The Best 1990s Singers Of All Time Ranked
In the 90’s Music began to play a large role in influencing people’s day to day lives. Pop and dance music started to become a craze, leg warmers, neon clothes, and high ponytails. Artists like Britney Spears, Madonna, Cher, Mariah Carey, and Christina Aguilera became popular pop artists of the time. There were also lots of hit dance singles such as “The Macarena”, “Groove is in the Heart”, “Love Shack”, “Gonna Make you Sweat”, “Pump Up the Jam”, and “What is Love?” (Lamb, 2014). A couple of other hits included the Spice Girls song “Wanna Be” and The Proclaimers song “I’m Gonna Be”. Also N’Sync and The Backstreet Boys were the popular boy bands in the 90’s and the posters all over every teen girl’s bedroom wall. Pop and Dancing music was a huge part of society and culture in the 1990’s. Here the best 1990s Singers 90’s ranked.
See more: The Best Pop Drummers Of All Time Ranked
See more: The Best Pop Singers Of All Time Ranked
20. Michael Jackson
“Though the bulk of his success came during the 70s and 80s, the King of Pop still had a strong presence in the 90s. He started out the decade with a number one hit, “Black Or White,” and continued to churn out top 10 songs including “Remember The Time,” “Scream” and “Will You Be There.” People didn’t know it at the time, but 1995 would be the year in which Jackson released his final chart-topping single “You Are Not Alone.”
19. Puff Daddy
“Pearl Jam was one of those early 90s rock bands that were rare as there wasn’t a tragedy and they didn’t split up. Instead, they continued to produce hits almost every year of the decade. They were mainstays on the alt-rock charts and found mainstream success with songs such as “Spin The Black Circle” and “I Got Id.”
18. Mary J. Blige
“Once a backup vocalist, Mary J. Blige found the spotlight of her own in 1992 and wouldn’t give it up. With the release of “What’s the 411?,” she became an R&B superstar with hit songs “You Remind Me” and “Real Love,” the latter of which remains arguably her biggest hit. The entirety of the decade was kind to Blige, as she released a charting song every year after making her debut.”
17. The Notorious B.I.G.
“There are many that consider The Notorious B.I.G. to be the best rapper of all time despite a catalog of just two albums released during his life, but those two albums were unstoppable. “Ready To Die” and “Life After Death” combined to produce four songs to reach the mainstream top 10, which was almost unheard of for hip hop songs at the time. Among those songs were “Big Poppa” and “Hypnotize,” which were released before his tragic death in 1997.”
16. Alanis Morissette
“The ’90s queen of alternative rock, Alanis Morissette, was born in 1974 in Ottawa, Ontario. She began her musical explorations at six when she learned to play the piano. By the age of ten, she had already written her first song.”
15. 2Pac
“Arguably the greatest rapper ever, Tupac Shakur was tragically killed in 1996 but had already become a phenomenon thanks to his four album releases prior to his death. Almost every current rapper lists him as their source of inspiration, and it’s thanks to songs like “Dear Mama,” “I Get Around,” and of course, “California Love.”
14. Shania Twain
“Canadian-born Shania Twain burst into the spotlight and redefined what makes good country music. Twain began singing in bars as a child to help pay the family bills. She always regarded the process of writing music as true art and something that she deeply respected.”
13. Sheryl Crow
“A versatile artist of the ’90s, Sheryl Crow is known for her ability to engage with audiences with a variety of musical styles. Crow was a music teacher at an elementary school when her music career began to take flight. She would perform in bands on the weekends, leading her to sing in commercials for well-known companies. The exposure gave her the boost she needed to record her music.”
12. Prince
“Aptly named Prince, the enigmatic star was born in Minneapolis in 1958 and pushed the boundaries of music. As he grew up, he believed that music was the one talent he possessed. Drawing inspiration from Stevie Wonder, he developed his skills and began recording music in the seventies. By the time the nineties rolled in, Prince was a household name, with hits like “Cream” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” under his belt.”
