1 hour ago, Paddington James said:

Geri and her label not releasing a CD2 for Look At Me still remains a bizarre decision for me.

Just to clarify there were two CD's available though they had the same track listing. The only difference was that one contained postcards.

20 minutes ago, Gezza said:

Just to clarify there were two CD's available though they had the same track listing. The only difference was that one contained postcards.

Ah ok thanks. I was under the impression there was just one, as they normally have slightly different track lists.

I didn't like either song much but poor Geri was robbed against that complete dirge from Boyzone. They were really running on fumes in 1999.

Westlife's Swear It Again and Martine's Perfect Moment were both weaker No.1s from the year too, however below No.1 there have been so many classics on these last few shows (didn't realise how far behind I'd got on commenting!).

Favourites on the last few shows included Texas' In Our Lifetime (unfairly forgotten since), the complete classics from TLC and Shania Twain (both deserved No.1), and the great only No.1 from Backstreet Boys, a boyband classic.

I also wanted to shout out four songs played last week that have fallen way under the radar since but that I really love: firstly, 911's cover of Private Number – way better than A Little Bit More, and brings back happy memories of Now 43 along with many of these others songs the last few weeks - shame Natalie Jordan wasn't credited as she was a big part of the song, where did they even find her as she seems like such a talent but was never heard from again after this.

Pete Heller's Big Love – house classic, amazing track. Powerhouse feat. Duane Harden's What You Need – very nearly as good as You Don't Know Me imo, shame Armand's own follow up was weaker. And Dayz Like That by Fierce – an absolutely killer R&B track and it should have gone top ten. In the end their only big hit was that cover of Sweet Love in 2000. My mum was so impressed by them that she bought their album (along with nobody else I expect).

No play of Red Alert by Basement Jaxx though! Shameful.

Edited March 11Mar 11 by gooddelta

29TH MAY

After last week’s chart battle fought in the blaze of the media it was a quieter week this time around but no less impressive. The UK has its 17th chart topper of the year in the form of Shanks & Bigfoot’s “Sweet Like Chocolate”, released last Christmas as a limited edition brown 12” it immediately became a hit in the clubs for the duo (Steven Meade and David Langsman) and features the vocals of Sharon Woolf. Although the first hit under this moniker for the duo, they were in the top 20 just last year using the name Doolally but the success of this marks the first Garage chart topper ever and a real coming of age for the genre which has been growing steadily over the last few year.

A very cutesy promo helped the song to a first week sale of 251,000 almost as much as the rest of the top 5 combined such was the demand.

Currently top 3 in the US (having seemingly peaked at No 2 behind TLC) Sixpence None The Richer’s debut single “Kiss Me” makes its UK debut at No 4 (58,000). It features in the current flick “She’s All That” which has given it a nice boost into the top 5.

With Eurovision fast approaching this year’s UK entrant is “Say It Again” by girlgroup Precious. The song was written by Paul Varney who some may recall as one half of Yell! Who made the top 10 back in 1990 with “Instant Replay”, if they win then expect this to surge up next week but for now it’s new at No 6 (54,000).

Talking of former popstars writing tunes for new girl groups step forward Phil Thornalley formerly of both The Cure and Johnny Hates Jazz, he’s scored a major hit recently with Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” and has now written “I Quit” for new band Hepburn. The song was originally offered to Imbruglia herself though she obviously declined it and so it ends up in the hands of this quartet as their debut and promptly enters at No 8 (47,000).

Sugar Ray are a US group who have been plugging away since the mid 80s but only produced their first album four years ago which, whilst bringing critical acclaim, failed to produce any hits. Second album “Floored” gave us the #58 single “Fly” in 1997 but it is only now with a third album that they score it big. “Every Morning” samples Hugh Masekela’s “Grazing In The Grass” and gives them a UK breakthrough new at No 10 (41,000).

Boyzone can’t prevent the power of Shanks & Bigfoot and drop 1-2 (81,000) but remain well clear of Shania Twain who completes the top 3 (64,000). Post fanfare Geri Halliwell slides 2-5 (57,000) and the Backstreet Boys also decline 3-7 (49,000) but their album shoots straight in at No 2, TLC look to have finally given up the ghost 5-9 (45,000).


1- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot (251,000)
2- YOU NEEDED ME- Boyzone (81,000)
3- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (64,000)
4- KISS ME- Sixpence None The Richer (58,000)
5- LOOK AT ME- Geri Halliwell (57,000)
6- SAY IT AGAIN- Precious (54,000)
7- I WANT IT THAT WAY- Backstreet Boys (49,000)
8- I QUIT- Hepburn (47,000)
9- NO SCRUBS- TLC (45,000)
10- EVERY MORNING- Sugar Ray (41,000)

5TH JUNE



“Sweet Like Chocolate” suffers a 41% sales slash but it was so far ahead of the opposition last week that even that doesn’t prevent it retaining the top slot. The Shanks & Bigfoot track still sold more than double the total of any other track and was out in front from the off sending total sales of the song to 392,000 after a fortnight.

