#23. All Saints - Never Ever

1 week at #1 in 1998 (#3 of 30 for '98)

 

 

"Never ever have I ever.." is almost like a tongue twister and it gets stuck in your head. This song starts with a spoken word intro that takes up about a minute. The narrator of the song has just gone through a break-up and is unsure why it ended. She asks a bunch of questions to her ex. She assumes it's entirely her own fault and wonders what she did wrong. It's an interesting way to begin a song. The intro grabs you. It's such a common thing for people to blame themselves after a break-up. After the intro, she's searching for some form of closure and continues to over-think and over-analyze the situation. Reasonably speaking, it's probably not entirely her own fault, but she can't stop thinking that it is. She just desperately needs answers and she's unable to move on without them. It's made it her feel lower than she ever has ("Never ever have I ever felt so low; When you gonna take me out of this black hole?"). Idk I just like that lyric for some reason. I just think this is a really well written song.

#22. t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said

4 weeks at #1 in 2003 (#1 of 22 for '03)

 

 

So this song can easily be interpreted to be about a homosexual relationship. I mean, the lyrics aren't entirely specific in that regard, but they do talk about isolation, fear of judgement, struggling to accept their feelings for the other person, worrying about their parents' approval, etc. But at the time, these two girls were going around letting everyone believe they were lesbians when they really weren't. It makes the whole thing feel gimmicky. And like they were exploiting the LGBT community just to get a hit song. That never sat quite right with me. But you know what, I still absolutely love this song and it's probably my favourite song of 2003, even if the meaning is pretty lost. It might seem hard to justify this being as high as #22 but I don't know. The chorus is really killer. As is the production. And I love that instrumental breakdown about halfway through.

 

 

2003 ranking

 

22. Fatman Scoop - Be Faithful [573]

21. Westlife - Mandy [565]

20. Busted - Crashed The Wedding [550]

19. R. Kelly - Ignition (Remix) [460]

18. Busted - You Said No [458]

17. Room 5 feat. Oliver Cheatham - Make Luv [454]

16. Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne - Changes [444]

15. David Sneddon - Stop Living The Lie [286]

14. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful [261]

13. Gareth Gates - Spirit In The Sky [258]

12. Elton John - Are You Ready For Love? (Remix) [246]

11. Daniel Bedingfield - Never Gonna Leave Your Side [241]

10. Will Young - Leave Right Now [223]

09. Blu Cantrell feat. Sean Paul - Breathe [195]

08. Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z - Crazy In Love [186]

07. Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love? [170]

06. Kylie Minogue - Slow [100]

05. Evanescence feat. Paul McCoy - Bring Me To Life [89]

04. Sugababes - Hole In The Head [37]

03. Tomcraft - Loneliness [28]

02. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World [24]

01. t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said [22]

Edited September 28, 201410 yr by n4yr

#21. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly

5 weeks at #1 in 1996 (#2 of 24 for '96)

 

 

My fourth birthday #1. I'll admit I'm not familiar (like at all) with the original by Roberta Flack. But I really love this version. The song is about the feeling you get when you hear a song that really resonates with you. A song that describes you perfectly. There's just something about the mood of this song that I love. I don't know how to really explain it. The beat, Lauryn Hill's voice, the backing track in the chorus. I could do without the "one time two time" parts, but that's nitpicking.

LOVEEEE Mad World, glad it's so high up on this!

 

#20. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There

2 weeks at #1 in 1996 (#1 of 24 for '96)

 

 

My second favourite Spice Girls song. (My favourite is still to come..) It's fairly catchy and I love the production for some reason. It mixes R&B, pop, and a bit of funk; but there's a lot of sounds going on in it. The harmonies are on point. Everyone gets their moment to shine. Emma, Mel B and Geri get do solos in the verses, Victoria does the pre-chorus, Mel B also gets to do a short rap bit, and Mel C does a bunch of ad libs in the latter part of the song. The song never gets boring because of things like the rap bit, Mel C's ad libs, the "yeah I want you", the harmonica solo, etc. The video is pretty cool too. "Say You'll Be There" continues the theme of girl power from "Wannabe". It's about the two people in this relationship wanting different things. The boy is trying to bring love into the equation, but the girl just wants to remain close friends. The Spices make it clear that they're ones in control of it (like the line "Last time that we had this conversation I decided we should be friends".) The only thing they're asking from this guy is that he be there for them.

