1988 -- Page 2

On the Pop front things started getting a little more “urban”. Full Force continued making noise as producers, this time with Samantha Fox’s “Naughty Girls”. A European group named M/A/R/R/S released a smash sample-driven hit called “Pump Up The Volume”. The UK-born Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” successfully combined his soulful voice with dance pop, while the New Kids On The Block began successfully reaching urban audiences performing “Please Don’t Go Girl” during televised appearances on “Soul Train” and “It’s Showtime At The Apollo”.

But no Pop performer resonated more with urban audiences than George Michael, whose ‘Faith’ album would make him the first White artist to top the Billboard Black (now called R&B) chart in 1988. The “urbanization” of pop music further blurred the lines between mainstream pop and R&B, setting the stage for the dramatic rise of New Jack Swing in American popular culture.

Editors Note: Just as an example, note the differences between the top 10 singles of 1988 and 1989 here:

*1988*

#1) Faith – George Michael (urban/pop)

#2) Need You Tonight – INXS

#3) Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison

#4) Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

#5) Sweet Child O’Mine – Guns’N’Roses

#6) So Emotional – Whitney Houston (urban/pop)

#7) Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Belinda Carlisle

#8) Could’ve Been – Tiffany

#9) Hands To Heaven – Breathe

#10) Roll With It – Steve Winwood

*1989*

#1) Look Away – Chicago

#2) My Prerogative – Bobby Brown (urban/pop)

#3) Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison

#4) Straight Up – Paula Abdul (urban/pop)

#5) Miss You Much – Janet Jackson (urban/pop)

#6) Cold Hearted – Paula Abdul (urban/pop)

#7) Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

#8) Girl You Know It’s True – Milli Vanilli (urban/pop)

#9) Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley – Will To Power

#10) Giving You The Best That I Got – Anita Baker (urban/adult contemporary)

1989

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