1997 wasn't an amazing year for mainstream music. Judge for yourselves . . .

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba
3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks
6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi
7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G
20. 'Your woman' - White Town

Ooh. 1997. The period from where I bought the most music. Time to make some detailed comments, I think... All ratings, blah diblah, relativism, blah diblah.

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson ****
I remember reading about this single in one of my sister's magazines. They ran a competition at the same time to try and discover which of the trio was actually female. Good times, and since at the time I was changing schools, I remember it well.

2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba **

Whatting the night away? Don't tell me, I remember. So-so. More bad memories than good about this track.

3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family ***

Rings a bell enough for me to give a rating somewhere about in the middle. Once anyone got used to Tunde Baiyewu's voice, they would either stamp on the CD, or keep it in for ages and ages. Me being me, I could do neither.

4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve *****

Wow. So powerful. I had a friend who really liked this track, got me listening to it. Took me a good while to stop.

5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks **

And so started the fascination with naughty words in songs. Or, at least, that's what my brother believes. Failed to flash into the top five. From a commercial standpoint, I can't see why. From a musical standpoint, I certainly can.

6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi

A word rarely heard by man nor beast (or, for that matter, manbeast) on this board from me is Unknown. Unfortunately, for all that I wish I knew this song existed, I can't say I do.

7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas ***

Ignited an interest in Texas for me. Not enough to keep burning nowadays, but still good at the time.

8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes ****

Her best work. Much better than recent material.

9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin *

Poor, but then I'm incredibly biased.

10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead *

Read as above

11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J **

Erm... do the same.

12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt ****

That's more like it. I can play this song on piano. Naturally I'm rather proud. A great performance from the then Miss Stefani.

13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia ***

Good. Not great. Soapstar come pop-star attempts to sing, and unforunately, continues the Australian tradition of doing so.

14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly *****

Before all fell apart ("Bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce", anyone?), it's hard to believe that Robert Kelly used to be a fine singer. First coming out with this, and then following it (a long time later, mind) with "If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time" which, if memory serves, stalled at number 2 for 5 weeks.

15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue **

Good at the time. No longer.

16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy *****

Sean Combs takes Police classic, rips it limb from limb, gives it a proper meaning, and performs it 20 times better.

17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans ****

Nina brings Sweden again to the record-buying masses. A great track, worthy of nineteen-ninety-six-dom.

18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith ****

Yes. Yes. Yes. Will Smith was never a rapper who resorted to profanity, and he, like Mr. Combs, rips that Godawful Forget-Me-Nots track into pieces, actually performing something pretty dang good over the top.

19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G **

Good song then. Would sound dated now, unfortunately.

20. 'Your woman' - White Town ***

I don't remember it well. My sister advised me to give it this rating.

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson 2
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba 2.5
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks 1.5
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes 3
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt 4
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia 3.5
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly Not my favorite song, but the video was worse... R. Kelly standing on a ladder in the middle of a cornfield... wow... 2.5
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy 0 >:( >:( >:(
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans 3
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith 3.5


Ahh, songs I actually remember coming on the radio when they were new. ;)

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson 2
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba 2
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks 1
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes 1.5, although it was better than Trisha Yearwood's version.
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt 4
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia 2.5
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly 1; much to my chagrin, my class sang this song at our 8th grade graduation in May of 1997.  ::)
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue 3
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy 2
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans 3.5
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith 3
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G 2

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson 2
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve 4
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes 2.5
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin lol 1.5
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt 4
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia 2.5
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly 2
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans 3
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith 1.5

ah, the year that once again proved that mainstream sucks.....



1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson 0
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba  3.5  I didnt think it was that bad...well, accept for the inclusion of 'Danny boy'
3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family:???
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve  ok, I dont know it.....this is embarressing
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks  3.5
6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi:???
7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas:???
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes  3.75 this was her best
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin  3 this is his best...thats not saying much
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead  3.75
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J:???
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt  4.5  I love this song...it is my favorite by them
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia  3.75
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly  3.75  this is his best
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue  2
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy  0  I hate Puff Daddy for ever touching this song.....he shouldnt even be in the same room as a Police album
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans  3.75
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith  2.75   here comes a crappy song....  at least it was better than the song from the sequal....Nod your head, the black suits coming...nod your head?  what the hell?
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G:???
20. 'Your woman' - White Town :???

1. 'Mmm Bop' - Hanson 2
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba 2.5
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks 4.5
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes 1.5
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead 4.5
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt 5 - In my top 10 of the late 90s (95-99)
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia 3 - used to hate it (overplayed esp.), now it's not THAT bad
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly 3 - okay, we used to make our own lil' parodies of this song at school
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy 3.5, although a blatant rip-off of the Police
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans 2.5 - used to hate, now its eh.
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith 2.5 - used to like, now it's not so great...

