Our Favorite Songs from the 90s

I’m a 90s kid through and through. I was four years old when the calendar hit 1990, so most of my formative years were spent in that memorable decade. Honestly, I’d probably go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

The 90s were great. We had insane cartoons like Ren and Stimpy, Rocko’s Modern Life, and Dexter’s Laboratory. Blockbusters shone on every strip mall corner like beacons of hope for a brighter future.

Also, the music was absolutely rad.

I still listen to some of my favorite tunes from that decade. If you pull up a list of the best songs from the 90s, you might get a little bit of overlap with this one. But this list isn’t about which were the best songs of the 90s. It’s a list of our favorite songs from the 90s. There’s a big difference there. For example, one of my favorite movies is Dude Where’s My Car, but it’s objectively a terrible movie. But I still love it.

That’s what this list is. This is a regular person’s list of our favorite 90s songs. The songs aren’t necessarily in order from favorite to least favorite, because it’s too hard to rank such masterpieces. Enjoy!

1. Champagne Supernova (Oasis) - Most people think of Wonderwall when Oasis comes up, but Champagne Supernova is a much better song in my opinion. I have no idea what a Champagne Supernova is, but I love this tune.
   
   
2. Baby Got Back (Sir Mix-a-Lot) - Is there any song that’s survived the test of time more than Baby Got Back? I don’t think so.
   
   
3. Killing in the Name (Rage Against the Machine) - Everyone’s favorite political rockers released what is easily the most provocative song of the decade with Killing in the Name. Yelling the final refrain is absolutely cathartic.
   
   
4. November Rain (Guns n Roses) - This song is epic in every definition of the word. Clocking in at almost 10 minutes, it’s a huge musical accomplishment, and it’s a banger through and through.
   
   
5. Tha Crossroads (Bone Thugs n Harmony) - I hope we all see each other at tha crossroads someday. I don’t want anyone to be lonely.
   
   
6. Losing a Whole Year (Third Eye Blind) - Third Eye Blind is an underrated band. Everyone thinks of Semi-Charmed Life and Jumper from this album, but Losing a Whole Year takes the cake. It’s the leadoff track and sets the tone. So good.
   
   
7. Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangsta (Geto Boys) - The fact that the president makes an appearance on this song absolutely sets it off. There’s probably no better song to roll down your car window and vibe to than this one.
   
   
8. Don’t Speak (No Doubt) - This is the song that put Gwen Stefani on the map. Don’t Speak is the quintessential 90s proto-emo song.
   
   
9. Flagpole Sitta (Harvey Danger) - This tune is the 1990s in song form. The music, lyrics, and vibe all combine to make this a pure 90s anthem.
   
   
10. Pony (Genuine) - I’m not embarrassed to say my wife and I danced to this song at our wedding. Yes, it was hot and steamy.
    
    
11. Say It Ain’t So (Weezer) - The Blue Album is great from start to finish, but Say It Ain’t So is the best of the bunch. Some folks prefer the Sweater Song or Buddy Holly, but this song hits different.
    
    
12. Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve) - The Verve was confusing, because there was another band out at the same time called The Verve Pipe. Both had great songs, but Bittersweet Symphony makes my list and The Freshman narrowly misses out.
    
    
13. Waterfalls (TLC) - I remember this music video vividly. I can’t remember my own grandmother’s face anymore, but I can still see left eye singing next to that river.
    
    
14. Hard Knock Life (Jay Z) - Has there ever been a crossover less expected than this? Sampling Annie for a rap song was absolutely genius, and this song lives on forever because of it.
    
    
15. Karma Police (Radiohead) - For a minute there, I almost lost my head and forgot to include this Radiohead song on the list.
    
    
16. Firestarter (The Prodigy) - The Prodigy were a crazy rock/techno band from the UK, and the lead singer had double mohawks. They were awesome, and I wore out my Fat of the Land CD.
    
    
17. Self Esteem (The Offspring) - This was one of my favorite songs as a youngster. The Offspring were a great band for a long time, and this song is one of their best.
    
    
18. Killing Me Softly (Fugees) - The Fugees were an excellent group, and all three members have done fantastic things after they disbanded. This is my favorite song of theirs.
    
    
19. The Unforgiven (Metallica) - From this album, most people say Enter Sandman is the best. By all means, it’s an excellent song. But I’m a softie, so I choose The Unforgiven – even if the lyrics are a bit hamfisted.
    
    
20. Party Up (DMX) - I’m not aware of many songs that will hype up a party faster than this song. RIP DMX, you shining diamond.
    
    
21. Don’t Take the Girl (Tim McGraw) - Talk about a change of pace from DMX, Don’t Take the Girl is a country ballad that always brings a tear to my eye. Fun fact, I used to sing this song at karaoke when I was 6 years old. I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve. What can I say?
    
    
22. The Distance (CAKE) - Another classic, this song still appears in movies, parties, and headphones everywhere to this day.
    
    
23. I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) - Yes, this song is cheesy. Yes, the movie Armageddon is amazing – and also cheesy. Yes, I still love both.
    
    
24. Ghetto Gospel (2Pac) - This song is probably cheating a little bit. 2Pac recorded this song in the 90s, but it wasn’t really released until the 00s. That’s OK, the song is amazing, and it’s a 90s song in my book. 2Pac was a poet, and it doesn’t shine through better than in this song.
    
    
25. Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden) - Of all the weird grunge songs from the 90s, this might be the weirdest. The music video is creepy. But geeze, does it get better than Chris Cornell singing in his weird way?
    
    
26. Achy Breaky Heart (Billy Ray Cyrus) - Another hilarious change of pace. Say what you will about Billy Ray, but the dude was 90s country to the core. Achy Breaky Heart is a classic.
    
    
27. Santeria (Sublime) - My go-to song these days for karaoke is I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. Second on the list is Santeria. What a gem this tune is.
    
    
28. Tubthumping (Chumbawumba) - I still don’t know what this song is about, but I know all the lyrics, and I’ll sing them with reckless abandon as soon as the chorus pops up. This song is pure 90s one-hit-wonderfulness.
    
    
29. Bullet with Butterfly Wings (Smashing Pumpkins) - A few songs from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness could make it on this list, but Bullet with Butterfly Wings is my favorite. How hype is it at the end? So good.
    
    
30. All that She Wants (Ace of Base) - Fun fact: when I played in a folk-rock band in college, one of our favorite songs to play live was a cover of All that She Wants. People loved it. 

That’s the list! These are our top 30 favorite 90s songs. You might not agree with the list. That’s OK. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to 90s music, because it’s all so good! Well, maybe not all of it…