55 Quintessential '90s Songs That Will Give You Major Nostalgia
Behold, the best '90s songs ever. Our playlist of the quintessential '90s hits, via the fabulous women and girl groups who paved the way for artists today.


If it wasn't clear from the teeny sunglasses, fanny packs, and tiny backpacks, the '90s are back and in full swing. When the decade in pop culture had such an impressive rallying cry of "girl power," it's hard not to celebrate the fact that it's making the rounds again. That's why we're spotlighting some of the quintessential hits of the '90s via the fabulous girl groups—including Destiny's Child, TLC, and the Spice Girls—and the solo acts who forged a path in their field from bubblegum pop greats to powerhouse experimental and R&B acts like Björk and Lauryn Hill. Listen to our favorite '90s songs by women, below.
"Waterfalls" - TLC
"Ray of Light" - Madonna
"Who Will Save Your Soul" - Jewel
"Goodbye Earl" - The Chicks
"Supernova" - Liz Phair
"Say My Name" - Destiny's Child
"...Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears
"Candy" - Mandy Moore
"Lovefool" - The Cardigans
"The Boy Is Mine" - Brandy and Monica
"Kiss Me" - Sixpence None The Richer
"Torn" - Natalie Imbruglia
"Genie in a Bottle" - Christina Aguilera
"If You Had My Love" - Jennifer Lopez
"Crush" - Jennifer Paige
"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" - Shania Twain
"Killing Me Softly With His Song" - Fugees
"No Scrubs" - TLC
"Barbie Girl" - Aqua
"Dreams" - The Cranberries
"Just A Girl" - No Doubt
"Never Ever" - All Saints
"Tom's Diner" - Suzanne Vega
"Spice Up Your Life" - Spice Girls
"Together Again" - Janet Jackson
"It's Oh So Quiet" - Bjork
"Fantasy" - Mariah Carey
"Criminal" - Fiona Apple
"Un-Break My Heart" - Toni Braxton
"Adia" - Sarah McLachlan
"The Sign" - Ace of Base
"Stay" - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
"Ironic" - Alanis Morissette
"Sunny Came Home" - Shawn Colvin
"If It Makes You Happy" - Sheryl Crow
"Doo Wop (That Thing)" - Lauryn Hill
"Let's Talk About Sex" - Salt-N-Pepa
"My Heart Will Go On" Celine Dion
"No Ordinary Love" - Sade
"Nothing Compares to U" - Sinéad O'Connor
"This Kiss" - Faith Hill
"U.N.I.T.Y." - Queen Latifah
"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" - En Vogue
"I Try" - Macy Gray
"I'm Goin' Down" - Mary J. Blige
"Believe" - Cher
"Where My Girls At" - 702
"I'm Every Woman" - Whitney Houston
"Just Kickin' It" - Xscape
"Bitch" - Meredith Brooks
"I Don't Want to Wait" - Paula Cole
"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" - Deborah Cox
"On & On" - Erykah Badu
"Are You That Somebody" - Aaliyah
"I Touch Myself" - Divinyls
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
-
Taylor Swift Styles a Breezy Loewe Dress for a Special Surprise Visit
She made their day.
-
After Season 2's Controversial Ending, Will 'The Devil's Plan' Return for Season 3?
Fans have a lot of thoughts about where the Korean reality show should go.
-
Sydney Sweeney Makes (Faux) Fur Work for Summer
She wear anything she sets her mind to.
-
Finn Wolfhard Shares What Music Shaped Him—and What's on His Playlist Now
With his album 'Happy Birthday' out now, the actor/musician opens up about his musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
Maren Morris Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What's on Her Playlist Now
With her album 'D R E A M S I C L E' out now, the singer opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
Beyoncé Battles Her Gatekeepers on the 'Cowboy Carter' Tour
And proves the best use of her power is looking beyond them.
-
In 'Sinners,' Music From the Past Liberates Us From the Present
In its musical moments, Ryan Coogler's vampire blockbuster makes a powerful statement about Black culture, ancestry, and art.
-
After 25 Years, 'The Virgin Suicides' Is Still Influencing Artists Like Me
To coincide with the film's anniversary, Mia Berrin from Pom Pom Squad reflects on what it's meant to her artistic journey.
-
Rico Nasty Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What's on Her Playlist Now
With her new album 'LETHAL' coming soon, the rapper opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
In 'Opus,' Cult Leaders and Pop Stars Are One in the Same
The A24 film's costume and production designers open up about crafting fictional pop icon Moretti’s style and mysterious estate.
-
The Melancholic Sound of Success
The artist known as Japanese Breakfast opens up about finding her sound on a new album after experiencing whirlwind success.