Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1996. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.
Contents
Top 100 Songs of 1996
1
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
2
One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
3
Nobody Knows – Tony Rich Project
4
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
5
Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix) – Los Del Rio
6
Tha Crossroads – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
7
Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
8
I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis
9
You’re Makin’ Me High/Let It Flow – Toni Braxton
10
Twisted – Keith Sweat
11
C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) – Quad City Dj’s
12
Missing – Everything But The Girl
13
Ironic – Alanis Morissette
14
Exhale (Shoop Shoop) – Whitney Houston
15
Follow You Down/Til I Hear It from You – Gin Blossoms
16
Sittin’ Up In My Room – Brandy
17
How Do U Want It/California Love – 2Pac
18
It’s All Coming Back to Me Now – Celine Dion
19
Change the World – Eric Clapton
20
Hey Lover – LL Cool J
21
Loungin’ – LL Cool J
22
Insensitive – Jann Arden
23
Be My Lover – La Bouche
24
Name – The Goo Goo Dolls
25
Who Will Save Your Soul – Jewel
26
Where Do You Go – No Mercy
27
I Can’t Sleep Baby (If I) – R. Kelly
28
You Learn/You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
29
One of Us – Joan Osborne
30
Not Gon’ Cry – Mary J. Blige
31
Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
32
Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) – R. Kelly
33
Before You Walk Out of My Life / Like This and Like That – Monica
34
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
35
1-2-3-4 (Sumpin’ New) – Coolio
36
No Diggity – BLACKstreet (featuring Dr. Dre)
37
Why I Love You So Much/Ain’t Nobody – Monica
38
Count On Me – Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
39
Fantasy – Mariah Carey
40
Time – Hootie and The Blowfish
More 60 Top Songs of 1996
-
- Counting Blue Cars – Dishwalla
- Wonder – Natalie Merchant
- Only You – 112 featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
- You’re the One – SWV
- Sweet Dreams – La Bouche
- The World I Know – Collective Soul
- Anything – 3T
- 1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins
- Diggin’ On You – TLC
- Kissin’ You – Total
- You’ll See – Madonna
- Last Night – Az Yet
- Mouth – Merril Bainbridge
- The Earth, The Sun, The Rain – Color Me Badd
- All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do) – Joe
- Wonderwall – Oasis
- Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check/Everything Remains Raw – Busta Rhymes
- Tell Me – Groove Theory
- Elevators (Me & You) – Outkast
- Hook – Blues Traveler
- Doin It – LL Cool J
- Fastlove – George Michael
- Touch Me Tease Me – Case featuring Foxxy Brown
- Tonite’S Tha Night – Kris Kross
- Children – Robert Mile
- Theme From Mission: Impossible – Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen
- Closer to Free – Bodeans
- Just a Girl – No Doubt
- If Your Girl Only Knew – Aaliyah
- Lady – D’angelo
- Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First) – John Mellencamp
- Pony – Ginuwine
- Nobody – Keith Sweat
- Old Man & Me – Fairweather Johnson – Hootie and The Blowfish
- If It Makes You Happy – Sheryl Crow
- As I Lay Me Down – Sophie B. Hawkins
- Keep On, Keepin’ On – MC Lyte
- Jealousy – Natalie Merchant
- I Want to Come Over – Melissa Etheridge
- Who Do U Love – Deborah Cox
- Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
- This Is Your Night – Amber
- You Remind Me of Something – R. Kelly
- Runaway – Janet Jackson
- Set U Free – Planet Soul
- Hit Me Off – New Edition
- No One Else – Total
- My Boo – Ghost Town Dj’s
- Get Money – Junior M.A.F.I.A.
- That Girl – Maxi Priest featuring Shaggy
- Po Pimp – Do Or Die
- Until It Sleeps – Metallica
- Hay – Crucial Conflict
- Beautiful Life – Ace Of Base
- Back for Good – Take That
- I Got Id / The Long Road – Pearl Jam
- Soon As I Get Home – Faith Evans
- Macarena – Los Del Rio
- Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie and The Blowfish
- Don’t Cry – Seal
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Top 100 Songs of 1996 – Final Thoughts
The top 100 songs of 1996 were an eclectic mix of genres, reflecting the diverse tastes of music listeners at the time. The list included pop ballads, R&B hits, alternative rock anthems, and hip-hop tracks that defined the sound of the era. Artists such as Mariah Carey, 2Pac, Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette, and No Doubt dominated the charts, with memorable songs that continue to be popular today.
The music of 1996 also reflected important cultural and social issues, with songs addressing themes such as love, heartbreak, social justice, and identity. Overall, the top 100 songs of 1996 showcased the dynamic and vibrant musical landscape of the time.