- Many great songs were produced in the decade of the ’90s.
- Some are nostalgic and some are still being played years later.
- Many were featured in movies.
- Visit INSIDER’s homepage for more stories.
The ’90s was an epic time for music. Grunge was at its peak, rap and hip hop gained even more commercial and artistic success, and the decade saw countless boy bands and pop stars rise to the top of the charts.
While some artists hit their stride in the ’90s, for others it was just the beginning of a long-lasting career they’ve continued today.
The following 100 songs are some of the best from the decade, chosen by award wins and charts, “best of” playlists, and personal preference, and are in no particular order.
“I Have Nothing” — Whitney Houston
This is one of powerhouse vocalist Whitney Houston’s most well-known songs. It was also one of the singles off of “The Bodyguard” soundtrack, which it was written for.
You can listen to it here.
“I Swear” — All-4-One
This sweet song snagged a Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group in 1994.
Listen to it here.
“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” — Selena Quintanilla
Selena Quintanilla is known as La Reina de Tejano (Queen of Tejano music). Despite her tragically short life, this song will forever stir people’s hips to move.
Listen to it here.
“Tearin’ Up My Heart” — *NSYNC
This song was the second single off the band’s self-titled album. They recently joined Ariana Grande at Coachella to perform the hit.
Listen to it here.
“I Want It That Way” — Backstreet Boys
This song is one of the Backstreet Boys most-iconic songs ever. So iconic even Jake Peralta sang it with some suspects on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
Listen to it here.
“You Oughta Know” — Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette was the epitome of ’90s angst. This song was the lead single from her third album “Jagged Little Pill,” and has since been covered by many great artists likes Beyoncé and Britney Spears.
Listen to it here.
“The Boy Is Mine” — Brandy ft. Monica
Brandy’s and Monica’s voices were a match made in heaven during this song. It was the biggest song of 1998, as reported by the New York Daily News.
Listen to it here.
“…Baby One More Time” — Britney Spears
Straight from Spears’s first album, this song put her on the scene and made her a household name from here on out.
Listen to it here.
“The Power of Love” — Céline Dion
Céline Dion kept busy in the ’90s, and this song is one of the biggest her work in this decade. However, it actually was sung by Jennifer Rush first, and released in Germany in 1984. Dion made it her own in 1993.
Listen to it here.
“Believe” — Cher
Cher has been making hits since the 1970s, and this electronic dance hit proved that she had serious staying power.
Listen to it here.
“Bills, Bills, Bills” — Destiny’s Child
One of the fiercest songs from Destiny’s Child’s collection, this song highlights their harmonies and catchy lyrics. Plus it was nominated for two Grammys – best R&B performance by a duo or group and best R&B song.
Listen to it here.
“Linger” — The Cranberries
“Linger” is an iconic song that really shows off Dolores O’Riordan’s voice. She died in January 2018, but many honored her and this song in her memory.
Listen to it here.
“Como La Flor” — Selena Quintanilla
One of Selena’s last live performances of this song was at the Houston Astrodome and not only did it break records, but it’s also considered one of her best ever.
Listen to it here.
“This Kiss” — Faith Hill
“This Kiss” is a light and airy song that was one of Hill’s most popular. It’s also notably featured in the Sandra Bullock/Nicole Kidman movie “Practical Magic.”
Listen to it here.
“U.N.I.T.Y.” — Queen Latifah
This song not only has an empowering message, but Queen Latifah also spits it out with masterful rhythm. It won a Grammy for best rap solo performance in 1994.
Listen to it here.
“Just a Girl” — No Doubt
“Just a Girl” was just recently featured in a prominent scene in “Captain Marvel.” It’s another song with powerful lyrics and a catchy tune.
Listen to it here.
“Black Hole Sun” — Soundgarden
This song is iconic and noted for being almost excruciatingly sad but totally brilliant. The five-minute hit is arguably the band’s most popular.
Listen to it here.