1. 'Mmm Bop' - Hanson   -4-
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba   -3-
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks   -4-
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes   -4-
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead   -2-
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J   -2-
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt   -5-
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia   -4-  (more memorable as 1998 to me)
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly   -3-
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue   -4- (wasn't this 1996?)
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy   -3-
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans   -2-  (why was this ever a huge hit?)
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith   -5-
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G   -3-  (Jellyhead was better, and weren't they both 1996 too?)
20. 'Your woman' - White Town   -3-  

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson - 2
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba - 1
3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family - 1
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve - 4.5
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks - 5
6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi - 2
7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas - 4
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes - 2
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin - 2
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead - 5
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J - 2
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt - 4
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia - 3
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly - 1
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue - 3.5
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy - 3
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans - 2
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith - 3
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G -   -10!
20. 'Your woman' - White Town - 4

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson   1, awful
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba  3, good to dance to when drunk
3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family 1, nuff said
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve    3, I thought it was the trucks don't work but Dicky & co's analysis of the UK transport policy remains unheard
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks  1, c r a p
6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi 0, because it's him
7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas   2, I liked Halo better
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes 1, very well without this
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin  1, was he around then?
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead  3, I liked Kid A better
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J 1, bad
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt  1, also bad
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia  3, 2 of those for the 'nakedon the floor line'
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly 1, no you can't & your song sucks
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue 2, dull
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy   1, I won't
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans  2, not as good as their later stuff
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith  3, see dancing whilst drunk comment
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G  1, just a little less please
20. 'Your woman' - White Town  2, boring

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson I give it a 1. It was a horrible song. I could not believe they weren't girls.

2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba I give it a 2 it sucked, but it wasn't embarasing. Their follow up, now that was embaresing

3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family DK

4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve DK

5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks 3 It was an OK song, but a tad overplayed

6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi DK, Not a hit in US, Never bought that album

7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas DK

8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes  3 It was an OK soft rock song.
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin DK
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead 3 This song is a little to artsy

11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J DK

12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt 3 -OK song, was a hit in 96 in the US
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia 4 I liked it when it came out. 98 in US.
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly 4- This is actually a good song
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue DK

16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy 1 - One of Puff Daddy's Many tributes to dead gangster Biggie Smalls.

17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans 2 - Boy is this song anoying

18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith 3 - Ok for a rap song, but not his best work of that year

19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G DK

20. 'Your woman' - White Town 4 - This song was different. I liked it

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson..why do i remember this?
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba what now...?
3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family..whaaa?
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve..yeah..melikes
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks bitch? huh you use such vile language!
6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi..nope
7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas..yeah..suppose
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes..oh god..another 'tear jerking' rendition of this awful track
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin..say cheese
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead..yay!
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J..uk
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt..yay
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia..yay...alex...
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly..ahhh..kill me now
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue..again..whatty whattyy?
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy..does anyone have a gun?
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans..ah sweden
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith..the pain
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G camp pop...wonderful
20. 'Your woman' - White Town ..yah..whaa

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson I'm sure its 'Mmmbop' Bobby. Was ok at the time - awful now really!
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba Never really got into this
3. 'Raincloud' - Lighthouse Family All their songs sound the same to me? It's hard to distinguish, so I cant comment!
4. 'The drugs don't work' - The Verve Love this - so so powerful
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks Good
6. 'Janie don't you take your love to town' - Jon Bon Jovi Not so good
7. 'Black eyed boy' - Texas Great song from 'White on Blonde' - good album also.
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes Powerful - she has got a great voice
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin Did like this at the time
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead Hated them in the 90s, love them now - classic Radiohead, started to go downhill from there though
11. 'Phenomenon' - LL Cool J Not my thing
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt Good
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia Good
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly Overplayed!!
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue Really liked this
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy ruined the original
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans pretty good
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith awful
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G I'm sure this was '96?? For eurovsion? I have it on a tape next for '3 Lions' ??!
20. 'Your woman' - White Town Very very good

1. 'Hmm Bop' - Hanson 1
2. 'Tubthumping' - Chumbawumba 1
5. 'B i t c h' - Meredith Brooks 2
8. 'How do I live' - Leann Rimes 2
9. 'Maria' - Ricky Martin 3
10. 'Karma Police' - Radiohead 3
12. 'Don't speak' - No doubt 4
13. 'Torn' - Natalie Imbruglia 4
14. 'I believe I can fly' - R. Kelly 2
15. 'Don't let go' - En Vogue 2
16. 'I'll be missing you' - Puff Daddy 1
17. 'Love fool' - Cardigans 4
18. 'Men in Black' - Will Smith 2
19. 'Oh ah just a little bit' - Gina G 1

Hmm Bob-Hanson 1
Tunthumping 1( I can't even listen to this song anymore.) This song was like a fashion trend...in one minute and out the next.
Raincloud-Lighthouse Family(Never heard the song.)
The Drugs Don't Work-The Verve-(Never heard the song.)
B i t c h-Merideth Brooks(2.5)
How Do I live-Leann Rimes(Not my style of music.)
Phenomenon-LL Cool J 4
Don't Speak-No Doubt 3.5
Torn-Natalie Imbruglia 3.5
I Belive I Can Fly-R. Kelly 4
Don't Let Go-En Vogue 5
Love Fool-Cardigans 4
Men In Black-Will Smith 3
Oh ah just a little bit-Gina G 4
Your Woman-White Town-5