90s & 00s Billboard #1s – Who Sang It?

[B] The Police | Sting penned this stalker anthem after his divorce. Despite its creepy lyrics, couples worldwide chose it as their wedding song throughout the 1980s.

[C] Billy Joel | Billy's cynical response to music critics became his first #1 hit. He proved piano rock could mock trends while simultaneously topping them.

[D] The Beatles | Written on a piano in Jane Asher's basement, this simple tune triggered Beatlemania. It held America's #1 spot for seven consecutive weeks.

[D] Madonna | Producer Nile Rodgers initially thought this song was terrible. Madonna's controversial VMAs performance in a wedding dress made it culturally immortal instead.

[B] Whitney Houston | Her 1985 ballad about forbidden love became her first U.S. #1 hit and opened a seven-single streak at the top of the Hot 100.

[A] TLC | This 1994 hit tackled self-worth with Left Eye's fierce rap verses. The trio sold 75 million records worldwide, becoming R&B's best-selling American girl group ever.

[D] U2 | The Edge's infinite guitar delay created atmospheric rock's blueprint. Bono wrote about spiritual struggle, but millions heard the perfect breakup song instead.

[A] Guns N' Roses | Slash's warm-up exercise became rock's most recognizable riff. Axl Rose wrote the lyrics about his girlfriend Erin Everly in just five minutes.

[C] Ricky Martin | This explosive single sold 8 million copies and introduced mainstream America to Latin pop. Martin's hip swivels at the 1999 Grammys became legendary.

[A] Kanye West | Kanye built this around a Ray Charles sample, proving soul music could fuel modern hip-hop. Jamie Foxx's hook made prenups suddenly seem romantic.

[B] Dire Straits | Mark Knopfler wrote these lyrics verbatim from a delivery man's MTV complaints. Sting's background vocals earned him songwriting credit without trying.

[D] Destiny's Child | This financial independence anthem showcased Beyoncé's emerging leadership. The group's synchronized chair choreography in the video revolutionized how girl groups moved on screen.

[B] The Doors | Robby Krieger wrote this at 19 years old. Jim Morrison's sensual delivery and Manzarek's carnival organ created psychedelic rock's definitive seven-minute journey.

[C] Eminem | Written during "8 Mile" lunch breaks, this became hip-hop's first Oscar winner. Eminem recorded it in one take while actually wearing a hoodie.

[A] The Rolling Stones | Keith Richards dreamed the riff in a Florida hotel room. His fuzz box guitar sound accidentally invented garage rock while complaining about commercialism.

[B] Usher | Jermaine Dupri crafted this slow jam when Usher was just 18. Its mature sound helped teenage Usher transition into R&B's smoothest leading man.

[A] Mariah Carey | Her five-octave range debut stunned the industry. This song introduced the whistle register to pop music, forever changing vocal performance standards worldwide.

[D] Van Halen | Eddie's synthesizer experiment horrified guitar purists. This keyboard-driven anthem became Van Halen's only #1 hit, proving versatility beats tradition every time.

[B] Beyoncé | Her 2003 debut solo single spent eight weeks at #1, proving she could dominate the Hot 100 far beyond Destiny's Child.

[B] Nelly | Sampling Chuck Brown's go-go classic, Nelly created 2002's steamiest anthem. His strategic misspelling of "here" became instant slang across American high schools.

[D] Bon Jovi | Desmond Child's co-writing magic helped create this arena anthem. Jon's "shot through the heart" opening became rock's most theatrical concert moment.

[B] Michael Jackson | Fourteen-year-old Michael sang this Oscar-nominated ballad to a rat. Somehow his sincerity made America's #1 single about a rodent feel completely normal.

[D] Nelly Furtado | This flirty duet marked Furtado's transformation from folk singer to club queen. Timbaland's production helped her album "Loose" sell 12 million copies globally.

[C] Britney Spears | Originally offered to TLC, this Max Martin masterpiece launched teen pop's golden age. Britney suggested the school uniform concept that defined Y2K fashion.

[A] Adele | This stormy lead single from 21 became her first U.S. #1, turning a breakup anthem into the global sound of 2011.

[B] Prince | The lead single from Purple Rain was his first Hot 100 #1, a bass-free psych-pop experiment that ruled the summer of 1984.

[C] Ace of Base | Swedish pop perfection topped charts in 23 countries. Their reggae-influenced Europop formula inspired every Scandinavian act from ABBA to Robyn.

[B] Bruno Mars | His debut solo single shot to #1 on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, turning a simple love song into a digital-era juggernaut.

[A] Hanson | These teenage brothers wrote about life's fleeting moments while audiences heard pure bubblegum. The song reached #1 in 27 countries during spring 1997.

[B] Justin Timberlake | Recorded in just two hours, this Timbaland collaboration topped charts in 16 countries. JT's falsetto and futuristic beats redefined pop masculinity in 2006.