1997's Biggest Songs, 20 Years Later

Somehow, 1997 was 20 years ago. I know; it's shocking.

As I brainstormed what I'd write about in my year-end music column this time around, I had an idea to do a retrospective instead on focusing on ::shudders:: 2017. No new band really captured me the way two did last year. And while I consumed a record number of new albums this year - 47 - short of writing a full-length review on what might be my favorite (should I do that? Maybe I should do that), I didn't feel the need to go into it all. I thought instead of my love for music in general, and where or when it came from. It may have began in 1995 or '96, but I'd say it largely started in earnest in 1997. So join me as we travel back in time and check out how the top songs from two decades ago made an impact on me then and how they hold up today (or don't).

For this exercise, I'm only examining songs that ended up on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles list. And without further ado, I'm going to begin - in order of highest chart-topper to lowest.

3. Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 - "I'll Be Missing You"

I didn't know who The Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie was. I didn't know he was married to Faith Evans. I had no idea the music was taken from a band called The Police. (What a weird name for a band, by the way.) I had no idea 112 was even a part of this song until just now. It's as confusing as peaches and cream. Know what I mean?

What I did know was that the song was a tribute to a man who passed away too early, there was a motorcycle crash in the video - at the time I wondered if that's how the person they were singing about had died - and that Puff Daddy was probably the biggest entertainer alive. And guess what? He somehow still is. But this song cuts to the heart: "Give anything to hear half your breath," raps Daddy/Diddy. Evans' vocals are impassioned and striking with the lower harmony laid beneath it.

One other thing I'll say about this is that "featuring" was a big thing to me at the time. Will Smith's Big Willie Style (woo! ha ha) didn't come out until late November of this year, so "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" (ugh, that spelling) didn't make the year-end list until 1998 (#14). But by the time Willennium (ugh, that name) dropped two years later, it was so exciting to see who else would be on his record, especially if you knew them. Today, I'm not so into collaborations when it comes to music. Yes, of course there are good ones, but I like to see bands and solo rappers do their own work and take it home themselves.

6. R. Kelly - "I Believe I Can Fly"

Space Jam was the best movie and there is NO WAY IT ONLY HAS A 38% SCORE ON ROTTEN TOMATOES. It is a cinematic achievement the likes of which we haven't seen since. The Looney Tunes were in it, Muggsy Bogues was in it, Newman was in it ... the movie had it all.

Oh, right, the song. This was a nice sentimental song that made me believe in myself, that I could do anything I set my mind to, that I wasn't a loser, that - just kidding! What I remember most about this song are the dumb parodies other kids made up from it. I don't know who came up with them or where they came from. I can't even remember any specifically, but I know they existed... something about being caught by the FBI, I wanna say.

9. LeAnn Rimes "How Do I Live"

::Goosebumps::

I don't have too much to say about this, but I do remember this song. I remember her voice being impressive, the key changes, all of the "How do I?"s... I remember thinking that she must be one of the most famous singers in her genre, since when you become aware of a hit song when you're little, you think the artist is probably a pretty widely-regarded big deal and unquestionably talented - even if you're kind of questioning that second part. This was not always the case. The sentiment of this song is very overwhelming for an 8-year-old. But doesn't it sound like she's singing "How do I leave?" instead of "How do I live?" so that she can rhyme it with "breathe?" Yes. Yes, it does.

11. Backstreet Boys - "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)"

It was you or your friend's first album (though not mine): Their eponymous American debut - though not their official debut, since a version of the album was already out internationally in 1996 by the time this was released in 1997. The Backstreet Boys were THE #1 group in my childhood. They had the most hit songs, they were on TRL all the time and they were utterly inescapable. I knew all of their songs, and even though it's easy to hear now, I kind of knew back at that age that they were creating pop perfection. I don't have much to say about this specific song in relation to the rest of their catalog, but these guys were the absolute kings. Also, they look ridiculous in this video, and it's kind of uncomfortable to watch.

