Starting Monday, VH1 will be paying tribute to the eclectic music of the '90s with 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s, a countdown of hits from Nirvana to Hanson and everywhere in between. A while back, the network asked viewers to vote on their favorites from a pre-selected list of 100 songs, and this week-long special will reveal how those votes shook out.
Clocking in at No. 1: Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." U2s "One" is next, then the Backstreet Boys with "I Want It That Way" at No. 3. Whitney Houston, Madonna, Britney Spears, Sir Mix-a-Lot, TLC, REM, and Sinead O'Connor all make appearances in the top 10, making for a list that sounds a lot like the soundtrack to my junior high dances.
Looking over the list again, I am impressed that it's so comprehensive, with entries from The Cranberries, Spin Doctors, Beck, Weezer, Counting Crows, and pretty much every other artist whose music I ever tried to tape off the radio during Rick Dees' weekly top 40. But I still can't believe there's no "The Sign." How can you have a Best of the '90s list without Ace of Base? A few of the other biggies that didn't make the list — "Gangsta's Paradise," "Just a Girl," "No Rain," "Whoomp! There It Is" — at least get a mention in this set of 50 songs that barely missed the cut.
Check out the full ranking of the 100 songs and let me know: What's right — and what's just horribly wrong? You can also see the top 25 when you read more.
1. Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
2. U2 "One"
3. Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way"
4. Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You"
5. Madonna "Vogue"
6. Sir Mix-A-Lot "Baby Got Back"
7. Britney Spears "... Baby One More Time"
8. TLC "Waterfalls"
9. R.E.M. "Losing My Religion"
10. Sinead O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U"
11. Pearl Jam "Jeremy"
12. Alanis Morissette "You Oughta Know"
13. Dr. Dre (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg) "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang"
14. Mariah Carey "Vision of Love"
15. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge"
16. MC Hammer "U Can't Touch This"
17. Destiny's Child "Say My Name"
18. Metallica "Enter Sandman"
19. Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
20. Hanson "MMMBop"
21. Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On"
22. Beck "Loser"
23. Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue "Whatta Man"
24. House of Pain "Jump Around"
25. Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"
Fred Perry
Labour Of Love
Early 20
how good was I Want It That Way when it came out? I waited by the radio for it to come on!
1Backstreet Boys made #3??? Ew.
I could have predicted "Smells Like Teen Spirit" would be #1!
2Nice list. I know all the songs LOL
3Out of all the Mariah hits, Vision of Love?
4Some of those songs are pretty questionable. But I can't argue with the #1 song.
5Good list, though I'm with you on the absence from the list of "The Sign."
6Interesting list, but can't argue with #1.
7Number 2 def should be Number 1, but I'm always biased when it comes to U2..
This list is very weird, it's like a mix of best sales and actually good songs. The funniest part probably is having Metallica-Beastie Boys followed by Hanson-Celine Dion haha!
8I have to agree with the list, and it just shows how much music sucked in the 90's
9This list SUCKS ass. The best songs in the top 25 are #9, 12, and 15. Pfft. Jeff Buckley should have been in the top 10. Effin losers.
10There were WAY better BSB songs than "I Want it That Way." And Britney Spears beating out TLC? I don't think so!!!!
11it's like a stroll down memory lane, haha.
12Wow - it's a good list, but it's crazy to me that some of these songs were from the same decade. To me, it feels like way more than 10 years between Vanilla Ice, Kris Kross, etc to Christian, Britney, and the resurgence of boy bands...
13I miss the '90s with a passion.
14omg, are you serious??? I cannot BELIEVE that Nirvana made #1!!!!
That was like, sooooooo unpredictable! What a total upset!!!! I mean, it's not like they were that big even...they were just some grungy guys and whatnot. UGH! wow...
15(sarcasm anyone?)
16Where's Nine Inch Nails? Where's Bush? Where's Hole? Where's Ace of Base? Where's Marilyn Manson? Where's Tom Petty's Free Falling? That list is lame.
17I'm just going to lay it out right now and say that VH1 viewers are in bad taste.
18mmmmmmmm bop !!!!
19This is completely dorky, but I am so glad Hanson made it into the top 20.
20Yay, Nirvana deserved #1!
21raieven...me too...me too.
and taping off the radio? man does that bring back memories!!! I get so nostaligc when there's 90s stuff...esp 90-96ish. sigh.
22Ode to the 90's!!!
23LOL my entire adolescence just flashed before my eyes while reading that list! I agree that some of the rankings were bogus. The Backstreet Boys ranked above Alanis's "You Outta Know"??? C'mon!
24Kurt Cobain is the greatest rocker ever. Nirvana is the greatest rock band ever. Smells like Spirit is the gr8est song ever and Nirvana deserves more than 1 song on this list. what about Lounge Act, or Drain You?
25I guessed Smells like Teen Spirit from the begining lol Nirvanas definently my favorite band!
26Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.