Yes thanks for the fab rundown Jester, flicking through my 1997 year-end chart this is how the number ones performed:

11 Perfect Day

19 Discotheque

21 Too Much

22 Spice Up Your Life

25 The Drugs Don't Work

39 Who Do You Think You Are

46 Mmmmbop

61 Your Woman

79 Men In Black

84 Don't Speak

88 D'Ya Know What I Mean

95 I'll Be Missing You

112 Blood On The Dancefloor

None of the rest "sold" more than what used to qualify for Silver (250,000 "sales" as per old-timey charts) but as my comments have shown, my opinions have changed quite a bit since then! Too Much, Diddy would be lower and Olive, Aqua higher in the list too.

The Drugs Don't Work is a really beautiful song and certainly was fitting for the nation's mood at the time, I'm predictable and prefer Bittersweet Symphony but both are great. You're Not Alone is a classic dance record and Your Woman is one of the most iconic one hit wonders and unlikely number 1s ever so deserved high placings. I do like the dark vibes of Beetlebum as well and Professional Widow is a wonderful remix.

D'You Know What I Mean is a bit overlong but does have quite gradiose production and I'm not as keen on the cover of Perfect Day, as interesting a version it is, it can't compare to Lou Reed's version. That aside though, I largely agree with the higher songs here, great stuff x

Really strong pick for #1 there. Shame 'Bittersweet.." didn't also get to the top mind.

'You're Not Alone', 'Don't Speak' and 'Who Do You Think You Are' are highlights for me from the rest of the top 10.

Thanks for running this Jester.

My top 5 would be

1 Aqua

2 Hanson

3 No Doubt

4 The Verve

5 Spice Girls (WDYTYA)

"You're Not Alone" is my favourite so not the same, but 3 records in common in our Top 5s.