There's no denying it: the 1990s were an iconic time for pop culture – particularly '90s songs and their place in both the music scene and the movies.
Whether you're into a bit of rock, R&B, pop or a little bit of everything, it was an era that delivered on all counts.
So we've pulled together the ultimate playlist of the best 90s songs, including J-Lo, Britney Spears' debut, all the best romcom soundtrack classics from the time and even a bit of Backstreet Boys.
You're welcome.
Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
The absolute broken-hearted 90s girl karaoke classic. Who hasn't sung along to this one on a night out, or into their hairbrush on a dreary afternoon?
Wannabe by Spice Girls
Where it all began – has life even been the same since the five Spice Girls ran around the St Pancras Hotel and sung about being their lover? No. No it hasn't.
Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve
Made all the more iconic by its feature in the '90s classic movie Cruel Intentions – starring Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe – this Britpop classic is full of catharsis.
Wonderwall by Oasis
Speaking of classics of the era, you can't deny this one either. It may be slightly overplayed at wedding receptions but it will go down as one of the most memorable '90s songs ever.
Don't Speak by No Doubt
Gwen Stefani has had an iconic career, but did it not begin with Don't Speak? It started out as a love song, then morphed into a break up song after Stefani's split from No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal.
If You Had My Love by J-Lo
J-Lo's debut single is definitely one of the all-time '90s greats. Of course, there was much more to come from her, but there's something about this tune that brings us all the nostalgia – from her sweet vocals to the 10/10 90s fashion in the music video.
You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette
An absurdly perfect break-up anthem. Who hasn't blasted this when they're insanely angry at someone they've loved, or even lusted after? For this, we owe Alanis Morissette a huge debt.
Lovefool by The Cardigans
Another unbeatable song from the Cruel Intentions soundtrack – “love me, love me, say that you love me". We're total fools for this one.
Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer
On the subject of schmaltzy, sugar-sweet love songs, this one has got to be one of the best of the '90s. For all our soundtrack experts, it was made a key part of the pop culture zeitgeist when played in She's All That – starring Freddie Prinze Jr and Rachel Leigh Cook. There's since been a 2020s remake of the movie, but you can't recreate the magic of this track.
Say My Name by Destiny's Child
You can't encapsulate the '90s music scene without Destiny's Child. This one perfectly sums up their early days, as they began to define the R&B world as it is now. Not bad, girls.
Frozen by Madonna
It was a slow banger back in the day, and it's gone on to inspire Madonna's own daughter, Lourdes Leon's music – as she told GLAMOUR in an interview earlier this year.
Barbie Girl by Aqua
With Hollywood movie sensation Barbie taking over 2023's public conversation, we'd be remiss to not include the song that perfectly defines the essence of Barbie. Infectious, sweet, debatable feminism, hate it or love it.
All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
Who doesn't love a bit of Sheryl? An absolute 90s hun. While all of her tracks during this era are amazing – Soak Up The Sun, If It Makes You Happy – there's something about All I Wanna Do that makes you want to have some fun, surprisingly.
Born Slippy (Nuxx) by Underworld
For Trainspotting fans, this is a no-brainer. For everyone else, still an absolute legendary tune. It filled dancefloors in the 90s, and still does now.
Waterfalls by TLC
The song that later launched a thousand Instagram captions from people taking snaps of waterfalls on holiday. But also one of the catchiest tunes of the entire decade of the Nineties.
Common People by Pulp
Whether you're 90s Britpop diehard fan or not, we bet you'll know and love this one. Jarvis Cocker's lyrics about upper middle class people thinking “poor is cool” and pretending they “never went to school” to act like Common People is both amusing and has stood the test of time. 10/10.
Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Baby Britney has a magic like no other singer. That schoolgirl music video, the “oh baby baby” opener, everything about her debut single is legendary.
Killing Me Softly by Fugees and Ms Lauryn Hill
A top contender for best slow jam ever, we'd argue. Full of love, lust, longing – what more could you want from a broken-hearted anthem?
Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey
It wouldn't be a 90s music round up without our queen and diva Mariah. Whatever decade it is, she serves up sass and incredible vocals, and Always Be My Baby is no exception.
Groove Is In The Heart by Deee-Lite
One of the best dancealong hits of the 1990s, for sure. For wedding dancefloors, for particularly difficult mornings and for your summer barbecue playlist, it works everywhere.
Genie In A Bottle by Christina Aguilera
A pre-Dirrty classic from Christina here. It's also an empowering one – in a 1999 interview the singer opened up about how Genie In A Bottle is all about self-respect. She explained: "People don’t get that, it really is. You’re saying ‘you gotta treat me the right way’."
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) by Backstreet Boys
In a decade full of boy bands, Backstreet Boys rule supreme, especially this absolute banger that is sure to get everyone moving.
