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The Top 100 Artists of the 90s, icons of a transformative decade, shaped the musical landscape with their unique sounds and styles. This compilation, rooted in diverse metrics such as chart rankings, music video popularity, radio airplay, and cultural impact, offers a comprehensive look at the era’s defining voices.
1997. 1998. 1999. 2000s →. Mariah Carey amassed the most number-one hits (14 songs) and had the longest cumulative run atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart (60 weeks) during the 1990s. Carey is also the only artist to spend at least one week at the summit of the chart in each year of the decade.
#Reached Number OneArtist (s)Single711January 20, 1990712February 10, 1990Paula Abdul & The Wild Pair713March 3, 1990714March 24, 1990- Nirvana: 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' (1991) The emergence of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as a top-10 pop hit remains one of the most dramatic events in 1990s pop music.
- Los Del Rio: 'Macarena' (1993) Today, most people regard "Macarena" as having been ridiculously overplayed, a quirky relic for wedding reception dances only.
- Boyz II Men: 'End of the Road' (1992) While their swiftly growing group of adoring fans waited for a second album, Boyz II Men recorded this ballad for the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy film "Boomerang."
- Elton John: 'Candle in the Wind 1997' (1997) The summer of 1997 came to a tragic close when Princess Diana died in a horrific car accident. The attention of the world was riveted on her funeral, and Elton John reworked his song "Candle in the Wind" for the occasion.
- Nirvana. Nevermind, In Utero, MTV Unplugged in New York. 26,501 votes. See: The Best Nirvana Songs\ Pioneering the grunge movement with raw emotion and heavy guitar distortion, this iconic trio from Seattle pushed alternative rock into mainstream consciousness.
- Soundgarden. Superunknown, Badmotorfinger, Down on the Upside. 16,617 votes. See: The Best Soundgarden Songs. This powerhouse quartet hailing from Seattle played an integral role in shaping the grunge scene, blending heavy metal riffs with psychedelic undertones.
- Alice in Chains. Dirt, Alice in Chains, Facelift. 17,475 votes. See: The Best Alice in Chains Songs. By merging hauntingly dark lyrics with sludgy guitar riffs, this Seattle-based group created a distinctive sound that set them apart from their grunge contemporaries.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers. Californication, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Stadium Arcadium. 21,806 votes. See: The Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs. Fusing funk-infused basslines with punk-rock energy, this Los Angeles quartet crafted a signature sound that defied genre boundaries.
Sep 27, 2022 · The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s. The tracks that defined the ’90s, including Björk, Biggie, Mariah, Bikini Kill, Aaliyah, 2Pac, and many, many more. By Pitchfork. September 27, 2022.
- Pitchfork
This playlist reveals the 200 ’90s hits we’re still listening to most in the UK, beloved as much by those who were there the first time round as by the younger generations diving headfirst into ’90s culture today.
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Oct 4, 2019 · Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Trent Reznor. From U2 and R.E.M. to Metallica and the Black Crowes, Dr. Dre, Snoop, and Eminem: Rolling Stone picks the 100 greatest albums of the 1990s.
