History may have painted the 90s as being defined by grunge on one end and boy bands and Britney Spears on the other, but in reality this era was rich with variety. Grunge mixed rock with pop for an innovative sound while Mary J Blige and Boyz II Men brought contemporary R&B music to mainstream audiences.
One Week
In the 1990s, singer-songwriter artists like Norah Jones, Dido, Sarah McLachlan and Mariah Carey led a revival of singer-songwriter music. This trend continued into the 2000s with Mariah Carey, Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow. These musicians took inspiration from acoustic rock genre of the 70s and 80s by adding elements such as strings, piano guitar horns and synthesizers for new musical styles.
The 1990s also witnessed the revival of older music styles, such as grunge, Britpop, industrial rock, punk rock, and swing revival. These genres brought an increased level of angst into popular music and challenged dance-floor rhythm-focused pop songs.
Alternative rock bands dominated the 90s music scene, featuring hits by Hootie and the Blowfish, Creed, Nirvana Pearl Jam Third Eye Blind Alice Chains Weezer Smashing Pumpkins Hole Foo Fighters Wallflowers among many others. Influenced by punk, ska metal pop they helped introduce an emotional sound into rock music that remains popular today.
Pop-influenced country music also gained momentum during this decade, thanks to female artists such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill as well as male artists like Clint Black, George Strait, Leann Rimes, etc. Rap became increasingly popular as well; Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa brought provocative lyrics and East Coast/West Coast rivalry into popular music with their hits like “All Night Long”.
The 1990s also witnessed a boom in R&B music, with artists like Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and R. Kelly providing Contemporary R&B to global audiences. Both R&B and Hip Hop music incorporated elements from older styles like third wave ska and swing revival into contemporary productions; R&B even included melisma singing styles combining gospel music with soul and jazz in its repertoire.
Semi-Charmed Life
Third Eye Blind’s timeless hit “Semi-Charmed Life” perfectly captured the bright and sunny spirit of the 90s; one of their most beloved songs from both sides of the Atlantic, this hit song can be found everywhere from movie soundtracks, commercials and pop culture tributes of that decade. Spin even asked Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl if there was one 1990s tune he wished he’d written instead; his answer included this refrain from “Semi-Charmed Life.”
This pop classic’s lyrics echo several key themes of the decade, such as disillusionment and addiction, with its catchy melody juxtaposed against darker undertones such as drug use or yearning for something greater in life. Furthermore, its ironic lyrics perfectly encapsulate its significance to this memorable 90s tune!
This song’s catchy chorus is the perfect blend of pop and rock music, leaving musicologists scratching their heads over why this combination works so well. Suffice it to say, however, it does. Vocal melodies meld perfectly with an acoustic guitar, while simple chord progressions create a poppy grunge feel in its chord progressions. Verse lyrics convey emotional turmoil.
Tim Heinlein writes about Third Eye Blind’s song as one of “The 10 Best Songs of the 90s”, noting its controversy and critical reception: it earned them a Modern Rock Track Grammy nomination and helped the band gain international success as well as establish themselves as an influential part of 90s music history.
I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You is unquestionably the biggest pop hit from the 90s. Recorded by Whitney Houston for 1992’s film The Bodyguard soundtrack, the song became an international smash hit and number-one single worldwide. Houston’s powerful vocals ensured its international appeal; in America alone it earned Diamond certification after selling over 20 million copies!
Dolly Parton first recorded “Jolene” on her 1974 album Jolene; later it was covered by Houston for Kevin Costner’s movie The Bodyguard soundtrack. Kevin suggested this due to wanting to see how Houston would handle such an emotionally charged ballad; ultimately his decision paid off handsomely.
Country singer LeAnn Rimes made headlines when she recorded “Something Special” alongside Vince Gill for her 1995 album of the same name and it quickly became an unexpected radio hit, earning Rimes an Emmy nomination and topping Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts as No. 15. Also of note is Broadway royalty Kristin Chenoweth performing it on her 2019 album entitled For The Girls which included cover versions originally recorded by Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton – but these versions weren’t part of it’s purposefully chosen cover version so it became part of its repertoire – radio stations began playing it without being asked. Listen out for it now on The Blend Channel 16!
You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman
Aretha Franklin made Carole King’s classic tune “You Are So Beautiful” into a timeless classic through her powerful, soulful rendition. First recorded for the soundtrack of her movie The Bodyguard and later appearing on her album of the same name, Franklin is joined onstage by an orchestra and her sisters Erma and Carolyn to provide wonderful backing vocals; but what truly elevates this performance is Franklin herself who gives this rendition its soulful heartbeat, perfectly conveying the knee-buckling amazement of truly fulfilling love.
The 1990s witnessed a renaissance in singer-songwriters, with Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men enjoying significant success. Carey recorded 14 number one singles during this decade – three that held onto top spot on Billboard Hot 100 charts for over 10 weeks!
Pop country duo the Eagles were immensely popular with younger listeners, particularly with hits such as Achy Breaky Heart. Additionally, dance fads such as Macarena became extremely fashionable.
Hip hop flourished during this era, with Salt-N-Pepa and Lil’ Kim becoming immensely successful with their rap songs, setting the scene for female rappers like Queen Latifah and Foxy Brown who became widely renowned for their explicit lyrics.
Hip hop artists were known to incorporate sampled or interpolated old songs into their work as a way of paying homage to great musical works that had come before and showing their own artistic influence and creativity.
We Are Young
Fun’s We Are Young song from the 90s evokes memories of an innocent time when anything seemed possible. After its feature on Glee, We Are Young became a crossover hit that resonated with millions of listeners around the world. However, many critics have taken issue with its seeming endorsement of abuse; Nate Ruess himself has stated that its inspiration came from an experience he regrets but the song does seem to glorify such behavior. Initially the first verse sounds as though it describes an abusive person rather than this topic of discourse.
If you’re in search of another great 90s song to listen to, give TLC’s Poison a listen. With its catchy chorus that includes multiple “whoa ohs”, Poison offers youthful rock vibes while being great to dance to; making it popularly played at parties such as weddings or cookouts alike – becoming an unforgettable classic that won’t soon be forgotten!