60 songs every '90s kid will remember

• The '90s were full of dance hits and powerful ballads.

• The decade is also considered the golden era of rap and hip-hop.

• Here are 60 songs that every '90s kid will remember.

From the budding careers of artists like Mariah Carey and Britney Spears to the iconic voice of Whitney Houston, the '90s were full of dance hits and powerful ballads.

The decade is also considered the golden era of rap and hip-hop, having birthed the likes of Snoop Dogg, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and The Notorious BIG.

Here are 60 songs that every '90s kid will remember.

Angelica Oswald and Barnaby Lane contributed to a previous version of this post.

"Hold On" — Wilson Phillips

The hit single from Wilson Phillips' debut album won single of the year at the Billboard Music Awards in 1990 and was featured at the end of 2011's "Bridesmaids," proving this song never goes out of style.

"Livin' La Vida Loca" — Ricky Martin

Martin's debut English album had a hit with "Livin' La Vida Loca." He won male artist of the year at the Billboard Music Awards in 1999, and the song was No. 1 for five weeks.

"Kiss Me" — Sixpence None the Richer

The song hit No. 2 on the charts in 1998 and has since been used as the perfect romantic song in numerous TV shows and movies, including "Dawson's Creek" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" — Bryan Adams

This love song was featured on Adams' sixth studio album and on the soundtrack for 1991's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." It was named Billboard's single of the year and spent seven weeks at No. 1 in 1991.

"What is Love?" — Haddaway

There is nothing better than belting this 1993 club song as loud as you can. "Saturday Night Live" helped make the song even more popular when it was used in the "Roxbury Guys" sketches and subsequent movie "A Night at the Roxbury."

"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston's cover of the Dolly Parton song was recorded for the 1992 movie "The Bodyguard," which was also her film debut. The song quickly became a huge hit. It spent 14 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and won two Grammys, including record of the year.

Plus, that iconic key change is hard to forget.

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" — Nirvana

This 1991 rock anthem was a revolutionary song for the young generation, and it was Nirvana's biggest hit, reaching No. 6 on the charts. The song is still iconic today, more than 30 years later.

"Baby Got Back" — Sir Mix-A-Lot

This hit was initially controversial for its explicitly sexual lyrics, but it has withstood the test of time and is one of the most recognizable songs from the '90s. It was No. 1 for five weeks in 1992 and even won a Grammy.

"Jump" — Kris Kross

"Jump" was the first single from the 12- and 13-year-old duo Kris Kross and was an instant hit, sitting at No. 1 for eight weeks in 1992. Once the song came on, it really was hard not to get up and jump.

"End of the Road" — Boyz II Men

The Boyz II Men singers were a '90s staple, and "End of the Road" was a smash success for the group. The song was recorded for the 1992 Eddie Murphy movie "Boomerang," and spent 13 weeks at No. 1.

"Losing My Religion" — REM

REM found a surprise hit with this 1991 single that featured a mandolin. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammys, one for its video and one for best pop performance.

"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" — Meat Loaf

This 1993 power ballad was Meat Loaf's first No. 1 hit, and it stayed in the top spot for four weeks. The 12-minute song earned Meat Loaf a Grammy for best rock vocal performance solo.

"Creep" — Radiohead

Radiohead released "Creep" as their first single in 1992, but the song was initially poorly received in the United Kingdom. But thanks to the success of the single in other countries, including the United States, the single was a victory, The New York Times reported.

The band stopped playing the song for a while, but they've started playing it again, reported Rolling Stone.

"I Swear" — All-4-One

This ballad was actually a cover of a successful country song by artist John Michael Montgomery. All-4-One's version from 1994 was more successful though, and stayed at No. 1 for 11 weeks.

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" — The Proclaimers

When "I'm Gonna Be" comes on, it's hard not to sing along with the "da-da-da-da's" even if you can't remember all of the words. The song was a sweet success for the Scottish duo in 1998 and is one of the best one-hit wonders of all time.

