This week, my guest curator is Zack Derby, co-host of Neatcast, and together we’re curating a mixtape filled with our favorite ’90s guilty pleasure songs. These are the tracks that once ruled radio, MTV, movie soundtracks, and CD collections — even if time, trends, or music snobbery have tried to reframe them as punchlines.

Much like the 80’s Guilty Pleasures  episode, it’s worth noting upfront that neither of us feels an ounce of actual guilt about these picks. “Guilty pleasures” is simply the most familiar shorthand for songs that others seem to hate, but you love anyway. From glossy pop hits and one-hit wonders to overplayed anthems and genre-blurring oddities, this playlist proudly embraces the ’90s songs that never truly went away.

Whether you grew up hearing these songs on the radio, saw them in heavy rotation on MTV, or are rediscovering them years later, this episode is a full-on nostalgia trip — and a reminder that loving a song doesn’t require critical approval. These ’90s guilty pleasures still hit, no apologies required.

🎙️ Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform—and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review to help more music fans find the show! Then, scroll down to hear all of the songs discussed in this episode. 👇

Butthole Surfers – Pepper

Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Haddaway – What Is Love?

Aqua – Barbie Girl

Will Smith – Wild Wild West

Kriss Kross – Jump

Scatman John – Scatman

Tom Green – Lonely Swedish (The Bum Bum Song)

Michael Jackson – Black Or White

Hanson – MMMbop

Metallica – Fuel

Gin Blossoms – Found Out About You

Sugar Ray – Every Morning

Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do

4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?

Hootie & The Blowfish – Only Wanna Be With You

Limp Bizkit – Faith

Meredith Brooks – Bitch

Creed – Higher

Spice Girls – Wannabe