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50 Track Playlist Of All Your Favorite Songs From The 90s

by Thomas Rudy March 2, 2020 • 1 min read

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Before iPhones, music streaming services, and mass autotune, existed CD players and making tapes recorded from your favorite radio station.

The 90s brought together the evolution of many forms of music we know today and even brought us Napster, which paved the way for streaming services like Spotify.

Here are 50 of your favorite tracks from the 90s, crossing into all genres that are certain to give you a proper dose of nostalgia.

No Excuses

Listen:
Artist:
  • Alice In Chains
Album:
  • Jar of Flies
Description

No Excuses is a song about overcoming heroin addiction. Lead singer of Alice In Chains, Layne Staley, had been battling with addiction for the last few years of his life.

Under The Bridge

Listen:
Artist:
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album:
  • Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Description

Under The Bridge is a song about the bridge where lead singer Anthony Kiedis would go to buy heroin. The song speaks of the depressed and lonely state that comes along with drug use.

Honey

Listen:
Artist:
  • Mariah Carey
Album:
  • Butterfly
Description

Honey was a song written by Mariah Carey and Sean P. Diddy Combs. This song made it to the top of the Billboard chart and officially sealed a spot for Mariah into the hip hop genre.

Tha Crossroads

Listen:
Artist:
  • Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Album:
  • E. 1999 Eternal
Description

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony singed a contract with Easy E’s company Ruthless Records. The song The Crossroads was a song about the passing of the late Easy E, who died of AIDS in 1995.

Waterfalls

Listen:
Artist:
  • TLC
Album:
  • CrazySexyCool
Description

The song Waterfalls was a huge success for TLC, making it to the top of the Billboard in 1994. It was written to capture the stories of people who chase dreams with no fear of the consequences that may come of it. RIP Left Eye.

Pony

Listen:
Artist:
  • Ginuwine
Album:
  • The Bachelor
Description

Pony was a song composed and produced by Timberland, Ginuwine and Static Major. Timberland was credited as a composer on a top 10 hot

No Diggity (feat. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen)

Listen:
Artist:
  • Blackstreet
Album:
  • Another Level
Description

The song No Diggity is a song that means absolutely. The beat for the song was sampled from the Bill Withers song Grandma’s Hands.

Remember The Time

Listen:
Artist:
  • Michael Jackson
Album:
  • Dangerous
Description

Remember The Time was a break-up song about a previous love interest. Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson, and Iman all starred in the music video for the single.

Babylon

Listen:
Artist:
  • David Gray
Album:
  • White Ladder
Description

Babylon is a song about a man who loses a girl but wants her back. He thinks that fear is what is holding him back from finding love again.

6 Underground

Listen:
Artist:
  • Sneaker Pimps
Album:
  • Becoming X
Description

6 Underground is a song that references death, or being 6 feet underground. The song was written to depict a small industrial town, full of depression and no way out.

You Oughta Know

Listen:
Artist:
  • Alanis Morissette
Album:
  • Jagged Little Pill
Description

You Oughta Know is an angry love song about a woman and her previous relationship. Dave Coulier, the actor Joey from Full House, is rumored to be the subject of this hit song.

Longview

Listen:
Artist:
  • Green Day
Album:
  • Dookie
Description

Longview is a song that Green Day wrote about feeling left out. The band hints toward feeling like a loser and being too bored for life.

Tomorrow

Listen:
Artist:
  • Silverchair
Album:
  • Frogstomp
Description

The song Tomorrow was the first hit single for the band Silverchair. The album was released when the band members were only 15 years old.

Black

Listen:
Artist:
  • Pearl Jam
Album:
  • Ten
Description

Black is a song written by front man Eddie Vedder. He wrote the song about letting go from a previous relationship he had with his ex-girlfriend.

How's It Going to Be

Listen:
Artist:
  • Third Eye Blind
Album:
  • Third Eye Blind
Description

How’s It Going to Be is a song about the status of a relationship. Going from best friends to only acquaintances, Third Eye Blind begs us the question.

