Get ready for a nostalgic trip down memory lane! We're revisiting some of the most awesome 90s pop songs that might have slipped your mind over the years. From one-hit wonders to chart-toppers, these tunes defined an era and still have the power to make us dance, sing, and feel all the feels.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best pop songs from
00:08the 1990s that might have slipped from your mind over the years.
00:17Number 20.
00:18Love Fool – The Cardigans
00:24Swedish alternative rock outfit The Cardigans briefly made the crossover to international
00:28pop stardom with Love Fool, the lead single from the band's third album.
00:37A bouncy disco-pop tune about pleading for a partner's affection, Love Fool is a song
00:41for lonely nights of crying and dancing your romantic anguish away.
00:45Lead singer Nina Pearson nails the desperation of trying to keep a fading relationship alive,
00:54and the mix of clean and noisy production elements makes it feel like the pop and alternative
00:59scenes are coming together in the best way possible.
01:01We will always say that we love this song, and we'd be fools not to.
01:13Number 19.
01:14Walking on Broken Glass – Annie Lennox
01:17After ruling the 80s as one half of Eurythmics, Annie Lennox seamlessly made her way into
01:22the subsequent decade as a solo star.
01:31Walking on Broken Glass, from Lennox's solo debut, is a strikingly majestic piece of pop
01:36perfection.
01:41With its sweeping strings and playful, Caribbean-inspired piano, it might take a second to register
01:46the heartbreak at its core.
01:48But soon enough, Lennox's powerful vocals, both raw and pristine, make the words hit
01:53you right where they need to.
02:02And she never lets up.
02:03Actually walking on broken glass?
02:05Painful.
02:06Listening to this song?
02:07Wonderful.
02:08Number 18.
02:09Mouth – Meryl Bainbridge
02:10The 90s were a great time for pop songs about kissing, with classic odes to locking lips
02:29from the likes of Sixpence, None the Richer, and Faith Hill.
02:32However, you might have forgotten about this one, the debut single from Australian singer-songwriter
02:36Meryl Bainbridge.
02:44Featuring a unique composition of Bainbridge's voice, guitar, and a beatbox loop for percussion,
02:50Mouth feels both ahead of its time and timeless.
02:52Though Bainbridge's lyrics don't go past kissing, the passion with which she describes the act
02:57feels truly sensual.
03:03Mouth is one 90s hit that should continue to stay on your lips.
03:13Number 17.
03:14I Want You – Savage Garden
03:15Think synth pop wasn't a thing in the 90s?
03:18Think again.
03:22While it's true the subgenre didn't dominate like it did the previous decade, it still
03:25managed to produce some classics, like this debut single from Aussie duo Savage Garden.
03:35Powered by a driving groove and breathlessly delivered vocals, I Want You is urgent and
03:40emotional.
03:41You might not catch every word, but the universal feeling of undying desire rings crystal clear,
03:46and the chorus still makes a swoon.
03:52Savage Garden only recorded two albums before splitting up in 2001, but this song makes
03:57us wish current artists would take more cues from them.
04:04Number 16.
04:05That's The Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson
04:08This lush hit from musical icon Janet Jackson spent an astonishing eight straight weeks
04:12at number one, a record for her famous family.
04:20And if there's any song that deserves to stay at the top for that long, it's this one.
04:24Kicking off an unanticipated pivot into more intimate territory, That's The Way Love Goes
04:28still has some of the New Jack Swing flair of Jackson's previous work.
04:37And as with so many of her songs, it's brought to new heights by her stunning delivery, which
04:41makes you feel like she's singing right to you.
04:52Hot and heavy, yet also breezy and light, That's The Way Love Goes is just one of many
04:56examples of why Jackson is held in such high regard.
05:05Number 15.
05:06I Swear – All For One
05:08Hit cover songs aren't that unusual, but typically, there's at least a decade of space between
05:13the original and the new rendition.
05:21In November 1993, country star John Michael Montgomery released the ballad I Swear.
05:26Then, four months later, R&B group All For One dropped their cover and found themselves
05:30topping the charts for an incredible 11 straight weeks.
05:38With flawless harmonizing, the quartet truly do become one.
05:48And the production is cheesy goodness in the best way possible, complete with sax solo.
05:53Though Montgomery's version has its own twangy charm, we swear by All For One's rendition
05:57now and forever.
06:04Number 14.
06:05Bitch – Meredith Brooks
06:07Reclamation can be a powerful thing.
06:17On this angsty anthem, singer Meredith Brooks takes a nasty pejorative for a woman and turns
06:22it into something to proudly identify as.
06:31Of course, as the chorus so famously states, she's so much more than just that.
