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Spanish DJ Sammy is having to make do with 2nd with 'Heaven' a cover of Bryan Adam's 80's track. It spent a week at number one in November. Yanou an German electronic and trance musician and producer also works in collaboration with him on this and vocals are provided by Do, an Dutch singer. It has two versions, the main radio one and also an candlelight version. It is one of the most imaginative and compelling dance records ever for me, not just in 2002 and would be much deserving of the #1 but there's one for me that just about beats it...

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  • and that's it. Thanks all for the comments and nice stories shared. It was one of the best years in music so was honoured to cover it!

  • The music video from Blazin' Squad makes me laugh. Bunch of kids standing on a unfinished flyover trying to look hard and singing a song they barely know. 😄

  • I’m going to steal this idea and start a 1995 thread in the other retro forum soon :)

My favourite cover of all-time, easily my favourite No.1 of 2002, and with 12 weeks at No.1 in my chart in 2002.

I first heard Heaven in late summer 2002 and splashed out quite a sum for the import single, on which I found the beautiful Candlelight Mix, which I loved just as much as the original in a different way, such a tender and beautiful tone to Do's voice and sparkling piano playing. This is the version I learnt in my keyboard lessons originally, but I found it too hard as Yanou used notes all over the scale, including a very high intro. So I switched to learning the Bryan Adams original, and then had to play that in my music class live in front of the group (luckily I managed that without messing up, it's way easier to play).

But DJ Sammy and Yanou's production really worked so well on the main version, transforming an MOR rock ballad into a really wonderful dance track, 80s Eurodance covers were everywhere in 2002 but this was absolutely and by far the best one. It was a really clever choice of song (the original wasn't much of a hit here, unlike many of the other 80s covers that year) and the production has so many special flourishes throughout. The middle eight with the guitar is so special. Do's voice elevates it so much though.

I remember starting year 11 in the September by raving about this song to everyone, so much so that a girl I knew (and showed the song to) sung the Candlelight mix as part of another group music project in an assembly, way before it received a UK release, so it was all over my school very early. I remember the single finally coming out the same week as Madonna's Bond theme and Craig David's lead single but still kept the faith it would be a UK No.1, and was delighted it followed through. Great to see it so high here Rob!

Edited by gooddelta

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and the final one coming in at the top is P!nk and 'Just Like A Pill'. I liked both of her last two singles a lot but this one was where it really came alive for P!nk. An edgy/angsty anthem of an song which addresses the deep topic of drugs. The video is excellent as well. It is in my top 2 faves of hers along with 'Who Knew' and to add she's one of my all time fave female artists so I guess a predictable #1 lol but very very much deserving. It's a classic ❤️

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and that's it. Thanks all for the comments and nice stories shared. It was one of the best years in music so was honoured to cover it!

Ooooh love your number one choice

Definitely the number one I'd have predicted, knowing Roba. It's a great song, no arguments there. Good (and unusual) for her to get a No.1 from such a memorable era after the first two singles missed out.

Love the choice for #1. Just Like A Pill is one of, if not my favourite P!nk songs.

A job very well done. Loved following this countdown.

Just Like A Pill only reached #97 in Australia and that was in 2009. Presumably when she was on her Funhouse tour.

I remember it being in radio and TV in 2002, but it never got a physical release. I guess her label prioritised album sales over single sales for this one.

'Heaven' is just fantastic, and I have a lot of love for the 'Boys of Summer' version too. I remember being so glad this got to #1, even though by the time the release week rolled around I was confident it would.

'Just Like a Pill' at the time on the other hand was a complete surprise #1 to me, I was expecting this to land mid-low top 10 that week. Obviously deserved though, a complete classic that never gets old ❤️

Been great fun and nostalgia to follow along, thanks Rob!

Afrer some deliberation, I think my top 10 for 2002 would be:

  1. Heaven

  2. Sound Of The Underground

  3. Lose Yourself

  4. If You're Not The One

  5. Just A Little

  6. More Than A Woman

  7. Round Round

  8. The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)

  9. The Ketchup Song (Asereje)

  10. Just Like A Pill

Without Me and Freak Like Me just outside.

Agreed that P!nk was a surprise No.1, although looking at that week it beat Busted (not sure I was expecting them to get to No.1 with their debut, No.3 seemed about right), Eminem's Cleanin' Out My Closet (was more expected from this perhaps?) and the outgoing Atomic Kitten who I don't think were expected to last for a fourth week. So I can't really remember what I expected to be No.1 that week!

27 minutes ago, gooddelta said:

Agreed that P!nk was a surprise No.1, although looking at that week it beat Busted (not sure I was expecting them to get to No.1 with their debut, No.3 seemed about right), Eminem's Cleanin' Out My Closet (was more expected from this perhaps?) and the outgoing Atomic Kitten who I don't think were expected to last for a fourth week. So I can't really remember what I expected to be No.1 that week!

I remembered thinking Atomic Kitten would probably cling on for a 4th week, but Busted might get it as they had a bit of hype but there weren't any nailed-on

#1 contenders. That seemed to come from nowhere, but it was a delightful surprise.

Round Round is the lesser of the 2 Babes, think that would be just inside the top 5 for me too, but Freak Like Me is a chart-topping sampling classic and would be top 2, behind George H (or in my world, number one for 2002 of new tracks).

