– Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112A moving tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., sampling The Police’s "Every Breath You Take," it debuted at #1 and held the spot for 11 weeks.
It is impossible to discuss 1997 without acknowledging the elephant in the room. Topping the year-end chart was It wasn't just a song; it was a global phenomena, a wedding reception staple, and a cultural fever dream. It spent 60 weeks on the Hot 100, proving that in 1997, a Spanish dance track could conquer American radio with ease. top 20 songs 1997
– MonicaAnother hit from the Space Jam soundtrack, cementing Monica’s status as an R&B leading lady. – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112A
– Az Yet featuring Peter CeteraA modern R&B cover of the Chicago classic that reached the Top 10. It spent 60 weeks on the Hot 100,
If you listen to the Top 20 of 1997 today, you’ll notice something strange: there is no "sound of 1997." There’s a dead princess’s tribute next to a song about a meth-fueled threesome ("Semi-Charmed Life"). There’s a 12-year-old’s falsetto next to a grieving widow’s wail. There’s a kazoo.