Jester

Oh blimey, utterly vile song.

Baby Baby is so good!

Gypsy Woman is obviously fantastic! Never knew that it was nearly Ultra Nate.

Fair placing for this Chez. I have never been a big fan of Lyla, it’s very basic bitch Oasis. I sort of lost my patience with them in the 00s, but they redeemed themselves a bit with the follow up to this which is a classic.

Really like this, subtle like her other output :)

I hear you on the cringe side of Nizlopi now. Loved it at the time though.

I think Back to the Future was 1985 not 1865! l

With Elton we have moved into songs I actually like! The next section up to 10 was really hard to place and I’ve changed it round a few times.

17. Elton John - Something About the Way You Look Tonight 5 weeks at number 1, August/September AI summary: A double A-side release steeped in emotion and history, this single became the UK’s best-selling of all time. “Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” a lush, romantic ballad in classic Elton style, was paired with “Candle in the Wind 1997,” a reworking of his 1973 tribute to Marilyn Monroe—this time honouring Princess Diana after her tragic death. The result was a cultural moment: a song of mourning, love, and national reflection. My take: The way better side of this AA, this is a great ballad by Elton and I think it gets better with age!

18. U2 - Discothèque 1 week at number 1, February AI summary: U2 kicked off their Pop era with a bang—literally—when “Discothèque” exploded onto the UK Singles Chart at number one. A distorted, funk-infused departure from their rock roots, the track fused dance beats with Bono’s cryptic lyrics and The Edge’s fuzzed-out guitar, landing somewhere between irony and euphoria. Its surreal video, featuring the band in a glitterball dome donning Village People outfits, signalled a band unafraid to play with image and sound. Though its time at the summit was brief, “Discothèque” marked U2’s third UK number one and set the tone for the experimental Pop album that followed. My take: This may be a controversial low placing for this for some. I do love U2, their 80s and 90s output was generally fantastic. But, this doesn't do it for me and I see it as a non-number 1. In general I am not a fan of their number 1s, I can only just tolerate Beautiful Day (their next chart topper)!

True, in hindsight the reissues propped the chart up at the time!

You’ve got to put up with the rest of my 1997 first :(

At the end of 1997 they had the number 1 single (Too Much), number 1 album (Spiceworld) and Cinema box office number 1 (Spiceworld - The Movie). So Taylor isn't the first.

Jester’s Top Tunes 1026 1 (1) Pulp – Tina // 5-1-1-1 (4 wks) 3 weeks at number 1 2 (2) Olivia Dean – Nice To Each Other // 20-15-11-7-3-2-2-2 (8 wks) 3 (4) Tame Impala – Dracula // 19-12-9-7-4-3 (6 wks) 4 (5) MK & Clementine Douglas – Come Find Me // 21-13-10-8-5-4 (6 wks) 5 (8) Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia // 15-13-12-8-5 (5 wks) 6 (3) Djo – Carry The Name // 12-9-4-3-1-3-3-6 (8 wks) 7 (6) Radiohead – Let Down // 9-5-1-1-4-6-5-6-7 (9 wks) 8 (7) Tame Impala – Loser // 11-8-5-3-1-4-4-7-8 (9 wks) 9 (11) The Last Dinner Party – Second Best // 21-17-15-11-9 (5 wks) 10 (12) Richard Ashcroft – Lovin’ You // 16-12-10 (3 wks) 11 (10) Oasis – Slide Away // 10-7-4-4-1-1-3-5-6-8-9-10-11 (13 wks) 12 (16) Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Poppy Baskcomb – Think About Us // 21-16-12 (3 wks) 13 (9) Olivia Dean – Man I Need // 19-17-14-11-11-9-13 (7 wks) 14 (-) Inhaler – Hole In The Ground // 14 (1 wk) 15 (-) Olivia Dean – So Easy (To Fall In Love) // 1 (1 wk) 16 (15) Pulp – Got To Have Love // 6-4-1-1-1-1-3-5-7-8-9-10-12-13-15-16 (16 wks) 17 (14) Lady Gaga – The Dead Dance // 13-11-4-2-2-7-10-14-17 (8 wks) 18 (18) Jamie xx – Dream Night // 8-5-3-2-2-1-4-4-6-8-11-14-14-18-18 (15 wks) 19 (17) Mumford & Sons feat. Hozier – Rubber Band Man // 17-19 (2 wks) 20 (19) Oasis – Acquiesce // 7-3-1-3-4-4-6-7-8-9-12-13-18-18-18-19-20 (17 wks) 21 (20) Oasis – Champagne Supernova // 5-1-1-3-4-5-5-7-8-10-10-13-14-19-19-19-20-21 (18 wks) 22 (-) Cat Burns – How To Be Human // 22 (1 wk) 23 (23) Coldplay – Sparks // 3-1-3-3-5-5-7-7-8-9-10-12-13-14-16-20-20-20-23-23 (20 wks) 24 (13) Gorillaz feat. Sparks – The Happy Dictator // 16-11-7-5-2-6-13-24 (8 wks) 25 (25) Coldplay & Ayra Starr – GOOD FEELiNGS // 5-4-1-2-4-6-8-8-9-10-11-14-15-16-18-22-22-23-25-25 (20 wks) 26 (21) Sam Fender feat. Elton John – Talk To You // 22-21-26 (3 wks) 27 (22) Cigarettes After Sex – Anna Karenina // 22-27 (2 wks) 28 (24) Sombr - … 12 to 12 // 5-3-2-2-6-8-15-17-24-28 (10 wks) 29 (26) Bright Light Bright Light – Boys Etc. (Eric Krupper Remix Edit) // 17-14-16-18-17-15-9-16-24-26-29 (11 wks) 30 (28) Pulp – Spike Island // 6-4-3-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-4-5-8-9-10-13-14-14-15-17-19-20-20-23-25-27-28-30 (30 wks) 31 (29) Tame Impala – End Of Summer // 10-9-6-3-3-2-6-14-18-22-24-26-28-29-31 (15 wks) 32 (26) Metronomy & Purple Disco Machine – The Bay // 19-16-13-9-2-7-10-12-16-23-26-32 (12 wks) 33 (31) Djo – Gasoline (Triple J Like A Version) // 10-7-2-2-10-16-20-21-23-24-26-25-27-30-31-33 (16 wks) 34 (32) MK feat. Chrystal – Dior // 19-11-7-6-2-2-6-9-18-20-22-24-27-27-30-30-30-32-32-34 (20 wks) 35 (33) Will Young – Me Without You // 17-15-13-7-3-7-10-17-24-29-33-35 (12 wks) 36 (34) Sabrina Carpenter – Tears // 21-18-17-23-24-26-28-31-34-36 (10 wks) 37 (35) Chappell Roan – The Subway // 20-15-12-11-6-19-25-26-27-27-29-33-35-37 (14 wks) 38 (38) Djo – Potion // 7-4-2-1-2-2-4-6-7-8-9-14-17-20-20-21-21-23-24-26-27-27-28-29-29-31-33-33-36-38-38 (31 wks) 39 (30) Tom Odell – When I Close My Eyes // 21-25-30-39 (4 wks) 40 (36) Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Relentless Love // 22-21-23-28-31-34-36-40 (8 wks)

