# Best #1 single of the decade: The 1990s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504 "2014-12-17T17:16:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/1 "2014-12-17T17:16:01Z")
Round 5 of the semi-final takes us into the first of three straight days of polling (the best of 2014 poll will be up tomorrow, and the 2000s poll after that so we have time to finish before Christmas Eve.) As always, these are your picks from the polls for each of these years. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/2 "2014-12-17T17:34:32Z")
I’m torn and have to think a bit, but I have to say, I love the diversity of music on this list. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/3 "2014-12-17T17:44:03Z")
It’s between “California Love” and “Nothing Compares 2 U” for me, and I went with the former. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/4 "2014-12-17T17:52:42Z")
“MMMBop” is on this list? _MMMBop_? I have lost respect for many, many people. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/5 "2014-12-17T18:01:27Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > “MMMBop” is on this list? _MMMBop_? > > I have lost respect for many, many people. Look at [the list for 1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497). I’ve voted in most of these threads pre-2002 or so, but I gave '97 a pass. I can certainly be convinced that MMMBop is the best from that list. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/6 "2014-12-17T18:02:00Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > “MMMBop” is on this list? _MMMBop_? > > I have lost respect for many, many people. Which of 1997’s runners-up would you have preferred; “Wannabe”, “Candle in the Wind 1997”, or “Mo Money Mo Problems”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/7 "2014-12-17T18:27:43Z")
This is a weak crop. The only one of these songs I voted for in the best-of-the-year polls was “Baby Got Back,” and that song easily gets my vote again for the best of the decade. “Nothing Compares 2U” is my second-place choice, and “California Love” is third. “MMMBop” is dead-ass last in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System** , finishing just behind “Stay.” I’m still pissed off that the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” finished behind fucking _Hanson_ in 1997. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/8 "2014-12-17T18:31:41Z")
For me it was between Seal and Rob Thomas/Santana. I chose the latter, since I voted for Seal in 1995. Plus I feel Seal will close the gap with Sinead O’Connor. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/9 "2014-12-17T18:44:08Z")
_Nothing Compares 2 U_ rips my heart out every, single, time. This was another list with several good and one great song. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/10 "2014-12-17T19:02:41Z")
Since the Macarena got edged out in the 1996 voting, I guess I’ll settle for Rob Thomas and Santana. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/11 "2014-12-17T19:03:13Z")
I was torn between _Gonna Make You Sweat_ and _I’d Do Anything For Love_, but voted for Meat Loaf. Not only is it an epic track on a great rock album (and, to be clear, I’m voting for the 12 min album cut, not the 6 min radio version, which may be a bit of a cheat, but oh well), but it also features Roy Bittan the pianist most near and dear to my heart. Long live piano rock! ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/12 "2014-12-17T19:11:12Z")
A much less inspiring list than the 80s one. **Sinéad O’Connor** - _Nothing Compares 2 U_. I didn’t vote for it in the 1990 poll (I went for _Black Velvet_ instead) but here, it comes very clearly ahead. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/13 "2014-12-17T19:41:53Z")
I had to pick California Love. I’m sick to death of hip-hop but that old song is really catchy. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/14 "2014-12-17T20:25:44Z")
Sorry, Sinead, but girls with glasses still do it for me - _Stay_ it is. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/15 "2014-12-17T20:26:16Z")
I like Lisa Loeb and Santana, but seriously. Sinéad owns the 1990s. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/16 "2014-12-17T20:53:49Z")
Sinéad O’Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U. Ahead of Santana. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/17 "2014-12-17T21:07:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Which of 1997’s runners-up would you have preferred; “Wannabe”, “Candle in the Wind 1997”, or “Mo Money Mo Problems”? 🙂 If I can hold my nose and vote for “Wannabe” so can everybody else. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/18 "2014-12-17T21:16:12Z")
This was the hardest of the decade votes for me to pick one in so far - all but three of the candidates were my votes for best song of the year, and several of them are among my favorite songs of all time. Meat Loaf was a close second, but I narrowly went with Baby Got Back because of its historical influence - people are still imitating it today. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/19 "2014-12-17T21:26:44Z")
Color me absolutely flabbergasted - and thrilled - to see that my easy pick - “Nothing Compares 2 U” - is currently in the lead. Because I totally thought that some claptrap like “Smooth”, or the like, would walk away with this. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504/20 "2014-12-17T21:28:23Z")
There is no way I am voting for Smooth, MMMBop, etc… Am I really going to be voting for Baby Got Back? It is the song that has had the most longevity. I love Sinead’s song - but heard and saw it so much back then that I can just think about it and get the “hit” of the song… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-decade-the-1990s/707504.md?page=2)