Another great song, I do slightly prefer Hit ‘Em’ Up Styke though.

Felt so random at the time seeing her come back, get one ginormous hit and fade away again. It's definitely one of the year's key hits that was everywhere that summer, and is very well-remembered.

I wonder why it didn't perform as well in the US as it did here? (Only #70 there)

Beautiful is just immaculate. Christina's vocals are so warm and bluesy on the record, it just wouldn't have been done as well by any other artist imo.

44 minutes ago, Jessie Where said:

Felt so random at the time seeing her come back, get one ginormous hit and fade away again. It's definitely one of the year's key hits that was everywhere that summer, and is very well-remembered.

I wonder why it didn't perform as well in the US as it did here? (Only #70 there)

I've heard she was done dirty by the industry and essentially blackballed, which kind of makes sense since she literally went AWOL after such a big hit.

I have very strong opinions about what should be number 1 on this list. One of the most well constructed pop songs ever.

Blu's solo version of Breathe without Sean Paul is pretty dull in the chorus, he definitely makes that track a lot better for me.

I must admit, as much as it is looked back on as a classic now and had a long run at the top, I didn't see that No.1 coming at the time. I remember being surprised when I saw the midweeks that week - Sean was commercial gold in 2003 though and definitely helped it on its way, not that Blu's verses aren't good too. I think I must have expected Lumidee to get it instead.

Edited September 29Sep 29 by gooddelta

7

Will Young - Leave Right Now

Score: 8/10

06/12/2003	Will Young	Leave Right Now
Peak: 1 Chart run: {1}-1-2-6-5-6-10-12-14-22-17-22-24-34-44-60-64-61->18

This was the lead single from Will’s 2nd album “Friday’s Child”. On its release week this was actually being run close by the dreadful “I’m Your Man” cover by Shane Richie which was the “Children In Need” single.

There were in fact distribution issues as the label had assumed Will’s popularity had waned enough for there not to be very much demand. In the end it managed a 6 figure sale and became the 5th biggest seller of the year despite only having been released in November.

It felt like this was the moment where Will really became his own artist, and a number of really great singles followed this. This heartbreak ballad suits his voice very well and he sells it brilliantly.

Brilliant single. The quality increase between Will's first and second albums needs to be studied, it's like different artists - the same voice but a gulf in quality once we was allowed to have more control. This album had so many great singles. The middle eight onwards in Leave Right Now is a musical and vocal masterclass. Good music video too.

Thank god he beat the terrible I'm Your Man cover in the end, that was close.

'Hole In The Head' would be in my top 5 again for Sugababes and I think Will would be too. Cracking singles from both.

Really Like 'Beautiful'and would be in the top 10 for me too.

'Breathe' is decent but not one I've ever been huge on. I think I prefer 'Hit Em Up Style (Oops'!) as well.

6

Michael Andrews and Gary Jules - Mad World

Score: 8/10

27/12/2003	Michael Andrews Featuring Gary Jules	Mad World	1
Chart run: {1}-1-1-2-4-5-12-12-23-28-31-43-57-66-70-58R(145)-67-26R(196)-53->19

Originally a 1982 hit for Tears For Fears, it only reached #3 but was the 12st biggest seller of the year. Film composer Michael Andrews composed this version for the soundtrack to the film “Donnie Darko”, and his friend Gary Jules provided the vocals.

It emerged victorious in one of the most publicised Christmas #1 battles of the century (2002 and 2009 being other notable ones and also 2 of the only other years to actually have produced great Christmas chart toppers this century). From just 2 weeks on sale it became the 4th biggest seller of 2003, and also made the 2004 year end Top 40.

A few years ago this would have been in my Top 3 here. Having known this version first I found the faster paced Tears For Fears version hard to get into at first. However after having delved more deeply into ‘80s music I now definitely prefer the original and this has slid just a little in my affections. It is nonetheless still a beautiful and haunting cover.

Absolutely majestic version, I was so happy when it won the battle against The Darkness!

