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Today was a sad day. Why, you ask? Simple: a band that inspired millions to fight back against the odds has at long last succumbed to the weight of the world. Worry not, Rage Against the Machine are still kickin’ (kinda). No, we are referring to today’s announcement that the band known as Chumbawamba, you know those rowdy punks behind the insatiably catchy 1997 anthem “Tubthumping,” forever preaching the joys of getting knocked down, but getting up again, have called it quits. However, in the off chance that this band name doesn’t ring any bells, it’s also quite likely that you’ve never experienced the endorphin rush of a Skip-It and that the name Sugar Ray doesn’t evokes a boxer rather than spiked tips. Why should we care about Chumbawamba? Well, besides the fact that “Tubthumping” is flat-out motivational, for those of us who are proud to call ourselves children of the 90s’ the band represent so much more than another one-hit wonder. They call to mind those glory days of yesteryear, when the sweet sounds of Hanson (pictured above) and Aqua filled the air. In honor of Chumbawumba’s end, we felt we owed it to ourselves to recall a few of our favorites tunes form this glorious time in music. You can thank us later.
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Hanson – “MMMBop”
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Whatever you do, don’t dismiss this gem-of-a-pop-song from the three Oklahoma-based brothers known as the Hansons. Never mind even the fact that several schools have used this ubiquitous sugary-sweet single off the brothers 1997 debut album, Middle of Nowhere, as a a form of torture to force fundraising efforts (look it up!). Because the fact remains that “MMMBop” is pure pop gold. Few songs evoke a time period as effortlessly as this little ditty. Sure, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac may now be all grown up with kids of their own. But they’ll forever be singing that chirpy feel-good melody in our heads as we down a majestically sweet Slurpee.
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Aqua – “Barbie Girl”
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Please do not convince us that “Barbie Girl,” the beatific pop product of Danish-Norwegian dance pop act Aqua, is anything short of perfection. The fact is, any song whose lyrical content is solely based around two plastic dolls, and can turn complete camp into a career-defining chart-topper deserves a heaping of praise. OK, you’re humming the song in your head now. Our work here is done.
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Third Eye Blind- “Semi-Charmed Life”
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If you lived in the year 1997 you’ve already sung harmony with Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephen Jenkins — yup, that whole “do, do, do, do, do, do, do” thing; you’ve done it.\The Bay Area rock act, believe it or not, were one of the biggest acts of late 90’s. After you digest that, think about the fact that years before Intervention Third Eye Blind’s biggest song, “Semi-Charmed Life,” served as a personal DARE program for yours truly. “Mom, what does Mr. Jenkins mean when he’s talking about crystal meth?” God bless you, Third Eye Blind, educators of our nation’s youth.
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Eagle Eye Cherry – “Save Tonight”
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Do the lyrics “fight the break of dawn/come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone” do anything for you? Have you ever sat and wondered how best to “delay your misery”? OK, well we have. And that’s because ever since this song appeared on a free Doc Martin mixtape, our childhood was consumed equally by a love of this song and also trying to figure out why any loving parent would name their child Eagle-Eye (that is actually dude’s name!). Still, great song, people. Great song.
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OMC – “How Bizarre”
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For a good 10 years we racked our brain trying to figure out who sang this song. “C’mon, guys. You know the one… where the guy keeps saying ‘How bizarre.’” Praise be to Google, however, who ended our misery and reunited us with OMC. Years may pass, but our affection for nonsensical pop hits shall never wane. How bizarre, indeed.
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