When I first thought of the entry idea to write a list of ‘90s songs, the most obvious choice was to write about my favourite songs, picking one song per year.
But as I started listening to the songs, it dawned on me what a boring list this would become. My taste in music is hardly unique—as far as the ‘90s goes—and unsurprisingly, I found myself thinking the songs were genuinely good.
So, new plan.
Instead of just writing about songs we can all agree are genuinely good, classics that have stood the test of time, I want to focus on the songs I’m a little bit embarrassed to admit that I like. I, of course, still like them but I’d rather do it in secrecy where your judgemental stares can’t find me.
Oh, stop looking at me like that.
And for good measure, I’ll also include those good songs that I genuinely like, in a discernible pattern of embarrassing, good, embarrassing, good, etc.
Anyway, here we go.
For your listening pleasure, I’ve put them all in one giant playlist.
1990
Bad English - Price of Love, Embarrassing
Roxette - It Must Have Been Love, Good
1991
Firehouse - Love of a Lifetime, Embarrassing
Bryan Adams - Everything I Do (I Do It For You), Good
1992
Color Me Badd - All 4 Love, Embarrassing
Guns N’ Roses - November Rain, Good
1993
Silk - Freak Me, Embarrassing
Bon Jovi - Bed of Roses, Good
1994
All-4-One - I Swear, Embarrassing
Aerosmith - Crazy, Good
1995
Jamie Walters - Hold On, Embarrassing
Seal - Kiss From a Rose, Good
1996
George Michael - Fastlove, Embarrassing
2Pac - California Love, Good
1997
Savage Garden - I Want You, Embarrassing
Puff Daddy and Faith Evans - I’ll Be Missing You, Good
1998
Five - When The Lights Go Out, Embarrassing
Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet’s Back), Good
1999
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos, Embarrassing
Goo Goo Dolls - Slide, Good