2 hours ago, Last Dreamer said:

Samanda cover is more girlish and joyful.

What Samanda didn't quite get though, bless them is that the song lyrically is satire and taking the piss out of people like them!

Too Much topped my charts but I dont love it as much these days, still very nice and cosy though. Barbie Girl got very annoying very quickly - and yet.... I find it delightful these days. I realised how fabulous it was when a young couple did it in karaoke with the vocal roles gender reversed, when the lad started off singing broken falsetto as I sipped my drink, I spit my bacardi and coke out all over, it was so funny. 😄

I have a soft spot for 'Too Much' as it's so interlinked with Spiceworld: The Movie... a 'so bad it's good' film that was a staple of my childhood. The classy strings are a warm listen at Christmas time too. However, I'd definitely say it was the weakest of the four Spiceworld singles.

'Barbie Girl' is an earworm and I enjoy the satirical lyrics. Not something I particularly seek out but I appreciate its place in pop culture.

Too Much is such a beauty, I've always loved it, yes agreed, good memories of the film. Melanie C puts in such a star turn on it (as ever).

I'm not huge on Barbie Girl, although appreciate its take on pop culture, and I loved that a novelty Europop single could be that big. It was perhaps so big that it became annoying though at the time, but is always an impressive one to look back on.

Two tracks I hated at the time, but I was 17/18 years old and neither of them were cool enough for me.

I’m still not big on the Spice Girls track but I definitely can appreciate Barbie Girl for what it is

12. Eternal feat. Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One

Number 1 for 1 week, May

AI summary: Eternal’s gospel-tinged R&B anthem, featuring powerhouse vocals from Bebe Winans, became the group’s first and only UK number one. It topped the chart in May 1997, marking a high point in their career and cementing their crossover appeal. The track was the third most played song on British radio that year and the most played UK act on European radio, earning a BRIT nomination for Best Single. A radiant blend of soul and pop, it remains a defining moment in late-90s girl group history.

My take: I do love a key change and gospel, so this was a no-brainer for me as Eternal's best song and finally a chart topper for them after many tries. Bebe Winans is an astonishingly good singer and although this suffered from mega overplay, it is still a 90s classic.

11. Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ Beats

Number 1 for 1 week, April

AI summary: A seismic blast of breakbeats and bass, Block Rockin’ Beats launched the Chemical Brothers into the mainstream with a #1 debut in spring 1997. As the opening track of Dig Your Own Hole, it helped define the big beat era, blending techno, hip hop, and indie rock influences. The track’s gritty sample from Schoolly D’s “Gucci Again” added raw edge to its club-ready swagger. It remains one of the duo’s most iconic hits and a staple of 90s electronic music.

My take: A fantastic number 1 which benefited from the halo effect of Setting Sun being a huge number 1 in 1996. I do think this is a massive banger in its own right and was a whisker away from being in my top 10.

I really like both of those... I'm not sure what's still to come but I suspect they would be in my top 10

Love both of these! ❤️

Shame Eternal waited so long to finally get a #1 and it all imploded right afterwards. How very The Saturdays.

Always loved that Eternal song. 'Barbie Girl' brings so much nostalgia as do their other chart toppers.

'Too Much' is nice too but not one I'd seek out of theirs.

I Wanna Be The Only One is my No.1 song of 1997 overall, pure gospel pop joy, absolutely wonderful and what a song to take them to No.1, by far my favourite from them.

Easther Bennett and Bebe Winans riff so well of each other, each with their extraordinary voices, and I love all of the key changes at the end.

I always think that every major pop act has (at least) one song destined to become a future classic in them, and this was theirs.

Block Rockin' Beats is great too, such an infectious bassline and cool production. They were such a leftfield sounding act to rack up so many major hit singles.

