Radio programmers during the 90s were much more open to different genres of music, so you'd hear a lot of variety when you turned the dial to your local Top 40 station. Nowadays, you won't hear much variety, as stations have gotten more and more genre-specific. Female singer-songwriters were absolutely slaying the charts in the 90s, and they had much crossover appeal. In fact, they were so popular, that singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan went ahead and started her own summer music festival dedicated to showcasing the most popular female musicians of the time. That festival was called the Lilith Fair, and a lot of the women on this list also performed at it. Let's take a look at some of the most iconic songs from these ladies.
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Sarah McLachlan - Adia (1998)Billboard Hot 100 - #3
We start off our list with Sarah McLachlan, who founded the Lilith Fair. Today, you probably only know her as the woman in that really, really sad ASPCA commercial.
Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know (1995)Billboard Hot 100 - #6
You Oughta Know was Alanis' breakout hit. Beyonce tried to get a writing credit on this song when she performed it on tour in 2009.
Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason (1996)Billboard Hot 100 - #3
This was Tracy Chapman's biggest hit.
Sophie B. Hawkins - As I Lay Me Down (1995)Billboard Hot 100 - #6
This was Sohpie's last Top 10 hit in the U.S.
Natalie Merchant - Carnival (1995)Billboard Hot 100 - #10
This is Natalie Merchant's biggest hit.
Loreena McKennitt - The Mummer's Dance (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #18
Loreena McKennitt found success in the United States with a remixed version of The Mummer's Dance.
Shawn Colvin - Sunny Came Home (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #7
Shawn Colvin won 2 GRAMMY awards for this song.
Jewel - Foolish Games (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #2
Foolish Games is probably Jewel's most famous song (unless you want to argue that her song Intuition, which can be heard in razor commercials, is more iconic).
Donna Lewis - I Love You Always Forever (1996)Billboard Hot 100 - #2
One hit wonder.
Meredith Brooks - Bitch (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #2
One hit wonder.
Paula Cole - Where Have All The Cowboys Gone (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #8
Her other big hit was the theme song for Dawson's Creek, but this is way better.
Tori Amos - Spark (1998)Billboard Hot 100 - #49
Never really listened to her, but she's popular with emo people, I hear.
Liz Phair - Supernova (1994)Billboard Hot 100 - #78
She ruined her career in the 2000s when she went full-on VH1 adult contemporary pop-rock.
Merril Bainbridge - Mouth (1994)Billboard Hot 100 - #4
One hit wonder from Down Under.
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn (1997)Billboard Hot 100 Airplay - #1
Another one hit wonder from Down Under. This song was also a cover.
Dionne Farris - I Know (1995)Billboard Hot 100 - #4
One hit wonder.
Joan Osborne - One Of Us (1995)Billboard Hot 100 - #4
One hit wonder.
Fiona Apple - Criminal (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #21
Her most iconic moment in the 90s was her VMAs acceptance speech.
Lisa Loeb - Stay (1994)Billboard Hot 100 - #1
One hit wonder.
Billie Myers - Kiss The Rain (1997)Billboard Hot 100 - #15
One hit wonder.
Sheryl Crow - If It Makes You Happy (1996)Billboard Hot 100 - #10
This had a cool music video, and she married that dude with one testicle.
Des'ree - You Gotta Be (1994)Billboard Hot 100 - #5
This song really gets you inspired, tbh.
k.d. lang - Constant Craving (1992)Billboard Hot 100 - #38
This is a nice, melancholic song.
Erykah Badu - On & On (1996)Billboard Hot 100 - #12
Erykah's first big hit.
Dido - Here With Me (1999)Billboard Hot 100 - #108
This came out in 1999, but wasn't a single in the U.S. until 2000. It was also the theme song to that show Roswell.
Sources:
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