plenty of pop classics bursting through at this time, happily at the top end of the charts too - All Saints, Mel C, Moloko, Santana and even Madonna, Dre.

I remember the spinning around week so well as i remember been really nervous about its release and then when the mid weeks came i was like please hold on as the reality was spinning around really was a make a break single.

8TH JULY



Eminem’s back- did you notice? Yes creating controversy with his every quote meant that publicity for his new single “The Real Slim Shady” was never in short supply helped of course by the lyrics to the track dissing people like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Will Smith among others. The track sold 86,000 copies to make the top impacted a little by the fact that the parent album “The Marshall Mathers LP” has been available for 6 weeks already charting 2-3-2-3-1-2 so far with over 200,000 sales itself, he’s the first solo white rapper to hit the top since Vanilla Ice ten years ago.

Eminem wasn’t the early leader though, that was Samantha Mumba. She’s the new protégé of Louis Walsh who has already been No 1 in Ireland for the last three weeks with her debut single “Gotta Tell You”, the 17 year old was discovered on an Irish talent show and now seems set for pop stardom. Her single fell way behind Eminem by the end of the week posting a sale of 68,500.

Coldplay are the newest indie darlings to be hailed as the next big thing thanks to a string of low key EP releases throughout 1999 (their biggest hit of these was “Brothers & Sisters, #92) and a growing reputation live. First full release “Shiver” made No 35 earlier this year but it was Radio 1 support for their new single “Yellow” coupled with their recent Glastonbury set which has really propelled them into the top 10 this week after selling 45,000 copies. Their first album “Parachutes” is released in a fortnight.

The signs are worrying for the Vengaboys, after five straight top 4 singles their last single “Shalala Lala” only made No 5 and now “Uncle John From Jamaica” crashes in at No 6 (40,000). Regardless it’s a 7th straight top 10 hit and a third from their album “The Platinum album” which looks like it won’t be living up to that title spending only 5 weeks in the top 30 though it rallies a little 34-31 this week.

Fast emerging this year as a real rival to the “Ibiza” route of breaking a hit is Ayia Napa, see case in point Lonyo. The British DJ’s hit “Summer Of Love” was broken there and makes its way back to the UK to debut at No 8 (34,000) this week, the sample running through incidentally is "La Critica" by Disilusion.

Kylie spins 1-3 (54,000), Darude lose their way 3-5 (43,000) and Black Legend are in trouble 2-7 (37,000). David Gray descends 5-9 (33,000) and Sonique drops 4-10 (30,000) but “It Feels So Good” is now a massive hit and as it’s half way through the year here’s the YTD top 10:



1- PURE SHORES- All Saints 682,000
2- IT FEELS SO GOOD- Sonique- 530,000
3- TOCA’S MIRACLE- Fragma- 511,000
4- FILL ME IN- Craig David- 471,000
5- RISE- Gabrielle 446,000
6- NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN- Melanie C Featuring Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes 393,000
7- OOOPS I DID IT AGAIN- Britney Spears- 392,000
8- AMERICAN PIE- Madonna 373,000
9- THE BAD TOUCH- Bloodhound Gang- 370,000
10- REACH- S Club 7- 353,000

Sonique moving up to No 2 this week though overtaking All Saints may ultimately prove a big ask.  On a side note there have been 111 new entries into the top 10 this year making second only to 1997 on that front by 13 debuts on a YTD comparison.

1- THE REAL SLIM SHADY- Eminem (86,000)
2- GOTTA TELL YOU- Samantha Mumba (68,500)
3- SPINNING AROUND- Kylie Minogue (54,000)
4- YELLOW- Coldplay (45,000)
5- SANDSTORM- Darude (43,000)
6- UNCLE JOHN FROM JAMAICA- Vengaboys (40,000)
7- YOU SEE THE TROUBLE WITH ME- Black Legend (37,000)
8- SUMMER OF LOVE- Lonyo (34,000)
9- BABYLON- David Gray (33,000)
10- IT FEELS SO GOOD- Sonique (30,000)

15TH JULY



Becoming a major commercial act throughout 1998-1999 selling over 3 million albums in those two years, The Corrs return to the charts was always going to be an event and teaming up with Robert “Mutt” Lange fresh from his work with wife Shania Twain must be commercial gold. And so it turns out to be, the outcome is “Breathless” which charges straight to No 1 this week on a sale of 80,869 to instantly become their biggest hit yet and first chart topper. Despite all of that, the tally is the 6th lowest of the year and accounts for only 6.5% of all singles sold last week, a low for 2000, parent album “In Blue” is out in a fortnight.

