(For an enhanced experience, listen to the song below while you browse this page.)
I asked, and you delivered.
Below are the results of my callout for people’s favourite songs from the 1990s. There are some diverse lists – in the way that they are put together but also what is on them – and some things that jump out, so let’s break them down a little, shall we?
1994 is the most popular year, featuring 50 songs (I have counted one three-song inclusion as a single song as the songs are back-to-back-to-back on the album they appear on) – but 1997, a year I once considered the greatest for music since I’ve been alive (that year was smashed to bits by 2012), is on a close 49. The first and last years of the decade are the weakest, but 1996 to me is the sad result, since 1994, 1995, and 1997 rank so high.
1994: 50
1997: 49
1995: 35
1992: 33
1998: 28
1991: 24
1993: 23
1996: 21
1999: 21
1990: 16
Favourite artists
7 people voted for Radiohead a total of 10 times. (I love you all.)
7 people voted for Blur a total of 7 times.
6 people voted for Nirvana a total of 8 times.
6 people voted for Portishead a total of 7 times.
5 people voted for Pulp a total of 8 times.
Favourite songs
5 votes: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Common People, Glory Box, Killing In The Name
4 votes: Paranoid Android
3 votes: Born Slippy Nuxx, Song 2, Teardrop
There were no rules – you could interpet the brief (“Send me your top 20 songs from the ’90s!”) however you wanted. For this reason, you’ll notice some lists run longer than 20 songs and some run shorter. Some people have chosen multiple songs by the same artist. A couple of the songs are from the late ’80s. I considered leaving them out, but decided not to in the end because they are possibly a better fit for the list than a few of the songs from the end of the decade that get to be included because they technically were released in the 1990s. But songs from the early 2000s obviously could not be in this list – neither was one from 1983, because that’s too early.
Spotify – to listen to!
The embedded playlist only shows the first 100 songs, so open it in Spotify to listen to the full list.
Songs have been added in the order that they were released. If a song was released as a single before the album, the song is listed by its single release date. If the single came out after an album was released, it’s listed by the release date of the album.
YouTube – to watch!
This will play all the videos for each song in chonological order as per the Spotify playlists’s conditions. If you would like to browse, here’s the playlist of all the videos, on YouTube. I have tried to find either the official music video, a “topic” video, or a high-quality live performance.
Turn On The Light
Bad Religion, 1990
Birthday Pony
Fugazi, 1995
Long Distance Runner
Fugazi, 1995
Whose Fist Is This Anyway?
Prong, 1994
88 Seconds... & Still Counting
Pop Will Eat Itself, 1990
Connected
Stereo MCs, 1992
Thunder Kiss ’65
White Zombie, 1992
Tilted
Sugar, 1993
100 Ways To Kill A Love
Power Of Dreams, 1990
I Wanna Be Adored
The Stone Roses, 1989
Song 2
Blur, 1997
Lenny Valentino
The Auteurs, 1993
New Noise
Refused, 1998
Pretend We’re Dead
L7, 1992
My Favourite Game
The Cardigans, 1998
Bloodsport For All
Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, 1991
Another Song About The Rain
Cracker, 1992
Brain Stew / Jaded
Green Day, 1995
Falling Elevators
MC 900 feat. Jesus, 1991
Closer
Nine Inch Nails, 1994
Eye On You
Rocket From The Crypt feat. Holly Golightly, 1998
Shazam!
