Long, long ago, before EDM, tropical house, or Macklemore, there was a truly great year in music.
We don't talk about this enough: 1997 is the most underrated year in music HISTORY.
Here's why ✍✍✍✍
1997 was the year Toni Braxton shaved Tyson Beckford's face in one of the greatest power ballads of all time, "Un-Break My Heart."
Before he was the worst, R. Kelly made us believe we could fly in the middle of a cornfield.
Before that basic-ass "Happy" song by Pharrell, Sheryl Crow had the ORIGINAL song about happiness, "If It Makes You Happy."
And you haven't lived until you've totally fucked up your voice screaming the lyrics to Celine Dion's "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," which ALSO came out in 1997.
Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life," En Vogue's "Don't Let Go," Erykah Badu's "On & On," and Blackstreet's "No Diggity" all topped the charts in 1997.
Gems...all of you.
1997 was also the year Paula Cole "yippie-i yippi yay'd" in "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"
Backstreet Boys had their low-key best song (besides "I Want It That Way), "Quit Playing Games With My Heart."
On a sad note, 1997 brought out some real tears. "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans and 112, and "Change the World" by Eric Clapton came out that year.
But enough with the sad stuff — 1997 also brought us America's blonde angels. I'm talking about Hanson, of course.
One of the most cryptic songs of all time, "Building a Mystery," by Sarah McLachlan, came out in '97.
1997 was one of the last great years of '90s dance music, with No Mercy's "Where Do You Go?," Gina G's "Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit," Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack"...
...AND "Around the World" by Daft Punk!!!
"Hypnotize" AND "Mo Money Mo Problems" came out in 1997.
It was also the year that the U.S. was introduced to legendary Swedish icon Robyn, with her smash hits "Do You Know (What It Takes)" and "Show Me Love."
1997 was also the year of "chic-a-cherry cola." Don't know what that is? THEN WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?!
ALSO, a little song called "Tubthumping" came out in 1997.
Speaking of one-hit wonders, 1997 had some of the most iconic of all time!!!
Like "Lovefool"...
..."Barbie Girl"...
..."Legend of a Cowgirl"...
...AND every tween's angsty anthem they secretly blasted in the privacy of their rooms because of the word "bitch," "Bitch," came out that year.
There was also...
"Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik
"The Freshman" by the Verve Pipe
"Da Dip" by Freak Nasty
"All for You" by Sister Hazel
"Your Woman" by White Town
AND
"Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin