| This |
Tot
wks |
| Peak |
| Number One |
| 1
| 9
|
| MILLENNIUM
| I've Been Expecting You
|
| Robbie Williams
|
|
1
|
| For the first six months of the year, it appeared that "Angels" was never ever going to be torn away from the radio. It took the guy's new single, featuring a hook from some old song or other, to break the deadlock and reduce his old material to filler. Only, this new one is a total pile of pants, based on a loop from some old and pass&eactue; Bond theme.
|
| 2
| 8
|
| CRUSH
| Jennifer Paige
|
| Jennifer Paige
|
|
3
|
| A slight, insubstantial piece of pop-lite. It's nice in small doses, but two plays a day is too many.
|
| Sureshot |
| 3
| 5
|
| I DON'T WANNA MISS A THING
| Armageddon OST
|
| Aerosmith
|
|
2
|
| Carry on at this rate, and it's going to bring Aerosmith's wait for a British number one to an end. Beating the #8 they had (uncredited) with Run DMC's "Walk This Way" in '86, and their #12 team best - "Love in an Elevator". It's the standout track from a hit-packed soundtrack, and further proof that Tyler and co can really make the great ballads. Written, of course, from the golden pen of Diane Warren (see: Leann Rimes' Hit)
|
| 4
| 10
|
| NO MATTER WHAT |
Whistle Down the Wind
|
| Boyzone |
|
1 |
|
The third single lifted from Lord Loud-Webby's new musical is a pleasant enough song, but nothing to write home about. It provides the 'Zone with their third list-leading hit, and means they break Kylie's mark by going top 5 with all of their first 12 releases. This becomes Lord Hyphen's third chart-topper, following Julie Covington's hit with "Don't Cry for me Argentina" back in 1978, and Jason Donovan's remake of "Any Dream Will Do" in 1991. Writer Jim Steinmann also gets his third topper, following Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" from 83, and Meatloaf's "I'd do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" ten years later.
|
| September's Single Of The Month |
| 5
| 6
|
| FINALLY FOUND
| Wonder Number 8
|
| Honeyz
|
|
7 |
| Oh, this is wonderful. A sweet dose of female R&B, and British to boot.
|
| 6
| 10
|
| TO THE MOON AND BACK |
Savage Garden |
| Savage Garden
|
|
2 |
| So, the song that follows up "Truly Madly Deeply" and becomes a massive hit is the exact same song that preceeded TMD, and flopped totally last October. Quite why radio didn't pick up on the tune then has remained a mystery; that this becomes a deserved hit for the Aussie duo is a clear fact.
|
| 7
| 9
|
| WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME?
| Talk on Corners |
| Coors
|
|
3 |
|
It took a Fleetwood Mac cover for Ireland's biggest family group of the moment (except for those moments when that's B*Witched) to break it big in the UK. They've now re-released their previous track which fell short in March. Only, rather than the original soft love song, there's a bass-heavy mix that rather ruins the fragility of the track. Shame, really.
|
| 8
| 6
|
| ONE FOR SORROW
| Step One
|
| Steps
|
|
6 |
| The third hit single from Steps may be the first one that follows the usual route of entering high and falling down. This reminds a lot of people of some ABBA hit, but no-one can quite put their finger on which one. We think it's "The Winner Takes it All", used as the backing track of the chorus. Really observant people will have played Spot the Sample on the verse, and found the bass line from "(Can you) Feel It" from the Jacksons or Tamperer, and N-Trance's "Set you free" taken for the rainfall at the beginning. But there's no place for the drum motif from Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy".
|
| August's Single Of The Month |
| 9
| 10
|
| EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT
| |
| Sweetbox
|
|
4 |
| Based on Bach's Air on a G string, as was the classic "Whiter Shade of Pale", this is a slow, sensuous tune, with some haunting vocals. It's brilliant. It's wonderful.
|
| 10
| 9
|
| IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT
| This is My Truth, Tell Me Yours |
| Manic Street Preachers
|
|
1 |
| The Welsh wizards are back, and still only have one good song to their name. This is not the fifth re-hash of it. In fact, this is just tedious.
|
| 11
| 8
|
| MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU
| |
| Stardust |
|
2 |
| In reality, this is half the French techno duo Daft Punk under a pseudonym. The anthem of the summer at the clubs in the Med finally gets released, and becomes the obligatory tune that's going to get everywhere but no-one will remember fondly in years to come. It's so-so techno, really nothing to write home about. Kevin Greening, the best DJ on Radio 1, thinks this is the worst big hit of the year. I can't disagree.
|
| 12
| 5
|
| BOOTY CALL
| All Saints |
| All Saints
|
|
2 |
|
Tedious, tacky, tripe. Is this the same group that released the sublime "Never Ever"?
|
| 13
| 3
|
| I WANT YOU BACK
| Why Do Fools Fall In Love OST
|
| Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott & Mel B
|
|
2
|
|
I'm not entirely sure what to make of this one. On the face of it, it's typical of Elliott's previous waxings, more yowl and bawl than sensible. But there's something that makes this rise a little above the crowd; I'm not sure what. It's the first release by a Spice Girl away from the group; I expect to see more solo and semi-solo releases while the group still lasts.