 

 

1996 ranking

 

24. Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions [580]

23. Robson & Jerome - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted / Saturday Night At The Movies / You'll Never Walk Alone [576]

22. Peter Andre - I Feel You [546]

21. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's [524]

20. Take That - How Deep Is Your Love [512]

19. Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack [447]

18. Dunblane - Knockin' On Heaven's Door / Throw These Guns Away [425]

17. Peter Andre - Flava [421]

16. George Michael - Fastlove [312]

15. Boyzone - A Different Beat [293]

14. Boyzone - Words [290]

13. Gary Barlow - Forever Love [289]

12. The Fugees - Ready Or Not [166]

11. Spice Girls - Wannabe [126]

10. George Michael - Jesus To A Child [124]

09. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman [115]

08. Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger [87]

07. The Prodigy - Breathe [55]

06. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 [51]

05. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun [33]

04. The Prodigy - Firestarter [32]

03. Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit [26]

02. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly [21]

01. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There [20]

#19. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Umbrella

10 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#2 of 17 for '07)

 

 

This is my 15th birthday #1. I was beyond obsessed with this song during that summer of 2007. If I had a personal chart back then, this would probably be my second or third biggest song on my all time chart. This spent 10 glorious weeks at #1 in the UK. And the only song to break the double-digit barrier in the last 20 years. If any song were to do it, I'm certainly glad it's this one. It's funny how this was her first UK #1, though. She follows up three #2 hits ("Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful") with a massive long running #1. I think it's pretty safe to say that before "Umbrella", pretty much no one thought Rihanna would be a contender for one of the biggest pop stars of recent years. Those three songs I mentioned were all big hits, but they had nothing on "Umbrella", and it didn't seem like she was going to last very long. I've always thought that making a song about an umbrella was genius. It's such an everyday object but a song centered around one wasn't exactly a common thing. It makes the song unique and it instantly grabs people's attention. Sure, it makes the whole thing a bit gimmicky, but the key is that it doesn't go overboard with it. Unlike if someone like Katy Perry had her hands on this. Also the umbrella gimmick goes one step further by adding a bit of a sexual undertone to it. The video especially. It's all to sell her "good girl gone bad" image. Most viable pop stars need an image and this is the one Rihanna went with to make herself stand out. The umbrella is obviously used as a metaphor. It's her way of saying she'll be there to support her love interest. But can be taken into a sexual context. "Umbrella" is a song packed full of hooks. This song wasn't even originally intended for Rihanna, but I can't imagine it being sung by anyone else. She makes it her own with her signature raspy vocals. The way she screams "BECAUSE". The way the middle 8 ends so strongly. And of course the "umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-eh" hook; which is undeniably catchy, and something people have quoted for years. Jay-Z isn't useless unlike a lot of tacked on rap features, but he does become forgotten about once his part is done. And the looped hi-hat sound works really well with the beat.

Edited September 29, 201410 yr by n4yr

#18. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate

2 weeks at #1 in 1999 (#1 of 35 for '99)

 

 

BAW BAW BAW.. BAW BAW BAW BAW.. "da da da da da da da..". One of the finest dance songs ever. Like a lot of dance songs, I don't have a lot to say on this. Everything about this song is just amazing.

 

 

1999 ranking

 

35. Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer [584]

34. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 [559]

33. Boyzone - When The Going Gets Tough [553]

32. Boyzone - You Needed Me [543]

31. Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up [530]

30. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca [522]

29. Martine McCutcheon - Perfect Moment [513]

28. The Offspring - Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) [509]

27. Westlife - I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun [491]

26. Geri Halliwell - Mi Chico Latino [485]

25. 911 - A Little Bit More [430]

24. Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away [415]

23. The Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza [408]

22. Westlife - If I Let You Go [369]

21. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat [355]

20. Steps - Heartbeat / Tragedy [348]

19. Westlife - Flying Without Wings [337]

18. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) [309]

17. Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing At All [287]

16. Westlife - Swear It Again [275]

15. Blondie - Maria [227]

14. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee) [225]

13. Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden - You Don't Know Me [207]

12. Robbie Williams - She's The One / It's Only Us [199]

11. Fatboy Slim - Praise You [178]

10. The Vengaboys - Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! [165]

09. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle [161]

08. Five - Keep On Movin' [158]

07. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back [148]

06. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time [139]

05. Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way [96]

04. The Wamdue Project - King Of My Castle [91]

03. B*Witched - Blame It On The Weatherman [67]

02. ATB - 9PM (Till I Come) [47]

01. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate [18]

#17. Rudimental feat. John Newman - Feel The Love

1 week at #1 in 2012 (#1 of 36 for '12)

 

 

My 2012 summer anthem and my year end #1. At first glance, lyrically speaking, it's repetitive – but I couldn't care less about that. The repetition of "You know I said it's true; I can feel the love; Can you feel it too; I can feel it ah-all" just makes it all that more powerful. It makes me want to shout out "I CAN FEEL IT ALL" along with the song. And then there's the instrumental which is so brilliantly amazing that I can't even put into words. I love the organ note that sticks throughout the song. Organs always add a dramatic mood. I love the drum n bass production. I love the horns. I love the part when the song comes to a stop and then builds up into this one final climax.

 

 

2012 ranking

 

36. James Arthur - Impossible [568]

35. The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother [563]

34. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) [544]

33. The Script feat. will.i.am - Hall Of Fame [516]

32. Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa - Payphone [500]

31. Katy Perry - Part Of Me [476]

30. Psy - Gangnam Style [426]

29. will.i.am feat. Eva Simons - This Is Love [412]

28. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love [399]

27. Wiley feat. Ms D - Heatwave [393]

26. Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band feat. Military Wives - Sing [391]

25. Tulisa - Young [383]

24. Chris Brown - Turn Up The Music [379]

23. One Direction - Little Things [373]

22. Robbie Williams - Candy [349]

21. Sam And The Womp - Bom Bom [343]

20. Cover Drive - Twilight [322]

19. fun. feat. Janelle Monáe - We Are Young [301]

18. Olly Murs feat. Flo Rida - Troublemaker [298]

17. Jessie J - Domino [295]

16. Rihanna - Diamonds [292]

15. Labrinth feat. Emeli Sandé - Beneath Your Beautiful [271]

14. Flo Rida - Good Feeling [263]

13. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) [262]

12. Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing [196]

11. Rita Ora feat. Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. [173]

10. Little Mix - Wings [163]

09. DJ Fresh feat. Rita Ora - Hot Right Now [162]

08. Gotye feat. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know [140]

07. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe [106]

06. Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child [84]

05. Florence + The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name) [Calvin Harris Remix] [78]

04. Coldplay - Paradise [61]

03. David Guetta feat. Sia - Titanium [46]

02. Cheryl (Cole) - Call My Name [44]

01. Rudimental feat. John Newman - Feel The Love [17]

Edited September 29, 201410 yr by n4yr

Umbrella is a classic and one of Rihanna's best ever :wub:

#16. Take That - Back For Good

4 weeks at #1 in 1995 (#1 of 17 for '95)

 

 

This song reminds me a bit of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'", and probably "Love Is All Around" and "To Be With You" now that I think about it. It's Take That changing things up and doing a MOR ballad. And it's probably the best song they've ever done. I'm not usually a big fan of middle-of-the-road songs. I find them pretty boring. But, "Back For Good" is one huge exception. It may not have the best lyrics, but I guess I just really like instrumental, the tune, and the sentiment of the song. That feeling of desperation and begging for this person to come back. "Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn't mean it; I just want you back for good.." is a pretty strong chorus. It's a bit basic but it works. I do like the lyrics "Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it" and "Got a fist of pure emotion" though.

