"You Gotta Be" by Des'ree (1994)
While it peaked at the number 5 spot on the Hot 100 chart, Des'ree released this bop in the '90s, dropped a few songs here and there, but then left music. Total bummer considering this song was on repeat in my mom's car growing up.
2"Two Princes" by Spin Doctors (1992)
Alternative rock was in its prime during this decade, and Spin Doctors came in hot with this catchy hit in 1992. Trust me, you've definitely heard it in a movie or two.
3"Macarena" by Los Del Rio (1993)
*Chandler voice* Could there be a bigger mic drop than Los Del Rio releasing the dance craze of the decade and bouncing? Do you still remember all the steps? How has this not had a renaissance on TikTok??
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4"All For You" by Sister Hazel (1997)
Sister Hazel was a huge deal if you grew up in the South in the '90s and '00s, but their biggest hit is probably considered a one-hit wonder to the general public. Sorry 'bout it!
5"Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root (1996)
You might not know Rusted Root, but you know this is the song from both Matilda and Ice Age.
6"Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn (1991)
I didn't even know this was a '90s song, it feels kind of... timeless?
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7"Crush" by Jennifer Paige (1998)
Jennifer Paige's song was perfect for sneaking onto a mixtape for a not-so-subtle hint that you like like someone. And we never, never speak of the Glee version. Keep it secret, keep it safe.
8"Here Comes The Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze (1994)
Here Ini Kamoze comes and... here he goes. NAHHHHH NAH NAH NAH NAHHHHHHH!
9"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (1993)
This is such an underrated love song. Like, imagine a man singing about how he would walk an insane amount of miles just to show up at your door! *Swoons*
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10"Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin (1996)
The chorus of Shawn Colvin's hit song did not need to go this hard. This song also fits really well with the plot of A Series Of Unfortunate Events which is... so random.
11“Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia (1997)
What self-respecting ’90s teen *didn’t* know this moody pop song? Natalie Imbruglia’s hit has been streamed more than 230 million times on Spotify to date.
12“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Deep Blue Something (1995)
This romantic pop song was released into the world by Deep Blue Something in 1995—and then we never heard from the band again. But we definitely heard this song again...and again...and again....
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13“Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)” by Lou Bega (1999)
“Mambo No. 5,” by Lou Bega, is one of the most iconic songs in all of history of the ’90s. It became a worldwide hit after it was released, topping almost every chart in Europe and making it onto the playlist of every bar mitzvah I’ve ever attended.
14“Steal My Sunshine” by Len (1999)
Canadian band Len released this song without expecting much to come of it, but “Steal My Sunshine” was a total sleeper hit. It was so successful that the band had to push up its album release date!
15"Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1997)
What is it about this song that makes it so infuriatingly catchy? I swear I know every line to this upbeat peek into your favorite Mattel doll's charmed life.
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16"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" by C+C Music Factory (1990)
An excellent pump-up song and a dance hit tied into one, "Gonna Make You Sweat" is still a banger, and should be respected as such.
17"Possum Kingdom" by The Toadies (1994)
Apart from its deeply concerning lyrics, including "Don't be afraid/I didn't mean to scare you/So help me, Jesus," this post-grunge song was made even weirder by its title, an ode to a lake in North Texas.
18"Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer (1997)
If you ever need evidence that the '90s were a breeding ground for musical talent, just remember that the first song Taylor Swift learned on guitar—when she was 12!!—was this classic from Sixpence None The Richer.
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19"Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles (1990)
The King of Rock 'n Roll lives on in this power ballad that honors Elvis Presley's life, death, and "slow Southern style."
20"One Headlight" by The Wallflowers (1997)
If you've ever felt pressured to live up to your parents' expectations, imagine being Jakob Dylan, the son of superstar folk singer Bob Dylan. He led The Wallflowers until they broke up in 2005, and together they made "One Headlight" a huge hit.
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