Ooh I'm in a minority here, I turn that Eternal track off these days if it comes on the radio, I'm so sick of it and never liked it that much at the time. I just hear off-key wailing in spots which makes me wince, though Bebe's fine. I enjoyed the first couple of Eternal singles, I love Gospel and soul music, but I never really rated them as a great act of the 90's and still don't. This would be way down the list for me, I'd rather hear Axel F!

Block Rockin' Beats I never rated as a song, but as it's a bopping dance tune instrumental by and large, it's OK in a club setting. What they need is Noel Gallagher lending a hand, I feel, though....

I re-discovered I Wanna Be The Only One last week after watching the Girl Bands Forever documentary and I’ve been obsessed with it since.

4 hours ago, Popchartfreak said:

Ooh I'm in a minority here, I turn that Eternal track off these days if it comes on the radio, I'm so sick of it and never liked it that much at the time. I just hear off-key wailing in spots which makes me wince, though Bebe's fine. I enjoyed the first couple of Eternal singles, I love Gospel and soul music, but I never really rated them as a great act of the 90's and still don't. This would be way down the list for me, I'd rather hear Axel F!

Block Rockin' Beats I never rated as a song, but as it's a bopping dance tune instrumental by and large, it's OK in a club setting. What they need is Noel Gallagher lending a hand, I feel, though....

Definitely not! The Chemical Brothers >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Noel Gallagher. The Chems are one of the all time great electronic acts, I'd go as far as saying they are one of the all time great British groups full stop. No way are they being reduced to needing a Gallagher to be good!

13 hours ago, dandy* said:

Definitely not! The Chemical Brothers >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Noel Gallagher. The Chems are one of the all time great electronic acts, I'd go as far as saying they are one of the all time great British groups full stop. No way are they being reduced to needing a Gallagher to be good!

I was thinking more of Setting Sun, specifically, still my fave Chemical Bro track 😎 It's not even close for me, though I also rate Hey Boy Hey Girl, Galvanise, Star Guitar and a couple of others including some more recent stuff.

I've never really got into that Eternal song unfortunately but absolutely love 'Block Rockin' Beats', what a rush and standout chart topper.

Block Rockin’ Beats is the worst # 1 from 1997 year.

Now I think that Tori Amos (Remix) is huge contender for # 1 here.

10. Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are

Number 1 for 3 weeks, March

AI summary: The Spice Girls’ fourth consecutive UK number one, “Who Do You Think You Are” arrived as a disco-fuelled celebration of sass and self-awareness. Paired with Comic Relief’s official single “Mama,” it stormed the charts during the peak of Spice mania. With its Chic-inspired groove and cheeky lyrics about fame and identity, the track became a defining anthem of the Cool Britannia era. Their iconic Brit Awards performance — complete with Geri’s Union Jack dress — cemented the song’s place in pop history. A glittering, confident strut through the spotlight.

My take: Way better than the other A side (Mama) this is a Spicey classic! The comic relief video is iconic, the performance at the BRITS with Geri's Union Jack dress is iconic, the performance by myself and others at our amateur dramatics as the Spice Boys to this was also iconic!

9. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life

Number 1 for 1 week, October

AI summary: Spice Up Your Life launched the Spice Girls’ second album with a carnival of chaos and colour. A Latin-tinged rallying cry for global girl power, it debuted at number one and marked their fifth chart-topper in under two years. With its “zig-a-zig-ah” energy dialled to eleven, the song doubled down on their mission to be everywhere — from Pepsi ads to movie screens. The futuristic video and relentless tempo made it a whirlwind opener for Spiceworld, capturing the band at their most maximalist and magnetic.

My take: I think this is the most contemporary sounding Spice Girls song and got us out of the never ending depression of Candle In The Wind back in October 97. It really was a Spiceworld by this point, they were literally everywhere! This really is a hyper pop song and helped me with my left (slam it) and right (shake it).

They are two of my favourite Spice Girls tracks, both very much at the fun end of their sound. I think that Spice Up Your Life is my favourite single of theirs now, I suspect I'd also include it in my top 10 but we'll see when you get to the end