15+ Hits You Grew Up With That Still Rock Today

The power ballad “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” belted out by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler was envisioned to be sung by Celine Dion, according to its writer, Diane Warren. The tracks that take us back to our childhood are full of history and are worth being revisited. From Aerosmith to Britney Spears, the music from our younger years comes with a wave of nostalgia.

Bright Side made you a list of truly iconic tunes from the ’90s and early 2000s. Go ahead and sing them at the top of your lungs!

1. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes (1993)

“What’s Up?” is 4 Non Blondes’ most successful track from their debut and only album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!. It reached number 1 in 12 countries when it was released as a single in 1993. Nowadays, it is commonly used in film and TV show soundtracks, including in Netflix’s Sense8, where the song was performed by the cast in an episode named after a verse of the song.

2. “Always” by Bon Jovi (1994)

American band Bon Jovi released their power ballad “Always” in 1994 as a single from their greatest hits album, Cross Road. Although it failed to take number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number 4, the song was an international hit. It reached the top of the charts in countries like Canada and Belgium.

3. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls (1996)

Often recognized as a “Girl Power” anthem, “Wannabe” was the Spice Girls’ very first debut single. It went on to break the world record for the best-selling single by a girl group. It celebrated its 25th birthday in 2021.

4. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve (1997)

“Bitter Sweet Symphony” is a milestone in The Verve’s career. The lead track from the English rock band’s third studio album continues to receive accolades even 24 years after its release. It has been featured on NME’s “50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever” and Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” to name a few.

5. “Torn” by Natalia Imbruglia (1997)

Originally a song by American rock band Ednaswap, “Torn” was covered by Natalie Imbruglia and transformed into a worldwide hit in 1997. In the US, the song peaked at number 1 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and in the UK it became the most played song from the 1990s.

6. “Frozen” by Madonna (1998)

Acclaimed by music critics, Madonna’s “Frozen” is yet another success under the belt of the American singer. As the lead single of the album Ray of Light, the track entered the UK Singles Chart at number 1. The music video itself features Madonna shapeshifting into a black dog and a flock of birds, which got her an MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects.

7. “...Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (1998)

22 years after its release, Rolling Stone ranked “...Baby One More Time” at number 1 on the 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time list. Back in 1998, the catchy tune climbed to the top spot in every European country in which it charted and in the US it became Britney Spears’ best-selling physical single in the country.

8. “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith (1998)

“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” is considered Aerosmith’s biggest career hit, having debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which became the American band’s first and only number-one single in their home country. But it wasn’t originally meant to be theirs. The writer, Diane Warren, envisioned someone like Celine Dion singing it when she wrote it. The track ended up being performed for the film Armageddon, starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and the band’s vocalist’s own daughter, Liv Tyler.

9. “Believe” by Cher (1998)

The iconic lyrics “Do you believe in life after love?” were sung by thousands in clubs around the world after the release of Cher’s “Believe,” in 1998. The dance-pop song peaked at number 1 in 21 countries and in 1999 it reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, turning Cher into the oldest female artist (52 at the time) to perform this feat. The track also features a pioneering use of the audio processing software Auto-Tune, which distorts the singer’s voice, and that became known as the “Cher effect.”

10. “It Feels So Good” by Sonique (1998)

Originally released in 1998, “It Feels So Good” by British singer Sonique had a second chance at success when a DJ in the US played the dance track in 2000 and people fell in love with it, causing it to be re-released in 2000. Thanks to this, Sonique was offered a contract with Republic Records by Universal Music’s executives, with whom she released her album Hear My Cry.

11. “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain (1999)

Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain penned “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!” with her now ex-husband Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The track came out as a single in 1999, as part of her third studio album, Come On Over. It earned Twain a Grammy for Best Female Country Performance in 2000.

12. “All Star” by Smash Mouth (1999)

“All Star” was the lead single from Smash Mouth’s second studio album, Astro Lounge, and the last song to be recorded for it. The late production was worth it, as it became the band’s most recognizable hit. It is frequently used in film soundtracks, including in the movie Mystery Men (1999), whose members of the cast (William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Paul Reubens, Kel Mitchell, Janeane Garofalo, Doug Jones, and Dane Cook) play a cameo in the music video, and the 2001 smash hit from Dreamworks’ Shrek.

13. “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child (2001)

Beyoncé co-wrote the song “Survivor” after a radio host made a negative remark comparing the singer’s group Destiny’s Child to the reality game show Survivor, after 2 of the original members had already left the group. The R&B tune was released in 2001 and in the UK, it was the band’s last number 1 together, selling 104,000 copies in its first week there.

14. “Aserejé” by Las Ketchup (2002)

“The Ketchup Song” or “Aserejé,” as it’s widely known, gave rise to a viral dance that outlasted every other music trend from the early 2000s. The song is about a man, Diego, who enters a nightclub and whose DJ friend plays his favorite song, and the non-sensical chorus, which doesn’t translate to any language, and Diego is singing along to it in gibberish. Although the concept is simple, its contagious melody and rhythm made it into an international hit, with the tune staying at number 1 for 11 weeks straight in France.

15. “I’m With You” by Avril Lavigne (2002)

Avril Lavigne’s first ballad released as a single, “I’m With You,” was nominated for 2 Grammys, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Although it didn’t win any of these, the song made a lasting impression in the audience, having re-entered the UK Singles Chart in 2011, 9 years after its release.

16. “Hey Ya!” by Outkast (2003)

Outkast’s hit “Hey Ya!” was the first song on Apple’s iTunes to reach 1 million downloads, but that’s not all the single accomplished for the hip-hop duo. It earned them multiple awards and nominations, including a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. The song is often considered one of the greatest songs of the 2000s, having been placed at number 10 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

17. “The Reason” by Hoobastank (2004)

“The Reason” was a gold mine for American rock band Hoobastank. In 2021, the 2004 release was certified 4 times platinum for selling over 4 million units, making it the band’s most commercially successful single.

What other songs do you think belong in this compilation? Share your own nostalgic playlists in the comments so we can all have a dance party!