35 Best Songs From 1993

Oh, snap! Thirty years ago, 1993 gave us a long list of songs that were all that and a bag of chips. 1993 was huge for rap, R&B, pop, and alternative. Sit back, take a chill pill, and enjoy our breakdown of the best songs from 1993.

1. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Although Whitney Houston's version of this song is not the original recording, it is undeniably one of the most famous ballads in contemporary musical history.

The single is an iconic cultural pillar that sold over twenty million copies globally. Whitney Houston recorded the song for her acting debut in the film “The Bodyguard.”

She received sweeping critical acclaim for her vocal performance on this single and it brought international stardom. It broke the record for the longest duration in the number one spot on American music charts.

Whitney Houston won multiple Grammy awards and other high accolades for “I Will Always Love You.” The Library of Congress chose to preserve the recording because of its historical and cultural value.

2. “(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You” by UB40

This Elvis Presley original came back into the limelight after this new recording by the British group UB40 in their signature reggae style. UB40's cover topped musical charts across the globe.

Their version appears in films and received wide critical acclaim for its diversion from the popular music norm.

3. “Freak Me” by Silk

R&B group Silk released “Freak Me” on their debut album. It went certified platinum in the US. This is the group's biggest hit, having spent many weeks charting in the R&B singles category.

4. “Weak” by SWV

Following in Silk's footsteps, SWV had chart-topping success with a single off their first album. “Weak” made international R&B musical charts and is one of the greatest girl group songs of all time.

5. “Fields of Gold” by Sting

This classic ballad speaks of a golden field that a pair of lovers walk in during the late summer, casting a golden lens over their time together. The intimate vocals and folksy stylings of this ballad are the perfect methods of presenting a story of love and the passage of time.

6. “The River of Dreams” by Billy Joel

This track is Billy Joel's best-selling single of the 90s. It features on his album “River of Dreams,” which received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. He lost to Whitney Houston, but this song is undeniably one of the most recognizable tracks from the era.

It topped music global music charts as critics praised the song for borrowing from the black gospel style.

7. “If I Ever Fall In Love” by Shai

Number seven on our list is from another R&B group! Shai released “If I Ever Fall In Love” in September 1992, but 1993 was its year. Globally, people resonated with the slow, seductive energy this track brings. It charted in multiple countries, spending eight weeks in the Hot 100's number two spot.

8. “Dreamlover” by Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey released this single on her third album, which entered more hip-hop territory than her previous work. Critics praised her difficult vocal stylings on “Dreamlover,” and it was a massive international hit.

Mariah Carey selected the song's producer with strong intentions, making sure to work with someone with an R&B background, as most of her past music leaned heavily toward pop.

9. “Ditty” by Paperboy

Rapper Paperboy followed in the footsteps of other popular hip-hop recordings by sampling James Brown for this smash hit. The song was massively popular and nominated for a Grammy award, although it lost out to a Dr. Dre single. 

10. “Rump Shaker” by Wreckx-n-Effect

“Rump Shaker” is a 1990s rap masterpiece that includes samples ranging from saxophones to James Brown. A little-known fact about this track is that famous recording artist Pharrell, one of the group member's musical apprentices, offered massive lyrical contributions.

11. “Informer” by Snow

Hailing from Canada, the reggae-influenced artist Snow brought “Informer” to the US music market. The chart-topping hit had a polarizing effect on people, and it landed on both best and worst 1990s song lists.

While some critics mocked Snow for his difficult-to-understand lyrics, others praised his uniquely fast delivery. “Informer” is one of those songs you either love or hate, and we love it.

12. “C.R.E.A.M.” by The Wu-Tang Clan

This famous hip-hop group ruled the rap scene of the 1990s, and “C.R.E.A.M.,” or “Cash Rules Everything Around Me,” was no exception to the Wu-Tang Clan’s popularity. Though “C.R.E.A.M.” wasn’t a chart-topper, it is one of the best songs on Enter the Wu-Tang, according to critics around the world.