive number-one hit is absent from this list because its success spanned the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Meat Loaf's epic ballad "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" spent 12 weeks at the top of the charts but is not among the ten best-selling singles of either 1993 or 1994 (ranking at number 20 and 14, respectively).
One of my favorite vocal performances of all time. It sounds so rough and expressive, shifts in tone and notes so rapidly, gets loud and soft when needed, and is always natural. Not to mention: the overall composition is a masterful example of the quality of 90s pop-rock ballads.
Peak position: 1
Having spent 13 weeks on top of the Austrian charts, the rock ballad was also the biggest number 1 hit of the year.
Ace of Base were on their way to becoming the heirs of ABBA as the foremost Swedish band when their debut album "Happy Nation," aka "The Sign," dropped to massive success. The single "All That She Wants" became one of the best-known songs of the 90s.
What I love about this decade is how the pop songs weren't so forced and overly happy. The vocal style at that time was much more serious and apathetic, and the compositions were mostly in minor, even for uptempo songs. "All That She Wants" is sometimes called a summer hit due to its dancehall elements, but that's an understatement. It's good songwriting with a fine performance.
"What is Love" combined the typical eurodance sound with R&B and neo-soul, which is probably why it caught on in both the European and American markets. The beat was a banger similar to Snap!, but the singing and melody were closer to Seal. This combination remains unique to Haddaway, although he had no other big hit.
The peak of eurodance. The song, the album, the group. Their electrifying way of presenting loops and beats, the chemistry between Ray and Anita, and the lifestyle of music-loving, all-accepting rave culture they captured - these elements make their three albums the greatest the genre ever achieved.
I refuse to acknowledge the cash grab that is "II" as a full 2 Unlimited album. Not only does it feature neither Ray's nor Anita's vocals and lyrics, but its production also sounds quite different. It's not bad, just not the same.
On almost every eurodance list, 90s music show, or compilation, "No Limit" is featured as the greatest track, and that's a title it rightfully has.
UB40 performed a great classic with "Kingston Town"... but wow, is this cover of a standard, whose definitive version was sung by Elvis Presley, underwhelming. Especially the vocals, but also the dancehall beat.
Sorry that the audio sample is a much, much weaker remix, but it was the only sample I could find. The original version is closer to traditional soul and is a fine contribution to the genre. It is pleasant to hear on the radio, but I never really actively listened to it.
It's Freddie Mercury. He made every song great, even if it otherwise would have been average. This remix version topped the charts posthumously, but I think the remix is very good. Since it's the best-known version of the song, I didn't even know until now that it isn't the original.
Peak position: 2
The original version of the song is already from 1985. After the singer's death, a more modern remix became a hit.
"All cover versions are worse than the original." Just shut up. Seriously, Dolly Parton is a born singer-songwriter.
But here, one of her several good songs has been transformed into one of the most iconic, dramatic, emotional, climactic, and breathtaking songs ever recorded. The vocals rank among the best ever recorded, and the build-up went down in history.
It's nice to listen to. A summery hit song that sure brought a lot of fun to people. Better than UB40's song, but not the quality of Ace of Base's.
Another one of the big eurodance hits that is in everyone's top ten. Fans of the genre get everything they need: an instantly memorable synth motif, a nice pop-rap, and an even more apathetic than usual chorus. Although this year clearly belonged to "No Limit."