Unluckiest #2 song that didn't reach #1

BuzzJack - Entertainment Discussion _ Music Charts _ UK Charts

Latest Site News

Jack Harlow remains at the top of the singles char

Jack Harlow has his first number one

The Beatles top the singles chart!

8 Pages

1 2 3 > »

Unluckiest #2 song that didn't reach #1

Display Modes

Track this topic - Email this topic - Print this topic - Download this topic - Subscribe to this forum

Unluckiest song to peak at #2
You cannot see the results of the poll until you have voted. Please login and cast your vote to see the results of this poll.
Total Votes: 132
Guests cannot vote

jimwatts View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 08:57 PM Post #1
BuzzJack Platinum Member Group: Members Posts: 9,326 Member No.: 38,591 Joined: 28-August 17 No Gallery Pics	Vote for the #2 song which you think was the unluckiest not to reach #1. As a brief justification of the choices: Groove Is In The Heart smallest known margin Love The Way You Lie best selling song of 2010 Terry's Theme From 'Limelight' most weeks at #2 (8), most runs at #2 (4) Happy Xmas (War Is Over) apparently would have been #1 in a week with no new chart compiled Foundations smallest known combined margin for two different weeks or #1 songs Crazy For You most weeks at #2 from multiple releases Moves Like Jagger behind most different #1s (6), highest pure all-time sales for a #2 Wonderwall highest combined all-time sales for a #2 Fairytale Of New York most weeks Top 20, Top 40 God Save The Queen apparently outsold the #1 If you voted for another song, please say which and why in the comments.


Tafty³³³ View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:22 PM Post #2
I found the love, I found the love in me Group: Genre Mod Posts: 86,622 Member No.: 5,042 Joined: 13-December 07 User's Gallery	I went for Deee-Lite and I say that as someone who hates GIITH! Didn't that lose a tie, due to a technicality or something? I can't remember. EDIT: I always forget just how close Kate was, too! She was extremely unlucky to have 2 weeks SO close to the number 1.


jszmiles View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:40 PM Post #3
BuzzJack Enthusiast Group: Members Posts: 1,617 Member No.: 1,161 Joined: 22-August 06 User's Gallery	Robert Miles' Children at the top of my head


I am Kenough View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:41 PM Post #4
BuzzJack Platinum Member Group: Members Posts: 6,479 Member No.: 122,344 Joined: 26-January 21 No Gallery Pics	Interesting debate! I think the title has to go to 'Moves Like Jagger' not just because it ranks as the biggest selling non Number 1 ever (although I suspect that will be 'Wonderwall' next time the all time ranking is updated) but it was held off the top by 6 different songs over 7 straight weeks. Furthermore with the exceptions of 'We Found Love', and 'What Makes You Beautiful', i'd say the songs that kept it from the top would rank as forgotten hits now. I think my honorable mention would go to 'Groove Is In The Heart' though, in the end I believe it was calculated to be something ridiculous like 8 copies behind 'The Joker' but the methodology wasn't as accurate in the early 90s so with a margin that small it might actually have outsold it, there's no way of knowing for sure. This post has been edited by Dot Branning: Feb 11 2021, 11:05 PM


Hadji View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:44 PM Post #5
BuzzJack Platinum Member Group: Members Posts: 12,021 Member No.: 21,386 Joined: 20-November 14 No Gallery Pics	GIITH should’ve got #1. They should’ve had rules in 1990 that in the event of a tie, the newer song should be given the #1 position. If they did it like that, that and The Joker would’ve both had turns at #1


Mart!n View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:46 PM Post #6
Infamy Infamy they all got it in for me Group: Members Posts: 129,063 Member No.: 2 Joined: 5-March 06 User's Gallery	I would say Sash missed a few times


Brer View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:46 PM Post #7
one hand behind the devil, the other touching grace Group: Genre Mod Posts: 113,040 Member No.: 8,300 Joined: 14-February 09 User's Gallery	Has to be 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' - all of the others, while unfortunate, did in fact never have a week where they should have been #1 (unless you believe the Sex Pistols conspiracy) so fair is fair. I'd say a close 2nd place is a song not listed - Years & Years' 'Shine' would, I believe, have almost certainly got to #1 if the chart had covered the full 7 days of its release week, it just got unlucky to narrowly lose out to another song in the singular 5 day week in the history of the charts. Not sure if there are any songs that peaked at #2 behind a song that could have been on ACR if it had had a slightly different sales trajectory in the previous 3 weeks? That'd fall into a similar category.


