Gezza

156. CHA CHA SLIDE- DJ Casper (387,300) YEAR: 2004 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 18 Created by Casper for his nephew to use during his personal trainer session, this in turn led to an alternative version being created at some point in the early 00s which was sent to local radio stations in Chicago when it started to generate interest and soon it was a popular track on UK music TV Channels with its own dance. It proved to be his only real hit (there was another top 20 single but who remembers that!) and he passed in 2023.

157. HAVE YOU EVER- S Club 7 (387,200) YEAR: 2001 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 14 Multiple entries on the list for the SClubbers, this was the Children In Need single for 2001 and another Cathy Dennis Co-penned track. It became their 4th chart topper and actually usurped their track “You” which was intended for release in late 01 but got pushed back to 2002 ultimately. The promo is filmed in the famous Ennis building in Los Angeles.

158. NUMB/ ENCORE- Linkin Park/ Jay Z (386,400) YEAR: 2004 PEAK POSITION: 14 WKS ON CHART: 43 So here it is, the biggest selling non top 10 single of the decade, it was inspired by the “Grey Album” by Danger Mouse which mashed up The Beatles and Jay Z for an MTV mash up programme. Taking the idea and this time using Jay Z with Linkin Park, the project resulted in an EP “Collision Course” with this as the lead single and we loved it with a mighty 43 weeks on the chart.

22ND FEBRUARY Wet, Wet, Wet lose both crowns this week and thusly “Goodnight Girl” fails to become their longest chart topper as it ties on 4 weeks alongside “With A Little Help From My Friends”, it will however sell its 300,000th copy this week and it descends 1-2 on 40,575 sales. The new chart topper comes from Shakespears Sister which rises 2-1 (43,800), a result which must validate Fahey’s decision to leave Bananarama 4 years ago, their last single “Long Train Running” peaked at No 30 last year. The duo’s album is out in shops this week so may impede its future success but the promo seems to have generated significant sales for the song. Currently sitting atop of the Box office charts is of course “My Girl” featuring Macaulay Culkin and it utilises the old Temptations classic of the same name in the flick. That’s caused a re-issue of the single which incredibly only made No 43 on release in 1965, it’s been covered a multitude of times but only been as high as No 11 for Otis Redding that same year so it’s fitting that some 37 years later it finally becomes a top 10 hit here as it rises 12-5 (29,820). It is only the group’s 5th top 10 single ever and they’ve been higher than this once, back in 1969 with the Supremes on “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”. The group have actually been attracting some club attention for their song “The Jones’” which debuts at No 69 this week on Motown (“My Girl” has been licensed to Columbia for this release) so It may be that the label has shot itself in the foot on this occasion with the oldie getting the radio support. Originally a No 55 hit last November Shanice’s “I Love Your Smile” has since become a substantial US hit (it drops 2-3 this week over there) and is now a hit back here though it has taken a remix by producers Driza Bone to turn the trick. Production on the original is by Narada Michael Walden and continues the modern trend for remixing songs into hits which has emerged over the last few years. Shanice rose to fame on the US TV show “Star Search” (a UK equivalent might be Opportunity Knocks) which made Tiffany a star, and signed with Motown and is now at No 7 (22,620)- this week’s highest new entry. Simply Red’s album “Stars” celebrates its 20th week of chart action by dethroning Wet Wet Wet at the top of the album charts, it’s still selling at a fast rate with sales of over 1.3 million so far, becoming the biggest album of 1991, and never dropped lower than No 6 in all that time. It is now home to a second top 10 single in the form of “For Your Babies” which slides 12-9 (17,355) buoyed no doubt by the group’s success at the BRITS during the week. Taking an old 1983 track by Jane and slinging a dance beat over it saw Opus III’s “It’s A Fine Day” become a club hit over recent months and now it gets a commercial release and crashes straight in at No 10 (16,455). It’s on the PWL International label a subsidiary of the PWL label which has branched out and along with PWL Continental is home to other chart acts like 2 Unlimited who themselves fall 3-8 (22,455), all of which are still generating money for PWL now that the hits are thinner on the ground for Stock and Waterman. Michael Jackson improves 6-3 (35,250) but his last chart topper to take at least three weeks to reach the top was Billie Jean 9 years ago so its chances on making number one are slim, and refreshingly the Pasadenas hold at No 4 for a third week and are still increasing sales this time to 31,830, meanwhile Curtis Stigers slides back 5-6 (27,450) and improves sales again thanks in part to the school holidays. In the ongoing battle of chart formats, it wasn't that long ago that 12" overtook 7" as the most popular choice for singles but this week inevitably the CD rises to the top spot for the first time ever with 27.4% of the singles market- the other % are 25.4% for 7", 25% for 12" and 22% for the cassingle. 1- STAY- Shakespears Sister (43,800) 2- GOODNIGHT GIRL- Wet wet wet (40,575) 3- REMEMBER THE TIME- Michael Jackson (35,250) 4- I’M DOING FINE NOW- The Pasadenas (31,830) 5- MY GIRL- The Temptations (29,820) 6- I WONDER WHY- Curtis Stigers (27,450) 7- I LOVE YOUR SMILE (REMIX)- Shanice (22,620) 8- TWILIGHT ZONE- 2 Unlimited (22,455) 9- FOR YOUR BABIES- Simply Red (17,355) 10- IT’S A FINE DAY- Opus III (16,455)