12. Hanson - "MMMBop"

Oy. This song was so annoying that my cousins and I made a video game where the plot was to kill Hanson. (Yikes.) I wish I could link to that here, but I don't think it exists anymore.

The song was ubiquitous and, it turns out, quite prescient based on its lyrics. If you listen to the real words closely, it's about holding on to the relationships that mean most in your life, because most will fade away. Not that you knew what they were singing about then... All you heard was the "mmmbop" and other guttural noises that led you to argue with others exactly how it all sounded or would be spelled out.

But, also, Hanson were kids when they made this - the youngest of them was 11! Why was I in school and they were doing this? What did they know? Well, turns out they knew (or guessed correctly) a lot. Somehow they still have a thriving career today, having released their latest album (a Christmas one) just this year. It doesn't have its own Wikipedia page, though, so they're not that popular anymore... I do think they can now afford haircuts, though.

14. Usher - "You Make Me Wanna..."

By and large Usher's first real breakthrough hit, this put the R&B star on the map. He had a voice with the bravado and a look to match. It's no surprise that he went on to have a gigantic career, with ubiquitous hits that while at first stayed in the R&B lane, later ended up being as annoying as they were party-starting. What's kind of surprising is that I somehow still remember where all of his background vocals come in during this song. That, my friends, is the mark of a song with staying power. Do you know anybody else whose name is Usher?

15. Meredith Brooks - "Bitch"

Wait, this is NOT Alanis Morissette?? I honestly don't know if I'd ever heard this song in full until I went back and listened to it now, since the verses definitely don't sound Morissette-esque. Let's face it: you only know the chorus, which does - and that's where the confusion stems from. Brooks' voice and lyrics there sound just like something Morissette would sing, because who is Meredith Brooks? She's not popular. Morissette is.

Anyway, my fondest thought of this song is strictly the first line of the chorus - the only words I really know - and then the, um, unsavory words we'd add on to it since we didn't know the real ones... Let's see, what does YouTube have queued up for me next? Oh.

17. Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life"

There's so much to say about this one. First of all, this is the only band I still genuinely like today from this era. And this is their debut single! The simple but nasty three-chord progression, the "doo-doo-doos," that wild breakdown past the midpoint... Even the drum opening is still intoxicating - and listen for how much they pop at the song's conclusion.

I think what helps make this song interesting is lead singer/guitarist Stephan Jenkins' (now-signature) sing-rapping on the verses leading into the more open chorus, with a lyric that anyone could relate to. If you could follow along with the lyrics, you'd learn it's about drug abuse, but - like the topic of the song itself - the music keeps things shiny and upbeat, masking the demons hidden within.

The band's self-titled debut was a massive hit, and though they're honestly still consistent today, they never reached the delirious heights that they set for themselves with 5 smash singles from this album, starting in 1997. Third Eye Blind is one of the first albums I ever got, and when I hear this I think back to when I didn't know what the words meant. I am on vacation with my family. I am at the beach. I am laying on a chair at the pool. Z100 plays music I like and I am a happy child.

20. The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase - "Mo Money Mo Problems"

What did I say? Puff Daddy is the king. Of course Biggie passed away before this video was made, but his verse is one of the more memorable parts of the track. In fact, let's rank the most memorable parts of this song:

1. The music video. The jumpsuits! The fish eye lens! The space theme with golf match mixed in! The color!

2. Genius is telling me the hook is sung by Kelly Price. (?) Here's how it's always sounded to me: "I'm on hung yova, but they want from me, so now you got... the MORE MONEY WE COME ACROSS, THE MORE PROBLEMS WE SEE." Yeah, I know the words. (I can't believe I just learned what the hook actually is in full, 20 years later.)

3. Why am I so stupid and just now realizing this song is sampling "I'm Coming Out"? They did a good job of chopping that up so young'ns like myself wouldn't recognize it was actually from an older famous song.

4. Ma$e. I thought he was a huge star because of this song, but he largely disappeared afterward to become a pastor ... though he's resurfaced recently.

