1997 Points Chart

[Panda]

Approaching the end of the 1990s and 1997 was a bit of a status quo year in that not a great deal changed. The rapid turnover hits that took effect in 1996 continued, with the number of singles reaching the top 10 surpassing 200 for the first time and seven different no.1s in the first seven weeks of the year.

Britpop was still going strong, with Oasis' "Be Here Now" the most eagerly-anticipated album in decades. The band's third album was never going to live up to the hype and it was albums by Radiohead and the newly-reformed Verve that took most of the plaudits, while Oasis' old rivals Blur returned with an album that went completely against the grain of the Britpop movement they'd helped create.

Spice-mania was in full swing, with the girl group continuing their dominance, while Boyzone remained the top boy band. However, the success of both would eventually lead to manufactured pop establishing a stranglehold towards the top of the charts.

Top of the Pops remained the flagship music TV show but its 1996 move to Friday nights and a time slot that put it head-to-head with Coronation Street saw a drop in viewing figures. 1997 saw the departure of producer Ric Blaxill, who'd overseen the show's mid-90s revival, to be replaced by Chris Cowey, under whom the show started a slow and ultimately terminal decline.



A reminder of the points system: 1 point for no.40 in the singles chart, 2 points for no.39, all the way up to 37 points for no.4, then it's 40 points for no.3, 45 points for no.2 and 50 points for no.1.


Before the countdown, here are some of the songs that didn't make the top 40:


(position in end-of-year sales chart in brackets)


42(47) TORI AMOS - Professional Widow (Armand Van Helden Remix) (219 points)



Originally released five months earlier as a double a-side with "Hey Jupiter" and reaching no.20, this became the first new no.1 of the year. The track was an Armand van Helden remix of a song from her "Boys For Pele" album and bore little resemblance to the original other than the short vocal samples of Amos. The original was a harpsichord-driven industrial-sounding track, rumoured to be about Courtney Love, and was released as single in its own right in the US. The video for the remix was simply a compilation of previous Tori Amos videos.


43(41) WHITE TOWN - Your Woman (214 points)



A deliberate one-hit wonder, White Town was the alias of Indian-born Jyoti Mishra, who had spent most of his life in Derby and since the age of 16, had been making music in his bedroom and releasing them himself or through minor labels. Then this track came along. Radio 1's Mark Radcliffe championed the track, EMI signed Mishra and suddenly the song was a dead cert no.1 hit. Keen to remain out of the spotlight, Mishra didn't appear in the video or make any TV appearances to promote the single, and other than reaching no.57 with the follow-up "Undressed", he hasn't troubled the charts since, though he continues to make and release music.


48(57) NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems (194 points)



The second posthumous top 10 hit for Biggie Smalls after he was murdered in March, this track featured friends Puff Daddy and Mase and samples Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out". It topped the US chart (as did its predecessor "Hypnotise") and reached no.6 in the UK, Biggie's biggest UK hit until "Nasty Girl" topped the chart in 2006.


73(73) KATRINA & THE WAVES - Love Shine A Light (136 points)



The UK's first Eurovision winner since 1981, and to date, its last. This was the band's first top 40 hit since "Sun Street" in 1986. The track stormed to victory in Dublin, scoring a then-record 227 points and receiving at least 5 points from every country except Malta, who only gave it 1. It received 10 maximum scores and finished 70 points ahead of 2nd-placed Ireland.


98(88) CHEMICAL BROTHERS - Block Rockin' Beats (111 points)



A second no.1 hit for the duo after "Setting Sun" the previous year. This time, there was no help from Noel Gallagher and they managed to top the chart all on their own. The subsequent album "Dig Your Own Hole" also reached no.1 and is widely regarded as the one of the greatest albums released by an electronic act. This track won a somewhat niche Grammy for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance".


99(91) SEAHORSES - Love Is The Law (110 points)



A keenly-anticipated release due to it being the first music from a member of the Stone Roses since their split. This was the new band of Roses' guitarist John Squire. The lead vocalist was Chris Helme, who was invited to an audition after being spotted busking in York. This track was one of The Chart Show's "false" no.1s, eventually entering the chart at no.3.


