Published July 24, 2019 12:59PM
The Ultimate 1990s Running Playlist
A little Pearl Jam. A dash of Nirvana. The Cranberries. No Doubt? This running playlist has all the hits of the 90s to stoke nostalgia.
PHOTO: Shutterstock The '90s running playlist isn't all grunge, but it is nostalgic.
The ’90s were so much more than grunge, though who among us didn’t enjoy a decade in which oversized flannel shirts, pegged jeans, and boots were appropriate attire for nearly any occasion? While acts like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden cast long shadows—even today—they’re just a tip of a musical iceberg. So, we’ve set out to collect some of the decade’s best running playlist songs from a range of rockers.
The list kicks off with a track from a trio best known as rappers and ends with an aptly titled cool-down song. In the middle, you’ve got ethereal rock from The Cranberries and a singalong anthem from Third Eye Blind. You’ll also find veteran rockers like AC/DC and Tom Petty.
In short, the ’90s was a decade dominated by rock—as exemplified by the moment when Nirvana’s “Nevermind” unseated Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” atop the Billboard album chart. Having said that, it wasn’t dominated by a single kind of rock. So, when you’re ready for a run (and feeling nostalgic), consider the up-tempo, but varied, running playlist selections below.
Beastie Boys – Sabotage – 83 BPM
Gin Blossoms – Hey Jealousy – 152 BPM
AC/DC – Thunderstruck – 133 BPM
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit – 119 BPM
Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life – 102 BPM
No Doubt – Just A Girl – 108 BPM
The Cranberries – Dreams – 128 BPM
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Learning To Fly – 117 BPM
The Cure – Friday I’m in Love – 135 BPM
To find more songs for your running playlist, check out the free database at Run Hundred. Browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era to find the music that best fits your workout.