'Freak Like Me' and 'Round Round' are both excellent. I do slightly prefer the former but can see why the latter is so revered, alongside 'Sound of the Underground', for pushing British pop into the future. Richard X and Xenomania were two fab names to have on board to kickstart the Sugababes 2.0 era.

'Just Like A Pill' is my favourite P!nk song! I was obsessed with it as a kid and it still hits hard all of these years on. So I approve of that winner pick clap

Thanks for putting this together Rob! It was fun to follow.

A splendid end to the 2002 countdown, there were many highlights here, and most of the songs that I would have expected to do well did do well and it's a very fair and balanced reflection on what 2002 will be remembered for, so thank you Rob for running this event, and I eagerly anticipate 2003 next!

A great winner which would be 2nd for me. I don’t love “Heaven” as much as you guys but I agree it’s a very inspired cover, turning an unremarkable song into something more.

My version, based on the scores in my thread. It’s a very strong top half.

1 Eminem - Lose Yourself (9)

2 Pink - Just Like A Pill (9)

3 George Harrison - My Sweet Lord (9)

4 Liberty X - Just A Little (9)

5 Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This (9)

5 Girls Aloud - Sound Of The Underground (9)

7 Christina Aguilera - Dirrrty (9)

8 Aaliyah - More Than A Woman (9)

9 Las Ketchup - The Ketchup Song (Asereje) (9)

10 Sugababes - Freak Like Me (8)

11 Elvis vs JXL - A Little Less Conversation (8)

12 Sugababes - Round Round (8)

13 Daniel Bedingfield - If You’re Not The One (7)

14 DJ Sammy featuring Yanou and Do - Heaven (7)

15 Eminem - Without Me (7)

16 Darius - Colourblind (7)

17 Oasis - The Hindu Times (6)

18 Westlife - World Of Our Own (6)

19 Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss (6)

20 Gareth Gates - Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake) (5)

21 Will Young - Light My Fire (5)

22 Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland - Dilemma (4)

23 Will Young - Anything Is Possible / Evergreen (4)

24 Atomic Kitten - The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling) (4)

25 Enrique Iglesias - Hero (3)

26 Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Something Stupid (3)

27 Blue featuring Elton John - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (3)

28 Ronan Keating - If Tomorrow Never Comes (2)

29 Will Young & Gareth Gates - The Long And Winding Road / Suspicious Minds (2)

30 Westlife - Unbreakable (2)

31 Blazin’ Squad - Crossroads (2)

32 Gareth Gates - Unchained Melody (1)

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Full recap

  1. Just Like A Pill

  2. Heaven

  3. Round Round

  4. Freak Like Me

  5. Lose Yourself

  6. Colourblind

  7. Kiss Kiss

  8. Just A Little

  9. More Than A Woman

  10. If You're Not The One

  11. Sound Of The Undergound

  12. Gotta Get Thru This

  13. My Sweet Lord

  14. Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake)

  15. The Ketchup Song (Asereje)

  16. Dirrty

  17. Without Me

  18. Hero

  19. World Of Our Own

  20. Dilemma

  21. Evergreen / Anything Is Possible

  22. The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)

  23. If Tomorrow Never Comes

  24. A Little Less Conversation

  25. Unchained Melody

  26. The Hindu Times

  27. Light My Fire

  28. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

  29. Somethin Stupid

  30. Unbreakable

  31. The Long and Winding Road

  32. Crossroads

Thanks for running this Rob! Heaven I rather like, despite being a fan of the original Bryan Adams ballad - that had been huge in the USA but not the UK, def top 20 for the year but prob not top 10. Pink, Get The Party Started and her first hits had been my faves to date, but Just Like A Pill is pretty decent too. Top 20 prob is my rating. Lets check with my actual 2002 year-end chart which came where: it's quite different from how I rate them now! Lose Yourself, Sound Of The Underground would be top 10 and Elvis would be out of the top 10 along with Somethin' Stupid as basically oldie remakes, Elvis' better than the original Robbie's not as classic as the original. I think Ketchup Song might even be at 4 these days 😇

  1. My Sweet Lord 2,442,150

  2. Freak Like Me 857,900

  3. Round Round 835,650

  4. Somethin' Stupid 686,850

  5. Dirrty 682,000

  6. More Than A Woman 622600

  7. A Little Less Conversation 606,300

  8. Without Me 451,100

  9. The Ketchup Song 367,900

  10. Gotta Get Thru This 359,150

  11. Just A Little 331,550

  12. Lose Yourself 321,150

  13. Dilemma 319,150

  14. Sound Of The Underground 289,300

  15. Kiss Kiss 269,600

  16. Light My Fire 254,000

  17. Hero 251,550

  18. The Hindu Times 158,250

  19. Heaven 152,600

  20. Just Like A Pill 126,450

  21. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 92,700

  22. World Of Our Own 85,500

  23. Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake) 82,000

  24. If You're Not The One 78,700

  25. The Tide Is High 46,800

  26. Unbreakable 42,100

  27. Evergreen 24,400

  28. Colourblind 24,400

  29. Unchained Melody 11000

  30. Crossroads 6200

  31. If Tomorrow Never Comes 000

  32. The Long & Winding Road 000

I won't rank them all but I think these would be my top 10 of the year:

01 Freak Like Me

02 Lose Yourself

03 Just A Little

04 Dirrty

05 Just Like A Pill

06 Round Round

07 The Hindu Times

08 Sound Of The Underground

09 More Than A Woman

10 Without Me

(I don't really count My Sweet Lord as 2002 so I've excluded it)

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