In 2002 with my poppy taste, “Silent Sigh” was the first time I really took notice of Badly Drawn Boy and he wasn’t just a beardy guy with a guitar to me.

9	Badly Drawn Boy	Silent Sigh	From the "About A Boy" album, the sound world of this is just gorgeous and the rippling piano creates a beautiful flow
8	Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott	4 My People	The Basement Jaxx remix made this do so well: not her usual style and more a straight dance track, but an excellent one
8	The Bluetones	After Hours	This is one of my favourite of theirs that I've heard: good storytelling, lovely warm vocals and delightful retro production
7	Shy FX And T Power Featuring Di	Shake Ur Body	The biggest hit for these 2 London drum and bass DJs collaborating: this has a slightly Latin feel and is a classic of its genre
7	Outkast Featuring Killer Mike	The Whole World	Their 3rd Top 20 hit and this was a greatest hits single: it's a very enjoyable track with a rather anthemic, bouncy chorus
6	Marc Et Claude	Tremble	A typical trance track from the German duo with ethereal female vocals, a nice melody and high emotions: does the job
5	Anastacia	One Day In Your Life	She was unlucky to have several quite long running #11 hits: this power ballad isn't special but showcases her voice well
4	Travis	Flowers In The Window	The 3rd single from "The Invisible Band": it's quite nice but a little comfortable, and lacks the raw emotion of earlier singles
3	Sum 41	Motivation	Their 3rd hit: the first 2 were decent in different ways but this one sounds a bit immature and lacking in light and shade
2	Adam F Featuring Lil' Mo	Where's My..?	DJ Adam Fenton has had a few hits but this is Lil Mo's only UK hit: I find this number a little shouty and not to my taste

2002 Week 15:

#1230	13/04/2002	Britney Spears	I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman	2	{2}-5-9-11-18-26-34-52-60-71->10
#1231	13/04/2002	X-Ecutioners Featuring Mike Shinoda and Mr Hahn	It's Goin' Down	7	{7}-22-31-37-50-56-63-70-73->9
#1232	13/04/2002	Sheryl Crow	Soak Up The Sun	16	{16}-30-35-45-51-53-56-69->8
#1233	13/04/2002	Michelle Branch	Everywhere	18	{18}-26-32-36-49-72->6
#1234	13/04/2002	Ladies First	I Can't Wait	19	{19}-31-40-53-64-73->6
#1235	13/04/2002	Future Breeze	Temple Of Dreams	21	{21}-28-36-44-60-68->6
#1236	13/04/2002	Aaron Carter	Leave It Up To Me	22	{22}-34-50-66->4
#1237	13/04/2002	Stereophonics	Vegas Two Times	23	{23}-51->2
#1238	13/04/2002	Aurora	Dreaming	24	{24}-35-45-73->4
#1239	13/04/2002	DJ Tiesto	Lethal Industry	25	{25}-43-63->3
#1240	13/04/2002	Cliff Richard	Let Me Be The One	29	{29}-37-67->3
#1241	13/04/2002	Roger Goode Featuring Tasha Baxter	In The Beginning	33	{33}-56->2
#1242	13/04/2002	Del Amitri	Just Before You Leave	37	{37}-66->2
#1243	13/04/2002	Elton John	Original Sin	39	{39}-57->2

Badly Drawn Boy always slots into the "pleasant" category for me, and Silent Sigh was a pleasant beardy 7 🙂 4 My People was a big club fave at the time, I remember folk bopping wildly to it, 9/10, the Bluetones OTOH I don't recall - checked and I didn't chart it. That'll be why then. Shake Ur Body another club goodie, I thought it did better than merely top 40 for me, but no, so a 7/10 then.