11. Hootie & The Blowfish
“Certain musical acts seem to encapsulate the decade they became popular in, with Hootie & The Blowfish perhaps being the quintessential 90s band. They burst onto the scene in 1994 with their album “Cracked Rear View,” which produced megahits “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry,” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”Though the band wouldn’t find the same type of success following their debut album, frontman Darius Rucker has earned himself a fine career in country music.”
10. Janet Jackson
“Youngest sibling of the Jackson family, Janet Jackson did not initially see herself as a stage performer. She had her eyes on a law career but took on a few acting roles to support herself in the meantime. This decision shifted her focus and culminated in her father/manager signing her to a record deal in 1982.”
9. Céline Dion
“Ending the run of female solo Canadian artists, Céline Dion got her start in the 80s with French songs that made her an icon in Quebec. It wasn’t until 1990 that she started churning out hits in English, including “Where Does My Heart Beat Now.” Of course, you can’t mention her without that other heart-based song, the mega-hit “My Heart Will Go On” from the “Titanic” soundtrack.”
8. Mariah Carey
“Those that immediately think of Christmas time when it comes to Mariah Carey might not really grasp just how popular she was in the 90s. It was at the very start of the decade when she made her debut, and she released an unprecedented 16 number-one songs throughout the 90s. Yes, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” was one of those songs.”
7. Snoop Dogg
“Easily the most lovable name in the rap game, Snoop Dogg is still a staple in the music industry. He derives his name from his childhood nickname of Snoopy, given to him by his parents. In school, Snoop attracted crowds of classmates with his infectious rap abilities. He deduced that rap was the key to success. Over time, he learned to format his lyrics into structured rap verses, and his career began.”
6. Beyoncé
“Perhaps the most influential recording artist of our time is Beyoncé. She found her start in the 1990s with the iconic group Destiny’s Child. The group, originally named Girls Tyme, reached a record deal in 1997 and was an instant sensation. The song “No, No, No” from their 1998 eponymous album charted at #3 the Billboard Hot 100. It became apparent that their musical energy was undeniable, and their vocal abilities were impressive.”
5. Whitney Houston
“Whitney Houston had already spent the 80s being one of the biggest stars in music and solidified herself as an icon during the 90s. Right from the start, her first two singles, “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “All the Man That I Need,” in the 90s were number one hits. Then, like Céline Dion, she scored a timeless classic that transcended any genre with the release of “I Will Always Love You,” the fifth-highest selling single in music history.”
4. Madonna
“The Queen of Pop may be more synonymous with the 80s, but the following decade was just as kind to her. Madonna churned out hits every year during the 90s, including four number one singles that started with “Vogue” and ended with “Take A Bow.” The 90s saw a lot of change in her style, both in fashion and music, showing that she’s one of the most versatile performers ever.”
3. Christina Aguilera
“Though Christina Aguilera didn’t burst onto the scene until the end of the 90s, she made her mark in a big way. After making her label debut on the “Mulan” soundtrack, she scored smash hits in 1999 with number one singles “Genie In A Bottle” and “What A Girl Wants.” Obviously, her popularity would spill into the 2000s, and she remains a staple of pop culture thanks to appearances on shows such as “The Voice.”
2. Spice Girls
“The story of 90s music can’t be told without mentioning the Spice Girls. The British all-girl band exploded in 1996 on a global scale, even landing themselves a movie in the process. They released a total of nine singles during the 90s, with all but one reaching the top spot on the United Kingdom’s charts. The only one that didn’t make it to the number one spot? Their 1998 song “Stop” was only able to make it to number two.”
1. Britney Spears
“What followed was pure mania and instant fame. Spears’ debut single “…Baby One More Time” rocketed her into the history books overnight. Her debut album landed her a Guinness World Record for Best-Selling Album by a Teenage Solo Artist. The next decade saw multiple albums, iconic performances, and chart-topping hits, one after the other.”