Number One Song Of 1997 [upd] Site

So technically:

Commercially, "Candle in the Wind 1997" operated in a different dimension than other chart-toppers of the era. It competed against heavy hitters like Puff Daddy’s "I'll Be Missing You" (another song of mourning) and the unstoppable "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls. Yet, John’s ballad transcended the competition because it ceased to be a pop song and became a cultural artifact. It was not played in clubs; it was played in living rooms and funeral homes. The B-side, a newly written track titled "Something About the Way You Look Tonight," was arguably a stronger pop contender by conventional standards, but the public ignored it in favor of the tribute. The single sold over 33 million copies worldwide, a figure that speaks not to musical preferences, but to the human need for a tangible way to process loss. number one song of 1997

A bubblegum pop phenomenon that reached number one in May and stayed there for three weeks. So technically: Commercially, "Candle in the Wind 1997"

But the crown—both commercial and symbolic—belongs to It wasn’t just a #1 song; it was a global moment of mourning, making it the inarguable “number one song of 1997” in cultural memory. It was not played in clubs; it was

It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 14 weeks, 12 of which occurred in 1997.

In the United Kingdom, there was no contest. The song entered at #1 on September 21, 1997, and stayed for five weeks, becoming the UK’s best-selling single of all time. It was the official Christmas #1 that year as well. The emotional resonance of Diana’s death—she was often called “the People’s Princess” in Britain—made the song a national touchstone.