Sometimes a song just comes and goes. It’s as if the thing pops up, shows itself, and then gets blown away in the wind. Other times, though, a song stays in the ether. Perhaps it even gets entrenched in the popular culture and remains there for year after year, decade after decade.
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Here below, we wanted to explore three songs that did just that. A trio of tracks that came out but never really went away. Whether it’s from radio play, fan interest, or television commercials, sometimes the songs just remain. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the 1990s that are still very much part of today’s cultural zeitgeist.
[RELATED: 3 One-Hit Wonders That Dominated the Airwaves in the 1990s]
“Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger from Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? (1997)
When was the last time you went into a Taco Bell? Perhaps that trip was thanks to a recent commercial from the Tex-Mex food chain, which featured Harvey Danger. That ad, which was played often over the past several months, reminded people about the alternative rock band, which made a name for itself in the 1990s thanks to this vivid, almost cartoonish track. And on it, lead vocalist Sean Nelson sings,
I had visions, I was in them
I was looking into the mirror
To see a little bit clearer
The rottenness and evil in me
Fingertips have memories
Mine can’t forget the curves of your body
And when I feel a bit naughty
I run it up the flagpole and see who salutes
(But no one ever does)
“Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot from Mack Daddy (1992)
Butts never got out of style. That’s why this brilliant song by the Seattle-based rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot continues to be in the zeitgeist today. Whether it’s the song being sampled and reworked by bodacious rapper Nicki Minaj or just highlighted at the beach. And as a result, Mix has been a central part of culture ever since. Check out this recent ad for AAA. Or this one for Chex Mix. Mix did it again! And on his iconic booty-positive song, he raps,
I like big butts and I can not lie
You other brothers can’t deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull up tough
‘Cause you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she’s wearing
I’m hooked and I can’t stop staring
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua from Aquarium (1997)
Ah, it was just months ago when we were all celebrating the summer of Barbie at the movies. And, as a result, the band Aqua was celebrating its prescient stroke of songwriting skill. Their single has garnered more than 1 billion streams on YouTube alone. Who knew that pink and plastic could help create a dynasty for so many! Indeed, on the fun song, the band sings,
I’m a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world
Life in plastic, it’s fantastic
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere
Imagination, life is your creation
Come on, Barbie, let’s go party
Photo by Steve Granitz Archive 1/WireImage
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