06:36Surprisingly, this piece of unapologetically feminine, guitar-driven alt-rock drew comparisons
06:41to Alanis Morissette.
06:47But Brooks manages to get her voice across, while also sounding like she's singing for
06:52the countless women who felt unappreciated for so long.
06:55You might have understandable gripes with the word in question, however, Brooks' conviction
06:59makes this song about so much more than just a contentious word.
07:07Number 13.
07:09Are You That Somebody – Aaliyah
07:10In her tragically short life, Aaliyah made a name for herself through heart-stopping,
07:15forward-thinking R&B unlike anything else on the charts at the time.
07:24Are You That Somebody, originally recorded for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack, is one of
07:28many songs Aaliyah made in collaboration with Timbaland, and his off-kilter-yet-addictive
07:32production is the perfect complement to her cool-yet-expressive vocals.
07:41Caught up between her affection for a potential partner and her celebrity status, Aaliyah
07:45shows just how complicated fame can be.
07:54The song title might be a question of uncertainty, but there's no doubt as to the brilliance
07:59of the late, great Aaliyah.
08:04Number 12.
08:05Legend of a Cowgirl – Imani Coppola
08:07A year after Paula Cole rhetorically asked where all the cowboys had gone, Imani Coppola
08:11offered up the legend of a cowgirl, fantasizing about life as a Western heroine as a metaphor
08:24for sexual liberation.
08:25Coppola takes country tropes and fuses them with absolute rhythmic pop goodness.
08:37Alternating between singing and rapping, she sounds absolutely confident with every single
08:41syllable.
08:49And considering how catchy and creative the song is, can you blame her?
08:53Speaking of creativity, the music video, with its numerous iconic looks, is yet another
08:58reminder of why we miss the 90s so much.
09:06Number 11.
09:07I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis
09:18While there's no clear answer as to what 90s song has the biggest earworm chorus,
09:22I Love You Always Forever certainly belongs in the conversation.
09:33Welsh singer Donna Lewis' debut single has the kind of hook that feels like it's been
09:37part of our existence forever.
09:45But is there more to this song than a memorable refrain?
09:49Absolutely!
09:50Lewis' tender voice is soothing without sounding anonymous, and the dreamy production
09:54makes us feel as though we're escaping to a more peaceful and romantic realm while listening.
09:58To put it simply, we love this song always forever.
10:06Number 10.
10:07The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica
10:09There's nothing better than a powerhouse duet.
10:12Towards the end of the millennium, singers Brandy and Monica released this sassy bop
10:16and took the world by storm.
10:18With a classic R&B vibe, it is the perfect combination of petty and effortless cool.
10:28The unique concept of having both singers in a rivalry against one another was entirely
10:33new, and the masterful lyricism enhanced the narrative.
10:37It certainly did help that there was a rumored real-life beef between the two artists.
10:41Brandy and Monica added their own details to the melody and rhythm of the hit, showing
10:45off their distinctive styles.
10:54Despite their alleged animosity, there's no doubt that their voices blend perfectly, making
10:59us wish that they collaborated more often.
11:02Number 9.
11:03Steal My Sunshine – Len
11:04While the first part of the 90s was dominated by darker music, the latter half saw a return
11:09of lighthearted yet meaningful pop.
11:12One track that perfectly encapsulates this moment in time is Steal My Sunshine.
11:24The bubbly instrumentation and surprisingly deep lines helped create the perfect blend
11:28of levity and hard-hitting emotion.
11:30The song defines the sound of the entire decade, and when listening to it, it's hard not to
11:35be transported back to the past.
11:37Even the video strikes the perfect nostalgic sweet spot, reminding everyone of simpler
11:42moments in their lives.
11:50While the band's subsequent singles didn't have the same impact on the charts, there's
11:54no doubt that they bottled the essence of that era into one immaculate bop.
11:59Number 8.
12:00Be My Lover – La Bouche
12:01The 90s saw the rise of techno music, leading to the creation of some of the most foundational
12:06numbers in the scene.
12:08Nothing fits that description more than Be My Lover, a tune dripping in pure energy.
12:20Its flawless production was the perfect vehicle for the powerful vocals, with both elements
12:25taking center stage without overpowering one another.
12:28Upon its release, the song dominated the club scene, and for good reason.
12:33It's the perfect bop for a fun night out, and has the ability to leave everyone in high
12:37spirits.
12:45Over time, Be My Lover has solidified its place as a quintessential hit of both its
12:50genre and the era it was released in.
12:52Number 7.
