Have you been trying to make playlists for each year, so you can relive the memories of your childhood or young adulthood? Do you know which tracks were popular in 1999? No worries as we’re going to tell you what made our list of the 35 greatest songs from 1999, so continue reading to find out!
1. No Scrubs – TLC
First on our list is TLC with their hit song No Scrubs, which is all about a guy and what his role should be in the relationship. This track was a huge hit, and it stayed number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks! It was the first song where Chili sang the vocal lead, and it won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group.
2. …Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
The track …Baby One More Time was the first single released by pop princess Britney Spears, and it quickly launched her into stardom. This song was a hit worldwide and took over the charts in more than 22 countries! More than 10 million copies have been sold, and when it was released, it made it to number one on the Mainstream Top 40 and Billboard Hot 100 charts.
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3. Angel Of Mine – Monica
Monica had a hit with Angel Of Mine, and this track was a cover of the Eternal song released a couple of years earlier. She had a massive hit with her cover, and it landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number one and stayed there for four weeks. It also reached two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and is thought to be her signature track.
4. Believe – Cher
![Cher - Believe (Official Music Video) [4K Remaster]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nZXRV4MezEw/0.jpg)
Cher has been around for decades, but in 1999, she had a comeback with Believe, which was released on her 22nd album with the same name. This electro and dance-pop song is very different from her previous tunes, and it utilized auto-tune, which was relatively unheard of at that time.
It made it to number one on the Dance Club Songs chart and Billboard Hot 100, while hitting two on the Mainstream Top 40, and three on the Adult Contemporary chart. You can find this track in movies and television such as Friends and Sex And The City.
5. Genie In A Bottle – Christina Aguilera
Next up is Christina Aguilera with Genie In A Bottle, which was her signature and breakout song from her debut album. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and 31 on the Adult Top 40 chart. Even though she was a teenager when this track was recorded, it’s a song filled with a ton of sexual references, and it received a lot of positive reviews from music critics. Her vocal performance in this track was why she was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance.
6. Where My Girls At – 702
Female group 702 was all over the radio in 1999 with their track Where My Girls At. The song was released on their second album, and it was supposed to be on the third album for TLC, but they didn’t want the track, so 702 took it. It made it to number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and landed at four on the Billboard Hot 100.
7. Livin’ La Vida Loca – Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin is on our list with Livin’ La Vida Loca, which translates into “living the crazy life,” and this song was a huge hit since it was coming from his first English album. It’s all about a woman who likes to live life on the edge and bring people into her world. There’s ska, surf, and salsa in the song, and it’s one of the top dance and pop tracks of the 90s. It landed at number one on the Hot Latin Songs, Adult Top 40, and Billboard Hot 100 charts and is one of his most popular tracks to date.
8. Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
Sixpence None The Richer had one hit song, which was Kiss Me, and this was from their third album. It was a hit both in the pop and rock genres and made it to number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart while also landing at two on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and Adult Top 40 charts.
9. Slide – Goo Goo Dolls
![Goo Goo Dolls - Slide [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yP4qdefD2To/0.jpg)
On our list is Slide by Goo Goo Dolls, and this song was on the album called Dizzy Up The Girl. It is alternative rock mixed with pop, talking about a girl who is Catholic and gets pregnant. She is talking to her boyfriend about what to do about the unplanned pregnancy such as either getting married or having an abortion. It made it to number one on the Adult Alternative Songs, Adult Top 40, Alternative Airplay, and Mainstream Top 40 charts but only hit eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
10. Have You Ever – Brandy
Pop singer Brandy had a hit in 1999 with Have You Ever. This song is from Never Say Never, which was her second album, and it’s all about being in love with someone but they don’t know it. It was a huge success both in America and internationally and landed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Rhythmic charts.
11. Smooth – Santana Feat. Rob Thomas
Santana makes the list with Smooth, which featured Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, and this song is one of their most well-known and popular tracks. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Alternative Songs chart, and Adult Top 40 chart. It’s often thought to be one of the best tracks of the 90s, and it won three Grammy Awards including for Song Of The Year.
12. Angel – Sarah McLachlan
![Sarah McLachlan - Angel [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i1GmxMTwUgs/0.jpg)
Calling everyone who has seen those sad animal abuse commercials, the sad song in that commercial is on our list. Yes, we’re talking about Angel by Sarah McLachlan, and this track is actually about the heroin overdose death of keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin of the Smashing Pumpkins. Thought to be one of her signature songs, it reached one on the Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts while also landing at four on the Billboard Hot 100.
13. I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
Next is boy band the Backstreet Boys with I Want It That Way, which comes from their third album Millennium. This is thought to be one of the best songs of all time, and as a pop ballad, it was very well received. It’s all about there being issues in a relationship, and it’s considered to be their signature track. It reached number one on the Mainstream Top 40 and six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
14. Bills, Bills, Bills – Destiny’s Child
Coming from the album The Writing’s On The Wall is our next song, which is Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny’s Child. The track was their first big hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, landing at number one, and it was also a popular song worldwide. The track hit the Top 10 in Canada, Belgium, and the UK, to name a few.
15. Unpretty – TLC
The inspiration for our next song occurred after Tionne Watkins from TLC watched an episode of Ricki Lake and felt horrified. We’re talking about Unpretty, and this was from the album FanMail. It was about how you should feel good about who you are and shouldn’t try to change your looks. The song was a success and made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and three on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.
16. I’m Your Angel – R. Kelly Feat. Celine Dion
Celine Dion and R. Kelly came together for the song I’m Your Angel, which was produced and also written by him. On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it peaked at number one for more than six weeks, and it was a Top 10 hit internationally including in the Netherlands and UK.
