1997 Top Songs =link= [ 2026 ]

A post-grunge one-hit wonder about guilt and abortion (the lyric: "we couldn't take the blame / we'd rather feel the shame"). It’s angsty, earnest, and very 1997. The melody is gorgeous; the self-importance is very high.

A tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. that samples The Police's "Every Breath You Take." It’s heartfelt, but the legal/moral gray area of sampling a Sting song (which he reportedly earns 100% of royalties from) is notable. Still, as a grief-stricken eulogy, it’s powerful. 1997 top songs

Incredible emotional range — from Diana's funeral to the Spice Girls' fun to Radiohead's anxiety. It was the last year where adult-contemporary ballads (Toni Braxton, Jewel, Elton) could dominate alongside emerging hip-hop and electronic music. A post-grunge one-hit wonder about guilt and abortion