The power of the TV ad sent Lenny Kravitz to No 1 earlier this year and now it almost sent Wiseguys there too! Their song “Ooh La La” is used in the current Budweiser advert, I say “their” but in reality the outfit is now a front for Theo Keating, his former partner in crime Paul Eve having left last year, he was there however when the song got its original release back in June 98 making No 55. The song is now re-issued with a new promo and powers in at No 2 (70,000).

Last time out Jamiroquai topped the charts with “Deeper Underground” which of course had the backing of a major blockbuster behind it (“Godzilla”)- not so this time but “Canned Heat” becomes their 7th top 10 hit with ease as it emerges at No 4 (54,000). It’s the first single from their fourth album “Sykronized” which hits the shops at the end of the month.

Striking whilst the proverbial iron is hot, Chicane score their biggest hit in tandem with Clannad’s Maire Brennan on “Saltwater”, the track uses re-recorded parts of Clannad’s 1982 #5 track “Theme From Harry’s Game” which was also their biggest hit. Brennan is the sister of popstar Enya as you may know, with neither sister having a top 20 single for the last 4 years, Chicane meanwhile were responsible for the recent Bryan Adams #6 hit “Cloud 9” which they remixed. The song is new at No 6 (44,000).

Shania Twain spends a third week at No 3 (68,000) with sales slightly increased! It has sold 241,000 copies in three weeks and has now been included in the revamped “Come On Over” album which surges 29-3 this week to reach a new peak thanks to renewed promotion which has had a knock-on effect on the single.

Sixpence None The Richer slip 4-5 (46,000), Boyzone trundle 2-7 (43,000) and Precious drop 6-8 (41,000). The latter held up well through the week looking as though it could clinch a No 5 place but unusually fell at the last hurdle and in coming in 12th at Eurovision on Saturday it is likely to drop further next week.

Backstreet Boys descend 7-9 (38,000) and Geri Halliwell just clings to the top 10 doubling her position 5-10 (36,000).

1- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot (141,000)
2- OOH LA LA- Wiseguys (70,000)
3- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (68,000)
4- CANNED HEAT- Jamiroquai (54,000)
5- KISS ME- Sixpence None The Richer (46,000)
6- SALTWATER- Chicane (44,000)
7- YOU NEEDED ME- Boyzone (43,000)
8- SAY IT AGAIN- Precious (41,000)
9- I WANT IT THAT WAY- Backstreet Boys (38,000)
10- LOOK AT ME- Geri Halliwell (36,000)

Loved these two episodes, I just remember these songs so often on the radio at the time, particularly the lovely Kiss Me and catchy Every Morning, which were rinsed.

I Quit and Say It Again - the double new girlgroup entry in the same week, I adore them both. Precious deserved better at Eurovision but I wouldn't call it a particularly competition friendly song, it's just a great radio pop song. I've said this before but I bought the track in the first week week purely because I liked it, I hadn't even watched Eurovision before the 1999 contest and had no idea it was affilated with it until I watched the show that Saturday and it came on as the UK entry.

Sweet Like Chocolate - very fun garage song and not surprised it was the crossover for the genre, that video was irresistible and sold the song completely across generations.

Then some great dance tracks in that second week, Ooh La La I've never loved but was fun and everywhere, Canned Heat I far prefer to Deeper Underground, and Saltwater is obviously a classic.

Shania also showing the first early signs of how well she was going to hold up!

Also great to see that episode from Glasgow with Texas previewing Summer Son and Travis doing Driftwood, 1999 was really kicking on into the great summer ahead which means we are mere weeks away from some of my favourite songs of all-time...

Great to see Shania holding up, Come On Over was such a massive era.

Broadband issues at home so I can't update the thread until resolved. Hopefully by Sunday evening!

the sale info and commentary is on the pop justice forum if anyone’s curious x

I’d rather wait for Gezza 👍

it's all good- Openreach man kindly helped me out! I'm back.

12TH JUNE

This has been on the cards for some weeks, the story of “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” has been well documented but it started way back in 1996 when film producer Baz Luhrmann made the film “Romeo + Juliet” and got choirboy Quindon Tarver to record a gospel version of the Rozalla track “Everybody’s Free” (#6, 1991). Then in June 1997 Chicago Tribune journalist Marty Schmich wrote a mock valedictory speech in the paper which took on a life of its own, became an e-mail chain and attracted the attention of Luhrmann who roped in actor Lee Perry (who’s actually Australian) to voice the piece and used the Rozalla track as a backing track putting it on his album “Something For Everybody” last year. It was picked up here by Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles who championed the track and assisted in it scorching into the No 1 position this week after selling 206,500. It is the first spoken word chart topper in the UK since JJ Barrie’s “No Charge” in 1976 fact fans. Production wise we welcome back Nelle Hooper who was of course long associated with Soul II Soul.

Also back in 1997 The Chemical Brothers were riding a crest of popularity scoring a couple of chart toppers with “Setting Sun” and “Block Rockin Beats”. They return this week with new single “Hey Boy, Hey Girl” which lifts its lyrics from the song “The Roof Is On Fire” from Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three and comes with an eye catching promo. It becomes only their third top 10 single as it debuts at No 3 (88,000) and acts as a prelude to their new album “Surrender” next month.

