I really liked 'Girlfriend' at the time and it still holds some nostalgic memories from the start of secondary school, but as an adult I can see it's not exactly a great song.

The right order for the Billie songs imo, Girlfriend is slightly less irritating.

26. All Saints - Under The Bridge/Lady Marmalade

Rank: 6/10

Reason: The second of three 1998 All Saints chart toppers here. After the brilliant Never Ever took an age to get to No.1, they really had nothing to prove in the respect of being a quality act so I was a little surprised to find that the immediate follow up was a double a-side of covers (a ploy often used either for charity releases or to give a pop band in need an easy boost), of songs by Labelle and Red Hot Chili Peppers - it felt a little unnecessary to me. While neither original track was a major UK hit originally, peaking at 17 and 13 respectively (on second release for RHCP), it's fair to say that both were very well known and played on the radio a lot, so it's not like they were massively inspired choices. Both tracks had featured on All Saints' debut album, although Lady Marmalade was spruced up and given a '98 remix for the single to make it a little more current sounding.

I thought the arrangement of Lady Marmalade was fun but a little basic - lacking the soul of the original and the kitchen sink vocals and bigger production of the Moulin Rouge version in 2001. I actually did like the cover of Under The Bridge, which I thought suited their sultry and cool vibe well, and the video was memorable with them precariously high above the city. So this rank is an average score based on 5 for Lady Marmalade and 7 for Under The Bridge. But RHCP apparently didn't like the cover; Anthony Kiedis said it was poorly recreated and, because the final verse was removed, it lost all personal significance.

I'd have preferred an original track to follow Never Ever but I suppose the label wanted to strike while the iron was hot and ensure they got another No.1 hit, and it worked. In fact it hit No.1 twice, departing for a week to let Aqua's Turn Back Time in before returning, and it spent six weeks in the top ten overall.

Edited November 19, 2025Nov 19 by gooddelta

17 hours ago, gooddelta said:

Yes, was going to say in her next entry how good an actress she turned out to be.

Her first era singles got progressively better for me, each one also more mature than the last, she seemed to age five years in one era thematically 😆

oh her singles got better as she went on, very much so👍

Billie Piper was Rose Tyler to me before anything else as a child of the 2000s so it was wild to then learn of her pop career in time. Interesting that her launch pre-dates Britney as in a couple of years time her final chart topper 'Day & Night' reminds me of what Britney's early sound would come to be. I actually like that song but these two #1s don't do much for me unfortunately - agreed that 'Because We Want To' is straight-up annoying and 'Girlfriend' is a bit naff too. The latter reminds me of being at a music quiz and the quizmaster announcing that the correct answer to that song was 'Boyfriend', errrr not quite

I think All Saints just about pull off that double A-Side but it's not ever something I would seek out from them. Thankfully their 1998 is salvaged quality-wise by a certain other song and much like Billie they also have a good 2000 up their sleeve.

This release is near to the bottom for me. All Saints worst single ever. I like the original of "Under The Bridge" and what it doesn't need is a cover by a girl-pop-group. On the other side, at least for me "Lady Marmalade" is one of the worst songs ever written. I always get agressive when hearing that "get ya coochie da da ya ya"-vocal - so any version of that song is not for me. I believe this is the second-last for me only beaten by that awful remix of Jason Nevins on Run-DMC.

3 minutes ago, DaTilt said:

This release is near to the bottom for me. All Saints worst single ever. I like the original of "Under The Bridge" and what it doesn't need is a cover by a girl-pop-group. On the other side, at least for me "Lady Marmalade" is one of the worst songs ever written. I always get agressive when hearing that "get ya coochie da da ya ya"-vocal - so any version of that song is not for me. I believe this is the second-last for me only beaten by that awful remix of Jason Nevins on Run-DMC.

I think All Hooked Up takes that accolade for me, which I really didn't like at all.

I don't know of another band who for me have produced as many all-time favourites (Never Ever, Pure Shores, Black Coffee, Rock Steady, War Of Nerves), as they have stinkers. I generally love them though because I so enjoyed their Studio 1, Red Flag and Testament albums. The first two albums though had a little two much filler alongside the classics.

Billie's follow-up is an improvement, it never annoyed me like the other one, though it's not exactly memorable in any way, but is innoffensive enough for me to be OK with hearing it on the radio (if it ever got a play). Behind All Saints (all of 'em) and Oasis though. The double A side, I quite liked their very different takes on both songs - why bother covering something and sounding the same - but no cover of Lady Marmalade has the class and power of LaBelle, but I'm fine with a pleasant groove having said that, and I liked Under The Bridge as a very unexpected cover - again not as powerful as the Chilis, but nice in it's own way. Only behind Oasis in those so far for me.

I think this is about the right place for All Saints, though I’m unsure of what’s to come.

They were released as a double a here to but after I Know Where It’s At, which followed Never Ever.

Also a fair placing there. Not keen on either of those covers and the original 'Under The Bridge' deserved a much better peak too.

29 minutes ago, Paddington James said:

I think this is about the right place for All Saints, though I’m unsure of what’s to come.

