Remember when you could turn on the radio and actually find some decent music? That is what I miss the most about the 90s. Whether you liked rock, pop, or rap, the ’90s provided your fix for your particular tastes. Although my tastes tend to lean towards the post-grunge music I grew up on, there was no denying some of the great songs that came out of the decade.
I thought it was time to switch it up and bring to you a new kind of article. Within in the next few weeks I am going to present to you my favorite 90s songs separated by genres. I thought I would start off with pop since its pretty general, and well, popular. I will get to strictly rock and rap and many other sub-genres in the future. Feel free to offer your suggestions.
How it works:
For each genre of music I will rank the top 5 singles from each year in the 90s. I will provide a link for each song (either imeem or youtube, depending on availability) for your listening pleasure.
Disclaimer: These rankings are based on my personal preferences, not on actual popularity. I think of these lists as recommendations. Hopefully these songs will bring back some good memories, and if you have never heard them before, maybe create some new ones.
Interested in ’90s Rap and Rock as well? Be sure to check out these lists as well.
90s Rap Music
90s Rock Music
Let’s start with a year I am very familiar with 1999:
1. “Steal My Sunshine” by LEN
2. “Genie In A Bottle” by Christina Aguilera
3. “Bring It All To Me” by Blaque
4. “I Knew I Loved You” by Savage Garden
5. “If You Had My Love” by Jennifer Lopez
1998:
1. “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo
2. “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” by Will Smith
3. “That Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain
4. “I Want You Back” by NSYNC
5. “I Don’t Wanna To Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith
1997:
1. “Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G
2. “I’ll Be Missing You” by P. Diddy, Faith Evans, 112
3. “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden
4. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
5. “As Long As You Love Me” by Backstreet Boys
1996:
1. “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey
2. “Pony” by Ginuwine
3. “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion
4. “Macarena” by Los Del Rio
5. “Killing Me Softly” by The Fugees
1995:
1. “You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson
2. “I Know” by Dionne Farris
3. “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan
4. “Beautiful Life” by Ace of Base
5. “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey
1994:
1. “I Swear” by All-4-One
2. “Another Night” by The Real McCoy
3. “Don’t Turn Around” by Ace of Base
4. “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex
5. “Waterfalls” by TLC
1993:
1. “Weak” by SWV
2. “What Is Love” by Haddaway
3. “Fields of Gold” by Sting
4. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
5. “Linger” by The Cranberries
1992:
1. “Rhythm Is A Dancer” by Snap
2. “Walking On Broken Glass” by Annie Lennox
3. “To Be With You” by Mr. Big
4. “Save The Best For Last” by Vanessa Williams
5. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
1991:
1. “Walking In Memphis” by Marc Cohen
2. “I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams
3. “Baby, Baby” by Amy Grant
4. “When A Man Loves A Woman” by Michael Bolton
5. “Unbelievable” by EMF
1990:
1. “Everybody Dance Now” – C & C Music Factory
2. “Love Shack” – B52’s
3. “We Didn’t Start The Fire” – Billy Joel
4. “Pump Up The Jam” – Technotronic
5. “It Must Of Been Love” – Roxette
Some might look at the list and think, really? Is that the best the 90s had to offer? I, on the other hand, look at this collection of music, and see memories. While I made it a point to disqualify anything that resembled rock and rap, and it still has some really good songs. At the very least I hope you found at least one good song in this giant list that you forgot about.
Agree? Disagree? Feel free to share your opinion by making a comment below.
this is a good start.. i don’t know if these are the best, but if you ask me, I don’t think I could ever come up with just 5. There are too many of them.
Lots of Cheeze on these lists … how about some Kool Kutting Edge Kutz?
wot about vanilla ice – ice ice baby
Yeah!!! What about Vanilla Ice? He was so fine back then and good beat to his music!!!
how about Far Behind by Candlebox amazing stuff
Don’t get me wrong this list is pretty good but….What about Spice girls and Backstreet boys… As I re-call they were Most popular
the hell ! u didn’t include Britney Spears’ Baby One More time. It was one of the best !
wow grew up in the 90s and almost forgot and the kick ass songs we had back then.. but yeah brittany spears was big and so was the spice girls and backstreet boy..
I Would have put Mariah Carey’s collaboration with Whitney Houston (“When You Believe”). Some others: “The Postman Song” (Stevie B), “Rush Rush” (Paula Abdul), “Don’t Speak” (No Doubt), “Semi-Charmed Life” (Third Eye Blind), “Un-Break My Heart” (Toni Braxton), and “Exhale” (Whitney Houston)…Those were all major pop songs.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!!!!!!!!