Jade View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:49 PM Post #8
I believe in life and terror Group: Buzzjack's Sweetheart Posts: 58,496 Member No.: 12,810 Joined: 18-January 11 User's Gallery	Honourable mention to Gordon Haskell 'How Wonderful You Are' from 2001, which finished at #2 behind Robbie/Nicole's 'Somethin Stupid' cover: "Despite limited promotion, it charted as the Christmas number two in the UK Singles Chart. Although appearing on Top of the Pops that week, the broadcast was delayed for 14 months due to pressure from EMI Records, Robbie Williams' Management (David Enthoven who had managed him in King Crimson) and the City of London Bank who were arranging a 42 million pound deal with Williams. It is generally accepted that had he been broadcast he would have taken the No 1 from Williams and no explanation or apology was ever given by the BBC Executive Producer." Apparently Radio 2's most requested song ever.


Liam.k. View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:51 PM Post #9
BuzzJack Idol Group: Chart Mod Posts: 50,468 Member No.: 12,472 Joined: 8-December 10 User's Gallery	QUOTE(Bré @ Feb 11 2021, 09:46 PM) Has to be 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' - all of the others, while unfortunate, did in fact never have a week where they should have been #1 (unless you believe the Sex Pistols conspiracy) so fair is fair. I'd say a close 2nd place is a song not listed - Years & Years' 'Shine' would, I believe, have almost certainly got to #1 if the chart had covered the full 7 days of its release week, it just got unlucky to narrowly lose out to another song in the singular 5 day week in the history of the charts. I agree with these. I think there's a good case to be made for all the listed songs but it just doesn't compare to a song being the best seller of the week but not recognised as such because there wasn't a chart or there wasn't a full chart week. Not sure if there's an example of a song missing out on #1 entirely due to one format being ineligible. I think this happened to Kylie's 'Hand On Your Heart' and Ronan Keating's 'Life is a Rollercoaster' but they both did reach #1 at one occasion.


gooddelta View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:53 PM Post #10
Hello? Group: Members Posts: 82,236 Member No.: 116 Joined: 8-March 06 User's Gallery	I'd go with Moves Like Jagger, just relentlessly unlucky not to overthrow any of those flash in the pan No.1s (at least many of them were). And obviously Groove Is In The Heart, it doesn't get any closer than that, although Foundations ran it close and I so wish that had got a week at the top. This post has been edited by gooddelta: Feb 11 2021, 09:54 PM


Gezza View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 09:53 PM Post #11
Ciao, 911? E 'Quagmire. Sì, è preso nella finestra di questo Group: Chart Veteran Posts: 17,565 Member No.: 13,341 Joined: 25-March 11 No Gallery Pics	QUOTE(Hadji @ Feb 11 2021, 09:44 PM) GIITH should’ve got #1. They should’ve had rules in 1990 that in the event of a tie, the newer song should be given the #1 position. If they did it like that, that and The Joker would’ve both had turns at #1 Probably not- the "boost" a track got being No 1 would probably carried Deee-lite to the top for a second week. They did change the rules later on to allow "ties" but in 1990 it was done on panel sales which then got rounded up. To quote Alan Jones at the time "‘The Joker’ and ‘Groove is In The Heart’ both had published panel sales of 2595, but these are “rounded” figures. The Gallup computer actually adjudged that ‘The Joker’ sold 44,118 copies and that ‘Groove is In The Heart’ sold 44,110 copies, which equate to panel sales of 2595.2 and 2594.7 respectively. Current chart rules dictate that in the event of the tie on rounded figures then the track showing the greatest increase in sales week on week would be the higher placed so in either case The Steve Miller Band would be No 1"


AcerBen View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:06 PM Post #12
BuzzJack Gold Member Group: Members Posts: 3,576 Member No.: 3,429 Joined: 18-May 07 No Gallery Pics	My pick: All-4-One "I Swear" was stuck behind Wet Wet Wet for 7 weeks in 1994


T Boy View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:17 PM Post #13
Radical Pink Troll Group: Members Posts: 26,368 Member No.: 177 Joined: 11-March 06 No Gallery Pics	The thing with Moves Like Jagger was that it would have gotten a week if Rihanna hadn’t released midweek. I famously predicted that Rihanna would do that after several members said Maroon 5 would be a shoe in that week and I think loads of We Found Love fakes going around. Can anyone without checking name the other four songs (not Rihanna or 1D) that held them off?