They were released as a double a here to but after I Know Where It’s At, which followed Never Ever.

Interesting to hear they were released in a different order! So Never Ever was their first hit in Australia?

They also had a top 100 hit here in 1995 when they were known as All Saints 1.9.7.5. and featured only Mel, Shaznay and another girl. It took a change of sound, producer and bringing in the Appleton sisters before they saw success. A re-recorded version of this song was on their debut album.

Edited November 19, 2025Nov 19 by gooddelta

Now re-listened to all 31 #1's of 1998 (omitted "Perfect Day" as this was already #1 in 1997 and just went over into 1998 for one week). It was quite interesting that some songs sounded better than expected - others worse. My bottom 6 are:

31. Run-D.M.C. Vs. Jason Nevins - It's Like That

30. B*Witched - To You I Belong

29. B*Witched - Rollercoaster

28. Spacedust - Gym & Tonic

27. B*Witched - C'Est La Vie

26. All Saints - Under The Bridge / Lady Marmalade

When commenting on "Under The Bridge" I totally forgot about B*Witched being that successful in '98. To me their songs were really cheesy and their vocals very flat. Quite forgettable stuff taking 3 out of the 5 bottom spots. About Spacedust we already talked, an awful rip-off of the Bob Sinclar original. At the bottom I put the Jason nevins remake of Run DMC - this is one of my most hated songs of all time. The Run DMC is quite OK, but that hard bassdrum destroys everything. At 26 I have also "Under The Bridge", which sounded better than I remembered.

45 minutes ago, DaTilt said:

Now re-listened to all 31 #1's of 1998 (omitted "Perfect Day" as this was already #1 in 1997 and just went over into 1998 for one week). It was quite interesting that some songs sounded better than expected - others worse. My bottom 6 are:

31. Run-D.M.C. Vs. Jason Nevins - It's Like That

30. B*Witched - To You I Belong

29. B*Witched - Rollercoaster

28. Spacedust - Gym & Tonic

27. B*Witched - C'Est La Vie

26. All Saints - Under The Bridge / Lady Marmalade

When commenting on "Under The Bridge" I totally forgot about B*Witched being that successful in '98. To me their songs were really cheesy and their vocals very flat. Quite forgettable stuff taking 3 out of the 5 bottom spots. About Spacedust we already talked, an awful rip-off of the Bob Sinclar original. At the bottom I put the Jason nevins remake of Run DMC - this is one of my most hated songs of all time. The Run DMC is quite OK, but that hard bassdrum destroys everything. At 26 I have also "Under The Bridge", which sounded better than I remembered.

Always intriguing to see different ranks! B*Witched have one to come shortly-ish, but not the other two.

25. Chef - Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)

Rank: 6/10

Reason: I would imagine this one will have some big fans. Animated sitcom South Park was one of the big crazes, and TV shows of 1998, with iconic characters and catchphrases like 'Who Killed Kenny?'. Character Chef was voiced by soul star Isaac Hayes and for the Christmas market, it was decided that Chef would release a single called Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You).

A deep voiced soul track, it stands out for its comedy and sound. The lyrics are, quite something...was this played in full on the radio? I don't remember hearing it but it must have been played on the charts. There are some pretty obvious double entendres that chart show programmers no doubt despaired about, although it's done in a very funny way. It is quite funny to hear it again but it's not a song I listen to ever, and in such a strong year it didn't stand much of a chance of a high position for me, but I appreciate it for being different and for giving Isaac Hayes a comeback of sorts.

The track debuted at No.2 in Christmas week and very nearly stopped Spice Girls from getting their Christmas No.1 hat trick. He had the last laugh the following week when it climbed to the top in the closing days of 1998, and in a matter of days on release became the 7th biggest seller of the year, a place higher than Goodbye managed. South Park would return the following Christmas with Mr Hankey The Christmas Poo, which made the top five...crazy times.

On All Saints, I'll always take the 'Lady Marmalade' version of the 2001 one any day. Also I know the 'Under The Bridge' cover is much maligned, but I quite like that they did something kind of different with it and turned it into a moody pop song.

On one hand I do wish they'd followed 'Never Ever' with a decent original song though, and also that this hadn't blocked Madonna from the top spot.

Chocolate Salty Balls was played in full on the radio and on music TV. Iconic times!

I hate South Park.

Edited November 19, 2025Nov 19 by Last Dreamer

Was a funny old time hearing 'Chocolate Salty Balls' in the chart even as a 6 year old then. 'Mr Hankey..' is ridiculous too and can't hate that either lol.

I have mixed feelings about that South Park track... it's lyrics are just cringe really (I mean the joke is funny for the first time but then less so every time there in) and I would never particularly choose to listen to it, yet I can appreciate that it actually has more melody and musicality than a lot of the other #1s this year. So all in all, probably my favourite to drop out so far.

I remember watching South Park at the time but that song did absolutely nothing for me. I'd probably have it below the All Saints covers and both Billie songs. It's amazing it was so big in the UK, it only got to #14 in Australia.