Fingers crossed that this government finally has the courage to stop trying to curry favour with him when he can't be appeased. Ignoring his tarrifs is really the best move, if any doubt that the man is a bully and authoritarian were left then this should dispel that notion. Canada certainly has the right idea, I read elsewere that Trump is making "China great again" and on his current trajectory you have to begin to wonder.......

15TH FEBRUARY For the second time since the chart was made into a top 50 there are three new entries into the top 10, more on that a bit later. Wet Wet Wet continue to dominate holding down the top spot on both charts with “Goodnight Girl” posting a sale of 45,105 raising its total to 251,732 their second biggest seller behind, “With A Little Help From My Friends”. Onto the highest of those new entries and naturally that comes from Michael Jackson with his second release from “Dangerous”. “Remember The Time” comes with a 9 minute promo featuring Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson, and model (and David Bowie’s fiancée) Iman and is set in ancient Egypt, all sufficiently augmented by special effects, the album was released 12 weeks ago and sunk as low as No 16 last week but now charges 16-6 this week as the single hits stores, its sales are now over 900,000, quite remarkable. It becomes his 25th top 10 single but only the 5th to debut there as it arrives at No 6 (23,085). Ride’s debut single only made No 71, their second became their first top 40 single and their fourth single their first top 20 hit, but now Ride officially arrive in the upper reaches with “Leave Them All Behind” which is new at No 9 (15,765). The song is the first to be culled from their second album “Going Blank Again” out next month, the band have slightly altered their sound from their last album, no doubt trying to disassociate themselves from the “Shoegazing” genre which has surely run its course. Also making their mark felt after 6 days on sale Jesus & Mary Chain are back with their first album in three years “Honey’s Dead” and already the song “Reverence” has stumbled into trouble, something the group are used to over the years. Some of the lyrics have been deemed too controversial for TOTP and for Radio One with the station has chosen not to playlist, regardless it becomes their highest debuting single ever as it crashes in at No 10 (14,850). In other news the Wets have new challengers with Shakespears Sister moving 6-2 (35,640) and looking like next week’s chart topper unless Michael Jackson can stop them, 2 Unlimited slip back 2-3 (30,660) and the Pasadena’s get stuck at No 4 (30,180) but were unlucky not to climb. Curtis Stigers maintains No 5 (25,665) though he’s losing sales unlike The Pasadenas, Kylie drops 3-7 (17,430) and Kicks Like A Mule dissipate 7-8 (16,080). 1- GOODNIGHT GIRL- Wet wet wet (45,105) 2- STAY- Shakespears Sister (35,640) 3- TWILIGHT ZONE- 2 Unlimited (30,660) 4- I’M DOING FINE NOW- The Pasadenas (30,180) 5- I WONDER WHY- Curtis Stigers (25,665) 6- REMEMBER THE TIME- Michael Jackson (23,085) 7- GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME- Kylie Minogue (17,430) 8- THE BOUNCER- Kicks Like A Mule (16,080) 9- LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIND- Ride (15,765) 10- REVERENCE- Jesus & Mary Chain (14,850)

