Best ’90s hits of all time
The 90s hits are most probably some of the most iconic songs in music history. Some of these tracks are still being revived. New artists making covers out of the originals, or the songs are played in malls and restaurants, even in clubs. If you were in high school during the 90s, you might have even been an avid fan of a boy band and girl group or two.
90s music is perhaps also one of the most diverse eras of music. It was a gold rush for hit singles more than whole albums. When love songs and dance music were almost exclusively heard on the radios, walkmans, and CD players, the music industry flourished in terms of sales.
Compared to streaming apps of today, it was relatively hard to gain access to music anytime you want. Don’t let that stop you from streaming these top songs though, read on to know which 90s music was topping the charts back in the day.
Top Hits of the 90s
Almost every style of music was trending during the 90s. From grunge to gangsta rap to disco to electronica to love songs to pop songs, you had your pick from the cream of the crop. The Billboard Hot 100 saw a good range of singles topping the charts, and emerging artists enter the list and remain there for more than a couple of weeks.
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“Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
Released in 1999, the song’s title translates to “the crazy life” and began the Latin pop renaissance in music. After Martin performed it at the 41st Grammy Awards, it only got more popular. The song earned certified platinum in the US and the UK and is one of the best-selling singles.
“When You Believe” by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey
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Two iconic stars released this single in 1998 as a song for the DreamWorks musical animated feature The Prince of Egypt. A single pop version was released later on and continued to take the world by storm. The song was even awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 71st annual ceremony.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Initially recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, the song was revived by Whitney Houston in 1992 as a soundtrack to her film debut, The Bodyguard. The latter’s version has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling single by a female artist of all time. It is also one of the best-selling singles of all time.
“My Heart Will Go On” by Céline Dion
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As the central theme of the blockbuster film Titanic, this song immediately became a global hit. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time. Included in the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts, it is a song that defined an entire generation.
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“MMMBOP” by Hanson
Released in 1997 by pop-rock band Hanson, the song was nominated for two Grammys at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards. It topped many charts and critics’ lists such as The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll, Rolling Stone, Spin, and VH1.
“Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child
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Before Lemonade was born into the world, Queen Bey was part of the girl group Destiny’s Child. At the 2001 Grammy Awards, it won two awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song. It also got nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The music video won the 2000 MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video.
“Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera
Released in a self-titled debut in 1999, the song quickly rose to fame for its sexual references with the theme of self-respect. It also peaked the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with more than 1.4 million copies sold in the country.
“I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys
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The lead single from their third studio album, Millennium, was a sure hit among fans and non-fans alike of arguably the most popular boy band of the 90s. It quickly became the band’s signature song despite having many other top songs. The single was also nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year.
“Ironic” by Alanis Morissette
One of the most popular songs by Morissette, this single was of release in her debut album, Jagged Little Pill. It quickly became the theme song for many movies, shows, and even television commercials. The song won the Juno Award for Single of the Year and was of nomination for two Grammy Awards in 1997, for Record of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video.
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“Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia
Australian pop singer Imbruglia re-recorded this Danish song into English in 1997 as her debut single. The song was initially written and of the performance in 1993 in its original language but was never out to the public. Its English version topped the charts in many European countries as well as in three U.S. Billboard charts.
“…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears
Spears’ debut studio album of the same title became many teenage girls’ breakup go-to theme songs. It skyrocketed Brit to success and made her become everyone’s favorite pop princess. The hit single was of nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards and has been on critics’ lists like Blender, Rolling Stone, and VH1.
“Wannabe” by Spice Girls
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Performed by English girl group Spice Girls, this single came out in 1996. Despite mixed public reaction towards the song’s message, which valued female friendship over boys, the song won Best British-Written Single at the Ivor Novello Awards and for British Single of the Year at the 1997 Brit Awards.
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
As the opening and lead song of their second album, Nirvana’s hit single quickly climbed up the charts at the start of 1992, a time usually associated with when grunge entered mainstream music. Rolling Stone ranked the single ninth on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2017, it was in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men.
Coming out in 1994, this love song spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. It became a theme song for many loved-up couples during the time and is still considered a classic today. The song also won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and was nominated for Record of the Year.
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua
In 1997, Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua released this unusually catchy bop. It quickly became a number-one hit for four weeks and remained one of the best-selling singles of all time. However, because of trademark rights, the single became the controversial lawsuit Mattel v. MCA Records.
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Iconic 90s music artists
With many beloved and iconic singles coming out in the 90s, the billboard charts saw many 90s hits come and go. However, those at the top of the list often remained there for 40 to 50 weeks at a time. This was the rise of many R&B artists as well as hip hop and rap. Everyone was having a good time listening to music genres that didn’t get much attention in the past.
There are way too many artists during that time to list them all. But some of the most iconic artists and groups are either still making music today or still have legions of fans eagerly awaiting their return to the spotlight.
These include legendary artists like 2Pac, Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Lisa Loeb, Notorious B.I.G., Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, Usher, and Mariah Carey. Groups and bands like Spice Girls, Nirvana, Radiohead, and NSYNC amassed millions of fans during their careers as the 90s music legends.
Final Thoughts
For ten years, music saw a significant era during the 1990s, from the early hits up to the singles leading up to a new millennium, this decade defined a new generation of music lovers. It also began to open doors for many artists of genres that mainly were not in the years before. The rise of R&B and rap during this time opened doors for many POC and Black artists.
In a way, the 90s hits were also a doorway to more diversification in popular, cultural music. It cemented many artists as icons in the music industry, keeping their art alive 20 years later. Some of these artists are still actively making music, but they know that their 90s hits will forever remain unique to them and their fans.
