Now I’m counting music over a rough one year period that starts right after my junior year (when I became a rising senior) and ends around the time I graduated (when I was no longer a high school senior). I think music from that last summer before college is associated with its own set of memories and transitional nostalgia.
So, for better or for worse, here’s everything that hit number 1 at least once on Billboard’s Modern Rock and Pop Charts between the second half of June, 1998, and the first half of June, 1999. I’ve linked, where possible, to YouTube videos of the songs, so there’s always the risk that some might disappear over time.
Modern Rock:
Semisonic – “Closing Time“
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris“
Eve 6 – “Inside Out“
Barenaked Ladies – “One Week“
Hole – “Celebrity Skin“
Goo Goo Dolls – “Slide“
Lenny Kravitz – “Fly Away“
Cake – “Never There“
Everlast – “What It’s Like“
Sugar Ray – “Every Morning“
Lit – “My Own Worst Enemy“
Hot 100 (for all intents and purposes, this was the Pop chart until February 2005):
Brandy and Monica – “The Boy Is Mine“
Aerosmith – “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing“
Monica – “The First Night“
Barenaked Ladies – “One Week” (yeah, this was on both charts)
Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop (That Thing)“
Divine – “Lately“
R. Kelly and Céline Dion – “I’m Your Angel“
Brandy – “Have You Ever?”
Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time“
Monica – “Angel of Mine“
Cher – “Believe“
TLC – “No Scrubs“
Ricky Martin – “Livin’ la Vida Loca“
Jennifer Lopez – “If You Had My Love“
It appears that the pop charts had a lot more variety, but consider that they covered pretty much every genre at the time (hence Barenaked Ladies appearance on both the Modern Rock and Hot 100 lists above).
Interesting usability note that has nothing to do with your topic–I think it would be better if you put the artist link on every occurrence of the artist name, even if it isn’t the first mention, at least in a list like this. If a person is reading your list and wants more information on an artist mentioned multiple times, they should not have to find the first mention in the list. They should be able to click right there.
@Mugs: Reasonable suggestion. Changed.
Remember how we couldn’t stop singing Weezer’s “In the Garage” at the NCSSSMST conference in TX? Or was that just me?
@Jen: Yeah, I totally remember that. I can’t believe you remember the name (or at least acronym) for that thing. I remember going, but I don’t remember what it’s called.
National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science and Technology! One of my best friends was also at the conference. We realized it after being friends for years after she was looking through a photo album of mine. I need to scanned those photos and send them to you. Hilarious! I can’t believe I dressed the way I did. Also, why didn’t anyone tell me that black was a horrible hair color for me?!?
@Jen: Wow, impressive remembering the whole name. That’s a mouthful of a conference title.Yeah, I’m sure those pictures would bring back a rush of memories. As for your clothes and hair, hey, it was high school. No harm there 🙂