100 Greatest 90s: Songs

A psychedelic grunge masterpiece.

A melodic departure that explored themes of loneliness and addiction. 100 greatest 90s songs

Any discussion of 90s music must begin with the seismic shift of the early decade: the explosion of Alternative Rock and Grunge. Before 1991, the airwaves were dominated by the hairspray and synth-pop of the 80s. Then came the distortion. Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" remains the decade’s essential anchor, a track that didn't just top charts but interrogated the very nature of fame. It paved the way for a gritty, authentic sound that defined Generation X. Alongside it, Pearl Jam’s "Jeremy" and Soundgarden’s "Black Hole Sun" provided a heavy, guitar-driven antidote to the perceived superficiality of the previous decade. However, this wasn't just an American phenomenon; the British response was the audacious, shiny arrogance of Britpop. Blur’s "Song 2" and Oasis’s "Wonderwall" offered a counter-narrative—nostalgic, melodic, and brashly confident—proving that guitar music could be both ironic and universally anthemic. A psychedelic grunge masterpiece