Agreed with “Don’t Speak” (No Doubt), “Semi-Charmed Life” (Third Eye Blind), and “Hey Jealousy” (Gin Blossoms)
Not too bad. My number one concern is–where are the bleesed Gin Blossoms?! You can’t leave Hey Jealousy off the ‘93 list. Also, I would put “All I Want” by Toad the Wet Sprocket on ‘91.
I’ll give you props for just making the list, but I’d really say that you’d have to really give a dedication of at least 20 songs to each year to even come CLOSE to … tapping the hits that WERE the 90’s…I mean these days all we have are the synthesized, hype-y, sell-out crap…I mean there are SOME good songs these days, but it’s nothing like what came out of the 90’s…
But valiant effort nonetheless
WOW this is a terrible list. Most of these songs are terrible and I hated them in the 90’s. Where is Nirvana? Spice Girls? Jewel? Tori Amos?
You obviously didn’t get the 90’s at all. What the hell about Alanis Morisette, Sarah McLachlan and Merideth Brooks?
You skipped over all the actually good songs . . Will smith?
i was just searching for these songs… thnx a bunch..
no Grunge/Alternative rock?
Hello ummm how about Mmm Bop(idk what year but like mid-late 1990s-maybe ‘96 or ‘97 possibly?!) by the extraordinary boy-band Hanson??!! And what about All For You by Sister Hazel (from 1997)??? good start though, i love looking back at this and remembering songs that I grew up listening to (I was born in 1992).
these songs arn’t the best, but there good.
atleast you didn’t leave nirvana off the list…oh wait
if so many of you don’t like the list that he made, then why don’t you make your own. at least he has one. plus everyone is different, he said that this was his opinion.
Nirvana was overrated anyways. They only had one good song, and no great ones. Pearl Jam is by far better than they were.
you def. need to add all around the world by ATC everybody listened to that song ADD IT!!!
this list is jacked up!!!!????!!u really dont know music do u!!???!
Some songs on this list are ok but the rest are wack u need get up on your 90’s music becuase there were songs that came out that were waaaaaayyy..better than some of those songs
Great list – comprehensive and reflective of your taste. I don’t understand the bashers on here who are forgetting that it is an opinion blog and criticize with poor spelling.
Check out this quiz all you fans –
http://zone.msn.com/en/celebtrivia/90smusic_default.htm?gt1=29000
-World Series-
OK seriously there are good songs that spark many memories! A great list indeed..thanks for your opinon..and I agree with a previous comment Get off this guys back its his list, his opinion, of how the 90s songs…so if you all have a problem just go make your own list:-)
guys i am trying to find this group Dont turn your back yeah baby yeah i miss you i want you i need you so dont turn your backyeah baby theres a feeling inside i want you to know that i cant let you goo . who sang that song i think it was in the 90’s please tell me
Roy, the band you’re looking for is BBMak. The song is called “Back Here.” One of my favorites.
Here I am
So alone
And there’s nothing in this world I can do
Until you’re back here baby
I miss you, I want you, I need you so
Until you’re back here baby, yeah
There’s a feeling inside I want you to know
You are the one
And I can’t let you go
Hanson – mmmbop, no way that can’t be on the list
Deff. don’t forget Sugar Ray and Third Eye Blind. & Sublime.
yep
There are some really good songs that aren’t on here but this is your list of songs that you liked and a few on here that I forgot about and enjoyed back in the day thanks!
Does anyone know the name of a song Pump It! (Nice & Hard) Sounds dirty but the song is about a girl who’s at a club and ends up with a “Nerd” whom she thinks cant dance and he floors her with his moves. Ummm I am trying to think of the lyrics. He name or band use to have Blue?? She was a blonde girl…. I cant remember the song damn it!
Song begins with: Pump It , Pump It, Get up on this, pump it pump it!
He said his name was merver, merve was a nerd but I said what the heck!
Anyone, clues, Ideas would be great!
hey i’m not trying to be mean or anything but u guys are being aholes to this poor guy if you would’ve read it correctly these were his memories and i think most of these songs are ok and if your gonna be mean about then don’t get on here ……….whoever made this “rock” and ignore mean people because “MEAN PEOPLE ARE MEAN”
{ on (Shelly’s) Anna Farris bumper sticker from “The House Bunny”}
Wheres the Chuka Deemus and Pliers????
Not a bad list reminded me of a couple of songs back in the day that im off to d/l now lol