Image: Interscope
About This Quiz
If you were around in the 1990s, you were lucky enough to see an evolution of music like no other. Not only were boomboxes the hottest electronics for teenagers, they were inexpensive and accessible. Chances are, you watched your CD collection grow into an epic and eclectic tower of sound that included everything from Lauryn Hill to Godsmack. The best thing about taking this quiz is the prerogative to have a little fun.
The '90s was a decade that was trying to find its own identity by looking back on the identities of decades before it. And with that search for identity, every genre of music went through a shift, and a few genres emerged and reemerged ... come on, who could forget the swing reboot that came along with Big Bad Voodoo Daddies?
Despite this identity crisis, we were given some of the best music in recent history, and that music sticks with us today. The lyrics were catchy, the beats were on point and we had something for every mood we could have possibly experienced.
In this quiz, we are going to sing a few '90s songs to you, but we're going to mess up the lyrics pretty badly. Let's see if you have what it takes to correct us.
"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want"
If you had to define the '90s girl power movement, you would automatically show someone a picture of the Spice Girls. This band's motto was "Girl Power," and they didn't seem to care what anyone thought.
"You, I'll tell you what I got, what I really, really got"
"Yo, I found a big shot, a really real big shot"
"I want a shot, a really big shot"
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"I'm a fiend for a bottle, and I know the right way"
"I'm a genie in a bottle, you gotta rub me the right way"
When you take a Mouseketeer and put her in a tube top, people are going to demand answers. The controversy that Christina's "Genie in a Bottle" video produced may have been short-lived, but it was intense for a moment there.
"It's a tough bottle to crack, but I know the right way"
"I'm lean and in a bottle, so find me a way out"
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"As I walk through the belly of a big girl named Beth"
"As I find myself lying on the ground staring at the sky"
"As I find myself walking the streets of Brooklyn"
"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"
"Dangerous Minds" was one of the most popular movies of 1995. The film showed what it was like in the inner city, and what happens when adults care about the kids. "Gangsta's Paradise" was the song that was attached to this movie, and it became an even bigger hit than the film did.
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"We're far apart and you are"
"Near, far, wherever you are"
When it came to pop music of the '90s, it was almost unheard of to have a ballad in the mix. However, "My Heart Will Go On" was a true ballad that was popularized by the movie "Titanic," which was the biggest film of 1997.
"Titanic was the greatest movie ever"
"And I know that I will find a big star"
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"And I found a big fluffy dog, digging his way through the sand"
"And I'm not the type to eat meat, 'cause I have a new lap band"
"And I want to sit by the big beach, 'cause I like the warmth of the sand"
"And I don't want the world to see me, 'cause I don't think that they'd understand"
The Goo Goo Dolls started off as a punk band and became famous rather quickly. They were asked to play on the soundtrack for "City of Angels", and they agreed. Of course, this angered many of their early fans, showing that the band had sold out.
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"My lioness is big and mean, (and I) I must find stress in everything"
"My undue stress is killing me, (and I) I feel blessed and relieved"
"My loneliness is killing me (and I) I must confess I still believe"
While there are a lot of parodies to this song, it goes down in the history books as one of the hardest songs Britney recorded. Of course, this was before her 2007 meltdown, which we can all understand in retrospect.
"My fondue mess is big and gross (and I) I must confess, I hate cleaning"
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"Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin'"
No Doubt was the kind of band that was always on edge, but everyone wanted more and more of Gwen. It's important to note that before Gwen Stefani was a pop princess, she was one of the best female rockers around.
"Don't be cheap, I know you have money"
"Don't leave a message after the tone"
"Don't reek, take a shower today"
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"I will always love you, even if you don't call me, my darling"
"My darling, I will always find you, you always find me"
"I will always mock you, I will always mock you, you, my darling, you"
"I will always love you, I will always love you, you, my darling, hm"
The divas of the '90s had range and vocals that would blow you out of the water. Though some people can't handle the pitch of this song, others say it is the most beautiful love song of all time.
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"Her rips can take the fed and her shins have to soak-a"
"Her lips are devil-red and her skin's the color of mocha"
If you don't immediately start dancing when this song comes on, you may have a problem. Ricky Martin wasn't afraid to shake his moneymaker in the video for the hit, either. This song truly captured everyone's attention.
"Her red lips are like cherries and she likes to drink mocha"
"Her lips are cherry-red and she really likes mocha"
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"You'll always be a part of me"
Mariah Carey fell between pop star and diva in the '90s, and her songs were played through middle school gyms during dances rather frequently. "Always Be My Baby" was both catchy and heartfelt ... especially if you were younger the first time you heard it.
