November 20, 201212 yr For me these are the best: PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - BEATLES WATERLOO SUNSET - KINKS WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - QUEEN VIENNA - ULTRAVOX LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS - WHAM! TAKE ON ME - A-HA WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS - PET SHOP BOYS & DUSTY SPRINGFIELD FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK - POGUES FEATURING KIRSTY MacCOLL GROOVE IS IN THE HEART/WHAT IS LOVE - DEEE-LITE JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT - KLF, GUEST VOCALS TAMMY WYNETTE COMMON PEOPLE - PULP ALRIGHT/TIME - SUPERGRASS WONDERWALL - OASIS A DESIGN FOR LIFE - MANIC STREET PREACHERS BORN SLIPPY (REMIX) - UNDERWORLD SONG 2 - BLUR BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY - VERVE FEEL GOOD INC - GORILLAZ RULE THE WORLD - TAKE THAT LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - EMINEM FEATURING RIHANNA ROLLING IN THE DEEP - ADELE However, I voted for my fave song of all time, Pulp's Common People. I think I would vote Oasis Wonderwall second and Bittersweet Symphony third (and perhaps Vienna fourth).
November 21, 201212 yr Shocked that: Daniel Powter - Bad Day Spice Girls - Stop Natalie Imbruglia - Torn Dido - White Flag all missed out on a place. I'd describe 'Torn', 'White Flag' and 'Bad Day' as radio classics while obviously 'Stop' was one of the most "controversial" number twos. If we could've voted for any song, I'd have chosen 'Happy' by Leona Lewis. :(
November 21, 201212 yr How was 'Stop' a controversial #2? It may be an ANNOYING #2 in that it prevented Spice Girls having a 100% #1 record before their split but there was hardly controversy over it. Controversial #2s are ones like 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', 'Groove Is In The Heart' and 'God Save The Queen'. (There may be some actual controversy about it that I'm not aware of though so if so do inform me :P) Edited November 21, 201212 yr by Bré
November 21, 201212 yr I wouldn't call in controversial, but it is notable. Its just generally known as 'the first Spice girls song that didn't go to number 1', I know you could say that about a lot of acts, but the Spice Girls had such a flawless run of number 1s and for a group so culturally and commercially influential (they were pioneers of third wave feminism or 'girl power'), it just sorta symbolised an end of an era, because they really were one of the groups that defined the 90s. I sound like a total loon there which I'm really not, but I study this sort of thing for my degree :P Edited November 21, 201212 yr by C.W
November 21, 201212 yr ...and just to put it in historical perspective...sorry Spice Girl fans, The Beatles had 17 Number Ones, interrupted by one no.2, it would have been 19 in a row if not for Engelbert and the Beatles stopping themselves getting to number one (Magical Mystery Tour EP)! The reason they chose no.2 's is so that it's spread out over decades to represent everyone. Almost everyone always chooses songs from the decades they were a teenager/kiddie and older people tend not to vote online as much as the younger. I'm no different, so I'm picking the greatest single of all-time which never made Number One: God Only Knows - Beach Boys. My neice picked this for her wedding dance song last year so I know it still appeals to new generations. That's what a classic is....! Stop is great fun, but I have doubts it will be picked by new generations as a classic in 30 years. Torn might be though... I'd argue the biggest omissions from the list are those acts who would have had loads more number ones but were very unlucky to have loads of number two's instead. Kylie topping the list, I suspect, she must have had 6, 7 or more...
November 21, 201212 yr More amazing # 2 singles : Steps - One For Sorrow Steps - It's the Way You Make Me Feel (in one week with awful "Touch Me" on the top) Blondie - Dreaming Geri Halliwell - Look At Me Westlife - What Makes A Man (damned Bob The Builder)
November 21, 201212 yr I agree up to the part about 'markedly superior' which is not something that can be measured in objective terms. Vienna/Shaddap Ya Face?
November 21, 201212 yr That is a good list of #2s. Some glaring omissions, 'Torn' being the major one. As well as 'Better Off Alone', 'Children' and 'Set You Free' as others have mentioned. Destiny's Child 'Lose My Breath' should probably get a mention too, after being #2 for four weeks behind three different #1s.