128(-) BLUR - Song 2 (91 points)



The second single from their self-titled fifth album that saw them do a complete U-turn and make the most American-sounding record possible, when everyone else was falling over themselves to embrace "Cool Britannia". Just two minutes long, it reached no.2 in the UK and on a global level, has become the band's most famous track.


129(80) RADIOHEAD - Paranoid Android (91 points)

(WARNING: contains cartoon boobs and a man chopping himself up with an axe)


The first official single ("Lucky" had been released as part of the "Help" EP in 1995) from their third album "OK Computer", this was effectively Radiohead's "Bohemian Rhapsody" moment.


156(-) DAFT PUNK - Around The World (77 points)



The second top 10 hit from the French duo's "Homework" album, after "Da Funk". The very clever video was directed by Michel Gondry, who was reponsible for several other clever videos during this decade.


177(-) EELS - Novocaine For The Soul (64 points)



Eels never seemed like a particularly "chart" act but they managed not one, but two top 10 hits in 1997, with "Susan's House" following up this single. Both were taken from their acclaimed album "Beautiful Freak".


204(-) PORTISHEAD - All Mine (48 points)



The group's only top 10 hit, this was the lead single to their eponymous second album, the follow-up to the Mercury Prize-winning "Dummy". The video is highly unsettling, despite nothing particularly scary happening (apart from the subliminal face that appears towards the end). The song was later covered by Tom Jones as a duet with Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon on his 1999 album "Reload".

[Smurfie]

Some good tracks missing the Top 40 - a little over Professional Widow now, but Your Woman and All mine are fantastic.

[Panda]

Part 1 (40-36):

40(49) TEXAS - Say What You Want (222 points)
Top 40 run: 7-3-6-8-13-16-28-31-37



The group's first top 10 hit since their 1989 debut "I Don't Want A Lover", it sparked a tremendous run of success, which saw the Scottish band achieve 12 top 10 hits over the following decade. This track had been championed by Radio 1's Chris Evans, who made no secret of his crush on singer Sharleen Spiteri. It was taken from their fourth album "White On Blonde", which went on to sell 4 million copies worldwide.


39(12) OASIS - D'You Know What I Mean (238 points)
Top 40 run: 1-2-5-10-16-18-23-31



Oasis' first new music in two years was much-anticipated, with radio stations eagerly awaiting to go-ahead to play it. Eventually, a Scottish radio station broke the embargo and everyone else was allowed to start playing it, with Radio 1 airing it every couple of hours. What listeners got was a seven-minute monster that typified the over-the-top production that was present throughout the band's third album "Be Here Now". Radio 1 also gave a fair amount of airplay to b-side "Stay Young", which was so popular it was even played in addition to this track on the top 40 show when it entered at no.1, having sold 370,000 copies in its first week.


38(37) OLIVE - You're Not Alone (242 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-3-6-15-18-27-37



Originally released in 1996 and missing the top 40, it was slightly remixed and re-released in the spring of 1997, going straight to no.1. Follow-up "Outlaw" reached the top 20 but that would be their only other top 40 appearance. Singer Ruth-Ann Boyle later went on to sing on several Enigma albums.


37(43) THE VERVE - Bitter Sweet Symphony (246 points)
Top 40 run: 2-5-6-12-14-12-19-23-36



The band's comeback single, having split up two years earlier. It was the first single from their critically-acclaimed and commercially successful third album "Urban Hymns". It was accompanied by what would become one of the most recognisable videos of all-time. It entered the chart at no.2 and an even bigger hit was to come...


36(50) REMBRANDTS - I'll Be There For You (249 points)
Top 40 run: 11-5-7-12-12-22-31-22-29-25-33-39-36



A second chart run for the "Friends" theme tune, re-released due to show's increased popularity. It didn't quite match its no.3 peak of two years earlier but managed to make the top 5 for a second time, taking its overall points tally in excess of 500.

[Smurfie]

All of these I was expecting higher. Except Rembrandts, I had forgotten it re-entered and it’s kind of annoying song from an overrated tv series.

[Panda]

Part 2 (35-31):

35(45) ROSIE GAINES - Closer Than Close (256 points)
Top 40 run: 4-5-6-5-14-14-16-25-27-38



Slightly annoying dance tune from the former member of Prince's New Power Generation. She would have a second top 40 hit later in the year with "I Surrender".


