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[Western Music] Summer songs that were hits in the ’90s: Recommended classics and popular tracks

The 1990s were a time when alternative rock upended the dominance of the hit charts that had lasted through the ’80s, indie artists brimming with talent thrived without relying on major labels, and one young talent after another emerged in hip-hop and R&B.

Of course, the mainstream pop scene also produced countless big hits.

Among the countless hit songs and classics born from these diverse scenes, this time we’re picking out “summer songs” perfect for the season.

From definitive anthems that sing directly about summer to killer tunes made for hot days, we’re bringing you a richly varied lineup!

Playlist

[Western Music] Summer songs that were hits in the ’90s: Recommended classics and popular tracks
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Summer GirlsLFO
Summer GirlsLFOplay_arrow
A light, funky, summer love song by the Light Funky Ones
2MiamiWill Smith
MiamiWill Smithplay_arrow
Introduction to Will Smith’s rap song “Miami”
3Better Off AloneAlice DeeJay
Better Off AloneAlice DeeJayplay_arrow
Alice Deejay’s heartbreak dance song
4Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!Vengaboys
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!Vengaboysplay_arrow
Vengaboys’ signature summer song
5Samba De JaneiroBellini
Samba De JaneiroBelliniplay_arrow
Representative songs of a German music project
6Blue (Da Ba Dee)Eiffel 65
Blue (Da Ba Dee)Eiffel 65play_arrow
Eiffel 65’s signature song “Blue”
7This Is How We Do ItMontell Jordan
This Is How We Do ItMontell Jordanplay_arrow
Montell Jordan summer classic
8Goody GoodyLisette Melendez
Goody GoodyLisette Melendezplay_arrow
Reset Melendez’s 90s dance-pop
9WannabeSpice Girls
WannabeSpice Girlsplay_arrow
The Spice Girls’ signature work is a big hit.
10WaterfallsTLC
WaterfallsTLCplay_arrow
A song that warns of the dangers of chasing dreams
11Really Into YouAround the way
Really Into YouAround the wayplay_arrow
An R&B love song from Around the Way
12BoombasticShaggy
BoombasticShaggyplay_arrow
Shaggy’s Boombastic recommendation
13Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)The Offspring
Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)The Offspringplay_arrow
Offspring, a recommended killer tune for summer
14Doo-Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hill
Doo-Wop (That Thing)Lauryn Hillplay_arrow
Lauryn Hill establishes her status as a female rapper
15TubthumpingChumbawamba
TubthumpingChumbawambaplay_arrow
A cheer song praising Chumbawamba’s indomitable spirit
16Shy GuyDiana King
Shy GuyDiana Kingplay_arrow
Diana King summer classic reggae
17You Get What You GiveNew Radicals
You Get What You GiveNew Radicalsplay_arrow
90s hit songs cheer on the youth
18California Love2Pac
California Love2Pacplay_arrow
Tupac’s California Love
19The Bad TouchBloodhound Gang
The Bad TouchBloodhound Gangplay_arrow
The Bloodhound Gang's satirical hit song
20Freedom! ’90George Michael
Freedom! ’90George Michaelplay_arrow
George Michael’s exhilarating anthem to freedom
21Walkin’ On The SunSmash Mouth
Walkin' On The SunSmash Mouthplay_arrow
Introduction to Smash Mouth's debut song
22Say You’ll Be ThereSpice Girls
Say You'll Be ThereSpice Girlsplay_arrow
A 1996 release by the Spice Girls
23One HeadlightThe Wallflowers
One HeadlightThe Wallflowersplay_arrow
The Wallflowers’ success and positive lyrics
24Don’t SpeakNo Doubt
Don't SpeakNo Doubtplay_arrow
Introduction to No Doubt's “Don’t Speak”
25Steal My SunshineLen
Steal My SunshineLenplay_arrow
Len's summer pop song
26StarlightThe Supermen Lovers (feat. Mani Hoffman)
StarlightThe Supermen Lovers (feat. Mani Hoffman)play_arrow
Representative works of French music producers
27JumpKriss Kross
JumpKriss Krossplay_arrow
Kris Kross’s smash hit
28I’ll Be Missing YouPuff Daddy ft. Faith Evans & 112
I'll Be Missing YouPuff Daddy ft. Faith Evans & 112play_arrow
Tribute song to The Notorious B.I.G.