Hunger Strike

Listen:
Artist:
  • Temple of the Dog
Album:
  • Temple of the Dog
Description

The song Hunger Strike is about being grateful for life and all that we have been given. The song also points the finger at those who take it for granted and who struggle for fulfillment.

Thunderstruck

Listen:
Artist:
  • AC/DC
Album:
  • The Razors Edge
Description

The AC/DC song, Thunderstruck, was pieced together when it was written. First came the introduction guitar riff, then the song title, then the lyrics.

Heart-Shaped Box

Listen:
Artist:
  • Nirvana
Album:
  • In Utero
Description

Heart-Shaped Box is known as a more mellow track from the grunge band Nirvana. The song was written because of inspiration obtained from watching documentaries about cancer-stricken children.

Everlong

Listen:
Artist:
  • The Foo Fighters
Album:
  • The Colour And The Shape
Description

Everlong is a song written to explain the feeling of a true connection to someone. A connection so close, its as though you and the other person are always in harmony with one another.

Criminal

Listen:
Artist:
  • Fiona Apple
Album:
  • Tidal
Description

The song Criminal is about the feeling you have after you commit a shameful act. In this song, Fiona Apple relates it toward being unfaithful to your significant other.

Lovefool

Listen:
Artist:
  • The Cardigans
Album:
  • First Band on the Moon
Description

Lovefool is a song that was written by lead singer Nina Persson. She wrote the song while waiting in the airport, feeling a sort of bossa nova vibe.

No Rain

Listen:
Artist:
  • Blind Melon
Album:
  • No Rain
Description

The song No Rain was written by bass player Brad Smith. He wrote the song to paint a picture of what it looks like to not have the will to start your day.

It's Your Love

Listen:
Artist:
  • Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Album:
  • Everywhere
Description

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill were pregnant and engaged while recording this hit single. The music video became very popular because Faith Hill was pregnant with their daughter Gracie.

Crazy

Listen:
Artist:
  • Seal
Album:
  • Seal [1991]
Description

Crazy was written to depict the events that occurred in Germany in 1989. The Berlin was coming down, amidst the chaos inspired the lyrics.

Send me On My Way

Listen:
Artist:
  • Rusted Root
Album:
  • When I Woke
Description

Send Me on My Way was not well received at the time of its release. However, this single is now widely recognized due to appearances on film and television.

Interstate Love Song

Listen:
Artist:
  • Stone Temple Pilots
Album:
  • Purple
Description

Scott Weiland wrote this song as if it was through the eyes of his then-girlfriend. He wrote the song as if his girlfriend knew the truth behind his lies about his heroin addiction.

Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.)

Listen:
Artist:
  • Coolio
Album:
  • Gangsta's Paradise
Description

Gangsta’s Paradise was inspired by a sample of the song Pasttime Paradise by Stevie Wonder. Coolio’s version of the song was almost rejected, due to the amount of swearing.

Truly Madly Deeply

Listen:
Artist:
  • Savage Garden
Album:
  • Savage Garden
Description

This love song was originally titled Magical Kisses. However, the lyrics about magical kisses did not receive good criticism. The band would later change the lyrics and the title.

Maria Maria (feat. The Product G&B)

Listen:
Artist:
  • Santana
Album:
  • Supernatural
Description

The Santana song, Maria Maria, was co-written by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis. Maria is the name of the woman from the movie West Side Story.

Been Caught Stealing

Listen:
Artist:
  • Jane's Addiction
Album:
  • Ritual de lo Habitual
Description

Been Caught Stealing was written to express the rush feeling you get when someone catches you stealing. Lead singer Perry Farrell recorded his dog attempting to get inside the vocal booth and used the audio for the beginning of the song.

Tubthumping

Listen:
Artist:
  • Chumbawamba
Album:
  • Tubthumping
Description

The term Tubthumping means to promote something uproariously, in this case, politics. Pissing the night away in England means to drink the night away.

Canned Heat

Listen:
Artist:
  • Jamiroquai
Album:
  • Synkronized
Description

This funky dance song was a huge success for Jamiroquai in 1999. The song gained even more attention for the film Napoleon Dynamite in 2004.

