Radio X Top 100 Of The 90s - Listen back to the full playlist

31 August 2020, 18:53 | Updated: 18 August 2021, 12:34

Radio X has been counting down the most-played songs of this amazing decade. Find out what's on the list and listen back to the whole Top 100.

This August Bank Holiday Monday, we celebrated all things 90s with The Radio X Top 100 of the 90s.

It was an era that gave birth to Britpop and grunge, turned DJs into recording artists, and saw singer-songwriters and pop-punk rockers share a place alongside them in the charts.

Whether you were listening to Blur or Oasis, Nirvana or Pearl Jam, Alanis Morisette or Garbage, Travis or The Verve, The Prodigy or Fatboy Slim: the 90s had a HUGE impact and gave us songs that have stood the test of time.

So on August Bank Holiday Monday, we looked back at one of the most epic and eclectic decades in music by revealing Radio X's most played songs from the 90s - with stats provided by PPL.

Here you can see all 100 songs, counting down from 100 to 1.

We've also got a very special Radio X Top 100 Of The 1990s playlist, featuring every song on the countdown, right here on Global Player.

Listen to the Radio X Top 100 Of The 1990s on Global Player

Every song in our Top 100 Of The 90s was released between the start of 1990 and the end of 1999. Every song will have had at least one play on Radio X in the last 12 months.

PPL’s charts are compiled from exclusive music usage and airplay data from radio stations and television channels as well as public places such as pubs, clubs, bars, jukeboxes, and shops all across the UK, showcasing the music that soundtracks our lives.

PPL is the UK’s music licensing company for performers and record labels, ensuring those who invest their time, talent and money in recorded music are paid when it is played on the radio, TV and in public places. It represents over 115,000 members – from established session musicians and globally renowned artists to independent labels and major record companies. In 2019 it collected £271.8 million.

Radio X Top 100 Of The 90s

100 Space - Female Of The Species
99 James - Laid
98 Travis - Writing To Reach You
97 Oasis - Cigarettes & Alcohol
96 Green Day - Basket Case
95 Stereophonics - I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio
94 Groove Armada - At The River
93 Alanis Morissette - One Hand In My Pocket
92 Blur - Charmless Man
91 Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
90 Suede - Beautiful Ones
89 Oasis - Half The World Away
88 Stereo MCs - Connected
87 The Bluetones - Slight Return
86 The Prodigy - Firestarter
85 Paul Weller - The Changingman
84 Catatonia - Mulder And Scully
83 Metallica - Enter Sandman
82 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue
81 Blur - Coffee & TV
80 Faithless - Insomnia
79 Pearl Jam - Alive
78 Manic Street Preachers - You Stole The Sun From My Heart
77 Barenaked Ladies - One Week
76 Catatonia - Road Rage
75 Guns N'Roses - November Rain
74 Nirvana - Come As You Are
73 Oasis - Champagne Supernova
72 Green Day - Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)
71 James - She's A Star
70 Foo Fighters - Learn To Fly
69 R.E.M. - The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
68 The Verve - Sonnet
67 Primal Scream - Movin' On Up
66 Blur - There's No Other Way
65 Ocean Colour Scene - The Riverboat Song
64 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
63 Primal Scream - Come Together
62 R.E.M. - Man On The Moon
61 Kula Shaker - Hush
60 New Order - Regret
59 Oasis - Live Forever
58 Garbage - Stupid Girl
57 Primal Scream - Loaded
56 Len - Steal My Sunshine
55 Blink 182 - All The Small Things
54 Blur - The Universal
53 Oasis - Some Might Say
52 Oasis - Whatever
51 Moby - Porcelain

1. Republica - Ready To Go

   

   Republica - Ready to Go (Official Video)

2. The Charlatans - The Only One I Know

   

   The Charlatans - The Only One I Know

3. Semisonic - Secret Smile

   

   Semisonic - Secret Smile

4. Massive Attack - Teardrop

   

   Massive Attack - Teardrop (Official Video)

5. Travis - Driftwood

   

   Travis - Driftwood (Official Video)

6. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge

   

   Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge [Official Music Video]

7. Primal Scream - Rocks

   

   Primal Scream - Rocks (Official Video)

8. Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way

   

   Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way (Official Music Video)

9. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work

   

   The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work (Official Video)

10. Blur - Song 2

    

    Blur - Song 2

11. Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away

    

    Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away (Official Music Video)

12. The Farm - All Together Now

    

    The Farm - All Together Now - Official Video

13. Reef - Place Your Hands

    

    Reef - Place Your Hands (Directors Cut)

14. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

    

    Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

15. Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me

    

    Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me (Official Video)

16. R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts

    

    R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts (Official Music Video)

17. Ocean Colour Scene - The Day We Caught The Train

    

    Ocean Colour Scene - The Day We Caught The Train (Official Video)

18. Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You

    

    Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You (Official Video)

19. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

    

    Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

20. The Verve - Lucky Man

    

    The Verve - Lucky Man (Official Music Video)

21. Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence

    

    Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (Official Video)

22. Oasis - Roll With It

    

    Oasis - Roll With It

23. Fatboy Slim - Praise You

    

    Fatboy Slim - Praise You [Official Video]

24. Oasis - She's Electric

    

    Oasis - She's Electric (Official Lyric Video)

25. Happy Mondays - Step On

    

    Happy Mondays - Step On (Official Music Video)

