Best Songs of the 1990s

Grunge, Britpop, golden-age rap and trip-hop — twelve essential 90s songs, each from a catalogue album.

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1

NI

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Nirvana · from Nevermind (1991)

The song that dragged the underground overground.

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2

RA

Paranoid Android

Radiohead · from OK Computer (1997)

A six-minute, multi-part art-rock epic.

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3

NB

Juicy

The Notorious B.I.G. · from Ready to Die (1994)

Hip-hop's definitive rags-to-riches story.

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4

NA

N.Y. State of Mind

Nas · from Illmatic (1994)

A vivid, peerless piece of street writing.

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5

BE

Loser

Beck · from Mellow Gold (1994)

The slacker anthem that came out of nowhere.

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6

PU

Common People

Pulp · from Different Class (1995)

A witty class-war anthem that builds to euphoria.

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7

OA

Wonderwall

Oasis · from (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

The singalong that defined Britpop.

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8

VE

Bitter Sweet Symphony

The Verve · from Urban Hymns (1997)

A string-swept anthem of resignation.

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9

MA

Teardrop

Massive Attack · from Mezzanine (1998)

Hypnotic trip-hop with a heartbeat pulse.

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10

DP

Around the World

Daft Punk · from Homework (1997)

A robotic mantra built for the floor.

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11

LH

Doo Wop (That Thing)

Lauryn Hill · from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Soulful, sharp and effortlessly cool.

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12

DD

Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang

Dr. Dre · from The Chronic (1992)

The G-funk template, smooth and menacing.

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13

RA

Creep

Radiohead · from Pablo Honey (1993)

The self-loathing anthem that became inescapable for a decade.

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14

OA

Wonderwall

Oasis · from (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

The acoustic song everyone learned on guitar in 1995.

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15

SP

1979

The Smashing Pumpkins · from Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)

The most atmospheric thing Corgan ever recorded.

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16

AM

You Oughta Know

Alanis Morissette · from Jagged Little Pill (1995)

The fury that made confessional rock commercially unstoppable.

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17

BE

Loser

Beck · from Mellow Gold (1994)

The slacker anthem nobody expected to last and nobody can forget.

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18

TL

Waterfalls

TLC · from CrazySexyCool (1994)

R&B and hip-hop braided together and aimed straight at the radio.

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19

VE

Bitter Sweet Symphony

The Verve · from Urban Hymns (1997)

The string loop lawsuit that became the decade's most mournful opening.

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20

MA

Teardrop

Massive Attack · from Mezzanine (1998)

Elizabeth Fraser's voice over a trip-hop heartbeat. Unmatchable.

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21

JB

Hallelujah

Jeff Buckley · from Grace (1994)

The Cohen cover that became the defining document of the 90s.

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22

PJ

Black

Pearl Jam · from Ten (1991)

The song Eddie Vedder refused to release as a single and everyone wanted anyway.

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23

R.

Losing My Religion

R.E.M. · from Out of Time (1991)

Mandolin and a nervous breakdown disguised as a pop song.

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24

ND

Don't Speak

No Doubt · from Tragic Kingdom (1995)

The hit that made Gwen Stefani a reluctant voice of 90s heartbreak.

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Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.