Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1997. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.
Top 100 Songs of 1997
1I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans
2Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
3Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me – Jewel
4Candle In the Wind – Elton John
5Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down – Puff Daddy
6Return of the Mack – Mark Morrison
7How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes
8Wannabe – Spice Girls
9Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) – Backstreet Boys
10MMMBop – Middle of Nowhere – Hanson
11For You I Will – Monica
12You Make Me Wanna… – Usher
13Bitch – Meredith Brooks
14Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
15Barely Breathing – Duncan Sheik
16Hard to Say I’m Sorry – Az Yet featuring Peter Cetera
17The Freshmen – The Verve Pipe
18Mo Money Mo Problems – The Notorious B.I.G.
19I Want You – Savage Garden
20No Diggity – BLACKstreet featuring Dr. Dre
21I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face) – Rome
22Hypnotize – The Notorious B.I.G.
23In My Bed – Dru Hill
24Say You’ll Be There – Spice Girls
25Do You Know (What It Takes) – Robyn
26G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T. – Changing Faces
27Honey – Mariah Carey
28I Believe In You and Me – Whitney Houston
29Da’ Dip – Freaknasty
302 Become 1 – Spice Girls
31Cupid – 112
32Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? – Paula Cole
33Sunny Came Home – Shawn Colvin
34It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
35Ooh Aah Just a Little Bit – Gina G
36Mouth – Merril Bainbridge
37All Cried Out – Allure featuring 112
38I’m Still In Love With You – New Edition
39Invisible Man – 98 Degrees
40Not Tonight – Lil’ Kim
41Look into My Eyes – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
42Get It Together – 702
43It’s All Coming Back to Me Now – Celine Dion
More 57 Top 100 Songs of 1997
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- I Believe I Can Fly – R. Kelly
- Don’t Let Go (Love) – En Vogue
- Nobody – Keith Sweat
- Every Time I Close My Eyes – Babyface
- 4 Seasons of Loneliness – Boyz II Men
- All for You – Sister Hazel
- All By Myself – Celine Dion
- My Love Is the Shhh! – Somethin’ For The People
- Where Do You Go – No Mercy
- I Finally Found Someone – Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams
- I’ll Be – Foxy Brown featuring Jay-Z
- If It Makes You Happy – Sheryl Crow
- Never Make a Promise – Dru Hill
- When You Love a Woman – Journey
- Up Jump da Boogie – Magoo And Timbaland
- I Don’t Want To/I Love Me Some Him – Toni Braxton
- Everyday Is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow
- Cold Rock a Party – Mc Lyte
- Pony – Ginuwine
- Building a Mystery – Sarah McLachlan
- I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis
- Your Woman – White Town
- C U When U Get There – Coolio
- Change the World – Eric Clapton
- MyBabyDaddy – B-Rock and The Bizz
- Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
- Gotham City – R. Kelly
- Last Night – Az Yet
- The Jock Jam, Various Artists
- Big Daddy – Heavy D
- What About Us – Total
- Smile – Scarface
- What’s On Tonight – Montell Jordan
- Secret Garden – Bruce Springsteen
- The One I Gave My Heart, Aaliyah
- Fly Like an Eagle – Seal
- No Time – Lil’ Kim
- Naked Eye – Luscious Jackson
- Macarena – Los Del Rio
- On and On – Erykah Badu
- Don’t Wanna Be a Player – Joe
- I Shot the Sheriff – Warren G
- You Should Be Mine (Don’t Waste Your Time) – Brian McKnight featuring Mase
- Don’t Cry for Me Argentina – Madonna
- Someone – SWV
- Go the Distance – Michael Bolton
- One More Time – Real McCoy
- Butta Love – Next
- Coco Jamboo – Mr. President
- Twisted – Keith Sweat
- Barbie Girl – Aqua
- When You’re Gone/Free to Decide – Cranberries
- Let Me Clear My Throat – DJ Kool
- I Like It (Like That) – Blackout Allstars
- You’re Makin’ Me High/Let It Flow – Toni Braxton
- You Must Love Me – Madonna
- Let It Go – Ray J
Need More Great Music From Fantastic Female Artists?
Well, then check out our thoughts on the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1970s, the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1980s, the Most Famous Female Singers Of The 1990s, the Most Famous Female Country Singers Of All Time, and the Best Female Singers for more incredible song selections.
Top 100 Songs of 1997 – Final Thoughts
The top 100 songs of 1997 were a mix of R&B, hip hop, and pop hits. The year saw a number of popular artists, including Puff Daddy, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey. Many of the songs on the list dealt with love and relationships, while others focused on social and political issues. The year was also marked by the tragic death of rapper Notorious B.I.G., whose song “Hypnotize” topped the charts posthumously. Overall, the top 100 songs of 1997 captured the mood and energy of the time, and continue to be beloved by music fans today.

