90s Karaoke Songs: 60 Nostalgic Hits That'll Pack the Dance Floor (2026)
The 90s gave us grunge, boy bands, girl power, and some of the most singable songs ever recorded. These tracks are karaoke gold — everyone knows the words, the melodies are memorable, and the nostalgia factor is off the charts.
TL;DR: The best 90s karaoke songs include "I Want It That Way" (Backstreet Boys), "...Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears), "No Scrubs" (TLC), "Wonderwall" (Oasis), and "Livin' La Vida Loca" (Ricky Martin). These tracks are crowd-pleasers that everyone knows and loves.
Why 90s Songs Dominate Karaoke Night
There's a reason karaoke bars still pack the house with 90s nights:
- Peak sing-along era: Songs were written to be catchy and memorable
- Everyone knows them: Whether you're 25 or 55, you've heard these songs
- Emotional connection: These songs defined formative years for multiple generations
- Forgiving vocals: Many hits work for average singers (unlike some 80s power ballads)
- Cultural touchstones: Movies, TV shows, and commercials cemented these songs
Let's dive into the ultimate 90s karaoke playlist.
90s Pop Hits — The Crowd Pleasers
These songs will get everyone off their seats and singing along.
| Song | Artist | Year | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| "I Want It That Way" | Backstreet Boys | 1999 | The ultimate crowd singalong — everyone knows "Tell me why" |
| "...Baby One More Time" | Britney Spears | 1998 | Iconic opening, fun to perform, massive recognition |
| "Wannabe" | Spice Girls | 1996 | Group-friendly, energetic, peak 90s energy |
| "MMMBop" | Hanson | 1997 | Deceptively simple, everyone remembers the chorus |
| "Livin' La Vida Loca" | Ricky Martin | 1999 | High energy, Latin flair, impossible not to dance |
| "Believe" | Cher | 1998 | That Auto-Tune effect everyone tries to imitate |
| "Genie in a Bottle" | Christina Aguilera | 1999 | Slightly sultry, great for confident singers |
| "All Star" | Smash Mouth | 1999 | Shrek made this immortal — instant crowd reaction |
| "Barbie Girl" | Aqua | 1997 | Silly, fun, great for duets or groups |
| "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" | Eiffel 65 | 1999 | Pure 90s cheese in the best way |
Pro Tips for 90s Pop
- Boy band songs work great for groups — everyone takes a verse
- Spice Girls songs are perfect for girl groups but anyone can perform them
- Don't overthink it — 90s pop was meant to be fun, not perfect
90s R&B & Hip-Hop — Smooth Vibes
The 90s were a golden era for R&B. These songs bring sophisticated cool to karaoke.
| Song | Artist | Year | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| "No Scrubs" | TLC | 1999 | Medium — needs attitude more than range |
| "Waterfalls" | TLC | 1995 | Medium — the rap verse is optional |
| "I'll Be There for You / You're All I Need" | Method Man & Mary J. Blige | 1995 | Great duet, needs chemistry |
| "No Diggity" | Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre | 1996 | Crowd favorite, rap-sing hybrid |
| "Killing Me Softly" | Fugees | 1996 | Beautiful but needs vocal control |
| "Creep" | TLC | 1994 | Smooth, mid-tempo, very singable |
| "End of the Road" | Boyz II Men | 1992 | Emotional, shows off your range |
| "I Believe I Can Fly" | R. Kelly | 1996 | Powerful, inspirational, big finish |
| "Return of the Mack" | Mark Morrison | 1996 | Absolute crowd destroyer, everyone vibes |
| "This Is How We Do It" | Montell Jordan | 1995 | Party starter, easy flow |
R&B Performance Tips
- Confidence matters more than perfection — own the attitude
- Ad-libs are encouraged — throw in some "yeah"s and "uh-huh"s
- Work the room — R&B is about connection, not just notes
Can't find the karaoke version you need? Create your own from any 90s track with StemSplit's AI vocal remover. Strip the vocals in 60 seconds and you've got a custom backing track.
