We didn’t know it at the time, but ‘Do You Know (What It Takes)’ was a landmark moment for pop music in the ’90s and far beyond.
Christina Aguilera – I Turn To You
‘I Turn To You’ saw Christina Aguilera resurrect a towering behemoth of glossy mid-‘90s balladry from the ‘Space Jam’ soundtrack(!)
*NSYNC – Thinking Of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)
It was never released in the UK, but the tortuous ‘Thinking Of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)’ is up there as one *NSYNC’s very best efforts.
Christina Aguilera – Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)
‘Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)’ is – for better or for worse – the perfect summation of Christina Aguilera as a pop artist.
Little Trees – Help! I’m A Fish (I’m A Little Yellow Fish)
With ‘Help! I’m A Fish (I’m A Little Yellow Fish)’, Little Trees released the most important aquatic-themed hit since ‘Under The Sea’
Westlife – World Of Our Own
‘World Of Our Own’ was the perfect summation for this era of Westlife’s career as they broke free of the balladry that once defined them.
Five – Until The Time Is Through
They might have been pop’s biggest rebels in the late ’90s, but even Five didn’t defy convention as they released a slushy ballad just in time for Christmas.
Westlife – When You’re Looking Like That
‘When You’re Looking Like That’ is Westlife’s best single in every respect…except for the fact that it was never credited as a single in the UK at all.
Avril Lavigne – My Happy Ending
‘My Happy Ending’ helped Avril Lavigne transition through a difficult second album, showing there was more to her than a “sk8er boi” gimmick
*NSYNC – (God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You
There’s nothing remotely subtle about any aspect of the single – but it was the ‘90s and subtlety was not a concept that pop acts were required to grasp.