“No Scrubs” — TLC
“No Scrubs” is one of the group’s best-known songs to this day. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and remained a hit on the chart for several months. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t remember the chorus.
Listen to it here.
“Livin’ La Vida Loca” — Ricky Martin
This iconic song recently turned 20 and marked Martin’s crossover into American pop music. It was seemingly everywhere in 1999 and its popularity carried on into the 2000s.
Listen to it here.
“Wannabe” — Spice Girls
It’s probably the most well-known Spice Girls song, plus, a study showed it is the most recognizable song from the last 60 years.
Listen to it here.
“Torn” — Natalie Imbruglia
Though this song is certainly the most-known version, it’s actually a cover, as Twitter users figured out in 2017. The song was first recorded in 1993 by a Danish singer called Lis Sørensen.
Listen to Imbruglia’s version here.
“Men In Black” — Will Smith
Tied to his movie of the same name, both helped make Will Smith a bonafide movie star.
Listen to it here.
“B—-” — Meredith Brooks
This anthem was screamed by many a person in the ’90s and even actress Emma Stone gave it a go. She sang the song when appearing on the 2004 reality show “In Search of the Partridge Family.”
Listen to it here.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” — Nirvana
Possibly one of the best rock songs of all time, it’s also one of Nirvana’s biggest hits and the first song to launch the group into the national conversation.
Listen to it here.
“Doo Wop (That Thing)” — Ms. Lauryn Hill
The first single off her now-iconic album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” this number is catchy with lyrics that give you a deeper meaning each time that you listen.
Listen to it here.
“Honey” — Mariah Carey
The only thing more beloved than this song is its music video, both of which are a testament to Carey’s star power.
Listen to it here.
“Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” — Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera, like fellow Mouseketeers Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, had a burgeoning pop career in the ’90s. This song is from her debut self-titled album, so it definitely set the scene for her career.
Listen to it here.
“Zombie” — The Cranberries
Another song from The Cranberries makes our list and it’s definitely a bit more haunting, but gorgeous nonetheless.
Listen to it here.
“California Love” — 2Pac, Roger, Dr. Dre
A song that just captures the essence of the golden state, this classic by 2Pac, Roger, and Dr. Dre is a must-have on any ’90s playlist.
Listen to it here.
“Amor Prohibido” — Selena Quintanilla
Another one of Selena’s hits to make our list, the song was also the name of arguably her biggest album.
Listen to the song here.
“My Own Worst Enemy” — Lit
This silly, self-deprecating song is probably best known for its roaring guitar intro and catchy chorus.
Listen to it here.
“There She Goes” — The La’s
It’s no surprise that this dreamy song has been featured in so many films and TV shows including “The Parent Trap,” “Girl, Interrupted,” “So I Married an Axe Murderer,” and “Gilmore Girls.”
Listen to it here.
“Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!” — Vengaboys
This sweet and poppy hit is a total earworm and chances are you still remember it all these years later.
Listen to it here.
“It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” — Céline Dion
This song is epic and dramatic, fitting for Dion’s powerhouse vocals. It tops out at over five minutes long but every second feels new.
Listen to it here.
“This Is How We Do It” — Montell Jordan, Wino
One of the best hip-hop songs of the ’90s, Montell Jordan delivered a classic. It was also nominated for a Grammy for that year, in 1995.
Listen to it here.
“Bittersweet Symphony” — The Verve
This song will likely remind you of the movie, “Cruel Intentions,” which means it has had a seriously lasting impact.
Listen to it here.
“(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You” — *NSYNC
One of the more emotional songs from the boy band’s catalog, this one really showcased the band’s ability to harmonize.
Listen to it here.
“Say It Ain’t So” — Weezer
Dripping in anger and desperation, this song features roaring guitar and emotional lyrics. It was the final single from the band’s 1994 self-titled (Blue) album.
Listen to it here.
