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Posted by: BillyH 5th November 2015, 12:18 AM

Are there any songs that topped the chart in 2005 that would still be huge, perhaps #1, if they were released today? Not in a re-issue or re-release sense, but if they'd never been released before and were a brand new single from the original artist or group.

To avoid this getting too complicated (some groups having long split up, the CD single market that allowed the Elvis re-issues to happen now being nonexistent) don't get too caught up thinking about the artists or release methods themselves, but simply consider it based on the songs. Cast aside Madonna's age and recent chart performance and just imagine if 'Hung Up' came out today and if people would buy it or not. And try not to just turn it into listing your favourite songs Doesn't matter how much you hated Westlife or the Crazy Frog, think about the song and if it would have a genuine shot at the top today.

The list can be viewed http://www.deego.co.uk/no1/2005.htm amongst other places, and in a rough order starting with the most likely, I think these might have a strong chance:

James Blunt - You're Beautiful


Sorry, I know it's got a lot of haters, but it's the biggest shoe-in out the lot for me. An easy #1 in any year since at least the 1990s, indeed in today's sales/streaming climate it would probably sell a million within a few weeks.

2Pac feat. Elton John - Ghetto Gospel


Another one which would get there with ease, 2Pac's legacy still huge almost 20 years after his death - he'd already been gone for nine years by the time this was made.

Sugababes - Push The Button


Ok, it would be pretty astonishing if Keisha, Mutya and Heidi were still recording as the Sugababes today - particularly as all three in their 30s. But tell that to John Legend and Rachel Platten, who predate the three of them and have both hit #1 this year. But as mentioned it isn't about the artists and chart success, it's about the song - and no matter which girl group were to record and release this in 2015, it would still be an easy #1 I think. It doesn't have the mid-noughties R&B trappings that most other pop had at the time, stood out a fair bit then and would still now.

Westlife - You Raise Me Up


Yeah. I know. But imagine if One Direction did this today, instant huge chart-topper. Even if Westlife were still around, this is one of their easiest major ballad smashes and I did kinda (secretly) like it until it became the ultimate cliche you're-through-to-the-finals slow-motion hugging X Factor soundtrack.

Akon - Lonely


I had to think about this one. It's a very of-its-time mid-noughties R&B track, but that fifties/sixties sound is mega in right now thanks to the likes of 'Marvin Gaye' and everything Meghan Trainor's released. Akon might be 42 now, but this could still work.

And finally, and perhaps most depressingly:

Shayne Ward - That's My Goal


Placing an early bet for Simon Cowell to bring this one back in a couple years (or even this year) for the show's winner, and watch it work all over again. Happened with Unchained Melody.

What do you think?

Posted by: jafetsigfinns 5th November 2015, 11:03 AM

I honestly don't think a lot of songs would have made No. 1 today that made it back in 2005 because the sound of pop music has changed so much that these songs would feel so dated if they were released today. Only songs I can think of maybe hitting No. 1 are "Ghetto Gospel" (thanks to Tupac's legacy) and maybe Gorillaz or Eminem. "Hung Up" would probably make Top 10 but not no. 1 seeing how songs by the classic pop princesses and queens don't seem to do much damage anymore these days (see: Britney, Madonna, Christina, etc and their most recent efforts)..

Very interesting topic nontheless!

Posted by: ML Hammer95 5th November 2015, 12:55 PM

Don't Cha would surely get to #1 today too. Just remembering the impact that it had at the time makes me think if we had never heard it and it was released today it would do just as well!

Not too sure about Lonely. I agree it does sound very mid 00's which I think would work against it now. Would a typical mid 10's R&B song like Don't Tell 'Em or Loyal get to #1 in 2005?

Gorillaz is interesting. I think Feel Good Inc. would definitely top the chart now, but I don't think Dare would. Ghetto Gospel would I think, was like 2005's See You Again.

Posted by: Jason 5th November 2015, 03:19 PM

I totally agree with your comment about You're Beautiful. It would be easily number 1 this year.

Posted by: James Silkstone 5th November 2015, 04:03 PM

I imagine songs like Since U Been Gone, Pon De Replay, Unwritten and Boulevard of Broken Dreams which didn't hit #1 would still do alright today. I'm so-so on 'Hung Up' being a big hit though.

Posted by: 🌚🌚🌚 5th November 2015, 04:09 PM

think you're beautiful has been around long enough for me to finally kind of appreciate it again

Posted by: ML Hammer95 5th November 2015, 04:09 PM

QUOTE(James Silkstone @ Nov 5 2015, 04:03 PM)

Posted by: 🌚🌚🌚 5th November 2015, 04:13 PM

QUOTE(ML Hammer95 @ Nov 5 2015, 04:09 PM)

Posted by: Jonjoltergeist👻 5th November 2015, 04:13 PM

'We Be Burnin'' <3 I think that could be huge now too! '1 Thing' would be a surprise smash nowadays too.

Posted by: dhwe 5th November 2015, 04:24 PM

Yeah, "1 Thing" and "Get Right" I could really see smashing today (see "Talk Dirty", "Problem", and "Worth It"). "Pon de Replay" I could also see being a hit with the quasi-dancehall revival happening, but if Rihanna broke out in 2015 her song would probably have a DJ Mustard or Nic Nac beat.

Posted by: Chez Wombat 5th November 2015, 04:28 PM

The likes of Amarillo & Axel F, wouldn't make a dent near the top these days. The former was the peak of 'alternative' Comic Relief singles which are pretty much dead now in favour of 'official' ones (was there even one this year at all?) and the latter was the peak of Jamster and mobile phone ringtones :')

I agree about You're Beautiful being a certain number 1, I'd also say that (in some cases, if they were performed by a contemporary artist), Get Right, All About You (any boyband could record this and get a big hit with it), Ghetto Gospel, Don't Cha, Push The Button, Hung Up (no matter how irrelevant Madonna is these days, this was quite a big moment and was all over the radio/music channels at the time) & That's My Goal (basically set the soundalike for all XF winners singles and it still works) all sound like they could fit in with the sound of today.

A lot of the more 'alternative' number 1s like Dakota, I Bet You Look Good..., Dare I think would be a bit too 'alternative' to get there these days. That indie kinda sound died out a bit in the mid 00s.

I don't think the number 1s list would be the most remembered of that year, a lot of the songs from 2005 that could easily get to number 1 now I don't think did at the time.

Posted by: Iz~ 5th November 2015, 06:49 PM

Dakota wouldn't, that'd do not much more than a #26 and out these days I'm not sure about Dare, Feel Good Inc feels more timeless but I'm not sure either of them would get great chart success today, unfortunately. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor though... if any song was going to break the curse that hangs about that genre these days, it'd be something like that one, it instantly speaks to a lot of people, it was a bit of a historic moment in music and it's very hard to dislike, I think it'd have a SHOT at #1 if maybe not being certain. Oasis' #1s that year would of course get nowhere near.

You're Beautiful is obvious. I'm not sure about Hung Up or Push The Button at all really, that sort of pure pop has a lot of obstacles these days. Don't Cha would still be a cert though.

Posted by: steve201 5th November 2015, 11:46 PM

Maybe I've just been around a while but I can't hear much different between pop today and the noighties it all sounds quite Samey!