34(30) SASH! ft LA TREC - Stay (256 points)
Top 40 run: 2-4-4-5-9-15-21-26-33



The third no.2 hit in a row for the German DJ. This track featured US singer La Trec, who really wasn't very good. We'll see more of Sash! later, but thankfully not La Trec.


33(33) BARBRA STREISAND & CELINE DION - Tell Him (257 points)
Top 40 run: 3-4-7-8-13-13-13-12



Sadly not a cover of the old Exciters song but an original track that was the lead single from Streisand's "Higher Love" album, as well as Dion's "Let's Talk About Love". The two had become friends after Dion sang "I Finally Found Someone" at the Oscars earlier in the year. Streisand had originally recorded the song with Bryan Adams but opted not to perform at the ceremony, where it was nominated for "Best Original Song". Natalie Cole was set to sing the song but pulled out at a couple of days' notice so Dion was asked to sing it, even though she was already scheduled to sing "Because You Loved Me" at the same show. Anyone who's fan of Streisand/Dion will have loved this track. For anyone else, this was the moment during the top 40 where you took your toilet break.


32(31) THE VERVE - The Drugs Don't Work (257 points)
Top 40 run: 1-3-4-10-15-20-20-27-30-35



The follow-up to "Bitter Sweet Symphony" was an even bigger hit, giving the Wigan band a no.1 single. The acoustic ballad very much completed the transition of their sound from the avant garde experimentational rock of their early work to mainstream rock, much to the chagrin of guitarist Nick McCabe, who was the last member Richard Ashcroft had persuaded to return when reforming the band. McCabe would also be the first to leave again and Ashcroft later claimed he'd already written the whole album on his own but "bottled it" and persuaded the others to come back so it could be released under The Verve's name. Within 18 months the band had split a second time and Ashcroft would launch a solo career. They reunited again in 2007, initially to tour, but ended up releasing a new album in 2008 before splitting for a third time.


31(13) ALL SAINTS - Never Ever (258 points)
Top 40 run: 3-5-6-5-4-4-4



A big hit at the end of the year, it would go on to become an even bigger hit at the start of 1998, firmly establishing the Anglo-Canadian quartet as the Spice Girls' main rivals in the girl group stakes. Its combined points total would've seen it top both the 1997 and 1998 lists.

[Panda]

Part 3 (30-26):

30(39) BACKSTREET BOYS - Everybody (Backstreet's Back) (259 points)
Top 40 run: 3-4-5-6-8-14-18-27-30-38



With Take That gone, several boy bands were starting to muscle for a slice of the pie and the Backstreet Boys' popularity was growing, especially with Boyzone slowly moving over to the highly lucrative grandma market. This was their third hit of the year, all of which reached the top 4. We'll be seeing them again later...


29(40) COOLIO ft 40 THEVZ- C U When You Get There (261 points)
Top 40 run: 3-4-7-9-9-10-15-23-32-39



Another top 10 hit for Coolio, and like his biggest hit, this was also taken from a film, "Nothing To Lose" starring Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins. This remains Coolio's final top 10 hit in the UK.


28(4) VARIOUS ARTISTS - Perfect Day (270 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-2-2-3-3



Originally intended as a self-congratulatory promotional film by the BBC, featuring some of the biggest names in music from a variety of genres, the positive public reaction to this version of Lou Reed's song led to it being released as a single in aid of Children In Need. It went straight to no.1 in November and returned to the top at the start of 1998. It features vocal performances from, in order of appearance: Lou Reed, Bono, Skye Edwards (Morcheeba), David Bowie, Suzanne Vega, Elton John, Boyzone, Lesley Garrett, Burning Spear, Thomas Allen, Heather Small (M People), Emmylou Harris, Tammy Wynette (in what was probably her last recording), Shane MacGowan, Dr. John, Robert Cray, Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin' Criminals), Ian Broudie (Lightning Seeds), Gabrielle, Evan Dando (Lemonheads), Brett Anderson (Suede), Visual Ministry Choir, Joan Armatrading, Laurie Anderson and Tom Jones. The original video was later updated to look more Christmassy. Each performer was paid the BBC-minimum £250
for their work but it went on to raise £2.1 million for Children In Need.