“I’ll Make Love To You” — Boyz II Men
Featuring a steamy video and even steamier lyrics, this song was one of the band’s biggest commercial successes, even snagging Boyz II Men a Grammy in 1994.
Listen to it here.
“Every Morning” — Sugar Ray
This song could be written off as a sugary sweet pop hit, but with meaningful lyrics and a catchy chorus, there’s a reason why this hit has stuck around.
Listen to it here.
“Amazed” — Lonestar
This emotional song was one of the band’s biggest commercial successes. It’s definitely a romantic song, even apparently resulting in the engagement – and eventual marriage– of two of its writers, Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey.
Listen to it here.
“If You Had My Love” — Jennifer Lopez
This song launched Lopez’s music career. It was her first single and charted at number one, according to Billboard.
Listen to it here.
“(You Drive Me) Crazy” — Britney Spears
Spears continued to launch her booming career with this song, which also spawned the name change for a movie, starring Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier.
Listen to it here.
“Say My Name” — Destiny’s Child
Another one of the group’s biggest hits, all three women reunited at Coachella in 2018 to perform it again during Beyoncé’s set, much to the delight of fans.
Listen to it here.
“Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” — Backstreet Boys
This song was the first single from the group’s second album. Featuring a spooky intro, it’s one you recognize as soon as you hear it.
Listen to it here.
“Don’t Speak” — No Doubt
A truly heartbreaking song, the lyrics were inspired by Gwen Stefani’s real-life relationship with the band’s bassist Tony Kanal.
Listen to it here.
“Always Be My Baby” — Mariah Carey
One of Carey’s biggest hits, this song, and its catchy backing track, helped to cement her a place in pop history.
Listen to it here.
“Rush Rush” — Paula Abdul
The lead single from her second album, this song was Abdul’s first single ballad and showed off her vocal chops.
Listen to it here.
“I’ll Be Your Everything” — Youngstown
A theme song made specifically for the film “Inspector Gadget,” it’s still considered one of the most popular songs of the decade.
Listen to it here.
“Save The Best For Last” — Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Williams is now a global icon but this song is considered her biggest. A gorgeous ballad, this song has stood the test of time.
Listen to it here.
“Bailamos” — Enrique Iglesias
From another Will Smith movie (“Wild Wild West”), Enrique Iglesias gave fans one of his biggest hits with “Bailamos.”
Listen to it here.
“All The Small Things” — Blink-182
Blink-182 is one of the leading rock bands from this era and this song is one of its most iconic. It’s considered the song that helped to bring pop punk into mainstream culture.
Listen to it here.
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” — The Proclaimers
Included in countless movies and TV shows since, this song not only features a catchy chorus but a killer call-and-response portion.
Listen to it here.
“Hypnotize” — The Notorious B.I.G.
This song is not only often considered The Notorious B.I.G.’s biggest song, but it’s one of the biggest singles of all time.
Listen to it here.
“Mr. Jones” — Counting Crows
This song got so big that many wondered who the mysterious, “Mr. Jones” was. Lead singer Adam Duritz later told HuffPost Live it was actually named for Marty Jones, a bassist and friend of his.
Listen to it here.
“You Were Mine” — Dixie Chicks
The emotional song and its black-and-white video made up one of the band’s biggest early hits.
Listen to it here.
“Kiss Me” — Sixpence None The Richer
Though this song likely reminds you of the film “She’s All That,” you likely also know it because it was a massive commercial success, being played often to this day.
Listen to it here.
“Poison” — Bell Biv DeVoe
This upbeat song was a smashing success for the spin-off group of New Edition and still remains one of the biggest singles of all time.
Listen to it here.
“The Choice Is Yours” — Black Sheep
Brought back to life in 2010 with a Kia Hamster commercial, this song has a rocking beat that you can’t help swaying along to.
Listen to it here.
“When You Believe” — Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey
Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey together just screams instant hit. Not to mention the movie it’s from, “The Prince of Egypt” is a classic in its own right.
Listen to it here.
