Classmates’ Best of the Late ‘90s Spotify Playlist – A Track-by-Track Look

This catchy dance hit was at the forefront of 1999’s Latin pop explosion and made former Menudo member Ricky Martin a huge star in the U.S.

Lead singer Justin Timberlake was only 15 years old when this hit single (which appeared on NSYNC’s debut album) was recorded. Where does the time go?

You may not have gone to the theater to see Spice World, but you almost certainly know this debut single, which popularized the concept of “girl power” and made Scary, Sporty, Posh, Ginger, and Baby Spice household names.

Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this contemplative acoustic rock tune when he was angry about a breakup. But the feeling that really comes through is nostalgia. Over the years, it’s become a very popular song to play at proms (and, we’re assuming, at reunions).

Aguilera — a former Mickey Mouse Club cast member (along with Timberlake and Britney Spears) – made a big impression with this lead pop and R&B single from her debut album.

Smith’s blockbuster film career was still young when this hit was recorded. It became his first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll recognize the hook as being sampled from Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer.”

Cher had been a musical icon for decades by the time she recorded this big dance hit. Fun fact: This is one of the first commercially successful songs to feature Auto-Tune (for better or worse).

Sometimes lumped together with other “boy bands,” 98° tried hard to differentiate itself (but we won’t blame you if you can’t keep them all straight). This single is from the band’s second album.

This infectious pop song was named the second-best song of the 1990s by VH1. It also happens to be one of Spears’ own favorites from her discography.

Before she became “Queen B,” lead singer Beyonce Knowles co-wrote this hit. The song won two Grammys in 2001: Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

One of TLC’s biggest hits, this R&B anthem still stands as a testimony against a certain type of man. It also marked the lead vocal debut for band member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.

This catchy pop ballad is the Backstreet Boys’ biggest hit (despite having somewhat nonsensical title lyrics). In 2003, “Weird Al” Yankovic released a popular parody of the song, titled “eBay.”

Vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus wrote this pop punk song as an autobiographical ode to being an immature twenty-something. It was originally titled “Peter Pan Complex,” but the band’s record label felt that too many fans would not understand the reference.

Named one of the 20 Most Annoying Songs by Rolling Stone, this catchy dance tune still managed to reach number one in a number of countries. It also triggered a lawsuit, filed by Mattel, for alleged violation of the Barbie trademark. (The song was ultimately cleared as a parody.)

Co-written by Carey and Jay-Z, this was the lead single from 1999’s Rainbow and marked Carey’s further exploration of hip-hop elements in her music. A number of critics felt it was too similar to Carey’s earlier singles, but it still managed to reach number one on several charts.

This catchy Latin-influenced hit launched the multi-talented J.Lo’s musical career. It was also one of the top-selling singles of 1999.

You may remember this song from 1998’s Music from Another Room soundtrack. In addition to reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it set a record for the most weeks spent on the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

Three young brothers from Tulsa became an overnight sensation with this debut single, which they co-wrote. The infectious pop tune became a massive hit and is ranked number 20 on VH-1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘90s. Youngest brother Zac was only 12 when the song was nominated for two Grammys.

This emotional power ballad made millions of Titanic fans swoon and can still bring many tears to many eyes. It has also been criticized for being overplayed, cheesy, and overly dramatic. Regardless of how you feel about it, the song topped many charts and is one of the best-selling singles in history.

If you were a Dawson’s Creek fan, you may remember this romantic tune from the season one finale. The song, which McCain wrote after a breakup, was also his biggest hit.

Information source: Wikipedia