Remember the 90s? When flannel was fashion and we recorded songs off the radio onto cassettes? Well, some of those hits should’ve stayed buried in that decade along with dial-up internet and AOL chat rooms. These sonic embarrassments once dominated our Walkmans but now make us cringe harder than seeing your parents attempt TikTok dances. Let’s excavate these musical fossils that somehow charted and probably deserve to remain extinct.
If you survived this musical trip down memory lane without cringing at least five times, congratulations on your impressive pain tolerance. These songs represent just a small sample of questionable 90s hits that somehow dominated airwaves. Feel free to relive the trauma by creating your own “Worst of the 90s” playlist, or do yourself a favor and listen to literally anything else instead.
14. Every Morning – Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray’s “Every Morning” is the musical equivalent of that guy who shows up to a party wearing both a pooka shell necklace AND frosted tips. It desperately wants to be cool but fails spectacularly.
Mark McGrath’s voice perfectly captures the 90s heartthrob vibe, before he eventually transitioned to television, hosting shows like “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” and “Extra.” The guitar elements reminiscent of flamenco seem as out of place as socks with sandals at a formal dinner.
13. We Like to Party – Vengaboys
The Vengaboys created “We Like to Party” – a song with fewer lyrics than a toddler’s first poem. If musical competition had participation trophies, this would win one.
The beat starts, stays exactly the same, then ends. That’s it. That’s the song. People still request it at weddings despite its repetitive nature. Those people probably also enjoy watching paint dry for entertainment.
12. Humans Being – Van Halen
When Van Halen released “Humans Being” for the Twister soundtrack, their creative tornado had clearly disappeared. This track illustrates what happens when legendary rockers create music for a film project.
Sammy Hagar’s performance lacks the energy of earlier work. The guitar work feels uninspired compared to their classics. The whole production gives off strong contractual obligation vibes, similar to how Instagram influencers promote products they clearly don’t use.
11. Summer of Love – The Beach Boys
“Summer of Love” by The Beach Boys proves that sometimes legends should gracefully retire. Without Brian Wilson’s input on the album “Summer in Paradise,” they struggled to maintain their signature sound.
Mike Love’s songwriting approach on this track lacks the depth of their earlier material. This song tries so hard to recapture their magic but falls completely flat. Even die-hard fans probably skip this one on their playlists.
10. 911 is a Joke – Duran Duran
Duran Duran covering Public Enemy is possibly the worst crossover in music history. Someone should have stepped in to prevent this disaster from happening.
Simon Le Bon tackling Flavor Flav’s material is deeply uncomfortable. The cultural tone-deafness is obvious to any listener. This cover makes everyone cringe faster than scrolling through your parents’ attempts at using emojis in text messages.
9. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm – Crash Test Dummies
Crash Test Dummies created a hit chorus featuring zero actual words. They somehow topped charts by humming instead of singing actual lyrics. Bold strategy.
Brad Roberts’ distinctively deep baritone voice divides listeners instantly. Without connecting to the bizarre lyrics about blue hair and birthmarks, listening to this song becomes a truly strange experience that many would rather avoid.
8. Lullaby – Shawn Mullins
Shawn Mullins’ “Lullaby” features verses delivered in an unsettling whisper style. Nothing says “soothing” like a man intensely murmuring about Hollywood.
His breathy narration style creates immediate discomfort for many listeners. The contrast with the shouted chorus creates severe emotional whiplash. The song showcases what happens when someone can’t decide between ASMR and rock music.
7. Butterfly – Crazy Town
Crazy Town’s “Butterfly” combined nu-metal and terrible poetry to create something truly special in the worst possible way. The band members had facial tattoos before everyone on Instagram did.
The lyrics sound immature and poorly conceived. The whole package has aged terribly over time. Anyone who claims this is their favorite song is probably lying or needs an intervention.
6. Summer Girls – LFO
“Summer Girls” by LFO features that memorable line about Chinese food making them sick. This factually accurate description of the lyrics is as close as we’ll get to quoting this masterpiece.
This song throws together random pop culture references with abandon. The vocal performances possess minimal charisma. The track represents everything that was wrong with 90s pop – forgettable, generic, and inexplicably popular.
5. Faith – Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit covering George Michael’s “Faith” demonstrates the dangers of unnecessary covers. Just because you can record something doesn’t mean you should.
Fred Durst transformed a pop classic into an angry tantrum with guitars. Volume doesn’t equal talent, something this band never quite understood. George Michael deserved better, listeners deserved better, and frankly, so did Limp Bizkit.
4. What’s Up? – 4 Non Blondes
“What’s Up?” has become the song everyone screams at karaoke after their fourth tequila shot. It’s less about appreciation and more about collective trauma bonding.
The 90s played this song so relentlessly that it should qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. Linda Perry’s distinctive vocal style preceded the autotune era. This track represents that ex you’ve definitely heard enough from for one lifetime.
3. I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred
Right Said Fred created “I’m Too Sexy” – a song about being too attractive for various items including clothing. The verified lyrics humorously list numerous things the singer claims to be “too sexy” for.
The deadpan delivery paired with a repetitive bassline created an earworm that’s nearly impossible to forget. The track embodies peak 90s camp that somehow transcended its novelty status to become a legitimate hit.
2. Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men
“Who Let the Dogs Out?” asks a question nobody needed answered while simultaneously making sure you’ll never forget it. The Baha Men created an audio phenomenon that was widely used in various media and events.
This song appeared in countless sports arenas, children’s movies, and commercial breaks for years. It’s catchier than seasonal illnesses during holiday travel. Yet against all logic, people still chant it with disturbing enthusiasm.
1. Barbie Girl – Aqua
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua is what happens when adults create music that’s too weird for children but too childish for adults. It exists in uncanny valley territory.
The plastic fantastic lyrics delivered in baby-doll voice created something simultaneously catchy and uncomfortable. The song raises more questions than it answers, starting with “Why?” and ending with “No, seriously, why?”
