3 Overplayed Songs From the 1990s You Have To Admit Are Great

When radio programmers get a whiff of what people like, listeners are going to get it good and hard. In the 1990s, there was no shortage of songs on endless repeat. Great for the songwriters, but most people tuning in had probably heard enough. However, some songs land on repeated playlists for good reason. We can now quantify similar trends with the streaming numbers visible on Spotify, proving the enduring quality of these timeless but overplayed hits.

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“Creep” by Radiohead

You almost feel sorry for the listeners who don’t know Radiohead’s music beyond “Creep”. While modern rock radio continues to do its best to exhaust everyone’s patience for “Creep”, Thom Yorke’s most overplayed song is every bit as great as the day it arrived. Jonny Greenwood’s abrasive entry, an attempt to ruin the track, hasn’t lost its edge. And Yorke’s Pixies-inspired arrangement of quiet verses and loud choruses made Radiohead’s breakthrough anthem one of the most defining hits of the decade. Its success compelled Yorke to rethink his music. Without the success of “Creep”, Radiohead might have ended up on a long list of artists dropped by major record labels instead of the groundbreaking band they became.

“Enter Sandman” by Metallica

Metallica’s self-titled album (known as the Black Album) forever cemented the band’s legacy as The Beatles of heavy metal. If you had MTV or were in earshot of a radio, then you heard Kirk Hammett’s iconic riff to “Enter Sandman” over and over again. It wasn’t the only hit from the album, but it remains one of the most played rock songs ever. Working with producer Bob Rock, Metallica streamlined their arrangements and replaced thrash metal speed with simpler and slower grooves. Still, “Enter Sandman” clocks in at over five minutes. The DJs didn’t care and played it anyway.

“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes

Like it or not, this song was inescapable in the 90s. And you might toss 4 Non Blondes into the one-hit wonder pile until you realize the song’s writer is Linda Perry. Perry didn’t get lucky with her ubiquitous single. She continued to shape the sound of modern pop music with hit after hit recorded by everyone from Christina Aguilera (“Beautiful”) to Gwen Stefani (“What You Waiting For?”). Her earworm hooks instantly lock into one’s brain, and everything that makes her an in-demand hitmaker is right there in 4 Non Blondes’ biggest tune.

Photo by Frans Schellekens/Redferns