It's time for some blasts from the past! For this list, we’ll be looking at the best tracks from the 1990s that you may no longer remember, but that are worth revisiting.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 90s Songs You Forgot Were Awesome.
00:12For this list, we're looking at the best tracks from the 1990s that you may no longer remember, but that are worth revisiting.
00:24What's your favorite forgotten 90s song? Let us know in the comments.
00:28There are multiple songs dedicated to the late influential grunge musician Andrew Wood, including Wood by Alice in Chains and this song from Candlebox.
00:42Far Behind is moody from the start, with its somber guitar melody and aching vocals from Kevin Martin.
00:57We get a release through the intense chorus, where Martin sounds every type of upset over what happened.
01:09While he doesn't address Wood by name, it's evident that his loss has affected him in a major way.
01:16Far Behind performed well on the Billboard charts, and it's easy to see why.
01:20The best grunge songs find heart inside the angst, and Far Behind is at the front of the pack.
01:39Do you have a weakness for Scottish musicians? If so, you probably fell head over heels for Edwin Collins when this song came out.
01:51The alt-rock track made a mark thanks to the intoxicating guitar playing, its addictive melodies, and Collins' seductive voice.
02:01That's a winning mix if we've ever heard one. We also can't forget the great music video and all of its dancing skeletons.
02:09A Girl Like You was a top ten chart success in multiple places, and even hit number one in Iceland and Flanders.
02:24We had never heard a song like this before, and thanks to Collins' unique style, we're not sure if we ever will again.
02:39We could always benefit from a song like this one.
02:44You Get What You Give is an endlessly peppy 90s classic about how we need to keep going even when the world is against us.
02:59With its jaunty melodies and Greg Alexander's echoing vocals, New Radicals offered a new hope, as well as a few jabs at powerful figures.
03:09While this could have been the perfect way to kick off a long and fruitful career, the band broke up the following year.
03:22Luckily, 2021 saw them come together to perform the track in honor of President Joe Biden's inauguration.
03:29We still have the dreamer's disease, and we're not worried about a cure.
03:40Music fans know that Sweden is spoiled for pop talent, with Robin being one of the country's biggest icons.
03:52The singer made a huge splash when she was just a teenager with the release of her single Do You Know What It Takes.
04:02Bringing R&B and dance pop vibes together, Robin proved Sweden could groove just as well as anyone else.
04:16As she sings to someone she's considering a relationship with, she asserts her need to be treated right,
04:22and her voice fits beautifully over the song's funky production.
04:25With this work, Robin showed she knows what it takes to create something great.
04:32Many hit 90s songs referenced intimacy in one way or another, but few were as explicit as this one from Manchester band James.
04:56A key word from the track's opening lines was actually changed for one version of the video,
05:01but the message is still pretty obvious.
05:04The number sounds like something that could have made a splash in just about any decade.
05:15That is thanks in large part to Tim Booth's passionate vocals and the shimmering guitar chords.
05:21Though it was released in 1993, the song later gained a new life thanks to the American Pie films.
05:27We have to say, a movie based directly on the lyrics today would definitely be interesting.
05:44Heartfelt ballads will always be in style,
05:47and brothers KC and JoJo provided us with an all-time classic fit for the late 90s.
05:57All My Life is R&B at its most gorgeous, with beautiful vocal melodies,
06:04a powerful instrumental arrangement, and touching lyrics about love.
06:14There's not an ounce of cynicism to be found in this song, only affection and appreciation.
06:20It even made Billboard's Hot 100 Singles of the 90s list,
06:24showing that a positive message can lead to a massive hit.
06:28We could listen to this song all our lives and never get tired of it.
06:44Maybe you've heard the original version of this song,
06:46And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain.
06:53which was released by English indie duo Everything But The Girl in 1994.
06:57But chances are you're more familiar with house DJ Todd Terry's remix.
07:02Walking down your street again, past your door.
07:09Terry's booming beats are an unexpected but great accompaniment
07:12to Tracy Thorne and Ben Watt's heartbroken lyrics.
07:15If there was ever a song that could make you dance and cry, it's this one.
07:27According to Thorne, the track was always meant to be a dancey one.
07:31With this remix, Terry brought the party out without betraying the number's inherent emotion.
07:37If you've missed this song like the deserts miss the rain,
07:40now's the perfect time to revisit it.
07:45Oh, I miss you.
