Words: Sarah Glatzhofer

We’ve curated a list of ten artists from the 90s that we think you should familiarise yourself with, the best of the nineties, in our opinion. The nineties brought a new pop culture to our society. A treasure that we will keep forever in our hearts. The 90s was the era that brought dance music, like the Macarena where no matter your age you knew the moves, and yet, it also gave us the emotional aspect, where we as a nation collectively cried out eyes out watching Jack struggle for room next to Rose in Titanic.

It was a time when many artists took to the stage to show off their vocal range, singing about love, or rapping about the hardship of the world. The nineties was the time to make a lasting effect, before entering not only a new decade, or a new century, but a new millennium. It’s been thirty years since we entered the nineties, and yet the music from that decade is close to our heart forever. 

Hip Hop, Rap, R&B found it’s soul. The new sound of pop grew. Everyone could enjoy more than one style of music and not be judged. We fell in love with how funky the music felt in our bodies, and how much meaning they had. So much emotion in each song, that we still remember the lyrics from them, even if we were born in the nineties or a decade after. There are many artists that shine in the nineties, but here are the top ten that you must listen to, to
transport yourself back to the last decades of the nineteen hundreds. 

image sources: Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, TLC, Mariah Carey, Oasis

1) Mariah Carey:

We all know her for her famous Christmas song All I Want For Christmas is You, remarkable vocal range, and whistle notes. But did you know, she is also known as the Queen of the Nineties? Having fourteen number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, with songs like: Vision of Love and Honey. All of this makes her the most successful female
performer of the nineties.  When her debut album called Mariah Carey, came out in 1990, it showed us all how the
nineties music would be — a blend of different genres. Her debut album brought in a mixture of Gospel, Pop, R&B. 

2) Tupac: 

He was seen as a rebel with a cause, but Tupac Shakur was an American Rapper who told us all the truth about the injustices that were endured by many African Americans. Even after twenty years after his death, 2Pac is known as one of the most recognisable faces and voices of hip hop. He rapped from the heart, all of his songs were powerful and told us the true stories of what many people have and will have to go through.  His song: Changes, although produced over twenty years ago, it is still very much relatable with today’s life. I do recommend that if you really enjoy rap, and are frustrated with how cruel and unfair life can be, listen to 2Pac, he shares your thoughts.

3) TLC: 

A group of three women: Tionne Watkins, Lisa Lopes, Rozonda Thomas. Better known as their nicknames: T-Boz, Left Eye, Chilli. Their debut album, CrazySexyCool, was called this as the three of them wanted to add some of their personality into the title, as well as stating that every woman has a tiny bit of crazy, sexy and cool. If you want to listen to R&B about Women Empowerment, this is the group for you. One of their most popular songs is No Scrubs. It was their first song that peaked over 140 million audience impressions; a great song to dance to and listen over and over again. 

4) Shania Twain:

A key element when it comes to country music is storytelling, and Shania Twain has this in her bones. This country singer has been writing songs since the age of ten. Her first song Any Man of Mine, hit No.1 on the Billboard’s Hot Country song. Her 1997 Album, Come On Over, became the best selling country album, with songs like, Man! I Feel Like A Woman. Still now, this song is extremely popular, making every woman feel empowered by focusing on themselves, and having fun. If you love the blend of country and pop, then this international star won’t surprise you with how well she does this. 

5) Backstreet Boys: 

A boy group with: Howie Dorough, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. This boy group was loved by many in the nineties, they created a new look for boy bands. They would show off their laddish side, making boys feel fine to call themselves a fan of this group. When nearing the end of the nineties, many artists, including Backstreet Boys, had a new album out to celebrate the ending of the millennium. Their album, Millennium, has many popular songs such as, I Want It That Way. One thing we can truly thank this group for, is their dance moves, ones that many of us, including myself, would try to copy when we were younger. 

6) Cece Peninston: 

If you want to dance, or have a party, even if it’s a party just by yourself so you can have a little groove, then Cece Peniston is your girl. She knows how to create music to make everyone dance, to feel the boogie within their hearts. 
Her most popular song, Finally, was No.5 on the Hot 100 and No.2 on the Uk Top 75; having sold over three million copies, it’s known to be one of the biggest dance records ever.  Cece Peninston songs make everyone want to dance, no matter how they feel. The funky house groove that she adds to her music livens everyone up.

7) Boyz II Men: 

An R&B group that had four members in the nineties: Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and Michael McCary. They have mentioned that eighties music from Luther Vandross is what impacted their music style. When their first song, Motownphilly, hit our hearts in 1991, everyone knew they were making the nineties their own. They
blessed everyone with new sweet tunes that everyone would be vibing too. 90’s Queen, Mariah Carey, collaborated with them in 1996 and they produced One Sweet Day; which stayed as No.1 for sixteen weeks. Their soulful songs make everyone feel good and know that life is going to be great. 

8) Oasis: 

A English Rock Band that everyone from the UK will know, especially when listening to their most popular ballad, Wonderwall. This band had five members: Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McCuigan and Tony McCarroll. They first hit the streets in 1991, three years later their debut album – Definitely Maybe – was in stores for all of their fans to buy. And boy did their fans deliver, Definitely Maybe became the fastest selling debut album in the UK. If you like that Indie rock vibe, then Oasis are the band for you. We recommend you listen to: Live Forever, Champagne Supernova and Whatever.

9) Mary J Blige: 

Known as the Queen of Hip Hop, Soul and R&B, Mary J Blige became a nineties sensation when she began her career in 1991. Her debut album, 411, came out a year later, and it changed the hip-hop game. Blige made music for everyone to dance to and also listen to the lyrics. Her unique style of telling a story through a song, makes
everyone love her. Just listen to Real Love and You Remind Me and you’ll understand what her fans mean. All of her songs make us all want to be in a car, stuck in traffic – no matter how annoying that is – and bob to her music. 

10) Spice Girls

You cannot be listening to a playlist from the nineties without listening to the Spice Girls. Mel B, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Beckham, Mel C and Emma Bunton, created a powerful girl group with dynamic pop anthems. Their debut album, Spice, came out in 1996 and hit the world by storm, creating a ‘Spice Mania’ for two years. They are known to be the most successful girl group of all time; which makes sense, especially how catchy their songs are. Wannabe is their most popular song; the second we hear Mel B’s laugh we are all ready to dance and sing our hearts out. If you love Little Mix and artists of the same vein, then you have to thank Spice Girls who paved the way for many girl groups. You wanna boogie like you are from the nineties? Then pop on some Spice Girls.

Now, you are ready to create a nineties playlist and listen to all of these amazing artists.