 

 

1995 ranking

 

17. The Outhere Brothers - Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle) [539]

16. Robson & Jerome - Unchained Melody [532]

15. The Outhere Brothers - Boom Boom Boom [520]

14. Robson & Jerome - I Believe / Up On The Roof [503]

13. Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton - Love Can Build A Bridge [441]

12. Blur - Country House [418]

11. Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone [410]

10. Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe [385]

09. Livin' Joy - Dreamer [278]

08. Michael Jackson - Earth Song [228]

07. Shaggy - Boombastic [218]

06. Take That - Never Forget [188]

05. Céline Dion - Think Twice [152]

04. Simply Red - Fairground [150]

03. Oasis - Some Might Say [120]

02. Coolio feat. LV - Gangsta's Paradise [27]

01. Take That - Back For Good [16]

Edited September 29, 201410 yr by n4yr

#15. Lady Gaga - Poker Face

3 weeks at #1 in 2009 (#2 of 32 for '09)

 

 

"Just Dance" caught my attention in mid 2008 due to its oddness and made me wonder who this Lady Gaga person was. "Just Dance" was a fine introductory single, but "Poker Face" took things one step further. If my personal chart went far back enough to cover the entirety of the part of my life that I've followed pop music; this song would've been the biggest song ever on it. My chart began right when this song's domination would've ended, unfortunately. It's most certainly a song that I was beyond obsessed with for a long period of time. It's insanely catchy. A lot of the hooks are made from stuttering multiple words. It's something Gaga would do a lot, but it's a trick that worked really well. There's quotable Gaga-isms like "Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun" and "I'm bluffin' with my muffin; I'm not lying, I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunnin'". That bridge with the half rapping is so random that I love it; and because of the nonsensical lyrics in it. Gaga has publicly explained this song before. She has said that the so-called "muffin" is a metaphor for her..er.. lady parts, and that body part is what's showing its "poker face". It's keeping secret from her love interest where her sexuality is leaning. It's an interesting meaning, that's for sure, but it can be taken into a more broad meaning. Like more simply about putting on a poker face in order to gain control in a relationship. In other words, by not letting her lover know what's truly going through her head, her lover has nothing he can use against her. Or it could be seen as her acting all mysterious as a way of luring this guy in. I don't know. One thing's for sure, it's one catchy pop song. Also, there's a lot of gambling references in the song. Like it's a gamble to be with her. The big question is how well has this aged on me. I'd say pretty well, but not enough to be top 10.

Edited September 30, 201410 yr by n4yr

#14. Robyn with Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat

1 week at #1 in 2007 (#1 of 17 for '07)

 

 

I'll never know how Robyn managed to top the charts in 2007, but am I ever ecstatic that she did! This song is just flawless. It plays with song structure. There really isn't a chorus in this. But certain lines are repeated like "but I don't look back" and the song title. I love the production especially. I love how Robyn's voice sounds a bit shaky on this. It makes her sound broken. But she also sounds firm in trying to convince herself to move on. That's why she keeps saying "but I don't look back". She knows that this relationship has lost all hope, and nothing they do will fix it, but she's incapable of moving on from it.

 

 

2007 ranking

 

17. Leon Jackson - When You Believe [579]

16. The Proclaimers feat. Brian Potter & Andy Pipkin - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) [570]

15. Sugababes vs Girls Aloud - Walk This Way [498]

14. Take That - Shine [493]

13. Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls [413]

12. McFly - Baby's Coming Back / Transylvania [411]

11. Eva Cassidy & Katie Melua - What A Wonderful World [344]

10. Sugababes - About You Now [341]

09. Beyoncé & Shakira - Beautiful Liar [242]

08. Mika - Grace Kelly [234]

07. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby [193]

06. Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake - Give It To Me [175]

05. Kanye West - Stronger [151]

04. Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - The Way I Are [36]

03. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love [29]

02. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Umbrella [19]

01. Robyn with Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat [14]

Edited September 30, 201410 yr by n4yr

#13. No Doubt - Don't Speak

3 weeks at #1 in 1997 (#1 of 24 for '97)

 

 

One of the defining songs of the 90's in my opinion. This was a massive radio hit in North America and it's one of the earliest songs I can remember hearing a lot during my childhood. The first verses is very subtle, but then when that chorus hits for the first time it's one big explosion. That chorus is one big emotional outburst. Gwen Stefani does a really good job at expressing the emotion of it. She sings it with so much force. This song is about feeling miserable knowing that this relationship is about to crumble. Gwen is desperately pleading to be spared the truth. The chorus says it all: "Don't speak; I know just what you're saying; So please stop explaining; Don't tell me 'cause it hurts..". It's a really relateable feeling/situation to be in. The second verse changes it up from the first one and starts the louder instrumental halfway through the verse. And then after the instrumental interlude part, the song goes back into subtleness with "You and me I can see us dying, are we?".. but it's all to set up that hard hitting chorus one last time.

