Do you know which song spent the most weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100? Do you know which song was the first to debut at the top spot? That Grape Juice has you covered! ‘Back In The Beat’ is our brand new feature, which each Friday takes a look back at the songs that topped the Billboard Hot 100 at this exact point in time in years of past.
Covered by me, Trent, it provides the opportunity to not only take a ‘trip down memory lane’, but remember some of the monumental songs that molded the present day sound of the music industry. So get out your pen and paper because class is officially in session!
Whitney ‘The Voice’ Houston ascended to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100 for the 10th time on November 28th 1992 with her astronomical hit ‘I Will Always Love You’. The song remained at the top spot for an astounding 14 weeks, a record that was not matched by another solo act until Mariah Carey’s 2005 hit ‘We Belong Together’. Written and originally performed by Dolly Parton, the David Foster-produced song also held the top spot on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts for 11 weeks. The record was the top song of 1993 on the Billboard Hot 100 . Outside of the US, the track hit #1 in 16 territories including the UK where it ranked as the top single of 1992. Critically, Houston’s version ‘I Will Always Love You’ largely outperformed the original, receiving several accolades including 2 Grammy Awards for ‘Record of the Year’ and ‘Best Female Pop Vocal Performance’.
What a voice! Whitney was a star before this song but, as she said during her Oprah interview, ‘I Will Always Love You’ made her a global phenomenon. To this day, young singers try their hands at this track attempting to emulate her every inflection; trying to capture the magic of her wondrous instrument. It’s hard to believe how much her voice was changed (for obvious reasons) over the years. However, all anyone has to do is listen to this track to remember why she was once one of the greatest voices of our time.