19. Spice Girls - Mama 3 weeks at number 1, April/May AI summary: A double A-side that showcased the Spice Girls’ dual identity: sentimental daughters and disco divas. Released for Comic Relief, “Mama” offered a tender ode to maternal love. The single became their fourth consecutive UK number one, cementing their dominance in the pop landscape. With Sporty’s powerhouse vocals, Scary’s attitude, and a zig-a-zig-ah of charisma, the Spice Girls proved they could do heartfelt and high-energy in one fell swoop—raising money and the roof in the process. My take: This is schmalzy and sickly sweet to the point of being almost unlistenable. The other side to this AA is much much better. Phew!

20. Michael Jackson - Blood on the Dance Floor 1 week at number 1, May Ai summary: The King of Pop moonwalked back to the top in 1997 with this darkly funky, paranoia-laced dancefloor thriller. Originally recorded during the Dangerous sessions, “Blood on the Dancefloor” was reworked for the remix album of the same name and became Jackson’s final UK number one in his lifetime. Driven by a sinister groove and a tale of betrayal on the dancefloor, it stood out in a Britpop-dominated era, dethroning R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” for a solitary week at the summit. Though its parent album underperformed, the single proved MJ’s enduring power to command the charts—even with a track that felt more thriller than thriller. My take: This is quite a lazy non-number 1 and MJ by numbers. I have never found this anything special and repeated listens won't help. Its a shame as I am generally a big MJ fan. Oh well.

Oh it was!!

That’s standard isn’t it?

Is that a first ever top 10 for Tame Impala?

Huge love for the Manics (best number one of the year), Madonna’s Drowned World, Jennifer Paige - Crush and a One For Sorrow - never knew how close to number 1 that was

21. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say Eh-oh 2 weeks at number 1, December AI summary: In one of the most surreal chart moments of the 1990s, the Teletubbies stormed to No.1 with their debut single “Say Eh-oh!”—a remix of their TV theme mashed with nursery rhymes and baby babble. Produced by Andrew McCrorie-Shand and Steve James, the track was a merchandising juggernaut and a toddler-powered earworm. It debuted at No.1 on 7 December 1997, holding the top spot for two weeks and fending off festive competition. The single spent five weeks in the Top 5, nine in the Top 20, and a staggering 41 weeks in the Top 100, earning double platinum status. It also peaked at No.2 in Ireland. Part of a wave of children’s TV chart crossovers (see Mr. Blobby, Bob the Builder), “Eh-oh!” stood out for its sheer oddity and cultural grip. It blurred the line between novelty and mainstream pop, baffling critics while delighting toddlers—and their gift-buying parents. A perfect time capsule of late-’90s Britain: post-rave absurdism meets BBC branding power, all wrapped in a glittery custard-splattered bow. My take: Time for Teletubbies! I used to watch Teletubbies when I had a rare hangover - was soothing but trippy. I guess I have a bit of a soft spot for this and kudos for nearly being the Christmas number 1! Tinky Winky was my favourite.

Still see quite a few, but yet to find a Candle In The Wind!

That’s My Goal is ok, it’s the start of the formulaic X Factor winner song and video (with pause so they can add in the bit when the winner was announced!). It also reminds me of Christmas (and like others, I also prefer No Promises).

Wonder if they still have them in boxes in their lofts? I don’t see the single often charity shops which always surprises me.

22. Elton John - Candle in the Wind 1997 Number 1 for 5 weeks, September/October AI summary: A reimagined tribute to Princess Diana, this version of Elton’s 1973 ballad became the fastest-selling single in UK chart history. Debuting at #1 with over 1.5 million copies sold in its first week, it held the top spot for five weeks and remains the UK’s best-selling single of all time. Stripped of flamboyance, the arrangement is solemn and stately, with Elton’s restrained vocal backed by George Martin’s orchestration. Though never performed live again, its cultural impact was seismic — a moment where pop music became national mourning. My take: This isn't bad for a charity record and at the time it was a very poingnant powerful and emotional record. However, with nearly 30 years hindsight, this is not something to go back to and very much a thing of its time.