The best Spanish bands from the 90s and their greatest hits

This selection of best Spanish bands from the 90s is more about the number of remembered and celebrated hits throughout the decade than based on our personal taste. That doesn’t mean we don’t like them. If that were the case, it would be hard for us to feature them prominently on the list. But what it does mean is that, in an exercise of complete honesty, not all those we showcase are, nor are all those who are.

On the other hand, it’s worth noting that our selection does not include music duos. So, if you’re expecting to find 90s Spanish singers like the duo Ella Baila Sola, Amaral, Navajita Plateá, Tam Tam Go, or even Cómplices, you might be disappointed by the result. In any case, we believe you’ll enjoy it, especially if you’re a fan of Spanish music.

That’s why we invite you to subscribe to the Spotify playlist with over 100 songs from Spanish bands of the 90s. Special mention goes to the Spanish-Argentinian band Los Rodríguez, pioneers of 90s Latin rock before Maná, Jarabe de Palo, or Los Suaves. As for 90s indie music, we also haven’t forgotten Los Planetas, El Niño Gusano, Lagartija Nick, or Los Fresones Rebeldes.

We also haven’t forgotten English-speaking bands like Dover, Sexy Sadie, or Australian Blonde. Those that emerged in the late years of the decade, like La Oreja de Van Gogh, Astrud, Café Quijano, or Estopa. And, of course, there’s a place in our hearts for the country’s tougher acts; people like Soziedad Alkohólika, La Polla Records, Reincidentes, Ska-P, or Siniestro Total. Many of them with a career spanning more than two decades.

Selection of Spanish bands from the 90s

To begin, before we delve deeper into the selection of Spanish bands from the 90s and their greatest hits, here’s the promised playlist with a total of 117 songs ranging from 1990 to 1999. From Celtas Cortos, in chronological and alphabetical order, to Los Piratas to close out the entire decade.

In case you miss any other names that you believe deserve to be on this playlist, please don’t hesitate to write in the comments of this post, indicating which group it is. This way, together we’ll be able to expand the playlist and make it as comprehensive as possible. Between pop and rock, there’s also room for other genres that allow us to learn even more about what this decade meant for all of us.

Next, we present you with the most significant artists for many during these years. Some for what they represented during the first half of the decade (even though they already had many hits in the 80s), others for what they achieved in the second half, and the rest for consistently remaining among the best sellers.

Los Piratas

While for many, the most well-known song by Los Piratas is “Años 80,” from the album Ultrasónica (2001), the truth is that their discography dates back to 1993, with titles like “Quiero Hacerte Gritar.” In that 8-year interval, the band led by Spanish singer-songwriter Iván Ferreiro gifted us with sounds different from what we were accustomed to in Spanish music, as we can see in “Promesas Que No Valen Nada,” “El Mundo De Wayne,” “Mi Coco,” “M,” “Mi Matadero Clandestino,” “Te Echaré De Menos” (alongside Sole Giménez of Presuntos Implicados), or their version of “My Way,” the 1969 classic.

Celtas Cortos

We start with Celtas Cortos, whose main hits included “La Senda Del Tiempo,” “Tranquilo Majete,” “El Emigrante,” “Cuéntame Un Cuento,” and “20 De Abril.” This last one was virtually elevated to an anthem from the moment it was released in 1991 and, even today, becomes a trending topic on Twitter every April 20th.

Although they would continue working and releasing new albums in the 2000s, their greatest impact occurred in the 90s with songs that have remained in the memory of all music lovers, becoming references in the realm of festival music and the closing songs of clubs.

Héroes del Silencio

The Aragonese band Héroes del Silencio, led by Enrique Bunbury, was undoubtedly one of the most representative of the 90s in Spain, with great albums full of potential hits right from their composition. This is evident by just mentioning a few tracks: “Maldito Duende,” “Entre Dos Tierras,” “Hechizo,” “La Herida,” “La Chispa Adecuada,” “Iberia Sumergida,” or “Avalancha.”

Seguridad Social

The case of Seguridad Social is particularly striking. Undoubtedly, they are one of the Spanish bands from the 90s with the greatest ability to blend genres and move from one to another without losing their personality or intensity. From the ska of “Comerranas” to the classic touches of “Mi Rumba Tarumba,” and even the closing bars.

Extremoduro

We’ve already said almost everything about Extremoduro. From being one of famous spanish groups in history to the fact that Robe’s solo career seems logical and fitting. However, this natural progression doesn’t take away the fact that we miss lyrics and compositions like those found in “Quemando Tus Recuerdos,” “So Payaso,” “Ama, Ama Y Ensancha El Alma,” “Bribribliblibli (En El Más Sucio Rincón De Mi Negro Corazón),” “Pepe Botika,” “Salir,” or “Golfa.”

La Polla Records

When talking about Spanish bands from the 80s and 90s, La Polla Records led by Evaristo Páramos (who continued rocking with Gatillazo in the 2010s) is one of the first to come to mind. Despite not being the darlings of many due to their punk assertions, we can’t deny their significance in this country’s rock scene and the influence they’ve had on subsequent and contemporary bands. Evidence of this in the 90s, though it might seem more anecdotal, are “Ellos Dicen Mierda,” from 1990, “El Ojo Te Ve,” from 1994, “Carne Para La Picadora,” from 1996, or “Ya No Quiero Ser Yo,” from 1999.