“Creep” — Radiohead
This song is undoubtedly one of the most iconic of all time, being covered by dozens of artists and unsettling anyone who listens to it.
Listen to it here.
“I Need To Know” — Marc Anthony
Also known for the Spanish version “Dímelo,” Marc Anthony made headway in the English music scene with this song and album in the late ’90s.
Listen to it here.
“Have You Ever” — Brandy
One of Brandy’s biggest songs is a heartbreaking ballad and had Brandy working with fellow superstars David Foster and Diane Warren.
Listen to it here.
“Semi-Charmed Life” — Third Eye Blind
This song screams teenage angst, but has a pop beat, making it ripe for ’90s radio success. It launched the band into total stardom.
Listen to it here.
“Teenage Dirtbag” — Wheatus
Another one of the most covered songs of all time, this angsty song has all the making of a lasting hit that many still love to scream in their cars.
Listen to it here.
“We Like To Party” — Vengaboys
You probably know this song best from the Six Flags commercial with the dancing man, so it’s totally nostalgic for many reasons.
Listen to it here.
“Unpretty” — TLC
This hit song was just one of the band’s hits from the album “FanMail” and has had a lasting message about beauty and imperfection.
Listen to it here.
“Barbie Girl” — Aqua
This pop hit is sugary sweet, totally catchy, and was a huge hit for the Danish-Norwegian group Aqua.
Listen to it here.
“Stay (I Missed You)” — Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories
Loeb had an unlikely success story with this hit song. She wasn’t even signed to a record label when it was featured in the film “Reality Bites” and the rest is history.
Listen to it here.
“My Boo (Hitman’s Club Mix)” — Ghost Town DJs
Brought back in the past couple of years for the Running Man Challenge, this song is a smash.
Listen to it here.
“Buddy Holly” — Weezer
Another song from the band Weezer, this song and its throwback video helped to launch the band to mainstream success. They’ve even been recreating the video while on tour.
Listen to it here.
“Truly Madly Deeply” — Savage Garden
A truly sweet song, written out of homesickness, this love ballad has total staying power and is still played over 20 years later.
Listen to it here.
“Genie In a Bottle” — Christina Aguilera
Aguilera’s debut single was one of her biggest, catapulting her into pop stardom in 1999.
Listen to it here.
“No Diggity” — Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre, Queen Pen
This song won Blackstreet a Grammy in 1997 and also won the group a hit that has staying power more than 20 years later.
Listen to it here.
“If It Makes You Happy” — Sheryl Crow
If you still love this song more than 20 years later, you’re apparently not alone. The song is one of Crow’s biggest and is still played often today.
Listen to it here.
“Hand In My Pocket” — Alanis Morissette
Another hit of Morissette’s album “Jagged Little Pill,” this song is angry yet hopeful and has lyrics to match.
Listen to it here.
“Love Like This” — Faith Evans
The first single off of Evans’s second album, this love song has tons of heart and still holds up today. Plus, it was written by some iconic artists including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Evans herself.
Listen to it here.
“Dreaming Of You” — Selena Quintanilla
Another hit by Selena Quintanilla, this song was also the name of her final studio album. It’s one of her most-beloved songs.
Listen to it here.
“My Name Is” — Eminem
Arguably the biggest song off of his “Slim Shady” LP, this strange song likely launched Eminem’s rap career.
Listen to it here.
“Escapade” — Janet Jackson
A number-one hit from her fourth album, this song also boasted an energetic video that really showed off Jackson’s legendary dance moves.
Listen to it here.
“I Try” — Macy Gray
This debut hit from Gray landed her a Grammy and launched her superstar career.
Listen to it here.
“Shoop” — Salt-N-Pepa
This catchy song, released in 1993, helped make Salt-N-Pepa bonafide stars and marked the beginnings of their artistic freedom.
Listen to it here.
“She’s So High” — Tal Bachman
Another song that gained popularity thanks to a movie, this sweet and romantic song was featured on the soundtrack for the film “Loser” but is one of the songs most iconic to the decade.