5. "Duty." Heheh.

6. "Ten years from now we'll still be on top."

7. "Like down in Times Square... yeah, yeah, yeah."

8. I always thought he was saying "B I G P O P P N." But I realize now that that N must be an A. Max.

9. "Jig on the cover of Fortune."

10. The places where the expletives are blocked out make for funny stops in the song.

Rap collaborations happen all the time now, but they don't feel as big-time as this one did lo those years ago. (Probably 'cause I was 8! Yuk yuk.) Really, this is a fun song that pays tribute to Biggie's passing - though the title of the song is not true, in my experience. 😉

21. The Verve Pipe - "The Freshmen"

What is this? I just remember hearing this song and immediately doing my own impressions, making fun of the way this guy sounded. Who says the word "freshmen" like that? It sounds like he's adding five syllables to the word. This song was so downcast and mopey, like a small-scale version of "Glycerine." I'm sorry for whatever depressing thing happened that led to this song, and though the passion is felt, it's an easy song to mock. Their lead singer joins the ranks of frontmen who have the ridiculous penchant to sing words like "die/never/love/life" like "dah/nevah/lahv/lahf."

Looking them up now - they make children's music! What is a verve pipe, anyway?

23. Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre - "No Diggity"

Great song. Mmhmmmm. I love the harmonies, the singing is nice and the seductive track has a dirty, winking vibe to it. This is definitely one of the songs on this list that could have come out this year and have been just as popular.

Play on, play on.

10/29/35. Spice Girls - "Wannabe" / "Say You'll Be There" / "2 Become 1"

The Spice Girls were gigantic, the girls in my grade's equivalent to us boys' Backstreet Boys ... except the boys didn't listen to the Backstreet Boys. Well, not on purpose; they were inescapable, as were the Girls. But the Girls were sought after by the girls and looked up to with each track play.

They had three songs end up in the top half of the year-end list. "Say You'll Be There" and "2 Become 1" were more slow ballad-types, whereas "Wannabe" was more or less their fun, upbeat mission statement. They could play both sides and they were all cool - in their own ways. Whereas we, the audience, gave names to the Backstreet Boys (the hot one, the nice one, etc.), the Spice Girls arrived with their own personas already intact. They were catchy. They were stars.

55/60. Sheryl Crow - "If It Makes You Happy" / "Everyday Is a Winding Road"

I've never heard a full Sheryl Crow album, but I know all of her hit singles over the years - and she's had a bunch. I can't sing the verses, but the choruses are still ingrained in my brain. I don't have more to say about her here; she wrote catchy tunes that seemed imbued with truth and honesty.

65. White Town - "Your Woman"

I didn't know this was a song until 2003, when my counselor played it for our bunk and it ended up on our mix CD at the end of the summer. It's so weird. Is a man singing? Who is he singing to, that he could never be your girl/woman? It's bizarre, but it works in a very 1997 type of way.

>> FAST FORWARD >>

I read more about the song's origin and fruition here, so click on to read about the Marxist who wrote this song as a comeback to a song recorded 70 years prior! This is a weird - but good - one. I kind of even like the sample (the horn part) more than the actual song. It has a "na na na na poo poo"/"We Are the Champions" kind of feel to it at full speed, and kind of a defeated tone when it gets slurred at the end.

69. Chumbawamba - "Tubthumping"

I GET KNOCKED DOWN

BUT I GET UP AGAIN

YOU'RE NEVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN

I am so *hype* right now! This song is going to endure forever due to its fierce rallying cry, despite its odd name and the band that birthed it.

What does Chumbawamba mean? I don't think anyone knows. What does "Tubthumping" mean? That actually has an answer. It means making your opinions known loudly, in a possibly violent way. See, innocuous as they might sound, the band was actually known for being anarchist... whether the Brits wanted to overthrow all government or simply rail against capitalism and consumerism, I haven't listened to them enough to really know - but they certainly had an agenda. Yet this drinking song anthem, with its strange, memorable video and its bizarre lounge-style verses (pissing the night away, anyone?) somehow built the song up enough to crush in the chorus.

