October 16Oct 16 Oh I thought I was going to be in the minority with my thoughts on Wannabe. I always thought it was one of those songs the vast majority on here had high opinions of.
October 17Oct 17 Wannabe was a little pop gem beloved of kiddies, and I bought it too while it was on brand new discount CD single I think - though I also preferred the next singles too. It's still fun, and it was great iconic pop could still be a thing in the Britpop years. Zig A Zig ahh!
October 18Oct 18 Author 8. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's1 week at number 1, SeptemberA sleeper hit with a cinematic hook. Initially charting low, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” re-entered and soared to No.1 thanks to its quirky charm and singalong chorus. The band’s only major UK hit, it captured a moment of mid-90s alt-pop whimsy — a one-hit wonder with staying power. I legit thought this was by The Rembrandts for the month before it was released! This is such a different song for the charts at the time and I think this made it stand out from the crowd. Whimsy is a good word for it (thanks AI!) and I love it all the more for it.
October 18Oct 18 I only realised in the last few years just how bad the lyrics are Love it regardless though! ❤️
October 18Oct 18 Nice project. My 10 favourite #1's of 1996 are:01 Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions02 Prodigy - Firestarter03 Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun 04 Oasis - Don’t Look Back In Anger05 Gina G - Ooh Aah … Just A Little Bit06 Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack07 Fugees - Ready Or Not 08 Babylon Zoo - Spaceman 09 Spice Girls - Wannabe10 Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany’s
October 18Oct 18 Breakfast At Tiffany’s Is the first song I can remember hearing constantly on the radio growing up. So for that reason I think I have a bit of a connection to it. Not my favourite song of the year, but one I like none the less.
October 18Oct 18 I also cannot stand "Wannabe" or the Spice Girls in general. Not only was the music terrible but I also hated that girl power nonsense when in reality they were assembled by a male and all their singles were written by men. At the same time we had a genuinely talented female musician in Sister Bliss from Faithless yet even today few people seem to realise there's a female behind their music.
October 19Oct 19 I had a Florida holiday in Feb of 96, during a freezing snap, icicles on power lines, and even the Florida Keys were cold - the radio holiday hit was def Breakfast At Tiifany's so I bought it in the UK soon as I could. Still never seen the movie though...!
October 19Oct 19 Author 7. Spice Girls – 2 Become 13 weeks at number 1, December 1996/January 1997AI summary: The Spice Girls’ softer side, wrapped in festive sparkle. “2 Become 1” was their third consecutive No.1 and claimed the coveted Christmas No.1 slot in 1996. A gentle ballad with a message of intimacy and consent, it showcased their versatility and became one of the year’s top sellers despite its late release.My take: It took me way too long to realise the message behind this sparkly christmassy classic was contraception. How did I miss the 'put it on' line by an innocent looking Baby Spice?! A very well deserved Christmas number 1 (and I think the best of the '90s), its a beautiful ballad and showcased another sound from them after the shouty pop of Wannabe and the RnB of Say You'll Be There. As Miranda would say 'When Dos become Uno....!'
October 19Oct 19 Both of those Spice Girls songs are rightfully classics and soundtracked my primary school days. I do prefer '2 Become One' and the accompanying video made it all that more warm and special. Easily their best christmas chart topper of the 3!'Breakfast At Tiffany's' is a brilliant track too. I always assumed they were an Australian act performing the video in America until learning they are American as well lol.
October 19Oct 19 I like 2 Become 1 more than Wamnabe, though the one to come is my preference of the three.
October 19Oct 19 On 29/09/2025 at 20:05, Colm said:I don't mind Forever Love at all.I really liked Forever Love and still do, was never massively fussed about Love Wont Wait and much preferred Open Road and So Help Me Girl,For me both were more worthy of number 1 than Love wont Wait.
October 19Oct 19 I agree with your ordering of the three Spice Girls songs, Jester!I've really softened towards '2 Become 1' over the years. Those orchestral strings are gorgeous. I'm glad they updated the "boys and girls feel good together" line from the album version so the single mix didn't have that clunky exclusionary feel. One I'm more than happy to hear at Christmas time each year as it's very cosy.
