Freak Me sold more than I expected! This countdown really puts into perspective how much of a fluke it was for them though, considering it shifted more than double of their next biggest hit on this chart. It's a bit limp for me, but it does bring back summer '98 nostalgia so I can't hate it TOO much. Anything released from about June to December 1998 is almost impossible for me to hate as it was such a significant time for me musically. :drama:

 

I'm also wondering - was the week Freak Me entered at #1 the closest Pras got to being #1 with Ghetto Supastar? Or was that its first week at #2 when Billie held it off?

 

And Babe is AWFUL. Completely tuneless vocals, etc, easily the nadir of Take That's career. :puke2:

I'm also wondering - was the week Freak Me entered at #1 the closest Pras got to being #1 with Ghetto Supastar? Or was that its first week at #2 when Billie held it off?

Much closer behind Billie :D

Some of my favourites in that bunch - Never Forget, The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling) and I Love The Way You Love Me, adore the drama of the former and the stringtro of the latter :wub:

Much closer behind Billie :D

Argh! f*** Billie, lol. I almost wish I had never asked now, I was happier thinking Another Level had pipped it instead - much easier to hate them than Billie. :D

39. I WANT IT THAT WAY- Backstreet Boys (423,300)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Iwantitthatwaycd.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1999

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 14

 

In May 1999 another chart record fell, you probably won’t read it anywhere bit it’s very pertinent to this thread, not only did three Boy band tracks make No 1 consecutively for the first time but the week of 15.05.99 boy bands filled the top 3 positions for the first time ever, THIS, was top of the pile. Another lead single (this time from “Millennium”) it remains their sole No 1 and came at the 9th time of asking for the group, the video incidentally was one of the tracks parodied in Blink 182’s “All The Small Things”.

 

38. UNDER THE BRIDGE/ LADY MARMALADE- All Saints (430,200)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/AllSaintsUTBLM.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1998

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 14

 

A couple of covers sufficed as the follow up to the massive “Never Ever” for the All Saints. “Under The Bridge “ becomes a cleaned up version of the tale of drug abuse that Kiedis had written it as, whilst of course “Lady Marmalade” is a note for cover of the LaBelle 1974 smash. Its two week stint at No 2 was split into two stints still an unusual feat in the 90s and indeed in its third week it was lucky to return to the top winning by just over 1,600 copies, the guitar part incidentally is played ex longpigs guitarist Richard Hawley.

 

37. END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (437,300)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/BoyzIIMen_EndoftheRoad.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1992

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 26

 

Requiring nine weeks to climb all the way to No 1 this was the first UK hit for Boyz II Men and to date the only time they made it there. It was featured on the film “Boomerang” and broke a 36 year record in the US by staying at the top for 13 weeks, it was also the first (for 8 years) and final Motown No 1 single here, an early example of the writing talents of Babyface/ LA Reid (Babyface was incidentally going to record it himself) it set the boys up for a decade of dominance in their native country at the average age of just 19 whilst achievements here have always looked rather paltry by comparison.

 

Hate that all saints beat ray of light to number one with their poor cover versions!

Of every song that returned to #1, that one was probably the least deserving, apart from Mr Blobby, both lazy cover versions and a poor follow up to Never Ever. The production on both is VERY 1998 looking back at them and they sound dated as hell now, in comparison to Xtina and co's cover of Lady Marmalade just three years later which still sounds pretty great now.

Of every song that returned to #1, that one was probably the least deserving, apart from Mr Blobby, both lazy cover versions and a poor follow up to Never Ever. The production on both is VERY 1998 looking back at them and they sound dated as hell now, in comparison to Xtina and co's cover of Lady Marmalade just three years later which still sounds pretty great now.

I feel SURE this CAN'T be a criticism? :lol:

I actually remember liking All Saints' version of Under The Bridge. I must have been on glue back then because it's really quite rancid.

I feel SURE this CAN'T be a criticism? :lol:

 

I'm not quite sure what it is! Obviously I'm a huge 1998 fan but these two songs really couldn't have come from any other era, it's that sort of cheap but polished R&B/pop production style that featured on many All Saints, Another Level, Billie, E-17 and other UK pop act singles. I don't actually mind the production on them, but vocally they sucked the life out of both songs on this double a-side and I'm not sure how because War Of Nerves showed how capable they were of bringing emotion and heart to their music.