When I hear this song, VH1 is still playing music videos constantly. I am watching Top 10 Countdown with Roshumba Williams and I don't care that I've already heard this song today; I get a rush when it starts to play. Chumbawamba may not be singing anymore since they disbanded in 2012, but they're winning; we're all still singing this.

79. Seal - "Fly Like an Eagle"

Whoa, we have our second song from the Space Jam Soundtrack on this list! And the second song on this list from the Space Jam Soundtrack with the word "Fly" in its title. Michael Jordan is just that powerful.

This song, of course, is Seal's re-imagining of the Steve Miller Band hit from 20 years earlier. When you first learn of Seal, especially as a kid, you can't help but notice his appearance/facial features. So, since this time, Seal has remained a mythical figure in my mind due to the way he looks, his odd moniker (in my opinion) and his striking album covers.

82. Los del Río - "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)"

If you're thinking 82 sounds low for this song, it's because it was #1 IN 1996 AND STILL ON THIS LIST A YEAR LATER. This song, short of the Backstreet Boys' ubiquity and Will Smith's coolness, was probably the biggest thing happening in music during this era. Which is just bizarre. We see this from time to time when odd songs from other places become huge hits here, but this was the biggest. I have memories of having to do this dance at school functions, bar mitzvahs and on and on. Everybody and their grandmother was doing the Macarena. When you finally figured out the correct motions in the correct order, you had really accomplished something. Haven't done it in a while? Try it out; like riding a bicycle or shaking a lulav, your arms and hands still know exactly where to go.

I think what makes this song so popular is its universality. If you watch the video, you'll see different nationalities and skin colors represented. The song itself is in multiple languages. And then there's the dance itself: you HAD to know how to do it. Oh, 1997.

94. Aqua - "Barbie Girl"

I mean... what? This song is so 1997 it's not even funny. It's kind of disturbing if you really listen to it. This is definitely one song that would never see the light of day today, lest it be so ridiculed. It would never make the top 100. That being said... it's nostalgic and for that I enjoy it. I never listen to it, but I have a fond place in my memory for it. Plus, it was on the first U.S. edition of Now That's What I Call Music! ... one track behind "Karma Police." 😧

96. DJ Kool - "Let Me Clear My Throat"

The last one I have for this list. Again, what is this? Is this a live recording?

Let's do another rundown of the memorable aspects of this track:

1. "NOW I NEED SOME HELP FROM THE MAESTRO, PLEASE!"

- Cue the horns

2. That funky sax bassline

3. "Here we go now!"

4. ::coughs three times:: "GODDAMN!"

- How did everyone know to shout that?

5. "Have mercy babe, ha! I hope you don't mind!"

6. "FREEEEEEEEZE"

7. "Now, all the ladies in the place... If you got real hair, real fingernails, if you got a job, you goin' to school and y'all don't need nobody to help you handle your business... make some noiseeeeee!"

- As an 8-year-old kid, I was kind of confused as to why women would not have real hair or fingernails

8. "Now, to all the brothers in the place that don't give a damn about what them ladies talkin' bout, 'cause you just tryin' to get your man... make some noiseeeeee!"

- This was so me in 1997

9. "Special dedication going out to all the ladies and all the brothers in here..."

- No kidding!

10. Bahama Bay in Philadelphia

11. SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE IN THIS JOINT, MANNNNN

Frankly, I'm not worried about him needing to clear his throat. I'm worried he's going to lose it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, there's my list. 1997 was a formative year for me musically, but it was also for reasons not listed above. Perfect from Now On, OK Computer, The Lonesome Crowded West, Either/Or and Young Team, to name a few, are some of my favorite albums of all-time. They all came out in 1997, but I had no idea - or didn't realize their significance - until a decade or so later. So 1997, thank you. Thanks a lot.