According to the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1997, the top song of the year was:
: Earlier in the year, the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. led to a massive outpouring of support for his posthumous releases. "I’ll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans feat. 112, a tribute to Biggie, debuted at No. 1—the first hip-hop song ever to do so—and spent 11 weeks at the top. The Teen Pop Revolution billboard hot 100 1997
: The Tulsa-based trio of brothers took over the airwaves with the somewhat-nihilistic yet infectious "MMMBop," which reached the top spot in May 1997. According to the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles
: The group solidified their U.S. stardom when "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" climbed to No. 2, signaling the start of the boy band era. Top 10 Billboard Year-End Singles (1997) 112, a tribute to Biggie, debuted at No
The music landscape of 1997 was a unique crossroads of cultural mourning, the explosive arrival of teen pop, and the commercial peak of hip-hop’s "Bad Boy" era. The year was dominated by record-breaking singles that defined a generation, from a historic tribute to a royal tragedy to the introduction of "Girl Power" in America. The Year of the Tribute