A London DJ’s music guide
90s music: 100 hits, songs and artists
From Eurodance and Swedish pop to grunge, R&B and hip-hop. Here you’ll find the tracks that shaped the 90s – and still get the dance floor going.
90s music ranges from the Spice Girls, Ace of Base and Britney Spears to Nirvana, Tupac and The Prodigy. For a party, a mix of these works best: well-known choruses, clear changes in tempo and a few unexpected nostalgic tracks.
The Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Robyn.
Nirvana, Oasis, Green Day and The Cranberries.
Tupac, Lauryn Hill, TLC and The Notorious B.I.G.
Ace of Base, Aqua, Cher and The Prodigy.
The music that made the 90s impossible to sum up
The 1990s were not defined by a single musical style. The decade spanned guitar-driven grunge, polished boyband pop, Swedish Eurodance, melodic R&B and hip-hop, all of which transformed popular culture.
It’s precisely this variety that makes 90s music so perfect for parties. One song can get everyone singing along, the next can pick up the tempo, and a third might make someone say, ”I’d completely forgotten about this one.”
Straightforward choruses, a fast tempo and a distinct 90s vibe.
Guitars, contrast and songs that still feel huge.
Tunes that stick in your head straight away and are perfect for sing-alongs.
A heavier groove, powerful vocals and a completely new sound.
Top 100: classic hits and songs from the 90s
The list combines international mega-hits with songs that have become instant classics. It is not intended as a definitive list of ”the best” songs, but rather as a broad starting point for anyone who wants to rediscover the music of the 90s or put together a party playlist.
- 1Spice Girls – Wannabe
- 2Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
- 3Tupac – California Love
- 4Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way
- 5Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
- 6Madonna – Vogue
- 7Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time
- 8MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This
- 9Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
- 10R.E.M. – Losing My Religion
- 11Mariah Carey – Fantasy
- 12Oasis – Wonderwall
- 13Dr. Dre – Nuthin’ but a ’G’ Thang
- 14Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know
- 15Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like a Woman!
- 16Radiohead – Creep
- 17Destiny’s Child – Say My Name
- 18The Cranberries – Zombie
- 19Beastie Boys – Sabotage
- 20Pearl Jam – Alive
- 21Moby – Porcelain
- 22No Doubt – Don’t Speak
- 23House of Pain – Jump Around
- 24Green Day – Basket Case
- 25Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
- 26Ace of Base – The Sign
- 27TLC – Waterfalls
- 28Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise
- 29Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life
- 30Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge
- 31Blink-182 – What’s My Age Again?
- 32Salt-N-Pepa – Shoop
- 33Boyz II Men – End of the Road
- 34The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
- 35Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
- 36Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain
- 37Smash Mouth – All Star
- 38Hanson – MMMBop
- 39Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
- 40Jennifer Lopez – If You Had My Love
- 41Matchbox Twenty – Push
- 42Christina Aguilera – Genie in a Bottle
- 43Lenny Kravitz – Fly Away
- 44En Vogue – Don’t Let Go (Love)
- 454 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
- 46Seal – Kiss from a Rose
- 47Robbie Williams – Angels
- 48Sugar Ray – Fly
- 49Spice Girls – 2 Become 1
- 50Foo Fighters – Everlong
- 51Meredith Brooks – Bitch
- 52Sheryl Crow – If It Makes You Happy
- 53The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
- 54Ricky Martin – Livin’ la Vida Loca
- 55Alanis Morissette – Ironic
- 56Blur – Song 2
- 57Faith Hill – This Kiss
- 58Shaggy – Boombastic
- 59Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5
- 60Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
- 61Robyn – Show Me Love
- 62Will Smith – Gettin’ Jiggy wit It
- 63The Fugees – Killing Me Softly
- 64Eagle-Eye Cherry – Save Tonight
- 65R.E.M. – Everybody Hurts
- 66Jennifer Paige – Crush
- 67The Offspring – Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
