The Best Songs of the 90s, As Voted by You

The 90s wasn’t that long ago, can you remember the hit songs of that time? Allow me to refresh your memories with some of the best songs of the 90s.

It seems I have an itch for the 90s, first it was the ups and downs of fashion, and now it’s the music. Does anyone remember cranking the radio and dancing around in their rooms, that you probably shared with a sibling. Those days were so simple and the music made it perfect, well, as perfect as we allowed it be.

Instead of boring you guys by repeating the official 90s top 20 countdown, I wanted to show you the songs most frequently searched for and listened to. I do believe this will be insightful.

20. No Rain – Blind Melon

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This song graced us in 1992, it was the band’s second single from their debut album; you have to say that’s impressive. It’s actually considered one of the biggest alternative rock songs to come out of the 90’s. No wonder, since this song helped propel the band to a multi-platinum level.

Not only is the song famous, but so is its music video. It featured the first appearance of the bee girl doing her tap dance routine. She was such a hit that she performed this dance live at the 1993 MTV Video Awards. She also went on to star in Weird Al’s bedrock anthem song.

No Rain has also made it into pop culture, making an appearance on such shows as The O.C, used in the movie trailer of Sideways, and John Craigie covered the song on his album, Leave the Fire Behind.

19. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers

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Under the Bridge was released as part of their album in 1992. The song was written by the lead vocalist, Anthony Kiedis, and it conveyed his feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. It also looked at how heroin and cocaine had impacted his life. At first, he thought that the song wouldn’t fit in with the bands image, but when he was finally convinced to show them the song, they loved it and it went ahead.

This was a good call from the band, since it managed to make it all the way up to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also made it to platinum. Not only that, the song went on to win the Viewer’s Choice Awards and the MTV Music Video Awards.

Due to all of its success, the song managed to thrust the band into mainstream music. That’s heaps of success from a song that was never going to make it.

18. Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)- C+C Music Factory

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This upbeat song appeared in 1990, it was released as the lead single in the Gonna Make You Sweat album. This song was part of the 90s techno movement, and took the world by storm. The song went international and made it all the way to number one in Austria, Germany, America, and Switzerland. It also made it in the top ten in 19 other countries. Talk about being an over achiever.

The song was so popular that MTV played it on rotation so frequently that it ended up a 90’s cliché. This naturally means this song has continuously popped in and out of pop culture. You can hear the song in The Fresh Prince of Bel-air, Madagascar 3, Sister Act, Chicken Little….as you can imagine this is an unending list and we still have 17 more songs to go.

17. Semi-Charmed Life – Third Blind Eye

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Semi-Charmed Life was released in 1997 and managed to get up to number 4 in America. The lead singer of the band claimed the song was a response to Lou reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side,” but the San Francisco version of it. Despite the upbeat tempo of the song and the rapid singing, the song is actually about a person’s struggle with using crystal meth. Heavy.

Funnily enough, even with such a dark message, the song still went main stream. It even appeared in Alvin and the chipmunks.

16. That’s the Way Love Goes- Janet Jackson

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This hit graced us in 1993 and was a massive success that earned her a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. What an achievement, and it was the very first song she released under her new 32 million dollar contract with Virgin Records, this was part of her fifth album. With this song, she transitioned into a sensual singer.

There was also some controversy, as some critics argued that she didn’t sing the song as it didn’t sound like her. In actuality her voice was manipulated to sound more masculine, so take that critics.

 

15. Mo Money Mo Problems – The Notorious B.I.G

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Now, I know we’ve all heard this song; it’s pretty much appeared everywhere. This classic appeared as the first single on his album “Life After Death,” in 1997. The song managed to top the Billboard Top 100…for two weeks. This song was huge, and no wonder, since we still hear it every once in a while, 18 years later. What a legacy. Sadly enough, B.I.G died before the song made it to the top, we’ll just have to enjoy it for him.

14. Good Vibrations- Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

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Have you guys noticed how: 1. These bands have really long names and 2. How these names make no sense what so ever. This song is an absolute classic, we’ve pretty much heard this song everywhere. It has appeared endlessly in so many movies and trailers.

Here’s a fun fact for you, well, it might not actually be a fun fact for you, but this was news to me, apparently Marky Mark is actually Mark Wahlberg. Mark freaking Wahlberg. No way! Either this is information that doesn’t really make the rounds or I live under a rock. This song made its debut in 1991 as the first single on the album “Music for the People,” and it also made it to number 1 in America.

13. I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred

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I’m having flashbacks about being back in school and making up my own lyrics. This song was actually the debut song of Right Said Fred, and I get the impression this countdown has many a skilled band.

The song was released in 1991 and made it to number 2 in England and number 1 in America. This song also happens to feature in Alvin and the Chipmunks. Looks like Alvin and the Chipmunks have a decent repertoire.

12. I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys

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Ah yes, the band I used to swoon over in my pre-teens. With their willowy voices, they waltzed into the number 1 position on the charts in over 25 countries. The song was called the love ballad of the year for 1999, and it’s no wonder, they were nominated for 3 Grammy Awards, song of the year, and record of the year. So, I suppose they had an alright year.

What is absolutely hilarious is that many a critic has attempted to decipher the lyrical meaning of the song, and they have all come to one single conclusion….The song makes absolutely no sense.