Eminem moves back to the top of the album charts but misses out on the chance to do the double as “The Real Slim Shady” dips 1-2 (71,000).



US rock band Limp Bizkit have quickly earned themselves a reputation for causing controversy with their views and live appearances which have resulted in raucous scenes along with a No 1 album Stateside. The reception here was rather more muted with the band failing to score a hit single at all and the first two albums failing to break the 100,000 mark combined, however the band hooked up with the makers of the “Mission: Impossible II” to provide the theme for the flick “Take A Look Around”. The film currently sits at No 1 in the Cinema listings whilst the single becomes their first hit at No 3 (56,000) and CD also contains one of their previous singles, a cover of George Michael’s “Faith” for those interested.

Meanwhile it’s time for Oasis’ 13th straight top 10 single in the shape of “Sunday Morning Call” which may or may not (depending on who you believe) be inspired by Kate Moss. The track comes with a promo based on the film “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” and marks the first time Noel Gallagher takes on lead vocals on an Oasis single since “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, it enters at No 4 (53,000).

Forming their own string of ten consecutive top 10 singles are Steps and their third double A-Side “When I Said Goodbye/ Summer Of Love”. The former is a ballad taken from the “Steptacular” album whilst the latter track is a new composition which heralds a third album from the group before Christmas- together they enter at No 5 (52,500).

After a pair of No 2 hits in “Re-Rewind” and “Movin Too Fast” the Artful Dodger re-unite with former collaborator and now solo chart topper Craig David on “Woman Trouble”. It also features the introduction of Robbie Craig who will doubtless be launching a solo career too at some point but as the production team work on that first album they see their third single power in at No 6 (46,000).

Also coming back with a third hit single are Alice Deejay, “Will I Ever” looks like it could become their smallest hit yet at No 7 (44,000) but will act as an appropriate boost for them with their album due in a fortnight.

A record equaling seventh new entry into the top 10 comes from a third act scoring their third hit! With the Spice Girls currently on hiatus the girl group field has room for another big name and Atomic Kitten are trying to fill that with a third top 10 single “I Want Your Love”. The single features a sample of the theme music from the 1958 film “The Big Country” which was also used on MC Rhymes “The Only Rhyme That Bites” (#10, 1990) and Ricardo Da Force’s input into the KLF’s “Justified And Ancient”, a combination which propels the song in at No 10 (33,000).

Eminem aside, the only survivors from last week are Samantha Mumba 2-8 (41,000) and Darude 5-9 (34,000).

1- BREATHLESS- The Corrs (80,869)
2- THE REAL SLIM SHADY- Eminem (71,000)
3- TAKE A LOOK AROUND (THEME FROM MI 2)- Limp Bizkit (56,000)
4- SUNDAY MORNING CALL- Oasis (53,000)
5- WHEN I SAID GOODBYE/ SUMMER OF LOVE- Steps (52,500)
6- WOMAN TROUBLE- Artful Dodger Ft Robbie Craig & Craig David (46,000)
7- WILL I EVER?- Alice Deejay (44,000)
8- GOTTA TELL YOU- Samantha Mumba (41,000)
9- SANDSTORM- Darude (34,000)
10- I WANT YOUR LOVE- Atomic Kitten (33,000)

we won't see Eminem on the first show at 7pm tonight as it was not considered suitable for early evening viewing at the time.

let's hope they show the Saturday night late night repeat, with Eminem, at 2.55am later tonight.

Yellow obviously a classic.

Also love Steps - Summer of Love as well.

'Will I Ever' another pre-Clubland era {not coming until 2002} Clubland style hit.

I think Oasis Sunday Morning Call is a lovely tune.

The sort of thing Noel took forward with his High Flying Birds.

