The Best Pop Music of 1996
Contents
In 1996, the pop world was dominated by a handful of female artists who released some of the best music of the decade. From the Spice Girls to Mariah Carey, these are the best pop songs of 1996.
Introduction
It’s no secret that the 1990s were a great decade for pop music, with a seemingly endless stream of hits coming from all corners of the globe. But if we had to narrow it down to one year, 1996 would be a pretty good choice. From classic albums by major artists to unforgettable singles, there was something for everyone in 1996. Let’s take a look at some of the best pop music that came out that year.
In the United States, the top-selling album of 1996 was Garth Brooks’ “Fresh Horses,” followed by Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View” and Mariah Carey’s “Daydream.” All three albums were massive commercial and critical successes, and they still hold up today as some of the best pop music of the 1990s.
Outside of the United States, 1996 was also a great year for pop music. In the United Kingdom, Oasis released their classic album “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?,” which went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time. In Australia, Powderfinger released their breakthrough album “Internationalist,” which has since gone on to become one of the most beloved albums in Australian history.
And those are just a few examples of the great pop music that came out in 1996. It truly was a banner year for the genre, with new classics being released all over the world. If you love pop music, then there’s no doubt that you hold 1996 near and dear to your heart.
The Best Pop Albums of 1996
Spice by Spice Girls
Spice by Spice Girls was released in November 1996 and quickly became a sensation, selling more than 31 million copies worldwide. It was the best-selling album of the year in the United Kingdom, and spawned four number one singles: “Wannabe,” “Say You’ll Be There,” “2 Become 1” and “Too Much.” In the United States, it was certified for 4 million shipments and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Album.
Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Jagged Little Pill was released on June 13, 1995, by Maverick Records. The album was produced by Glen Ballard and Morissette, and includes the hit singles “You Oughta Know”, “Hand in My Pocket”, and “Ironic”. A critical and commercial success, Jagged Little Pill won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and became the second-bestselling female album of all time after Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard.
Morissette wrote the songs with Ballard, who also produced Wellness Programmes the album, after she moved from Toronto to Los Angeles. Most of them were written while she was having an emotional breakdown due to what she later discovered as mercury poisoning. To record her parts during this difficult period, Morissette had to be heavily sedated in order to make it through takes; during one recording session where “You Oughta Know” was being recorded, she reportedly had a panic attack seconds before singing her vocal part.
The album’s tracks are a mix of heavy rock and acoustic balladsreflecting Morissette’s influences that included Joni Mitchell, Prince, Van Morrison and Nirvana.Jagged Little Pill established Morissette as an international star; before its release she had only been known in Canada. It peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 throughout much of 1996 remains the highest selling debut album by a female artist in America
Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt
Released on October 10, 1995, Tragic Kingdom is the third studio album by American rock band No Doubt. It was produced by Matthew Wilder and recorded at his studio in North Hollywood, California. The album was strongly influenced by ska punk and pop music of the 1980s.
Tragic Kingdom was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and selling over 16 million copies worldwide. It spawned several hit singles, including “Just a Girl”, “Spiderwebs”, and “Don’t Speak”. The album helped to launch the career of lead singer Gwen Stefani, who became one of the most successful female solo artists of the 2000s.
Crash by The Primitives
formed in Coventry, England in 1984. The band found immediate success with their debut single, ” Crash”, which reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in 1986. Since then, The Primitives have released five studio albums and a string of singles, the majority of which were written by PJ Harvey.
The Primitives’ musical style has been described as power pop, jangle pop, and neo-psychedelia. The band’s influences include 60s girl groups, The Ramones, Racoon, and Paul Weller.
The Primitives’ first album, Lovely (1987), was released to critical acclaim but did not achieve commercial success. The follow-up album Pure (1989) was their highest charting album, reaching number 24 on the UK Albums Chart. In 1992, The Primitives disbanded but reformed in 2002 and have continued to tour and release new music.
The Best Pop Songs of 1996
1996 was a great year for pop music. There were a lot of great songs that came out that year. Some of the best pop songs of 1996 include “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly, “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey, and “How Do I Live” by LeAnn Rimes.
“Wannabe” by Spice Girls
“Wannabe” is a song by the British girl group Spice Girls. The song was written by the group members with Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard during the group’s first professional songwriting session. It was produced by Rowe and Stannard at their studio in London, Stockholm and Los Angeles, and released on July 8, 1996, as the lead single from their debut album, Spice.
In January 1997, “Wannabe” topped the charts in more than 30 countries, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time with over six million copies sold worldwide. It was nominated for numerous awards including Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Best New Artist. The song is considered to be the group’s signature song and was a worldwide phenomenon which established them as a global brand.
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette
“You Oughta Know” is a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). Written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, the song is about the anger and resentment felt by a woman scorned by her lover.
The song was an instant success, topping the charts in several countries and becoming one of the most iconic songs of the 1990s. It remains one of Morissette’s most popular songs, and is often considered one of the greatest pop songs of all time.
“Don’t Speak” by No Doubt
Don’t Speak is a song by American rock band No Doubt. It was released in 1996 as the third single from the album Tragic Kingdom. The song was written by lead singer Gwen Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal, with production handled by Matthew Wilder. “Don’t Speak” entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number nine and spent 33 weeks on the chart, eventually peaking at number one in February 1997, giving the band their first and only chart-topping single in the U.S. to date. It remains one of the band’s most successful singles worldwide.
The song became a global hit, reaching number one in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart—held off the top spot by Robson & Jerome’s cover of “Unchained Melody”—and became 1996’s biggest-selling single not to reach number one. “Don’t Speak” was nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 1998 Grammy Awards; it won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1997. The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and subsequently won four MTV Video Music Awards: Best Alternative Video (1997), Breakthrough Video (1997), Best Direction (1998) and Viewer’s Choice (1997).
“Crash” by The Primitives
The Primitives’ “Crash” was one of the best pop songs of 1996. It was catchy, it was fun, and it had a great message. The song is about a relationship that’s on the rocks, and it’s full of irony and sarcasm. “Crash” was a huge hit in the UK, reaching #2 on the charts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 1996 was a fantastic year for pop music. There were so many great artists and songs that it is hard to choose just a few favorites. However, some of the stand-out tracks from 1996 include “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette, “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, and “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. These songs are still popular today and are sure to be remembered as classics of the 1990s.