I'm the opposite. That's the only one I don't like in the top ten, I get the appeal and it's a very effective and well done cover, but it's not one I personally get any enjoyment from and I was a little gutted for The Darkness! However it was very impressive that they managed to win what felt like a David vs Goliath battle - the song had already been available for over a month on Now 56 too which you'd think would have put it at a further disadvantage.

A couple of stunning singles there.

I don't like Mad World as much now. At the time, it was one of my favorite singles of the decade. 2003 waa great for singles.

'Mad World' would be my #1 here! A stunning version and one of the few underdog winners of a Christmas #1 race, beating not only The Darkness but also The Idols (who were the original favourites iirc?)

I still have three big favourites in the top 5, and the other two are pretty good (personally I wouldn't count carryover #1s from the previous year so it feels like 'Mad World' should still be top 5, but I realise a precedent has been set.)

Yes, it looks weird looking back at how badly The Idols performed. I think everybody got a shock when that went in at No.5 (especially Cowell and the producers I'd imagine) as it almost felt like it couldn't fail. Not sure what happened there because look how much success the X Factor Finalists had with their ensemble covers from 2008-2011.

Maybe it was the earliest sign of the bubble bursting for the show - the Pop Idol 2 finalists didn't exactly set the charts alight in 2004 despite Michelle and Sam and Mark getting No.1 singles. And then there was no series 3 and it was replaced by X Factor. The original Pop Idol finalists had no single but their Big Band album was a mega success in comparison.

I don’t mind Mad World. I vaguely remember it at the time, though I remember hearing what I think is a dance version of it in 2006. Still haven’t been able to find that dance version anywhere though.

I like early 80s synth music but for 'Mad World' the Gary Jules version is better than the original imo, its a sad song so minimal piano goes better with the music.

I have also grown to appreciate the Tears for Fears original of Mad World a lot more after initially being a bit confused by it knowing the stripped version better, both versions are still fantastic though and Michael Andrews' version really brings the stark, gloomy reality of the song to life, in contrast to the chaotic and enigmatic sound of the original. Most of these stripped cover versions are pointless, but this is an exception, I think it would rank 2nd for me overall (my favourite is pleasingly still to come x), and of course appreciate the contrast of the Christmas top 2, in what was sadly probably the last fully organic Christmas chart battle.

Enjoy everything else in the top 10 too so far, Beautiful is a really strong moment from Christina and continued her sound maturing after Dirrty.

5

Tomcraft - Loneliness

Score: 9/10

10/05/2003	Tomcraft	Loneliness
Peak: 1 Chart run: {1}-4-5-9-13-18-24-31-39-48-71-75-74->13

This was based on a track called “Share The Love” by American soul singer Andrea Martin. German DJ Thomas Brückner, who died last year, turned it into a techno track.

The track became an unlikely UK #1. The follow up “Brainwashed (Call You) is also very good but only reached #43.

If you listen to the Andrea Martin original song it’s a pleasant piece of soul but doesn’t exactly scream hit potential, and what he did with it is really quite remarkable. It’s quite a stark and bleak soundscape that really conveys the sense of being lonely and trapped. It still sounds just as good now, and it’s amazing that such a hard hitting dance track reached #1 in the midst of the 2003 soundscape.

'Loneliness' might actually be my favourite #1 of 2003 nowadays I've always liked it but found a new level of appreciation when revisiting after its use in Saltburn towards the end of 2023. The lyrics and lost-sounding vocals are pretty haunting for a dance smash and I love the dark trancey techno production too (reminds me of 'Kernkraft 400' a bit) mixed with some piano. Glad it made your top 5!

I was delighted this ended up as my 16th birthday No.1 as I expected Craig David and Sting to get it. This really feels like it came out of the blue (to No.1 anyway, top five felt secure).

Such a brilliant use of a sample. I prefer the Munich edit with the added piano flourishes but in either version it's such a fantastic, atmospheric dance track.