Although her style is often thought of as overly earnest, Etheridge can also be gut-wrenching. "Come to My Window" conjures up a powerful picture of romantic angst and erotic tension, accompanied by the artist's straightforward guitar-playing and raspy vocals. It's difficult to remember now the image of Sinead O'Connor prior to the controversial television appearances that nearly brought down her career, but few pop performers have put together more powerful, heart-stopping performances than this. The song itself, written by Prince, is outstanding, but Sinead's emotional, gutsy performance made it a classic. Painful loss meets stunning vocal beauty with a perfectly understated instrumental arrangement. Joanna Lumley and her husband Stephen Barlow invite you into their home for a fascinating, funny journey into their shared love of music. Sugar Ray's feel-good vibe is one of the pure pleasures of '90s pop music. This tale about a girlfriend who "has a halo hanging from the corner" of her four-poster bed is instantly recognizable and memorable.

Music from around the world, too, was becoming more popular in America. Jamaican dub and reggae were prevalent in ska and punk music, and Afropop found its way into a variety of genres. Electronic music hit the mainstream with force, as both underground and mainstream acts helped define the dance culture we now see at festivals worldwide. Jazz saw an experimental renaissance after a tough decade, and Latin music started its long ascent to becoming pop music in the United States. The 1990s represented a grab bag of unimaginable wealth for music fans. Here are just a few starting places for you to explore the decade. Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia" was the first big-budget, mainstream motion picture to deal directly with the AIDS epidemic, and "Streets of Philadelphia" is the perfect theme for it. With it, Springsteen creates an atmosphere of darkness and loneliness that still manages to maintain a sense of dignity. The song won a much-deserved Academy Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture. Bauer Media Group consists of : Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited, Company number: 1394141 The brothers Gallagher—Liam and Noel—and their band, Oasis, helped usher in a new period of glory for British guitar pop, at least in the U.K. This is one of their few breakthrough American hits. It is gorgeous and irresistibly prods you into singing along.To mark National Album Day, Steve Wright reveals the top 40 most-streamed albums released in the UK in the 1990s.

The '90s witnessed the deaths of super celebrities Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy Jr. and the impeachment of Bill Clinton, which did not result in a conviction. In 1995, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of the double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman in what's been called the trial of the century. The humorous approach of Presidents of the United States of America stands out amid the onslaught of Seattle bands riding the wave of the grunge revolution. "Lump" straddles the line between punk and bubblegum pop, and the result is one of the most insanely catchy songs of the decade. The 1990s were a relatively peaceful time of prosperity. For most of the 1990s, Bill Clinton was president, the first baby boomer to live in the White House as the commander-in-chief. The Berlin Wall, the prime symbol of the Cold War, fell in November 1989, and Germany was reunited in 1990 after 45 years of separation. The Cold War officially ended with the fall of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day 1991, and it seemed as if a new era had dawned. With the occasional special guest, join the pair as they discover what it really takes to stay relevant in the public eye today.The voice of Counting Crows' lead vocalist, Adam Duritz, is a magnificent instrument. "Mr. Jones" introduced music fans to the singer's amazing ability to tell a story within the context of a song. Try to sing along, and after you finish gasping for breath, you'll realize just how phenomenal this performance is. Like the deserts miss the rain..." Remixed in countless ways over the years, there has never been a more powerful expression of emotional and sexual longing in pop music than that at the core of "Missing." In a year marked by wistfulness and longing in pop songs, this is the peak.

The R&B trio TLC electrified the pop music world with their phenomenal album "Crazysexycool," released in 1994. Then it was a five-year wait for the next installment. Fortunately, "Fan Mail" was nearly as good as its predecessor. "No Scrubs," the leadoff single, is pitch-and-picture-perfect late '90s R&B. This remains one of the best-ever autobiographical songs by a pop recording artist. "Motownphilly" details the group's discovery by Michael Bivins, of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe fame, and their first taste of stardom. The a cappella break is simply gorgeous.In a dance-happy pop environment, this trio swept in with a classic that still sounds half-retro, half-contemporary, and completely groovy. "Groove Is in the Heart" effortlessly glides across genres from hip-hop to house and funk. Guest musicians—including Bootsy Collins, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, and A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip—boost the party atmosphere. This was the song of summer 1990. This heartbreaking song about the end of a longtime love affair is somewhat of a stylistic anomaly given the rest of No Doubt's ska- and punk-influenced work. Still, it served to make the group's lead vocalist, Gwen Stefani, a bona fide star. The song's irresistible pop hooks kept it on the chart for most of the year.

The theme this year is 90s albums. Radio 2 is celebrating with music and tailored content across the day to reflect the decade. Amy Grant spent the 1980s as one of the most successful of the Christian pop singers, but not until 1991 did she enjoy a major crossover into the pop mainstream. "Baby Baby" is a delightful celebration of love between life partners. R.E.M.'s album "Automatic for the People" is one of the top artistic achievements of '90s pop music, and "Man on the Moon" is one of the most memorable and beautiful songs from that album. It is both a moving tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman and a thoughtful meditation on the power of popular culture. EMF rode the British invasion wave that broke on U.S. shores in the wake of the popularity of the Manchester dance scene. "Unbelievable" mixed intoxicating rhythms, sweet high vocals from lead singer James Atkin, and rousing shouts to storm to the top of the pop charts. This band, led by Bob Dylan's son Jakob, spent over a year on the pop singles chart with this quiet masterpiece. Jakob Dylan's vocals have an alluring world-weariness that at times are a dead ringer for Tom Petty's voice.By the time the '90s headed toa close, it had been eight years since Whitney Houston had put out a studio album. Music industry legend Clive Davis convinced her to record a new set of songs, and the resulting album, "My Love Is Your Love," includes some of her best work. "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" is a hard-hitting anthem for women on the way out of relationships that sounds great on the radio and on the dance floor. Joanna is the enthusiastic amateur - asking the questions she’s always wanted to ask - and Stephen is The Maestro, providing the answers. Who was better: Mozart or Beethoven? Why do certain pieces of music make us feel a certain way? What do conductors actually do? They also discuss the great composers and symphonies, and the often-remarkable stories behind them, all delivered in Joanna and Stephen’s unique, engaging and affectionate way.