Best 1990s Songs Ranked
Similarly to the 1980s, rock music was also very popular in the 1990s, yet, unlike the new wave and glam metal-dominated scene of the time, grunge, Britpop, industrial rock, and other alternative rock music emerged and took over as the most popular of the decade, as well as punk rock, ska punk, and nu metal, amongst others, which attained a high level of success at various points throughout the years. Electronic music, which had risen in popularity in the 1980s, grew highly popular in the 1990s; house and techno from the 1980s rose to international success in this decade, as well as new electronic dance music genres such as rave, happy hardcore, drum and bass, intelligent dance, and trip hop. In Europe, techno, rave, and reggae music were highly successful, while also finding some international success. The decade also featured the rise of contemporary country music as a major genre, which had started in the 1980s. Here are the best 1990s songs ranked.
Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS songs of 1990’s below! Click to experience the music at its finest!
15. I Want It that Way – Backstreet Boys
“I Want It That Way” is a worldwide hit single and became the most successful single from a boy band! This song broke the record for most radio station adds, and it’s number one in the charts in many countries. “I Want It That Way” is one of The Greatest Songs of the 90’s! This song is amazing, incredible and unforgettable!”
14. Paranoid Android – Radiohead
“Ed O’Brien’s rhythm guitar skills are flawless. Jonny Greenwood’s guitar solos are orgasms to the ears. Thom Yorke’s eccentric yet deep vocals leave you in tears. Colin Greenwood’s MASSIVE bass lines are simply amazing. Not to mention Philip Selway is easily the most musically skilled drummer of the 90s. His absolute precision and ability to pull off the odd times that Radiohead’s songs have, is incredible. No other drummer of the 90s could pull off such excellent drum lines, not even Travis Barker.”
13. Self Esteem – The Offspring
“Just another bunch of Orange County hardcore dudes going megaplatinum with a ditty about masochism. “I may be dumb, but I’m not a dweeb” remains relevant, unless of course you do happen to be a dumb dweeb, in which case you’re probably the guy in this song.”
12. Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
“Although ‘Black Hole Sun’ was not Soundgarden’s most melodic or aggressive songs it remains one of their most quintessential songs. Thanks to eerie lyrics and the late Chris Cornell’s vocal prowess, the song became one of their most popular songs. The piece combines a trippy symphony of guitars, wild lyrical content, and the ultimate rock-star bravado.”
11. … Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
“Britney’s debut single was a game-changer that helped to usher in a new generation of bombastic teen-pop, often crafted by Swedish songwriting genius Max Martin. The video featuring La Spears in school uniform is iconic, obviously, but let’s not overlook the fact that the song itself remains pure pop perfection. And somehow, it hits even harder now we know that Britney is finally free to live her life again, the way she wants.”
10. Tearin’ Up My Heart – *NSYNC
“Tearin’ Up My Heart was the second single of NSYNC’s self-titled debut album. The song was a big hit with teenage girls at the time because it was about a romantic experience most teenagers have gone through themselves. It was about a love-struck person who didn’t know whether the other party would reciprocate the feeling – which causes heartache and confusion.”
9. Killing in the Name – Rage Against the Machine
“Fuck you. I won’t do what you tell me. Not our words, but those of springy-haired, eternally angry singer Zach De La Rocha, whose repeated rebellious chant in this anti-establishment rock-rap anthem started a million moshpits in the early ’90s. Sure, the moshpits were mostly full of privileged teens, but it took little away from the song’s message (‘Fuck you, establishment,’ in case that wasn’t clear) and nothing away from the wonderfully raucous riffing.”
8. California Love – 2Pac
“To this day, Tupac Shakur remains one of the most influential figures in the hip-hop industry. And gems like ‘California Love’ have engraved him into the hearts of many hip-hop fanatics. Both Dre and Pac were prominent figures when they released the hit single California love – it’s no wonder that the track went on to become one of the most influential singles in the 90s. The track was the ‘official’ California anthem.”
7. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
“I feel like I can always find new meaning in this song based on what’s going on in my life. Whether I feel alone, depressed, disappointed, ashamed, frustrated, angry or betrayed I can listen to this and find new meaning with the same comforting feeling I get whenever this plays. Never has music meant so much to me than this”
6. Basket Case – Green Day
“Blows my mind the fact they found the words, and the order so to express all of those feelings which tormented and disturbed the whole of us… then, they turned it into this EPIC song that on top of all is TIMELESS.”
5. Wonderwall – Oasis
“Wonderwall has been dubbed as ‘best British song of all time‘ by the listeners of Radio X, and I bet many of us share similar sentiments; it is one of the best songs from the 90s certainly. The English band released the song in 1995, and it went ahead to top charts in Australia and New Zealand. In the US and Canada, the song peaked at #8 and #5, respectively. It was also quintuple platinum certified by the BPI and gold by the RIAA.”
4. Enter Sandman – Metallica
“Enter Sandman was the lead single off Mettalica’s self-titled album – The Black Album. The album was one of their most successful albums, selling more than 16 million copies in the US and many more across the world. Enter Sandman was written by James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, and Lars Ulrich – and it is about nightmares and the ‘darkness of the night.”
3. East of the Sun – a-ha
“This is not only the best Song of the 90’s it is also one of the best Songs ever made by the best Band of the last 25 years. Morten proves in this Song with his deep voice his qualities as a baritone although he used to sing often falsetto. This Song is like a fairy tale, like to plunge into a fantasy world, this is a song which remainds of the ballads from Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings).”
2. November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
“These were pre-drone filming times… The Slash solo was filmed with helicopters…. it is a miracle he is still alive today. All that sand could have killed him. Great song, by the way. One of the best from Guns and a great power ballad, from a time you had great rock bands around. Unfortunately, this is not our reality today. Miss those great bands!”
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
“This song is so much more than a song. It started a cultural shift, or revolution. With the powerful and iconic opening riff, amazingly structured melody, and powerful screams by Kurt Cobain, truly encapsulates the energy that the 90’s, and teen angst is all about. Not to mention how iconic the opening drum part is, and the very tight bassline that Krist has going. Nothing more can be said, that hasn’t already, about how this song will stand the test of time”