It's crazy how many massive single miss cos of picking the wrong week, like all those Spice singles

and then on the other hand, you had Westlife (and Boyzone maybe too) who were really smart at picking the easiest and less competitive weeks

and got lots of "free" #1s

From memory 'Gold Dust' charted in two different versions, a remix outpeaked the original a few years later.

 

The remix was the version being played on the radio during its second push but it was actually the original* version that was selling the most still iirc.

 

*not technically the original version either as the first version of the song was an instrumental

 

The second push for 'Desire' was focused on the remix with Tove Lo but I don't remember if it actually became the most popular version or not.

From memory 'Gold Dust' charted in two different versions, a remix outpeaked the original a few years later.

Gold Dust was promoted with a new remix (Shy FX) on the radio but as I recall it was actually the original that placed higher on iTunes during its second run [the two versions being combined for the chart of course].

Actually quite a few Spice ones were unlucky

 

- Stop released same week as monster Run DMC hit would have been #1 if released the week before

- Look at me only one CD release not a 2CD and was only a few hundred sales away from Boyzone with their 2CD release so likely would have made it with a 2CD release.

- What I am lost out to Geri's Life me up in a 'chart battle' if released the week before she would have got her own #1.

- Out of your mind was #1 all throughout the week by a big lead then mysteriously SEB overtook at the last min. Again a 1CD release a 2CD would probs have secured her it.

It was very close all week. These two BBC articles from the time have day 1 (Monday) sales as True Steppers: 51,675 and Spiller: 49,379 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/881810.stm with the lead being just 500 on the Friday midweeks http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/886316.stm and of course the final outcome http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/888516.stm

 

The second push for 'Desire' was focused on the remix with Tove Lo but I don't remember if it actually became the most popular version or not.

I seem to recall the original remained the most popular version at least on streaming, the remix may've done better on iTunes. Although now that I look it up, it appears that the original and Tove Lo remix have their streams combined on Spotify, but I think they were split at the time. The Tove Lo version is only available on random compilations now, so is probably getting negligible streaming at the moment in comparison.

 

Interestingly, it's actually a different remix (Gryffin) which is the most popular version of the song on Spotify now:

183m Gryffin remix

144m original

The remix was the version being played on the radio during its second push but it was actually the original* version that was selling the most still iirc.

 

*not technically the original version either as the first version of the song was an instrumental

 

The second push for 'Desire' was focused on the remix with Tove Lo but I don't remember if it actually became the most popular version or not.

 

Gold Dust was promoted with a new remix (Shy FX) on the radio but as I recall it was actually the original that placed higher on iTunes during its second run [the two versions being combined for the chart of course].

 

Ah thanks. makes more sense as I remember the original the most!

 

Similar situation with Sonny J's Can't Stop Moving, it charted top 40 for the first time in 2008 with the lead track on the CD single being a Mirwais remix, but on iTunes it was the 2007 original that sold the most. Still feel like that would have been a bigger hit had it not been released during two of the wettest and coldest summers in recent memory...

It's crazy how many massive single miss cos of picking the wrong week, like all those Spice singles

and then on the other hand, you had Westlife (and Boyzone maybe too) who were really smart at picking the easiest and less competitive weeks

and got lots of "free" #1s

 

Yes, I agree. We on music forums at the very least should recognise this and recognise VB and the solo Spice and Stop hits as no.1s, and the Westlife and other fake no.1s as no.2.s

Oh, can we?

 

There are loads of songs I'd love to pretend were #1s had they been released in a different week/alternate reality.

It would have been awful to look back on Out Of Your Mind being no.1 over Groovejet. The former may have made sense as a no.1 at the time but it has aged terribly whereas Groovejet is still a classic now. One example of the ‘right’ song getting to no.1 if you ask me.

Out Of Your Mind still sounds great though?

Groovejet not being on streaming is a shame (original)

I'm pretty sure 'Got To Be Certain' came very close one week as well.

Yeah, 'Got To Be Certain' was an estimated 4k behind Wet Wet Wet's 'With a Little Help From My Friends' on its third week at #2. 'The Loco-motion' was an estimated 2k behind Yazz's 'The Only Way is Up' upon its debut week, which made it the highest debut for a female artist at the time. 'Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi' was an estimated 6k away from #1 on its first week at #2 and an estimate 500 copies away on its third week at #2!

 

'Especially for You' spent 4 weeks at #2 behind Cliff Richard's 'Mistletoe & Wine' including 3 weeks above 100k, but of course did end up going to #1. On its debut week, 'Hand On Your Heart' was less than 2k behind The Bangles' 'Eternal Flame' and had lost out on 11k sales due to the cassette being priced lower than chart rules allowed, but again did end up going to #1 anyway the following week.

 

'Love at First Sight' was unfortunate to be up against Elvis' 'A Little Less Conversation' which sold 243k compared to her 80k, which would have been enough for #1 the previous week. 'I Believe in You' sold 39k upon debut but was stuck behind Band Aid 20 so obviously no chance there either. I do think it was odd that it was released physically two weeks after album release but had been available for download for four weeks, which would all have been ineligible at the time. If they released the same week of the album it would have been an easy #1 against Girls Aloud's 'I'll Stand By You' which sold 30k. At least it spent an impressive six weeks at #1 on airplay.

I didn’t realise Kylie would have beaten Eminem if Love At First Sight came a week earlier!

I didn’t realise Kylie would have beaten Eminem if Love At First Sight came a week earlier!

It was Will Young's 'Light My Fire' at #1 the week before, which was it second week and sold 62k.

It was Will Young's 'Light My Fire' at #1 the week before, which was it second week and sold 62k.

 

Of course it was, I don’t know why I thought it was different, I knew she’d never have beaten Eminem!

IIRC She Doesn’t Mind by Sean Paul was a bit of a mini Moves Like Jagger the following year

What did Out of Your Mind sell in its second week?

 

And how far behind was Geri's Look at Me from #1?

What did Out of Your Mind sell in its second week?

86k

 

'Groovejet' was only 1k away from remaining at #1 over Madonna's 'Music'! Likewise...

 

And how far behind was Geri's Look at Me from #1?

...'Look at Me' was only 1k away from #1!

I'm pretty sure 'Look At Me' was a lot closer than 1k!

What about 'I'm Too Sexy'? IIRC that was stuck at #2 for 6 weeks behind the juggernaut that was Bryan Adams' 'Everything I Do'.

 

Reading through the above stats, Kylie must be the unluckiest '#2' artist overall with the sheer number of songs that narrowly missed out on #1.