Spiderbait, 1999
Why Do You Have To Put A Date On Everything
Superchunk, 1994
Bad Blood
Ministry, 1999
Sabotage
Beastie Boys, 1994
Listen to Adrian’s list on Spotify |
Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand
Primitive Radio Gods, 1996
Come As You Are
Nirvana, 1991
Jump Around
House Of Pain, 1992
Fade Into You
Mazzy Star, 1993
Teardrop
Massive Attack, 1998
California Love
2Pac feat. Roger Troutman & Dr. Dre, 1995
Block Rockin’ Beats
The Chemical Brothers, 1997
Live Forever
Oasis, 1994
Killing In The Name
Rage Against The Machine, 1992
Pure Morning
Placebo, 1998
Groove Is In The Heart
Deee-Lite, 1990
Glory Box
Portishead, 1994
Sabotage
Beastie Boys, 1994
Common People
Pulp, 1995
Fantasy
Mariah Carey, 1995
Song 2
Blur, 1997
Born Slippy Nuxx
Underworld, 1995
The Sign
Ace Of Base, 1993
Paranoid Android
Radiohead, 1997
Dreams
The Cranberries, 1992
Listen to Daniel’s list on Spotify |
Common People
Pulp, 1995
My Iron Lung
Radiohead, 1994
Richard III
Supergrass, 1997
Every You Every Me
Placebo, 1998
Numb
Portishead, 1994
This Is Hardcore
Pulp, 1998
So What’Cha Want
Beastie Boys, 1992
Late In The Day
Supergrass, 1997
Teardrop
Massive Attack, 1998
Born Slippy
Underworld, 1995
Disco 2000
Pulp, 1995
Glory Box
Portishead, 1994
Exit Music (For A Film)
Radiohead, 1997
Superstar
Sonic Youth, 1994
#1 Crush
Garbage, 1997
No Surprises
Radiohead, 1997
High Hopes
Pink Floyd, 1994
D’You Know What I Mean
Oasis, 1997
Around The World
Daft Punk, 1997
Paranoid Android
Radiohead, 1997
Listen to France’s list on Spotify |
Glory Box
Portishead, 1994
Massive Attack
Teardrop, 1998
6 Underground
Sneaker Pimps, 1996
Peaches
The Presidents of United States of America, 1995
Undone – The Sweater Song
Weezer, 1994
Neighbourhood
Space, 1996
Disco 2000
Pulp, 1995
Common People
Pulp, 1995
She’s Electric
Oasis, 1995
Crazy
Aerosmith, 1993
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve, 1997
Ex-Factor
Lauryn Hill, 1998
A Design For Life
Manic Street Preachers, 1996
Listen to Gayle’s list on Spotify |
Woke Up This Morning
Alabama 3, 1997
Road Rage
Catatonia, 1998
What’s He Building?
Tom Waits, 1999
A Thing Well Made
The Mutton Birds, 1992
Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)
Skunk Anansie, 1996
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
Missy Elliot, 1997
Nothing Compares 2 U
Sinéad O’Connor, 1990
Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
Sophie B. Hawkins, 1992
Born Slippy Nuxx
Underworld, 1995
Friday I’m In Love
The Cure, 1992
Parklife
Blur, 1994
Virtual Insanity
Jamiroquai, 1996
Zombie
The Cranberries, 1994
BNH
The Brand New Heavies, 1990
Don’t Marry Her
The Beautiful South, 1996
Firestarter
The Prodigy, 1996
How Bizarre
OMC, 1995
Pump Up The Jam
Technotronic, 1989
(You Can Put Your) Shoes Under My Bed
Paul Kelly & The Messengers, 1991
I’ve Committed Murder
Macy Gray, 1999
Listen to Jane’s list on Spotify |
Love Buzz
Nirvana, 1989
Sleep To Dream
Fiona Apple, 1996
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Smashing Pumpkins, 1995
About A Girl
Nirvana, 1989
Peaches
The Presidents of the United States of America, 1995
The Man Who Sold The World
Nirvana, 1994
Into Dust
Mazzy Star, 1993
Go Your Own Way
The Cranberries, 1996
Got The Life
Korn, 1998
All I Want
The Offspring, 1997
Dammit
Blink 182, 1997
Sixteen
No Doubt, 1995
Where Is My Mind?
