30 Songs Every '90s Kid Knows By Heart
- by Ben Gibson
- – on
- in Entertainment
It is an old cliché, but it's definitely true. Music is the soundtrack of our lives. Music is unique and it is individual. Music can take us anywhere we want to go and it absolutely can take us anywhere we've already been. Music is an emotional trigger that touches us deep inside, like nothing else can. The melody or tempo of a particular song propel years into the past. While one song may make you feel like you're in roller skates again at the local rink; the very next one can bring tears to your eyes as you're quickly reminded of a relationship that ended painfully. There are very few external stimulants that can bring back memories and sentiments as rapidly and as vividly as music can.
Some of us will never forget the popular tunes of our own generation. Yet, others utterly love the sound from the decades that came before them. Whatever the time period may be, or whichever era happens to be your favorite, and no matter what anyone tells you, there is no wrong answer to the question: "What kind of songs do you like best?" Yes, people will always have conflicting opinions, but the honest truth is that we're all human, we're all different, and we all think that our music is the best music.
Can you name this Michael Jackson song from the image?
An easy easier question might be, what Michael Jackson hit song CAN'T you name. Forty-five years worth of music. That's a lot of songs and a lot of Billboard hits. Of course, if you're talking about the King of Pop, it's obvious that many of those songs also gave us a myriad of great music videos as well. The dancing, the performances, and the showmanship; it was always there and it was always remarkable. No matter the song, no matter the decade, Michael never failed to deliver.
Can you finish these lyrics? " ... her voice is strained and she says, baby-"
Lyrics to a song can be like dialogue in a movie. They get stuck in your head and you can't get them out: or you can't remember where is was that you heard it. Actually, song lyrics might be more annoying. It's the chorus of a song where the majority of us get stuck. More like trapped; when it's one line of one particular chorus, in a particular verse of a particular song. Of course, the real trick then, is finding out what the title of the song was.
Name the movie "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" is from.
Music is the soundtrack of our lives. Okay, that's true. But, sometimes music is the soundtrack to movies, too. "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," is also one of those times where you often find yourself asking if it was written exclusively for the movie, or was it just a great hit that happened to go great with the movie? Like "Mrs. Robinson," and "The Graduate." The same is true with television theme songs. How does a song that's played during the opening credits hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts?
Can you name the four artists who lent their talents to "Lady Marmalade?"
First of all, it makes you wonder how one song (or any song for that matter) got to be such a huge hit, that it literally spent 5 weeks in a row at the top position on the music charts. But, this time, the answer is actually pretty simple. It was a brilliant collaboration by four amazingly talented artists. Very rarely does this much talent get together to not only create great music, but a stellar musical performance on stage as well.
Who sings, " ... do you believe in life after love? I can feel something inside me say, I really don't think you're strong enough."
It's hard to find synonyms to the word, "wow." Words like, "awesome," and "incredible," come to mind. Why? Why do you need such strong adjectives? Easy. Because you need words THIS BIG to describe this artist. She's been stunning audiences and topping the singles charts for over 30 years! Now that's what you call "staying power!" It takes a tremendous amount of talent to maintain a career that long; but it takes a true [musical] gift to keep producing that many hit songs that span over three decades!
Who teamed up with Carlos Santana in 1999, to create the song "Smooth?"
Carlos Santana has been stunning audiences for nearly fifty years! One of the highlights of his early career was playing at Woodstock in 1969. He's won a total of ten Grammys throughout his career; including seven for his one album, "Supernatural," alone. Very rarely does instrumental talent like this come along. Carlos' astonishing skills on the guitar have earned him the right to be listed with some of the greats, like Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix (who also played Woodstock), and Eddie Van Halen.
Name the artist who won a Grammy for her 1996 vocal performance of "Un-Break My Heart?"
She first garnered a lot of attention for her two contributions to the soundtrack for Eddie Murphy's "Boomerang" in the early '90s. She then exploded onto the pop music scene after catching the attention of Babyface and debuting with her self-titled album in 1993 (which also won her three Grammys). This dynamic, vocal diva has also appeared as Belle in the Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast," and been a guest on Season 7 of "Dancing With the Stars."
Finish the lyrics, " ... don't go chasin' waterfalls, please stick to-"
Tionne, Lisa, and Rozanda are the three powerhouse females that make up the female rhythm and blues vocal group, TLC. Or, perhaps they're better known by their professional names: "T-Boz," "Left Eye," and "Chilli." With such big hits as "Creep," "No Scrubs," and "Unpretty," it doesn't really matter what you know them by as long as you recognize these girls as the group that has sold over 85 million records worldwide! This trio has also been singled out as the highest-selling, American girl group of all time.
Name the song that goes with this music video.
Will Smith has more than proven himself as a bankable music phenomenon; and that's not including his blinding star power on the silver screen. Smith is probably best known in the rap music world for his "lighthearted, story-telling, profanity-free" style of rhymes. Some have criticized him for his often used music sampling method when it comes to recording his songs. However, both Will's on-screen and off-screen abilities far surpass any trivial judgements some have cast over his musical career choices.
