Best Songs of the 1990s

I found several lists of the best songs of the 1990s and combined them into a single meta-list, which is organized by rank (that is, with the songs on the most lists at the top).  The listing for each song includes the title, the performer, the year of the performance, the songwriter(s), the year the song was written, and whether the song was featured in any films.  In the case of multiple versions of the song by different artists, I have chosen the version that was the biggest hit.  Please note: these are not my personal opinions.

On 10 lists

  • Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana (1991). Wr: Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic & Dave Grohl (1991).

On 9 lists

  • Wonderwall – Oasis (1995). Wr: Noel Gallagher (1995).

On 8 lists

  • Loser – Beck (1993). Wr: Beck & Carl Stephenson (1993).
  • No Diggity – Blackstreet (feat. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen) (1996). Wr: Chauncey Hannibal, Teddy Riley, William Stewart, Lynise Walters, Andre Young, Richard Vick & Bill Withers (1996).

On 7 lists

  • Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor (1990). Wr: Prince (1985).
  • Losing My Religion – R.E.M. (1991). Wr: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe (1990).
  • Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang – Dr. Dre (1992). Wr: Andre Young & Calvin Broadus (1992).

On 6 lists

  • Creep – Radiohead (1992). Wr: Thom Yorke & Radiohead (1992).
  • Common People – Pulp (1995). Wr: Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackay & Russell Senior (1995).
  • You Get What You Give – New Radicals (1998). Wr: Gregg Alexander & Rick Nowels (1997).

On 5 lists

  • Groove Is in the Heart – Deee-Lite (1990). Wr: Dmitry Brill, Chung Dong-Hwa, Kierin Kirby, Herbie Hancock & Jonathan Davis (1989).
  • Poison – Bell Biv DeVoe (1990). Wr: Elliot Straite (1989).
  • Vogue – Madonna (1990). Wr: Madonna & Shep Pettibone (1990).
  • (Everything I Do) I Do It for You – Bryan Adams, featured in the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). Wr: Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen & Robert Lange (1991).
  • Enter Sandman – Metallica (1991). Wr: Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich (1991).
  • Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1992). Wr: Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante & Chad Smith (1991).
  • Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-A-Lot (1992). Wr: Anthony Ray (1991).
  • Jump Around – House of Pain (1992). Wr: Lawrence Muggerud & Erik Schrody (1992).
  • All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow (1993). Wr: Wyn Cooper, Sheryl Crow, David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell & Kevin Gilbert (1993).
  • You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette (1995). Wr: Alanis Morissette & Glen Ballard (1994).
  • California Love – 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman (1995). Wr: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman (1995).
  • 1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins (1996). Wr: Billy Corgan (1995).
  • Wannabe – Spice Girls (1996). Wr: Spice Girls, Matt Rowe & Richard Stannard (1995).
  • Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day (1997). Wr: Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool (1990).
  • Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve (1997). Wr: Richard Ashcroft/Jagger & Richards (1996).
  • No Scrubs – TLC (1999). Wr: Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle & Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (1998).
  • Smooth – Santana (feat. Rob Thomas) (1999). Wr: Rob Thomas & Itaal Shur (1999).

