Crank up your Discman and dust off your slap bands because we’re taking a trip back to the glorious 90s! From sparkling divas to boy band mania and everything in between, these pop anthems absolutely dominated Australian charts and soundtracked our lives. Let’s relive the magic!
10. Aqua – “Barbie Girl” (1997)
Is it even a ’90s list without Aqua? If you didn’t sing along to “Barbie Girl” in all its quirky glory, did you even experience the decade? This track was as over-the-top as the band itself and shot straight to the top of the Aussie charts.
9. Kylie Minogue – “Better the Devil You Know” (1990)
Australia’s princess of pop delivered hit after hit, but this classic track became a ‘90s party anthem and a fan favourite. Kylie ruled the ARIA charts and dance floors with this electrifying bop.
8. NSYNC – “Tearin’ Up My Heart” (1997)
While the Backstreet Boys potentially held mainstream hearts, NSYNC were giving them a run for their money with tracks like “Tearin’ Up My Heart.” JT with those frosted tips? Absolutely unstoppable.
7. Ace of Base – “The Sign” (1993)
“I saw the sign” and it opened up our eyes… to Swedish pop perfection. Ace of Base gave us one of the most infectious choruses of the decade. Bonus points if this made it onto your holiday road trip soundtrack!
6. Celine Dion – “My Heart Will Go On” (1997)
Titanic wasn’t the only thing dominating the ’90s; Celine Dion’s heart-wrenching ballad was on every chart and playlist. Whether you loved it or just couldn’t escape it, this song had everyone dramatically belting it out (cue fake wind machine).
5. Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time” (1999)
Oops, she didn’t do it just once; she took over the pop world in one swift move! Britney’s debut single hit #1 in Australia and practically became the anthem of every school disco that year.
4. Savage Garden – “Truly Madly Deeply” (1997)
Ah, homegrown brilliance at its finest! Brisbane’s own Savage Garden gave us this swoon-worthy track that topped charts around the world. Romantic? Tick. Iconic? Absolutely. It’s impossible not to feel all the feels when this gem comes on.
3. Madonna – “Vogue” (1990)
Strike a pose! The Queen of Pop showed the world how to serve looks and beats in one swoop. “Vogue” had us channelling our inner supermodels and was an Aussie fave that reached the top 5 on the ARIA charts.
2. Backstreet Boys – “I Want It That Way” (1999)
A song so undeniably catchy, even today you’re guaranteed to see at least one karaoke mic drop to it. The Backstreet Boys perfected the art of the boy band ballad, and Aussies ate it up!
1. Spice Girls – “Wannabe” (1996)
Who didn’t zig-a-zig-ah their way through the late ’90s? The Spice Girls burst onto the Aussie charts with their girl power anthem that had every group of mates attempting their best Sporty, Scary, Ginger, Baby, or Posh impression. “Wannabe” hit #1 and stayed there for weeks. Iconic!
These were the most iconic pop songs in our opinion, but can you think of one that we have left off the list? Honourable mentions of course go out to Christina Aquilera for “Genie in a Bottle and Whitney Houston’s “I will always love you”.
