It's weekend, and one of things I love doing is listening to music. I had my YouTube Music app on, and play the songs I had sorted from each decade. I was a '90s kid, and I love listening to the old music I had grown up to. I don't really buy CDs or cassette tapes, and I casually listen to FM radio. Back then, we have blank tapes which we use to copy the songs being played on FM radio stations. Oh yeah! That's how we struggle to listen to have our own copy of songs. Being too young that time, I couldn't afford to buy albums of different artists. Blank tapes are cheap, and we can save songs from different artists.

I love listening to the most popular songs, and the music charts in radio stations. Of course, I am a big fan of MTV and its rival music channel, Channel V. Thus, I am familiar of the biggest hits in our country, and in Southeast Asian region.

Talking about the 1990s music, that's the decade when album sales are soaring. So many artists has sold 20 million copies with just an album. Music videos are on its peak, and TRL was born in this decade too. So who are the artists who has defined the decade, and are the most successful ones? This list is my handpick of artists who I think has dominated the music charts and sales, and in random order.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey debuted in 1990 via her hit debut single "Vision of Love", and her self-titled album became a Billboard number 1 seller. Her first five singles went to number 1 of Billboard Hot 100, and a total of 15 number ones throughout the decade. Such achievement brought her among those with most number 1 hits.

Her debut success may have been limited to United States, Asia, and other countries, but she became a global superstar through her third studio album "Music Box" which featured her first, and one of her only three, UK number 1 "Without You" (You might remember Ken Lee, Lol!). Carey was also awarded by Billboard as the Artist of the Millenium and Artist of the Decade. Her collaboration with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day", is the longest number 1 in the US for more than two decades.

Michael Jackson

For sure, 1980s is the peak of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. However, it can't be denied he had hits during the 1990s including the chart-toppers "You Are Not Alone" and "Black or White". He had released only two studio albums, "Dangerous" and "HIStory", during the 1990s but both records has crossed 20 million in sales, while the latter at over 30 million. His remix album "Blood on the Dance Floor - HIStory in the Mix" was the biggest selling remix album in history.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston became one of the top artists of 1980s, and it was extended until the 1990s. She released only two studio albums during the decade: "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "My Love is Your Love". Her success during the decade was brought by her performance and contributions to the soundtrack of her movies: "The Bodyguard", "Waiting to Exhale", and "The Preacher's Wife". Her version of "I Will Always Love You" is among the most successful singles of all time.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson had initial success during the second half of the 1980s, and it went on until the 1990s. She released two studio albums during the decade, and a compilation record. Her album "janet" was very successful during the decade when it reached number in several countries. Only during the decade, she scored six number 1 hits in Billboard Hot 100 including her staples "That's the Way Love Goes" and "Together Again", and a total of 16 top 10 singles.

Nirvana

Nirvana was phenomenal and very successful during their time, which their fame was shortened by the death of Kurt Cobain. Their second album "Nevermind" was highly successful with estimated 30 million sales. The subsquent album "In Utero" sold lower but the sales estimate of 15 million is still pretty successful. The posthumous release "MTV Unplugged" was among the biggest selling live albums, and was certified 8x platinum in America. Nirvana's success might be short-lived, but their sales are overwhelming during the decade.

Celine Dion

Celine Dion is already a star but she became shinier when "The Colour of My Love" became a global success with sales probably around 20 million. Her succeeding albums "Falling Into You" and "Let's Talk About Love" brought her among the biggest artists of all time with sales exceeding 30 million copies each. The latter was fueled by her hit "My Heart Will Go On" from the blockbuster movie "Titanic". She released the holiday album "These Are the Special Times", which became a big seller too.

Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks' success may have been limited internationally but it's unfair to disregard his success in United States. Brooks has scored ten Billboard number 1 albums, the most during the decade, and 7 of those albums went Diamond platinum. In fact, he sold more records than any other 1990s global superstars.

Spice Girls

Spice Girls is one of those who defined the 1990s. Their bubblegum pop sound and style has re-shaped pop music, and paved the way for upcoming pop stars. Their fame was also compared to Beatlemania of the Beatles, thus the Spicemania became a thing. Their success with complete members may have been short-lived, around only two years but they scored eight UK number 1 singles from 1996 to 1998. Their albums "Spice" and Spiceworld" are big sellers too.

Backstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys' US success may have been delayed despite their international fame, the lads paved the way for more boybands to exist during the second half of 1990s. They had already sold millions of records, but their 1999 album "Millennium" made them bigger stars with millions sold in just a week. Their song "I Want It That Way" became one of the memorable songs of 1999 too.

Oasis

Oasis is one of the biggest UK acts especially in 1990s when their second album "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" eventually became one of the biggest selling albums of all time in United Kingdom. Their other two albums "Definitely Maybe" and "Be Here Now" were number 1 sellers and went multiplatinum. Their song "Wonderwall" is one of the top hits of the decade too.