27(27) SASH! ft RODRIGUEZ - Ecuador (273 points)
Top 40 run: 2-2-6-6-11-16-18-23-28-37



Another appearance for Sash! and not the last...


26(32) CARDIGANS - Lovefool (274 points)
Top 40 run: 4-4-2-5-6-8-17-23-32



Originally a no.21 hit in 1996, it became the biggest hit of the band's career a year later when it was featured in Baz Luhrmann's version of "Romeo And Juliet".

[Panda]

Part 4 (25-21):

25(9) SPICE GIRLS - Spice Up Your Life (276 points)
Top 40 run: 1-2-3-4-10-20-24-29-34-37-29



The first single from their second album "Spiceworld", but the lowest of their three appearances in this list. Released in October, it spent just a week at no.1 after huge first week sales, but did manage to remain inside the top 40 until January. The lyrics reached new levels of nonsense, even by the Spice Girls' standards.


24(44) BLUE BOY - Remember Me (277 points)
Top 40 run: 9-13-8-10-9-10-13-16-24-27-38-38



This track only peaked at no.8 but spent 12 weeks in the top 40, eight of them inside the top 20. Blue Boy was the alias of British DJ Lex Blackmore. He would have a second top 40 hit later in the year with a re-release of one of his old tracks "Sandman".


23(35) SPICE GIRLS - 2 Become 1 (288 points)
Top 40 run: 1-6-11-18-18-17-19-24-27-30-33 / 31-27-34



The previous year's Christmas no.1, it enjoyed enough of a life in the New Year to make the top 40 of this list. Its combined points total would've put it at no.12 on this list.


22(15) SPICE GIRLS - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are? (298 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-1-2-6-15-19-25-38



This double a-side was the final single from "Spice" and was also the official Comic Relief single in 1997. That meant there were several versions of the video for "Who Do You Think You Are?" - the regular one shown above, and a more comedic one that featured French & Saunders, Lulu, Kathy Burke and Llewella Gideon as the Sugar Lumps.


21(36) SHOLA AMA - You Might Need Somebody (311 points)
Top 40 run: 7-7-6-7-4-7-7-12-23-27-33



The debut hit for the English soul singer this Turley Richards cover was the first of eight top 40 hits over the course of three years. She seemed destined for big things but after her second album was a commercial failure, she took a break from music. She re-emerged in 2004, providing vocals for the Pirates' "You Should Really Know", a response track to Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know".

[Smurfie]

Three massive hits by Spice Girls and then beaten by Shola Ama!

I cannot even tell you how I was massively over excited about Spice Up Your Life. A record shop I used to go to in Soho had a promo copy and played it but refused to tell anyone who it was by, then the penny dropped when they appeared on the National Lottery a few days later. My favourite Spice Girls song.

[Panda]

Mar 13, 2021 19:53:34 GMT 1 Smurfie said:

I cannot even tell you how I was massively over excited about Spice Up Your Life. A record shop I used to go to in Soho had a promo copy and played it but refused to tell anyone who it was by, then the penny dropped when they appeared on the National Lottery a few days later. My favourite Spice Girls song.

No-one guessed??

[Smurfie]

It was a white label demo. In fairness could’ve been anyone at the time!

[Panda]

Part 5 (20-16):

20(23) SARAH BRIGHTMAN & ANDREA BOCELLI - Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) (322 points)
Top 40 run: 2-2-4-3-3-12-13-15-24-28-39



The third operatic song to reach no.2 during the 1990s, following "Nessun Dorma" in 1990 and "Barcelona" in 1992, and like those two, it was linked to a sporting event, though that played no part in its success in the UK. The original Italian version of the song was recorded by Bocelli in 1995 and was a huge hit in France and Belgium but not the UK. The following year, he recorded a new version with Sarah Brightman, with English lyrics added. The new version came about due to the impending retirement of German boxer Henry Maske. The pair performed the song before and after his last fight and it soon became a massive hit in Germany. Its popularity spread in 1997 and it became an even bigger hit than the original version (though not in France or Belgium). Brightman had become something of duet specialist, having previously had hits alongside Jose Carreras, Michael Crawford, Cliff Richard, Steve Harley and Paul Miles-Kingston.