October 20Oct 20 Author 6 hours ago, Jade said:I agree with your ordering of the three Spice Girls songs, Jester!I've really softened towards '2 Become 1' over the years. Those orchestral strings are gorgeous. I'm glad they updated the "boys and girls look good together" line from the album version so the single mix didn't have that clunky exclusionary feel. One I'm more than happy to hear at Christmas time each year as it's very cosy.You know, cosy is a great word to sum up 2 Become 1!
October 20Oct 20 2 Become 1 is my favourite Spice Girls No.1 of 1996, narrowly, and one of my top five songs of the year. Such a sumptuous and sensual ballad, with beautiful production and strings. I always look forward to hearing this a lot again around Christmas, it must be one of the biggest 'Christmas feeling' songs that isn't actually about Christmas at all, along with Keeping The Dream Alive, Heartbeat and Never Had A Dream Come True.I like Breakfast At Tiffany's but wouldn't say I love it. It's catchy though, and I do enjoy the verses quite a bit.
October 20Oct 20 21 hours ago, Jester said:7. Spice Girls – 2 Become 13 weeks at number 1, December 1996/January 1997AI summary: The Spice Girls’ softer side, wrapped in festive sparkle. “2 Become 1” was their third consecutive No.1 and claimed the coveted Christmas No.1 slot in 1996. A gentle ballad with a message of intimacy and consent, it showcased their versatility and became one of the year’s top sellers despite its late release.My take: It took me way too long to realise the message behind this sparkly christmassy classic was contraception. How did I miss the 'put it on' line by an innocent looking Baby Spice?! A very well deserved Christmas number 1 (and I think the best of the '90s), its a beautiful ballad and showcased another sound from them after the shouty pop of Wannabe and the RnB of Say You'll Be There. As Miranda would say 'When Dos become Uno....!'I only just realised it was about contraception when you mentioned it 😄I was very naive, even in my 30's! 😇Cosy and warm remains my Xmas-listen experience and its better than Wannabe..
October 20Oct 20 Author 6. George Michael – FastloveNumber 1 for 3 weeks, April/MayAI summary: George Michael’s “Fastlove” marked a sleek, sensual pivot into the late-night grooves of mid-90s R&B. Sampling Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots,” it fused longing with luxury, gliding over a liquid bassline and crisp production that felt both effortless and immaculate. Lyrically, it was a mature shrug at fleeting romance — “I miss my baby tonight” — delivered with knowing charm. The track debuted at #1 in April 1996, giving Michael his seventh solo chart-topper and reaffirming his status as a pop auteur. It stood out in a year dominated by Britpop and boybands, offering sophistication without pretension. “Fastlove” remains a masterclass in grown-up pop: smooth, sly, and irresistibly danceable.My take: Easily one of my favourite George Michael songs, Fastlove is THE big hit from the huge selling Older album and George at his 90s peak. Also the best Forget Me Nots sampling number 1!
October 20Oct 20 Author 5. The Prodigy – BreatheNumber 1 for 2 weeks, NovemberAI summary: Breathe was The Prodigy at their most feral — a snarling, breakbeat-laced anthem that stormed to #1 in November 1996. Following the incendiary success of “Firestarter,” this track doubled down on menace, pairing Keith Flint’s punkish bark with Maxim’s hypnotic chants. The production was dense and aggressive, all clattering drums and distorted synths, like a rave in a warzone. It captured the chaos of the era’s underground scene and shoved it into the mainstream, becoming the band’s second consecutive #1. “Breathe” wasn’t just a song — it was a threat, a challenge, a dare to dive headfirst into the maelstrom. And Britain did, willingly.My take: Five words sum up the brilliant Breathe: 'dark', 'brooding', 'menacing' 'aggressive' and 'thrumming'. What a song!!
October 20Oct 20 "Fastlove" was the clear stand out track when I bought "Older" and it remains a thing of class though now probaby my second favourite track on the album. The full song (Parts I & 2) are great together and elevate the song even further.
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