1992 Power Ballad Became One of the Last Hair Metal Songs to Hit No. 1
During the late '80s and early '90s, hair metal ruled rock radio and sold millions of albums. Then, that shifted after one popular power ballad became one of the final songs from the genre to top the charts. That acoustic hit, Mr. Big's 'To Be with You,' reached No. 1 in 1992 and remains one of the era's iconic tracks.
Mr. Big’s ‘To Be with You’ Became the Final Hair Metal Song To Top the Billboard Hot 100
Originally released as a single on November 22, 1991, Mr. Big's 'To Be with You' became a breakthrough success and reached the absolute peak of music. As a February 2022 Ultimate Classic Rock article details, the song reached No. 1 on February 29, 1992, and stayed there for three straight weeks. That mammoth success led to the album that the track stemmed from, 'Lean into It,' becoming a hit for the band.
A Stereogum article highlighted that the song's success wasn't just a major moment for Mr. Big. Instead, the article described the track as the last glam metal track to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's peak came around the same time that grunge music went through an explosion in popularity during the early to mid-90s. As such, it has long been believed that grunge killed hair metal.
'To Be with You' Has a Lasting Legacy
Even though 1992 marked the decline of hair metal's chart dominance, Mr. Big's 'To Be with You' has continued to have an impact on listeners. Unlike many other hair metal tracks, the song has a stripped-down feel that highlights acoustic guitar and warm harmonies. That laid-back and beautiful sound has allowed it to appeal to generations of listeners. Its catchy lyrics have also played a key role in it enjoying a lasting legacy, since many fans can't help but sing along from the track's opening line until it ends.
The song is still so fondly remembered that it, the album it appeared on, and the band have been included in lists celebrating the best in music. For example, in April 2025, Ultimate Classic Rock named 'To Be with You' on its list of 20 Classic Guilty Pleasure Songs from the '90s. Similarly, Rolling Stone included Mr. Big's 'Lean into It' on its 2019 ranking of the Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time. Back in 2015, VH1 named Mr. Big as one of the Greatest Glam Bands, and its breakdown of the band's qualifications described 'To Be with You' being so popular that it "swallowed radio whole."
Based on it continuing to be included in lists like those and being a staple of radio stations, it seems like 'To Be with You' will still be enjoyed for many years to come.