"The Power of Love" — Celine Dion

This love song was Celine Dion's first No. 1 single, and it sat at No. 1 for four weeks in 1994. The song, which is a cover of Jennifer Rush's 1984 song, even garnered Dion a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance.

"Whoomp! (There It Is)" — Tag Team

Tag Team became a one-hit wonder with this addictive dance jam in 1993. Rumors began to swirl in 2010 that President Barack Obama appeared in the music video, but it turned out to be false, as reported by Politifact.

"Loser" — Beck

Beck was an independent artist when he released "Loser," and its success led to a record deal with DGC Records. When the song was re-released under the label in 1994, it hit No. 10 on the charts, helping jump-start Beck's career.

"Tootsee Roll" — 69 Boyz

The 69 Boyz emerged on the scene with the "Tootsee Roll" as their first single and reached No. 8 on the charts in 1995.

Everything you need to know about how to do the dance is given to you directly in the lyrics — you just have to pay attention.

"MMMBop" — Hanson

Hanson, a band made up of three brothers, were aged 6 to 11 when they first released this bop in 1997. The single, which reached No. 1, is still the band's most successful single, even though the lyrics might not make any sense.

"Waterfalls" — TLC

TLC's signature hit spent seven weeks at the top of the charts in 1995. The ballad addressed social issues from the '90s, including violence, illegal drugs, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which were also shown in the music video.

"Smooth" — Santana feat. Rob Thomas

Man, it's a hot one.

According to The Washington Post, "Smooth" reemerged as an internet meme in 2016, but the song originally came out in 1999. It spent 12 consecutive weeks at the top of the charts and won three Grammys. Its legacy will forever endure.

"Good Vibrations" — Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

Before Mark Wahlberg was a movie star, he was known as Marky Mark, the little brother of the guy from New Kids on the Block. This dance hit was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's lead single from their debut album. The club beat is still easy to get down to. The song reached No. 1 on the charts upon its release in 1991.

"Kiss From a Rose" — Seal

Seal won three Grammys, including record of the year, for the song, which was released as a single in 1994. It was also included on the soundtrack for "Batman Forever" in 1995. It's been a pop culture favorite ever since, showing up on everything from "Community" to "American Crime Story."

"You Oughta Know" — Alanis Morissette

This angry rock song was a departure from Morissette's earlier, poppier music, but the scathing lyrics were perfect to sing angrily — as any karaoke aficionado knows — and the song took off in 1995.

"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" — Los Del Rïo

This iconic one-hit wonder resulted in a dance hit, with accompanying moves, that is still broken out at weddings and parties around the globe.

A remixed version of the song with the Bayside Boys catapulted "Macarena" to another level, getting it to No. 1 for 14 weeks in 1996 — three years after the song had initially been released.

"No Diggity" — Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre and Queen Pen

Blackstreet's "No Diggity" finally took "Macarena" off its No. 1 perch and stayed at the top for four weeks in 1996. The song won a Grammy for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals. And a whole new generation was introduced to this song in 2012, when Anna Kendrick performed it in "Pitch Perfect."

"Wonderwall" — Oasis

Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher landed their biggest hit in the US with "Wonderwall," where it charted at No. 8 in 1995, and the song earned the group a Grammy nomination. It is consistently ranked as one of, if not the best British song, according to The Independent.

"Why Don't You Get a Job?" — The Offspring

Though slightly more popular in foreign markets, this 1999 single from The Offspring had the perfect amount of anger with a fun beat, which some people say sounds a heck of a lot like The Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," according to MTV.

"Un-Break My Heart" — Toni Braxton

The New York Post reported Braxton originally didn't want to record this ballad, but thankfully she did. After it was released in 1996, the song shot to No. 1 for 11 weeks and earned the singer a Grammy for best female pop vocal performance.

"Truly Madly Deeply" — Savage Garden

The Australian duo released this love song as part of their debut album in 1997, and it managed to hit No. 1 for two weeks. In 2020, the song became part of a TikTok meme describing what it would be like to visit a bar for the first time after the pandemic.

