97 Words: “Crush (Dance Mix)” by Jennifer Paige

Vincent Anthony
2 Min Read

This song is part of our “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist. Check out the full list.

They don’t call ’em one-hit wonders for nothing. “Crush,” one such wonder from 1998, was the first and only pop hit by Jennifer Paige. Her debut single managed to become a runaway success thanks to its irresistibly infectious chorus that became an anthem for anyone with a crush, innocent or otherwise. The perfect sonic snapshot of nondescript 90s pop, “Crush” is perfectly unforgettable yet unremarkable. It’ll transport you back to a simpler time: of cassette mixtapes, CD Walkmans, and secret crushes. If you’re too young to remember it firsthand, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Watch the video, stream the dance mix, or purchase a piece of 90s history.


In celebration of summer, the staff at THE 97 has compiled a playlist containing some of our favorite summer songs, from then and now. Each day we will reveal one song, rotating daily between past and present with pairings from 1998 and 2023, for a total of 97 days/songs. Since we love nostalgia, we’re celebrating summer songs from 1998 as they turn 25, alongside new songs that we feel deserve some shine. Pairings could be thematic, sonic, or based connections between the artists.

Check out our full “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist here.

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Vincent is the founder of the magazine and has had a strong passion for popular music since, well, 1997! If it's not obvious, his favorite artists include Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, P!nk, and many more. Vincent lives in New York, where he is a high school English teacher, and currently he is pursuing a Master's in Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.