Throwback Thursday: Ace Of Base find chart-topping success with 'The Sign'

Week of 3/6/14

Who: Ace Of Base

What: "The Sign"

When: Dec. 21, 1993 (released), March 6, 1994 (No. 1)

Some songs just wiggle their way into the world of pop culture, never to look back or apologize for what they are. Ace Of Base's most popular song, "The Sign" just so happens to be one of those tunes. This week, it's celebrating 20 years since it rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the track still remains a big part of American popular culture.

Released in late 1993 by the Swedish pop band Ace Of Base, "The Sign" was an immediate earworm. With that funky beat right from the start that is just so disturbingly and inescapably '90s, it's hard to not move in your seat the second it comes on the radio. Then, there's the infectiously upbeat singing... seriously, this is one of music's most sunshine-y songs.

And it led to massive success. As "The Sign" led the American album of the same name, the record went on to peak at No. 1 in 14 countries, including the US and the UK. "The Sign" then rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 6, 1994, and stayed there for six non-consecutive weeks (broken up by R. Kelly's "Bump N' Grind"). It then went on to be the best performing song of that year.

Though it's been 20 years since the peak of Ace Of Base and "The Sign," the song remains a pop culture mainstay, most recently being featured in the hyper-popular show choir film Pitch Perfect.

Ace Of Base have also influenced some of pop's biggest names. Yeah, if there was no "The Sign," there probably wouldn't be a Lady Gaga or Katy Perry.

So, be thankful, put this track on and dance around. It will open up your eyes!

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Throwback Thursday