Embedded Files
50
This Is How We Do It
Montell Jordan
from This Is How We Do It
(released April 4, 1995 on Def Jam / Rush Associated Labels)
Released: February 6, 1995 as the lead single from his debut album
★ Def Jam's first R&B release
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Billboard Music Award - Best R&B Song; Grammy Award - Best Male R&B Performance; MTV Video Music Award - Best R&B Video; MTV Video Music Award - Best Dance Video; Soul Train Music Award - Best R&B/Soul Single
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 29
49
Runaway Train
Soul Asylum
from Grave Dancers Union
(released October 6, 1992 on Columbia)
Released: June 1, 1993 as the third single from their sixth album
★ Accolades:
Awards: Grammy - Best Rock Song
Nominations: Grammy - Best Music Video; Grammy - Best Rock Performance
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 5
US Billboard Decade End: -
48
Sabotage
Beastie Boys
from Ill Communication
(released May 31, 1994 on Capitol / Grand Royal)
Released: January 28, 1994 as the lead single from their fourth album
★ Peaked at number 15 on Billboard's Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Hard Rock Performance; MTV - Best Direction; MTV - Video of the Year; MTV - Viewer's Choice; MTV - Best Breakthrough Video; MTV - Best Group
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
47
You Oughta Know
Alanis Morissette
from Jagged Little Pill
(released June 13, 1995 on Reprise / Maverick)
Released: July 7, 1995 as the lead single from her third album
★ Accolades:
Awards: Grammy - Best Rock Song; Grammy - Best Female Rock Vocal Performance; Juno - Single of the Year (Canada)
Nominations: Grammy - Song of the Year
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 6
US Billboard Decade End: -
46
Genie In A Bottle
Christina Aguilera
from Christina Aguilera
(released August 24, 1999 on RCA)
Released: June 22, 1999 as the lead single from her debut album
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 43
45
Dammit
Blink-182
from Dude Ranch
(released June 17, 1997 on MCA / Cargo)
Released: 1997 as the second single from their second album
★ Sometimes subtitled "Growing Up"
★ Spent 28 weeks on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number 11
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 61
US Billboard Decade End: -
44
The Way
Fastball
from All The Pain Money Can Buy
(released March 10, 1998 on Hollywood)
Released: February 24, 1998 as the lead single from their second album
★ Spent seven weeks atop the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rock Performance; Billboard - Adult Top 40 Track of the Year
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
43
El Scorcho
Weezer
from Pinkerton
(released September 24, 1996 on DGC)
Released: September 19, 1996 as the lead single from their second album
★ Several radio stations refused to play the song, and the video was not played on MTV, contributing to the album's commercial failure
★ It was extremely popular in Australia and made it to #9 on the Triple J Hottest 100 chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
42
My Heart Will Go On
Celine Dion
from Let's Talk About Love
(released November 14, 1997 on Columbia / Epic)
Released: December 8, 1997 as the fourth single from her fifth English-language album
★ Best known as "Love Theme From 'Titanic'"
★ Accolades:
Awards: Academy - Best Original Song; Billboard - Soundtrack Single of the Year; Grammy - Record of the Year; Grammy - Song of the Year; Grammy - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance; Grammy - Best Song Written for a Motion Picture
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: -
41
Two Princes
Spin Doctors
from Pocket Full Of Kryptonite
(released August 20, 1991 on Epic)
Released: January 31, 1993 as the second single from their debut album
★ Ranked number 41 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s"
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rock Performance
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 7
US Billboard Decade End: -
40
Losing My Religion
R.E.M.
from Out of Time
(released March 12, 1991 on Warner Bros.)
Released: February 19, 1991 as the second single from their seventh album
★ The phrase "losing my religion" is an expression from the southern region of the United States that means "losing one's temper or civility" or "feeling frustrated and desperate"
★ The record label was wary about the group's choice of the song as the album's first single; the track spent 21 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100
★ Accolades:
Awards: Grammy - Best Short Form Music Video; Grammy - Best Pop Performance by a Group; MTV - Video of the Year; MTV - Best Group Video; MTV - Breakthrough Video; MTV - Best Direction; MTV - Best Art Direction; MTV - Best Editing
Nominations: Grammy - Record of the Year; Grammy - Song of the Year; MTV - Best Alternative Video; MTV - Best Cinematography
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 4
US Billboard Decade End: -
39
Juicy
The Notorious B.I.G.
