Today, we continue on with the summer songs were filling our ears two decades ago. Last week, I brought you the top 10 seasonal ditties of 1987. If you missed that post, you can find it here:
https://toddmthatcher.com/2017/07/07/top-ten-summer-music-hits-of-1987-a-look-back/
As I’ve done with these posts previously, I’m personally rating each of them on a scale of 1 (summer bummer) to 10 (summer fire). I’m also answering the important question as to whether each track is located in my Apple Music catalog.
Before we delve into the top 10, I must say that when I looked up Billboard’s chart I expected to see Will Smith’s “Men in Black”, the theme song to 1997’s highest grossing picture. Surprisingly, it was nowhere to be found but in case you wanted to put on your nostalgia goggles and watch the Fresh Prince groovin’ with an alien, here you are:
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to the songs that were constantly playing on our radios and CD players 20 years ago:
10. “Look Into My Eyes” by Bone-Thugs-n-Harmony
While I expected Mr. Smith’s movie hit to be in this list, I had plain forgotten about Cleveland rap group Bone’s track that appeared on the Batman and Robin soundtrack. I guess the movie itself isn’t the only forgettable thing about the fourth Caped Crusader flick. While Bone has had some classics (“Tha Crossroads”, “1st of tha Month”), this isn’t one of them.
My Rating: 5 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music? No
9. “Do You Know (What It Takes)” by Robyn
Swedish pop star Robyn scored her first of two top 10 singles stateside with this uptempo dance hit (her second was “Show Me Love”). The fact that I had to look it up to remind myself of it means it’s a bit of a throwaway, but my head was nodding along to it and it’s got a little Britney Spears vibe pre-Britney. This makes sense because it was co-produced by Max Martin, who went on to make massive hits for Britney, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and many many others.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
8. “Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase
The second single from Biggie’s Life After Death album (released just weeks after his murder), “Mo Money” is a Puff Daddy confection that samples the Diana Ross classic “I’m Coming Out”. It would have sounded perfectly at home on Puff’s hit album from that summer, but it hits a high note when Christopher Wallace’s fierce rap closes it out.
My Rating: 8 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes
7. “Say You’ll Be There” by Spice Girls
For those who didn’t live through the Spice revolution, the British girl group were a massive sensation and this is on the higher end of their pop hits. They even went the movie route six months after this topped the charts with Spice World, which performed well worldwide despite mostly scathing reviews.
My Rating: 7 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music? No
6. “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind
This cut from San Francisco rockers Third Eye Blind was inescapable two decades ago. It may be a perfectly sounding pop concoction, but it’s actually about crystal meth addiction. Woo hoo! Truthfully, I found this song rather grating back then and still do. It was featured prominently in American Pie two summers later.
My Rating: 5
It Is On My Apple Music? No
5. “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison
British hip hop artist Morrison had his one hit wonder with this anthem and it’s a darn catchy one that still resonates today. It was even recently featured in a Burger King commercial!
My Rating: 9
It Is On My Apple Music?: Yes
4. “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” by Backstreet Boys
Also produced by the aforementioned Max Martin, this is Backstreet’s first chart topper in the United States. Is it their best? No, that easily belongs to “I Want It That Way”, but it’s a good pop tune.
My Rating: 7
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
3. “MMMBop” by Hanson
The Oklahoma brothers had an absolute smash with the ubiquitous “MMMBop”. It received critical raves as well. I’ll fully admit this a song I would turn off today, but I liked it too back in the day.
My Rating: 7 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music? No
2. “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks
This female empowerment track by Oregon songstress Brooks was inescapable as well. It doesn’t touch top tier Alanis as far as I’m concerned, but it’s easy to belt out the chorus. It would be prominently featured three years later in the Mel Gibson rom com What Women Want.
My Rating: 6 and a half
Is It On My Apple Music? No
1. “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112
Puff Daddy’s tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. with an assist from his widow and Bad Boy label mates 112 was an absolute juggernaut that spent 11 weeks at #1. Sampling The Police’s “Every Breath You Take”, it was a powerful track coming so soon after Biggie’s demise. Truth be told, it’s also rather mawkish and doesn’t hold up nearly as well today but I sure dug it then.
My Rating: 7
Is It On My Apple Music?: No
And there you have it, folks! I’ll be bringing you the 2007 list very soon…
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