With the film “Notting Hill” currently sitting at the top of the charts it now turns out the obligatory chart hit in the form of Another Level’s “From The Heart”. It’s written by Diane Warren and gives the boys a fifth top 10 single from 6 releases and makes up for the disappointment of their last single (the remixed “Be Alone No More”) peaking frustratingly at No 11 back in April.

It’s mid term holidays in most places in the UK which sees sales surge for many tracks including Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much” which sold a healthy 83,000 copies but it still falls 3-4. Also falling are Shanks & Bigfoot 1-2 (102,000) and Wise Guys 2-5 (62,000). Further down three tracks cool, Sixpence None The Richer 5-8 (48,000), Chicane 6-9 (42,000) and Jamiroquai 4-10 (40,000). The exception are Backstreet Boys who get their fanbase to re-inflate their former chart topper “I Want It That Way” 9-7 (53,000).

1- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO WEAR SUNSCREEN)- Baz Luhrmann (206,500)
2- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot (102,000)
3- HEY BOY HEY GIRL- Chemical Brothers (88,000)
4- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (83,000)
5- OOH LA LA- Wiseguys (62,000)
6- FROM THE HEART- Another Level (57,000)
7- I WANT IT THAT WAY- Backstreet Boys (53,000)
8- KISS ME- Sixpence None The Richer (48,000)
9- SALTWATER- Chicane (42,000)
10- CANNED HEAT- Jamiroquai (40,000)

19TH JUNE



It was the week when TV went head to head with film and with the weight of history firmly on the side of film it throws up a surprise victory for the small screen. Formed by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller S Club 7 can currently be seen on CBBC in the show “Miami 7” and consist of 3 boys and 4 girls who play characters seeking their fame and fortune in Florida. “Bring It All Back” serves as the theme to the show and this week gives the UK its No 1 after shifting 190,000 copies to launch them in perfect fashion, the group are busy recording a first album in time for Christmas. It’s also the first No 1 as writers for ex Dead Or Alive members Tim lever and Mike Percy since 1985 when their group’s only chart topper “You Spin Me Round” went all the way.

In the process they beat none other than the Queen of Pop herself Madonna. “Beautiful Stranger” is taken from the new film “Austen Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” due here at the end of July and sees Madonna team up again with William Orbit who steered her back into the upper reaches of the top 10 with her last album “Ray Of Light”. In keeping with the film the song has a 60s psychedelic feel and becomes her 45th top 10 single as it debuts at No 2 (136,000) her 8th track to peak at that position (or possibly 9th if you count the remix of “Crazy For You” in 1991 as separate track).

The Cartoons debut hit “Witchdoctor” made No 2 and only just leaves the top 40 this week but is replaced immediately by the follow up “Doodah” at No 7 (50,000). It’s a re-working of the 1850 song “Camptown Races” and hasn’t really helped the album which falls 26-38 this week having peaked at No 17 on release in April.

Baz Luhrmann falls 1-3 (97,000) and Shania Twain spends her fifth week in the top 5 holding at No 4 (65,000) just above the falling Shanks & Bigfoot 2-5 (63,000).


Chemical Brothers sink 3-6 (59,000), Backstreet Boys are down again 7-8 (43,000), Wise Guys continue to head south 5-9 (41,000) and Sixpence None The Richer ease 8-10 (40,000).

1- BRING IT ALL BACK- S Club 7 (190,000)
2- BEAUTIFUL STRANGER- Madonna (136,000)
3- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO WEAR SUNSCREEN)- Baz Luhrmann (97,000)
4- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (65,000)
5- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot (63,000)
6- HEY BOY HEY GIRL- Chemical Brothers (59,000)
7- DOODAH- Cartoons (50,000)
8- I WANT IT THAT WAY- Backstreet Boys (43,000)
9- OOH LA LA- Wise Guys (41,000)
10- KISS ME- Sixpence None The Richer (40,000)

Sunscreen and Bring It All Back 🥲 The nostalgia is hitting and hurting hard today, never seen that live performance before of the former.

Will comment further after the two shows.

catching up with this thread i cant believe i quit was offered to natalie imbruglia, i have never liked the song but my first boyfriend was obsessed 🤣🤣

The ninth of 22 UK top 40 hits for Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Scar Tissue" was at its number 15 peak.

An younger self who thought the music video for 'Sweet Like Chocolate' was connected to the Coronation Street Cadbury's Advertising Break.

What a bumper week there for S Club and Madonna! Shame she didn't choose another week really.

Was it seen as a chart battle at the time, or was it more of less a foregone conclusion S Club 7 would be the #1?

I never realised Baz sold that much more than the #2. Still wish it was on streaming.

On 21/03/2026 at 05:50, vibe said:

catching up with this thread i cant believe i quit was offered to natalie imbruglia, i have never liked the song but my first boyfriend was obsessed 🤣🤣

I had no idea about that. I listened to I Quit and I can certainly see Natalie Imbruglia singing it, even though she ended up turning it down.