"You'll always find a heart in me"
"You'll always give your heart to me"
"You'll always see what I can't see"
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"All I can say is that I like paper airplanes"
"All I can say is that my life is pretty plain"
Who could forget the MTV music video of a girl in a bee costume dancing on a stage while this song was playing. It is a song that laments on the boring moments of life, and delves into depression pretty hard.
"All I can say is that I live out on the planes"
"All I can say is that I like my girls plain"
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"Close to flies, you want a dish"
"In your eyes, I see a fish"
"Close your eyes, make a wish"
Boyz II Men was the R&B group everyone loved in the 1990s. They were seemingly unstoppable with their songs of love and heartbreak. Even if you weren't into R&B, you had to have some appreciation for the vocals that came from this group.
"With your eyes, I see my wish"
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"California knows how to party"
Rap music toned itself down just a little bit when big-name rappers started to realize that air time on MTV would get them more money. Songs like "California Love" were hip-hop hits that attracted wider audiences.
"California loves guys named Marty"
"California is all about farming"
"California shakes up the party"
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"You are my fire, the one desire"
Boy bands were all the rage in the '90s. They showed us that there is a girl out there for everyone ... as long as you liked dudes in double denim with quintessential '90s hair ... and if you were into dudes, you probably did.
"Am I your fire, your one desire?"
"And that makes you larger than life"
"Tell me why, ain't nothin' but a heartache"
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"I don't want any scrubs, they can't get my love"
"I don't want to scrubs, I don't like it when they rub on me"
"I don't want no scrubs, a scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me"
The girl power movement of the '90s was a chance for women to express what they wanted and what they didn't want. TLC's hit "Scrubs" was the kind of song that told men women were no longer going to settle for the closest thing that gave them attention.
"I don't have no love for all of these scrubs near me"
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"Do you have the time"
Everyone was looking for new sounds in the 1990s, and Green Day delivered. The album "Dookie" was punk with grunge undertones that people really responded to. Although "Basket Case" was overplayed on the radio, people still return to it today.
"Do you know the rhyme"
"Are you gonna whine"
"Do you always whine"
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"I don't want to close my eyes. I don't want to fall asleep"
The '90s were a decade that realized that mixing movies and music was a great way to make even more money. Big bands from every genre were asked to write songs for blockbuster movies constantly. In the case of "Armageddon," Aerosmith created this song, and it became an instant hit.
"I don't have enough disguise, your secrets I can't keep"
"I'm on a ship that flies, I can't fall asleep"
"I don't have enough eyes, your safety I can't keep"
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"What are drugs? Maybe I'm hurting"
"What are you? Don't be a monster"
"What is love? Baby don't hurt me"
Alright, so you may not have known that this song is by Haddaway, but the one-hit-wonder band created one of the most epic dance songs of the '90s. Unfortunately, it was just before the pop and dance music sounds started to change.
"What is this? Baby, it's hurting"
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"I swear my moon and my stars can fly"
"I swear by the moon and the stars in the sky"
Anyone who knows this song most likely had it play at a middle school dance or on prom night. There is no doubt that All-4-One was a song that connected to younger audiences who loved R&B.
"I swear I love you so much that I cry"
"I swear I'll never ever make you cry"
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"We have a long, strong way to get her"
"We've come a long, long way together"
Techno music was a limited genre in the '90s. It was difficult to get people into it, and most didn't understand it at all. However, Fatboy Slim seemed to connect pop music, adding a few lyrics and changing the way people looked at it.
"We are no longer together"
"She's got a another man with her"
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"Don't go chasin' waterfalls, please stick tot he rivers and the lakes that you're used to"
Although the members of TLC went through some difficult times, it was clear that the music they created would hold a place in the hearts of '90s children forever, even if it wasn't necessarily timeless.
"I don't have any missed calls, I'm gonna go to the club tonight to find you"
"I found another ring in your sock drawer, please don't ask me to marry you"
"Here's another chance at waterfalls, please don't slip because it might hurt you"
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"And now I'm done at the end of the road"
"I turned the TV to sleep mode"
"Although we've come to the end of the road"
While Boyz II Men had great intentions for their songs, some of their lyrics were a little creepy by today's standards. "End of the Road" is a song about a relationship that is ending, but someone refuses to give up.
"Your heart is on the end of the road"
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"With all of my love, I give you all my trust, now come for me"
"If you had my love and I gave you all my trust, would you comfort me"
Back when she was known as Jennifer Lopez, J-Lo showed us that it was totally awesome to have a big butt and confidence at the same time. Not only did she grab attention with her lyrics, her perfect bod also kept her going.
