Jake
Can you believe these songs are now 20 years old?
We travel back to good old 1997, a time of baggy jeans, floppy hair and when ‘girl power’ was in full swing. It’s hard to believe that these songs are two decades old, because it only seems like yesterday that we were humming along to them all.
“Barbie Girl” – Aqua
This annoying AF anthem was driving us all mental back in Autumn 1997. Created by Danish eurodance group Aqua. They also had a few other hits after this such as “Doctor Jones” and “Turn Back Time”. The band pretty much faded into obscurity by the millennium!
“Encore Une Foise” – Sash!
Sash! (not to be confused with the superstar DJ – Sasha) released this pretty credible trance track in early 97. He would later follow this number one track up with another two big hits that year with “Ecuador feat. Rodriguez” and “Stay feat. La Trec”. Then we released Sash was actually kinda cheesy and got bored!
“Torn” – Natalie Imbruglia
Former Neighbours actress turned pop star surprised us all with this cover of an Ednaswaps song. This track unfortunately was kept off the No.1 spot by the very annoying “Barbie Girl”.
“Smack My Bitch Up” – The Prodigy
The Prodigy had already caused quite a controversy the year before with their scary video for “Firestarter”. This song also caused quite a stir for not only the title, but for the risqué video too. You can see this video The Evolution of the Music Video Part 2 – The 1990s.
“Candle in the Wind/Something About the Way You Look Tonight” – Elton John
Elton John released this double A side as a tribute to the late Princess Diana, who was tragically killed in a car accident in August of that year. This went on to become one of the biggest selling songs of all time!
“Song 2” – Blur
“Wooohoooo!” This Blur song certainly has a catchy riff and this track is still used in adverts and other media to this day. It is one of those songs like a few more in this list that get stuck in your head!
“Who Do You Think You Are” – Spice Girls
Whenever I think of this song I always think of Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell wearing that Union Jack dress at the Brits 1997.
“MMMBop” – Hanson
“I Believe I Can Fly” – R Kelly
“Men in Black” – Will Smith
Will Smith provided the soundtrack to one of the biggest blockbusters of that year – Men in Black, which he also starred in. That singing alien is still kind of creepy don’t you think?
“Never Ever” – All Saints
“Tubthumping” – Chumbawumba
I don’t know which is more annoying, the catchiness of this old classic or the ‘activist’ band that sung it! I bet your singing it in your head right now aren’t you?
“As Long As You Love Me” – Backstreet Boys
A very 90’s looking Backstreet Boys provided us with this typical run of the mill 90’s ballad.
“Something Goin’ On” – Todd Terry
DJ Legend Todd Terry released this stormer of a track in the early part of 1997.
“Free” – Ultra Nate
“Sunchyme” – Dario G
“The Drugs Don’t Work” – The Verve
I prefer the other big track The Verve released that year – “Bittersweet Symphony”.
“Block Rockin’ Beats” The Chemical Brothers
“Blood on the Dance Floor” Michael Jackson
Probably one of MJ’s least remembered hits and probably was one of the last tracks Jackson would release in the 90s.
“Freed From Desire” – Gala
“You’re Not Alone” Olive
I feel this is a great and forgotten about track, but the song stands the test of time and still sounds fresh today. It’s a damn, damn shame that this tracked was bastardized by the awful Tinchy Stryder back in 2009!
“I Wanna Be the Only One” – Eternal featuring Bebe Winans
“I’ll Be Missing You” – Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans
Another tribute song, this time dedicated to the late Biggy Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G, who was murdered that year. The track is a cover and re-imagining of “I’ll be Watching You” by The Police.
“Angels” – Robbie Williams
Inspiring 1000s of Karaoke singers to this day. This track helped Robbie Williams catapult into superstardom as a solo artist after he left Take That.
“D’You Know What I Mean?” Oasis
“Perfect Day” Various Artists
A collaboration of music stars sung this cover of a Lou Reed’s classic for a charity single in aid of Children in Need. Some of the stars included Bono, David Bowie, Tom Jones and many more. It’s just a bit weird that a song for a children’s charity was originally actually about drugs!
“Teletubbies say “Eh-oh!”” Teletubbies
If you think that “Barbie Girl” was torture to the ears then this track completely eclipses that track for its pure repetitiveness and annoyance!