19(42) TINA MOORE - Never Gonna Let You Go (324 points)
Top 40 run: 7-11-9-12-9-11-11-17-15-23-21-28-35



The first big UK garage hit, this was a remix by Kelly G of a 1995 track by Moore. The track peaked at no.7 in its first week but spent nine weeks inside the top 20. Moore would have a second top 20 hit in 1998 with "Nobody Better".


18(19) DARIO G - Sunchyme (325 points)
Top 40 run: 2-3-2-3-5-6-10-15-21-34



The debut hit for the English act who were named after the long-serving Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi, this track sampled The Dream Academy's 1985 top 20 hit "Life In A Northern Town". It entered the charts at no.2, setting a new record for the largest gap in weekly sales between the no.1 and no.2 singles. We'll see the no.1 later. Dario G would have a second top 5 hit in 1998, with "Carnaval De Paris", released to coincide with the World Cup in France.


17(21) SASH! - Encore Une Fois (339 points)
Top 40 run: 2-4-4-5-6-9-9-14-15-20-33-38



The debut hit for the German dance act. This one featured guest vocals by Sabine Ohmes, who like faux-Spaniard Rodriguez, who appeared on "Ecuador", was actually German too. Each of Sash!'s first four singles was in a different language: French, Spanish, English and Italian.


16(8) NATALIE IMBRUGLIA - Torn (339 points)
Top 40 run: 2-2-2-4-5-9-8-8-8



A huge hit at the end of the year for the former "Neighbours" star-turned singer. This was a cover of a song first recorded by Danish singer Lis Sorensen, later recorded by American band Ednaswap, whose singer Anne Preven co-wrote the song, and then by American-Norwegian Trine Rein. However, it would be the Australian's version that would become the best-known. It was produced by Phil Thornalley who was also one of the song's co-writers and was a hit across Europe, as well as topping the US airplay chart. On a recent list of the most played songs on British TV and radio of the 2010s, it was the only 90s song to make the top 40. Imbruglia would continue to have hits over the next decade, including four more top 10 appearances. "Torn" remained in the top 40 until mid-February and its combined points total would've put it at no.4 on this list.

[Panda]

Part 6 (15-11):

15(11) HANSON - MmmBop (341 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-1-3-4-7-14-18-22-31-40



The debut hit for the brothers from Oklahoma, going straight in at no.1 at the start of the June. With a combined age of just 41, Isaac, Taylor and Zac looked set to be the next big thing in pop and their album "Middle Of Nowhere" topped the UK chart. However, commercial success beyond that was patchy and they haven't had a top 10 hit since 2004. Here's something that will make you feel old: between them, the three Hanson brothers have 15 children.


14(25) BACKSTREET BOYS - As Long As You Love Me (357 points)
Top 40 run: 3-4-6-8-7-11-12-16-17-25-25-23-21



Another of those tracks that benefitted a lot by managing to stick around until the end of they year, putting it higher on this list than it would've been if it had been released a couple of months earlier. This was the US boy band's fourth hit of the year, all of them reaching the top 4. They would have another no.2 hit early in 1998 before achieving their only no.1 with "I Want It That Way" in 1999.


13(29) EN VOGUE - Don't Let Go (Love) (366 points)
Top 40 run: 5-9-9-10-5-6-5-6-12-15-21-32-32



A new entry in the first chart of the year, this track peaked at no.5 not once, not twice, but thrice. It didn't match the no.4 peak of "My Love" but was their biggest-selling single in the UK. In the US, it gave them their third no.2 single. This was the group's last single to feature Dawn Robinson, who sang lead vocals on this track. The group continues today but hasn't had a top 40 hit in the UK since 2000.


12(17) GALA - Freed From Desire (378 points)
Top 40 run: 4-3-4-2-3-5-5-9-13-20-24-32



The debut hit for Italian singer/songwriter Gala Rizzatto, it was initially a success in France and Belgium in 1996 before catching on across the rest of Europe in 1997. The track has received a new lease of life in the UK in recent years, having been adopted as a terrace song by football fans, as well as being used at televised darts tournaments. Follow-up "Let A Boy Cry" was also a huge hit in Europe, but only peaked at no.11 in the UK.