from Ready to Die
(released September 13, 1994 on Bad Boy / Arista)
Released: August 9, 1994 as the lead single from his debut album
★ Reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart
★ VH1 ranked it #7 on its "100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs Ever", and #1 on its "40 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of the 90s"
★ Pitchfork Media ranked the song at #14 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 27
US Billboard Decade End: -
38
Mr. Jones
Counting Crows
from August and Everything After
(released September 14, 1993 on Geffen)
Released: December 1, 1993 as the lead single from their debut album
★ Reached the number 5 spot on the Billboard Radio Songs chart
★ Placed at number 2 on three Billboard charts: Alternative Airplay; Mainstream Rock; Mainstream Top 40
Accolades:
Awards: MTV - Best New Artist
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
37
Hand In My Pocket
Alanis Morissette
from Jagged Little Pill
(released June 13, 1995 on Reprise / Maverick)
Released: October 31, 1995 as the second single from her third album
★ Reached the top of the charts in her native Canada, becoming her first number one single there
★ Peaked at number one on the US Modern Rock Tracks (Alternative) chart, at number four on the US Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) chart, at number fifteen on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and at number eight on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart
★ Served as the theme song in the unaired pilot episode of the television show Dawson's Creek, but Morissette decided not to have it used as the theme after the show was picked up.
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
36
Plowed
Sponge
from Rotting Piñata
(released August 2, 1994 on Work Group / Columbia)
Released: 1994 as the second single from their debut album
★ The song is featured in the 1995 film Empire Records, but is not present on the film's soundtrack
★ The band's second highest-charting song on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it reached number 5
★ The song also reached number 9 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 41
US Billboard Decade End: -
35
Flagpole Sitta
Harvey Danger
from Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
(released July 29, 1997 on Arena Rock)
Released: July 13, 1997 as the first single from their debut album
★ Peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart
★ The song gained popularity after singer Sean Nelson gave a copy of the album to a KNDD (Seattle) DJ. Shortly after this, it was picked up by KROQ-FM
★ Was used as the theme song for the British sitcom Peep Show for the second series onwards
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
34
Stay (I Missed You)
Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
from Tails
(released September 26, 1995 on Geffen)
Released: May 17, 1994
★ Peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 42
33
Lovefool
The Cardigans
from First Band On The Moon
(released September 17, 1996 on Mercury)
Released: September 9, 1996
★ Peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
32
No Scrubs
TLC
from FanMail
(released February 23, 1999 on Arista)
Released: February 2, 1999
★ Peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 33
31
My Name Is Jonas
Weezer
from Weezer
(released May 10, 1994 on DGC)
Released: (not officially released as a single)
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
30
Barbie Girl
Aqua
from Aquarium
(released March 26, 1997 on Universal)
Released: May 14, 1997
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 7
US Billboard Decade End: -
29
Everlong
Foo Fighters
from The Colour And The Shape
(released May 20, 1997 on Capitol)
Released: August 18, 1997
★ Peaked at number 3 on the US Alternative Airplay Billboard chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
28
Creep
Radiohead
from Pablo Honey
(released February 22, 1993 on Parlophone)
Released: September 6, 1992
★ Peaked at number 2 on the US Alternative Airplay Billboard chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 34
US Billboard Decade End: -
27
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
from ...Baby One More Time
(released January 12, 1999 on Jive)
Released: September 28, 1998
★ The song is one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over ten million copies sold.
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 78
26
Heart-Shaped Box
Nirvana
from In Utero
(released September 13, 1993 on DGC)
Released: August 30, 1993
★ Peaked at number 1 on the US Alternative Songs chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
25
Just A Girl
No Doubt
from Tragic Kingdom
(released October 10, 1995 on Interscope / Trauma)
Released: September 21, 1995
★ Peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 23
US Billboard Decade End: -
24
No Diggity
Blackstreet
from Another Level
(released September 10, 1996 on Interscope)
Released: July 29, 1996
★ Peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, US Hot Dance Singles Sales, and US Rhythmic charts
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 36
23
Self Esteem
The Offspring
from Smash
(released April 8, 1994 on Epitaph)
Released: December 22, 1994
★ Peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
22
Gangsta's Paradise
Coolio
from Gangsta's Paradise
(released November 7, 1995 on Tommy Boy)
Released: August 8, 1995
★ Peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 13
21
Torn
Natalie Imbruglia
from Left Of The Middle
(released November 24, 1997 on RCA)
Released: October 27, 1997
★ Peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart
★ Was actually a cover version of a song by Ednaswap
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 42
US Billboard Decade End: -
20
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve
from Urban Hymns
