Lilith Fair wasn’t exactly a genre, but a celebration of female artists in the late 1990s. Discouraged by radio programmers and concert promoters who didn’t think it was commercially viable to have two female artists perform back to back, Sarah McLachlan launched the Lilith Fair festival in the summer of 1997. The concept was to feature only female artists or female-led bands. More than 30 dates featured over 70 performers. The festival was successful enough to spawn follow-ups in 1998 and 1999.
This list was generated by taking all those artists who performed from 1997 to 1999 and ranking their songs. It should be noted that songs by 10,000 Maniacs and ‘Til Tuesday have been included in this list even though they weren’t performers. That’s because their lead singers, Natalie Merchant and Aimee Mann respectively, were performers at Lilith Fair.
Some performers were excluded from this list. Lilith Fair embraced a wide swath of genres but this list is focused on artists who fall into the alternative rock/folk rock vein. As such, acts more typically defined as R&B, rap, country, or pop were excluded. However, artists who did not perform at Lilith Fair (Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge, etc.) have been included because they fit the alternative rock/folk rock label. They are noted with an asterisk (*).
An effort was also made to define the “Lilith Fair” genre as covering a certain era, specifically from the mid-‘80s to the late ‘90s. That means songs before 1985 and after 1999 were excluded. Similarly, artists (such as the Pretenders or Pat Benatar) who performed at Lilith Fair but emerged prior to 1985 have been excluded.
Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.
Spotify Podcast:
Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Lilith Fair: The 25th Anniversary which references songs on this list. Premiere: September 6, 2022 at 7pm CST. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST.
DMDB Top 1%:
1. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
2. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1996) *
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995) *
4. Tracy Chapman “Fast Car” (1988)
5. Alanis Morissette “Ironic” (1995) *
6. Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (1993)
DMDB Top 2%:
7. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories “Stay (I Missed You)” (1994)
8. Jewel “You Were Meant for Me” (1995)
9. The Cranberries “Zombie” (1994) *
10. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987)
11. Tracy Chapman “Give Me One Reason” (1995)
12. Shawn Colvin “Sunny Came Home” (1996)
13. Alanis Morissette “You Learn” (1995) *
14. Joan Osborne “One of Us” (1995)
15. Jewel “Foolish Games” (1995)
16. Sixpence None the Richer “Kiss Me” (1998)
DMDB Top 5%:
17. Sarah McLachlan “Building a Mystery” (1997)
18. Bonnie Raitt “Something to Talk About” (1991)
19. Dido “Thank You” (1999)
20. K.d. lang “Constant Craving” (1992) *
21. Alanis Morissette “Head Over Feet” (1995) *
22. 4 Non Blondes “What’s Up?” (1993) *
23. The Cranberries “Linger” (1993) *
24. The Breeders “Cannonball” (1993) *
25. The Cardigans “Lovefool” (1996)
26. Alanis Morissette “Uninvited” (1998) *
27. Meredith Brooks “Bitch” (1997)
28. Bonnie Raitt “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (1991)
29. Tori Amos “Cornflake Girl” (1994) *
30. Sinéad O’Connor “Mandinka” (1987)
31. Indigo Girls “Closer to Fine” (1989)
32. Sheryl Crow “If It Makes You Happy” (1996)
33. Sarah McLachlan “Angel” (1997)
34. Alanis Morissette “Hand in My Pocket” (1995) *
35. Tori Amos “Silent All These Years” (1991) *
36. Sheryl Crow “Everyday Is a Winding Road” (1996)
37. Sheryl Crow “My Favorite Mistake” (1998)
38. Paula Cole “I Don’t Want to Wait” (1996)
39. Sheryl Crow “Strong Enough” (1993)
40. Bonnie Raitt “Love Sneakin’ Up on You” (1994)
41. Sinéad O’Connor “Troy” (1987)
42. Jewel “Who Will Save Your Soul” (1995)
43. Tori Amos “God” (1994) *
44. Tracy Chapman “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution” (1988)
45. The Cranberries “Dreams” (1992) *
46. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians “What I Am” (1988) *
47. Alanis Morissette “Thank U” (1998) *
48. Paula Cole “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” (1996)
49. ‘Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” (1985)
50. Sinéad O’Connor “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (1990)
51. Fiona Apple “Criminal” (1996)
52. No Doubt “Just a Girl” (1995) *
53. Sarah McLachlan “I Will Remember You” (1995)
54. Tori Amos “Crucify” (1992) *
55. K’s Choice “Not an Addict” (1996)
56. Garbage “Only Happy When It Rains” (1995) *
57. Sheryl Crow “A Change Would Do You Good” (1996)
58. Garbage “Stupid Girl” (1995) *
59. Suzanne Vega with DNA “Tom’s Diner” (1990)
60. Bonnie Raitt “Nick of Time” (1989)
DMDB Top 10%:
61. Melissa Etheridge “I’m the Only One” (1993) *
62. Tori Amos “Me and a Gun” (1991) *
63. Sarah McLachlan “Possession” (1993)
64. Mary Chapin Carpenter “Passionate Kisses” (1992)
65. Tori Amos “Spark” (1998) *
66. Tori Amos “Caught a Lite Sneeze” (1996) *
67. Sheryl Crow “Can’t Cry Anymore” (1993)
68. Natalie Merchant “Wonder” (1995)
69. 10,000 Maniacs “Like the Weather” (1987)
70. Billie Myers “Kiss the Rain” (1997)
71. Sheryl Crow “Leaving Las Vegas” (1993)
72. Tori Amos “Winter” (1992) *
73. Shawn Colvin “I Don’t Know Why” (1992)
74. Cowboy Junkies “Sweet Jane” (1988)
75. Melissa Etheridge “Come to My Window” (1993) *
76. Melissa Etheridge “Bring Me Some Water” (1988) *
77. Indigo Girls “Galileo” (1992)
78. Natalie Merchant “Carnival” (1995)
79. Melissa Etheridge “Like the Way I Do” (1988) *
80. Tracy Bonham “Mother Mother” (1996)
81. Tori Amos “Professional Widow” (1996) *
82. Tracy Chapman “Crossroads” (1989)
83. No Doubt “Spiderwebs” (1995) *
84. Sheryl Crow “Anything But Down” (1998)
85. Tracy Chapman “Baby Can I Hold You” (1988)
86. Natalie Merchant “Kind and Generous” (1998)
87. 10,000 Maniacs “These Are Days” (1992)
88. Sarah McLachlan “Sweet Surrender” (1997)
89. 10,000 Maniacs “What’s the Matter Here?” (1987)
90. Sarah McLachlan “Adia” (1997)
91. Heather Nova “Walk This World” (1995)
92. Toni Childs “Don’t Walk Away” (1988)
93. Fiona Apple “Fast As You Can” (1999)
94. Letters to Cleo “Here and Now” (1995)
95. Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye” (1996)
96. Suzanne Vega with Joe Jackson “Left of Center” (1986)
97. Dido “Here with Me” (1999)
98. 10,000 Maniacs “Trouble Me” (1989)
99. Fiona Apple “Shadowboxer” (1996)
100. Lone Justice “Ways to Be Wicked” (1985) *
Resources/Related Links:
First posted 6/24/2022; last updated 12/2/2024. | 
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