91热爆

If we told you that it's been 20 years since Cornershop released , since Will Smith released , since Mariah Carey released and since Sixpence None The Richer released , what would your reaction be? Shock? Denial? Horror? Confusion? All of the above?

Well, we're right there with you. We can't quite come to terms with the fact that 1997 was two decades ago (TWO DECADES!) and that some of our favourite hits, born in the very same year, are officially 20 years old. Ease yourself into this revelation by indulging your airwaves with some of the biggest hits that '97 so kindly gifted us...

Released: 15th April 1997

Fun fact: MMMBop reached No.1 in a whopping 27 countries (pretty impressive stuff, right?) but what's even more amazing is that all members of Hanson - Isaac, Taylor and Zac - were all under 18-years-old when they scored their first number one. Isaac was 16, Taylor was 13 and Zac was only 11!

Released: 14th May 1997

Fun fact: Aqua - originally named Joyspeed - came under fire from Mattel, the makers of Barbie, upon releasing the catchy pop tune. Claiming that they'd made Barbie into a sex object and violated the Barbie trademark, the two sides battled it out in court before the judge threw out the case, ruling that the song was protected by free speech.

Released: 16th June 1997

Fun fact: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have composer credits on this Verve hit. Why, exactly? Well that famous orchestral riff is actually sampled from the instrumental of The Last Time, a Rolling Stones song released in 1965. Because of this, Jagger and Richards get a mention on the credits and Richard Ashcroft lost his composer credits, leading him to tell Rolling Stone (the magazine, not the band) that Bitter Sweet Symphony was "the best song Jagger and Richards have written in 20 years."

Released: 6th January 1997

Fun fact: This Texas hit has been remixed by none other than... Wu Tang Clan. Yep, you read that right! Featuring Method Man and RZA, the 1997 hit (it peaked at No.3 on the UK Singles Chart!) was re-released in 1998. And, if you listen closely, you might be able to detect some of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing, as well as Love... Thy Will Be Done by Martika. Parts of both tracks feature in Say What You Want.

Released: 12th August 1997

Fun fact: Up until 2007, Usher's You Make Me Wanna was the longest running single in the history of Billboard's Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Chart, enjoying 71 weeks on the chart. It was kicked off the top spot by Be Without You, Mary J Blige's '07 smash, which spent 75 weeks on the chart. Good effort, guys.

Released: 13th October 1997

Fun fact: The video for Spice Up Your Life shows the Spice Girls exercising their dominion over a post-apocalyptic New York City, complete with futuristic furnishings (there's a whole lot of gunmetal greys), and was inspired by 1982's Blade Runner and the music video for Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation, according to director Marcus Nispel. But - and it's a pretty big but - the group weren't too happy with how the video panned out. Imagining a carnival party theme video, the fivesome were a bit miffed with Nispel's vision: "It wasn't right. I don't think any of us liked it much, even though we enjoyed making it," Mel B wrote in her autobiography. "I still can't understand what's going on in it half the time."

Released: November 1997 (that's as specific as we can be!)

Fun fact: The 90's pop group formed after an advert appeared in The Stage magazine in 1997, calling for applicants to audition for a place in a new pop band. Thousands applied (truly, thousands) but only five made the cut: Claire Richards, Lee Latchford-Evans, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Ian 'H' Watkins. Steps disbanded in 2001 but have made a glorious return to the music scene this year. Speaking about their triumphant return, Lee Latchford-Evans said that it's as though nothing's changed...

“When we went our separate ways in 2001 we all had to rethink everything,” Lee told Steps Official. “You ask yourself what’s going to happen next, where do I go, who am I, what do I want in life? Then you find yourself as you get older, and it’s nice to come back to where it all started. When we get in the studio together, even if it’s been years apart, it’s like we’ve never been apart and nothing’s changed. That’s a pretty good feeling."