It was one filled with a variety of pop, rap and alternative music artists as well as an amount of one-hit wonders. It was a time when musical taste was as varied as the events that were happening at that time and in which styles morphed and/or merged into music that often sounded both edgy and oddly familiar. Many of the most popular acts that emerged in the 1990's were bands and artists who enjoyed a type of resurgence in the mainstream music scene after their popularity had decreased for a decade or so. Other artists were just starting out during this decade and making a huge impact on the musical scene.
Due to the huge amount of artists we have in this decade, as the page we have used for the bibliography shows, we are going to show a little explanation of some of the most memorable artists that helped to define the era.
The early years of the 1990's began with a surge in popularity for music genres like techno (often called dance or house music) with artist such as Moby and hip-hop that continued throughout the decade with artists like Vanilla Ice, 2Pac, Lauryn Hill, Ludacris, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne, among others. Those three later, turned the genre Hip- Hop towards Dirty South and Crunk by the end of the 1990's.
Lost Ones- Lauryn Hill
One Minute Man- Missy Elliott feat Ludacris
NEO-SOUL:
In the mid-1990's, this genre arose and it added 1970's soul influences to the hip hop soul blend, led by artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell. Lauryn Hill and Missy Elliott further blurred the line between R&B and hip hop by recording both styles.
D'Angelo- Brown Sugar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_WzjiTzZBA
Nevertheless, around late 1992 to early 1993, there was a change starting in the mainstream radio playlists. While the sexual lyrics of techno and hip-hop still dominated the airwaves, a new style of rock music which was too wide was making an impact. Bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were offering youngsters a new type of rock music to listen to that contained catchy lyrics about the anxiety and trials of teenage years. These songs also seemed to send a message about the status quo of society and the helplessness that was felt among the teens and early adults of the era. Nirvana’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” spoke about a teen revolution in a seemingly meaningless world and it also marked the beginning of the grunge and alternative rock phase that remained popular throughout the mid-1990's.
Grunge’s gloominess and rebellion eventually merged into a broad mid-1990s genre of so-called “alternative” rock, which included all sorts of performers. Also, the most notables bands were Blink-182, Faith No More and Rage Against the Machine.
By late 1995, many young people were getting tired of the hopelessness that the grunge and alternative bands were inundating the airwaves with and they were ready for something fresh and new. As a result of this feeling, a movement of “happy rock” arose with bands like Hootie and the Blowfish, Sister Hazel, and The Bodeans which perpetuated upbeat melodies and positive lyrics that many people were ready for after years of negativity. These bands also created a resurgence in songs that dealt with love and relationships through ballads and happier-sounding songs.
Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana
I Miss You- Blink 182
Moreover, the “happy rock” years in the mid-90's and the British girl group The Spice Girls (which managed to break the American market) helped to pave the way for the “bubblegum pop” that followed in the waning years of the decade with artists like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child (a group of girls in which was Beyoncé) which dominated the mainstream pop music scene well into the late 1990's and beyond. The sexual lyrics and innuendos also came back, as well as sexual videos, in the songs of this era that was once popular in the early years of the decade, but they were more blatant than before. 
The later years of the decade also saw a new popularity for traditional boy bands such as the Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees and N’Sync which enjoyed the same amount of, if not more, popularity than older boy bands like New Kids on the Block from the late 1980's. As the same time that Janet Jackson and Céline Dion achieved worldwide success.
I Will Always Love You- Whitney Houston
My Heart Will Go On- Céline Dion
Everybody- The Backstreet Boys
Country music also exploded in popularity in the early 1990's, as the old-school Nashville sound of performers such as George Jones and Tammy Wynette gave way to newer artists such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain and Tim McGraw, among others, or groups like Lonestar and Dixie Chicks.The stage had been set in 1989 with the debuts of several performers who proved to be profoundly influential on the genre during the 1990's and beyond. Brooks, who was the most notable, recorded primarily in a honky-tonk style, although he frequently combined elements of soft rock and arena rock in his songs. His songs sometimes explored social themes, such as domestic violence ("The Thunder Rolls") and racial harmony ("We Shall Be Free"), while others – such as "Friends in Low Places" — were just good-time songs.
We Shall Be Free- Garth Brooks
I hope you have enjoyed our publication about the 90's! We have talked about many of the most important artists of the 80's, but there are much more you can research about and sure you will find a lot of amazing artists.
Best Regards!
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
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