Chart Rewind: Whitney Houston’s ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ Topped the Hot 100 This Week in 1990

This week, we’re rewinding to 1990 to pay homage to ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ – the 8th Hot 100 #1 single of Pop icon Whitney Houston.

Join us below:

In response to growing criticism for her bubblegum, ‘white-washed’ image of the mid-to-late 80’s, Houston took the driver seat in her career and image for the first time with her third album, ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ (her first time getting a producer credit on her own work). Her edgier image made its official debut in fall 1990 with the release of the LP’s L.A. Reid & Babyface-produced title track.

***Click here to read our full-length feature to the ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ Album***

With an instantly recognizable, Michael Jackson-esque intro in tow, the dramatic ‘Baby’ – just six weeks after its release – went on to unseat Mariah Carey‘s ‘Love Takes Time’ from the #1 spot on the Hot 100 courtesy of strong radio airplay and one of Houston’s most conceptually driven music videos ever. Lauded for paying homage to the big divas of entertainment of yesteryear (see nods to Audrey Hepburn, Diana Ross, and more), the clip more famously depicted the shedding of the Pop diva of the 80’s to make way for the “hip, 90s Whitney” (with ripped jeans and leather jacket to boot).

Her 8th #1 hit (of an eventual 11), the song’s chart performance – though brief at the chart’s summit – helped lead its parent project to a triumphant #3 peak on the Billboard 200 and ultimately 10 million copies sold worldwide.

Hot 100 This Week in 1990

Hot 100 This Week

Click here to see this week’s full TGJ chart recap.