5,000-Step I Love the ’90s Walking Playlist
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, we’ll get a small percentage at no extra cost to you.
For the last couple of weeks, we’ve been getting hints that spring is coming—and I couldn’t be more excited. Spring means sunshine. It means long outdoor walks without freezing or sweating to death. It means flowers (and, yes, the allergies that come with it). It means adorable little speckled fawns exploring the trail with their mamas.
To celebrate the coming of spring, I’ve got a new playlist! This time, I decided to put together a collection of fun hits from the ‘90s—and the more I worked on this list, the more excited I became (so I’m pretty sure you can expect an I Love the ‘90s: Part Two playlist at some point down the road).
So lace up those outdoor walking shoes, and get ready to dance your way through today’s playlist!
A little more about the playlist:
I’ve included a number of different ways to listen. I’ve got YouTube videos posted below. If you want to download the MP3, I’ve also got links to find them on Amazon. Or you can listen to the whole thing by playing the Spotify playlist.
For each song in this playlist, I’ve listed the beats per minute, the pace (in minutes per mile) that you’ll be walking if you’re walking to the beat, and the number of steps that you’ll take during the song if you keep up that pace. We’ll start with an easy pace and work our way up, finishing with a cool-down. The songs here eventually build up to a pretty brisk pace, but take it at a pace that works for you—whether that means moving faster or slower. You’re totally allowed to dance and sing your way through this playlist, too (in fact, it’s almost guaranteed). If you follow the pace of each song, you’ll be over 5,000 steps (or around 2.5 miles) by the time you reach the end. If you’re looking for more steps, feel free to play it again—or move on to another one of my playlists. You can find them all on the Playlists page.
1) “No Scrubs” by TLC
If you were in your teens or 20s during the ‘90s, there’s a very good chance that you know this song very well. It’s a great way to start out walk for today—and also a valuable reminder to stay away from the guy who’s hanging out the passenger side of his best friend’s ride, tryin’ to holler at you.
Find it on Amazon
Beats per Minute: 93
Pace: 21:30
Steps: 332
2) “Tubthumping” – Chumbawamba
Sure, there may be a whole part of this song that’s dedicated to just throwing back a little bit of everything behind the bar—which, admittedly, is something that I was more capable of doing back in the ‘90s. But, to me, this song will always be more of a fight song: “We’ll be singing, when we’re winning.” And also a motivational song: “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re not ever gonna keep me down.” And every time I hear it, it makes me want to shout up the chorus and keep fighting through whatever I’m dealing with.
Beats per Minute: 101
Pace: 19:48
Steps: 470
3) “The Power” – SNAP!
Speaking of motivational songs, how about someone yelling “I’VE GOT THE POWER” through this next song on our playlist? This one always takes me back to sweaty nights out dancing with my friends—so while the pace of this one may not be all that fast, there’s a good chance that it’ll get your heart pumping while you dance your way down the trail.
Beats per Minute: 109
Pace: 18:21
Steps: 625
4) “I’ve Been Thinking About You” – Londonbeat
I can pretty much guarantee that somewhere, in the boxes of old junk that my mom has somewhere in storage, there is a Memorex cassette tape (you know…one of the ones with the colorful design on the case) with a recording of this song from our local radio station. And that alone makes it worthy of this playlist. Shi-pow-pow!
Beats per Minute: 114
Pace: 17:33
Steps: 437
5) “Vogue” – Madonna
We’re sticking around in the year 1990 for this pop classic from the Material Girl. You know you want to Vogue your way through this one. Sure, the other people on the trail might give you funny looks. But it’s worth it, isn’t it?
Beats per Minute: 116
Pace: 17:14
Steps: 613
6) “Show Me Love” – Robin S
A while back, I heard this song on my local ‘70s/’80s/’90s station, and it instantly took me back. I’d forgotten all about this song, but I was excited to hear it again—and to add it to our ‘90s playlist, so I could keep enjoying it over and over again.
Beats per Minute: 120
Pace: 16:40
Steps: 504
7) “I’m Too Sexy” – Right Said Fred
Not long ago, I introduced my daughter to this ‘90s classic, and she thought it was absolutely, hilariously insane. And she’s right. But that’s probably why I still love it so much. Be sure to strut your stuff to this song (and, if you’re feeling especially cheeky, feel free to do a little turn and shake your little tush) while you’re walking!
Beats per Minute: 122
Pace: 16:24
Steps: 346
8) “2 Legit 2 Quit” – MC Hammer
Okay…so we’re about a half hour into our walk, and no matter how awesome the music may be, you might be feeling tired. Maybe you’re ready to call it a day. But listen to Hammer—you’re way 2 legit 2 quit right now. Keep moving!
Beats per Minute: 125
Pace: 16:00
Steps: 696
9) “Song 2” – Blur
We’re nearing the top speed of today’s walk—but if this song doesn’t get you moving, I don’t know if anyone will. If you need a little extra help, you can yell out a “woooo-hoooo!” every once in a while. Even if you don’t need the extra help, woo-hoo away. You’ve earned it.
Beats per Minute: 130
Pace: 15:23
Steps: 264
10) “Friday I’m in Love” – The Cure
It doesn’t have to be Friday for you to rock out to this bouncy ‘90s hit by The Cure. It’s so bouncy, in fact, that you might not even notice that we’ve reached the top pace for today’s walk!
Beats per Minute: 136
Pace: 14:42
Steps: 485
11) “Give It Away” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
To quote Blur, WOO-HOO! We made it to our cool-down track! I would say that it wouldn’t be a ‘90s playlist without the Chili Peppers, but these guys have been going strong for every decade since the ‘80s.
Fun fact: Anthony Kiedis’s dad, Blackie, was a regular at my favorite club (during the ‘90s, of course).
Beats per Minute: 92
Pace: 21:44
Steps: 434
Total Time for Today’s Workout: 45:59
Total Steps: 5,206
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of today’s walk! I don’t know about you, but it’s brought back so many great memories for me—and it put a little extra spring in my step.
If you’ve kept up with the beat, you’ve already gotten more than 5,000 steps. That’s more than 2.5 miles! Way to go! But if you want to keep going, feel free to replay the playlist (or jump to another one)
Do you have any favorite songs from this playlist? And do you have any other ‘90s favorites? Share your favorites, and I might just add them to our next ‘90s playlist!