 

 

1997 ranking

 

24. R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly [558]

23. Will Smith - Men In Black [510]

22. LL Cool J - Ain't Nobody [506]

21. Gary Barlow - Love Won't Wait [504]

20. U2 - Discotheque [502]

19. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say "Eh-Oh!" [492]

18. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112 - I'll Be Missing You [445]

17. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean? [432]

16. Hanson - MMMBop [401]

15. White Town - Your Woman [389]

14. Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997 / Something About The Way You Look Tonight [377]

13. Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dance Floor [291]

12. Spice Girls - Mama / Who Do You Think You Are [277]

11. Various Artists - Perfect Day [270]

10. Blur - Beetlebum [236]

09. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work [160]

08. Spice Girls - Too Much [145]

07. Aqua - Barbie Girl [142]

06. Eternal feat. BeBe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One [121]

05. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) [Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix] [108]

04. Olive - You're Not Alone [104]

03. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life [97]

02. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats [95]

01. No Doubt - Don't Speak [13]

Edited September 30, 201410 yr by n4yr

#12. Spice Girls - Viva Forever

2 weeks at #1 in 1998 (#2 of 30 for '98)

 

 

This is my favourite Spice Girls song. And honestly this might be my favourite girl group ballad/mid-tempo ever. There's just something about this dreary atmosphere of this that gets to me. It's about never giving up on trying to recapture the feeling of a special moment you'll never have again.

#11. Madonna - Hung Up

3 weeks at #1 in 2005 (#2 of 25 for '05)

 

 

For a song that samples ABBA, and borrows 70's disco sounds, it sure sounded really fresh and futuristic in 2005. It really stood out at the time. This went #1 in practically every country other than the US. I think because US radio was so immersed in Urban music and weren't ready for something so electro/dance. "Hung Up" sounded incredible then, and it's aged really well. This was made to be a dance floor anthem. And it succeeds in doing just that. It was a return to form for Madonna after the American Life era, and it sure felt like a comeback at the time. Even though she wasn't gone for that long. "Hung Up" starts off with nothing but a ticking clock; signifying that the slowness of time. And from there the production gradually builds its way into the song. It's one of those songs that begins with the chorus. With all that build up beforehand, there needs to be a climax (a verse would take too long), so chorus first is the only way it would work. And what a chorus it is! From there, the first verse is short and wastes no time jumping back into the "time goes by so slowly" refrain, and back to the chorus right after. After the second verse, it pulls a surprise and goes into a separate bridge of "I can't keep on waiting for you..". After the second chorus, it does that thing I love in a lot of dance songs where everything slows down to a hault (right back to the ticking clock) and then just builds right back into the explosiveness. I love how this song goes from something as minimalistic as that clock to something as explosive as the rest of the song.

 

 

Top 10 starts tomorrow!!!

23. Never Ever - Love it but never really used to listen to it

22. All The Things She Said - Classic! Though all the things Yulia said some weeks ago were not quite as nice! :(

21. Killing Me Softly - Another classic! Definitely one of the best 90s songs!

20. Say You'll Be There - Love it! Recently rediscovered it via MØ's cover which is also stunning!

19. Umbrella - Rihanna's best for sure! Remember it so well when it was huge!

18. Sweet Like Chocolate - Never heard it before actually and not a big fan tbh :/

17. Feel The Love - HUGE!! Wish this had been released in any other week so Loreen would have had a shot at No. 1!

16. Back For Good - Not a big fan of the TT early years -.-

15. Poker Face - Great and one of Gaga's best but still not her absolute best (in my opinion)

14. With Every Heartbeat - TUUUUNE! Robyn's best for sure! So glad this made #1

13. Don't Speak - So amazing and so glad this made #1! Best No Doubt song by miles and incredibly beautiful.

12. Viva Forever - OMG I had forgotten about this but this is amazing! One of SG's best, but the video is so weird!

11. Hung Up - THIS! Madonna at her absolute best. COADF is her best album by far in my opinion and I watched the DVD from the tour and it's all so amazing! This made me a Madonna fan!