07:53Queen Latifah has had such a remarkable career,
07:56doing everything from acting to talk show hosting flawlessly.
08:00So it's easy to forget that she was first known as a rapper and hip-hop artist.
08:05Don't be getting mad when we playing, it's cool.
08:07But don't you be calling me out my name.
08:09I bring crap to those who disrespect me like a dame.
08:12But if you ever need a reminder of what a force she is on the mic,
08:16listen to UNITY.
08:18Not only does this song showcase Latifah's amazing rapping and lyrical skills,
08:23but it also has a very powerful message.
08:26Addressing the misogyny that had become prevalent in the genre,
08:29the star stands up for herself and others like her.
08:32The sentiment is as relevant now as it was then,
08:35and the track is just as impactful.
08:48We had heard the song before,
08:50but we didn't know what it was about.
08:53Eve 6.
08:54We had heard of a broken heart,
08:56but this was our first time hearing about a blended heart.
09:07This hit from Alt-Rocker's Eve 6 is about agony both painful and poetic.
09:12As frontman Max Collins sings over the blasts of guitar,
09:15he paints a vivid picture that has the depth to resonate with any listener.
09:22Inside Out was the first single off of the band's self-titled debut,
09:29and they were still rather young at the time.
09:31There's definitely plenty of angst in this song as a result,
09:34but it never gets old.
09:36Beyond that,
09:37Collins' skills as a songwriter have made it a 90s rock classic.
09:42If you're looking for a whimsical song about a land populated by possums,
09:46keep looking, cause you're not gonna find that here.
09:55This song from the Texas Alt-Rocker's Toadies is about Possum Kingdom Lake,
09:59located close to Fort Worth.
10:01Toadies from the Texas Alt-Rocker's Toadies is a song about a land
10:05populated by possums,
10:06and it's a song that's been around for a long time.
10:09Located close to Fort Worth,
10:11Toadies frontman Vaden Todd Lewis reportedly made up a legend
10:14about a killer who stalked the region,
10:16and the track's spooky lyrics helped give Possum Kingdom a new legacy.
10:29While this subject matter might be a tough sell for a popular song,
10:32the Toadies managed to balance both catchiness and creepiness.
10:36Just maybe don't listen to it on any late night walks for your own sake.
10:54Some songs are just so catchy,
10:56they get stuck in your head before the first chorus.
10:59This track from New York's Spin Doctors is a royal delight.
11:03The powerful drums and guitar grooves get us hooked right away,
11:07with the casual but charismatic vocals keeping us there.
11:10With its mix of loud production and pretty melodies,
11:13the song manages to be both tough and sweet.
11:20Two Princes became Spin Doctors' number one hit,
11:23and it's a song that's been around for a long time.
11:29reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100,
11:32and snagging them a Grammy nomination.
11:35We wouldn't blame you if you felt like listening to it now.
11:47When Truman Capote published Breakfast at Tiffany's,
11:49he probably never expected his story would become such a phenomenon.
11:59Of course, the 1961 movie it spawned is widely beloved.
12:04Deep Blue Something smartly used it as the crux of their song
12:07about a man trying to save his relationship.
12:19Despite its title, it's been said that the words were inspired
12:22by another Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday.
12:25Either way, it's a great listen.
12:28With earnest vocals and a huge chorus,
12:30Breakfast at Tiffany's is 90s rock at its most lovably sentimental.
12:35Deep Blue Something might be regarded as one-hit wonders,
12:38but we will always be up to grab Breakfast at Tiffany's with them.
12:52We hope you're in a good mood because this song is probably gonna bring you down.
12:58I've learned all my lessons before now.
13:05On Bound for the Floor,
13:06Illinois duo Local H are not offering much hope, happiness, or healing.
13:11Over distorted-sounding guitar, frontman Scott Lucas
13:15sings raspily about how he's born to be down.
13:18The song is full of rage, much of it directed inwardly.
13:21And you just don't get it, you become sad and you learn to accept it.
13:27While it might not have come from a positive mindset,
13:30Bound for the Floor still works as a commentary on self-esteem
13:33and how easy it is to tear yourself down.
13:36Through this song, Local H likely helped many struggling people to feel seen.
13:40And you just don't get it, you become sad and you learn to accept it.
13:47And now you're talking about it.
13:52If you treasured your glasses as style accessories in the 90s,
13:56it was probably because of Lisa Loeb.
14:04On her biggest hit,
14:05the singer-songwriter addresses a partner she's on the outs with.