90s Rock & Alternative — For the Grunge Kids
The 90s alternative scene gave us angst, flannel, and surprisingly great karaoke songs.
| Song | Artist | Year | Crowd Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Wonderwall" | Oasis | 1995 | THE most requested karaoke song in many bars |
| "Semi-Charmed Life" | Third Eye Blind | 1997 | Fast, fun, everyone knows "doo doo doo" |
| "Closing Time" | Semisonic | 1998 | Perfect for last call — sing it with meaning |
| "Iris" | Goo Goo Dolls | 1998 | Emotional powerhouse, crowd singalong |
| "Mr. Jones" | Counting Crows | 1993 | Storytelling song, conversational delivery |
| "I Don't Want to Wait" | Paula Cole | 1996 | Dawson's Creek nostalgia, powerful chorus |
| "Torn" | Natalie Imbruglia | 1997 | Relatable lyrics, medium difficulty |
| "One Week" | Barenaked Ladies | 1998 | Hilarious if you nail it, fun even if you don't |
| "What's Up?" | 4 Non Blondes | 1992 | That scream at the end — legendary |
| "Glycerine" | Bush | 1994 | Moody, emotional, great for deeper voices |
Grunge/Alt Karaoke Secrets
- "Wonderwall" warning: It's overplayed but still works because everyone knows it
- Commit to the angst — these songs need emotional delivery
- Don't be afraid of imperfection — raw is authentic for this genre
90s Power Ballads — Bring the Emotion
When you want to pour your heart out and maybe make someone cry.
| Song | Artist | Year | Emotional Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| "My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion | 1997 | Maximum feels, Titanic-level |
| "I Will Always Love You" | Whitney Houston | 1992 | THE power ballad — only attempt if you're ready |
| "Hero" | Mariah Carey | 1993 | Inspirational, needs some vocal skill |
| "Don't Speak" | No Doubt | 1996 | Heartbreak anthem, very singable |
| "Kiss from a Rose" | Seal | 1994 | Unique melody, Batman Forever nostalgia |
| "Un-Break My Heart" | Toni Braxton | 1996 | Deep, emotional, dramatic |
| "How Do I Live" | LeAnn Rimes | 1997 | Country crossover, sustained notes |
| "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" | Aerosmith | 1998 | Armageddon epic, crowd arms in the air |
| "The Sign" | Ace of Base | 1993 | More upbeat but still emotional |
| "Everybody Hurts" | R.E.M. | 1992 | Slow burn, cathartic |
Power Ballad Performance Guide
- Build slowly — start soft, build to the big moments
- Use dynamics — quiet verses, powerful choruses
- Eye contact — power ballads are about connection
- Don't rush — let moments breathe
90s One-Hit Wonders — Surprise Crowd Favorites
These songs might have been "one-hit wonders" but they're karaoke gold.
| Song | Artist | Why It's Great |
|---|---|---|
| "Tubthumping" | Chumbawamba | "I get knocked down..." — EVERYONE joins in |
| "Steal My Sunshine" | Len | Summer vibes, unexpectedly fun |
| "What Is Love" | Haddaway | Night at the Roxbury made this immortal |
| "Cotton Eye Joe" | Rednex | Chaotic, hilarious, country madness |
| "Mambo No. 5" | Lou Bega | "A little bit of..." everyone has their name called |
| "Lovefool" | The Cardigans | Sweet melody, "love me love me" is addictive |
| "Macarena" | Los Del Rio | Built-in dance, guaranteed participation |
| "C'est La Vie" | B*Witched | Irish pop gem, surprisingly catchy |
| "I'm Too Sexy" | Right Said Fred | Comedy gold, strut required |
| "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | Deep Blue Something | Conversational, easy delivery |
One-Hit Wonder Strategy
- These songs work BECAUSE they're unexpected
- The crowd goes wild when they recognize them
- Don't overuse them — save for maximum impact moments
90s Hip-Hop Classics — For the Bold
Hip-hop karaoke takes confidence, but the payoff is huge.