11(16) ETERNAL & BEBE WINANS - I Wanna Be The Only One (391 points)
Top 40 run: 1-2-2-2-6-7-9-16-17-17-22-28



The group's 11th top 10 hit and the only no.1, this gospel track was a collabaoration with BeBe Winans, who wrote and produced their early single "Crazy", and co-wrote this track. Follow-up "Angel Of Mine" would be their last top 10 hit with Kelle Bryan departing the group after, leaving just the Bennett sisters Easther and Vernie. Their first hit as a duo "What'cha Gonna Do?" would also be their last. Bryan rejoined in 2013 as the group took part in ITV's "The Big Reunion" and performed this track alongside Winans at the Hammersmith Apollo.

[Panda]

Part 7 (10-6):

10(24) DJ QUICKSILVER - Bellissima (398 points)
Top 40 run: 6-7-4-4-5-9-10-10-11-14-20-19-26-33-39



Another big dance hit from Europe, this one courtesy of German-Turkish DJ Orhan Terzi. This track enjoyed a long run on the chart, spending 12 weeks inside the top 20. He would have two further UK hits in the 12 months following, including another top 10 hit with "Free".


9(20) ULTRA NATE - Free (404 points)
Top 40 run: 5-4-7-6-4-8-5-8-11-13-16-19-27-37



Another long-running dance tune that also spent 12 weeks inside the top 20. Ultra Naté (her real name) was a singer from Maryland who had her breakthrough with this track, which she co-wrote and unsurprisingly, performed well throughout Europe. Naté would have a second top 10 hit in the UK in 1998 with "Found A Cure". This is the highest placed song on the list that didn't reach the top 2 in the UK.


8(18) NO MERCY - Where Do You Go? (422 points)
Top 40 run: 10-5-5-2-2-3-4-7-9-12-15-20-32-40



No Mercy were a Latino boy band consisting of three guys from goes from Miami who teamed up with German producer Frank Farian for a successful run between 1995 and 1998. They'd already had a hit in Germany and Switzerland with a cover of Everything But The Girl's "Missing" before having a worldwide hit with this La Bouche cover. It reached no.2 in the UK, no.1 in Ireland and no.5 in the US. The follow-up "Please Don't Go" (not a cover) also reached the top 5 in the UK but they never managed another hit over here.


7(6) WILL SMITH - Men In Black (468 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-1-1-2-4-5-9-8-14-16-25-24



There weren't as many big movie hits in 1997 but there are still a couple high up the list, starting with this one. Taken from the film of the same name, it was Smith's debut solo single, having previously featured alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff. It signalled the start of a highly successful dual career, which saw him have nine top 5 hits in the UK, before he put music aside to focus on becoming a "serious" actor. The track was based around Patrice Rushen's 1982 song "Forget Me Nots". It topped the chart in the UK and across Europe and reached no.1 on the US Airplay chart but wasn't eligible for the main Hot 100 due to it not being released as a physical single over there.


6(7) NO DOUBT - Don't Speak (470 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-1-2-4-3-3-3-6-11-16-23-32-40



This song had already become huge in the US almost a year before it was released over in the UK, topping the airplay chart for 16 weeks. It eventually became a hit in the UK in February and was the first no.1 of 1997 to spend more than a week at the top. Taken from their third album "Tragic Kingdom", the song was inspired by singer Gwen Stefani's break-up with bass player Tony Kanal, which almost led to the end of the band. It paved the way to No Doubt becoming one of the most popular bands in the world, though surprisingly they would only have two more top 10 hits in the UK: the re-released "Just A Girl", which had been a minor hit in 1996, and "Hey Baby", which reached no.2 in 2001. The band has never officially split but hasn't released a new album since 2012, with singer Gwen Stefani enjoying a successful solo career as well as having three children with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale of Bush.