'Woman Trouble' is a great funky tune that veers close to Jamiroquai influences - I think I thought it was by them at the time!

Edited October 30Oct 30 by TheSnake

I think Samantha Mumba's connection to Louis Walsh passed me by until now! 'Gotta Tell You' is a storming debut anyway.

Great to have Coldplay's debut TOTP performance this week in the absence of one for 'Shiver'. 'Yellow' has always been one of their best songs for me and still feels magical despite how overplayed it is. A few seriously enduring acts in that top 10 at the moment with them, Eminem and Kylie still scoring hits in recent years.

What an EOY top 3 'Pure Shores', 'It Feels So Good' and 'Toca's Miracle' was at this point 🔥

Oh my at two different hits called 'Summer of Love' appearing in such quick succession!

Elsewhere on TOTP... lol at Ricky from EastEnders giving the pop (or pop-reggae *_*) world a crack.

'Gotta Tell You' is good, very Britney

'Yellow' also good Coldplay following on from Travis!

Edited October 31Oct 31 by TheSnake

Steps only 500 copies away from betaing Oasis that week but i suppose not much difference in a number 4 and number 5 hit.

I remember Samantha Mumba getting close to Eminem in the midweeks and me thinking she had a good chance there! Two brilliant singles in very different ways. Lower sales than I'd expected for The Real Slim Shady but obviously explained above by the album being out for a while.

Yellow is a classic of course, I never imagined at the time it would go on to become such a major seller over time though. The Vengaboys song is fun but they were getting more and more naff with each single release and the diminishing returns didn't surprise me, especially because the early ripples of things changing were coming through already in 2000 with the likes of David Gray, Coldplay and Eminem already establishing themselves properly as the new wave and the cheesier pop stuff starting to take a back seat (it still had about a year's life left in it though commercially before Britney and *NSync etc decided to push more 'adult' sounds in late 2001).

Lonyo's song is really good garage too, and had a place on our recent Buzzjack Presents: Classic Garage album. The Sid Owen cover was a complete turd oops, but some great rockier entries lower in the top 20 from Blink-182 and the underrated Dum Dums.

The second week is one I remember very vividly. I was praying for The Corrs to get their first No.1, but expected Steps to put up a real fight, and iirc from Teletext, they were No.2 in the midweeks but dropped away to No.5 by the end of the week. Breathless is such a great track, and their most commercial so it was a great one to be their only chart topper, consolidating the success they had with Talk On Corners. The other song I bought that week, and which I still adore, is Will I Ever by Alice Deejay, a much poppier affair than their previous singles, especially with that 'na na na na way oh' refrain, but it's a very warm and likeable song that I was obsessed with like all of their singles.

Summer Of Love was a Steps classic too, great fun and leaning into the now outgoing latin craze, while When I Said Goodbye is pretty but probably one of their least regarded singles, it's often missed off tour setlists, but they did a beautiful performance of it in 2017 on the Party On The Dancefloor tour, I have a real soft spot for it.

I know Oasis basically disowned Sunday Morning Call by including it as only a hidden track on Time Flies, it's not a favourite of mine either but is ok. The Mission Impossible theme was a good introduction to Limp Bizkit, a fun early one from Atomic Kitten when they were all about disco and having a laugh in those early days (great sample use in the middle eight), and I don't really mind Woman Trouble but prefer basically every other Artful Dodger single. Robbie Craig is now the lead singer of East 17 these days! What was the point of having Craig David on it, other than to help sell it, as he barely did anything on it.

Some good songs to shout out further down - Matt Darey's Beautiful at No.21 (would go top 10 on re-release in 2002), Zed Bias' garage classic Neighbourhood at No.25 (also on our compilation), and a really nice summery bop from Precious at No.27, It's Gonna Be My Way - I also bought this this week along with Corrs and Alice Deejay so Newhaven Woolies tills must have been ringing to the sound of my pocket money this week. In fact I still remember getting Breathless as I was excited about the two new b-sides on the single.