29Roll To MeDel Amitri
Roll To MeDel Amitriplay_arrow
Del Amitri's 1995 single
30I Love You Always ForeverDonna Lewis
I Love You Always ForeverDonna Lewisplay_arrow
Introduction to Donna Lewis's Enigmatic Songs
31Save TonightEagle-Eye Cherry
Save TonightEagle-Eye Cherryplay_arrow
Swedish singer, a hit song representing the 1990s
32The WayFastball
The WayFastballplay_arrow
Introducing Fastball’s summer song “The Way.”
33Only Wanna Be With YouHootie&The Blowfish
Only Wanna Be With YouHootie&The Blowfishplay_arrow
Introduction to classic songs by Hootie & the Blowfish
34Hootie & the BlowfishI Go Blind Hootie & The Blowfish
Hootie & the BlowfishI Go Blind Hootie & The Blowfishplay_arrow
"I Go Blind" became hugely popular when covered by Hootie & the Blowfish.
35You Were Meant For MeJewel
You Were Meant For MeJewelplay_arrow
Introduction to songs by distinctive female vocalists from the ’90s
36TornNatalie Imbruglia
TornNatalie Imbrugliaplay_arrow
Introduction to Natalie’s classic song Torn
37SanteriaSublime
SanteriaSublimeplay_arrow
Ska band releases a memorial music video honoring the deceased
38ZombieThe Cranberries
ZombieThe Cranberriesplay_arrow
Cranberries' anti-war song becomes a big hit
39If You Could Only SeeTonic
If You Could Only SeeTonicplay_arrow
Tonic, a representative song of 1990s alternative rock
40Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Day
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)Green Dayplay_arrow
Green Day's acoustic masterpieces
41Sex And CandyMarcy Playground
Sex And CandyMarcy Playgroundplay_arrow
Marcy Playground, a unique world influenced by the ’70s
42FantasyMariah Carey
FantasyMariah Careyplay_arrow
Sampling a song by Tom Tom Club
43Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana
Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvanaplay_arrow
Nirvana’s signature song “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
44All I Wanna DoSheryl Crow
All I Wanna DoSheryl Crowplay_arrow
Sheryl Crow’s genre-blending song
45Thong SongSisqo
Thong SongSisqoplay_arrow
Sisqó 1999 single soulful vocals
46Two PrincesSpin Doctors
Two PrincesSpin Doctorsplay_arrow
The Spin Doctors’ classic song “Two Princes”
47Whoomp! (There It Is)Tag Team
Whoomp! (There It Is)Tag Teamplay_arrow
Tag Team's 1993 song
48LovefoolThe Cardigans
LovefoolThe Cardigansplay_arrow
International hit song of the Earth Sisters
49Give Me One ReasonTracy Chapman
Give Me One ReasonTracy Chapmanplay_arrow
Tracy Chapman's blues love song
50south_eastGive Me One ReasonTracy Chapman
Give Me One ReasonTracy Chapmanplay_arrow
Introduction to Tracy Chapman's signature songs
51(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With YouUB40
(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With YouUB40play_arrow
The UB40 version was a big hit in 1993. Used in a film.
52Cruel Summer (Bananarama Cover)Ace of Base
Cruel Summer (Bananarama Cover)Ace of Baseplay_arrow
Ace of Base's summer song
53Run-AroundBlues Traveler
Run-AroundBlues Travelerplay_arrow
Blues Traveler’s 1996 Grammy-winning song
54Rockafeller SkankFatboy Slim
Rockafeller SkankFatboy Slimplay_arrow
Fatboy Slim's smash hit song
55CreepTLC
CreepTLCplay_arrow
Introduction to TLC’s signature song “Creep”
56Ice Ice BabyVanilla Ice
Ice Ice BabyVanilla Iceplay_arrow
Vanilla Ice is a rapper who sold well in the 90s.