Who did Boyz II Men collaborate with for "One Sweet Day?"
This unique track was written by both Boyz II Men and their collaborator and spent a record-setting 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. In a reader's poll, by Rolling Stone, "One Sweet Day" was voted best collaboration of all time! Not only did it top the charts as a booming single, it became the most successful song of the 1990s. The track was officially released on the contributing artist's album, but it's other-worldly success was credited to both of the parties involved.
Name the movie that made Coolio's hit "Gangsta's Paradise" such a world-wide sensation.
Coolio's sudden rise to the top had already begun when he released the single, "Gangsta's Paradise." He was also riding high on the success of his debut solo album, which contained his first hit song, "Fantastic Voyage." That same album also contained a couple of minor hits, like "County Line" and "I Remember." The album, titled "It Takes a Thief," peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200, and eventually became certified platinum. Coolio, along with R&B singer LV, made "Gangsta's Paradise" one of the most successful rap songs of all time.
Name the band made famous by their hit single, "Butterfly."
Most times, when people hear the term, "one-hit wonder," it's usually associated with the '80s. But the truth is, artists have been peaking at No. 1 and then disappearing into obscurity since the '50s and '60s. This group came onto the scene in the mid to late '90s and labeled themselves as more of a hip hop group than rock. However "Butterfly" took the top spot on the song chart and was responsible for their debut album, The Gift of Game, selling over 1.5 million units.
Kelly Clarkson instantly became a household name with "A Moment Like This," while competing on what reality show?
Decades ago, becoming a musical success was a bit less complicated than it is now. When artists like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis were starting out, all you had to do was go down to Sun Records and cut a demo. Once your single got played on the radio, it was up to all the loyal listeners to decide on just how popular you might become. In the '80s it was about getting discovered. Then, towards the turn of the century, your big chance was determined by how many votes you got.
Which one of these was mega-hit for the band, No Doubt, in the late '90s?
No Doubt actually began their musical journey in the late '80s, but had very little success with their debut album in 1992. Introducing their unique ska punk sound proved to be a bit daunting in the beginning. However, a year or two later, they released "The Beacon Street Collection" under their own record label and sold over three times as many copies as their first album. In the latter part of the '90s, their third recorded release, "Tragic Kingdom," catapulted straight to the top!
Do you know the rest of this verse, " ... this is how we do it-"
Montell Jordan is best known as a singer, songwriter in the mid to late '90's. He recorded primarily as a solo artist on the Def Soul record label for several years; and is best known for his hit single "This Is How We Do It." He also made the Billboard charts with other songs, like "Somethin' 4 da Honeyz," and "Let's Ride." Sometime around 1996, Montell was the opening act while touring with R&B vocal group Boyz II Men. A few years later, he began expanding musical range by producing songs for other artists.
Name the song that goes with this video.
Although Britney Spears first debuted in the late '90s, she rose to stardom the way a lot of female artists did back in the '80s. In 1992, she got her start on The Mickey Mouse Club and was cast alongside Christina Aguilera until the show was cancelled four years later. In 1998 she set about on a shopping mall tour in order to promote what was to become her debut album. Shortly after, she began touring with NSYNC as an opening act. Less than a year later, her premier album was released.
What three-member, family band topped the charts with the single, "MMMBop?"
Isaac, Zac, and Taylor got their start in Tulsa, in the early '90s in talent shows and art festivals. They were originally all a cappella, covering such classic tunes as "Rockin' Robin," "Johnny B. Goode," and "Splish Splash." The trio produced their own album in 1996, titled (you guessed it) MMMBop. A little less than a year later and they were touring stadiums and other sports arenas throughout the United States. Years later, the three brothers returned to their roots and began recording under their own label again.
What top-grossing movie featured the song, "My Heart Will Go On?"
Like many other artists, Celine Dion's career actually began nearly a decade before she was discovered and signed to Epic Records. Needless to say her life's calling was already well underway when she was asked to provide her hit single, "My Heart Will Go On," as the love theme for a 1997 blockbuster film. The song went on to win her an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. The familiar love ballad also gave her two Grammy awards, as well.
Name the group that started the dance sensation, "The Macarena."
Dance fads come and go. It's nothing new. There was "The Twist," "The Mashed Potato," "The Washing Machine," even "The Electric Slide." People (okay, mostly girls) the world over, had their hands on their hips and were gyrating across dance floors everywhere. With it's Spanish lyrics and electronic rhythms, the Macarena truly took the country by storm. VH1 once named the single as the greatest one-hit wonder of all time. To this day, it remains one of the most iconic dances at weddings and parties around the globe.
Can you name the title of the song from these lyrics, " ... honey came in and she caught me red-handed, creeping with the girl next door."
