Top 11 90s-est 90s Songs
- CJ Tiernan
- 14 hours ago
- 6 min read
By CJ Tiernan
The 90s were a decade full of sweeping change and living life on the go. We coated the world in denim and flannel and dared our neighbor to look more disheveled than us. Our heads were protected from the sun in full, 360º fashion courtesy of bucket hats. Between Doc Martens and Timberland boots, our feet were ready for combat. Businesses still broke bread and spilled tea at the watercooler. It was, with the benefit of hindsight, a simpler time. This is my list of songs that embody the very essence of what it was to live, laugh, and grunge in the 90s. Here is my list of the Top 11 90s-est 90s Songs I’ve Ever Heard. Enjoy!
1. MMMbop - Hanson
The boy band was an unavoidable part of the latter half of the decade. The big three were Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees. However, this three-man band of brothers managed to churn out a song that not only became the song of the summer in 1997, but continues to ring in summer vibes to this day. I was in fourth grade at the time, and all the girls in my class either wanted to marry a Hanson or be a Spice Girl (or maybe both). I was content to MMMBop my head to the beat and await summer vacation.
2. Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
I’ve heard this song probably 100 times. Like, honestly, actually, at least a hundred times. I have no idea what it’s about. Much like the lyrics of a Red Hot Chili Peppers song, that does NOT stop me from belting them out. It is a wistful song, harboring an innocence of a simpler time and a longing for fame amid rampant insecurities. Wait… do I know what it’s about? Classic 90s and its rampant insecurities. I wouldn’t know anything about that either…
3. Ironic - Alanis Morissette
Irony is a literary device used to create drama and tension. It is also a way of creating a juxtaposition between one’s words and reality. Irony is comedic weapon. However, it’s also often used interchangeably with coincidence. While there is some debate over whether the failure to use irony in a song called “Ironic” can, indeed, be considered ironic, there is no debating the angst with which Alanis Morissette sings this song (or, indeed, any of the songs off the Jagged Little Pill album).
4. Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla
One essential element of the 90s (and, truthfully, any decade) is the one-hit wonder. The flash in the pan, here today, gone tomorrow artist with a banger. Such is the case with Counting Blue Cars. I really like this song. It reminds me of a less technologically-dependent society when one might sit on the side of the road next to a friend or loved one and just count cars (like the end of the movie Up). Plus, with the strained vocals of the singer, how can you not absolutely join in and shout-sing along with this one in the car.
5. Wonderwall - Oasis
This band is another family affair. They were together from ’91 to ’99 (they really were a ‘90s band). I have heard that they broke up and the brothers Gallagher and their sibling rivalry is the reason why. I’m in possession of several brothers myself and I actually quite like them (love them, some might say) and can’t imagine such a split (although I did have a brother throw a vacuum cleaner at my head once but, who hasn’t been there). What’s even more disappointing is that the brothers make up only 40% of the band, but they get all the headlines. Did you know they have a member named Bonehead?! How dare society shelter me from such a glorious reality for so long.
6. Two Princes - Spin Doctors
You may be one of those Anglophiles that cannot get enough of her majesty the queen and her merry band of progeny. If so, you may be inclined to believe this song is about the two children of Princess Diana (who famously had her own ups and downs in the 90s but stayed out of the spotlight 🤪). Whelp, it’s not. It’s a classic prince and the pauper, “marry him or marry me” tale, complete with love triangle (castle sold separately).
7. Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
A lot of the fun and glory of songs of the ‘90s was the sort of playful element of rebellion. This song has a slight case of punk-rock. It has a high-energy vibe and some scream-singing, but no sense of malice. You can dance to this one. I am not ashamed to say this is one of the many songs over the years that I sing along to without knowing the words. “He drinks a whisky drink, he drinks a vodka drink, he drinks a lager drink, he drinks a…” and then I’m lost in the inebriation sauce. “Side of drink?” Is that the type of thing they drink in Britian?
8. Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me) - Blessid Union Of Souls
Here is a time-capsule song if ever there was one. Namechecking 90s figures like Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Cindy Crawford, and Leonardo DiCaprio is a great way to make your song representative of the era. Making it a love song, makes it timeless. Man, Blessid Union of Souls really had some great hits. “Light in Your Eyes,” “I Wanna Be There,” and “I Believe.” Too bad they hadn’t invented spellcheck yet (Blessid?).
9. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies
Combining two disparate concepts can create a delicious comedic moment. A so-called fish out of water or an odd couple situation. The caveman with a vlog. The septuagenarian with a fauxhawk. The Canadian with angst. This last one led to a one-hit wonder we all hold near and dear to our hearts. The singer (with a voice deep enough that he’d fit right in with The National), Brad Roberts, bowls you over with the first note (“Once”) of the monotonal song and never lets up. It, like so many 90s songs, delves into the concept of isolation and feeling less-than. Represent the little guy, Canada! Fun fact: Canada isn’t actually the little guy. By area, it is the second largest country in the world (just behind Russia and just ahead of the US).
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
If you want to rep the ‘90s, you can’t ignore grunge. While I mostly heard pop songs and alternative rock on the radio in the ‘90s, nobody was able to avoid this behemoth. It is the song that begat a thousand songs. It is the grunge anthem (did I just invent an oxymoron?). Along with fellow Seattle bands Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden, Nirvana helped to usher in grunge and a pervasive sound of the ‘90s. This isn’t just one of the greatest songs of the ‘90s, it’s one of the greatest songs of all time. And to think, it all started with a stick of deodorant.
11. Macarena - Los Del Rio
You knew it had to be on here. It’s a song that came with its own dance. Here’s what I want to know: how did we learn it? Back in the ‘90s, we couldn’t go to YouTube and watch a video. We didn’t see it on TikTok or Twitter. Where did it come from? I remember learning it in gym class of all places, but why (to be fair, that’s also where I learned to juggle so it is ground zero for a large percentage of my life skillset). Oh, wait, I got it: MTV! Before they highlighted the idyllic, beachfront property of New Jersey or followed Ashton Kutcher with a camera as he played pranks on fellow celebrities, MTV aired music! TRL was a ‘90s staple and this dance was so pervasive we learned it in third grade even though the dance was kinda…saucy.
Final Thoughts
Listen, the ‘90s is kind of a long time. It’s like 10 whole years (plus two leap days). There was a lot of music. I tried to capture the essence of the decade in both the tone of the content of the song, and the music itself. I liked a certain kind of music and that certainly influenced my choices for which songs I thought best represented the era. If you feel I missed any important ones, please let me know in the comments. As always, I left some that just missed my list down below. Thanks! Have a great day!
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