|
| Sureshot |
| 14
| 4
|
| THE INCIDENTALS
| Illumina
|
| Alisha's Attic
|
|
7
|
| Another sultry blend of easy listening orchestrations with sharp words. They're back, and we've kinda missed them.
|
| 15
| 9
|
| MYSTERIOUS TIMES |
Life Goes On |
| Sash! feat Tina Cousins
|
|
4 |
| He had to run out of languages eventually... Back to English for his fifth hit, Sash! makes another instantly accessible slice of Europop, and another rather good one at that.
|
| 16
| 3
|
| PERFECT TEN
| Quench
|
| Beautiful South
|
|
2
|
| Paul Heaton gets all lustful about some womin with a bog-standard body, while Briana Corrigan voices the acerbic responses. They did it before, on "36D" off of "0898", the album before the album before last, but that wasn't a hit. This is, mainly because it's the first new South material in almost two years.
|
| 17
| 4
| |
10
|
| Oh sister. Is there no getting away from this tripe? A flimsy, piss-poor excuse for a record, yakking on about the joys of (er) umming next to the sea. Evidently no-one quite remembers that a) most of the beaches in Britain are shingle beaches, complete with sharp stones in delicate places, and b) it's so cold that there's another reason it won't happen. And the record doesn't have the complete silliness of Pizzaman's "Sex on the Streets" from early 96, or LaTour's bass-heavy "People Are Still Having Sex" from 91.
|
| 18
| 5
|
| EVERYBODY GET UP
| Five |
| Five
|
|
6 |
|
It's the first record I know of to use Joan Jett's classic "I love Rock & Roll". Shame that's the best part of the track, really. But it has given DJs the excuse to dust off the original, an excuse that exactly none of them have taken.
|
| 19
| 2
|
| ROLLERCOASTER
| B*Witched
|
| B*Witched
|
|
1
|
| They're back! The first band with two singles to debut at #1 since (er) Baddiel and Skinner return with Single Two. It's almost a remake of the first one, with one of the worst rhyming couplets this side of Des'ree - rhyming "birds and bees" with "skinned our knees". But it's better than much of the other new stuff at the mo.
|
| 20
| 15
|
| SAVE TONIGHT |
Desireless |
| Eagle-Eye Cherry |
|
4 |
| This is still such a wonderful track. It combines a hard, almost grungy, beat with a fragility and delicacy that's a joy to behold. And it is one of the best records of this year. |
| 21
| 19
|
| THE BOY IS MINE |
Never Say Never |
| Brandy & Monica |
|
2 |
| This slow, sultry hit comes as something of a pleasant surprise. Neither Brandy nor Monica had had a significant UK hit until now. Their pairing is one of the most sublime - and successful - soul records to hit the stores in a very long time. |
| 22
| 6
|
| MY FAVOURITE MISTAKE
| The Globe Sessions
|
| Sheryl Crow
|
|
13 |
|
Another slice of the same old country rock that Sheryl always makes. I do wish she had the confidence to vary the recipe a little.
|
| 23
| 6
|
| SOMEONE LOVES YOU
| Lutricia McNeil
|
| Lutricia McNeil
|
|
13
|
|
The third single is almost exactly in the mould Lutrish is carving out for herself: soft, gently soul with a radio-friendly edge. And with the Eternal key-change about 40 seconds from the end.
|
| 24
| 15
|
| GHETTO SUPERSTAR |
Ghetto Superstar
|
| Pras Michel, ODB and Mya |
|
1 |
| The third member of the Fugees opens his solo career, and has the biggest solo hit - and first number one - of any of them. Wyclef Jean produces, while the Mya singing is no relation to the Maya of the chimney on her. She is, however, performing to the tune of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's hit "Islands in the stream". Pras is, we now find, the Fugee who enlivened every "Top of the Pops" performances by rhythmicly chanting "Top of the Pop! Top of the Pop!" at some point. |
| 25
| 11
|
| VIVA FOREVER |
Spiceworld |
| Spice Girls |
|
1 |
| Apparently, the Spices should be a spent force now. Reduced to a four piece, lasting beyond their two-year sell-by date, and their last single barely made the top. Pah! This one shifts 425,000 (full-priced) copies in thirteen days to become the fastest selling single of the year, and storm to the top by a country mile. It becomes, of course, their eighth number one from as many releases, a track record that puts their popularity on a par with the Beatles' heyday in the early 60s. |
| Sureshot |
| 26
| 2
| |
14
|
| Laid back, soulful, uplifting grooves. This should be massive on the radio; instead, it's only quite big. Madness...
|
| 27
| 6
|
| GOD IS A DJ
| Sunday 8pm
|
| Faithless
|
|
17 |
|
The love-hate relationship with Sister Bliss, Rollo, and any passing friends continues. Always heavy house, sometimes wonderful ("Don't Leave"), sometimes poor (er, this).