"It's All Coming Back to Me" – Celine Dion

Dion was a formidable force in the '90s. This power ballad was actually a cover of a Pandora's Box song, but it didn't become the iconic song it is today until her version in 1996. The song's crescendos give the song a force that is impossible to ignore.

"Always Be My Baby" — Mariah Carey

This catchy ballad had an upbeat tempo to get people dancing and showed off Carey's ability to hit incredibly high notes. It hit No. 1 for two weeks in 1996 — her fourth consecutive No. 1 and her 11th overall.

"...Baby One More Time" — Britney Spears

Spears' debut single was a chart-topping success upon its release in 1999. The song has cemented itself as one of the best pop songs of all time, and the high-school-set music video is equally as iconic. The song even landed Spears her first Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance, and is one of the best-selling singles of all time — though it hasn't been certified diamond yet.

"I'll Make Love To You" — Boyz II Men

This No. 1 hit love song stayed at the top for 14 weeks in 1994 and earned the group a Grammy for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals. It was also nominated for record of the year.

"Wannabe" — Spice Girls

The Spice Girls proved they had dance song prowess with the release of their first single in 1996, which was a huge hit and launched the girl group to fame. "Wannabe" is all about female empowerment, and even though some of the lyrics don't make any sense, fans just can't help but sing along.

"Gangsta's Paradise" — Coolio feat. L.V.

Coolio's hit song was featured on the soundtrack for Michelle Pfeiffer's "Dangerous Minds" (Pfeiffer also starred in the music video) and was the No. 1 song for three weeks — it was actually the best-selling song of 1995, according to Billboard. The song also earned a Grammy for best rap solo performance.

"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys actually released two international albums before making their US debut in 1998 — which explains why their American debut single starts with the lyrics "Backstreet's back" — but once they did, the boy group became one of the most memorable bands from the late '90s and early 2000s.

"Tubtumping (I Get Knocked Down)" — Chumbawamba

Few things are more fun than screaming, "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you ain't ever gonna keep me down," when you are angry or excited or just need something to pump you up. The political single became British band Chumbawamba's biggest hit upon its release in 1997.

"Barbie Girl" — Aqua

Slightly annoying but unforgettable, "Barbie Girl" was Aqua's biggest hit in the states. The dance song led to Mattel suing MCA Records, but the song was protected as a parody and the case was dismissed, according to the BBC.

In fact, 26 years after its 1997 release, the billion-dollar "Barbie" movie sampled "Barbie Girl" in its soundtrack on the Nicki Minaj song "Barbie World."

"Man! I Feel Like a Woman! — Shania Twain

Twain's empowering song is a going-out anthem. The country-pop song is a danceable hit with easy-to-memorize lyrics, and the 1999 song earned Twain her second Grammy, for best female country vocal performance.

"Ice Ice Baby" — Vanilla Ice

With a bass line from "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie, "Ice Ice Baby" is recognizable whenever it starts. The song made it to No. 1 in 1990, making it the first rap song to ever top the Hot 100.

"The Boy Is Mine" — Brandy and Monica

Brandy and Monica's duet revolves around two women fighting over a boy. The song was at No. 1 for 13 weeks in 1998 and won a Grammy for R&B performance by a duo or group.

In 2024, Ariana Grande released her own song called "The Boy Is Mine," which doesn't technically sample Brandy and Monica's version, but Grande paid her respects by featuring them in the music video.

"No Scrubs" — TLC

Another signature song for TLC, "No Scrubs" was No. 1 for four weeks in 1999 and earned the group their second Grammy nomination for record of the year. The song was (and still is) an all-time anthem against jerks.

Comedian Paul F. Tompkins asked the group on Twitter (now known as X) if they had relaxed their no-scrubs policy in 2017 and the answer was a resounding "hell no."

"The River of Dreams" — Billy Joel

The title track from his 1993 album had a fun beat to bob around to and earned the musician a Grammy nomination for record of the year. It was also his highest-charting song in the '90s, reaching No. 3.