On 4 lists

  • U Can’t Touch This – MC Hammer (1990). Wr: Stanley Burrell, Rick James & Alonzo Miller (1989).
  • Unbelievable – EMF (1990). Wr: EMF (1990).
  • Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) – C+C Music Factory (1990). Wr: David Cole, Robert Clivillés, Freedom Williams & Larry Yasga (1990).
  • Unfinished Sympathy – Massive Attack (1991). Wr: Robert Del Naja, Grantley Marshall, Shara Nelson, Jonathan Sharp & Andrew Vowles (1990).
  • November Rain – Guns N’ Roses (1991). Wr: Axl Rose (1990).
  • Mind Playing Tricks on Me – Geto Boys (1991). Wr: Brad Jordan, Doug King, William Dennis & GTA (1990).
  • One – U2 (1991). Wr: Bono & U2 (1991).
  • Good Vibrations – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (1991). Wr: Donnie Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg, Amir Quadeer Shakir & Dan Hartman (1991).
  • I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston, featured in the movie The Bodyguard (1992). Wr: Dolly Parton (1973).
  • Jump – Kris Kross (1992). Wr: Jermaine Dupri, Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards, Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner, Marshall Jones, Ralph Middlebrooks, Walter Morrison, Norman Napier, Andrew Noland, Marvin Pierce, Gregory Webster & Roy Hammond (1991).
  • Cannonball – The Breeders (1993). Wr: Kim Deal (1993).
  • Linger – The Cranberries (1993). Wr: Dolores O’Riordan & Noel Hogan (1993).
  • Sabotage – Beastie Boys (1994). Wr: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz & Adam Yauch (1993).
  • Waterfalls – TLC (1994). Wr: Marqueze Etheridge, Lisa Lopes & Organized Noize (1994).
  • Regulate – Warren G (feat. Nate Dogg) (1994). Wr: Nate Dogg & Warren G (1993).
  • Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio (feat. L.V.), featured in the film Dangerous Minds (1995). Wr: Artis Ivey, Jr., Larry Sanders, Doug Rasheed & Stevie Wonder (1994).
  • Don’t Speak – No Doubt (1995). Wr: Gwen Stefani & Eric Stefani (1994).
  • Paranoid Android – Radiohead (1997). Wr: Thom Yorke & Radiohead (1997).
  • The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) – Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott (1997). Wr: Don Bryant, Melissa Elliott, Bernard “Bernie” Miller, Timothy Mosley & Ann Peebles (1997).
  • Mo Money Mo Problems – The Notorious B.I.G. (feat. Puff Daddy, Kelly Price & Mase) (1997). Wr: Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs, Steven Jordan, Mason Betha, Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers (1996).
  • Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill (1998). Wr: Lauryn Hill (1997).
  • Iris – Goo Goo Dolls, featured in the film City of Angels (1998). Wr: John Rzeznik (1997).
  • Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It – Will Smith (1997). Wr: Samuel Barnes, Bernard Edwards, Joe Robinson, Nile Rodgers & Will Smith (1997).
  • Livin’ la Vida Loca – Ricky Martin (1999). Wr: Robi Rosa, Desmond Child & Luis Gómez Escolar (1998).
  • My Name Is – Eminem (1999). Wr: Eminem, Dr. Dre & Labi Siffre (1998).
  • …Baby One More Time – Britney Spears (1999). Wr: Max Martin (1998).

