Aaaaah 1997, Tamagotchis and Baby-G watches are the must-have gadgets and we carry them around in our mini-backpacks that match our platform sneakers, while the phrase “Oh my god, they killed Kenny” still got a lot of laughs. I came across the top 20 MTV European pop chart from this exact same week in May 1997. I always had the idea that the nineties were not a great time for music, but when Bean and I swapped High School mixes last year we came across a lot of amazing songs, some featured in this list.

   #20 Daft Punk – Around The World
   #18 Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats
I cannot believe these are from ten years ago. They’re timeless, I’m sure they would be huge hits if they were released now. I think it’s because they both appeal to lovers of pop, alternative and dance music. And that Daft Punk video is still the most mesmerizing thing I’ve ever seen.

   #15 U2 – Staring At The Sun
I honestly can’t imagine a yearly chart without U2 in it. They have the amazing ability to apply their sound to the current trends, like the way “Staring At The Sun” has hints of that mid-nineties alternative rock stylee.

Two songs that had ‘Girl Power’, a term that the Spice Girls made popular and ruined for all of us:
   #14 No Doubt – Just A Girl
   #11 Republica – Ready To Go
Every girl whether a goth, a punk or a teenybopper LOVED “Just A Girl”. It was our “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”!

We’ve come to the top 10 and it’s topped by … Michael Jackson? With a song called “Blood On The Dancefloor”. Is it weird that I don’t remember this at all? I thought he stopped topping the charts after that awful “Earth Song”, the same song that made Jarvis Cocker storm the stage in 1996. Hee! The peculiar thing is that I can’t find any images of the incident, not even a bad quality youtube clip! It was during the Brit Awards and I find it very hard to believe that not one camera was pointed that way and no photographer thought ‘That might be worth a snap’. I smell a conspiracy …

   #9 B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J & Busta Rhymes – Hit Em High (The Monstars Anthem)
   #8 En Vogue – Don’t Let Go Love
Two very different songs from two very different movie soundtracks. The first is from Space Jam, making the bad guys of the movie a thousand times cooler than Michael Jordan’s team. An absolutely mind-blowing all-star line up … and Coolio. Just kidding, we loved Coolio. My favorite part is Busta, with his particular brand of crazy at the end, and B-Real. I love B-Real. The second song is the super passionate ballad that can be found on the Set It Off soundtrack. This is a great song to sing into your mirror. Every member of the group tries to top the other, which means there are many moments that need you on your knees reaching for the sky with a look of utter agony.

   #6 White Town – Your Woman
   #3 Apollo 440 – Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Dub
“Your Woman” is White Town’s one and only hit and it features the lyrics “I will never be your woman”, but it was sung by a man. I loved this song, but I’m still not sure why. “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Dub” is brilliant, anyone who can combine a drum & bass beat with a Van Halen sample is a musical giant.

   #2 Depeche Mode – It’s No Good
I never really gave the band a chance until Bean told me that they were definitely worth it and she was more than right. Thankfully, nobody else shared my initial doubts which landed them the number two spot.

Finally it is now time for the number one!!!

   #1 Spice Girls – Mama

… A bit of an anti-climax. It’s not their best song, but it was near Mother’s Day, so let’s say that big love for our moms is the reason why it was the top song that week. Totally ignoring the fact that it’d been number one for two whole months. We must really love our mothers.

Is it just me or do the pop charts seem more diverse ten years ago? It looks like the lines between styles of music are so blurred now that they’re starting to blend towards one great pop sound. Nobody looks up anymore when Akon (Why is he famous?) appears in a song with Gwen Stefani AND Bone Thugs & Harmony (They’re back?!?). I don’t think this is a bad thing, it inspires the bands and artists on the fringes to experiment more and to come up with new and exciting music. Until that too is gobbled up by the ever expanding massive new pop genre.