Hottest 254 of the 1990s!

(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.

All the songs, in chronological order

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.

Individual lists

Adrian (in no order)

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

Daniel (as a countdown)

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

Frances (as a mixtape)

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

Gayle (in no order)

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

Jane (in no order)

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

Jess (as a mixtape)

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

Josh (in no particular order)

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

Kris (in chronological order)

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

Lucy (in no particular order)

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

Pawel (in no particular order)

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

Paul (as a countdown)

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

Richard M (in “flow” order)

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

Richard N (in no particular order)

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

Samuele (in no particular order)

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

Sacha (as a countdown)

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

✍ This page is best viewed on your first computer, and was updated on the 11th of June, 2022.