On 3 lists

  • Vision of Love – Mariah Carey (1990). Wr: Mariah Carey & Ben Margulies (1989).
  • Man in the Box – Alice in Chains (1990). Wr: Jerry Cantrell & Layne Staley (1989).
  • Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode (1990). Wr: Martin Gore (1989).
  • Mama Said Knock You Out – L.L. Cool J (1990), featured in the film The Hard Way (1991). Wr: James Todd Smith, Marlon Williams, George Clinton, Gregory Jacobs, James Louis Mccants, Leroy Mccants, Sylvester Stewart, Walter Morrison & William Collins (1990).
  • Come As You Are – Nirvana (1991). Wr: Kurt Cobain (1991).
  • Alive – Pearl Jam (1991). Wr: Eddie Vedder & Stone Gossard (1990).
  • Jeremy – Pearl Jam (1991). Wr: Eddie Vedder & Jeff Ament (1991).
  • Black or White – Michael Jackson (1991). Wr: Michael Jackson & Bill Bottrell (1990).
  • Motownphilly – Boyz II Men (1991). Wr: Dallas Austin, Michael Bivins, Nathan Morris & Shawn Stockman (1990).
  • End of the Road – Boyz II Men, featured in the film Boomerang (1992). Wr: Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Antonio “L.A.” Reid & Daryl Simmons (1991).
  • Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton (1992). Wr: Eric Clapton & Will Jennings (1992).
  • Tennessee – Arrested Development (1992). Wr: Todd Thomas & Aerle Taree (1992).
  • My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) – En Vogue (1992). Wr: Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, James Brown, Fred Wesley & John Starks (1992).
  • What’s Up? – 4 Non Blondes (1992). Wr: Linda Perry (1992).
  • Protect Ya Neck – Wu-Tang Clan (1992). Wr: Robert Diggs, Jason Hunter, Lamont Hawkins, Clifford Smith, Corey Woods, Dennis Coles, Russell Jones & Gary Grice (1992).
  • Friday I’m In Love – The Cure (1992). Wr: Perry Bamonte, Boris Williams, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith & Porl Thompson (1992).
  • What is Love? – Haddaway (1993). Wr: Dee Dee Halligan & Junior Torello (1992).
  • Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Springsteen, featured in the film Philadelphia (1993). Wr: Bruce Springsteen (1993).
  • Mr. Jones – Counting Crows (1993). Wr: David Bryson, Adam Duritz, Charlie Gillingham, Matt Malley, Ben Mize & Dan Vickrey (1993).
  • Whoomp! (There It Is) – Tag Team (1993). Wr: Stephen Gibson & Cecil Glenn (1992).
  • Whatta Man – Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue (1993). Wr: Cheryl James, Dave Crawford & Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor (1993).
  • Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (1994). Wr: Leonard Cohen (1984).
  • Kiss From a Rose – Seal (1994). Wr: Seal (1987).
  • Buddy Holly – Weezer (1994). Wr: Rivers Cuomo (1993).
  • Live Forever – Oasis (1994). Wr: Noel Gallagher (1993).
  • Girls & Boys – Blur (1994). Wr: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James & Dave Rowntree (1993).
  • Glory Box – Portishead (1994). Wr: Portishead & Isaac Hayes (1994).
  • Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden (1994). Wr: Chris Cornell (1993).
  • Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) – Los Del Rio (1995). Wr: Rafael Ruiz Perdigones, Antonio Romero Monge, SWK, Mike Triay & Carlos de Yarza (1992/1995).
  • Born Slippy .NUXX – Underworld (1995), featured in the film Trainspotting (1996). Wr: Rick Smith, Karl Hyde & Darren Emerson (1995).
  • Killing Me Softly With His Song – The Fugees (1996). Wr: Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel & Lori Lieberman (?) (1971).
  • Crash Into Me – Dave Matthews Band (1996). Wr: David J. Matthews (1996).
  • Torn – Natalie Imbruglia (1997). Wr: Scott Cutler, Anne Preven & Phil Thornally (1993).
  • Around the World – Daft Punk (1997). Wr: Thomas Bangalter & Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (1996).
  • My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion, featured in the movie Titanic (1997). Wr: James Horner & Will Jennings (1997).
  • Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys (1997). Wr: Denniz PoP & Max Martin (1997).
  • Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden (1997). Wr: Darren Hayes & Daniel Jones (1997).
  • Brimful of Asha – Cornershop (1997). Wr: Tjinder Singh (1997).
  • Tubthumping – Chumbawamba (1997). Wr: Chumbawamba (1997).
  • Everlong – Foo Fighters (1997). Wr: Dave Grohl (1997).
  • MMMBop – Hanson (1997). Wr: Isaac, Taylor & Zac Hanson (1996).
  • Song 2 – Blur (1997). Wr: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James & Dave Rowntree (1996).
  • You’re Still the One – Shania Twain (1998). Wr: Robert Lange & Shania Twain (1997).
  • I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith, featured in the film Armageddon (1998). Wr: Diane Warren (1997).
  • The Boy is Mine – Brandy and Monica (1998). Wr: LaShawn Daniels, Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Japhe Tejeda & Brandy Norwood (1997).
  • One Week – Barenaked Ladies (1998). Wr: Ed Robertson (1998).
  • Believe – Cher (1998). Wr: Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, Timothy Powell & Cher (1998).
  • I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys (1999). Wr: Andreas Carlsson & Max Martin (1998).