On 30/10/2025 at 12:36, gooddelta said:

I don't see singles in many charity shops anymore although I've seen Candle In The Wind in a few over the years, I even bought one of them myself once because I like Something About The Way You Look Tonight (and it was about 10p).

Still see quite a few, but yet to find a Candle In The Wind!

21. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say Eh-oh

2 weeks at number 1, December

AI summary: In one of the most surreal chart moments of the 1990s, the Teletubbies stormed to No.1 with their debut single “Say Eh-oh!”—a remix of their TV theme mashed with nursery rhymes and baby babble. Produced by Andrew McCrorie-Shand and Steve James, the track was a merchandising juggernaut and a toddler-powered earworm.

It debuted at No.1 on 7 December 1997, holding the top spot for two weeks and fending off festive competition. The single spent five weeks in the Top 5, nine in the Top 20, and a staggering 41 weeks in the Top 100, earning double platinum status. It also peaked at No.2 in Ireland.

Part of a wave of children’s TV chart crossovers (see Mr. Blobby, Bob the Builder), “Eh-oh!” stood out for its sheer oddity and cultural grip. It blurred the line between novelty and mainstream pop, baffling critics while delighting toddlers—and their gift-buying parents.

A perfect time capsule of late-’90s Britain: post-rave absurdism meets BBC branding power, all wrapped in a glittery custard-splattered bow.

My take: Time for Teletubbies! I used to watch Teletubbies when I had a rare hangover - was soothing but trippy. I guess I have a bit of a soft spot for this and kudos for nearly being the Christmas number 1! Tinky Winky was my favourite.

Tinky Winky the handbag king *.*

I was about 4 months old when that song hit #1 and you can see me wearing Teletubbies clothes and holding plushes of them in a lot of baby / toddler photos, so no doubt my parents were sick of it haha. I finally experienced the show again as an adult when my cousin was born shortly before the pandemic and indeed it was a trippy experience

Musically 'I'll Be Missing You' is my favourite to drop out so far but a fair ranking, a rather tainted birthday #1 now oops.

I regard 1997 very highly in terms of music overall so looking forward to watching the rest of this unfold.

It's funny, I was 10 when Teletubbies came out and was kind of in the middle ground in between the younger kids who enjoyed it and older teens/young adults who enjoyed it ironically (my older brother watched it and he was 20 at the time, while my 6 year old sister at the time also watched it and loved it).

Therefore I don't particularly have fond nostalgia for the show - I remember how big a deal it was, and it was certainly trippy, but I just remember finding it overly twee, while this single seems to be the theme tune repeated with Baa Baa Black Sheep in the middle for some reason, at least Bob the Builder introduced some verses and a middle eight. So, unfortunately, it might be in my bottom three for 1997. Was it the first UK No.1 aimed primarily at infants, I wonder?

Also, I'm not sure why, but I didn't watch a lot of CBBC anyway as a kid, I was more into CITV (Sooty, Rainbow, Tots TV, Rosie and Jim, Wizadora - all had great theme tunes too).

I was about to turn 40 when this came out, but there were 5 year olds around at the time (it's rare when kids arent around in our family households, including now, and I try out the older classics now and again on youtube but not this one!) - and I still couldnt get any fondness for this kiddy-aimed thing. Better than Blobby, but not as good as Bob The Builder. I preferred the Family Guy parody show 😄

This is a weird one. Like I completely get how and why it was a big number one etc, but the concept of hearing it on the radio or at the end of a chart show is just something I can't quite fathom

Edited Saturday at 12:445 days by Jessie Where

Two my least favourites are on the course to your top 2.

Got to love the Teletubbies, I was 5 at the time so around about the right age, although I kinda wish I could've experienced it at university age as it would've been a whole different experience x

3 hours ago, Last Dreamer said:

Two my least favourites are on the course to your top 2.

That’s standard isn’t it?

2 hours ago, Chez Wombat said:

Got to love the Teletubbies, I was 5 at the time so around about the right age, although I kinda wish I could've experienced it at university age as it would've been a whole different experience x

Oh it was!!

20. Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor

1 week at number 1, May

Ai summary: The King of Pop moonwalked back to the top in 1997 with this darkly funky, paranoia-laced dancefloor thriller. Originally recorded during the Dangerous sessions, “Blood on the Dancefloor” was reworked for the remix album of the same name and became Jackson’s final UK number one in his lifetime. Driven by a sinister groove and a tale of betrayal on the dancefloor, it stood out in a Britpop-dominated era, dethroning R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” for a solitary week at the summit. Though its parent album underperformed, the single proved MJ’s enduring power to command the charts—even with a track that felt more thriller than thriller.