Danvember View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:22 PM Post #14
... Group: Chart Mod Posts: 73,203 Member No.: 11,746 Joined: 30-August 10 No Gallery Pics	QUOTE(T Boy @ Feb 11 2021, 10:17 PM) The thing with Moves Like Jagger was that it would have gotten a week if Rihanna hadn’t released midweek. I famously predicted that Rihanna would do that after several members said Maroon 5 would be a shoe in that week and I think loads of We Found Love fakes going around. Can anyone without checking name the other four songs (not Rihanna or 1D) that held them off? Pixie Lott - All About Tonight Example - Stay Awake Dappy - No Regrets Sak Noel - Loca People it's definitely those 4 songs, although I don't remember the order they went to #1 in off the top of my head


T Boy View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:24 PM Post #15
Radical Pink Troll Group: Members Posts: 26,368 Member No.: 177 Joined: 11-March 06 No Gallery Pics	QUOTE(dan :: G @ Feb 11 2021, 10:22 PM) Pixie Lott - All About Tonight Example - Stay Awake Dappy - No Regrets Sak Noel - Loca People it's definitely those 4 songs, although I don't remember the order they went to #1 in off the top of my head Correct (almost exact order as well!) 4 very forgettable tracks when you think about it and what’s worse is I think the most forgettable of the bunch was the first to beat MLJ and by the smallest margin.


Liam.k. View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:27 PM Post #16
BuzzJack Idol Group: Chart Mod Posts: 50,468 Member No.: 12,472 Joined: 8-December 10 User's Gallery	I knew they were songs that quickly fell away but I couldn't think of a single title! :')


J00prstar View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:30 PM Post #17
there's nothing straight about plump Elvis Group: AF Leader Posts: 12,839 Member No.: 22,895 Joined: 21-January 16 No Gallery Pics	Moves Like Jagger, of these But my first thought was Years & Years - Shine which iirc was a victim of the chart tracking week changing (?) or something similar


Brer View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:34 PM Post #18
one hand behind the devil, the other touching grace Group: Genre Mod Posts: 113,040 Member No.: 8,300 Joined: 14-February 09 User's Gallery	QUOTE(T Boy @ Feb 11 2021, 10:24 PM) Correct (almost exact order as well!) 4 very forgettable tracks when you think about it and what’s worse is I think the most forgettable of the bunch was the first to beat MLJ and by the smallest margin. That was 'Stay Awake' right? Still the best of the #1s from that stretch imo. (It was close to if not my favourite song of the year at the time, not aged amazingly well but it's still a tune) In fairness though, it is probably the most forgettable of those, I'm just biased.


T Boy View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:35 PM Post #19
Radical Pink Troll Group: Members Posts: 26,368 Member No.: 177 Joined: 11-March 06 No Gallery Pics	QUOTE(Bré @ Feb 11 2021, 10:34 PM) That was 'Stay Awake' right? Still the best of the #1s from that stretch imo. (It was close to if not my favourite song of the year at the time, not aged amazingly well but it's still a tune) Yeah, but I’d still say it’s the one that everyone would forget the most.


jimwatts View Member Profile	Feb 11 2021, 10:38 PM Post #20
BuzzJack Platinum Member Group: Members Posts: 9,326 Member No.: 38,591 Joined: 28-August 17 No Gallery Pics	Completely forgot about the Years & Years thing when setting the options here. I now see David Zowie outsold them by less than 1k over the 5-day 'week', while they outsold him by more than 10k the next week in the first full tracking week of the Friday charts - so even if the switch had been staggered over two 6-day weeks, Shine would likely have been the #1 on one of those. I'd still go with Moves Like Jagger myself - even if the charts continue for another 70 years, I doubt there'll be another song held at #2 by new entries over so many weeks again.