Pixies, 1988
Celebrity Skin
Hole, 1998
You Oughta Know
Alanis Morissette, 1995
#1 Crush
Garbage, 1997
Mindfields
The Prodigy, 1997
Deeper Underground
Jamiroquai, 1998
Intergalactic
Beastie Boys, 1998
Silly Ho
TLC, 1999
One In A Million
Aaliyah, 1996
Gangster Trippin’
Fatboy Slim, 1998
Party Up
DMX, 1999
I Want You
Savage Garden, 1996
Santeria
Sublime, 1996
Listen to Jess’s list on Spotify |
When You Sleep
My Bloody Valentine, 1991
Jenny Ondioline
Stereolab, 1993
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized, 1997
Red Right Hand
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 1994
Sunchyme
Dario G, 1997
Barbie Girl
Aqua, 1997
We Like To Party! (The Vengabus)
Vengaboys, 1998
Closer
Nine Inch Nails, 1994
Around The World
Daft Punk, 1997
Wannabe
Spice Girls, 1996
End Of A Century
Blur, 1994
Tubthumping
Chumbawamba, 1997
All Star
Smash Mouth, 1999
Malibu
Hole, 1998
She Don’t Use Jelly
The Flaming Lips, 1993
Losing My Religion
R.E.M., 1991
Sex & Candy
Marcy Playground, 1997
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve, 1997
Sexy Boy
Air, 1998
Feel The Pain
Dinosaur Jr, 1994
Push Th’ Little Daisies
Ween, 1992
Peaches
The Presidents of the United States of America, 1995
Zombie
The Cranberries, 1994
Stars
Simply Red, 1991
Listen to Josh’s list on Spotify |
Vogue
Madonna, 1990
Freedom! ’90
George Michael, 1990
Holy Wars … The Punishment Due
Megadeth, 1990
Safe from Harm
Massive Attack, 1991
Treaty (Filthy Lucre Remix)
Yothu Yindi, 1991
Enter Sandman
Metallica, 1991
November Rain
Guns N’ Roses, 1991
Under The Bridge
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1991
Mouth for War
Pantera, 1992
Killing In The Name
Rage Against The Machine, 1992
Halcyon + On and On
Orbital, 1993
Gardenia / Asteroid / Supa Scoopa and Mighty Scoop
Kyuss, 1994
Wandering Star
Portishead, 1994
Regulate
Warren G & Nate Dogg, 1994
Dark Train (Dark & Long Mix)
Underworld, 1994
Forty Six & 2
Tool, 1996
Paranoid Android
Radiohead, 1997
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears, 1998
Race For The Prize
The Flaming Lips, 1999
Hey Boy Hey Girl
The Chemical Brothers, 1999
Listen to Kris’s list on Spotify |
Terrorist
Heavens To Betsy, 1994
Stupid Girl
Garbage, 1995
Limp
Fiona Apple, 1999
Da Funk
Daft Punk, 1997
The Show Must Go On
Queen, 1991
Nightswimming
R.E.M., 1992
Just A Girl
No Doubt, 1995
Nothing Compares 2 U
Sinéad O’Connor, 1990
Do You Love Me?
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 1994
Jóga
Björk, 1997
Faster
Manic Street Preachers, 1994
Jesus Says
Ash, 1998
1979
Smashing Pumpkins, 1995
Richard III
Supergrass, 1997
Eternal Life
Jeff Buckley, 1994
Svefn-g-englar
Sigur Rós, 1999
Get Miles
Gomez, 1998
Cannonball
The Breeders, 1993
Home Again
Shihad, 1996
What’s Yr Take On Cassavetes
Le Tigre, 1999
Listen to Lucy’s list on Spotify |
Gratitude
Beastie Boys, 1992
Groove Is In The Heart
Dee-Lite, 1990
Even Flow
Pearl Jam, 1991
Oh My God
A Tribe Called Quest, 1993
Come As You Are
Nirvana, 1991
No Rain
Blind Melon, 1992
Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)
Nas, 1994
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve, 1997
Give It Away
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1991
Midlife Crisis
Faith No More, 1992
Shitlist
L7, 1992
Been Caught Stealing
Jane’s Addiction, 1990
Jump Around
House Of Pain, 1992
Connected
Stereo MCs, 1992
Block Rockin’ Beats
The Chemical Brothers, 1997
Voodoo People
The Prodigy, 1994
Get Miles
Gomez, 1998
Killing In The Name
Rage Against The Machine, 1992
Would?
Alice In Chains, 1992
Got ’Til It’s Gone
Janet Jackson, 1997
Listen to Pawel’s list on Spotify |
In The House Of Stone And Light
Martin Page, 1994
Porcelain
Moby, 1999
Nothing Else Matters
Metallica, 1991
Praise You
Fatboy Slim, 1998
Better Man
Pearl Jam, 1994
Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
Baz Luhrmann, 1998
These Days
Powderfinger, 1999
Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere?
