24 songs from the 90s you'd probably forgotten about (2024)

As if we didn’t need any more reason to get all nostalgic about the 90s, now Channel 4 is getting in on the act with its own documentary.

The 90s: 10 Years That Changed The World, which airs on Saturday, will take a look back at the pop culture of the decade, with the music particularly coming under the spotlight.

But while the show undoubtedly brings a whole load of familiar faces and songs back to us, let’s take a moment to remember some of the era’s long-forgotten hits – not necessarily the one-hit wonders, but the ones we haven’t actually listened to for a while.

So how may of these do you remember – or in fact forgot all about…?

1 My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style – Dream Warriors (number 13 in 1990)

The biggest hit for this Canadian hip-hop duo, which might sound a tad familiar due to the use of Quincy Jones’ Soul Bossa Nova on the backing track (that’s the song Austin Powers dances to in the opening credits of his first film). Nonetheless you’ve probably forgotten there was ever a rap version. So allow us to remind you.

2 Set Adrift On Memory Bliss – PM Dawn (number three in 1991)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5VoTLTdr2A

Brothers Jarrett and Attrell Cordes (aka Prince Be and DJ Minutemix) soared up the charts with this summery anthem – inspired by Spandau Ballet’s classic True – in 1991, and made us want to ditch our entire wardrobe in favour of kaftans and those little round sunglasses. Sadly DJ Minutemix has left the band and Prince Be died in June this year following a battle with diabetes and kidney disease –but the group lives on thanks to new member Doc G, who still tours under the name.

3 Monsters and Angels – Voice of The Beehive (number 17 in 1991)

This jangly little anthem was one of the biggest hits for this band, fronted by sisters Tracy Bryn and Melissa Brooke Belland – who spent much of the late 80s and early 90s making irresistibly catchy pop tunes. They also once recorded a song called There’s A Barbarian In The Back Of My Car. Fact.

4 Everything About You – Ugly Kid Joe (number three in 1992)

Californian rockers Ugly Kid Joe enjoyed brief early 90s success with their cover of Harry Chapin’s Cats In The Cradle and this, in which lead singer Whitfield Crane basically listed everything he disliked about his girlfriend. Charming. Don’t tell us you don’t remember buying it…

5 No Rain – Blind Melon (number 17 in 1992)

Aka that onewith the tap-dancing girl dressed up as a bee. Oh and the song’s not bad either, although given it’s the video everybody remembers you may well have forgotten what it sounds like. Refresh your memory here. As for the band, they reformed in 2010 but apparently have ‘no plans’ to release new music any time soon. Boo.

6 Two Princes – Spin Doctors (number three in 1993)

This insanely catchy little number was the only UK top ten hit for this bunch of New York rockers, whose only other song of note was another jaunty little number entitled Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong. Fact: lead singer Chris Barron attempted to represent Norway at Eurovision in 2012. But wasn’t chosen.

7 Break From The Old Routine – Oui 3 (number 17 in 1993)

Fairly obscure song from fairly obscure English/American/Swiss trio who vanished as swiftly as they appeared. But now we’ve heard it again we can’t get it out of our heads.

8 Crazy For You – Let Loose (number two in 1994)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-gbKARSoI0

Remember the Wermerling Brothers? You do now. Let Loose shipped over half a million copies of this track (which means you probably have a copy of it lurking somewhere) but when was the last time you actually heard it?

9 Swamp Thing – The Grid (number three in 1994)

The Grid were a duo whose members included Dave Ball (the one from Soft Cell who wasn’t Marc Almond), while Swamp Thing essentially consisted of one lengthy banjo solo set to a techno beat (with a little bit of shouting thrown in for good measure). Can’t imagine why we liked it so much.

10 How Bizarre – OMC (number five in 1995)

An out-of-nowhere hit from this New Zealand act (their name stood for Otara Millionaires Club by the way),our guess is that you loved this at the time – but if we hadn’t told you, would you have remembered who it was by? Sadly lead singer Pauly Fuemana died of respiratory failure in 2010 but his biggest ever hit lives on.

11 I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis (number five in 1996)

Now this was one of those little numbers you couldn’t get out of your head. At the time. And the Welsh-born singer is still making music to this day.

12 In The Meantime – Spacehog (number 29 in 1996)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkhl-CgETg

An awesome bit of awesomeness from these mid-90s rockers, although frontman Royston Langdon is probably better known for being Liv Tyler’s ex-husband (and father of her son Milo).

13 Wide Open Space – Mansun (number 15 in 1996)

One of the decade’s most criminally underrated bands, this was about as good as it got, chart-wise, for Mansun. They eventually split up in 2003. Sadface.

14 Your Woman – White Town (number one in 1997)

Aka one-man band Jyoti Prakash Mishra, this went all the way to the top of the charts – only for Jyoti to never trouble the top 40 again (although he is still making music). Do you have a copy of this lurking somewhere? Probably

15 Kiss The Rain – Billie Myers (number four in 1997)

We remember this little lady even if you don’t.

16 Ready To Go – Republica (number 13 in 1997)

A loud and shouty anthem, this lot (fronted by singer Saffron Sprackling) fared even better with follow-up track Drop Dead Gorgeous, which was featured in the movie Scream. And they’re still going strong.

17 Avenging Angels – Space (number six in 1997)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjUy9rzJ8qc

Liverpudlians Space notched up a fair few hits during the 90s without ever actually achieving Blur/Oasis levels of Britpop success. But hands up how many of you remember this little number?

18 Feel It – The Tamperer ft Maya (number one in 1998)

‘What’s she gonna look like with a chimney on her?’ Nope, we have no idea either…

19 You Get What You Give – New Radicals (number five in 1998)

Frontman Gregg Alexander never managed to follow up this awesome anthem, alas (even though he released a rather good album entitled Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too) but he has since enjoyed success as a songwriter. Remember that Ronan Keating hit Life Is A Rollercoaster? Yup, that’s one of his, as is Lost Stars, the Oscar-nominated Adam Levine track later covered by The Voice winner Stevie McCrorie….

20 Crush – Jennifer Paige (number four in 1998)

A catchy little number which spent, oooooh, ages on the chart in 1998. Yes it did, really.

21 My Favourite Game – The Cardigans (number 14 in 1998)

One of the bigger hits from this Swedish combo, which attractedcontroversy for its video, in which singer Nina Persson is flung from a moving car. Oh now you remember…

22 Steal My Sunshine – Len (number eight in 1999)

Your Metro correspondent has spoken to people who actually deny the existence of this track. Ignore them…

23 Sitting Down Here – Lene Marlin (number five in 1999)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI1VF9E-Uvw

Norwegian singer Lene Marlin graced the charts with this perky little number in 1999 before disappearing again (although she is still around and making music). We guarantee you’ll recognise it within seconds.

24 Glorious – Andreas Johnson (number four in 1999)

Andreas Johnson may not have made much impact in the wider world after this song (which you’d probably forgotten about until now) but he’s still a big star in his native Sweden. How glorious…

MORE: 19 one-hit wonders from the 90s that will make you feel nostalgic

24 songs from the 90s you'd probably forgotten about (2024)
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