Outkast just scrape a 7 but another I couldnt whistle if I tried. Actually I can barely whistle anything these days. Marc et Claude failed to make my chart, but Anastacia was big on the scene in 2002 and One Day In Your Life was a goodie, 8/10 though it had a 20-week run in my charts! Travis was a nice track, a pleasant 7/10, My niece went to see Sum 41 last year, she loves 'em, but we beg to differ on them, Motivation scraped a 3/10. Adam Fenton is, I think, Alvin Stardust's son aka Shane Fenton, but not even that got him a single week in my personal charts. I will stick with Alvin's Greatest Hits...

'Shake Ur Body' is an absolute tune, I completely forgot about that!

Yeah imo definitely the best of that bunch! The Missy Elliott Basement Jaxx remix (a bit of a classic) and Marc et Claude songs sound good though.

Edited March 26Mar 26 by TheSnake

I discovered Adam F's 'Circles' back in 2017 on a 90s top 40 chart show recording and fell in love so hard that I sent it to BJSC! However, I can't say that 'Where's My...?' captures the same magic. I didn't realise he was still having top 40 hits by this point, so today I learned.

'Shake Ur Body' is relentless - it was even used as Jive music on Strictly a couple of years ago. What a stomping D&B moment and I love the Latin flair too, a memorable intro.

'4 My People' is my favourite of this batch 😍 I'm a huge Basement Jaxx fan and really appreciated these two worlds colliding in such a euphoric way.

Week 11

Rik Waller... oh dear lol. Not a fan of any version of that song that isn't Dolly's really. 'Come Closer' is a solid dance piece and another great track by Creed there. 'Been There Done That' sounds fine, not sure I was too familiar with that although the chorus does ring some kind of bell when listening.

Sexual Guarantee' a funky number from Alcazar as per but no 'Crying On The Discotheque'. 'Pulsar' is fine and rather liked the Cornershop track and the dance version of 'Lovely Day' is unremarkable but at least it doesn't annoy me like Bill's does ☠️

Week 12

'Me Julie' does come on in my mates car regularly, is a bit of jam ngl whilst still being a stupid track. Not crazy on 'Ain't It Funny', a bit boring for me actually.

'Wrong Impression' is my favourite of these though and bought it at the time, very nice track.

'A New Day Has Come' is strong in radio mix form and a really good Celine track generally.

'Toxicity' is a tune, some cool guitar stuff with the tempo speed ups in the track as is the standard with a lot of their music.

Nothing absolutely standing out here but this is one of Tiesto’s strongest tracks. I find most of his offerings quite sanitised and uninspiring these days so it’s good to be reminded that it wasn’t always this.

8	DJ Tiesto	Lethal Industry	There was a time when Tiesto made properly hard hitting club bangers like this: it's so rousing and I love the twangy tune
7	X-Ecutioners Featuring Mike Shinoda and Mr Hahn	It's Goin' Down	Their only hit: a strong track that involves members of Linkin Park and sounds very like them but more hip hop orientated
7	Roger Goode Featuring Tasha Baxter	In The Beginning	Only hit for this South African DJ: it's a really strong trance track and the production  is like Donna Summer's "I Feel Love"
7	Del Amitri	Just Before You Leave	Their only Top 40 this century and it's an interesting track with a slightly jazzy, more reflective sound than their '90s hits
6	Michelle Branch	Everywhere	1st hit for this US singer songwriter: it's nothing new but a very enjoyable piece of guitar pop with a compelling melody
6	Elton John	Original Sin	I like this one: another very reflective and melancholic single from "Songs From The West Coast" with endearing lyrics
6	Sheryl Crow	Soak Up The Sun	She wanted to write something very happy to cheer everyone up after 9/11: it certainly does that but I don't quite love it
5	Future Breeze	Temple Of Dreams	This German duo had a few Top 75 hits but this was the only Top 40: an enjoyable trance track but not sure it stands out
5	Aurora	Dreaming	The singer Elizabeth Pattinson will appear on X Factor 2014: it's nothing remarkable but a pleasant tune nicely performed
4	Aaron Carter	Leave It Up To Me	Quite a fun and energetic number from 14 year old Aaron though sounds quite New Kids On The Block: it's his final hit
3	Cliff Richard	Let Me Be The One	It's a sweet little tune as '00s Cliff goes and I'd rather hear it than the 3 below, but obviously it is lacking some oomph
3	Britney Spears	I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman	Mystifying that this outpeaked the last 2 stronger singles: it's a little limp and the chorus doesn't have all that much to it
2	Stereophonics	Vegas Two Times	The 5th single from "Just Enough Education…" and it shows: I find this quite a laboured rocky dirge and not a good listen
2	Ladies First	I Can't Wait	A garage cover of the Nu Shooz classic: I can't see that this brings anything to the song and they won't have another hit