26. The Wannadies - You & Me Song

    

    The Wannadies - You & Me Song (Official Video)

27. Blur - Girls And Boys

    

    Blur - Girls And Boys

28. R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People

    

    R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People (Official Music Video)

29. Blur - Parklife

    

    Blur - Parklife

30. Blur - Country House

    

    Blur - Country House

31. The Cure - Friday I'm In Love

    

    The Cure - Friday I'm In Love (Official Video)

32. Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life

    

    Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life

33. The Cardigans - My Favourite Game

    

    The Cardigans - My Favourite Game “Stone Version”

34. Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

    

    Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

35. Supergrass - Alright

    

    Supergrass - Alright (Official HD Video)

36. Dodgy - Good Enough

    

    DODGY 'Good Enough' - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

37. Pulp - Disco 2000

    

    Pulp - Common People (Official Video)

38. Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha (Norman Cook Remix)

    

    Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha, Norman Cook Mix (Tjinder Singh) Official Music Video

39. Alanis Morissette - Ironic

    

    Alanis Morissette - Ironic (Official 4K Music Video)

40. Pulp - Common People

    

    Pulp - Common People (Official Video)

41. Spin Doctors - Two Princes

    Single, May 1993
    From the album Pocket Full Of Kryptonite (August 1991)

    Spin Doctors hailed from New York City and were fronted by Chris Barron.

    This single was taken from their debut album, but only became a hit in the UK two years later.

    Two Princes made Number 3 in the UK charts in the Spring of 1993.

    

    Spin Doctors - Two Princes

42. The Cardigans - Lovefool

    Single, September 1996
    From the album First Band On the Moon (September 1996)

    The song was included on the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, pushing the single to Number 2 in the UK.

    

    The Cardigans - Lovefool

43. The Boo Radleys - Wake Up Boo!

    Single, February 1995
    From the album Wake Up! (March 1995)

    This Merseyside band were signed to Alan McGee’s Creation label.

    This 1995 single was their biggest hit, making Number 9 in the UK charts

    

    The Boo Radleys - Wake Up Boo!

44. R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

    Single, February 1991
    From the album Out Of Time (March 1991)

    The term “losing my religion” is a saying from the Southern States meaning “losing the plot”.

    The single made Number 19 in the UK charts in the Spring of 1991.

    The album Out Of Time saw R.E.M. become one of the world’s biggest rock bands.

    

    R.E.M. - Losing My Religion (Official Music Video)

45. Oasis - Wonderwall

    Single, October 1995
    From the album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (October 1995)

    The best known Oasis song of all, despite Liam Gallagher claiming it initially sounded like a reggae song.

    While rumoured to be about Noel’s girlfriend Meg Matthews, the real meaning of the lyric remains obscure. although the titled was inspired by the 1968 movie with a George Harrison soundtrack.

    Famously, this classic was kept off the Number 1 spot in 1995 by TV heart-throbs Robson And Jerome.

    

    Oasis - Wonderwall (Official Video)

46. James - Sit Down

    Single, March 1991
    From the album Gold Mother

    Sit Down was originally recorded for the Rough Trade label in 1989

    When the Manchester band signed to a major label, Sit Down was re-recorded.

    The new version was released as a single and made Number 2 in the UK charts.

    The song didn’t appear on the first edition of the James album Gold Mother, but was added to a May 1991 reissue.

    

    James - Sit Down

47. The La's - There She Goes

    Single, October 1990
    From the album The La’s (October 1990)

    This classic song was released in a different form in October 1988.

    Two years later, it was remixed by Steve Lilywhite and was the first single from the Liverpool band’s self-titled debut album.

    It made Number 13 in the UK charts.

    

    The La's - There She Goes (US Version)

48. Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

    Single, August 1999
    From the album The Man Who (May 1999)

    Fran Healy wrote the song while on holiday about his home town of Glasgow.

    It reached Number 10 in the UK charts in the summer of 1999.

    Legend has it that when Travis played this song at Glastonbury 1999, it suddenly began to rain…

    

    Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me? (Official HD Video)

49. Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

    Single, February 1996
    From the album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? (October 1995)

    Taken from the monster album What’s The Story Morning Glory, Don’t Look Back In Anger was one of the tracks that awarded them the mantle of Britain’s favourite band and winners in the Britpop wars.

    The song made Number 1 in the UK charts and became the third best selling Oasis single in their home country.

    After the horrific Manchester Arena terrorist attack - which saw 22 killed at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017 - the Noel Gallagher-penned and sung track became synonymous with the band and their native city more than ever before.

    The song has since been known as a song of "defiance," with Noel Gallagher even referring to it as a "hymn". Shortly after the attack, he told Radio X's John Kennedy: "That song is more important than I'll ever be."

    

    Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger (Official Video)

50. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

    Single, June 1997
    From the album Urban Hymns (September 1997)

    The lead track from The Verve's iconic Urban Hymns album ran into trouble by sampling Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham's orchestral cover of the Jagger/Richards track The Last Time.

    It was claimed that the track used a significant proportion of the original arrangement and awarded a partial songwriting credit to the two Stones.

    The song was accompanied by a memorable video featuring frontman Richard Ashcroft walking down a busy street in Hoxton, East London. propelling the track to Number 2, where it was kept off the top by I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans.

    

    The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony (Official Music Video)