4 Hit Rock Songs from the 1990s That Never Went Out of Style

Millennials have watched many beloved things from their childhoods go out of style and all but vanish. In recent years, though, the power of nostalgia has resurrected things like JNCO jeans, Pokémon, and throwback TV shows. However, music from the era has never really faltered. While rock, hip-hop, and country music have experienced a boom in popularity in recent years, the tunes never truly went out of style.

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These hit songs from the 1990s may have moved from the current rock station to the classic rock station, but they never stopped being cool. By now, multiple generations of music fans have jammed out to these tunes and will likely continue to do so for decades to come.

[RELATED: 4 Near-Perfect But Underrated Rock Albums from the 1990s You Need to Hear]

1. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica

Metallica entered the 1990s by aiming for mainstream rock success. They shed the thrash metal sound that made them a global powerhouse throught the 1980s, softened their edges, and released their self-titled album. While some may not be able to remember most of the songs from The Black Album, “Enter Sandman” has remained their most popular song.

2. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ Roses

No matter the genre, great songs never go out of style. Legendary rock band Guns N’ Roses proved this with their 1990 cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” Dylan originally wrote the song for the soundtrack to the 1973 film Pat Garret & Billy the Kid. It was a hit for both artists.

3. “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

AC/DC proved they were ready to rock their way through another decade when they released their 1990 album The Razor’s Edge. The lead single, “Thunderstruck,” has one of the most iconic intros in the genre’s history. It is one of only a handful of songs released after Back in Black that remains a staple of the band’s setlist, proving that the song has never fallen out of favor with the band’s legions of fans.

4. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

One of the best examples of the timelessness of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ music is “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” The song was a staple on rock radio, and the video was in heavy rotation on MTV in the early 1990s. The possible reference to herb in the title and lyrics drew in several young red-eyed listeners. The ambiguity of the lyrics and the artful arrangement have kept it popular for decades.

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