159. MANEATER- Nelly Furtado (385,700) YEAR: 2006 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS IN CHART: 13 After a successful debut era it is fair to say that Furtado’s second album was less well received which prompted a rethink for album No 3. Step forward Timbaland who proved just the ticket for the reinvention of Furtado as sex siren with a new look and a new sound- all very 06, and the hits started to roll. This was the biggest of them from the album, becoming her first chart topper.

160. STRONGER- Kanye West (384,100) YEAR: 2007 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 30 West’s first chart topper relied heavily on Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” and saw him become embroiled in a slanging match with fellow rapper 50 cent. Release of the pair’s album was scheduled for the same week in the US (and in the UK) causing 50 cent to boast about how he would beat Kanye to the top and if he didn’t then he would leave the music industry. Well Kanye won on both charts but fiddy stuck around….still this is a reminder of what he could do before he went…..eccentric.

161. ALL SUMMER LONG- Kid Rock (383,800) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 23 A bit left field this one. Kid Rock’s mix of rap and country had largely failed to impress here with just 2 top 40 hits to his name prior to this track, seems the idea of mixing “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Werewolves In London” was inspired!

13TH FEBRUARY Hands up who guessed this was coming? The return of Blondie was unexpected even as late as the end of 1998 but “Maria” has proved to be just the single the erstwhile group needed. The group scored 10 top 10 hits between 1978 and 1981 including five chart toppers before splitting in 1982 and, some remixes of earlier hits aside, all has been silent from them since whilst Debbie Harry had a so-so solo career. “Maria” is therefore a very big return to form and comes storming in at No 1 after selling 128,000 copies to become a sixth chart topper for the outfit but 19 years after the last, on only two occasions has there been a longer wait, The Hollies (23 years) and The Righteous Brothers (25 years), but they were with re-releases whilst this is an original song. The best of “Atomic” is re-issued this week with a remix CD to enhance it, but the band do have a new album with original material out in a fortnight called “No Exit”- welcome back. Armand Van Helden is therefore forced 1-2 (73,000) but manages to outpace the new single from Tatyana Ali. She’s roped in former “Fresh Prince” star Will Smith to help her out on “Boy You Knock Me Out” and is rewarded with a second top hit at No 3 (68,000) to follow up her No 6 track “Daydreamin” late last year, the song doubtless benefits from the appearance of Smith who is certainly chart magic at the moment with this become his 5th top 3 single in just 19 months. Incredible to think that US rapper A+ is just 17 and already has a UK top 5 single to his credit. Real name Andre Levins, he won a national competition held by Def Jam back in 1995 and launched his career the following year when he was 14, now already preparing for album No 2 he hits No 5 (51,000) with “Enjoy Yourself”. Sampling the bassline from The Jacksons single of the same name (#42, 1977) and Walter Murphy’s re-invention of “A Fifth Of Beethoven” (#28, 1976) it proves a bigger hit than its components. A fairly big dance track for the last few months, Soulsearcher’s “Cant Get Enough” makes its chart splash at No 8 (31,000). Sampling the 1976 track “Let’s Lovedance Tonight” by Gary’s Gang (#49, 1979), this track also comes with vocals by Thea Austin whose name you may not recall but you’ve certainly heard her before on Snap!’s “Rhythm Is A Dancer”. The Offspring continue their gentle descent 2-4 (67,000) and two longstayers Steps and Bryan Adams/ Mel C rack up another week in the top flight slipping 3-6 (43,000) and 5-7 (34,000) respectively and also cross the 900,000 and 500,000 mark in unison. "Tragedy/ Heartbeat" has now been in the top 10 for 13 straight weeks- the longest run since All Saints 15 week tenure last year! TQ falls 7-9 (30,000) and Dru Hill just hang in there 4-10 (30,000). 1- MARIA- Blondie (128,000) 2- YOU DON’T KNOW ME- Armand Van Helden (73,000) 3- BOY YOU KNOCK ME OUT- Tatyana Ali/ Will Smith (68,000) 4- PRETTY FLY (FOR A WHITE GUY)- Offspring (67,000) 5- ENJOY YOURSELF- A+ (51,000) 6- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps (43,000) 7- WHEN YOU’RE GONE- Bryan Adams/ Mel C (34,000) 8- CAN’T GET ENOUGH- Soulsearcher (31,000) 9- WESTSIDE- TQ (30,000) 10- THESE ARE THE TIMES- Dru Hill (30,000)

