While most of these girls were trying to be the next Britney, mentor Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes positioned Blaque as a new TLC, and there’s a carbon-copy nature to their development that’s most readily apparent on this debut single, written by R. Kelly. Featuring sultry beats, smooth harmonies, creeping girlfriends and a verse from resident rapper Natina Reed, “808” is straight out of the CrazySexyCool playbook—never mind the FanMail-ish fashions in the video and the group’s name (which stood for Believing in Life and Achieving a Quest for Unity in Everything, because why not?). It’s also perhaps the loveliest song in this entire rate.
Best bit: “I heard she’s got a 9-to-5/but comin’ in after 12”
The music video... was edited by someone who wanted to test out all of the visual effects on his new copy of Final Cut.
The next artist has a name that baffled my friend's mom when I mentioned her as my fifth-favorite female artist (after Britney, Christina, Mandy and Jessica, natch) during a carpool one time.
“Everybody Doesn’t” (2001) Everybody Doesn't
Hot 100: #81
Days on TRL: —
Overall score: 7.24 High score:9.8 (Ace Reject) Low score:2 (PeopleLikeUs)
Once signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records, French-born Swedish teenager Amanda contributed a song to the Rugrats in Paris soundtrack and released one album before disappearing completely from the music scene. Her only single was “Everybody Doesn’t,” an empowerment jam informing girls how to resist rude boyfriends who pressure them to have sex, which features the kind of heavy, hip-hop-tinged production that crept into pop music around 2001 as urban artists began to dominate. The highest-ranking track not to receive any 10’s, Amanda can take some comfort in knowing that she outlasted her sister, Play’s Anaïs Lameche, on this countdown.
Best bit: “If I loved you, I would/If you loved me, I wouldn’t have to/If I were in your shoes/Never expect you to get down”
The music video... can’t be found anywhere online. Poor Amanda is that irrelevant.
Nnn...I really love this. Like I said before it gives me major late 90's J-Pop vibes.
“Graduation (Friends Forever)” (2000) Vitamin C
Hot 100: #38
Days on TRL: 9
Overall score: 7.35 High score:10 (PeopleLikeUs, Poxy, MP2K, CoolestPerson12, Penk, Cherry Noir) Low score:1 (Taste of Honey)
You have to give Vitamin C’s team credit for making a unique strategic play to avoid one-hit wonder status. Released as the academic year was coming to a close, “Graduation (Friends Forever)” evoked just the poignancy that high school seniors are looking for during the biggest moment of their lives thus far, and those sappy, already-nostalgic teenagers helped make it a top twenty hit on pop radio. Rather brilliantly interpolating “Pachelbel’s Canon,” the song still gets the occasional spin whenever graduation season rolls around again, just like an old friend you’ll never forget.
Best bit: “Can Heather find a job that won’t interfere with her tan?”
The music video... wants us to believe that confessing your feelings to a crush on the last day of school will actually lead somewhere.
I feel bad for Nicole, cuz you can tell she's so insecure.
I watched a recent interview and she sounded and looked depressed. From the volume of her voice to her hand movements. She even said there was a time she thought about committing suicide, thinking noone would miss her
