What was the very first chart you remember following when you first got into UK Chart music?

 

My memory is enhanced thanks to former weekly episodes of Top Off The Pops, which was almost near its end when I began to watch it, but the week I specifically remember the most as the point in time when I started to follow the charts was at the tail end of 1998, and on that week B*Witched were the official UK #1 single with Rollercoaster and I recall seeing chart entries and performances from the likes of Aerosmith, 911, Billie Piper, Boyzone, The Beautiful South and Savage Garden.

 

It was following that week I began to take a more active interest in the charts and to take notice of peak positions. Albeit the music industry was vastly different 20 years ago to today, but having a weekly chart music show to watch was certainly engaging and I followed TOTP for its remaining few years afterward.

 

Over to you, where did it all begin for you and your love of UK Chart Music?

I can’t say I remember the specific chart but it’s definitely in 1998 when I broadened my musical horizons beyond the Spice Girls :kink:

I can't remember the exact chart but it was one of the weeks when 'About You Now' by Sugababes was #1! I'd say my love for chart music stemmed from the Now franchise a couple of years prior though in 2005, I'm not sure why it took me so long after that to actually start listening to the chart show!

28 August 1999.

 

I was bored. I had borrowed the script books for the Special Edition Star Wars films (I was Librarian at the school and got allowed to take them home for the holidays and I was typing them up... don't judge me. I did not have a computer. It was 1999).

 

I turned on Radio 1 at 4pm. For no readily apparent reason. And I heard the countdown. And I started typing. I was hooked.

 

So I remember that weeks chart and the number 1 and most of the records because that week the music was The Best Ever (I really believe that at some point we all have a chart that features our The Best Ever music when almost all of it is just right and we like that and it says something to us and the end of 1999 was that era for me.).

 

So thats my first week.

The earliest chart I remember listening to was around the time Iglu & Hartly's 'In This City' was peaking, but I didn't really start taking an interest in the chart until shortly before I joined this forum, so early 2009.

I know the exact date because I have a cassette tape recording of my favourite chart hits from the time.

 

It was 22 September 1991 with Mark Goodier! The song I recorded: Bizarre Inc. “Such A Feeling” which was up 6 to #14 that week. Weirdly it had a similar chart run at the same time as the similarly titled “Such A Good Feeling” by Brothers In Rhythm. Oh, and Bryan Adams was at #1 with the longest running #1 hit ever.

Also the end of the traditional totp episodes and the start of the weird years when radio 1 djs didn't present it as much!

I'd been following it online for a few months prior but the very first show I listened to was the week where Westlife - The Rose was UK number 1, so W/E 18/11/2006 according to Polyhex!

I'd been following it online for a few months prior but the very first show I listened to was the week where Westlife - The Rose was UK number 1, so W/E 18/11/2006 according to Polyhex!

 

Ugh, awful week. I remember seeing that in the Exeter Virgin Megastore after I'd had my job interview that afternoon and my heart sunk realising that it was going to be another number 1 for them. :angry:

The first chart show I listened to was probably enough to make anyone a fan of the chart! This beauty from Christmas 2009. Followed it ever since.

First memory of chart music whatsoever was watching TOTP the week Eminem's 'Lose Yourself' was #1.

 

First memory of taking a vested interest into what #1 in the chart was (without following it actively) was one of the many weeks Black Eyed Peas' 'Where Is The Love?' was #1.

 

And first memory of listening to the chart show itself was the week Shapeshifters' 'Lola's Theme' was #1.

 

It's unerring how vividly I can remember all these to such specificness!

Going back a bit. Mine was Sunday 6th January 1974. Slade were still No.1 with Merry Xmas Everybody.

I first properly started to follow the charts in 2013 when Ellie hit #1 with Burn!

The first chart show I listened to was probably enough to make anyone a fan of the chart! This beauty from Christmas 2009. Followed it ever since.

 

That was a generally amazing week when the chart took up so much of my time. I remember constantly being online on BJs iTunes chart thread hoping RAGE could maintain their lead!!

Interesting seeing the responses, a few 90’s chart newbies like myself. I also vaguely recall tuning into one or two chart radio shows on The Pepsi Chart with Doctor Fox if any remember him.

 

Daytimes could be spent watching The Box music channel and video taping any music videos I wanted to save for later! :lol:

 

Also, as many will recall, chart music was always a Sunday evening event, unlike the Friday chart shows today.

omg The Pepsi Chart is one I used to check out too. An odd structure of sales/airplay 40-11 and then the official Top 10 the same as OCC

My first chart show was early 2009, the week Kelly Clarkson debuted at #1. I remember being amazed at how different it was to the US chart, but looking back now there was actually quite a bit of overlap.

What was the very first chart you remember following when you first got into UK Chart music?

 

My memory is enhanced thanks to former weekly episodes of Top Off The Pops, which was almost near its end when I began to watch it, but the week I specifically remember the most as the point in time when I started to follow the charts was at the tail end of 1998, and on that week B*Witched were the official UK #1 single with Rollercoaster and I recall seeing chart entries and performances from the likes of Aerosmith, 911, Billie Piper, Boyzone, The Beautiful South and Savage Garden.

 

It was following that week I began to take a more active interest in the charts and to take notice of peak positions. Albeit the music industry was vastly different 20 years ago to today, but having a weekly chart music show to watch was certainly engaging and I followed TOTP for its remaining few years afterward.

 

Over to you, where did it all begin for you and your love of UK Chart Music?

When Belinda Carlisle climbed from 28 to 14 in 1989 with leave A Light On that is when I didn't stop listening to the top 40 every week for 15 years.

The first chart I listened to was the one in 2014 in which 'Rude' by MAGIC got to #1, although that was the Hot 40 on 4Music which had the Official Top 10 followed by a completely different Top 40. I would say that by the start of 2015 I was fully invested in the Official Charts, although I often followed them of the BBC website back when they updated the positions live rather than actually listening in.

Some time in late 1996 when I started to follow German chart which was presented by German VIVA TV. I remember they've been presenting US and UK chart on one show, first was US chart then UK, I think they were one week late with that.

 

Fantastic times