6TH FEBRUARY A ninth week and a 9th new number one- Armand Van Helden may be a well respected remixer but his UK chart career so far has consisted of only two minor hits in his own name. He was of course responsible for remixing and putting Tori Amos’ “Professional Widow” into the chart books as a No 1 track back in 1997, this time around he’s employed the vocal talents of Duane Harden who also co-wrote it with Van Helden. The single is essentially a mash up of the drums on Jaydee’s “Plastic Dreams” (#18, 1997) and the hook from Carrie Lucas’ “Dance With You” (#40, 1979) which has been filling the dancefloors since Christmas time, it attracted 118,500 buyers last week to ease into the top spot. Dru Hill prove that last year’s “How Deep Is Your Love” pointed to an ever greater profile and increasingly bigger hits. New single “These Are The Times” effortlessly debuts at No 4 (42,000) this week to beat their last single by 5 places though it only sold 5,000 more than the opening week of “How Deep Is Your Love”. The video is based on the film “The Man In The Iron Mask” apparently. The Divine Comedy have been waiting a while for a top 10 single, Neil Hanlon has been the only consistent member of the group and wrote the theme music to “Father Ted” which was the first brush with fame. After Chris Evans started to support the track “Something For The Weekend” the group started generating hit singles and with their 8th hit they finally make the top 10. “National Express” is a typically quirky piece from the band about Hanlon’s observations whilst on the famous stagecoach, it’s new at No 8 (32,000). With their tour rolling into the UK Garbage score their 5th top 10 single and third No 9 hit from the “Version 2.0” album. “When I Grow Up” comes with a live promo of the band on tour in the US which helps the single move 29,000 copies last week. Originally a No 4 hit in early 1989 Inner City’s “Good Life” has been remixed by Tommy Onyx into a flamenco driven dance track which now has Spanish lyrics sang by Paris Grey. It resurrects the career of the duo who have been missing from the charts for 3 years and missing from the top 10 for almost a decade! It makes the top flight all over again at No 10 (28,000). The outgoing No 1 from Offspring relaxes 1-2 (91,000) whilst the ever present Steps spend another week at No 3 (49,604), “Heartbeat/ Tragedy” has now sold 862,091 and may break the million mark at this rate. Talking of ever present Bryan Adams & Mel C spend a ninth week in the top 10 and celebrate by climbing back 7-5 (39,000)- this is only the 2nd week ever in the top 5 and could break the 500,000 mark next week. Terrorvision slip 2-6 (35,000) and TQ drifts 4-7 (33,000). 1- YOU DON’T KNOW ME- Armand Van Helden (118,500) 2- PRETTY FLY (FOR A WHITE GUY)- Offspring (91,000) 3- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps (49,604) 4- THESE ARE THE TIMES- Dru Hill (42,000) 5- WHEN YOU’RE GONE- Bryan Adams/ Mel C (39,000) 6- TEQUILA- Terrorvision (35,000) 7- WESTSIDE- TQ (33,000) 8- NATIONAL EXPRESS- Divine Comedy (32,000) 9- WHEN I GROW UP- Garbage (29,000) 10- GOOD LIFE (BUENA VIDA)- Inner City (28,000)

