3 Acoustic One-Hit Wonders From the 1990s That Will Summon the Nostalgia

Was the 1990s the greatest musical decade? Sure, folks from the 1960s’ and 1970s’ contingents will have something to say about that. But there may have never been a decade with such sonic diversity as the 1990s. From gangsta rap to boy bands, the era had all that and everything in between. It even had acoustic-driven one-hit wonders.

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Here below, we wanted to dive into three examples of that. A trio of acoustic-driven hit tracks from bands who never quite had the same success again. Indeed, these are three acoustic one-hit wonders from the 1990s that will summon the nostalgia.

[RELATED: 3 Two-Hit Wonder, Foreign-Born Bands that Ruled the 1970s]

“Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” by Crash Test Dummies from God Shuffled His Feet (1993)

The Canadian-born band Crash Test Dummies hit the No. 4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for this song. Melancholy and touching, the track tells the story of three kids who have problems with friends or at school. They are different and suffer because of it. Delivered with the deep voice of Brad Roberts, the song was so sticky when it was released in the 1990s that it was all over the radio. And on it, lead vocalist Roberts sings,

Once there was this kid who
Got into an accident and couldn’t come to school
But when he finally came back
His hair had turned from black into bright white
He said that it was from when
The cars had smashed so hard

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes from Bigger, Better, Faster, More! (1993)

This classic 1990s track, which was written by star songwriter Linda Perry, hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s reflective tune that contemplates life and its trials, hopes, hard work, and curiosity. Delivered with Perry’s stormy voice over acoustic guitars, it gets its listeners to sing along and scream from the top of their lungs, What’s going on! Indeed, on the tune, Perry sings,

25 years and my life is still
Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed
Just to get it all out what’s in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus from Some Gave All (1992)

Country star Billy Ray Cyrus (aka Miley’s dad) released this hit song on his 1992 LP Some Gave All. The track, which hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, is a breakup tune. On it, Cyrus tells his former lover that she can tell everyone she knows the couple split. But just don’t tell his heart. It’s a clever turn for the track, on which Cyrus belts over an acoustic,

You can tell the world you never was my girl
You can burn my clothes up when I’m gone
Or you can tell your friends just what a fool I’ve been
And laugh and joke about me on the phone

You can tell my arms go back to the farm
You can tell my feet to hit the floor
Or you can tell my lips to tell my fingertips
They won’t be reaching out for you no more

But don’t tell my heart, my achy breaky heart
I just don’t think he’d understand
And if you tell my heart, my achy breaky heart
He might blow up and kill this man

Photo by Ebet Roberts/Getty Images