Grab your hairbrush, close the door and get ready to start singing the most iconic songs of the ‘90s. Some will make you scream in excitement. Others may be a little painful. The best songs call for quirky dance moves. Like, Lady Gaga meets NSYNC quirky dance moves. If you’re not into dancing all that much, I’ve got some slow jams for you, too. Let’s face it, if you’re feeling low, music is bound to speak to the soul. So, if you’re looking for love, hype or heartbreak, check out these tunes.
Daft Punk set the tone way before its time. Who knew its hit “Around the World” was released in 1997? It’s a funky, leg-stomping, foot-shuffling techno beat that “get’s the people going!” If you listen closely, you can hear their 2013 sensation “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams peek-a-booing in the background.
Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” will forever be engraved in the soul of the ‘90s. Her powerhouse vocals consistantly pack a heavy punch as she fluctuates through the highs and lows of a doomed romance. The song is featured in countless commercials and parodies. From soft kisses to goodbye wishes, the ‘90s will always love Whitney Houston.
The ‘90s were a great time for the ladies. Selena
Gomez may rank high on the charts, but she’ll never surpass Selena Y Los Dinos. Even if you don’t understand Spanish, Selena’s songs will have you two-stepping in no time. Her Spanish-English crossover album is to die for. If you haven’t seen the movie “Selena,” you need to get a life. Listen to “Si Una Vez” (live in Miami, 1995), “Como La Flor,” “Dreaming of You” and the recent 2016 cover of “Si Una Vez” by Play-N-Skillz featuring Wisin, Frankie J and Leslie Grace.
Nirvana dominated the ‘90s and its fame is still growing. Kurt Cobain’s grunge guitar and raspy lead vocals can send a chill down your spine. Don’t listen to Nivana’s mainstream tracks. If you want to get a taste of intensity, listen to Nirvana’s cover of Leadbelly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” on MTV’s Unplugged in New York via YouTube.
Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain’s wife, had a few hits herself. She was in a band called Hole. Its song “Doll Parts” is a painful memory of Kurt Cobain’s suicide. I hope you never ache like Courtney Love aches, but if you do, “Doll Parts” is a great song to blast while you cry alone.
If you’re into upbeat, rhythmic, joyful and passionate music, you should listen to the Gypsy Kings. Its song “Volare” overwhelms the listener with pure happiness. It’ll make you want to spend a night out dancing in a foreign country with a beautiful woman or handsome man. Also check out Gypsy Kings “Bomboleo.” If your head doesn’t sway from side to side while listening to it, you’re not human.
Have you ever been harassed for a being the guy without a car? If you have, then you probably hate TLC’s “No Scrubs.” It’s a female anthem that’s totally relevant today. Some guys think their pick-up-lines are irresistible, but that’s not the case. Women have standards and if a man doesn’t make the cut, he’s a bona fide scrub. A scrub is the kind of guy with no money, no car and an appetite for girls out of his league.
Speaking of lame guys, Liz Phair, in 1996, released a slow jam about guys who “hit it, and quit it.” She titled the song “Fuck and Run.” It’s a low-key tear-jerker (and the sad truth) about guys disappearing after they use love to get sex. Sometimes women use sex to get love. With or without their best intentions, they wake up feeling sorry. Check out Liz Phair’s live version of “Fuck and Run” in 1995 via YouTube. She’s a beauty queen and doesn’t deserve to be left alone.
The Smashing Pumpkins is another great band from the ‘90s. Its hit “1979” makes me feel mellow and groovy at the same time. The guitar shimmers and the drum sticks hit all the right places.
Isn’t that what makes music beautiful—how it makes us feel? Have you ever taken the time to appreciate great lyrics? Sleater-Kinney is a tough girl trio with soft vocals, loud wails and hardcore guitar riffs. Its song “Get Up,” released in 1999, is an upbeat motivational track with poetic content. It’s all about letting go of those bottled-up feelings inside. Read the lyrics while listening to the song and start “soul climbing.”
Before you rewind back to the ‘90s for a Blockbuster and Chill, be sure to thank all those lucky stars who sold their soul to the devil to give you good music. While you’re at it, make your lover a mixtape. For more love, hype and heartbreak, check out the Paisano Plus’s Most Iconic Songs of the ‘90s Playlist. These jams are your bragging rights. They will take you back to the best decade ever and remind you where you’re from. The style you’ll hear can never be replaced, and the feelings you’ll get can always be embraced.
