59. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" Backstreet Boys (3 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 12 Sep 1997

UK Chart peak: #3

 

The first single of their second album (in Europe), this is one of BSB's best loved songs and duly became their second #1 in my chart, also hitting #1 in Spain.

 

Howard Stern did a parody version of this song called "Every Homo (Backside's Back)".

 

60. "Candle in the wind 97 / Something about the way you look tonight" Elton John (3 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 3 Oct 1997

UK Chart peak: #1

 

No need explaining this, right? Suffice to say it's the biggest-selling of all time.

 

As much as the reworked version of "Candle In The Wind '97" may have moved me at first, it was SATWYLT that eventually won me over and kept it on top for more two weeks.

 

Edited December 30, 201311 yr by N-S

61. "Negras como a noite" Xutos & Pontapés

 

Reached #1: 24 Oct 1997

 

Portugal's most legendary rock band knocked Elton John to grab their only #1 to date in my chart. "Negras Como A Noite" means "As black as the night".

 

 

 

62. "Spice up your life" Spice Girls (3 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 31 Oct 1997

UK Chart peak: #1

 

Another Spice Girls single, another #1 in my chart, the fifth one in a row. Although the song only hit #1 in the UK, it peaked at #2 in plenty of countries like Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain and Sweden.

 

Edited January 2, 201411 yr by N-S

63. "Foolish Games" (2 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 21 Nov 1997

UK Chart peak: #32

 

In the UK this song was only released as a hidden bonus track in a re-release of "You Were Meant For Me" but in the USA both tracks were elevated to A-sides, the record spending a whopping 65 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100. Also featured in the "Batman & Robin" soundtrack, "Foolish Games" gave the Alaskan singer her second #1 in my chart.

 

64. "The drugs don't work" (1 week)

 

Reached #1: 5 Dec 1997

UK Chart peak: #1

 

Yes, back then I too thought this was an anti-drug song. Apparently this song is about Richard Ashcroft's father's death and the drugs were the ones Mr. Ashcroft was taking to prolongue his life.

 

Anyway it still sound beautiful as it sounded then. In 2011, NME ranked this at #78 in their "Best 150 tracks from the Last 15 Years" list.

 

65. "Tell him" (2 weeks) Céline Dion & Barbra Streisand

 

Reached #1: 12 Dec 1997

UK Chart peak: #3

 

Whereas many people have speculated that Dion and Streisand recorded this song to shake off the rumours of a feud between them, officially the duet happened after Streisand sent Dion a thank-you note on her singing Streisand's "I Finally Found Someone" at the 1997 Oscar, filling-up at last minute for Natalie Cole. But although the music video shows them recording the song together, they have actually recorded it separately and never performed it live together.

 

In the song, Streisand and Dion play roles of mother and daughter, with the former giving advice on how the latter should confess her love to her love interest. It was #1 in The Netherlands.

 

Edited April 18, 201411 yr by N-S

66. "Too much" (2 weeks) Spice Girls

 

Reached #1: 26 Dec 1997

UK Chart peak: #1

 

Though written on December 26, I considered that the Christmas chart of the year since it was the week that contained Christmas Day.

 

The Spice Girls were still growing strong claiming their sixth #1. The track was also used to promote their "Spice World" movie.

 

 

 

67. "Torn" Natalie Imbruglia (1 week)

 

Reached #1: 16 Jan 1998

UK Chart peak: #2

 

Originally written and recorded in Danish language in 1993 by Lis Sorensen under the title of "Braent" ("burnt"), the first English version was recorded in 1995 by American alternative band Ednswap. Norwegian singer Trine Rein had a Scandinavian hit with her version but it ultimately the one by Australian singer and former-soapstar Natalie Imbruglia that became an international hit, reaching #1 in Canada, Spain, Denmark and Sweden and selling a million copies in the UK.

 

"Torn" had entered my chart as early as November 1997 but it took advantage of the new year slump to reach #1. Jeremy Sheffield, the actor who co-stars in the music video, was also featured as a dancer in Queen's "I Want To Break Free" video.