(released September 29, 1997 on Hut)
Released: June 16, 1997 (March 1998 in the US) as the lead single from their third album
★ Single of the Year in 1997 in both Rolling Stone and NME
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Brit - Song of the Year; Grammy - Best Rock Performance; MTV - Video of the Year; MTV - Best Alternative Video
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 12
US Billboard Decade End: -
19
Don't Speak
No Doubt
from Tragic Kingdom
(released October 10, 1995 on Interscope / Trauma)
Released: April 15, 1996 as the third single from their third album
★ Did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 (as rules of the times required commercial singles for charting and one was not issued for the song), but it did reach number one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for sixteen weeks
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Pop Performance by a Group; Grammy - Song of the Year; MTV - Video of the Year
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
18
Black Hole Sun
Soundgarden
from Superunknown
(released March 8, 1994 on A&M)
Released: May 14, 1994 as the third single from their fourth album
★ Topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of seven weeks at number one
★ Ranked #1 on Billboard's US Alternative Songs year-end chart in 1994
★ Accolades:
Awards: Grammy - Best Hard Rock Performance
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rock Song
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
17
Paranoid Android
Radiohead
from OK Computer
(released May 21, 1997 on Capitol)
Released: May 26, 1997 as the lead single from their third album
★ Charted at number three on the UK Singles Chart
★ The original version was 14 minutes long and included an organ outro but was cut down to six and half minutes
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Brit - Song of the Year; MTV - Best Breakthrough Video
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
16
Tonight, Tonight
The Smashing Pumpkins
from Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
(released October 24, 1995 on Virgin)
Released: June 11, 1996 as the third single from their third album
★ Peaked at number 4 on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Music Video; MTV - Viewer's Choice; MTV - Best Editing
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 36
US Billboard Decade End: -
15
Buddy Holly
Weezer
from Weezer
(released May 10, 1994 on DGC)
Released: September 7, 1994 as the second single from their debut album
★ Reached number two on Billboard's US Alternative Airplay chart
★ The earliest version of the song's chorus went: "Oo-wee-oo you look just like Ginger Rogers / Oh, oh, I move just like Fred Astaire"
★ Accolades:
Nominations: MTV - Best Alternative Video; MTV - Breakthrough Video; MTV - Best Direction; MTV - Best Editing
Nominations: MTV - Video of the Year
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
14
Mo Money Mo Problems
The Notorious B.I.G.
from Life After Death
(released March 25, 1997 on Bad Boy / Arista)
Released: July 15, 1997 as the second single from his second and final album
★ The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1997, replacing "I'll Be Missing You"—Puff Daddy's own tribute to the rapper—from the chart
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rap Performance by a Group; MTV - Best Rap Video; Soul Train - Best Video of the Year
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 85
13
Santeria
Sublime
from Sublime
(released July 30, 1996 on MCA)
Released: January 7, 1997 as the second single from their third and final album
★ Cracked the Top 5 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as reaching number 43 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart
★ The guitar solo, bassline, and chords are reused from their song "Lincoln Highway Dub" featured on the previous album, Robbin' the Hood.
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
12
Longview
Green Day
from Dookie
(released February 1, 1994 on Reprise)
Released: February 1, 1994 as the lead single from their third album
★ Reached number 1 on Billboard's US Alternative Airplay chart
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Hard Rock Performance; MTV - Best Group Video; MTV - Best New Artist in a Video; MTV - Best Alternative Video
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
11
Possum Kingdom
Toadies
from Rubberneck
(released August 23, 1994 on Interscope)
Released: August 30, 1994 as the second single from their debut album
★ Most of the song alternates between a 7/4 and an 8/4 time signature
★ The music video was featured in an episode of Beavis and Butt-head, in which the duo criticize the music video and talk about death and dying
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
10
Enter Sandman
Metallica
from Metallica
(released August 12, 1991 on Elektra)
Released: July 29, 1991 as the lead single from their fifth album
★ Achieved platinum certification for more than 1,000,000 copies shipped in the United States, spurring sales of over 30 million copies for Metallica and propelling the band to worldwide popularity
★ Accolades:
Awards: MTV - Best Metal Video
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rock Song; MTV - Best Editing; MTV - Best Cinematography
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 16
US Billboard Decade End: -
9
Waterfalls
TLC
from CrazySexyCool
(released November 15, 1994 on La Face / Arista)
Released: May 29, 1995 as the third single from their second album
★ With a million-dollar budget, the video was an MTV staple and stayed atop the MTV Video Monitor chart for over a month, making TLC the first act to ever achieve this feat
★ Sputnikmusic's Nick Butler asserted that "any list of the best singles of the 90s that does not include this in the top 15 — at least — is among the worst lists ever written."