|
| Sureshot |
| 28
| 3
| |
18
|
| It may be top of the Modern Rock charts in the US, but don't try to buy it in the shops. Instead, try coming to Britain, where Fastball's oddball mixture of early Beatles and Tex-Mex has won them friends, if not quite as much influence as they should.
|
| 29
| 2
|
| DOO-WOP (DAT THING)
| The Miseducation Of...
|
| Lauryn Hill
|
|
9
|
| The third and last Fugee to have a top 10 hit on her own. I'm beginning to come round to the charms of this track: subtle seems to be the best word to describe it. Certainly worth the listens...
|
| 30
| 6
|
| THE AIR THAT I BREATHE
| Blue |
| Simply Red
|
|
10 |
| Very limp Hollies cover, with no redeeming features whatsoever. Sometimes, all I need is a shotgun...
|
| 31
| 5
| |
10 |
| The largest thing to come out of Iceland since the last weather report's temperatures is a simple pop tune that has gone down a storm in Scandanavia, and has been picking up airplay over here for the past two months.
|
| 32
| 14
|
| LIFE |
Supernatural |
| Des'ree |
|
6 |
| This is Des'ree's biggest hit - and one of her greatest affronts to both punctuation and sensible lyrics, rhyming "seen a ghost" and "thing I fear the most" with "have a piece of toast". It's workmanlike soul, not her best, but certainly not bad. |
| 33
| 16
|
| LOOKING FOR LOVE |
|
| Karen Ramirez |
|
8 |
| Three years ago, Everything But The Girl were nonentities, known only for a Rod Stewart cover, and their status as perrenial student faves who never crossed into the mainstream. Then Todd Terry remixed "Missing" from their "Amplified Heart" album and turned it into a worldwide smash. On the same album was a track called "Looking for love", which has now been re-made by a rising British r&b singer. The effect is clearly meant to resemble "Missing", and it succeeds in doing that. The problem is that this isn't such a good song to start with, and the result is insipid. Radio seems to love it, though. |
| 34
| 8
|
| JUST THE TWO OF US |
Big Willie Style |
| Will Smith |
|
4 |
| Sometimes, the venom with which I hate a certain record surprises even me. A case in point is this record. It's by Will Smith, which isn't the best of starts, but that's a minor detail. It's been held up for something like three months - ostensibly, while the greatest hits package of (DJ) Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Smith taking the latter role - came and went, and just happens to be released in the aftermath of the birth of his lover's (or is it wife-of-the-week's) child. It's based on Grover Washington Junior's very minor hit (#34, believe it or not) from 1981. It's a love song with a sick twist: from New Rapping Father to Unsuspecting And Hugely Embarrassed Child, with absolutely no mention of the mother in all of this. And the whole thing makes me want to hurl. It's just the most insufferably abysmal, tuneless, hypocritical track. Now, where did I leave my copy of "Forget-me-nots"? |
| Sureshot |
| 35
| 2
|
| ADIA
| Surfacing
|
| Sarah MacLachlan
|
|
16
|
| The most famous singer ever to come from Halif*x finally kick-starts her UK career with this fabulous gem. Heck, you probably know this as well as I do, if not better.
|
| 36
| 4
|
| SOMETIMES
| Sometimes |
| Tintinout feat Shelly Nelson
|
|
19 |
|
The follow up to the massive "...Story Ends" is another slice from the same cake. Fine in theory, but as radio stations are still playing the original, one wonders why they bother.
|
| 37
| 7
|
| COME WITH ME |
Godzilla OST |
| Jimmy Page and Puff Daddy |
|
5 |
| This is Led Zepplin's Kashmir, remade here in honour of the abysmal movie about a big lizard stomping over New York. And, no, we're not referring to Liz here. This is a way better song than Jamiroquai's track, and almost makes me want to go out and do something really silly, like listen to it again. |
| March's Single Of The Month |
| 38
| 30
|
| HOW DO I LIVE |
You Light Up My Life |
| Leann Rimes |
|
4 |
| When this first came out in March, I remarked on Leann's 26 week residence in the US top 10, and pointed out that she probably wouldn't repeat the feat in the UK. Whoops. The 15 year old American sensation has become the biggest breakthrough act of the year with a single that's been on the charts for nearly 4% of her whole life. Also from the Golden Pen of Diane Warren (see also: Aerosmith's Top 10 Hits) |
| 39
| 3
|
| HORSE AND CARRIAGE
|
|
| Cam'ron featuring Ma$e
|
|
24
|
| Not a cover of the old Sinatra number. Shame: that could be interesting...
|
| Sureshot |
| 40
| 1
|
| STAND BY ME
| 4 The Cause
|
| 4 The Cause
|
|
15
|
| File, if you must, under "Slightly Pointless Covers of Soul Classics". The original spent three weeks at the top in '87 after featuring in a jeans commercial, after becoming a top 10 hit in 1966. This cover, by the 4-piece Chicago family group, is a credible re-make, that adds harmonies in a decent way. No thumping beat, no unfair effects, just the four of them. Not a patch on the original, but still good.
|