My take: This is quite a lazy non-number 1 and MJ by numbers. I have never found this anything special and repeated listens won't help. Its a shame as I am generally a big MJ fan. Oh well.

19. Spice Girls - Mama

3 weeks at number 1, April/May

AI summary: A double A-side that showcased the Spice Girls’ dual identity: sentimental daughters and disco divas. Released for Comic Relief, “Mama” offered a tender ode to maternal love. The single became their fourth consecutive UK number one, cementing their dominance in the pop landscape. With Sporty’s powerhouse vocals, Scary’s attitude, and a zig-a-zig-ah of charisma, the Spice Girls proved they could do heartfelt and high-energy in one fell swoop—raising money and the roof in the process.

My take: This is schmalzy and sickly sweet to the point of being almost unlistenable. The other side to this AA is much much better. Phew!

Not a huge fan of Mama, I much prefer Who Do You Think You Are?

Not heard Dancefloor in yonks, sounding more 80's than 90's, but the groove is good. The song was never strong, there's no hook that sticks in the mind, but now I hear it again it's better than I remembered it being, and it could sit on Thriller or Bad and still not be the weakest track. Pretty good overall I think, and a pity we dont get this every other Halloween just for a change from Thriller. Mama never grabbed me much at the time t'other side was more fun. Def better than teletubbies though, it's mildly pleasant and innoffensive. And forgettable.

Agreed with the placing for MJ - a beat driven single that sounds a bit like a parody of his great 80s material, pass.

Mama I would place higher, I know it's seen as a weak link in the Spice Girls catalogue by most but I have always liked it. But quite honestly, give me any ballad in the late 90s and I was probably a fan, as you'll see when I do the 1998 countdown.

It's obviously very schmaltzy and twee, but obviously being not quite even 10 at the time, the naff factor didn't bother me and there aren't really many big pop songs about mothers, which is weird when for a lot of people their parents shape their entire life.

7 hours ago, gooddelta said:

Agreed with the placing for MJ - a beat driven single that sounds a bit like a parody of his great 80s material, pass.

Mama I would place higher, I know it's seen as a weak link in the Spice Girls catalogue by most but I have always liked it. But quite honestly, give me any ballad in the late 90s and I was probably a fan, as you'll see when I do the 1998 countdown.

It's obviously very schmaltzy and twee, but obviously being not quite even 10 at the time, the naff factor didn't bother me and there aren't really many big pop songs about mothers, which is weird when for a lot of people their parents shape their entire life.

Ooh I’m eagerly awaiting your 1998 countdown @gooddelta. The year I really started to follow music and the charts.

32 minutes ago, Paddington James said:

Ooh I’m eagerly awaiting your 1998 countdown @gooddelta. The year I really started to follow music and the charts.

You’ve got to put up with the rest of my 1997 first :(

13 minutes ago, Jester said:

You’ve got to put up with the rest of my 1997 first :(

It'll be a joy! Whilst 1998 was the first full year I got into pop music and the charts it was actually mid 1997 that it all kicked off. With hits like Barbie Girl, Mmmbop, Coco Jumbo, Tubthumping laying the foundations for the obsession that would come. :)

On 01/11/2025 at 14:04, Chez Wombat said:

Got to love the Teletubbies, I was 5 at the time so around about the right age, although I kinda wish I could've experienced it at university age as it would've been a whole different experience

Rachel was 3 and I spent ages one cold morning going to Hamleys for when they opened at 9 to get the last plush toy. Got the first 3 by queuing up before 9 at Woolworths.

Edited Sunday at 20:504 days by CRAZY CHRIS

18. U2 - Discothèque

1 week at number 1, February

AI summary: U2 kicked off their Pop era with a bang—literally—when “Discothèque” exploded onto the UK Singles Chart at number one. A distorted, funk-infused departure from their rock roots, the track fused dance beats with Bono’s cryptic lyrics and The Edge’s fuzzed-out guitar, landing somewhere between irony and euphoria. Its surreal video, featuring the band in a glitterball dome donning Village People outfits, signalled a band unafraid to play with image and sound. Though its time at the summit was brief, “Discothèque” marked U2’s third UK number one and set the tone for the experimental Pop album that followed.

My take: This may be a controversial low placing for this for some. I do love U2, their 80s and 90s output was generally fantastic. But, this doesn't do it for me and I see it as a non-number 1. In general I am not a fan of their number 1s, I can only just tolerate Beautiful Day (their next chart topper)!