11. Good Riddance – Green Day

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I do so love Green day, they just have this edge to their music. Good Riddance was originally written in 1994 but was released in 1997. They really shouldn’t have waited because they ended up selling 2.6 million copies of the single, and even went silver in the United Kingdom. This song isn’t really like the rest of Green Day’s music, as it’s really mellow.

An interesting fact is that the band didn’t know how to structure the recording of the song. They ended up throwing in some strings, which only took half an hour to compose. I wish I only needed half an hour to produce good work.

10. Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus

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Although we all know him as Miley’s dad, he does actually have a life of his own. In 1992 he released a song that was originally titled ‘Don’t Tell My Heart.’ It became his most successful song, and it was so popular that it was the first ever single to achieve triple platinum status in Australia.

It also made it all the way up to number 4 in the Billboard Hot 100, but it topped the country charts and became the first country single to go platinum. Not as impressive as triple platinum, but I guess you can’t have it all. Oh and did I mention it made it onto Alvin and the Chipmunks.

9. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion

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Need I say more? Every time I hear this song I just think of poor Leo clinging to that door….that we all know he could have fit on…just saying. The song was specially written for the Titanic in 1997, and it became an international success reaching number 1 on the charts in Australia, America, the United Kingdom, and so many more other places.

Naturally, it’s classified as one of the biggest love songs of the 90s. It’s funny because this song wasn’t going to be written, it was supposed be just an instrumental piece in the movie, but the producer wanted to have a vocal piece for the credits. James Cameron didn’t want it and Celine Dion didn’t want to record it. Eventually, they gave in and thanked their lucky stars.

8. Groove Is In the Heart – Deee-Lite

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This semi techno song was the first single on the band’s debut album in 1990. It was such a success that it even reached the top of the chart in Australia and England. Although it didn’t make it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, it did make it to the top of the dance charts. This totally makes sense, can’t you just imagine dancing to this tempo.

7. Livin La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin

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SHREK! Come on, this song will forever be immortalized as the theme song to Shrek. An honorable title. Ricky Martin released this song in 1999 and it hit the top of the charts, naturally. This song is accredited for starting the Latin explosion of 1999. The song went on to sell 8 million copies and was recorded as the highest selling single of all time.

The song also went on to win Ricky Male Artist of the Year, Latin Pop Track of the Year, and Best Pop Video. Personally, I knew this song had made it when it appeared in Shrek.

6. You Get What You Give – New Radicals

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This song was so popular that it was played 1 million times on the radio. It went on to make the Billboard Hot 100 and even made it to number one in New Zealand and Canada. This song was pretty thought provoking and there was a lot of controversy surrounding it.

Apparently, Gregg Alexander, the song writer, wrote the song wanting to see if the media would focus on the social issues the song highlights or if they would focus on the petty name calling of celebrities. Naturally, the media focused on the petty name dropping. They will never learn.

5. All that She Wants – Ace of Base

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It was the song that propelled the Swedish band internationally. This hit made it to number one in the charts in multiple countries like Australia, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The song went on to become platinum.

Interestingly enough, the song wasn’t going to be made, the band had sent the tape to a producer, and it had gotten stuck in the cassette player in his car. This forced him to listen to it again and again, which convinced him to run with the song.

4. Smells like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

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Now this song is epic, it was the lead single from their second album in 1991. It has since then been viewed as one of the biggest songs to come out of the 90s. It also helped propel alternative rock to mainstream music and won two MTV Video Awards.

Like a couple of the songs previously mentioned, the song was not going to be put on the album. The lead singer, Kurt Cobain, made the band play the song for an hour and a half, they managed to tweak it to a state were all the band members liked it.

3. Baby One More Time – Britney Spears

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Now, this song truly captures the 90s. The song was on her debut album, and it went on to chart number one in every country it charted. Now that is an amazing feat. It achieved triple platinum in Australia and platinum in America. The song ended up being nominated for three MTV Video Awards, and much like the other songs, it almost wasn’t made.

The demo of the song was sent to Britney’s management team, but they rejected it, Britney herself believed that it would be a hit. Interestingly enough, the song was written for the Backstreet Boys. I can’t imagine them in a schoolgirl’s outfit.

2. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

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Truly an elegant song that really deserved its success. Although the song was originally written in the 70’s by Dolly Parton, Whitney recorded a cover of this song for her movie The Bodyguard in 1992. Naturally, you all know where this is going, the song became one of the bestselling singles of all time…of course it did, it’s awesome.

The song won Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance; it also made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top of the Hot R&B Singles chart. This song is just oozing with success.

1. Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer

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This single is considered one of the most successful singles to date, coming of his 1990 album “Please Hammer, don’t Hurt Them.” The song arguably helped the album sell 18 million copies and went on to acquire a multi-platinum certification.

The song won best R&B song, best Rap Solo, and an MTV music award. Also guess what…It was featured on Alvin and the Chipmunks, so you know that the success of this song is legitimate.

There you go folks; these are the 20 best songs of the 90s, as voted by you. I know I personally enjoyed this jog down memory lane, did you? Which one do you think should have made number 1? Did I miss your favorite song? Let me know in the comments below.

About the author

G

I love to read and follow up on social justice issues. In my spare time I like to sew and make jewelry while watching crime shows. I would have to say at heart I'm a free spirit with a sense of adventure.

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