12:53Groove Is In The Heart – D.Light
12:55This not only helped usher in a brand new decade, it also served as a loving homage
12:59to the one that had just ended.
13:02Everything about this song is unapologetically whimsical, from the constant slide whistle
13:06to the Dr. Seuss references.
13:14It managed to include different aspects of several genres without sounding too cluttered,
13:19and the various samples used throughout served as Easter eggs for fans of the original numbers.
13:23It was a musical and technical feat, and helped open the decade with a bang.
13:28The campy presentation of its accompanying video only added to the fun.
13:39Even today, the track still hits hard, capable of getting people across generations grooving
13:44to its infectious beat.
13:45Number 6.
13:46Free Your Mind – En Vogue
13:48Some of the greatest songs are those that aim to convey a broader message about the
13:52state of society.
13:53Free Your Mind manages to do so in the most iconic way possible.
13:57It's empowering from the moment it begins, and advocates for various causes like interracial
14:02marriage and ending harmful stereotypes.
14:12It urged people to free themselves of the negative misconceptions they might hold about
14:16people different from them.
14:18The group's jaw-dropping voices and powerful presences only made the presentation more
14:22invigorating.
14:23The classic rock-inspired instrumentals add potency to the piece, and help command attention
14:28to the points being made.
14:36Its quality activism and superb musicality all wrapped up into one four-minute package.
14:42Number 5.
14:43Do You Know What It Takes – Robin
14:44Music fans know that Sweden is spoiled for pop talent, with Robin being one of the country's
14:50biggest icons.
14:56The singer made a huge splash when she was just a teenager with the release of her single
15:00Do You Know What It Takes.
15:02Bringing R&B and dance-pop vibes together, Robin proved Sweden could groove just as well
15:07as anyone else.
15:16Because she sings to someone she's considering a relationship with, she asserts her need
15:20to be treated right, and her voice fits beautifully over the song's funky production.
15:26With this work, Robin showed she knows what it takes to create something great.
15:37Number 4.
15:38Missing – Todd Terry Remix – Everything But The Girl
15:41Maybe you've heard the original version of this song, which was released by English
15:52indie duo Everything But The Girl in 1994.
15:55But chances are you're more familiar with house DJ Todd Terry's remix.
16:06Terry's booming beats are an unexpected but great accompaniment to Tracy Thorne and Ben
16:11Watt's heartbroken lyrics.
16:13If there was ever a song that could make you dance and cry, it's this one.
16:24According to Thorne, the track was always meant to be a dancey one.
16:28With this remix, Terry brought the party out without betraying the number's inherent
16:33emotion.
16:34If you've missed this song like the deserts miss the rain, now's the perfect time to
16:39revisit it.
16:47Number 3.
16:48Stay – I Missed You – Lisa Loeb If you treasured your glasses as style accessories
16:53in the 90s, it was probably because of Lisa Loeb.
17:02On her biggest hit, the singer-songwriter addresses a partner she's on the outs with.
17:06But she knows it won't be easy to leave for good.
17:09Inspired by Loeb's own relationship difficulties, this song was first meant for Daryl Hall.
17:17However, Loeb held on to it, and with some help from actor Ethan Hawke, the song ended
17:25up on the soundtrack for the iconic Gen X dramedy Reality Bites.
17:29It even topped the Billboard Hot 100.
17:31Oh, and did we mention that she wasn't working with a label at this point?
17:36There's power in independence.
17:46Number 2.
17:47How Bizarre – OMC Roughly 11 months before Lorde was even born,
17:52New Zealand made a splash on the international music charts.
18:04This was thanks to How Bizarre, a hit from Auckland trio OMC.
18:08And true to its title, the song stands out against many others of the time.
18:13With its mix of relaxing guitar airs, groovy beats, trumpets, and singing and rapping from
18:18vocalist Polly Fuemana, it feels like a never-ending array of ideas.
18:24But somehow, each element works together seamlessly.
18:32And the result is a song bursting with both creativity and heart.
18:36The way we can't get enough of this number is making us crazy.
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19:03Number 1.
19:04Crush – Jennifer Page Is there any topic better suited for a pop
19:08song than a crush?
19:17On this catchy hit, singer Jennifer Page tapped into everything we think of when it comes
19:21to infatuation.
19:22From a racing heart to overthinking to fantasizing about the future, Crush addresses all the
19:28steps of falling for someone with true poise.
19:34Page's sultry vocals are so enchanting, we developed a crush on our own.
19:43It's been labeled as teen pop, but the song is a lot more mature than you would expect.
19:49It's safe to say that we'll always have a thing for Crush.
19:57What beloved 90s hit did we forget to remember?
20:00Let us know in the comments!