Have you been wondering what tracks were popular back in 1995? If you want to feel some nostalgia about the most beloved tunes from that year, read on as we go over our list of the 31 best songs from 1995 you may want to listen to again or add to your playlist.
1. Waterfalls – TLC
First on our list is Waterfalls by TLC, which comes from the album CrazySexyCool. This song was everywhere in 1995 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is all about making smart sex choices and using condoms to protect yourself from HIV. They are one of the biggest girl groups of all time, and this is still a track you’ll hear on the radio today because of its powerful message.
2. Dear Mama – 2Pac
Tupac Shakur or 2Pac is one of the biggest rappers of all time, and his track Dear Mama belongs on this list because it’s a tribute song he wrote to his mother. He thanks her in the track for everything she did for him, and it’s one of his most popular and well-known songs. It landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at position 51 and made it to 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart when it was released.
3. Just A Girl – No Doubt
Next on our list is No Doubt with their song Just A Girl, which was the track that made them a household name. This song is one of their signature tracks, and it’s a rock song mixed with some punk thrown in by the vocals of lead singer Gwen Stefani. The track made it to 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 19 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
4. Wonderwall – Oasis
Oasis is on this list with their song Wonderwall, which dominated the airwaves even though dance, R&B, and pop were reigning at the time. This track comes from their album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory, and it’s a song about having an imaginary friend who will come and save you from yourself.
The track made it to eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Alternative Airplay chart. What made this group and the song interesting is that the two brothers were similar in style to The Beatles and the lead singer had such a unique high voice.
5. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? – Bryan Adams
Next is Bryan Adams who is one of the most talented and successful musicians in the 90s with his song Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? This track landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the number one position and cemented him as a sex symbol and heartthrob. You can find this song in the movie Don Juan DeMarco.
6. I Can Love You Like That – All-4-One
Sexy R&B songs were all the rage in 1995, which is why I Can Love You Like That by All-4-One makes our list. This was their debut single, and it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the number five position. It remains an iconic love track today and has been covered by artists such as John Michael Montgomery.
7. Til I Hear It From You – Gin Blossoms
Up next is the Gin Blossoms with the hit song Til I Hear It From You, which is an upbeat track that was part of the Empire Records movie soundtrack. You heard this song everywhere in 1995, and it was a huge hit across multiple radio stations and helped turn them into a household name.
8. One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey And Boyz II Men
Mariah Carey doesn’t need an introduction, and she had several hits in the 90s, including the 1995 song One Sweet Day featuring Boyz II Men. This track is very sweet, and it’s all about losing a loved one and knowing one day you will see them again, along with everyone else who you knew that died before them. It was on her album Daydream, and it made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and even was nominated for several Grammy Awards.
9. Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
On our list is the rap song Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio featuring L.V. This track was for the movie Dangerous Minds, and Michelle Pfeiffer is in the iconic music video for the song. You couldn’t get away from hearing this track on the radio, and it’s all about the potential life path of people who grow up in poverty and a warning to stay away from drugs, gangs, and violence.
10. This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan
Next is the song This Is How We Do It by Montell Jordan, which is one of the biggest party tracks of the decade. The song was released on his debut album and helped catapult his music career as he sings about having women and alcohol around him and partying on a Friday night. On the Billboard Hot 100, this track landed at number one, and he was even nominated for a Grammy for this hit party song!
11. Big Poppa – Notorious B.I.G.
Reaching number one on the Hot Rap Songs Billboard chart is the track Big Poppa by the Notorious B.I.G. This was one of the singles from his debut album Ready To Die. This song sold more than one million copies and was nominated for a Grammy under the category of Best Rap Solo Performance. It is all about him trying to lure a woman by promising her items including luxury goods and spending time in a jacuzzi. The track has been famously featured in the movie Hardball.
12. Water Runs Dry – Boyz II Men
Next is the R&B group Boyz II Men with their hit song Water Runs Dry, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. As one of the biggest groups in the 90s, this track is all about pleading with a significant other not to leave even though things are tough in the relationship. A white desert is seen in the music video for the song, and because of this, it’s one of the most well-known music videos of the 90s.
13. Run-Around – Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is one of the biggest acts of the 90s, and their song Run-Around was one of their most popular. The harmonica playing by lead singer John Popper is famous and a staple of nearly every track. This song is all about a woman who seems to be giving a guy the runaround, and this track led to a Grammy win for the group.
14. Take a Bow – Madonna
Up next is Madonna with her song Take A Bow from the album Bedtime Stories. This track is all about feeling like she was taken advantage of by her love. You can hear an orchestra in the song, so it’s memorable, and it’s one of the biggest tracks of 1995. It landed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Top 40 charts.
15. You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
One of the most iconic songs in 1995 that still has rumors swirling about it today is Alanis Morissette and her track You Oughta Know. The story is rumored to be about Dave Coulier, who played Uncle Joey on the hit show Full House. It’s an angry song about a jilted woman who is asking her ex if he’s happy with the new woman he’s with and if she is as good as her. Coming from Jagged Little Pill, the track is one of her biggest hits and helped propel her to success and won two Grammy Awards.