17. That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain
Country music superstar Shania Twain makes our list with her song That Don’t Impress Me Much, which comes from her album Come On Over. The track was one of her biggest hits to date and landed on the Mainstream Top 40 at position five while hitting seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
18. Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry
Next is Eagle-Eye Cherry with Save Tonight, and this track made it to number one on both the Mainstream Top 40 and Adult Alternative Songs charts. It’s the signature track of the band and was successful internationally thanks to it being such a radio hit, including in Ireland where it reached number three on the charts.
19. What It’s Like – Everlast
Hip hop artist Everlast had his breakthrough solo hit with What It’s Like, which is a track that’ll make you feel empathy for the characters involved in bad situations, such as being a teenager that’s pregnant. The song was a huge hit, and it made it to number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and stayed there for nine weeks!
20. All The Small Things – Blink-182
Calling all fans of Hope Springs, All The Small Things by Blink-182 is a song you probably remember hearing. This track was one of their biggest hits because it’s simple and catchy, which made it great for the radio. You can find this song in video games including Guitar Hero. It made it to number one on the Alternative Airplay chart and six on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released.
21. Summer Girls – LFO
Summer Girls was everywhere in 1999, and this song by LFO hit three on the Billboard Hot 100 and 18 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. It’s their signature track and one of the best summer songs ever. The track was written as an inside joke and wasn’t meant for radio until it got leaked to a radio station.
22. Last Kiss – Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam recorded a cover version of Last Kiss, and it was incredibly popular, landing at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and Alternative Airplay charts. Lead singer Eddie Vedder decided to cover the song after finding the original record at an antique mall and liking it.
23. Can I Get A… – Jay-Z
Can I Get A… is one of Jay-Z’s most successful songs, and it was part of the movie soundtrack to Rush Hour. This track is all about whether a girl would still be with him if he wasn’t rich. It was censored to be radio-friendly and that helped it become a commercial success and make it to six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart while landing at 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
24. Back At One – Brian McKnight
Next is Brian McKnight with Back At One, which was one of his biggest hits of all time and thought to be his signature song. It made it to two on the Billboard Hot 100 and four on the Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Top 40 charts. This track has been featured in movies and television shows such as Superstore and Naked.
25. Scar Tissue – Red Hot Chili Peppers
![Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue [Official Music Video] [HD UPGRADE]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mzJj5-lubeM/0.jpg)
Next is Red Hot Chili Peppers with Scar Tissue, which was released on Californication. It was such a hit that the track won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. It peaked at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and stayed there for 16 weeks! The song landed on the Billboard Hot 100 in ninth position and also was a hit in the UK, Canada, and Iceland.
26. My Name Is – Eminem
Everyone knows the next track because it was everywhere and is one of his most iconic songs, and we’re talking about My Name Is by rapper Eminem. This track comes from The Slim Shady LP, and it’s thought to be one of the best hip hop songs of all time according to Rolling Stone. The track made it to 10 on the Hot Rap Songs chart while also landing on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 36.
27. Man! I Feel Like A Woman – Shania Twain
Shania Twain makes our list again with Man! I Feel Like A Woman, and this is one of her most iconic songs and it was written by Mutt Lange. It was successful commercially and critically, and it’s all about female empowerment. It made it to 12 on the Adult Top 40 while landing at 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
28. Breathe – Faith Hill
Faith Hill makes our list with Breathe, which is more of a pop song than a country track and it is one of the most iconic power ballads of 1999. It made it to number one on the Adult Contemporary, Hot Country Songs, and Adult Top 40 charts while hitting two on the Billboard Hot 100.
29. Learn To Fly – Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters have had many hit songs, but in 1999, one of their biggest hits was Learn To Fly, which comes from their third album There Is Nothing Left To Lose. It made it to number one on the Alternative Airplay chart and two on the Mainstream Rock chart while landing at 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
30. Praise You – Fatboy Slim
![Fatboy Slim - Praise You [Official Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ruAi4VBoBSM/0.jpg)
Praise You by Fatboy Slim is on the list, and this song made it to two on the Alternative Airplay chart while reaching 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a success internationally and topped the UK Singles Chart and remains their signature track.
31. Higher – Creed
Creed was a huge success in the 90s, and Higher is on our list, which comes from their second album called Human Clay. The song hit number one on the Mainstream Rock and Alternative Airplay charts while peaking at seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It remains one of their most iconic and popular tracks to date.
32. Got Your Money – Ol’ Dirty Bastard Feat. Kelis
![Ol' Dirty Bastard ft. Kelis - Got Your Money (Official Video) [Explicit]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XXTzm5GtqVo/0.jpg)
Ol’ Dirty Bastard makes our list with Got Your Money, which features Kelis, and this was ODB’s last song. It hit four on the Rhythmic Chart and 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, and The Neptunes were the producers of this iconic rap and hip hop track.
33. Malibu – Hole
Hole is thought to be one of the top female bands of the 90s, and their song Malibu makes our list, which was a hit, making it to number three on the Alternative Airplay chart while landing at 81 on the Billboard Hot 100. This track is one of their most popular songs and is loved by fans.
34. My Own Worst Enemy – Lit
Lit had a hit with My Own Worst Enemy, and this track is all about realizing you made a lot of mistakes when you wake up the next day after a night out. It made it to number one on the Alternative Airplay chart and made it to six on the Mainstream Rock chart. The song won Modern Rock Track Of The Year at the Billboard Music Awards and is one of their most well-known songs to date.
35. Ruff Ryders’ Anthem – DMX
Last on our list is DMX with Ruff Ryders’ Anthem, and this was on his debut album It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot. It’s one of his signature songs and made it to 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released. When he died in 2021, the track peaked again and made it to number 16.
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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.
