Flashback 20 years ago: Billboard's Top 10 Songs of 1999

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In 1999, I was still exclusively listening to alternative music and radio meaning I was basically oblivious to the big hits dominating pop radio and sales. There was little crossover. Perusing the top 10 hits of 1999 reveals my musical ignorance. Only two of these played on alternative radio. Four songs I am familiar with. The remaining four I am clueless about even 20 years later. Mainstream popular was not in my vocabulary. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” Ricky Martin: There was no escaping this song. Not played on alternative radio but in your face everywhere else no matter how hard you tried to avoid it. The high point of Martin’s brief stardom. “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here” Deborah Cox: Never heard of the song or singer. “Every Morning” Sugar Ray: Believe it or not, SugarRay was big for awhile on alternative radio despite being rather “soft.” “Genie in a Bottle” Christina Aguilera: Even I have seen the video. Didn’t she end up a judge on some talent show? “Kiss” Sixpence None the Richer: Surprised the best song here ranked this high for the year. Even more surprised the band described as Christian rock. The song was played on alternative radio. “...Baby One More Time” Britney Spears: Groan. Another unavoidable video. Did you have Britneymania? “Heartbreak Hotel” Whiney Houston with Faith Evans and Kelly Price: Familiar with Whitney but not this song or the other singers. “Angel of Mine” Monica: Never heard of this song and Monica only sounds vaguely familiar. “No Scrubs” TLC: Same as #3. “Believe” Cher: Really? I know the song was popular but the biggest of the entire year? I thought Cher was done by then. How many of these songs do you like?