Listen to it here.
“I Do” — 98°
This song, which was featured in the movie “Notting Hill,” was actually a cover. The original song was also a hit for country artist Mark Wills.
Listento the 98° version here.
“Come As You Are” — Nirvana
This song has unsettling lyrics and an even more unsettling video but was a smash hit second single for the band.
Listen to it here.
“Two Princes” — Spin Doctors
This song has an infectious beat and catchy lyrics that you can’t help but groove along to. It had such commercial success that people are still dissecting its rise to fame 20 years later.
Listen to it here.
“Pony” — Ginuwine
This song was definitely the biggest commercial success for Ginuwine and the song is still following him 20 years later. If you’re a fan of “Parks and Recreation,” chances are you remember his charming cameo.
Listen to it here.
“Vogue” — Madonna
One of the most popular Madonna songs, this tune, along with the iconic documentary “Paris Is Burning” helped to bring Ballroom culture center stage in the mainstream.
Listen to it here.
“The Sign” — Ace of Base
The song not only had massive commercial success by helping the album of the same name go nine times platinum, but it’s also been referenced countless times, from “Full House” to “Pitch Perfect.”
Listen to it here.
“When a Man Loves a Woman” — Michael Bolton
Bolton’s cover of the iconic Percy Sledge song was everywhere in the ’90s and it turns out that Bolton had to push for it to even be released, re-recording it eight times.
Listen to it here.
“Baby, Baby” — Amy Grant
Grant’s sweet, bubbly pop hit was actually a product of her writer’s block and inspired by her own daughter, Millie.
Listen to it here.
“Baby Got Back” — Sir Mix-A-Lot
This song made Sir Mix-A-Lot’s career and though it may have seemed raunchy and silly to some, the artist, whose real name is Anthony Ray, said that it actually has a deeper meaning than you may think.
“It was like a blown-out, glorified version of what was actually being said at that time,” he told NPR. “Basically, pop culture was waif-thin, heroin addict, big hair, fake boobs – you know, that was what they thought beautiful was. And because of the way it was discussed publicly, it made women who had naturally curvy bodies … run around with sweaters wrapped around their waist.”
Listen to it here.
“End of The Road” — Boyz II Men
This emotional song was recorded for the film “Boomerang,” but gave the band massive commercial success. It also earned them a Grammy in 1992.
Listen to it here.
“Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” — Will Smith
Another hit for Will Smith, he’s delighted fans by performing this in recent years.
Listen to it here.
“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” — Aerosmith
You may be sensing a theme that many of these songs were made famous by movies, but this epic track was featured in one of the most iconic film scenes of all time in “Armageddon.”
Listen to it here.
“Macarena (Bayside Boy Remix)” — Los Del Rio
Does this song even need an introduction? You know the dance, you know the song. It was a cultural touchstone of the ’90s.
Listen to it here.
“Smooth” ft. Rob Thomas — Santana
Chances are you know this song by its iconic opening chords. The collaboration was a huge commercial success and is still the second biggest song of all time on the Billboard Top 100, second only to “The Twist” by Chubby Checker.
Listen to it here.
“One Week” — Barenaked Ladies
A catchy and silly song, this is an earworm you likely remember. But in recent years, people have found out that its lyrics are a bit darker than we realized.
Listen to it here.
“Un-Break My Heart” — Toni Braxton
Though it was undoubtedly a hit for Braxton and showcased her show-stopping voice, she apparently didn’t even want to record it.
“I didn’t want to do it but I did it and it was the biggest thing in my career,” she later told The New York Post.
Listen to it here.
“My Heart Will Go On” — Celine Dion
We round off our list with a heartbreaking song forever entwined with the movie “Titanic.” But like Braxton, Dion wasn’t a fan of it when she first heard it. Still, the song went on to be arguably the biggest of Dion’s career and snagged two Grammys.
Listen to it here.