A song with a catchy beat and raunchy lyrics, what's not to like? Shaggy first came onto the music scene in 1993 with his first hit, "Oh Carolina." In the years following, he worked with a handful of big name producers like Sting, Robert Livingston, and Frankie Cutlass. He followed up his first hit in 1995 with "Boombastic" (which subsequently became the main theme for a Levi's commercial). With his unique sound and one of a kind voice, Shaggy went on to record an album that eventually went 6x platinum.
Which Madonna album featured the chart-topper, "Take A Bow?"
Madonna, like Michael Jackson, was one of the most iconic, and one of the most ground-breaking artists that influenced the birth of the MTV generation. Her second and third album (Like A Virgin and True Blue) propelled her to stardom faster than anyone could say, Material Girl. Her rebellious attitude and unique sound made her sparkle in the public's eye for decades to come. Madonna continues to push the boundaries of music and musical performances all around the world to this very day.
Can you name the Mariah Carey song from this image?
The '80s were truly the era of the music video. MTV was at its peak and everyone was trying to conceive of just how there could be a single television station that played nothing but- yes, music VIDEOS. It was like turning on you radio to hear The American Top 40 countdown; only now, it was through a visual medium instead. In the '90s, both MTV and VH1 began to branch out with a fledgling reality show here and there as well.
Can you name this other Carlos Santana hit song from the "Supernatural" album?
"The '60s were a leap in human consciousness. Gandhi, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Che Guevara, Mother Teresa, they led revolutions. The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix created [musical] revolutions and evolution themes. The music was like Dahli, with many colors and revolutionary ways. The youth of today must go there to find themselves." -Carlos Santana. Shortly after a resurgence of popularity in the late '90s, Rolling Stone magazine listed Carlos near the top of their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
What band's song claimed, " ... I want to stand with you on a mountain; I want to bathe with you in the sea."
Australia has given us some the greatest rock bands in music history, hands down. Groups like, AC/DC, INXS, Men At Work, and The Little River Band; not to mention one of the biggest selling trios of all time ... The Bee Gees. In the 1990s we were treated to a new, extremely talented duo that gave us hits like "I Knew I Loved You," "I Want You," and "The Animal Song." Two of their studio albums have since sold 23 million copies.
What was the name of Ricky Martin's mega-dance hit in 1999?
The '90s certainly gave us a lot of great dance hits ... "What Is Love," "Cotton Eye Joe," and "Gonna Make You Sweat" just to name a few. But, in the tradition of The Miami Sound Machine, we were also graced with some stellar dance hits that had a bit more of a Latin/Miami sound to them. Songs like, "Macarena," and "Mambo No. 5." The '70s may have had disco, and the '80s may have had us voguing, but the '90s made it nearly impossible to sit still.
Who was " ... fallin' in and out of love with you?"
It's like the chicken and the egg. The love or the love song; which came first? Or, maybe it was neither. Maybe it was the love lost that gave birth to the ballad. Love songs, or lost-love songs were certainly not anything new in the '90s. There have people dealing with their broken hearts since there have been ... well, people. We just never kept track of the sad songs until the '50's. Believe it or not, the classic, "Unchained Melody" was topping the charts all the back in 1955.
Which one of these Will Smith songs was NOT featured in a movie?
Will's rap career began well before he ever showed up on screen (small, silver, or otherwise). Granted, there was a song or two associated with movies or TV before the big No. 1 singles came around, i.e. "A Nightmare On My Street," or "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson." There's really no use in explaining where the song "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" came from. Will Smith has obviously distinguished himself as one of those rare performers who manages to balance both a singing and film career at the same time.
"It's been- " how many weeks " -since you looked at me, cocked your head to the side and said, I'm angry?"
Although typically billed as an alternative band, Barenaked Ladies has actually covered quite a wide variety of styles, from pop to rock to hip hop to rap and so on. The group actually began their musical journey in 1988 and had even swapped out a member or two by the time their first big hit, "If I Had $1,000,000" hit the airwaves. They were well on their way when their fourth album, "Stunt," became their biggest seller to date. Originally based in Canada, Barenaked Ladies have certainly left their mark in the music industry.
Can you name Lonestar's biggest hit from 1999?
Interestingly enough, three members of the band, Lonestar, belonged to different groups before forming their own country music sensation. Since 1992, this four-man group has produced at least twenty songs that have made the Hot Country Singles chart and more than half a dozen have made it all the way to No. 1. This particular song also hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100; a feat that had not been achieved in twenty years, since "Islands In The Stream," by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
Which Michael Jackson love ballad hit No. 1 in the '90s?
From his first solo album, "Off The Wall," in the '70's ... to this hit single, Michael's string of No. 1 tracks seems almost endless. Single after single, Michael Jackson's vast array of talent never ceased to amaze his listeners, the world over. Whether it was a new (or another) music video, filled with innovative and stunning dance moves or a vocal collaboration with his sister Janet; the King of Pop's creativity seemed limitless. Luckily, the world is still experiencing his music, long after his passing.