57All StarAll Star Smash Mouth
All StarAll Star Smash Mouthplay_arrow
Smash Mouth's signature song 'All Star'
58Til I Hear It From YouGin Blossoms
Til I Hear It From YouGin Blossomsplay_arrow
The refreshing rock of The GIN BLOSSOMS
59I Need to KnowMarc Anthony
I Need to KnowMarc Anthonyplay_arrow
Marc Anthony's hit song I Need to Know
60Smooth ft. Rob ThomasSantana
Smooth ft. Rob ThomasSantanaplay_arrow
Introduction to Santana’s classic song “Smooth”
61Can I Kick It?A Tribe Called Quest
Can I Kick It?A Tribe Called Questplay_arrow
A Tribe Called Quest’s representative songs of the ’90s
62VenusBananarama
VenusBananaramaplay_arrow
Covered by Bananarama and became a worldwide hit
63The Boy Is MineBrandy&Monica
The Boy Is MineBrandy&Monicaplay_arrow
Brandy and Monica’s 90s R&B classic
64Baby BabyCorona
Baby BabyCoronaplay_arrow
Eurodance brimming with the euphoria of the coronavirus era
65The Rhythm of the NightCorona
The Rhythm of the NightCoronaplay_arrow
Italian Eurodance becomes a global hit
66Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz
Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitzplay_arrow
Lenny Kravitz’s 90s rock hit song
67All That She Wants (Official Music Video)Ace of Base
All That She Wants (Official Music Video)Ace of Baseplay_arrow
Introduction to Ace of Base’s worldwide hit songs
68I Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith
I Don't Want to Miss a ThingAerosmithplay_arrow
Introduction to Aerosmith’s signature songs
69I Want It That WayBackstreet Boys
I Want It That WayBackstreet Boysplay_arrow
Explanation of signature songs by the Backstreet Boys
70One WeekBare Naked Ladies
One WeekBare Naked Ladiesplay_arrow
A Canadian band breaks through in the U.S.
71No RainBlind Melon
No RainBlind Melonplay_arrow
A song from before the band was formed, inspired by a lover’s depression
72HookBlues Traveler
HookBlues Travelerplay_arrow
Blues Traveler’s signature song “Hook”
73CrossroadsBone Thugs-N-Harmony
CrossroadsBone Thugs-N-Harmonyplay_arrow
A tribute rap song to Eazy-E
74…Baby One More TimeBritney Spears
...Baby One More TimeBritney Spearsplay_arrow
The appeal of Britney Spears’s debut song
75Gangsta’s Paradise (feat. L.V.)Coolio
Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.)Coolioplay_arrow
Coolio's signature song that sings about gang culture
76SummertimeDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
SummertimeDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Princeplay_arrow
Summertime is Will Smith’s classic summer hit
77NameGoo Goo Dolls
NameGoo Goo Dollsplay_arrow
Goo Goo Dolls’ smash hit song “Name”
78Here Comes The Hotstepper (Remix)Ini Kamoze
Here Comes The Hotstepper (Remix)Ini Kamozeplay_arrow
Kamoze’s classic, a fusion of reggae and dancehall
79Let’s Get LoudJennifer Lopez
Let's Get LoudJennifer Lopezplay_arrow
Jennifer Lopez's upbeat songs
80Lightning Crasheslive
Lightning Crashesliveplay_arrow
Live's signature song, 'Lightning Crashes'
81Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)Lou Bega
Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)Lou Begaplay_arrow
Lou Bega's mambo dance tune becomes a big hit
82U Can’t Touch ThisMC Hammer
U Can't Touch ThisMC Hammerplay_arrow
MC Hammer's 'U Can’t Touch This' becomes a big hit
83Real WorldMatchbox Twenty
Real WorldMatchbox Twentyplay_arrow
A refreshing rock song by Matchbox Twenty
84I’m The Only OneMelissa Etheridge
I'm The Only OneMelissa Etheridgeplay_arrow
Melissa released a love song in 1993
85Black Or WhiteMichael Jackson
Black Or WhiteMichael Jacksonplay_arrow
Michael’s masterpiece, a work themed around racial discrimination
