I’m feeling a little nostalgic at the moment. Today I was driving and a song came on the radio that I hadn’t heard in years! Decades actually! It was Westlife’s – When You’re Looking Like That. Technically, that song came out in 2000, but it made me want to go back and remember all the songs of the 90s from when I was a teenager!
So … throw on your oversized denim jacket, layered necklaces and other 90s fashion and let’s review the songs of the 90s teenagers that are still awesome today!
Pin The Memories

I was born in 1981, so my teenage years were pure 90s! I remember being a ‘goodie goodie’ at school but on weekends I was a reckless and ‘expressive’ as my friends, a typical 90s teenager, or any teenager I’m assuming. Let’s just leave it there.
Last week I was packing up the last of my precious memories and my mom brought me my old school tie to take with me, emblazoned with all the badges I’d earned. Believe it or not, I was Head Girl, Captain of Swimming and Captain of Hockey, to name a few. Anyway, seeing that tie, and being home in my mom’s house where I spent my teenage years was quite weird, especially when my two little girls crept into my bed in my old room with me.
Take Me Back! (Okay, not really).
My teenage years were awesome! My sisters (three of them) and I, and a few of our friends ran as a pack! We got dressed for parties together, drove there packed in my little Mazda 323, and slept over at each other’s houses.
We shared some awesome memories over the years, some of which were the best of our lives. Yes, I know that’s a cliché! And what are teenage memories without a mix-tape playlist to go with them. Here are a few of mine, in no particular order:
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Spice Girls – Wannabe
There may or may not have been a lip-sync done on stage to this song! Thank goodness social media and smartphones hadn’t been invented back then!
Ricky Martin – Living La Vida Loca
Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
Ace Of Base – The Sign
Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5
Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way
The Offspring – Pretty Fly For A White Guy
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up
And by request I have added a few that I missed off initially, or that were requested!
The Cranberries – Zombie
Enrique Iglesias – Be With You
Albums That Will Live On Forever for 90s teenagers!
Those are a few of the songs of the 90s that everyone will know, I think. But the teenage years are nothing if not heartbreak, after heartbreak, after “I hate the world”! So there are a few 90s albums that I feel I need to mention to round off this post:
- Def Leppard – Slang!
- Bryan Adams – 18 ‘Till I Die
- Trisha Yearwood – Songbook (A Collection of Hits)
- Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill – don’t forget the secret song at the very end of the CD!
- U2 – The Best of 1980 – 1990 (Which ironically was released in 1998).
So there you have it, a little insight into my teenage music taste, and what we listened to when we were still young, youthful and innocent (don’t laugh!). The 90s was my favourite decade by far, although I’m not so sure I’d choose to do it all again! lol
I’m sure I have missed loads, the 90s was a great decade for music – certainly better than the 80s, that’s for sure! Anyway, let me know which of your favourite 90s songs didn’t make this list.
If my list of songs of the 90s teenager bring back any memories for you, share this post with your “old” friends to bring back a few memories for them too.
Oh my word as a baby of 1981 I totally hear you! I was an ullturnative junky! So many of these songs had an exact memory to it ? Only band missing here for me, Cranberries oh my goodness! Memory Lane …
so whilst I respect your choices the one I dislike the most is mambo number 5. You forgot REM they had some stellar tracks in the 90’s. I agree with Marishka where are the Cranberries. Oh and the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack – super 90’s favourites on there and now I leave this comment with the song of 4nonBlondes – whats going on? :)
Hey hey … these are MY teenage choices. I think we should starts a “war”
– mine vs yours! You do one! X
Oh you have excellent taste in music. Personally I would have gone for Def Leppards Adrenalize as that has huge memories attached. My first real love and heartbreak plus the freedom of turning 18 and being at college.
I’m a baby of December 1980….so I’m right there with you! Such an awesome time we grew up in I think.
Ahh Alanis was one of my faves as well…and yes…the secret song! Our kids will never know about secret songs and bonus tracks…and CD singles. lol. I was more into R&B so there are a few unknown to me on this list. No Doubt, Toni Braxton, TLC, Mariah…those were my vibe… I have no idea who those blonde chicks are, but The Cranberries…also a fave.
Ace of Base for life!!! I just listened to some AoB today! ??
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Yay I was a 90’s teen I remember all these songs! Gosh good times!