[Panda]

Part 8 (5-1):

5(14) R KELLY - I Believe I Can Fly (472 points)
Top 40 run: 2-5-1-1-1-2-5-5-8-10-13-25-28-38



The dirty fecker. This was taken from the animated/live action film "Space Jam", starring basketball legend Michael Jordan.


4(2) AQUA - Barbie Girl (479 points)
Top 40 run: 2-1-1-1-1-2-3-3-3-6-7



Catchy and annoying in (not quite) equal measure, and cleverer than they get credit for, this was the debut hit for the Danish-Norwegian group. The track entered the UK chart at no.2 behind "Spice Up Your Life" in October but knocked the Spice Girls off after just a week, going on to spend four weeks at no.1 and remaining in the top 10 until January. The track was a hit all over the world, including in the US, where it reached the top 10. It was the second-biggest selling single of the year in the UK and the first of three consecutive chart-toppers for the group, the other two coming in 1998.


3(10) CHUMBAWAMBA - Tubthumping (512 points)
Top 40 run: 2-2-2-3-5-3-5-7-6-8-10-12-17-20-31-36-38



After 15 years together, Chumbawamba achieved their first top 40 hit and it was a massive one, spending three weeks at no.2 behind "Men In Black", and 11 weeks in the top 10. It topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland and Italy and was a top 10 hit in the US. It was nominated for Best Single at the 1998 Brit Awards, where they performed the track and band member Danbert Nobacon famously threw a bucket of water of then-Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The group would have a second top 10 hit in 1998 with "Amnesia".


2(1) ELTON JOHN - Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight (620 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-1-1-1-3-3-4-5-7-11-10-11-10-11-10



So the biggest-selling single since records began comes in at no.2 on the points list. In reality, it simply ran out weeks, finishing just 22 points behind our no.1. It began 1998 at no.13, which would've been enough to top this list. This single was a double a-side featuring "Something About The Way You Look Tonight" from his album "The Big Picture", but the reason it sold in such huge numbers was the re-recorded version of "Candle In The Wind", released following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. In the days after her death, Elton was asked by Richard Branson, of all people, to sing at her funeral, and his long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin was given the task of creating new lyrics for the song, originally written about Marilyn Monroe. Just weeks earlier, Diana had comforted Elton at the funeral of their mutual friend Gianni Versace. Elton performed the song at her funeral in front of an estimated worldwide television audience of 2.5 billion. It remains the only time Elton has performed this version of the song live. Immediately following the funeral, recording of the track began, with George Martin producing. It was released seven days later, on a Saturday, selling over 600,000 copies on its first day - enough for it to debut at no.1 that week. In its first full week on sale, it sold over 1.5 million copies and went on to become the UK's biggest-selling single of al-time, selling almost 5 million copies. It sold in huge amounts around the world, selling 11 million copies in the US, where it spent 10 weeks at no.1, and its global sales are estimated at 33 million.


1(3) PUFFY DADDY ft FAITH EVANS & 112 - I'll Be Missing You (642 points)
Top 40 run: 1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-3-4-6-5-11-12-18-27-34-40



This year's list is topped by another track written as tribute to someone no longer with us. This one was a tribute by Puff Daddy (AKA Sean Combs AKA P Diddy AKA Diddy) to his longtime friend Notorious BIG (AKA Biggie Smalls AKA Christopher Wallace). The track also featured Biggie's widow Faith Evans. The track, which borrowed heavily from the Police's "Every Breath You Take" was a worldwide chart-topper and the 3rd biggest seller of the year on both sides of the Atlantic. This was really the start of Diddy's career as a recording artist, having previously focused on production and being the boss of Bad Boy Records. Whilst he hasn't had the same success in the UK as he has in the US, he's still managed eight further top 10 hits as a lead artist. He's also made a number of acting appearances, most notably in the 2010 comedy "Get Him To The Greek".