2002 Week 16:

#1244	20/04/2002	X-Press 2 Featuring David Byrne	Lazy	2	{2}-5-7-10-14-19-28-35-40-42-59-70-72->13
#1245	20/04/2002	Faithless Featuring Dido	One Step Too Far	6	{6}-21-51->3
#1246	20/04/2002	1 Giant Leap Featuring Maxi Jazz And Robbie Willia	My Culture	9	{9}-11-15-30-41-65->6
	20/04/2002	Matt Darey Featuring Marcella Woods	Beautiful {2002}	10	{10}-17-23-37-48-72->6
#1247	20/04/2002	3SL	Take It Easy	11	{11}-26-33-46-69-64R(4)->6
#1248	20/04/2002	Usher	U Turn	16	{16}-22-25-34-42-68->6
#1249	20/04/2002	So Solid Crew	Ride Wid Us	19	{19}-33-42-47-61-73->6
#1250	20/04/2002	Barthezz	Infected	25	{25}-37-46-73->4
#1251	20/04/2002	Garbage	Breaking Up The Girl	27	{27}-60->2
#1252	20/04/2002	The Vines	Highly Evolved	32	{32}-59->2
#1253	20/04/2002	Galleon	So I Begin	36	{36}-51->2
#1254	20/04/2002	Ryan Adams	Answering Bell	39	{39}-75->2
#1255	20/04/2002	Agent Sumo	Why	40	{40}-66->2

I agree, Britney's INAGNYAW is very limp compared to Slave and Overprotected. I think it peaked so high because Britney's movie Crossroads was released in the UK around the same time.

Week 13

Fun track from Blue, definitely agree on it being one of their strongest tracks. Love 'Insatiable' too and my mum had it on rotation tons so I'd hear it all the time practically. Smooth solo debut from Darren. 'Mindcircus' is lush too.

Pet Shop Boys track is good as well which I don't think I had heard before. The Alicia Keys, Starsailor songs are decent.

Week 14

'4 My People' is a tune, Missy's best track definitely. Love a bit of Sum 41 and 'Motivation' is continuing that hot streak of strong hits for me. Like both 'One Day In Your Life' and 'Flowers In The Window'. 'Silent Sigh' is okay but do prefer the follow up to come.

Week 15

Love the gritty production on 'It's Goin Down'. 'Soak Up The Sun' is a lovely sunny radio track and 'Everywhere' is strong too and very convenient Avril comes up shortly as it's like tracks across both her first two albums.

Do find 'I'm Not A Girl. Not Yet A Woman' quite nice but it's not a huge fave and 'Dreaming' is decent enough. 'In The Beginning' is a cool discovery, liking the 'Ray Of Light' meets 'I Feel Love' sound to it. Didn't like the Stereophonics track, remember seeing them perform that on TOTP as an exclusive performance I think but never stood out oops. Tiesto and Del Amitri tracks are alright.

Impressive that Britney improved on the peak of her past two singles but this one is a step down in quality unfortunately. Thankfully her next era will produce her best ever ballad for me.

I listen to a podcast called 'the 2000s chart show' that goes through the top 40 this week 20 years ago and learned that Elizabeth/Lizzy Pattinson is indeed the sister of Robert Pattinson!

