The 20 silliest songs from the ‘90s you can’t help but love

One of the cool things about playing with a Barbie doll is how you can let your imagination run wild with how life can be. Pop group Aqua took the toy doll’s world to a more mature, and somewhat explicit level on their 1997 single “Barbie Girl.” As they sing on the hook, “I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world / Life in plastic, it's fantastic / You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere / Imagination, life is your creation.”

English pop band Righ Said Fred know how to boost confidence in their fans with their 1991 single “I’m Too Sexy.” On the track, they highlight how they look too good to wear clothes, and how they have the right look to be a runway model. 

In 1996, Master P released his sixth album Ghetto D, which featured the hit single “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” Even if listeners don’t fully understand what the title means, it’s the type of track that easily gets fans hype anytime they hear it. 

Upon first hearing Eiffel 65’s breakthrough single “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” one might not truly understand the song’s context. The catchy production can easily grab a listener’s attention, but the song describes a person who lives in a world filled with blue objects all around them. 

Lou Bega doesn’t shy away from his flirtatious antics on his 1999 single “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…).” His feelings are evident on the hook as he sings, “A little bit of Sandra in the sun / A little bit of Mary all night long / A little bit of Jessica, here I am / A little bit of you makes me your man.” 

Girl group B*Witched came onto the pop scene in 1998 with their debut single “C’est La Vie.” Although the song is playful and catchy while adding in nods to nursery rhymes, the song actually has a lot of sexual innuendos in it. As they sing on the second verse, “Hey boy, in your tree / Throw down your ladder, make a room for me / I got a house with windows and doors / I'll show you mine if you show me yours.”

Quad City DJs knew how to get everyone to the dance floor with their infectious hit “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train).” In addition to the different references to trains and their sounds, the song also highlights a common mantra that’s heard in the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could.” 

Some listeners may not know how to fully translate what Los Del Rio is saying in their song “Macarena,” but it’s nearly guaranteed that they’ll know the dance routine. It’s one of those tracks that if you hear it at a party, you better be sure to join the crowd in showing off your moves. 

Sir Mix-a-Lot doesn’t shy away from telling the world how much he loves voluptuous women on his 1992 single “Baby Got Back.” During a time when the media often portrayed skinny women as the most beautiful, Sir Mix-a-Lot made it his mission to show that women with curves are more to his taste. “Baby Got Back” became one of the best-selling songs in America in 1992. 

In 1999, nu metal band Limp Bizkit released their hit song “Nookie,” the lead single from their sophomore album Significant Other. On the track, lead vocalist Fred Durst describes staying in his toxic relationship because all he wanted was the “nookie.” 

Pop group OMC was best known for their signature 1996 single “How Bizarre.” On the track, they describe different instances such as going for joy rides and getting stopped by the cops, perhaps the song title is in reference to how unpredictable life can be. 

Alice Deejay’s 1998 single “Better Off Alone” is a track of very minimal lyrics. The vocalist repeats the same lyrics as “Do you think you’re better off alone?” as the EDM production easily gets people to the dance floor. 

Have you been at a bar and stayed until their final business hours of the evening? If so, you’ve probably heard a DJ play Semisonic’s 1998 single “Closing Time,” as a soft reminder that all patrons need to leave soon. As they sing on the hook, “Closing time, one last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer / Closing time, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.”

Hip-hop duo Tag Team always knew how to drop singles that would get people on the dance floor. It was no different in 1993 when they released their hit song “Whoomp! (There It Is).” As they rap on the first verse, “Says there's a party over here, a party over there / Wave your hands in the air, shake the derriere / These three words mean you're gettin' busy / Whoomp, there it is! Hit me!”

In 1990, Vanilla Ice released his breakthrough single “Ice Ice Baby” to rave reviews. Using a sample of “Under Pressure” performed by Queen and David Bowie, “Ice Ice Baby” finds Vanilla Ice describing his talent and looks.

In 1997, British rock band Chumbawamba released one of their signature songs “Tubthumping.” On the track, they highlight how people continue to persevere even when the world is trying to bring them down. 

In 1990, hip-hop group Digital Underground released their debut album Sex Packets, which included the second single “The Humpty Dance.” On the track, it’s one of the earliest appearances of group member Shock G as his alter ego Humpty Hump. He uses the track to describe Humpty’s look before introducing the dance to listeners. 

In 1992, Billy Ray Cyrus released his signature song “Achy Breaky Heart,” a remake of The Marcy Brothers’ “Don’t Tell My Heart.” Although the song had mixed reviews, it was widely successful and became a top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

In early 1999, the girl group TLC released their hit single “No Scrubs,” a track that described a woman not being interested in men who were not up to par. The song was so successful that hip-hop group Sporty Thievz released their track “No Pigeons” as a rebuttal several months later. As they sing on the hook, “'Cause I don't want no Pigeons / Them be them girls who gets no dubs from me / Playin' the bar dumb broke wit her best friend's coat / Tryin' to holler at me.”

In 1991, Australian band Divinyls released their self-titled fourth album, led by the single “I Touch Myself.” On the track, they give the perspective of a woman who’s imagining a romantic night of her partner, she thinks about him so much that she starts to touch herself for pleasure.