8TH FEBRUARY “Goodnight Girl” continues to dominate for a third week at the top though sales are off 20% at 50,985 hampered by the release of their third studio album “High On The Happy Side” which also arrives at No 1, their second chart topping album after “Popped In Souled Out” four years ago ,and proves their decision to push the album back from the autumn after two flop singles was the right move. The single still has a substantive lead at the top of the charts though it is reduced from 29,000 to 17,000 over the new runner up 2 Unlimited with “Twilight Zone” which sold 32,645 last week. It marks the second No 2 single from 2 releases for the Dutch duo and bodes well for the release of their album in a few weeks, we’ll see if dance acts can sell albums. That single replaces Kylie Minogue’s “Give Me Just A Little More Time” as it falls 2-3 (29,145), it becomes Minogue’s 6th single to peak at that position and also the second time she’s had to play second fiddle to Wet Wet Wet whose “With A Little Help From My Friends” held “Got To Be Certain” off No 1 four years ago. Their last single only made No 75 but the Pasadena’s are back with a cover of the No 20 1973 track “I’m Doing Fine Now”. It heralds a third album from the boys called “Yours Sincerely” which is an album of covers in the main, this single drives 12-4 (27,435) and is looking like a potential future chart topper as it becomes their highest placed single surpassing the No 5 peak of “Tribute” in 1988. After forming and running XL Records (home to The Prodigy among others) Richard Russell and Nick Halkes have also found some spare time to make a record themselves forming the outfit Kicks Like A Mule. Their debut production “The Bouncer” jumps 13-7 (20,040) and samples Frank De Wulf’s “Moribund” fact fans. Good news this week for Curtis Stigers who climbs 7-5 (27,210), Shakespears Sister advance 10-6 (24,585) and Genesis rise 9-8 (17,655) despite losing sales. Going the wrong way are Kiss 6-9 (17,655) and Queen 4-10 (17,520). Next week look out for a new Michael Jackson single- expect a high new entry which was again previewed by a TOTP exclusive of the promo and which is again an extravaganza! 1- GOODNIGHT GIRL- Wet, wet, wet (50,985) 2- TWILIGHT ZONE- 2 Unlimited (33,645) 3- GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME- Kylie Minogue (29,145) 4- I’M DOING FINE NOW- The Pasadenas (27,435) 5- I WONDER WHY- Curtis Stygers (27,210) 6- STAY- Shakespears Sister (24,585) 7- THE BOUNCER- Kicks Like A Mule (20,040) 8- I CAN’T DANCE- Genesis (17,655) 9- GOD GAVE ROCK N ROLL TO YOU II- Kiss (17,655) 10- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (17,520)

162. THAT’S NOT MY NAME- Ting Tings (383,600) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON THE CHART: 31 A band who came through the ranks with support of the BBC. A tour of universities in 2007 and finishing 3rd in the “Sound of…” list on the BBC helped give them the required, and this debut single gave them their sole chart topper upon release. It had originally been released on an indie label in 2007 generating interest and radioplay but the move to a major really propelled it into the big time.

163. YOU ARE NOT ALONE- X Factor Finalists (382,900) YEAR: 2009 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 7 Ah the annual X Factor Finalists single- invariably a cover, and invariably..a bit dull. Anyway for 2009 we got this cover of the (recently) deceased Michael Jackson 1995 chart topper which arrived with aplomb at No 1 with 193k but was out of the top 10 after just 3 weeks. Sadly they will also be back later on!

164. AMERICAN PIE- Madonna (382,000) YEAR: 2000 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 14 Still going strong for a third decade Madonna has multiple entries on this list, first up is her 2000 cover of the Don McLean classic which was featured in the film “The Next Best Thing” and was produced by man of the moment in 2000 William Orbit. Madonna later stated that she shouldn’t have included it on the “Music” album and seems rather to have omitted it from her repertoire in later years.