Latoya inspired me to think about the hip-hop and R&B girl groups that were around when I was younger. Then I went out to have a couple of drinks and ended up in a karaoke bar with friends watching people revive classic songs from that era–the late 80s and early 90s. I’d already had one song in my head–one I mentioned in Latoya’s thread over there, and a little YouTubing brought me to all the gems I’m sharing below.

Somewhere in the 90s popular music died. I haven’t heard a decent song on a major radio station in ages. We traded TLC and Salt N Pepa for Britney and Christina (though Christina, bless her, does try), and Pearl Jam and Nirvana for the Backstreet Boys.

But these women, these smart, sexy, sassy women, taught me some of the best lessons I could ever need. Read below–with video.

En Vogue-My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It)

This song was the best F-you to nasty teenage boys I can think of.

“Maybe next time you’ll give your woman a little respect
So you won’t be hearing her say, ‘No way’”

En Vogue-Free Your Mind

“I wear tight clothing/high-heeled shoes/that doesn’t mean that I’m a prostitute.”

Damn straight.

TLC-Unpretty

” Never insecure until I met you/Now I’m in stupid
I used to be so cute to me/Just a little bit skinny
Why do I look to all these things/To keep you happy
Maybe get rid of you/And then I’ll get back to me”

TLC-No Scrubs

Ahh, who needs those boys? I know this sounds…dare I say it…mercenary. But don’t we all need a reminder not to settle every once in a while?

Salt N Pepa-None Of Your Business

“How many rules am I to break before you understand
That your double-standards don’t mean shit to me?”

“None of your business” indeed. So much for policing other women’s sexual behavior. Don’t bother, because they don’t care.

Salt N Pepa-Shoop

One of the best songs about female desire I can think of, really. Salt N Pepa knew what they wanted and went to get it.

Salt N Pepa-Let’s Talk About Sex

“Let’s tell it how it is, and how it could be
How it was, and of course, how it should be
Those who think it’s dirty have a choice
Pick up the needle, press pause, or turn the radio off”

Before the days of abstinence-only education, they knew what to do and what to say.