Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.
Next, we’ll salute ‘Hero’ – the 8th of a historic 18 #1 singles by pop icon Mariah Carey. As diehard Carey fans – affectionately called #Lambs – already know, the song almost belonged to another chart-topping diva: Gloria Estefan. Originally penned for the legendary Latin pop songstress, Carey – originally disenchanted with the song – later opted to keep it and make some “flavorful” changes to its arrangement. The reworking not only met MC’s favor, but apparently the buying public’s as well.
Just ten weeks after its release, ‘Hero’ topped the Hot 100 for four weeks (where it was found this week 23 yeaers ago). Ousting Janet Jackson‘s scorching ballad ‘Again’ from the top spot, Carey’s uplifting tune went on to quickly earn platinum status. And, while it was not honored by any major awards academy, it endured to become her signature song.
Tuck in below to see who joined her in the top 25 this week in 1994:
Hot 100 This Week in 1994
Hot 100 This Week
Click here to read this week’s full “chart check” of the Hot 100.