Like Rob I don't think I've heard 'In The Beginning' before but it's sounding like a total banger! 'I Feel Love' is an all-time favourite so that checks out. That would probably be my favourite but Tiësto is a good shout too, great tech trance production and percussive rhythms.

I really liked 'Soak Up The Sun' at the time but maybe it should have actually been released in the summer and held up for a few months.

'Lethal Industry' by Tiesto sounds great and is more like some of the current melodic techno on Beatport than what is usually categorised as trance.

The synth melody of 'Temple of Dreams' on the other hand unfortunately reminds me of the lesser charms of the synth intro melody of Chris Brown's 'Yeah 3x' (but that sort of synth riff was used a lot in 2011-12 dancepop and dance).

Edited March 28Mar 28 by TheSnake

I didn't have too many favourites in Week 14. 4 My People was probably my favourite, quite cool production on that from Basement Jaxx and was always nice to see Missy get a big hit. Shake UR Body was solid and catchy drum and base though, and I also liked One Day In Your Life and Flowers In The Window. Ha at LiL' Mo, I expect that made me chuckle at the time as Little Mo was in EastEnders back then...shame it's a crap song. Silent Sigh is decent, Badly Drawn Boy had some solid singles but I preferred his other 2001/2 material i think.

Week 15...I must have had the pocket money out as I bought a few of these. My favourite being Temple Of Dreams by Future Breeze. They remixed Encore Une Fois into the version that was a hit in the UK so it was nice to see them get a hit of their own five years later, I absolutely loved the warm vocal and stabbing trance riff on this personally (as The Snake says, it was later clearly some inspiration for the club banger era in 2010-12). Sorry to say that the other one I really loved was I Can't Wait, with the disclaimer that I didn't know the Nu Shooz original at the time so it was basically a new song to me and I loved the garage production.

Dreaming by Aurora I also bought, really nice track and very different to their earlier trance hits Hear You Calling and Ordinary World, this was more Corrs/Natalie Imbruglia-esque. They followed it up with an even better song which I'll comment on when it appears later in the thread.

Soak Up The Sun is one of my go-to feelgood tunes (love Sheryl's long bridge/lead into the chorus) although I agree with The Snake that perhaps a summer release would have been better, I remember we went to a holiday park for a week in the UK around this time (I want to say in Weymouth) and it was actually pretty chilly still so maybe the wrong season. And Everywhere by Michelle Branch is one I've come to appreciate a lot more over time, bit of a pre-Avril template when I think about it and among the early signs that female guitar pop was on its way.

I didn't get anything out of Lethal Industry unfortunately but In The Beginning is a really nice find indeed, not sure I remember that one from the time, kind of reminiscent of iio vocally.

I don't mind I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman, I've always found it interesting that it was co-written by Dido as I couldn't imagine her writing for Britney at all. It was used well in the Max Martin jukebox musical & Juliet too.

It's Goin' Down is the best rocky track here, I remember thinking that was quite a cool Linkin Park spin-off at the time. I've got very little memory of Vegas Two Times, no surprise as I didn't have that album and it had a very short chart run by Stereophonics' standards at this point. Listening back and that riff is sounding familiar to me, the vocal is a bit of a drone though.

I also couldn't remember that Cliff song, it's very Disney, sounds like it belongs in Beauty and the Beast. Interesting to choose a song title that's the same as The Shadows' 1975 Eurovision entry, before listening I wondered if it might be a cover of that.

Didn't recall that Aaron Carter was still having hits at this point, I can't say I remember this or that it does anything for me upon listening.

Edited March 29Mar 29 by gooddelta

I'm still liking some recent Tiesto collabs with other banger DJ's and guest singers, though not all of them, so curious to hear this one as I never charted it - I didnt chart anything until 2004 (Love Comes Again). I like the crowd noises for upping the excitement if one is pissed or on some substance or other but it didn't grab me as a song as such, more of a mood thing. Pop dancefloor me. I'll give it a retrospective 4. Ditto Executioners too, not one I remember. Ditto Roger Goode, that passed me by. Ditto Future Breeze. Bit of a theme going on...