86Just A GirlNo Doubt
Just A GirlNo Doubtplay_arrow
No Doubt's rock number
87WonderwallOasis
WonderwallOasisplay_arrow
Oasis’s classic song “Wonderwall,” summer-ready
88Hey Ya!OutKast
Hey Ya!OutKastplay_arrow
A love-themed song by OutKast
89SledgehammerPeter Gabriel
SledgehammerPeter Gabrielplay_arrow
Peter Gabriel’s US No. 1 hit song
90Livin’ La Vida LocaRicky Martin
Livin' La Vida LocaRicky Martinplay_arrow
A famous Latin music song, Livin' la Vida Loca
91Maria Maria ft. The Product G&BSantana
Maria Maria ft. The Product G&BSantanaplay_arrow
A fusion of Latin music and R&B, Grammy Award-winning
92Closing TimeSemisonic
Closing TimeSemisonicplay_arrow
About Semisonic’s signature song “Closing Time”
93If It Makes You HappySheryl Crow
If It Makes You HappySheryl Crowplay_arrow
Sheryl Crow’s signature country rock song
94Baby Got BackSir Mix A Lot
Baby Got BackSir Mix A Lotplay_arrow
A song by a man who loves women with big butts
95All For YouSister Hazel
All For YouSister Hazelplay_arrow
An alternative rock band originating from Florida
96Gin And JuiceSnoop Dogg
Gin And JuiceSnoop Doggplay_arrow
Snoop Dogg’s signature summer track
97Here We GoStakka Bo
Here We GoStakka Boplay_arrow
A dance-pop classic that critiques consumerism
98Every MorningSugar Ray
Every MorningSugar Rayplay_arrow
Sugar Ray's summer classic
99I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)The Proclaimers
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)The Proclaimersplay_arrow
A love song by Scottish twins
100We Like to PartyVengaboys
We Like to PartyVengaboysplay_arrow
Bengaboys' signature 90s Eurodance song
101Say It Ain’t SoWeezer
Say It Ain't SoWeezerplay_arrow
Weezar’s song, family discontent and Catholic elements
102It’s Not Right But It’s OkayWhitney Houston
It's Not Right But It's OkayWhitney Houstonplay_arrow
A strong woman theme of Whitney singing about a breakup with a man
103Men In BlackWill Smith
Men In BlackWill Smithplay_arrow
Will Smith movie theme song smash hit
104Bitchmeredith brooks
Bitchmeredith brooksplay_arrow
Meredith Brooks’s debut song
105Oh YeahAsh
Oh YeahAshplay_arrow
Ash’s summer song “Oh Yeah”
106Genie In A BottleChristina Aguilera
Genie In A BottleChristina Aguileraplay_arrow
The sexually controversial song that Christina sang
107UnbelievableEMF
UnbelievableEMFplay_arrow
A song about a woman who does nothing but make demands
108MMMBopHanson
MMMBopHansonplay_arrow
A smash hit by a sibling band that depicts a waste of time
109Return Of The MackMark Morrison
Return Of The MackMark Morrisonplay_arrow
Mark Morrison's 1996 R&B song
110Counting CrowsMr. Jones
Counting CrowsMr. Jonesplay_arrow
Introduction to Counting Crows' hit song 'Mr. Jones'
111C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)Quad City DJ’s
C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)Quad City DJ'splay_arrow
Quad City DJ’s 1996 dance hit
112S Club PartyS club 7
S Club PartyS club 7play_arrow
Introduction to S Club 7’s 1999 song
113Black Hole SunSoundgarden
Black Hole SunSoundgardenplay_arrow
Soundgarden's grunge summer song
114FlySugar Ray
FlySugar Rayplay_arrow
Sugar Ray "Fly" Released in 1997
115Mo Money Mo ProblemsThe Notorious B.I.G.
Mo Money Mo ProblemsThe Notorious B.I.G.play_arrow
A song that sings about issues of money and success
116Semi-Charmed LifeThird Eye Blind
Semi-Charmed LifeThird Eye Blindplay_arrow
A song that portrays a descent into drug addiction
117RegulateWarren G ft. Nate Dogg
RegulateWarren G ft. Nate Doggplay_arrow
A song by Warren G and Nate Dogg
1181979The Smashing Pumpkins
1979The Smashing Pumpkinsplay_arrow
Summer songs by The Smashing Pumpkins