| Song | Artist | Challenge Level |
|---|---|---|
| "Jump Around" | House of Pain | Medium — crowd does the work |
| "Baby Got Back" | Sir Mix-a-Lot | Medium — everyone knows "I like big butts" |
| "Gangsta's Paradise" | Coolio | Hard but iconic — Weird Al version also works |
| "California Love" | 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre | Medium — infectious groove |
| "Regulate" | Warren G & Nate Dogg | Duet perfection — smooth storytelling |
| "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" | Will Smith | Easy — party vibes, family friendly |
| "Hypnotize" | The Notorious B.I.G. | Hard — but legendary if you nail it |
| "Push It" | Salt-N-Pepa | Easy — more energy than skill |
| "It Was a Good Day" | Ice Cube | Medium — laid back flow |
| "Informer" | Snow | Expert mode — can you do the patois? |
Hip-Hop Karaoke Tips
- Know your verses — practice beforehand
- Flow over perfection — keep the rhythm even if you miss words
- Hype songs — get the crowd clapping
- Don't be afraid to bail — skip impossible verses, hit the hooks
Creating 90s Karaoke Tracks
Here's the thing about 90s karaoke: some songs are hard to find as official karaoke versions. Old licensing, defunct labels, or just obscurity means your favorite deep cut might not exist as karaoke.
The solution? Make your own.
StemSplit uses AI to remove vocals from any song, creating instant karaoke tracks. Here's how:
- Upload your 90s track (MP3, WAV, FLAC)
- Select "Instrumental Only"
- Wait ~60 seconds for AI processing
- Download your vocal-free karaoke version
This works for:
- Deep cuts that never got karaoke releases
- Album versions (not radio edits)
- Live recordings you prefer
- Remixes and extended versions
Preview free before paying — hear 30 seconds to make sure it sounds good.
90s Karaoke Song Pairings
Smart song sequencing keeps the energy flowing. Here are proven combinations:
The Opening Set (Get the Party Started)
- "MMMBop" — Hanson
- "I Want It That Way" — Backstreet Boys
- "Wannabe" — Spice Girls
The Duet Block
- "I'll Be There for You" — Method Man & Mary J. Blige
- "Barbie Girl" — Aqua
- "Summer Nights" — Grease (technically 70s but 90s kids loved it)
The Emotional Moment
- "Iris" — Goo Goo Dolls
- "Wonderwall" — Oasis
- "Don't Speak" — No Doubt
The Dance Party Finale
- "Livin' La Vida Loca" — Ricky Martin
- "No Scrubs" — TLC
- "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys
FAQ
What's the most popular 90s karaoke song?
"I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys and "Wonderwall" by Oasis consistently top karaoke charts. Both have simple melodies, universal recognition, and crowd singalong potential.
What 90s songs are easy to sing for beginners?
Start with "MMMBop" (Hanson), "All Star" (Smash Mouth), "Closing Time" (Semisonic), or "Semi-Charmed Life" (Third Eye Blind). These have limited vocal ranges and forgiving melodies.
Are 90s songs good for karaoke?
Yes! The 90s were arguably the best decade for karaoke songs. Pop hits were written for catchiness, not vocal gymnastics. Most people in any karaoke crowd know these songs, creating instant connection.
What should I sing at a 90s themed party?
Match the vibe: Start with upbeat pop ("Wannabe," "I Want It That Way"), move to R&B ("No Scrubs," "Waterfalls"), include some rock ("Wonderwall," "Semi-Charmed Life"), and end with dance hits ("Livin' La Vida Loca").
Where can I find 90s karaoke tracks?
Karaoke apps (Smule, Karafun), YouTube, and dedicated karaoke services have most major hits. For rare tracks, use an AI vocal remover to create your own from the original song.
Can I make karaoke from any 90s song?
Yes! Modern AI tools can remove vocals from any track with 95%+ accuracy. Upload your song to StemSplit and get a clean instrumental in under 60 seconds.
The Bottom Line
The 90s gave us a karaoke goldmine. Whether you're into pop, R&B, rock, or hip-hop, there's a 90s song that'll get the crowd going. The key is reading the room — match energy levels, build momentum, and don't be afraid to go for crowd favorites even if they're "overplayed."
And if you can't find the karaoke version you need? Make it yourself. The technology exists now — no excuse not to sing that deep cut you've been dreaming about.
Create 90s Karaoke Tracks Instantly
Can't find the instrumental version of your favorite 90s track? Make your own in 60 seconds.
- ✅ Works with any song
- ✅ AI removes vocals cleanly
- ✅ Free 30-second preview
- ✅ No subscription required