16. Fantasy – Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is once again on our list with her song Fantasy, which comes from the same Daydream album we mentioned before. This track hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the number one position and stayed there for eight weeks! The song is all about her interest in a man who doesn’t know she is interested in him and her fantasies about their relationship that’ll likely never happen. She was nominated for a Grammy for this track, and it’s one of her most famous songs to this day.
17. Freak Like Me – Adina Howard
While you might not have heard of Adina Howard before, her hit song Freak Like Me is one of the best R&B tracks of 1995. This song is all about dancing and moving your body all around, and there is a beat in this track that’ll make sure you get up to dance to it. A song about self-expression and your unique individuality, it’s one of those power anthems of the 90s that is still getting airplay today.
18. Feel Me Flow – Naughty By Nature
Next is Feel Me Flow by the hip hop group Naughty By Nature, and this song is from their album Poverty’s Paradise. Reaching 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at three on the Hot Rap Singles chart, this track is all about summer vibing and relaxing. It received new attention when it was in the movie 8 Mile.
19. Back For Good – Take That
Take That is up next with Back For Good, which was on the album Nobody Else. This song is all about a relationship that failed and they are pleading for their woman to come back. Whatever it was that caused the woman to walk away, he will apologize for it if she just comes back. The music video for it is iconic because they are singing in the rain to their ex as they have a meltdown. This track became a huge hit for the British boy band as it landed at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.
20. Sittin’ Up In My Room – Brandy
Brandy is on our list with her song Sittin’ Up In My Room from her album Waiting To Exhale. This track is all about going through a first love as a younger person, and it is one of the biggest and most well-known songs of 1995. The track hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and 13 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.
21. Don’t Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days) – Monica
R&B artist Monica makes our list with her song Don’t Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days), which comes from Miss Thang, her debut studio album. This is one of her signature tracks, and it’s about not getting discouraged by things that happen in life, so it’s an empowering anthem we all can relate to. This song is still very popular even today, and it was featured in an episode of Beverly Hills 90210.
22. Scream – Michael Jackson And Janet Jackson
On our list next is Scream by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, which is a song that he wrote to get back at the media for constantly going after him for various legal issues. He says in the track that the media needs to step back and stop pressuring him. You can see the two in the music video where they are going on a spaceship to get away from all of the bad things going on around them.
23. Boombastic – Shaggy
Next is Shaggy with his song Boombastic, which is one of his signature tracks, and it’s all about how confident he feels when he is with the person he loves. You may know this song for the iconic line “Mr. Lover lover” and it’s a mix of both reggae and pop and has fun lyrics, which is why it became such a big hit. The track reached three on the Billboard Hot 100, and it’s still a song played on the radio today.
24. Hey Lover – LL Cool J Feat. Boyz II Men
LL Cool J teamed up with Boyz II Men for the song Hey Lover, which comes from the album Mr. Smith. This track is one of his most popular songs, and it’s all about constantly checking out a woman from a distance and thinking about what a great romance the two of them could have. The woman, though, is in a relationship with a guy that’s no good. For this track, he won a Grammy Award.
25. Exhale (Shoop Shoop) – Whitney Houston
In 1995, Whitney Houston was a powerhouse singer and one of her hits was Exhale (Shoop Shoop), which was featured in the movie Waiting To Exhale. She starred in the movie, and this was one of the biggest songs on the soundtrack since it’s all about waiting for love and holding your breath in the process. She won a Grammy Award for the track, and it topped the Billboard charts with extensive radio play.
26. December – Collective Soul
Collective Soul had a smash hit with their 1995 classic December, which comes from their self-titled album. This rock soul hit 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first big hit for the band that got them into the mainstream. The lyrics are very introspective, and there is an amazing guitar riff in the song that is memorable.
27. Common People – Pulp
Next is Pulp with the song Common People from the Different Class album. It wasn’t long before it became known as their signature track as it hit number two on the UK Singles chart. What’s great about this song is the lyrics are all about faking empathy, and it’s something a lot of us can relate to, which is why it became so popular in the UK and elsewhere.
28. Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead
Fake Plastic Trees make our list by Radiohead, which comes from the album The Bends. The song was pivotal in helping them become a mainstream success with their experimental and alt-rock blend. While it might not be one of their biggest tracks on the radio, it is still getting airplay today and is famously featured in the movie Clueless.
29. Another Night – Real McCoy
Next is Real McCoy with the song Another Night, which comes from the album of the same name. This track hit three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. It is one of those tracks that you can get up and dance to in the club, and it’s still in heavy rotation all of these years later.
30. I Know – Dionne Farris
From the album Wild Seed-Wild Flower is the song I Know by Dionne Farris, which was a huge hit in 1995. It reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart and stayed there for 10 weeks, while it reached four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She was nominated for a Grammy for this track, and it’s thought to be one of her biggest songs while also being her first track from her debut album.
31. Always – Bon Jovi
Last on our list is Bon Jovi with the song Always from their album Cross Road. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and one on the Rock & Metal chart. This power ballad sold more than one million copies in the US, making it one of their biggest songs ever, and it was an international sensation too.
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From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.