22ND JULY

Originally penned by Rick Nowells and Greg Alexander for the latter’s second New Radicals album before the group split, “Life Is A Rollercoaster” was passed onto Ronan Keating and ends up at No 1 this week. It continues Keating’s perfect start to his solo career after “When You Say Nothing At All” also made 1 last year but its sale of 94,458 is only a fraction of its real sales after one of the CD releases was deemed to be ineligible due to CD1 featuring media content (an interview with Keating) which was not also an audio track leaving just the cassingle and a limited edition CD2 counting towards its sales. It was deleted by Polydor and another CD version released but not before 100,069 of its sales were lost so the opening would have been 194,527 had all formats been eligible.

Meanwhile Aaliyah is now a moviestar starring in her first film “Romeo Must Die” which hit the screens in the US back in the Spring but isn’t due here until Autumn, and what do you know she’s also recorded a song for it. “Try Again” actually comes with the writing and production credentials of Timbaland (you can hear the man himself rap the opening lines of Erik B & Rakim’s “I Know You Go Soul” at the start) and gives Aaliyah her first UK top 10 single new at No 5 (38,000) after topping the US charts last month.

A quiet week this week with no other new entries to tell you about, Aaliyah and Ronan aside everything slips a place, The Corrs 1-2 (63,000), Eminem 2-3 (52,000) and Limp Bizkit 3-4 (41,000). Similarly descending are Steps 5-6 (37,000), Artful Dodger 6-7 (32,000), Alice Deejay 7-8 (30,000) and Samantha Mumba who slides slightly quicker 8-10 (25,000) but kudos to Darude who hold at No 9 (27,000).

1- LIFE IS A ROLLERCOASTER- Ronan Keating (94,458)
2- BREATHLESS- The Corrs (63,000)
3- THE REAL SLIM SHADY- Eminem (52,000)
4- TAKE A LOOK AROUND (THEME FROM MI: 2)- Limp Bizkit (41,000)
5- TRY AGAIN- Aaliyah (38,000)
6- WHEN I SAID GOODBYE/ SUMMER OF LOVE- Steps (37,000)
7- WOMAN TROUBLE- Artful Dodger Ft Robbie Craig & Craig David (32,000)
8- WILL I EVER?- Alice Deejay (30,000)
9- SANDSTORM- Darude (27,000)
10- GOTTA TELL YOU- Samantha Mumba (25,000)

29TH JULY

Opening the BRITS this year was the all-star collaboration of Five and Queen on the latter’s “We Will Rock You” which was only ever a B-side for the band on 1977’s “We Are The Champions” (#2). With Brian May and Roger Taylor guesting on the track it seemed like the perfect track to put Five’s career back on the track after the disappointment of their last single “Don’t Wanna Let You Go” only reaching No 9. It’s wasted little time in marching straight to the top on a sale of 77,500, the lowest tally in 12 weeks but regardless Five’s second chart topper in 8 months and Queen’s 6th.

However it wasn’t the biggest selling single of the week, that went to the ongoing saga of the Ronan Keating ineligible CD version of his single “Life Is A Rollercoaster”. Although versions of the single are very hard to come by it still managed to sell 14,000 copies by midweek, enough even at that point to wipe out Five’s end victory margin of just 3,000 over Keating this week (74,500) in total sold. Someone’s head should roll at Polydor for the error.





After a break of two years from the chart Louise Nurding is now Louise Redknapp following her marriage to Jamie Redknapp and is back in the charts with “2 Faced”. No need to worry though as it instantly becomes her biggest hit coming in at No 3 (54,000), it precursors her third album “Elbow Beach” next month and is the singer’s 7th top 10 single.

Louise can perhaps sympathise with Farah Franklin who it was announced has left Destiny’s Child this week. Her departure times perfectly with their new single “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” arriving at No 5 (36,000), it’s a fourth single to be lifted from the album “Writing’s On The Wall” (and a fourth top 10 to boot) which has yet to hit the top 10 itself but is up 29-23 this week and may make it yet.

“Affirmation” is the name of the second Savage Garden album and now also the title of the biggest single to be taken from it as it debuts at No 8 (30,000), not bad for a fourth release! The band are currently on tour in the US before heading here in November but the album’s sales of 230,000 must be a disappointment after the 900,000 selling debut.