Interesting lot in that 11-20 section! Have to say I never really liked either of those 2 Spice Girls tracks. Umbrella is without doubt a noughties classic and still give it the odd listen. Sweet like Chocolate is a brill tune, fantastic garage track. I didn't "Feel The Love" for long due to ridiculous overexposure. Back For Good is an undeniably excellent boy band classic. Poker Face is decent enough but I preferred Just Dance. With Every Heartbeat is one of her best and a catchy pop song. Don't Speak & Hung Up I don't find particularly amazing especially the latter, found it extremely overrated.

 

Can't wait for your top 10! (though I pretty much know what a couple of them are now ^_^ )

Edited October 1, 201410 yr by Dobbo

My favourite UK #1 from these 20+ years :

1992 : don't like any # 1s

1993 : Ace Of Base - All That She Wants

1994 : Mariah Carey - Without You

1995 : Celine Dion - Think Twice

1996 : Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit

1997 : Aqua - Barbie Girl

1998 : Aqua - Doctor Jones

1999 : Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up

2000 : Britney Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again

2001 : Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Somethin'Stupid

2002 : Girls Aloud - Sound Of The Underground

2003 : Evanescence - Bring Me To Life

2004 : Britney Spears - Toxic

2005 : Sugababes - Push The Button

2006 : Madonna - Sorry

2007 : Sugababes & Girls Aloud - Walk This Way

2008 : Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl

2009 : Lily Allen - Fear

2010 : Diana Vickers - Once

2011 : Little Mix - Cannonball

2012 : Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love

2013 : Katy Perry - Roar

2014 : Ella Henderson - Ghost

 

#10. Sugababes - Push The Button

3 weeks at #1 in 2005 (#1 of 25 for '05)

 

 

"Push The Button" might honestly be my favourite Sugababes song ever. It just defines pop perfection to me. I find it funny that this knocked "Don't Cha" off the top spot since both songs follow similar themes (flirtation) and both are by girl groups. But, "Don't Cha" is in-your-face, arrogant, and classless. Whereas "Push The Button" isn't. It's about this guy they're interested in, and they're dropping every subtle cue they can to try to grab his attention, but he continues to be utterly oblivious to any of it, and they're frustrated. They want him to "push the button" (in other words: they want him to reciprocate). If he takes too long to do so, then he's going to "miss the freak that [they] control". Which is a lyric I love for some reason. This song was produced by Dallas Austin, who was more known for producing R&B songs, and this isn't very R&B so it's interesting that he produced it. It's a killer production, though. Especially in the pre-chorus. Like most Sugababes songs, all three members get their moment to shine. Heidi doing the first verse (which she usually didn't do), Mutya doing the second verse, and Keisha doing the pre-chorus and the spoken word middle 8. I like the video too.

 

 

2005 ranking

 

25. Steve Brookstein - Against All Odds [575]

24. James Blunt - You're Beautiful [545]

23. Akon - Lonely [526]

22. Westlife - You Raise Me Up [521]

21. Ciara feat. Petey Pablo - Goodies [480]

20. The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don't Cha [475]

19. Shayne Ward - That's My Goal [457]

18. Tony Christie feat. Peter Kay - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo? [406]

17. Jennifer Lopez - Get Right [403]

16. McFly - I'll Be OK [376]

15. Oasis - The Importance Of Being Idle [368]

14. Crazy Frog - Axel F [351]

13. U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own [330]

12. Oasis - Lyla [324]

11. McFly - All About You [307]

10. Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers [217]

09. Nizlopi - The JCB Song [215]

08. 2Pac feat. Elton John - Ghetto Gospel [204]

07. The Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu [185]

06. Stereophonics - Dakota [183]

05. Nelly feat. Tim McGraw - Over And Over [172]

04. Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor [136]

03. Gorillaz feat. Shaun Ryder - DARE [69]

02. Madonna - Hung Up [11]

01. Sugababes - Push The Button [10]

 

*discounting the Elvis re-issues

Edited October 1, 201410 yr by n4yr

I completely agree, as far as pop songs go, that's about as close to textbook as is possible.

 

My favourite Sugababes song is probably About You Now though!