Home / Songs / Best Songs of the 1990s
By decade

Best Songs of the 1990s

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

  1. 1
    NI

    Smells Like Teen Spirit

    Nirvana · from Nevermind (1991)

    The song that dragged the underground overground.

  2. 2
    RA

    Paranoid Android

    Radiohead · from OK Computer (1997)

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

  3. 3
    NB

    Juicy

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

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

  4. 4
    NA

    N.Y. State of Mind

    Nas · from Illmatic (1994)

    A vivid, peerless piece of street writing.

  5. 5
    BE

    Loser

    Beck · from Mellow Gold (1994)

    The slacker anthem that came out of nowhere.

  6. 6
    PU

    Common People

    Pulp · from Different Class (1995)

    A witty class-war anthem that builds to euphoria.

  7. 7
    OA

    Wonderwall

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

    The singalong that defined Britpop.

  8. 8
    VE

    Bitter Sweet Symphony

    The Verve · from Urban Hymns (1997)

    A string-swept anthem of resignation.

  9. 9
    MA

    Teardrop

    Massive Attack · from Mezzanine (1998)

    Hypnotic trip-hop with a heartbeat pulse.

  10. 10
    DP

    Around the World

    Daft Punk · from Homework (1997)

    A robotic mantra built for the floor.

  11. 11
    LH

    Doo Wop (That Thing)

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

    Soulful, sharp and effortlessly cool.

  12. 12
    DD

    Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang

    Dr. Dre · from The Chronic (1992)

    The G-funk template, smooth and menacing.

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.