65. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE- Shakin’ Stevens (1985) 285,000

 

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Pencilled in for release in 1984 it was shelved for 12 months once Band Aid was announced, this duly became Shaky’s fourth and final No 1 single. It’s become a seasonal favourite ever since regularly making a top 40 appearance over the festive season.

 

64. TRAGEDY/ HEARTBEAT- Steps (1998) 286,000

 

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Certainly “Tragedy” was the side that dominated the airplay though “Heartbeat” at least initially got its share of attention thanks to its snow lensed promo which seemed more suited to the festive period. It was written a few years before being handed to the group and the double A-Side went on to become their first No 1 single and a million seller.

 

I was too young to understand it at the time but the Jive Bunny phenomenon seems so strange to me, a basic medley of Slade and Wizzard pitched up or rerecorded and mashed together (badly - that segue into Slade is crap) with a few bland sound effects. Why not just listen to Slade & Wizzard instead?

 

Shaky's song is a pure classic however, glad it was moved back a year to grab that No.1, and nice that he still retained enough relevance 12 months after to manage that, though I guess it was very much testament to the strength of the song.

 

I love that Boyzone song too - the strings on the radio mix are gorgeous.

Kudos to Boyzone for performing live on that TOTP performance too, incredibly rare in the late 90s, particularly for a pop band.

I wonder if

Jason D's When You Come Back to Me

is to come or would Jive Bunny have outsold it.

Edited December 2, 20159 yr by Cauldron

I was too young to understand it at the time but the Jive Bunny phenomenon seems so strange to me, a basic medley of Slade and Wizzard pitched up or rerecorded and mashed together (badly - that segue into Slade is crap) with a few bland sound effects. Why not just listen to Slade & Wizzard instead?

 

Shaky's song is a pure classic however, glad it was moved back a year to grab that No.1, and nice that he still retained enough relevance 12 months after to manage that, though I guess it was very much testament to the strength of the song.

 

I love that Boyzone song too - the strings on the radio mix are gorgeous.

 

 

Indeed good to see a first genuine Xmas classic on there - Shaky was the biggest selling singles artist of the 80s but as you say his biggest period seemed to be 78-85 by Xmas 85 his top 40 hits were beginning to wane.

 

Also getting thatt rerelease this yr!

I remember when 'Tragedy' became well - an overnight phenomenon - in my primary school years, everyone did the dance. That was the moment Steps became a fully fledged pop act! Still no 'One for Sorrow' or 'Deeper Shade of Blue' mind but still a fine slice of late 90s cheese.

Indeed good to see a first genuine Xmas classic on there - Shaky was the biggest selling singles artist of the 80s but as you say his biggest period seemed to be 78-85 by Xmas 85 his top 40 hits were beginning to wane.

 

Also getting thatt rerelease this yr!

His first hit was 1980 though? Also he was the best selling UK singles act of the 80s, Madonna far outsold him :D

I always thought I saw him on TOTPs before this year (the bbc4 series).

You might have been getting him mixed up with Showaddywaddy? His first TotP was the one co-hosted with Cliff Richard (who introduced Shaky) in 1980 and repeated a couple of months ago. Although he'd been knocking around for ages before that, of course.

Wow, didn't know 'Merry Christmas Everyone' was shelved for a whole year, what a bold move! And amazing that it paid off and got to #1, if only that had worked for 'Flutes' around this time last year :kink:

You might have been getting him mixed up with Showaddywaddy? His first TotP was the one co-hosted with Cliff Richard (who introduced Shaky) in 1980 and repeated a couple of months ago. Although he'd been knocking around for ages before that, of course.

 

Yeh I remember that episode - thought he was on before that!

Wow, didn't know 'Merry Christmas Everyone' was shelved for a whole year, what a bold move! And amazing that it paid off and got to #1, if only that had worked for 'Flutes' around this time last year :kink:

 

Not so much bold as wise! He wouldn't have had a hope in hell of beating Band Aid in 84. I know the new version isn't brilliant but would have liked to see it doing a bit better, it didn't even make the Top 100 midweek chart on Monday. He does have a lot of radio interviews lined up for the next few days so hopefully that will help sales.

 

*Double post

Edited December 2, 20159 yr by Shaky Fan

Not so much bold as wise! He wouldn't have had a hope in hell of beating Band Aid in 84. I know the new version isn't brilliant but would have liked to see it doing a bit better, it didn't even make the Top 100 midweek chart on Monday. He does have a lot of radio interviews lined up for the next few days so hopefully that will help sales.

 

In fairness he would have been trounced by Wham too.

 

Thought radio 2 would have playlisted it this week.

I was too young to understand it at the time but the Jive Bunny phenomenon seems so strange to me, a basic medley of Slade and Wizzard pitched up or rerecorded and mashed together (badly - that segue into Slade is crap) with a few bland sound effects. Why not just listen to Slade & Wizzard instead?

 

And Gary Glitter :)

Didn't they edit Gary Glitter out of the Jive Bunny track at some point after 1997? I don't think he was on the version I heard on Spotify, not that I could bring myself to listen to all of it.

He was removed from re-showings of the video on satellite channels. I think they just went for an extended version of March of the Mods - which is the bit we all like in that record anyway.

63. RUN- Leona Lewis (2008) 288,000

 

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Written at the band’s lowest ebb “Run” became Snow Patrol’s first top 40 when released in early 2004, Lewis started covering the track in concerts and on BBC’s “Live Lounge” which generated sufficient interest to prompt a digital release of its own in late 2008. It was used to help promote the deluxe re-issue of “Spirit” and became her third No 1 single and the fastest selling download (at the time).

 

62. LOVE ME FOR A REASON- Boyzone (1994) 293,000

 

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Yes only one Boyzone November/ December release during the period 1994-1999 fails to make this list, and here’s where it all started back in 1994 with those fresh faced teens (mostly) with the first of 17 straight top 5 singles.