November 14, 2025Nov 14 Author 4. White Town – Your WomanNumber 1 for 1 week, JanuaryAI summary: Built around a 1930s jazz sample, Your Woman is a lo-fi, genre-blurring track that tackles gender, power, and identity. Jyoti Mishra recorded it solo on a PC, and its cryptic lyrics and DIY charm helped it stand out as one of the most unconventional UK No. 1s of the ’90s.My take: This was a wonderful out-there number 1 from a complete unknown. I was, of course, obsessed! The lyrics are a but gender screwy, but that is part of the appeal. It was at the time, and remains, totally unique.
November 14, 2025Nov 14 Your Woman reminds me in terms of vocal and production of Space - Female of the Species. Both very good songs! Edited November 14, 2025Nov 14 by TheSnake
November 14, 2025Nov 14 Both of those are great. No Doubt do have better imo (hello Push & Shove!) but that was definitely a great introduction to them.Your Woman is absolutely wonderful. I suspect it will be my favourite #1 of the year but I can’t recall what’s still to come. I love that the track seems to have gone on to be quite influential.
November 14, 2025Nov 14 A bit like 1996, we had some great records in 1997 but very few of them topped the charts. The vast majority of these number ones are dreadful to the point a record I'd put in the Top 10 would be more or less on a par with one I'd put outside the Top 20.I only like 4 of the records in the countdown so far and I know what the remaining 3 records are without looking anything up. I only like one of the 3 said records and it also happens to be my favourite number one of the year. At 2 it would be White Town, 3 is Tori Amos, 4 is R Kelly and 5 is No Doubt. It means we have 3 records in common in our Top 5 and possibly the same number one.
November 15, 2025Nov 15 Don't Speak is a great record and it was fab seeing a US ska band break through - there hadnt been one of those since The Untouchables in 1985 I think, but I may have forgotten some! Gwen of course is fab in or out of No Doubt. Your Woman was impressive in it's DIY sampling bedroom popstar appeal, a shame it was mostly a one-off. Don't Speak is my preferred of the 2.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Author 3. Blur - BeetlebumNumber 1 for 1 week, JanuaryAI summary: Britpop’s reigning tricksters opened 1997 with a curveball. Beetlebum was a woozy, downbeat departure from the laddish swagger of Parklife and Country House. Damon Albarn’s cryptic lyrics, often read as a nod to heroin culture, floated over a languid melody that owed more to Lennon than to Camden. Despite its introspective mood, the single stormed straight to No.1, proving Blur could reinvent themselves and still command the charts. It set the tone for their self‑titled fifth album — darker, more experimental, and a world away from the Britpop circus.My take: Well, my 21st birthday number 1 was quite the change of direction from the previously cockney cheeky chappy lads. They were suddenly dark, downbeat and frankly fantastic! A well deserved second number 1 for them.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Author 2. Olive - You’re Not AloneNumber 1 for 2 weeks, MayAI summary: In a year dominated by guitar bands, Olive’s trip‑hop ballad was an unlikely chart‑topper. You’re Not Alone blended haunting vocals with atmospheric beats, echoing the Bristol sound pioneered by Massive Attack and Portishead. Initially released in 1996 to modest success, the track found new life after a reissue, climbing all the way to No.1 in May 1997. Its success highlighted the mid‑90s appetite for electronic textures and downtempo moods, standing as one of the few dance‑leaning UK No.1s of the year.My take: I remember loving this for an age before it was released and was amazed when it got to number 1! Easily one of the best number 1s and dance tracks of the 90s, my friend described the sound as 'fragmented' which was a fair description! This is a superb dance classic.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Author 1. The Verve - The Drugs Don’t WorkNumber 1 for 1 week, SeptemberAI summary: Few singles captured the melancholy of late‑90s Britain like The Drugs Don’t Work. Released just days after Princess Diana’s death, its sombre tone resonated deeply with the public. Richard Ashcroft’s elegiac delivery, paired with sweeping strings, turned personal grief into a national moment. The track gave The Verve their first No.1, cementing their place in the pantheon of Britpop’s more reflective side. Alongside Urban Hymns, it remains a defining statement of the era — a song that made sadness sound transcendent.My take: This song superbly inadvertently summed up the public mood the week directly following Princess Diana's death and got to number 1 the day after her funeral. The release date and tone of the song were of course by accident and I suspect this would have reached number 1 anyway if things had been different, but somehow things aligned and this turned a song about personal grief into national grief. Easily the second best number 1 of the 90s just pipped by 1996's best. I sometimes cant believe how good this song is. Classic.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Author Thanks to all of you that have commented on my journey through 1997's number 1s!Here is the full list:1. The Verve - The Drugs Don’t Work2. Olive - You’re Not Alone3. Blur - Beetlebum4. White Town – Your Woman5. No Doubt – Don’t Speak6. Various Artists – Perfect Day7. Oasis - D’You Know What I Mean8. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big)9. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life10. Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are11. Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ Beats12. Eternal feat. Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One13. Aqua – Barbie Girl14. Spice Girls – Too Much15. Hanson - MMMBop16. Will Smith - Men In Black17. Elton John - Something About the Way You Look Tonight18. U2 - Discothèque19. Spice Girls - Mama20. Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor21. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say Eh-oh22. Elton John - Candle in the Wind 199723. Gary Barlow - Love Won’t Wait24. LL Cool J - Ain’t Nobody25. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans ft 112 - I’ll Be Missing You26. R Kelly - I Believe I Can FlyOver to Gooddelta for 1998 next.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 I think 'Your Woman' is my favourite #1 of 1997 these days so I'm pleased it has finished so high for you! I find that classic trumpet sample and the vocal delivery eerie, in the best way. What a unique and leftfield chart topper.I'm also a big fan of 'You're Not Alone', the blend of trip-hop and breakbeat styles is right up my street. Love the warmth of the vocal and lyrics too.I find 'The Drugs Don't Work' quite difficult to listen to, one of those songs that makes me want to cry haha, but stunning all the same and a worthy winner. Great countdown!
