20 Songs From the '90's I Still Love So Much but Will NEVER Let My Kids Listen To
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I may be a little biased here because of my age, but the '90s were absolutely awesome, especially when it came to the music. I mean, how many iconic songs came out of that decade? Too many to count. New sounds and synthesizers were erupting like mad, and kids like me were captivated by their cool beats. A lot of the lyrics in these songs were pretty risqué, though, and honestly, I didn't notice how bad they were until I had kids of my own.
When I'm cleaning the house, I always have music playing on Google Home, because it makes housework more bearable, and I love to listen to songs from the '90s. Once in a while though, a song will come on that will make me panic and quickly shout, "Hey Google, skip," because it's way too inappropriate for my 6- and 9-year-old daughters to hear, even if I did jam out to it when I was a kid. My rule for music my kids are allowed to listen to is simple: if I don't want my kids singing along, I don't want them listening to it. Here are 20 songs from the '90s that I still love and listen to but only when my kids are far, far away.
"Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot
I know this is a '90s classic, and I'm pretty sure the DJ even played this at my wedding, but my daughters can do without knowing Sir Mix-a-Lot's preference on the size of a girl's butt.
“Sweat (A La La La La Long)” by Inner Circle
I still love this song so much! It's so fun and incredibly catchy, but once you get to the chorus, things get too "heated" for kids.
"That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson
I'm such a sucker for any Janet Jackson song, and I even had her self-titled album on repeat back in 1993, but good God, if I heard my daughters singing the lyrics to this song, I'd probably faint!
“Red Light Special” by TLC
"Red Light Special" is another '90s classic I love but would make me cringe if I heard my young daughters singing.
“Knockin Da Boots” by H-Town
No, sweetie. This is not a song about those sparkly pink cowgirl boots you wanted. Hey Google, skip!
“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails
No. No. No. OMG. For so many reasons, no.
"I Touch Myself" by Divinyls
Although I found it hilarious when Austin Powers defeated the fembots by shaking his booty to this song in 1997, little kids' ears should definitely be covered when this song comes on.
“Any Time, Any Place” by Janet Jackson
This is another great but steamy song by Janet Jackson from the '90s. Although I could definitely still see this in a love songs mixtape, it really shouldn't be heard by little ears.
“Stroke You Up” by Changing Faces
In the song, Changing Faces asks, "Do you mind if I stroke you up? Do you mind if I stroke you down?" You do what you want, but if I heard my daughters singing this sexually charged song, I'd probably have a stroke myself.
“Freak Like Me” by Adina Howard
When this song came out in 1995, I remember singing along to it when it would come on the radio. I also remember not knowing what it really meant to "be a freak until the day until the dawn." Hey Google, skip!
“Short Short Man” by Gillette
I admit this song is fun to sing along to, but it's a hard pass on letting my kids listen to it.
“Doin It” by LL Cool J
Nobody can resist LL Cool J's smooth voice. Nobody, except for a mom who's trying to shield her children from supersexual songs. (Sorry, LL! But you'll always be in my heart.)
“Pony” by Ginuwine
I can still remember when this song came out. I was in junior high school, and my friends and I would swoon every time we saw Ginuwine's remarkable abs. But my daughters can definitely wait a few years before they figure out what this one means.
"Da Dip" by Freak Nasty
Back in the day, this was "the song" for teens to get hot and heavy to out on the dance floor before chaperones broke them up. The group's name is Freak Nasty. That should be enough reason to not want your kids to listen to this song.
“Too Close” by Next
Nope. Nope. NOPE.
“Sock It 2 Me” by Missy Elliott and Da Brat
This music video was so fun and entertaining, but the lyrics — not so much if little ears are listening.
“Anywhere” by 112
This is another '90s song that I loved back in the day and still love but is definitely not kid appropriate.
"Thong Song" by Sisqó
Man, this song was catchy! As fun as it is to sing and dance to though, my daughters don't need to hear it for many years.
“The Bad Touch” by Bloodhound Gang
I don't know what happened to these guys, but this song was hilarious. The lyrics were funny and clever, but again, it's just not kid-appropriate.
"I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd
Just the beginning of this song fills me with so much nostalgia, but I won't play it around my kids for obvious reasons. GOOGLE, SKIP!