Great stuff alert with Del Amitri, not a band I generally rated much but this ballad was a chart-topping 10/10 for me, far and away their best record, not even close. Michelle Branch is also a good track, 7/10 with a future classic with Santana still in the wings. Elton was mostly past his sell-by date for me and I ignored Original Sin. What he needed at this time was a cool collab with a hot new band with roots in the 70's, or a synth duo combo with a great remix old or new....😇

Soak Up The Sun is OK, a 4/10, but she's done much better stuff both before and after. Aurora, she didnt have a long run (5 weeks) but hit 20 in my chart, so a likely 7/10. I've forgotten it. Playing it now, like the throbbing intro. She should try and get a cameo in the next Batman movie. Quite moody, actually, I still like it. Talking of famous brothers, Aaron Carter was teenybop appeal, and never ever charted for me, being as I was 43 at the time.... 😨

Talking of being past a sell-by date, I'll stick with The Shadows' 1975 Eurohit, Cliff did not chart for me. Britney's ballad I found a tad dull, but gifted a 5/10 anyway. Stereophonics have always been annoyingly hit and miss with me, sometimes classic, sometimes good, sometimes OK, sometimes very dull. Vegas Two Times did not chart for me, so I'll leave that one to make assumptions about. Ladies First I don't recall, but I love the Nu Shooz original to bits, so how did I feel at the time about this cover? 5/10, so I was OK about it, then!

Not a hugely well remembered but a very good group of hits here. The collaboration of Rollo and Dido Armstrong worked so well that it felt like there was more potential there.

8	Faithless Featuring Dido	One Step Too Far	The 4th single from "Outrospective" but 2nd highest peaking: Dido's vocals work so well on this and it sounds ethereal
8	X-Press 2 Featuring David Byrne	Lazy	This house duo had many minor hits but this is the only Top 30: wonderfully quirky lyrically with a great driving rhythm
8	Galleon	So I Begin	Only hit for this Daft Punk-esque French group: a strong tune here and the production has that great familiar house sound
7	1 Giant Leap Featuring Maxi Jazz And Robbie Williams	My Culture	Maxi Jazz entering the Top 10 twice this week: a very enjoyable collaboration with this electronic duo and Robbie here
7	Barthezz	Infected	2nd and final hit for DJ Bart Claesson: they've both been really strong trance tracks and this has a very infectious melody
7	Agent Sumo	Why	Another house act with their sole Top 40: can't find much info about this but I find it a really rousing and enjoyable track
6	Garbage	Breaking Up The Girl	3rd hit from "Beautiful Garbage": this is more in their rocky style than "Cherry Lips" and enjoyable but doesn't stand out
6	The Vines	Highly Evolved	1st hit for this Australian rock band active since 1994: I love the energetic grungy style; think the chorus could be stronger
5	So Solid Crew	Ride Wid Us	Their 4th Top 20 hit: it's not quite as strong as the others but still the production gives it their usual urgency and intensity
5	Usher	U Turn	One of those tracks like "Cha Cha Slide" that teaches a dance: it's nothing remarkable but quite a fun and catchy chorus
4	Ryan Adams	Answering Bell	1st Top 40 for this US singer songwriter: it's quite an ordinary folky number that's pleasant but certainly not at all thrilling
3	3SL	Take It Easy	Stood for "3 Single Lads": 1st hit for this UK pop group and it doesn't have a huge amount to it but it's pleasant and jolly