"I haven't any love, but I can give you some trust, now are you true to me"
"Would you ever love someone with no trust, or are you a bee"
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"If you follow, we can drive into town"
"Tomorrow we can drive around this town"
If you are excited to remember this song, you definitely grew up in the '90s. Grunge was creating so many different sounds in the '90s, and it's no wonder that the Gin Blossoms made it so far.
"Chase the cops around town tomorrow"
"Tomorrow we can chase the cops around"
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"I hate Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita"
"I love Anna, Hannah, Rhonda and Rhea"
"I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita"
Although few will ever understand how "Mambo No. 5" became so popular, there is a reasonable explanation. It had a different sound and was upbeat, even though the lyrics were a little sexist.
"I like Sonia, Maria, Bella and Maya"
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"He's hairy, I'm Harry. But I love you more than he could ever baby"
"Money from him, love from me. There's an obvious choice here, can't you see?"
"When the wedding begins, we'll all be free, baby can't you see?"
"Marry him or marry me. I'm the one that loves you, baby, can't you see?"
Anyone who remembers the Spin Doctors will tell you that the songs of the alternative rock band were catchy but also very telling of the times. It was a time to focus on love rather than money, when it was supposed that women were more looking for security rather than happiness.
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"Uh-Oh, I lost my buddy, Holly"
"Once I met the great Buddy Holly"
"He knew I found a guy named Buddy Holly"
"Oo-ee-oo, I look just like Buddy Holly"
Alternative rock really changed the way people looked at good music. Weezer was one of those bands that couldn't be placed in a genre, and "Buddy Holly" was their first major hit. That was followed by "Undone."
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"In my ring, I found a lamp"
"My basement has a lamp"
"Stuttering, cold and damp"
Grunge music reached its height of popularity in the 1990s. The dark and angry sounds of Soundgarden showed audiences that not everything was sunshine and rainbows, and we didn't have to pretend that it was.
"Underling, old and cramped"
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"Sometimes I find a little hard work is harder"
"She finds a dog and calls him a partner"
"Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner"
Remember when Anthony Kiedis had long hair? We're sure you'll never forget. Though their first album was released in 1984, the band didn't gain national popularity until the '90s, when alternative rock attracted attention.
"At night I feel like I don't have a partner"
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"Find the lights now, and get spontaneous"
"Punch his lights out, be real dangerous"
"And the fight's now, getting dangerous"
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous"
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was a revolutionary song that changed popular music forever. It was one of the first hits from the grunge genre to get airplay on radios across the country, and people still love the song today.
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"I found a feather to give to a girl"
"I have another feather I got from a girl"
"I float like a feather in a beautiful world"
"Creep" was a slow, angry song that showed rockers didn't have to yell just to get their points across. Nine Inch Nails followed suit with their song "Hurt" in 1994, two years after "Creep" was released.
"I'm not another feather in this insane world"
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"All my teachers hated me in Junior High"
"My English teacher wanted to flunk me in Junior High"
Fighting stereotypes about hardcore rappers and skin color, Eminem changed the game with his "Slim Shady LP" that wowed audiences and angered parents. However, if you listen to his lyrics, you understand that he is creating music for people just like him.
"My teachers made me teach in Junior High"
"My girlfriend got pregnant in Junior High"
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"And my time is a piece of wax fallin' on a termite that's chokin' on the splinters"
Though Beck still has a cult following, few people actually realize how genius his music really is. The musician can play nearly every instrument (and has done so on his albums), as well as writes his own songs.
"And I know there's a piece of wax to go into the candle that burns on both ends"
"She's not that lax when she falls to the termites on the choke hold"
"And my time is a bell that rings in the office of the people stuffing clothing"
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"Backstreet is the band to beat"
"*NSync knows the right beats"
"I'm seeing all of these things"
"Backbeat, the word was on the street"
Oasis was well-known as a band that didn't get along with each other very well. There was constant tension between the Gallagher brothers who started the band, and it was clear in interviews that they didn't like each other very much.
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"You hit me with a hammer, now I want you to go"
"You found out I'm with Hammer, and I know that you know"
"Ladies love the Hammer, but now I got to go"
"You talkin' about the Hammer, you talking about a show"
MC Hammer was one of the biggest names in hip-hop music in the '80s and '90s. With "U Can't Touch This," he showed audiences that rap didn't necessarily need to be crude to succeed in the genre.
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