4 Hit Songs of the 1990s That I Love but Can’t Sing (For One Reason or Another)

Not all of our favorite songs are easy to sing along to. Whether the artist’s vocals are too strong or the lyrics are just down right confusing, there are many hit songs that aren’t all that accessible. Find four hit songs from the 1990s that I love, but can’t sing along to (for one reason or another), below.

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[RELATED: 3 of the Cheesiest ’90s Pop Songs To Reach No. 1 That I’m Not Ashamed To Sing Along To]

“Emotions” (Mariah Carey)

Unless you’re Mariah Carey (or maybe Ariana Grande), you’d have a hard time singing along to “Emotions.” Without even mentioning the slew of whistle notes she throws in this hit from the 1990s like they are nothing, the meandering melody of this song is impossible to keep up with. You would need to have vocal agility like Carey, and so few do…

You’ve got me feeling emotions
Deeper than I’ve ever dreamed of
You’ve got me feeling emotions
Higher than the heavens above

“Scar Tissue” (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

While Carey’s hit is impossible to sing along to because of her vocal chops, “Scar Tissue” is out of my wheelhouse for an entirely different reason. Save the first line, few Red Hot Chili Peppers fans could tell you the lyrics to this hit song from the late 1990s. I certainly resort to delivering a jumbled mess of similarly sounding syllables in loo of the actual lyrics.

Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know-it-all
Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, ’cause
With the birds I’ll share

“All by Myself” (Celine Dion)

Circling back around to impossible-to-recreate vocals, our next entry on this list of hit songs from the 1990s I can’t sing along to is Celine Dion’s “All By Myself”–but that’s doesn’t mean I don’t try…In fact, I’d find it hard to believe anyone could stay silent when this classic (if a little schmaltzy) ballad comes blaring through your speakers.

All by myself
Don’t wanna be
All by myself
Anymore

“One Week” (Barenaked Ladies)

Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week” is another one of those hit songs from the 1990s that is popular but altogether indiscernible. Frontman Ed Robertson’s unique vocals make it hard to make out the words. But, just like “Scar Tissue,” this track became a mega-hit nevertheless. I will mumble along, happy as can be when this summertime anthem is queued up.

It’s been one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side and said, “I’m angry”
Five days since you laughed at me saying
“Get that together, come back and see me”

(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)