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, 1997
Common People
Pulp, 1995
Dreams
The Cranberries, 1992
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
Green Day, 1997
The Sign
Ace Of Base, 1993
Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley, 1994
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana, 1991
Fake Plastic Trees
Radiohead, 1995
Gangsta’s Paradise
Coolio, 1995
Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)
Roxette, 1991
Muzzle
Smashing Pumpkins, 1995
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve, 1997
Listen to Paul’s list on Spotify |
My Shell (Electric Version)
Smog, 1994
Your Woman
White Town, 1997
Muzzle
The Smashing Pumpkins, 1995
Epitaph For My Heart
The Magnetic Fields, 1999
Alison
Slowdive, 1993
Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)
Deftones, 1997
Lucky
Radiohead, 1997
Frou-frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires
Cocteau Twins, 1990
Thuggish Ruggish Bone
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, 1994
Common People
Pulp, 1995
Tearin’ Up My Heart
*NSYNC, 1997
Ride On Time
Black Box, 1989
New Partner
Palace Music, 1995
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears, 1998
Glory Box
Portishead, 1994
Malibu
Hole, 1998
Good Morning, Captain
Slint, 1991
Steal My Sunshine
Len, 1999
Boadicea
Enya, 1987 (reissued 1992)
Katy Song
Red House Painters, 1993
Listen to Richard M’s list on Spotify |
Souvlaki Space Station
Slowdive, 1993
Love At First Sight
Lush, 1994
Picnic By The Motorway
Suede, 1996
This Time
Th’ Faith Healers, 1992
I’m Just A Killer For Your Love
Blur, 1997
Fait Accompli
Curve, 1992
Ruiner
Nine Inch Nails, 1994
Silicon Vallery [Arcon 2 remix]
J Majik, 1997
Tundra
Squarepusher, 1996
Keep On Movin’
Five, 1999
Axe Of Men
Pop Will Eat Itself, 1990
Surf Lost
King Loser, 1993
Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Radiohead, 1995
Ordinary World
Duran Duran, 1992
Kowalski
Primal Scream, 1997
You Freak Me
Supergroove, 1994
Charlotte’s Mouth
Seefeel, 1993
Movements
Roots Manuva, 1999
Devil’s Haircut
Beck, 1996
Nowhere
Ride, 1990
Listen to Richard N’s list on Spotify |
Enjoy The Silence
Depeche Mode, 1990
She
Green Day, 1994
Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
Nirvana, 1993
Bombtrack
Rage Against The Machine, 1992
Ain’t It Fun
Guns N’ Roses, 1993
I Could Have Lied
Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1991
Lover, You Should’ve Come Over
Jeff Buckley, 1994
No Ordinary Love
Sade, 1992
Missing [Todd Terry remix]
Everything But The Girl, 1995
Where Do I Begin
The Chemical Brothers, 1997
Fields Of Gold
Sting, 1993
Ordinary World
Duran Duran, 1992
The Universal
Blur, 1995
Think About The Way
Ice MC, 1994
Drinking In LA
Bran Van 3000, 1997
Cosmic Girl
Jamiroquai, 1996
Heartbreaker
Mariah Carey feat. Jay-Z, 1999
Outside
George Michael, 1998
Around The World
Daft Punk, 1997
Windowlicker
Aphex Twin, 1999
Listen to Samuele’s list on Spotify |
Treaty
Yothu Yindi, 1991
Cornflake Girl
Tori Amos, 1994
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve, 1997
Firestarter
The Prodigy, 1996
Song 2
Blur, 1997
Evidence
Faith No More, 1995
Berlin Chair
You Am I, 1993
The Honeymoon Is Over
The Cruel Sea, 1993
Killing In The Name
Rage Against The Machine, 1992
No Rain
Blind Melon, 1992
Unfinished Sympathy
Massive Attack, 1991
Red Right Hand
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 1994
Glory Box
Portishead, 1994
The Sunshine Underground
The Chemical Brothers, 1999
Lover You Should’ve Come Over
Jeff Buckley, 1994
Paranoid Android
Radiohead, 1997
Loser
Beck, 1993
Interstate Love Song
Stone Temple Pilots, 1994
Fade Into You
Mazzy Star, 1994
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana, 1991
Listen to Sacha’s list on Spotify |
This page uses html-midi-player and the font Comic Neue when Comic Sans MS is not found. Animated GIFs are from GifCities, part of the Internet Archive, and The Hamster Dance. |
✍ This page is best viewed on your first computer, and was updated on the 11th of June, 2022.