Eminem continues his numerical sequential movement down the charts 3-4 (39,000) and the Corrs fall 2-6 (35,000) but top the album charts to make up for it. Limp Bizkit topple 4-7 (31,000), Aaliyah drops 5-10 (28,000) and Alice Deejay hold up well 8-9 (28,000) and also debut at No 8 on the album charts proving that they can shift LP’s too!

1- WE WILL ROCK YOU- Five & Queen (77,500)
2- LIFE IS A ROLLERCOASTER- Ronan Keating (74,500)
3- 2 FACED- Louise (54,000)
4- THE REAL SLIM SHADY- Eminem (39,000)
5- JUMPIN JUMPIN- Destiny’s Child (36,000)
6- BREATHLESS- The Corrs (35,000)
7- TAKE A LOOK AROUND (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE M:2)- Limp Bizkit (31,000)
8- AFFIRMATION- Savage Garden (30,000)
9- WILL I EVER- Alice Deejay (28,000)
10- TRY AGAIN- Aaliyah (28,000)

I never realised Roman had missed out that badly 😵‍💫

He should’ve been number 1 over that appalling Five/Queen thing.

Don't think I recall that Marc et Claude cover/rework from episode 1 but really enjoyed it. 2000 was such a big year for trance in the end wasn't it.

Oops at the mess of the Jumpin' Jumpin' campaign for DC as the song actually still included vocals for LeToya and LaTavia but in comes Michelle and Farrah lip syncing for their lives in episode 2 tonight. Some releases had the previous line-up on the cover art and others had the current one! The group will always be Beyoncé, Kelly and Michelle to me, I learnt very later on that there were others in the line-up previously despite probably watching this and earlier TOTPs.

I was at my sister's last week so just did a bumper catchup of last week and this week's reruns tonight 🙌🏻

7th July episode - loved Samantha Mumba and Coldplay, totally forgot about Lonyo as well, what a banger that was. That Sid Owen murdering of Sugar Minott was absolutely heinous 😂

And of course the infamous Robbie Williams "Rock DJ" video premiere. I'll save my thoughts proper on it for when we get to the episode next week when it charts but even 25 years on still quite shocking!

TBH I don't know why they shunted Eminem to the late night repeat when he was number one. They warped all his swearing anyway!

14th July episode - so many good songs on this one, specifically Steps, Atomic Kitten and Artful Dodger. Didn't care for Limp Bizkit then or now, I remember nu-metal being the in thing when I started secondary school and feeling so out of place for not being into it. Very well deserved number one for The Corrs as well, "Breathless" such a great song.

21st July episode - Aaliyah undoubtedly the standout of this episode, "Try Again" is one of my all time favourite songs. Miss her so much. Loved Ronan "Life Is A Rollercoaster" as well although his commitment to leather on leather was giving Ross in Friends somewhat 😂

28th July episode - whilst I do love Five, they were exceptionally lucky to get that number one with Queen after Polydor's cock up with the rules on formats with Ronan. Not their best single by a long shot.

Louise on the other hand fabulous. "Hi girls - HIII LOUISE!" Still love "2 Faced" to this day. Also loved Savage Garden (their best single after "Truly Madly Deeply") and Destiny's Child. Shanks and Bigfoot didn't half take their time following up "Sweet Like Chocolate", didn't they? Terri Walker on vocals for that one too.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by ThePensmith

I'd normally expect to be more complimentary about a Five chart-topper than a Ronan one, but that version of 'We Will Rock You' is quite possibly my least favourite #1 of the year, while 'Life Is A Rollercoaster' is Ronan's best song - so there we go!

Aaliyah though... what a star and 'Try Again' is incredibly slick.

'Jumpin' Jumpin' is a tune as well

Outside of the top 10, 'Taste In Men' by Placebo was fab on the TOTP re-runs and I have a soft spot for that Marc Et Claude dance song too, as it was my first version of 'Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime' - thanks to its inclusion on Now 46.

The Marc et Claude version of the song is still my favourite version of 'Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime'.

'Jumpin Jumpin' and 'Try Again' are good R&B tunes.

'Affirmation' by Savage Garden is good too and has almost like an 80s sound to it.