36. TO YOU I BELONG- B*Witched (455,800)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/BWTYIB.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1998

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 14

 

A decent enough stab at Xmas No 1, B*Witched’s third single became a third No 1 the week before the big festive survey was unveiled. The single finally succeeded where George Michael, Boyzone, Five, Steps, E-17, and Jay Z all failed, namely in knocking Cher off the top, and sales quickly spiralled to over 380k by the time 98 was finished just 3 wks after release creating enough wealth for them to finally ditch those awful denim’s, indeed their image became a hindrance quite quickly being dubbed the “Nolans in Nike”

 

35. KEEP ON MOVIN’- Five (461,800)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/Keep_on_Movin.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1999

PEAK POSITION: 1

WKS ON CHART: 17

 

The 8th and final entry for Five remains their biggest UK Seller and became their first chart topper with just 10 wks on the 90s left. After a hat-trick of No 2 hits the boys finally managed to hold down a midweek No 1 all the way to Sunday and in the process opened with 137k of sales, their record label RCA also became the first one in a decade to achieve three number ones on the trot (the previous one being PWL).

 

34. AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME- Backstreet Boys (466,300)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/ALAYLM1.PNG

 

RELEASED: 1997

PEAK POSITION: 3

WKS ON CHART: 19

 

Another prime slice of Scandi-pop from the Cheiron studies provides the BSB’s with the biggest hit they ever had despite making it no higher than No 3. A last minute inclusion on the “Backstreet’s Back” album, the video would introduce Leighanne Wallace who would eventually go on to marry lead singer Littrell, the same Littrell who would venture into Christian music come 2005 where he still remains a star.

 

To You I Belong is a fantastic song, easily the height of their career musically and would be in my personal top 5 of 1998 :wub: Strings, ballad, Irish influence, beautiful melody, what's not to absolutely adore? Better than Spice Girls' Goodbye for my money too and I'd have preferred to have seen it at #1 for Xmas even if it's sadly forgotten these days :(

Really like those two - they may not be that original, but they're both great examples of pure poppy, likeable boyband songs

38. UNDER THE BRIDGE/ LADY MARMALADE- All Saints (430,200)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/AllSaintsUTBLM.jpg

I kind of agree with gooddelta on Lady Marmalade, but I do like it in a "enjoying it despite its inherent tackiness" way. But yes, it's DATED as hell and always sounded like it was aimed at drunk slappers to go off to at low class hen parties more than anything. It kind of sticks out like a sore thumb on the album too, but then in terms of obvious commercial cuts there wasn't MUCH else besides so maybe that's why. As for Under The Bridge - well, it's okay, but I never liked that song much in any form. I only remember being a bit amazed at the video with them walking around the hole in middle of the floor which looked down to the city, wondering if they were going to all FALL OFF or something at the end... really cool how they did that.

I kind of agree with gooddelta on Lady Marmalade, but I do like it in a "enjoying it despite its inherent tackiness" way. But yes, it's DATED as hell and always sounded like it was aimed at drunk slappers to go off to at low class hen parties more than anything. It kind of sticks out like a sore thumb on the album too, but then in terms of obvious commercial cuts there wasn't MUCH else besides so maybe that's why. As for Under The Bridge - well, it's okay, but I never liked that song much in any form. I only remember being a bit amazed at the video with them walking around the hole in middle of the floor which looked down to the city, wondering if they were going to all FALL OFF or something at the end... really cool how they did that.

I always thought they were going to push each other off :lol:

33. ANYTHING- 3T (477,000)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1a/3TAnythingCDSingleCover.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1996

PEAK POSITION: 2

WKS ON CHART: 14

 

Spending 3 long weeks stuck at No 2 behind Babylon Zoo’s “Spaceman” almost reaped rewards when the track finally looked as though it was bound for the top in midweek flashes before a late surge by the zoo prevented them once more and it was never to be. Much was made of the fact they were Jacko’s nephews (Tito is their father) consolidated by their duet on “Why?” in August 1996 which even if it were eligible for this rundown would not have topped “Anything”’s sales.