# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1999 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854 "2015-03-24T13:43:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/1 "2015-03-24T13:43:42Z")
Time to close out the 20th century and party like it’s 1999 (again). IMO, this is one of the strongest lists of the '90s, and one where I had to think over my vote for quite awhile. For the first time since the Soundscan era began, there were just enough #1s to leave us with less than 25 songs, so I went to #41 for this list. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746498) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746735) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746932) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747152) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747345) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747517) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747737) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747976) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748145) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748360) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748527) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748653) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748866) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749060) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749217) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749398) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749610) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749795) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749949) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750154) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750299) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750488) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750641) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750845) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751015) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751202) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751368) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751517) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751667) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751834) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751992) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752188) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752421) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/2 "2015-03-24T13:54:43Z")
I voted for Smash Mouth, and I’m not afraid to admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/3 "2015-03-24T13:59:05Z")
I fixed your title like you wanted. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/4 "2015-03-24T14:04:37Z")
Another good year and lots of good choices. I went with RHCP, but most of them would’ve gotten my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/5 "2015-03-24T14:08:27Z")
Sarah McLachlan - “Angel”. Although a step down in quality from last year’s Adia, it is still a great song, and the only one in this bunch that I care for. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/6 "2015-03-24T14:08:48Z")
_Scar Tissue_ for me, but I could also have gone with Pearl Jam, Eagle-Eye Cherry or Everlast and felt good about my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/7 "2015-03-24T14:54:41Z")
There are a few good songs, but again there’s a whole lot of crap. I’ll have to vote later. Didn’t “Doo Wop (That Thing)” hit number one in 1998? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/8 "2015-03-24T14:56:22Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Didn’t “Doo Wop (That Thing)” hit number one in 1998? _God damn it_ You may consider any vote for that song to be an honorary vote for the #42 song of the year, “Mambo No. 5”. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/9 "2015-03-24T15:48:11Z")
Sorry Lauryn Hill, it has to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way.” That song is pure pop perfection. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/10 "2015-03-24T15:49:38Z")
Decent list. I voted for Sixpence None the Richer. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/11 "2015-03-24T16:11:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I voted for Smash Mouth, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Me too. Though I was tempted by Everlast and Third Eye Blind. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/12 "2015-03-24T16:14:19Z")
Lots of good stuff, very little garbage. Everlast gets my vote. Still a good song to listen to today. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/13 "2015-03-24T16:17:16Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > Sorry Lauryn Hill, it has to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way.” That song is pure pop perfection. Um, heaven help me, I agree. They got my vote as well. ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/14 "2015-03-24T16:40:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > _God damn it_ > > You may consider any vote for that song to be an honorary vote for the #42 song of the year, “Mambo No. 5”. Yeeeeeah, no let’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/15 "2015-03-24T18:32:44Z")
Sugar Ray and Smashmouth were the worst things to come out of the 90’s. I voted for Everlast, but there were several really good songs there. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/16 "2015-03-24T21:02:47Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I voted for Smash Mouth, and I’m not afraid to admit it. So did I, though I considered Everlast, Lenny Kravitz, and RHCP. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/17 "2015-03-24T21:50:02Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > There are a few good songs, but again there’s a whole lot of crap. I’ll have to vote later. > > Didn’t “Doo Wop (That Thing)” hit number one in 1998? > [@Smapti](#): > > _God damn it_ > > You may consider any vote for that song to be an honorary vote for the #42 song of the year, “Mambo No. 5”. I should have kept my stupid mouth shut! :mad: I voted for “Jumper.” Other contenders were “All Star” and “Can I Get A…” In dead-ass last place is another tie, just like 1998. “Every Morning” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much” should be capital offenses. It’s pretty bad when you’re worse than 98 Degrees, Mariah Carey, and Backstreet Boys. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/18 "2015-03-24T22:06:32Z")
My decision was a comfortable vote for “Kiss Me” by Sixpence Non The Richer. Reminded me and still does of a girl I had an emotional connection with in sixth grade. One of my strongest crushes ever, more so than any in adult hood. Plus the song really screams 1999 for me. Other choices that would have gotten my vote would be Lenny Kravitz, Shania Twain, Deborah Cox, Backstreet Boys, Third Eye Blind and maybe LFO. I voted for Sugar Ray’s “Every Morning” in the Alternative #1 poll, and while I like Smash Mouth, that song has not worn out well. Lauryn Hill’s song I voted for in the 1998 #1 poll series and so it is an accident showing up here. I guess I don’t vote for songs that already got my vote in other polls. Good year though. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/19 "2015-03-24T22:11:19Z")
I’ll be the sole vote so far for “Can I Get A…” God, this list is terrible. This is where pop rock started losing me as far as the Top 40 goes. “Doo Wop” would have been my vote otherwise, but it being a by-proxy vote for the execrable “Mambo 5” in the update? Hell no. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854/20 "2015-03-24T23:41:19Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > Another good year and lots of good choices. I went with RHCP, but most of them would’ve gotten my vote. Whenever I see ‘RHCP’ it always takes me a minute to not read it as ‘RHPS’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1999/715854.md?page=2)