This may have been addressed before but I missed it and wouldn't know where to start looking but with Doechii threatening to have a number one it posed a question in my mind.

How many number one hits have been based on a previous number one song but aren't an actual cover?

For example Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby taking the framework from Queen and Bowie's Under Pressure is an obvious one. As would Flo Rida's Right Round with Dead or Alive.

I don't really follow the charts much anymore so much of the last ten years I'm not that familiar with and there must be a fair few I don't know.

Just what springs to mind immediately:

Hung Up

Flowers

I’ll Be Missing You (OK that’s almost a full on cover)

Edit missed that the original had to be a #1 - OK only the latter just about counts then.

It's a bit of a tenuous example but 'Sausage Rolls For Everyone' was basically a version of the previous number one 'Merry Christmas'.

Just now, Julian_ said:

Just what springs to mind immediately:

Hung Up

Flowers

I’ll Be Missing You (OK that’s almost a full on cover)

But Hung Up samples a #3 peaking Abba song so surely that doesn't qualify?

And 'Flowers' is loosely based on a #2 peaking Bruno Mars song?

Or am I missing something?

(probably the latter lol)

There was this back in 2004:

Eamon's 'F*** It (I Don't Want You Back)' and then Frankee's 'F.U.R.B.' but I guess that's a different thing.

I'll Be Missing You- Every Breath You Take

Freak Like Me- Are Friends Electric

Beautiful Girls- Stand By Me

I Don't Wanna Know- Ready Or Not

FURB- F*ck It

I'm Good- Blue (Da Ba Dee)

All come to mind

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha's 'I'm Good (Blue)' I think fits the criteria.

EDIT: Damn, I was beaten to it 😂

Edited March 24, 20251 yr by Mangø

LadBaby's 'Food Aid' was based on 'Do They Know It's Christmas'

Maybe more on the tenuous side but the riff of One Direction's 'What Makes You Beautiful' is similar to 'Summer Nights' by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

Oh just remembered that Shaggy's 'Angel' interpolates 'The Joker' by the Steve Miller Band

Also the intro to Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger -> John Lennon - Imagine

Another one just popped into my head... Typically Tropical - Barbados -> Vengaboys - We're Going to Ibiza

This is definitely not going to distract me at work today, not at all

Loads of great answers here. Even more than I expected, some I'd completely forgotten and at least a couple I flat out don't really know.

59 minutes ago, gasman449 said:

I Don't Wanna Know- Ready Or Not

Weren't both relying on Enya sample (that wasn't a #1)? Enya was even credited for IDWK.

Jive Bunny used a few, including 'Rock Around The Clock' on 'Swing The Mood' and 'Merry Xmas Everybody' on 'Let's Party'.

If it counts... Gareth Malone's All Star Choir - Wake Me Up (cover of Avicii's UK #1).

23 minutes ago, Sour Candy said:

Weren't both relying on Enya sample (that wasn't a #1)? Enya was even credited for IDWK.

Yep but Mario said he found the sample from the Fugees song specifically and that's what is used in the song.

27 minutes ago, awardinary said:

If it counts... Gareth Malone's All Star Choir - Wake Me Up (cover of Avicii's UK #1).

Remembering this has got me remembering this 2009 medley:

('Never Forget' and 'Hey Jude' were #1's)

Edited March 24, 20251 yr by AllStarBySmashMouth

Not a sample / interpolation but Geri Halliwell's 'Mi Chico Latino' sounds inspired by Madonna's 'La Isla Bonita'

'Stomp' by Steps features a modified riff from 'Everybody Dance' by Chic