2002 Weeks 17 and 18:

#1256	27/04/2002	Oasis	The Hindu Times	1	{1}-4-13-23-37-51-66-63-65-62-74->11
#1257	27/04/2002	*NSync Featuring Nelly	Girlfriend	2	{2}-3-4-7-15-21-28-31-41-52-63-63->12
#1258	27/04/2002	Doves	There Goes The Fear	3	{3}-34-70->3
#1259	27/04/2002	Pay As U Go	Champagne Dance	13	{13}-30-42-64->4
#1260	27/04/2002	New Order	Here To Stay	15	{15}-43-67->3
#1261	27/04/2002	Lyte Funkie Ones	Every Other Time	24	{24}-32-45->3
#1262	27/04/2002	Pulp	Bad Cover Version	27	{27}-52->2
#1263	27/04/2002	The Streets	Let's Push Things Forward	30	{30}-39-57->3
#1264	27/04/2002	Drowning Pool	Bodies	34	{34}-50->2
#1265	04/05/2002	Sugababes	Freak Like Me	1	{1}-3-6-10-16-24-25-35-44-53-57-64R(2)-62-72->14
#1266	04/05/2002	S Club Juniors	One Step Closer	2	{2}-2-4-7-13-17-15-22-28-33-35-44-47-58-71-75->16
#1267	04/05/2002	Idlewild	You Held The World In Your Arms	9	{9}-27-45-67->4
#1268	04/05/2002	Kosheen	Hungry	13	{13}-28-40-58->4
#1269	04/05/2002	The Chemical Brothers	Come With Us/The Test	14	{14}-40-55->3
#1270	04/05/2002	Mad Donna	The Wheels On The Bus	17	{17}-26-35-52->4
#1271	04/05/2002	Haven	Til The End	28	{28}-55->2
#1272	04/05/2002	Push	Tranzy State Of Mind	31	{31}-58->2
#1273	04/05/2002	Kristine Blond	You Make Me Go Ooh	35	{35}-56->2

'Lazy' I remember a lot from the time. It wasn't until much later that I discovered the band Talking Heads and realised that that was the vocalist.

More hyperactive trance from Barthezz!

As I remember SL means Scott-Lee, because it's three Lisa's (from Steps) brothers.

Week 16

Agreed on the top pick there. Really cool vibe 'One Step Too Far' has and Dido sounds wonderful as per. The other Maxi Jazz collab with Robbie is great also. 'Lazy' is a anthem.

Some other solid stuff here from those I don't know of – So Solid Crew's I'd put above most of their other stuff and the Night Rider usage flows nicely. 'Infected', 'Highly Evolved' are both sounding decent, 'Breaking Up The Girl' is okay. 'So I Begin' I really like the production on but not keen on the 'I'' phrasing bit on the chorus oops, sounds a little weak.

'Lazy' being blocked from #1 by Gareth Gates' lazy 'Unchained Melody' cover was rude tbh. infectious, quirky song indeed and my favourite of this batch. Love David Byrne's deadpan delivery and the chill house production. The video sticks in my head too for the Wallace & Gromit-esque contraptions on display.

Interesting to hear Robbie on a dance track a good four years before the electronic direction of the Rudebox album. Great collab. Agreed that 'One Step Too Far' is even better in the Faithless-adjacent universe though a fab mix of deep house and trip hop influences that Dido glides over.

'Lazy' got so overplayed at the time that I genuinely couldn't stand it by the end of the year. I like it a bit more these days though.

'One Step Too Far' is utterly sublime

Lazy was fab, a chart-topping 10/10 from me, and another Clubbing era track that has stayed a radio staple since, Faithless/Dido oddly wasnt playlisted on the pop dancefloor, but it tickled my tastebuds anyway 9/10. Havent heard it since 2002, so the youtube link is a nice excuse to re-acquaint myself with it. Galleon So I Begin was another big track for me and a strong 9/10, and keeping up the top 10 status, 1 Giant Leap, Maxi & Robbie were also a 9/10.

From one Xtreme/Talking Heads to another, Barthezz DNC, ditto Agent Sumo never got into the arena, So Solid Crew were never in with a shot, and The Vines didnt chart either but others had better luck. Garbage were always fab, that's a 9/10 and reminded me of Pretenders. Usher scraped a 4/10, and I've forgotten it, while Ryan Adams and 3SL managed a decent 7/10.