[Panda]

Top 100:

1(3) Puffy Daddy & Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You
2(1) Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight
3(10) Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
4(2) Aqua - Barbie Girl
5(14) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
6(7) No Doubt - Don't Speak
7(6) Will Smith - Men In Black
8(18) No Mercy - Where Do You Go?
9(20) Ultra Naté - Free
10(24) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
11(16) Eternal & Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One
12(17) Gala - Freed From Desire
13(29) En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)
14(25) Backstreet Boys - As Long As You Love Me
15(21) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
16(11) Hanson - MmmBop
17(8) Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
18(19) Dario G - Sunchyme
19(42) Tina Moore - Never Gonna Let You Go
20(23) Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli - Time To Say Goodbye
21(36) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
22(15) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
23(35) Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
24(44) Blue Boy - Remember Me
25(9) Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life
26(32) Cardigans - Lovefool
27(27) Sash! ft Rodriguez - Ecuador
28(4) Various Artists - Perfect Day
29(40) Coolio - C U When You Get There
30(39) Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
31(13) All Saints - Never Ever
32(31) The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work
33(33) Barbra Streisand & Celine Dion - Tell Him
34(30) Sash! ft La Trec - Stay
35(45) Rosie Gaines - Closer Than Close
36(50) Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You
37(43) The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
38(37) Olive - You're Not Alone
39(12) Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean?
40(49) Texas - Say What You Want
41(53) Mr. President - Coco Jamboo
42(47) Tori Amos - Professional Widow
43(41) White Town - Your Woman
44(51) Eternal - Angel Of Mine
45(56) Backstreet Boys - Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
46(52) Meredith Brooks - Bitch
47(28) Steven Houghton - Wind Beneath My Wings
48(57) Notorious BIG - Mo Money Mo Problems
49(5) Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say 'Eh-Oh!'
50(67) Blackstreet - Don't Leave Me
51(54) Bee Gees - Alone
52(48) Boyzone - Picture Of You
53(26) Boyzone - Baby Can I Hold You
54(59) Lutricia McNeal - Ain't That Just The Way
55(66) Janet Jackson - Got 'Til It's Gone
56(63) Madonna - Don't Cry For Me Argentina
57(71) PF Project ft Ewan McGregor - Choose Life
58(68) Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart
59(75) Todd Terry - Something Goin' On
60(74) Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing
61(77) Damage - Wonderful Tonight
62(98) Whitney Houston - Step By Step
63(64) 911 - Bodyshakin'
64(60) Kula Shaker - Hush
65(83) All Saints - I Know Where It's At
66(90) Steps - 5, 6, 7, 8
67(34) Janet Jackson - Together Again
68(62) LL Cool J - Ain't Nobody
69(93) Mariah Carey - Honey
70(70) Dannii Minogue - All I Wanna Do
71(-) Brand New Heavies - You've Got A Friend
72(38) Robbie Williams - Angels
73(73) Katrina & The Waves - Love Shine A Light
74(94) Louise - Let's Go Round Again
75(46) Oasis - Stand By Me
76(76) Fugees - Rumble In The Jungle
77(84) Hanson - Where's The Love?
78(96) Mary J Blige - Everything
79(86) N-Trance - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?
80(81) Eternal - Don't You Love Me?
81(55) U2 - Discotheque
82(58) Boyzone - Isn't It A Wonder?
83(-) The Course - Ready Or Not
84(65) Gary Barlow - Love Won't Wait
85(89) The Source & Candi Staton - You Got The Love '97
86(99) Shola Ama - You're The One I Love
87(92) No Doubt - Just A Girl
88(-) R Kelly - Gotham City
89(95) Louise - Arms Around The World
90(-) Shaggy ft Marsha - Piece Of My Heart
91(-) Gina G - Fresh
92(87) Wet Wet Wet - If I Never See You Again
93(-) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Love Rollercoaster
94(79) Robbie Williams - Old Before I Die
95(78) Warren G - I Shot The Sheriff
96(-) Bellini - Samba De Janeiro
97(-) Toni Braxton - I Don't Want To
98(88) Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
99(91) Seahorses - Love Is The Law
100(72) George Michael - You Have Been Loved

[onehitwonder]

Mar 13, 2021 22:00:45 GMT 1 Panda said:

Mar 13, 2021 19:53:34 GMT 1 Smurfie said:

I cannot even tell you how I was massively over excited about Spice Up Your Life. A record shop I used to go to in Soho had a promo copy and played it but refused to tell anyone who it was by, then the penny dropped when they appeared on the National Lottery a few days later. My favourite Spice Girls song.

No-one guessed??

I think Melanie C's vocals would give it away!? No?