★ Accolades:
Awards: MTV - Video of the Year; MTV - Best Group Video; MTV - Best R&B Video; MTV - Viewer's Choice; Soul Train - Best Video of the Year; Soul Train - Best R&B/Soul Single by a Group
Nominations: Grammy - Record of the Year; Grammy - Best Pop Performance by a Group; MTV - Best Direction; MTV - Best Visual Effects; MTV - Best Art Direction; MTV - Best Editing; MTV - Best Cinematography; MTV - Breakthrough Video
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 19
8
MMMBop
Hanson
from Middle Of Nowhere
(released May 6, 1997 on Mercury / Polygram)
Released: April 15, 1997 as the lead single from their debut album
★ The band members were between the ages of 11 and 16 when it was released
★ Was voted the best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll, while also topping critics' polls from such media as Rolling Stone, Spin, and VH1, and was ranked number 20 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s"
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Record of the Year; Grammy - Best Pop Performance by a Group; MTV - Best New Artist
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 57
7
Semi-Charmed Life
Third Eye Blind
from Third Eye Blind
(released March 26, 1997 on Elektra)
Released: February 18, 1997 as the lead single from their debut album
★ The concept of the song was developed through Stephen Jenkins's observations of friends using crystal meth at a Primus concert
★ Won the Billboard Music Award for Modern Rock Track of the Year and peaked at number 1 on its Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Top 40 charts
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 4
US Billboard Decade End: -
6
Wonderwall
Oasis
from (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
(released October 2, 1995 on Creation)
Released: October 30, 1995 as the fourth single from their second album
★ Appeared on seven different U.S. Billboard charts, hitting number 1 on the Alternative Airplay chart, where it spent a then-unprecedented 10 weeks
★ The song was originally titled "Wishing Stone;" the final title is a nod to George Harrison's album, Wonderwall Music
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Brit - Song of the Year; Grammy - Best Rock Song; Grammy - Best Rock Performance by a Group
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 8
US Billboard Decade End: -
5
No Rain
Blind Melon
from Blind Melon
(released September 22, 1992 on Capitol)
Released: June 8, 1993 as the second single from their debut album
★ Peaked at number 1 on the US Alternative Airplay and US Mainstream Rock charts
★ The video ranked at #22 on MTV's Greatest Videos Ever Made countdown at the end of 1999
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rock Performance by a Group
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 20
US Billboard Decade End: -
4
Basket Case
Green Day
from Dookie
(released February 1, 1994 on Reprise)
Released: August 1994 as the second single from their third album
★ Spent five weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks (Alternative Airplay) chart
★ In 2009, it was named the 33rd best hard rock song of all time by VH1
★ Accolades
Nominations: Grammy - Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Group; MTV - Video of the Year; MTV - Best Group Video; MTV - Best Metal/Hard Rock Video; MTV - Best Alternative Video; MTV - Breakthrough Video; MTV - Best Direction; MTV - Best Editing; MTV - Best Cinematography; MTV - Viewer's Choice Award
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: -
US Billboard Decade End: -
3
The Sign
Ace of Base
from The Sign
(released November 23, 1993 on Arista)
Released: December 14, 1993 as the second single from their debut album
★ It success allowed Ace of Base to become the first Swedish group to simultaneously score a number one single and album on the Billboard charts
★ The number one song of 1994 according to Billboard magazine's year-end charts
★ Accolades:
Nominations: Grammy - Best Pop Performance by a Group
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 11
2
Wannabe
Spice Girls
from Spice
(released September 19, 1996 on Virgin)
Released: June 26, 1996 (January 1997 in the US) as the second single from their debut album
★ By the end of 1996, "Wannabe" had topped the charts in 22 nations, and by March 1997 this number had climbed to 37
★ In a 2014 study, it was chosen as the most easily recognisable pop song of the last 60 years
★ Was named as Spotify's most-streamed 90s song of 2020 by a female artist
★ Accolades:
Awards: Brit - Song of the Year; MTV - Best Dance Video
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 1
US Billboard Decade End: 35
1
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
from Nevermind
(released September 24, 1991 on DGC)
Released: September 10, 1991 as the lead single from their second album
★ Topped the music video category in the Village Voice's 1991 "Pazz & Jop" poll
★ MTV ranked the song's music video at number three on its "100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" list in 1999
★ Published on YouTube in 2009 upon the debut of the music video streaming website Vevo, the video has over 1.1 billion views as of August 2020
★ Ranked #1 on Nielsen's US Mainstream Rock Decade End list for 2010-2019
★ Accolades:
Awards: MTV - Best Alternative Video; MTV - Best New Artist; Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017
Nominations: Grammy - Best Hard Rock Performance; Grammy - Best Rock Song
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 6
US Billboard Decade End: -
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