Additionally growing in popularity was alternative rock, which saw artists like Radiohead and The Smashing Pumpkins achieve widespread fame. Read on for our list of the top 90s rock songs if you want to look back on the good old days or just want to know what all the buzz was about.
Top 10 90s Rock Songs List:
1. Nirvana’s “SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT”
90s Rock Songs:
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is undeniably one of the most well-known rock songs of the ’90s.The 1991 song by Nirvana was an instant hit and is now regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. Kurt Cobain’s lyrics and the song’s severe distortion all contributed to the definition of the grunge genre generation.
2. SOUNDGARDEN’s “BLACK HOLE SUN”
90s Rock Songs:
One of the most well-known songs by Soundgarden is “Black Hole Sun.” It was the lead single off their third studio album, Superunknown, and was written and composed by Chris Cornell. Additionally, in 1995, this 1990s rock song took home a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
The music video for the song was almost as well-liked as the song itself. It was prominently promoted on MTV at the time and showed the band playing in a field with pictures of a city being obliterated by a black hole placed over them. The concept was that the entire world was transforming into a black hole that was engulfing everything in its vicinity.
3. Pearl Jam’s “ALIVE”
In the 1991 film “Alive,” a guy discovers that the man he believed to be his father is his stepfather. He (her son), who resembles the biological father, and his mum get into an incestuous connection because of his mom’s grief. During their formative years, Pearl Jam performed this song practically constantly, and it rapidly won over their audience.
90s Rock Songs:
The desire of Pearl Jam to try out new sounds and aesthetics was one of the factors that made them so great. This is perfectly illustrated by “Alive,” which has a grungier tone than their earlier works. It is noteworthy for Mike McCready’s renowned guitar solo, which is another reason it is on our list of the finest 90s rock songs.
4.No Doubt’s “JUST A GIRL”
The third single from No Doubt’s debut album of the same name was made available in 1995 and was titled “Just A Girl.” The song, a ska-punk-reggae number written by Gwen Stefani and Tom Dumont and produced by Matthew Wilder, discusses Gwen’s encounter with misogyny. It served as No Doubt’s breakout song, garnering praise from music reviewers and peaking in the top ten in various nations.
5. The Smashing Pumpkins, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings”
Bullet with Butterfly Wings, a song by The Smashing Pumpkins, is a fantastic illustration of why they were one of the more well-known alternative rock bands of the decade. The song is an angst-filled hymn that wonderfully portrays the mood of the 1990s with its loud guitars and strong vocals. Therefore, it makes sense that the song is still among the most well-known rock tunes from the 1990s.
6. Guns N’ Roses, “NOVEMBER RAIN”
Another iconic rock tune from the early 1990s is “November Rain.” It was first released in 1991 and went on to become one of Guns N’ Roses’ most recognizable songs ever after. “November Rain” is the ideal ballad about love and loss with its sweeping orchestral arrangements and moving lyrics, and that emotional punch has made it a timeless classic destined to please any generation.
7. Third Eye Blind in “SEMI-CHARMED LIFE”
With darker lyrics in contrast to a catchier rhythm, “Semi-Charmed Life” was composed as an anthem for anyone who has ever experienced bullying or felt like they quite didn’t belong in. The song, which served as the album’s lead single when it was released in 1997, reached an astonishing peak of number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. An official platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America followed. The song’s heartfelt lyrics are a must-hear.
8. WEEZER, “BUDDY HOLLY”
You will undoubtedly recall the influence of Weezer if you were alive in the 1990s. With the release of their debut self-titled album in 1994, they shot to fame and swiftly rose to the top of the rock music industry. Rivers Cuomo, a vocalist, and guitarist wrote “Buddy Holly,” one of their most well-known and defining songs.
90s Rock Songs
The song became one of the best 90s rock songs after becoming a massive hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The cheerful, bouncy song “Buddy Holly” wonderfully captures the Weezer style. One of those songs you need to listen to again is this one since it’s catchy, witty, and rocks hard.
9. RADIOHEAD, “FAKE PLASTIC TREES”
From their second studio album, The Bends, the English rock band Radiohead has a song called “Fake Plastic Trees.” Thom Yorke wrote the song, which was the third single from the album when it was released in 1995, about the damaging consequences of materialism and consumerism on society and the environment.
90s Rock Songs:
Along with “Creep,” “Karma Police,” and “Paranoid Android,” the song is regarded as one of Radiohead’s best tracks and received positive reviews from reviewers. One of the top rock singles of the 1990s, It peaked at #20 on the UK Singles List, and also made it onto the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks list, the New Zealand Singles Chart, and the Canada Rock/Alternative chart.
10. “EVERLONG” – FOO FIGHTERS
Dave Grohl wrote “Everlong,” a song by the Foo Fighters that was released in 1997. When you sing along with them, you harmonize beautifully; the song relates to the feeling of being so linked to someone that you love them both physically and spiritually. The song soon became popular and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song because of this emotional connection. In the late 1990s, this song served as the Foo Fighters’ signature song. The song has Grohl’s distinctive vocals and a catchy riff. Unquestionably one of the greatest 90s rock songs, and every rock fan’s playlist ought to have it.
WHAT SONGS FROM THE 1990s DO YOU THINK WERE THE BEST?
Turn up the volume and enjoy, whether you were raised listening to these songs or are only now becoming aware of them. What would you consider to be the top ten rock songs of the 1990s?
