10. Dreamlover, Mariah Carey: Not only did this song teach me about finding the perfect soulmate, but it taught me that angels do exist in the form of Mariah. Her voice is literally mind blowing and her 90s hair and clothes make me want to be her friend and run around in the fields and actually step foot on a hot air balloon.
9. What a Girl Wants, Christina Aguilera: Another voice of an angel in the form of Christina Aguilera. Somehow Christina managed to sum up every preteen 90s girl thought into one song. She's appreciative of her man, who treats her right, and gets to do her own thing without him getting all clingy and annoying. Isn't that what every girl wants?
8. MMMbop, Hanson: Up until a few minutes ago, I thought this song taught me that you could literally write a song about nothing and it could be made popular via a boy band. This is basically still true, but when you look at the lyrics (since you can't tell what in god's name the kid is actually singing), you learn the song is really about how you'll have tons of relationships that won't last, and you should focus on the ones that matter. Pretty deep for a group I originally thought were girls singing about a made up word.
7. S Club Party, S Club 7: If you didn't watch the S Club 7 show and sing to all of their songs, you didn't live in the 90s. Looking back I have no idea why they were so popular given that none of the guys were even cute, but this song taught me there ain't no party like an S Club party. And when DJ Jen plays S Club, this statement is true. The video also taught me that the best way to deal with bullies challenging you to a drag race is to sing and dance with to them to scare them off.
6. Tearin' Up My Heart, N*Sync: This song proves that it's normal to hate and love someone at the same time. Which makes me feel good since I'm in a love/hate relationship with people in general. But most of all, it describes my opinion of N"Sync perfectly: I love their catchy songs, but when I listen to them it tears up my heart how people think they are actually better than the Backstreet Boys. I mean literally no comparison.
5. (You Drive Me) Crazy, Britney Spears: Oh Britney, the Queen B of the 90s. What hasn't she taught us about life? This song taught me how being boy crazy is perfectly normal, especially when it's over a young Adrien Grenier. *sigh* This song also proves that Britney can really sing, and will always be relevant.
4. Wannabe, Spice Girls: So when the Spice Girls came out, I really didn't have the time to care with my obsession for the Backstreet Boys. But as time went on and their songs continued to be played at every sleepover party I attended, I eventually had to take notice. This song is the Girl Power anthem of the 90s, in all it's metallic, rainbow, Lisa Frank-covered glory. I'll forgive the fashion in this video and the fact that there's a man dressed as a woman for a song for 11 year olds, because this song taught all girls the meaning of hoes before bros.
3. Complicated, Avril Lavigne: Okay, so this song came out in 2002. But the boy band-loving, 90s girl inside me was still there when this song blew up. Complicated is about being true to yourself and not letting other people dictate your life. Life can get pretty complicated, but your true friends are there to support you and accept you as you are.
2. As Long As You Love Me, Backstreet Boys: It was so hard to pick just one BSB song for this list, but this has got to be the song with the best lesson from their debut album. It's not too hard to guess this lesson, but it taught me that all you really need is someone that loves you no matter what. Even if you're Howie and have a creepy slicked back ponytail.
1. Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, Shania Twain: I cannot tell you how many times I blasted this song in my room, or got to dance to it in my dance class, or listened to it with all the other girls on the bus ride home. This song is EPIC in the world of women, and it will forever be the ballad of feminism. This song is about not having to live up to the expectations of what a woman should be and being able to be your own person and do your own thing. I'd like to see you try to name a more powerful life lesson than that.
xoxo,
Ms. Manhattan
xoxo,
Ms. Manhattan