Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1997.
For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
In 1997, Princess Diana calls for an international ban on landmines, 160 vehicles are involved in a motorway pile-up on the M42 which kills three and injures 60, Channel 5 the UK’s 5th TV channel is launched, the Labour party defeat the Conservatives in the general election with a landslide result and Tony Blair becomes the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the UK wins the Eurovision Song Contest, the first Harry Potter novel is published, the IRA declares a ceasefire, 58 tourists are killed by terrorists in the Valley of Kings in Egypt- 6 of them were Brits, Mother Teresa dies in Calcutta, Scotland vote to create its own parliament after a 290 years union with England, Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield’s ear during a match and is suspended from boxing, a civil jury panel find OJ Simpson guilty, Australian rock star Michael Hutchence dies, Gianni Versace is murdered and the Notorious B.I.G. is shot dead in a drive-by shooting.
Princess Diana is killed in a car crash whilst being chased by paparazzi in Paris, a week later Diana’s funeral takes place which is watched by 1.5 billion people across the world.
The films Titanic, The Full Monty and Life is Beautiful are released and I celebrate my 21st Birthday.
This week is a special week as we are now officially at the half way point of this weekly music series. So, I just wanted to thank everyone who tunes in every week. Discussing our music memories is the highlight of doing this music series, so I hope I still see you all every week for the second half of this series. Anyway, back to ME. In 1997, I’m living in London and generally getting up to mischief. I remember getting the news that Princess Diana had died. At the time, I was living at my cousin’s flat, sleeping on his sofa. He got a phone call at 3am from his girlfriend crying on the phone. Her flatmate worked for Tokyo TV (yes really) and she’d been called in to cover the story, so his girlfriend then immediately called us to tell us the news. It was a surreal time to be living in London. I remember visiting Buckingham Palace and seeing the sea of flowers laid down by the gates. I moved out of my cousin’s place and into my own flat on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral (yes excellent timing, I know) and I have never known London transport to be so quiet and deserted. It was like 28 Days Later. And I’ve never seen London like that again since.
So anyway, here we go. My top ten tunes from 1997, in no particular order (sorry yes more Blur, Bjork & Kylie).
1. I Am the Black Gold of the Sun by Nuyorican Soul
2. Some Kind of Bliss by Kylie Minogue
3. Someone’s Daughter by Beth Orton
4. Song 2 By Blur
5. Late in the Day by Supergrass
6. Never Ever by All Saints
7. Bachelorette by Bjork
8. You’re Not Alone by Olive
9. Into My Arms by Nick Cave
10. Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve
Oh look what I found- a very rare photo of me at 21. We didn’t really take photos of ourselves or each other much back then. I didn’t even own a camera when I was 21, but here I am all baby faced and full of youth.
You have no idea how close it is between Nick Cave and Blur. I think it’s the closest two songs have ever been for me, BUT Into My Arms is probably one of the most beautiful songs ever written and never fails to make me tearful, so by a hair- it’s my favourite this week. Soooooo, which one is yours? And do you remember where you were when you found out about Princess Diana’s death?
See you next week for 1998!
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Bittersweet Symphony gets me all emotional – reminds me of a dear friend. Another great list!
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It’s very emotive. I can imagine even more so if it reminds you of a special friend.
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My vote is for The Verve. I loved that song, still do. I can’t remember where I was or what I was doing when I found out. But I remember feeling so sad as I watched the coverage on the news.
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It’s such a beautiful song, isn’t it?
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I was a bit All Saints I think!
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I LOVED All Saints. Whilst, I loved the Spice Girls too- All Saints were a lot cooler.
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Lol! Me too… Our guilty secret?!?
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Haha. Yes ssshhh no one else will know
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😉
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I had never heard of Into My Arms, so I listened to that first. Wow, no wonder you love it so. Beautiful.
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It’s an absolute stunner, isn’t it? Nick Cave performed it at Michael Hutchence’s funeral. He asked the cameras that were recording the funeral to be turned off when he performed it. I think that would have floored me if I’d have seen that.
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Oh goodness I loved All Saints!! *finds song on youtube and plays it over and over*
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Yay! I loved that song.
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I don’t know any of those songs. I think I was only in 4th or 5th grade. Lol. Anyway, I just thought of dropping by and say hello! 🙂
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Ha thanks Carmen. Hello! 👋🏻
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Ooh, I had totally forgotten about All Saints.
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I know! Can you believe this was over 20 years ago?!
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Crazy! My son is just three years younger than I was then. Makes me feel so old.
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Oh my god so many good songs came out that year! Puff Daddy I’ll be missing you , Backstreet Boys Everybody. The overplayed Angels by Robbie. God take me back to then! I loved All Saints! I love your posts! ❤️
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So many good tunes. I love 90s music so much, it’s been really hard trying to narrow these lists down to just 10 songs every week. LOVED All Saints. Cheers Zoe x
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90s was the best time lol. I can imagine how hard it was to choose 10. I still done think I can lol 😂 x
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Loved that photo of you, well it has to be Verve Bitter Sweet Symphony! Loved that visor so much again our middle lad Mark springs to mind!! And Bjork so love her as you know… I got into Bjork because of our youngest son!!
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It’s great the influence our children can have on our music tastes. My mum got into Blur because of me. And I’ve discovered a few pop acts through my daughter. The Verve & Bjork are wonderful choices.
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Of course who else could I pick 💜💜
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Btw are you coming to the Bash in May 💜💜🍷
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Hopefully yes! Are you?
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I am most definitely will be my third Bash 😁
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Excellent!
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It will be great to meet 💜
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Fingers crossed x
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Yes all things being equal
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Song 2 and All Saints for me. Have since got into the Kylie album that Some Bliss came from now given its original name Impossible Princess which was dropped because of Diana’s death. But musically I was still out of things this year.
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I would probably shudder at a photo of me at this age but it’s great that they are so real and not fake poses. The Verve is a good track too!
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