Bitter Sweet Symphony

Listen:
Artist:
  • The Verve
Album:
  • Urban Hymns
Description

Bitter Sweet Symphony is a song about the vicious cycle between life, money, and death. The song uses a sample from the Rolling Stones single The Last Time.

Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand

Listen:
Artist:
  • Primitive Radio Gods
Album:
  • Rocket
Description

The hook was a sample from the B.B. King live performance to the song How Blue Can You Get?. This song would later be used for the Jim Carrey film The Cable Guy.

Summertime

Listen:
Artist:
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Album:
  • Homebase
Description

DJ Jazzy Jeff used a sample from the Kool & The Gang song Summer Madness. This song was written to express the love for summer in west Philadelphia.

Losing My Religion

Listen:
Artist:
  • R.E.M.
Album:
  • Out of Time
Description

Losing My Religion is a song about losing faith in someone or something. This song won a Grammy in 1991 for Best Pop Performance.

Say You'll Be There

Listen:
Artist:
  • Spice Girls
Album:
  • Spice
Description

Say You’ll Be There was written as a group collaboration. The song is about all of the ups and downs that the girls had been through together.

Love You Down

Listen:
Artist:
  • INOJ
Album:
  • Ready For The World
Description

Love You Down is a cover song and INOJ’s biggest hit. The song was first released by the R&B group Ready for the World.

You Make Me Wanna

Listen:
Artist:
  • Usher
Album:
  • My Way
Description

The song You Make Me Wanna was written about a true life, love affair. Usher wrote the song with the help of Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal Jr.

Keep Ya Head Up

Listen:
Artist:
  • 2Pac
Album:
  • Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Description

This song was dedicated to 15-year-old Latasha Harlins. She was shot dead in Los Angeles by Korean store owner, Soon Ja Du.

Champagne Supernova

Listen:
Artist:
  • Oaisis
Album:
  • (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Description

Champagne Supernova is a song with no true meaning. Frontman Noel Gallagher wrote the song as a compilation of different thoughts and experiences.

Harvest Moon

Listen:
Artist:
  • Neil Young
Album:
  • Harvest Moon
Description

Neil Young wrote Harvest Moon about his wife and his love for the moon. This song, along with the rest of the album, was recorded acoustic.

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

Listen:
Artist:
  • Aerosmith
Album:
  • Armageddon The Album
Description

Diane Warren wrote the song I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing about cherishing every moment with someone you love. Aerosmith recorded this song with an elaborate 52 piece orchestra.

Missing

Listen:
Artist:
  • Everything But the Girl
Album:
  • Amplified Heart
Description

The song Missing was written originally as a dance song. However, after much debate, the song was released as a House song due to its beautiful and mellow lyrics.

The Freshman

Listen:
Artist:
  • The Verve Pipe
Album:
  • Villains
Description

Brian Vander Ark, the Lead singer of the band, wrote this song about a real-life event. In high school, his ex-girlfriend had an abortion against his will.

Regulate

Listen:
Artist:
  • Nate Dogg & Warren G
Album:
  • Above The Rim (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Description

Regulate uses a sample from the popular Michael McDonald song, I Keep Forgettin’. This song was recorded in the closet of a broken down 2 bedroom apartment that Warren G was renting at the time.

Black Hole Sun

Listen:
Artist:
  • Soundgarden
Album:
  • Superunknown
Description

The song Black Hole Sun was written by lead singer Chris Cornell. The lyrics he wrote for the song are dark and depressing as a form of therapy.

The Sign

Listen:
Artist:
  • Ace of Base
Album:
  • The Sign
Description

The Sign is a song about a complicated relationship. The lyrics tell a story of a woman who notices that her relationship is coming to an end.

Strawberry Wine

Listen:
Artist:
  • Deana Carter
Album:
  • Did I Shave My Legs for This?
Description

Strawberry Wine was written about young love. The Boone’s Farm production Strawberry Hill was an inspiration for the words used in the song and the song title.

3 A.M.

Listen:
Artist:
  • Matchbox 20
Album:
  • Yourself or Someone Like You
Description

Rob Thomas wrote this song to honor his mother who was battling cancer. His mother survived the illness after the doctors told her she only had 6 months to live.

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