November 21, 201212 yr Destiny's Child 'Lose My Breath' should probably get a mention too, after being #2 for four weeks behind three different #1s. YES. PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - BEATLES RIDE A WHITE SWAN - T REX GOLDEN BROWN - STRANGLERS HOLIDAY - MADONNA TAKE ON ME - A-HA WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS - PET SHOP BOYS & DUSTY SPRINGFIELD FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK - POGUES FEATURING KIRSTY MacCOLL TOM'S DINER - DNA FEATURING SUZANNE VEGA JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT - KLF, GUEST VOCALS TAMMY WYNETTE FINALLY - CE CE PENISTON BORN SLIPPY (REMIX) - UNDERWORLD BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY - VERVE RAY OF LIGHT - MADONNA MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU - STARDUST RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW - FATBOY SLIM MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR - SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR MILKSHAKE - KELIS GOLD DIGGER - KANYE WEST FEATURING JAMIE FOXX my favourites of a really bloody good list!
November 21, 201212 yr It would be Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles for me. Not so sure that Elvis reached No.2 with "Don't Be Cruel". I think they're getting mixed up with "Don't" I agree about Kate Nash "Foundations". It should have been in there..5 weeks at 2 and missing out by 16 copies!
November 21, 201212 yr Vienna/Shaddap Ya Face? I'm sure there are some people who prefer 'Shaddap Ya Face'. The other things you mentioned aren't disputable. ('Vienna' does deserve a place on the list though of course - I'm just saying that I agree with you that all #2s that sold a certain amount or spent a certain amount of time at #2 should be automatically on the list, but not exclusively those). Edited November 21, 201212 yr by Bré
November 22, 201212 yr How was 'Stop' a controversial #2? It may be an ANNOYING #2 in that it prevented Spice Girls having a 100% #1 record before their split but there was hardly controversy over it. Controversial #2s are ones like 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', 'Groove Is In The Heart' and 'God Save The Queen'. (There may be some actual controversy about it that I'm not aware of though so if so do inform me :P) I don't mean it in the sense that it was a controversial song that happened to peak at #2. I mean it in the sense that the fact it only reached #2 when every other single by them reached #1 caused a bit of controversy. Not much but a bit amongst a certain crowd.
November 22, 201212 yr You could say 'Common People' was a deserved #1 by being a brand new song by a band who never had another #1 in their career, as opposed to a decades old cover - that had been #1 twice already - by a group that would go on to have several #1s in the future, as R&J/Unchained Melody was.
November 22, 201212 yr I don't mean it in the sense that it was a controversial song that happened to peak at #2. I mean it in the sense that the fact it only reached #2 when every other single by them reached #1 caused a bit of controversy. Not much but a bit amongst a certain crowd. I think you mean it caused a bit of annoyance. Controversy implies there was some dispute as to whether or not they should be Number One or not, whereas in reality they were soundly trounced by Run DMC that week.
November 22, 201212 yr Not so sure that Elvis reached No.2 with "Don't Be Cruel". I think they're getting mixed up with "Don't" I believe that Don't be Cruel was a double A-Side with Hound Dog which did reach No.2. However, unlike in the US where "both sides reached No.1", it seems that Hound Dog was the lead track over here according to everyhit and other sources.
November 22, 201212 yr You could say 'Common People' was a deserved #1 by being a brand new song by a band who never had another #1 in their career, as opposed to a decades old cover - that had been #1 twice already - by a group that would go on to have several #1s in the future, as R&J/Unchained Melody was. In which you could say that about every song held off No.1 by a cover version (of which there are probably hundreds). Common People should be considered on the fact that it is a classic song.
November 22, 201212 yr I personally find it ridiculous that we are asked to vote for our favourite Number 2 of all time, and are then given a shortlist. Basically we are voting on our favourite record amongst someone elses favourites. :huh: Just looking at early 80s alone (one of my favourite eras!) we are "not allowed" to vote for Sweet Dreams, In the Air Tonight, Only You or even cheesy disco classics such as Mickey, Flashdance, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun etc... The fact that 3 of the nominees for the 80s are Christmas songs speak volumes about the person who shortlisted these! I don't think I'll bother. Edited November 22, 201212 yr by Brotho
November 22, 201212 yr I personally find it ridiculous that we are asked to vote for our favourite Number 2 of all time, and are then given a shortlist. Basically we are voting on our favourite record amongst someone elses favourites. :huh: Just looking at early 80s alone (one of my favourite eras!) we are "not allowed" to vote for Sweet Dreams, In the Air Tonight, Only You or even cheesy disco classics such as Mickey, Flashdance, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun etc... The fact that 3 of the nominees for the 80s are Christmas songs speak volumes about the person who shortlisted these! I don't think I'll bother. Do you think this was the work of one single person?
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