 

Edited January 3, 201411 yr by N-S

68. "Freedom" Robert Miles feat. Kathy Sledge (1 week)

 

Reached #1: 23 Jan 1998

UK Chart peak: #15

 

Robert Miles has four entries in my chart to date, and all were to #1!

 

This was the final one, the first single from is "23 a.m." album featuring the vocals of Kathy Sledge from Sister Sledge.

 

69. "My Heart Will Go On" Céline Dion (4 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 30 Jan 1998

UK Chart peak: #1

 

Another song that really needs no preface. It was my year-end #1 of 1998 and Dion's seventh Number One in my chart, a record at the time.

 

 

70. "All I Have To Give" Backstreet Boys (2 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 27 Feb 1998

UK Chart peak: #2

 

One of my BSB favourites, it halted what could have been far longer run for Céline at #1.

 

It hit #1 in Spain.

 

Edited January 3, 201411 yr by N-S

71. "Deixa-me olhar" Além Mar (3 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 13 Mar 1998

 

Time for some music from my country, this time from a band where many of its members were from my home city and some even went to high school with me! "Deixa-me Olhar" ("let me look") has since gone down as a reference in one of the biggest Portuguese powerballads ever.

 

A re-recorded version of this song hit #15 in 2007, as the main theme of a soap-opera.

 

72. "Big mistake" Natalie Imbruglia (1 week)

 

Reached #1: 3 Apr 1998

UK Chart peak: #2

 

After the huge success of "Torn", finally the follow-up single. It entered at #3, hit #1 the following week and then dropped soon, thus becoming one of my non-number-ones of my chart.

 

It would take seven years for Natalie to claim another #1.

 

73. "Eu sei, tu és" Santamaria (3 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 10 Apr 1998

 

1998 was the year I really got adept on Portuguese music. This was the debut single of dance-pop group Santamaria, who have since enjoyed a long and succesful career.

 

The title means "I know, you are" .

 

Edited January 13, 201411 yr by N-S

74. "Truly madly deeply" Savage Garden (4 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 1 May 1998

UK Chart peak: #4

 

Easily the best-known hit for Australian duo Savage Garden, it duly top my charts as it did in the USA, Canada and Australia.

 

The song was again a top 10 hit in my chart in 2006 with Cascada's version.

 

Edited September 2, 201410 yr by N-S

75. "All my life" K-Ci & Jo-Jo (1 week)

 

Reached #1: 29 May 1998

UK Chart peak: #8

 

Following their success in Jodeci, brothers K-Ci & JoJo Healy scored a worldwide hit with this lovely ballad that was a #1 in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands.

 

Entering the charts at #11, it jumped to #1 in the following week, becoming the biggest leap to #1 at the time.

 

Edited September 2, 201410 yr by N-S

76. "Turn back time" Aqua (3 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 5 Jun 1998

UK Chart peak: #1

 

How ironic that Aqua's only #1 in my chart is the track widely considered their most mature?

 

A departure from their usual bubble-gum pop ditties like "Barbie Girl", the track became the band's third UK #1 and was featured in Gwyneth Paltrow movie "Sliding Doors" (whose soundtrack also included Dido's "Thank You").

 

Edited February 5, 201411 yr by N-S

77. "Borrow" Silence 4 (4 weeks)

 

Reached #1: 26 Jun 1998

 

One of the first Portuguese bands to sing mainly in English, Silence 4's debut album went on to become six-times platinum.

 

"Borrow" was the first single, becoming my year-end #2 of 1998 and remains one of my all-time faves.

 

Edited September 2, 201410 yr by N-S

78. "Pagava p'ra ver" Paulo Gonzo (1 week)

 

Reached #1: 24 Jul 1998

 

More Portuguese music, once again from Paulo Gonzo.

 

High on the heels of the success of his 1997 semi-Greatest Hits album, it was time follow-up record was out in 1998, and its first single managed a one week spell at the top of my chart.

 

Edited February 5, 201411 yr by N-S