November 16, 2025Nov 16 1997 was a better year for number 1s compared to 1996. There were seven that I like a lot so I'll post a top 7:Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ BeatsOlive - You’re Not AloneWhite Town – Your WomanVarious Artists – Perfect DayThe Verve - The Drugs Don’t WorkNo Doubt – Don’t SpeakTori Amos - Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big)
November 16, 2025Nov 16 A good top 3 there, Beetlebum is good Blur though my fave Blur is melodic Blur, Universal and To The End, the abrupt change in style to slightly grungey/trippy didnt quite grab me as much, but the next single would. Olive is a great trip-hop-ish dance gem and may well be top 5 for me too, while The Drugs Don't Work peaked at 3 for me in between 2 number ones, it's darkly great, but Bittersweet Symphony is the dog's bollocks classic Verve moment, along with quite a few solo Richard tracks trailing behind in between the top of the three 1997 gems.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Thanks for hosting the countdown @Jester! I wasn't familiar with about half of the songs I think but it was still great to follow along.
November 16, 2025Nov 16 I couldn't make a list of 10, so my top 8 would be:1. Eternal feat. Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One2. Aqua – Barbie Girl3. No Doubt – Don’t Speak4. Spice Girls – Too Much5. Elton John - Something About the Way You Look Tonight6. Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are7. Hanson - MMMBop8. Elton John - Candle in the Wind 1997
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Very excited for the 1998 edition, so I "m looking forward to this @gooddelta!
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Great top 3 in the end there, all are great songs. The song I expected to win did indeed win for you but it's difficult to argue with it as it is definitely a classic.Personal rank would probably be something like (sticking to the ones I actually like):01 White Town – Your Woman02 Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ Beats03 Blur - Beetlebum04 The Verve - The Drugs Don’t Work05 Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big)06 No Doubt – Don’t Speak07 Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life08 Olive - You’re Not Alone09 Eternal feat. Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One10 Oasis - D’You Know What I Mean11 Various Artists – Perfect Day12 U2 - Discothèque13 Will Smith - Men In Black14 Elton John - Something About the Way You Look Tonight15 Aqua – Barbie Girl16 Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are17 Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor
November 16, 2025Nov 16 Thanks @Jester . Fantastic countdown.Brilliant top two, The Drugs Don't Work is such a special song, it was amazing to hear it live when Richard Ashcroft were supporting Oasis. I'm so pleased it got to No.1 for them after the previous single missed out.You're Not Alone is such a great dance track, it sounded very different to everything else around at the time. Likewise Your Woman, I love the story behind that song and the sample was so well used.Don't Speak is a classic, I remember when I first heard it thinking Madonna had gone rock, as I thought at the time that Gwen even looked a bit like her!I think this would be my rank:Eternal feat. Bebe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only OneThe Verve - The Drugs Don’t WorkNo Doubt – Don’t SpeakSpice Girls – Too MuchWhite Town – Your WomanOlive - You’re Not AloneSpice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You AreHanson - MMMBopVarious Artists – Perfect DaySpice Girls - Spice Up Your LifePuff Daddy & Faith Evans ft 112 - I’ll Be Missing YouTori Amos - Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big)Aqua – Barbie GirlGary Barlow - Love Won’t WaitElton John - Something About the Way You Look TonightChemical Brothers - Block Rockin’ BeatsWill Smith - Men In BlackBlur - BeetlebumElton John - Candle in the Wind 1997Oasis - D’You Know What I MeanU2 - DiscothèqueMichael Jackson - Blood on the Dance FloorR Kelly - I Believe I Can FlyTeletubbies - Teletubbies Say Eh-ohLL Cool J - Ain’t NobodyI shall start 1998 shortly!
November 17, 2025Nov 17 On 14/11/2025 at 16:05, TheSnake said:Your Woman reminds me in terms of vocal and production of Space - Female of the Species. Both very good songs!Your Woman's great with a very catchy riff.
November 17, 2025Nov 17 Your Woman sounds really familiar. Is this the song Dua Lipa samples for Love Again?
Create an account or sign in to comment