I like Return of the Mack a lot more now than I did at the time, I'd suspect I'd have it quite a lot higher up the list than 17th. I think at the time I too was irritated that it stopped A Design For Life but I can't hold that it against it now 😆

It's a great song but I always found his voice incredibly grating.

I love the hustle of his first really big hit being called 'Return of the Mack', as if everybody was eagerly awaiting his return at the time.

I like Return… way more than I did at the time, it probably would have been in the bottom 5 then.

It’s slowly growing on me. Top 10 of 1996 in 30 years?

A classic and one I love whenever I hear it, but don't ever really listen to.

It was a staple at my primary school discos!

Don't like Boyzone whatsoever aside from one single the following year, but that's definitely one of their better ones for me.

Edited October 5Oct 5 by Jessie Where

“Return Of The Mack” is the only song I really like so far - I’d have that quite a bit higher too.

I can happily never hear ROTM again. Being at uni in Leicester at the time maybe I'm jaded but I can confirm he was very much the big "I am" when he became famous riding in his jeep with a car tyre cover on the back which read "only god can judge me". Turns out it was more than just God when he got done for paying a look alike to do his community service instead of him as he was far too busy going off on tour to do it.

I feel You is a classic case of follow-up to a monster grabbing the top spot where the debut didn't, bu that said I find it pleasant, very 80's smooth soul. Yes it's forgettable as a song, but I really dont mind hearing it, late night wind-down music. If Michael Jackson had released this in the early 80's it could have been the 8th single off the album and fine. A mid-league track for me. Dunblane had it's heart in the right place, but it's not one I'm going to re-play as I'm not sure the song was a good choice for the tragedy. It's not often I can say this, but Bob Dylan's original version remains the definitive by a country-mile. Think this would be bottom for me. Along with Barlow (dreary start to a dull 90's solo career) and Robson-Jerome (just why!) Calling it Karaoke is an insult to Karaoke, as that at least is fun and not on sale to make a rich bloke even richer. Gerry will never be bettered so dont even try. Eek! The two soul maulings werent much better, but at least the songs get that number one song rating out of it.

Flava is not as good as t'other on the list for me, This is more typically 90's Brit-funk and lacks the 80's retro vibes of the ballad. Better then everything else so far, though, and the Take That Bee Gee's cover, which sucks out the gorgeous harmony goodness and replaces it with ploddity. A Different Beat OTOH was a pleasant departurne and unexpected bonus from Boyzone, helped no end by Stephen Gately's angelic vocals being on it, and the sub-African beats and backing singers. Maybe a bit over-produced, but better than another dull ballad with Ronan groanin'. Best track on the list so far.

Until Return Of The Mack, that is, total classic and a great global stage for British r'n'b being as good as anything in the USA. Still love that track, it had two chart runs for me, after a USA holiday gave it a second wind. Pity Mark Morrison was his own worse enemy as an early adopter of media ego-BS "I'm a Bad Boy" that is Required-Template in the 21st century. Still a great track though, and put me down as a fan of his voice, it's soulful in a sub-Al Green stylee..

Start to think about the alternative UK #1s ranking.

6 hours ago, Last Dreamer said:

Start to think about the alternative UK #1s ranking.

Feel free to post your top 10 or more in the thread when I’ve finished :)

16. Boyzone – Words

1 week at number 1, October

Boyzone’s first UK chart-topper saw them rework the Bee Gees’ 1968 ballad into a glossy, harmony-laden boyband staple. Released as the lead single from A Different Beat, it showcased Ronan Keating’s emotive delivery and the group’s growing dominance in the teen pop market. While critics questioned its originality, fans embraced the sentimentality and smooth production. A safe, radio-friendly cover that helped cement Boyzone’s place in mid-‘90s pop culture.

I really like this cover - I think it is an improvment on the original amd a well deserved first number 1 for Boyzone. I actually only like 3 Boyzone songs!

'Words' I found at the time a bit depressing.

My memory was my aunt's Sky TV service in the late 90s using this as the warm up music.

'A Different Beat' is more uplifting and reminds me of Enigma - Return to Innocence, wonder if it was influenced by it!

Edited Tuesday at 19:084 days by TheSnake

Not heard the Boyzone version in 3 decades oops, but the Bee Gees original is a fave. It's not a bad version, I like they kept the strings and harmonies as an important part, and the song deserved to be finally a big hit in some version or other. I prefer Different Beat, though.

'Return of the Mack' is head and shoulders above the rest for me so far!

'Words' is a preferable boyband Bee Gees cover to Take That's 'How Deep Is Your Love' attempt but not something I'd seek out

I remember this used to be a "slow dance" song at my school discos and I hated it.

15. Babylon Zoo – Spaceman

5 weeks at number 1, January/February

One of the most hyped debuts of the decade, “Spaceman” rocketed to No.1 off the back of a Levi’s ad featuring its distorted, high-pitched intro. The full track revealed a glam-grunge hybrid with snarling guitars and cryptic sci-fi lyrics—far removed from the ad’s dancefloor tease. Jas Mann’s enigmatic persona added to the mystique, but public opinion turned quickly. A textbook case of marketing triumph over musical cohesion, it remains a fascinating pop artefact of 1996.

Alas, if only thw whole track was the sped up version from the Levi's advert instead of the dirge from Jas Mann for the majority of the song :(

I love 'Spaceman' despite all the criticisms, although the story behind it being a disappointment for buyers is always a fascinating piece of history to read.

I guess it helped that I never saw the advert as I was still too young, but I've always found Spaceman to be a banger all the way through, I quite like the thought that it trolled people at the time x

Return of the Mack is also a bit of a classic, everything else so far has been pretty turgid. There are some of the best 90s number 1s this year but a lot of subpar, flash-in-the-pan fanbase number 1s as well.

I'm not going to defend Words like I did A Different Beat, not particularly keen on that cover at all although it's well done, just not interesting in any way to me.

Spaceman I like a lot though, all the way through too! Would be interesting to hear a full version based on the intro though, maybe AI can make it all these years on!

There was a B-side on the 'Spaceman' CD single called 'Spaceman (The 5th Dimension)' which is built around the advert part more:

I enjoy the song the whole way through as well but maybe it helps that I wasn't around for that advert, so was never trolled

I bought Spaceman, and yes it was mostly for the exciting advert intro and end - the grungey rest of the track was OK the guitars are great, but I'd have preferred 3 minutes of dance banger. Dont understand why nobody's done it yet (?)! It's fair to say without the ad it wouldnt have taken off, but it all seemed quite pulsing for a few weeks. Drop the grungey guitars, speed up the rock section and you have something not entirely unlike T.Rex hiding under there. Opportunity missed 😇For actual overt good T.Rex attempt, Miles Kane's current track Electric Flower does nicely.