- 68Spice Girls – Stop
- 69Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
- 70Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life
- 71Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack
- 72Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
- 73Aqua – Barbie Girl
- 74Cher – Believe
- 75Snap! – Rhythm Is a Dancer
- 76Britney Spears – Sometimes
- 77Destiny’s Child – Bills, Bills, Bills
- 78Garth Brooks – Friends in Low Places
- 79Sixpence None the Richer – Kiss Me
- 80Haddaway – What Is Love
- 81Santana featuring Rob Thomas – Smooth
- 82Smash Mouth – Walkin’ on the Sun
- 83Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine
- 84LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live
- 85The Cardigans – Lovefool
- 86Savage Garden – I Want You
- 87Len – Steal My Sunshine
- 88The Prodigy – Firestarter
- 89Spice Girls – Viva Forever
- 90Backstreet Boys – Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
- 91Janet Jackson – Together Again
- 92Toni Braxton – Un-Break My Heart
- 93N*SYNC – Tearin’ Up My Heart
- 94Whitney Houston – My Love Is Your Love
- 95Michael Jackson – Black or White
- 96Madonna – Ray of Light
- 97Mariah Carey – Always Be My Baby
- 98Snoop Dogg – Gin and Juice
- 99Whitney Houston – I’m Every Woman
- 100Nirvana – Come as You Are
The DJ’s perspectiveA list of big hits is just raw material. At a proper party, the songs need to be chosen based on energy, the guests and the right moment – not played in a fixed ‘Top 100’ order.
Artists of the 1990s created several worlds at the same time
The Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys made pop music global and instant. Nirvana, Oasis and Green Day brought new dimensions to guitar-based music. Tupac, Lauryn Hill and The Notorious B.I.G. redefined hip-hop, whilst TLC, Mariah Carey and Destiny’s Child demonstrated just how diverse R&B could sound.
At the same time, Swedish acts such as Ace of Base, Robyn and Eagle-Eye Cherry became part of the international scene. That’s why a good 90s playlist rarely feels cohesive. It shifts between styles, but is held together by a sense of familiarity.
Why the songs still work
Many of the decade’s biggest hits have distinct intros, choruses that kick in quickly and arrangements that make them instantly recognisable. This works well both for nostalgic listening and on a dance floor, where the music needs to connect with the audience straight away.
How to play 90s music at a party
Don’t start by trying to play everything. Instead, choose a few safe songs that suit your guests, build on two or three styles, and save the most obvious sing-along songs until the room is ready.
For a mixed group, the 90s can form part of a wider musical journey. For a purely themed party, the music, clothes and visual details can all come together from the very first song.
Frequently asked questions about 90s music
What sort of music was popular in the 90s?
Pop, Eurodance, grunge, alternative rock, hip-hop and R&B were some of the major genres. Artists such as the Spice Girls, Nirvana, Tupac, the Backstreet Boys, TLC and Ace of Base demonstrate just how diverse this period was.
What are the biggest hits of the 90s?
Songs that often come up include ”Wannabe”, ”Smells Like Teen Spirit”, ”I Want It That Way”, ”No Scrubs”, ”Wonderwall” and ”Believe”. Which ones are considered the biggest hits depends on the genre, the country and the listener.
Which 90s songs are great for a party?
Well-known songs with a catchy chorus and plenty of energy often work best: for example, ”Jump Around”, ”Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”, ”Mambo No. 5”, ”Show Me Love” and ”Livin’ la Vida Loca”. Always tailor the music to your guests.
How do you put together a playlist for a 90s party?
Mix familiar tunes with variety. Start with accessible pop and R&B, pick up the pace with dance music, and save the big sing-along hits until the energy is high. Don’t play all your favourites straight away.
Do you want the 90s to really come alive on the dance floor?
London DJ helps private individuals and businesses in Stockholm and Uppsala to create a music playlist that suits their guests – featuring 90s music when it feels right, not just because it’s on a list.
