List of number-one singles of 1990 (Canada)


RPM was a Canadian magazine that published the best-performing singles of Canada from 1964 to 2000. 1990 saw 21 songs reach the number-one spot in Canada. Phil Collins achieved the first number one of the year, "Another Day in Paradise", while Wilson Phillips stayed at number one into 1991 with "Impulsive". Nine different acts reached number one for the first time in 1990: The Wild Pair, Janet Jackson, Sinéad O'Connor, New Kids on the Block, Taylor Dayne, Mariah Carey, Wilson Phillips, Jon Bon Jovi without his band, and Alias—the only Canadian artist to reach number one during the year.
English singer Phil Collins was the most successful musician of 1990 in Canada, peaking at number one with four singles between January and October: "Another Day in Paradise", "I Wish It Would Rain Down", "Do You Remember?", and "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"—all from his fourth album, ...But Seriously. "I Wish It Would Rain Down" remained at number one for six weeks in early spring, finishing 1990 as Canada's most successful single. Altogether, Collins spent 14 weeks at number one during the year, comprising more than a quarter of the calendar year.
Wilson Phillips was the only other act to reach number one with more than one song, rising to the top position with "Release Me" in September and "Impulsive" in December, totalling three weeks at number one. In May and June, Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor climbed to number one with "Nothing Compares 2 U" for five weeks while Mariah Carey and Alias stayed at number one for four weeks with "Vision of Love" and "More Than Words Can Say", respectively. Rod Stewart topped the chart for three weeks with "Downtown Train", as did Madonna with "Vogue".
Indicates best-performing single of 1990

Chart history

Issue dateSongArtistReference
6 January"Another Day in Paradise"Phil Collins
13 January"Another Day in Paradise"Phil Collins
20 January"Another Day in Paradise"Phil Collins
27 January"Another Day in Paradise"Phil Collins
3 February"Another Day in Paradise"Phil Collins
10 February"Downtown Train"Rod Stewart
17 February"Downtown Train"Rod Stewart
24 February"Downtown Train"Rod Stewart
3 March"Opposites Attract"Paula Abdul and The Wild Pair
10 March"Opposites Attract"Paula Abdul and The Wild Pair
17 March"Escapade"Janet Jackson
24 March"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil Collins
31 March"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil Collins
7 April"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil Collins
14 April"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil Collins
21 April"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil Collins
28 April"I Wish It Would Rain Down"Phil Collins
5 May"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor
12 May"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor
19 May"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor
26 May"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor
2 June"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor
9 June"All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You"Heart
16 June"Vogue"Madonna
23 June"Vogue"Madonna
30 June"Vogue"Madonna
7 July"It Must Have Been Love"Roxette
14 July"Do You Remember?"Phil Collins
21 July"Step by Step"New Kids on the Block
28 July"Step by Step"New Kids on the Block
4 August"I'll Be Your Shelter"Taylor Dayne
11 August"Across the River"Bruce Hornsby and the Range
18 August"Across the River"Bruce Hornsby and the Range
25 August"Vision of Love"Mariah Carey
1 September"Vision of Love"Mariah Carey
8 September"Vision of Love"Mariah Carey
15 September"Vision of Love"Mariah Carey
22 September"Release Me"Wilson Phillips
29 September"Blaze of Glory"Jon Bon Jovi
6 October"Blaze of Glory"Jon Bon Jovi
13 October"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"Phil Collins
20 October"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"Phil Collins
27 October"Praying for Time"George Michael
3 November"Praying for Time"George Michael
10 November"Suicide Blonde"INXS
17 November"Suicide Blonde"INXS
24 November"More Than Words Can Say"Alias
1 December"More Than Words Can Say"Alias
8 December"More Than Words Can Say"Alias
15 December"More Than Words Can Say"Alias
22 December"Impulsive"Wilson Phillips
29 December"Impulsive"Wilson Phillips