14:09But she knows it won't be easy to leave for good.
14:12Inspired by Loeb's own relationship difficulties,
14:14this song was first meant for Daryl Hall.
14:22However, Loeb held on to it.
14:24And with some help from actor Ethan Hawke,
14:27the song ended up on the soundtrack for the iconic Gen X dramedy Reality Bites.
14:31It even topped the Billboard Hot 100.
14:34Oh, and did we mention that she wasn't working with a label at this point?
14:38There's power in independence.
14:52Music can both entertain us and broaden our cultural awareness.
15:03In this hit featuring acclaimed artist Neneh Cherry,
15:06Senegalese singer Youssou Ndour speaks from the heart.
15:09Singing in French, English and Wolof,
15:12Ndour focuses on a child's introduction to the world,
15:15unaware of all of the issues facing society.
15:22With its sensual production and great performances from Ndour and Cherry,
15:28Seven Seconds is a song that provides hope during hard times.
15:32No matter what language you speak, you'll likely find yourself touched.
15:36This song lasts much longer than Seven Seconds.
15:39And for that, we're forever grateful.
15:41Do you love songs that you can both dance and mosh to?
15:45Then you're probably a big fan of this one from Republica.
15:58Ready To Go mixes dance elements like pulsating percussions
16:01with rock ones like electric guitars.
16:04It all comes together to create an infectious and exciting song.
16:08It all comes together to create an infectious and exciting song,
16:12punctuated by powerhouse vocals.
16:22Republica barely slows down for a second on this track.
16:25But with hooks as good as the ones here,
16:28we don't blame them for wanting to keep the momentum going.
16:30We'll shout it from the rooftops.
16:32We'll always be ready to jam along to Ready To Go.
16:38Baby, I'm ready to go.
16:45Roughly 11 months before Lorde was even born,
16:48New Zealand made a splash on the international music charts.
17:00This was thanks to How Bizarre, a hit from Auckland trio OMC.
17:04And true to its title,
17:05this song stands out against many others of the time.
17:08With its mix of relaxing guitar airs, groovy beats,
17:12trumpets, and singing and rapping from vocalist Pali Fuemana,
17:15it feels like a never-ending array of ideas.
17:25But somehow, each element works together seamlessly,
17:28and the result is a song bursting with both creativity and heart.
17:32The way we can't get enough of this number is making us crazy.
17:46While glam rock is a genre often associated with the 70s,
17:49it stayed relevant in the 1990s,
17:51thanks in part to this song from Space Hog.
17:54The band combines the pageantry of glam rock with a raw 90s energy.
18:03And they bring some 80s flair into it too,
18:06sampling experimental pop group Penguin Cafe Orchestra's song,
18:10Telephone and Rubber Band.
18:12Although the lyrics might seem a little vague at first listen,
18:15singer Royston Langdon has said that they're about finding self-acceptance.
18:24If David Bowie had first started making music in the 1990s,
18:27we imagine that it would have sounded a little like this.
18:30We just love the awe of this song.
18:32We just like, we just like, we just like you.
18:43Is there any topic better suited for a pop song than a crush?
18:47See a girl with me, I guess it doesn't take a scientist
18:51to understand what's going on, baby.
18:54On this catchy hit,
18:55singer Jennifer Page tapped into everything we think of when it comes to infatuation.
19:00From a racing heart, to overthinking, to fantasizing about the future,
19:04Crush addresses all the steps of falling for someone with true poise.
19:12Page's sultry vocals are so enchanting, we developed a crush of our own.
19:16It's been labeled as teen pop,
19:18but the song is a lot more mature than you would expect.
19:22It's safe to say that we'll always have a thing for Crush.
19:24I'm not like everything I do, depends on you.
19:30Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
19:32and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
19:35You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
19:39If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
19:48If you want to write a song but are feeling stuck,
19:51take a look at the news and see if anything strikes you.
19:55Apparently, that's what Austin band Fastball did for this song.
20:05The way was reportedly conceptualized after group member Tony Scalzo
20:08learned about an elderly Texas couple who went missing and ultimately didn't make it.
20:18While the real-life story is a tragic one,
20:21Fastball managed to create a song that honors its subject without becoming too melancholic
20:26or coming across as callous.
20:28We might not know the way, but we do know something.
20:31Fastball scored a home run with this track.
20:40Do you agree with our picks?
20:42Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
20:44And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
20:51you