"C'est La Vie" — B*Witched

The debut single from Irish group B*Witched, released in 1998, is as fun as it gets. Though the song doesn't make much sense, the group later revealed it features quite a few sexual innuendos, as reported by Digital Spy.

"Closing Time" — Semisonic

"Closing Time" has been the perfect song to end an evening since its release in 1998. The song has been used in movies and shows like "Friends With Benefits" and "The Office."

"Mambo No. 5" — Lou Bega

Bega's hit dance song took some samples from Pérez Prado's mambo, which caused some controversy for the musician, but everything was eventually settled, according to Rolling Stone. The irresistible beat worked and the one-hit wonder topped charts around the world, making it to No. 3 in the US in 1999.

"Waiting for Tonight" — Jennifer Lopez

Lopez's hit song from her debut album in 1999 is actually a cover of a song by girl group 3rd Party. The dance song helped launch her music career, earned the artist a Grammy nomination for best dance recording, and is still a staple of her performances today — or at least would have been, until her 2024 tour was canceled.

"All Star" — Smash Mouth

Ah, Smash Mouth.

"All Star" features incredibly hilarious lyrics and an addictive beat that helped this song become a smash in 1999. And in case you forgot, the music video features cameos by William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Paul Reubens, Kel Mitchell, Janeane Garofalo, Dane Cook, and more because the song was prominently featured in a superhero comedy called "Mystery Men" — though you probably remember it more from "Shrek" these days.

"Regulate" – Warren G feat. Nate Dogg

The smoothest hip-hop song ever made, Nate Dogg and Warren G's deep, soulful voices on this 1994 hit ride the waves of "Regulate" like a Cadillac rides the coastal streets of California.

"Blue (Da Ba Dee)" – Eiffel 65

Alongside songs by Moby, Enrique Iglesias, and Jennifer Lopez, Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" was nominated for best dance recording at the 2001 Grammys. They all missed out on the prize, however, to — believe it or not — Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?"

"Return of the Mack" – Mark Morrison

The only thing more iconic than Mark Morrison's 1996 smash hit "Return of the Mack" is the British singer's get-up in the music video. Morrison's leather duster, black turtleneck, and huge gold chain have been inspiring fashionistas across the globe ever since.

"Juicy" – The Notorious BIG

Has there ever been a better debut song than The Notorious BIG's 1994 hit "Juicy?" A rags-to-riches tale, the song is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop tracks of all time.

"Tha Crossroads" – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

The fact that Bizzy Bone's opening verse on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's 1996 Eazy-E tribute "Tha Crossroads" is near-indecipherable didn't stop it from becoming one of the decade's most memorable hip-hop tracks.

"Every Morning" – Sugar Ray

The sort of song that you might not remember who sang, but will definitely recognize the second that flamenco-style guitar starts playing, "Every Morning" was Sugar Ray's highest-charting single ever on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 in 1999.

"What Would You Do?" – City High

Originally included on the soundtrack to the 1999 movie "Life," starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, City High released "What Would You Do?" as a single in 2001 to huge success. It proved to be the group's one-and-only hit before they disbanded in 2003.

"Save Tonight" – Eagle-Eye Cherry

Describing his 1997 hit "Save Tonight," Eagle-Eye Cherry told Songwriting Magazine in 2019: "If you're at a party or in a club or at home having dinner with your girlfriend, you get that feeling of, 'This is so perfect, I don't want this to ever end. I wish I could fight the break of dawn.'"

"Don't Speak" – No Doubt

Before Gwen Stefani launched her successful solo career, she was, of course, the lead singer of the American rock band No Doubt. "Don't Speak," which was released in 1996, was the group's biggest-ever hit, selling over 4 million copies.

"What I Got" — Sublime

The career trajectory of reggae-rock hybrid Sublime is an interesting, if tragic one. The group didn't take off until after the death of lead singer Bradley Nowell in 1996. After that, multiple singles rose in popularity, but none so high as "What I Got," an anthem dedicated to going with the flow and finding love in the world. Rolling Stone also called it one of the greatest guitar songs of all time.

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