Gezza

NO 4- OASIS (5,690,400) 12 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST HIT: WONDERWALL (999,000) Their placement at No 4 on this list may surprise some, but it only took 10 top 10 hits to get them here. They sold well over a million singles in 1995, 1996 and 1997 ending those years at No 2, 3, and 7 respectively, their bestselling individual hit is of course “Wonderwall” which returned to it’s No 2 peak a few weeks ago and is now hovering around the 5.5 million mark with downloads and streams, but the period 94-97 highlights exactly why they became the biggest act in the world....

NO 5- CELINE DION (5,552,100) 18 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST HIT: MY HEART WILL GO ON (1,312,000) Whilst Madonna did well she couldn’t quite manage to beat Celine’s Total. She is of course the only female artist to have two million selling singles to her credit when the 90s ended. She made the top 10 artists in 1995, 96 and 98 where she even managed to make No 2 in the list of top selling singles act thanks to that Titanic record. She outstripped all other females on the list, not bad for an ex-Eurovision winner....

NO 6 MADONNA (5,142,500) 30 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST HIT: BEAUTIFUL STRANGER (490,000) Over the five million mark we go with “Queen of Pop”TM Madonna. She scored an amazing 27 top 10 hits in the decade- unequalled, but only a couple of No 1’s. Whilst her sales never topped the million mark in any individual year of the decade (She’s the highest placed act in that regard), she was present in the top 100 acts for all of them with 1998 being her best year for shifting those CD’s. “Beautiful Stranger” outselling all her other hits may be a surprise though and she was of course the best selling act of the 80s, a combined total over the 2 decades- she sold over 12 million.

4m for Take That (left before "How Deep Is Your Love") plus 2.8m solo gives him 6.8m together.

The top 6 all cleared the 5 million mark!

NO 7- TAKE THAT (4,662,300) 15 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: BACK FOR GOOD (959,000) BEST SELLING ACT OF 1993 If they carried on with the same level of success until the end of the decade there is every chance Take That could have topped this list, but that 1996 split cost them a top 5 place at least. The Boyband struggled initially with their first three singles missing the top 30, but between 1992 and 1996 all their singles made the top 10 with a record equalling 8 chart toppers in the decade. Within that period no act could match their sales and the band were the biggest single sellers of 1993 and led the 90s chart until 1997…..

NO 8- MICHAEL JACKSON (4,402,700) 18 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST HIT: EARTH SONG (1,077,000) Yes the big names are starting to tumble now. Clocking in with 12 top 5 hits including 4 chart toppers Jackson didn’t let his litigation worries affect his output with a further 3 chart topping albums to boot. It was the last decade of success really, pre his death in 2009, as a new album post 2001 kept experiencing delays ultimately causing financial problems for the star, but certainly he was unstoppable for much of the 90s adding considerably to his sales and reputation. He is one of two acts to repeat their showing from the 80s list (Jackson coming in at No 5 on that list)…..

No. You need 1.7m for the top 50

4TH MARCH Five of the top six are new entries this week but nothing can stand in the way of the All Saints making it two weeks at the top, “Pure Shores” slender early lead stretched out as the week progressed and in the end the track sold a further 155,000 copies to lift its total to 354,000. That’s already enough to make the single the 2nd biggest of the year, a mere 3,000 copies behind Gabrielle’s “Rise” which slumps 2-7 (47,000) this week, Gabrielle remains No 1 on the album charts. Talking of successful albums Christina Aguilera’s self- titled debut leaps 33-14 to a new high and Eiffel 65’s album debuts at No 12, their singles tumble 3-8 (42,000) and 6-9 (36,000) in response. Aqua fall 7-10 (33,000)- sales all around helped by half term. Onto the new entries then and highest comes from Artful Dodger who follow up the 500,000 selling “Re-Rewind” with “Movin’ Too Fast” which features vocals by Romina Johnson. That previous single is still in the top 40 at No 34 after making No 2 and now their second single repeats that peak after shifting 126,000, the duo are busy recording their album due later this year. Backstreet Boys score their 10th straight top ten single as “Show The Meaning Of Being Lonely” enters at No 3 (89,000). The promo reflects the real lives of the band members with operations and deaths over the past few years including that of mentor Denniz PoP and is all rather darker than we’re used to from your average Boyband. Backstreet Boys charted on imports last week at No 66, and 14 places higher 20 year old Kelis did the same with her single "Caught Out There”. This week with a full release she makes No 4 (72,000). Written and produced by production duo Neptunes, the instrumental track was allegedly turned down by Busta Rhymes before Kelis bagged it for her first single, it has become equally famous for its chorus line “I Hate You So Much Right Now”. Even younger than Kelis is 19 yr old Jamelia who scores big with her third release “Money”, her debut “So High” missed the charts and second single “I Do” made it No 36 so the hits are certainly getting bigger as she now hits No 5 (57,000). This single features rapper Beenie Man though officially uncredited. A1 continue to score top 10 singles, their latest, “Like A Rose”, arrives at No 6 (53,000) to give them their 4th top tier hit. Though they’re clearly capable of generating hit singles they’re experiencing problems moving albums, debut set “Here We Come” peaked at No 20 before Christmas before disappearing, it’s back this week at No 61 though it has only sold 150,000 copies thus far. 1- PURE SHORES- All Saints (155,000) 2- MOVIN TOO FAST- Artful Dodger Ft Romina Johnson (126,000) 3- SHOW THE MEANING OF BEING LONELY- Backstreet Boys (89,000) 4- CAUGHT OUT THERE- Kelis (72,000) 5- MONEY- Jamelia Ft Beenie Man (57,000) 6- LIKE A ROSE- A1 (53,000) 7- RISE- Gabrielle (47,000) 8- WHAT A GIRL WANTS- Christina Aguilera (42,000) 9- MOVE YOUR BODY- Eiffel 65 (36,000) 10- CARTOON HEROES- Aqua (33,000)

26TH FEBRUARY Since it was released to radio shortly after the new year All Saints comeback single “Pure Shores” has been gaining momentum ensuring that its release date would be met with high sales. It features in the new Leonardo Di Caprio film “The Beach” which currently sits atop the cinema listings and is produced by the hottest man around William Orbit, all of which contribute a massive sale of 199,084- that’s a best yet for the year 2000 and for the group themselves. It is a fourth chart topper for the girl group drawing them level with B*Witched and behind only The Spice Girls in that league, it also gives them some revenge on Oasis who knocked “Never Ever” from No 1 in January 1998, Oasis were of course No 1 last week with “Go Let It Out” which suffered a particularly savage cut in sales of 76% week on week to sell just 43,000 as it moves 1-4 this week. Their revenge could have been so much sweeter though as “Pure Shores” was scheduled to go head to head with Oasis single until London records shied away from the conflict. Don’t feel sorry for the brothers Gallagher though as the single is the third biggest seller of the year so far. Gabrielle once again plays runner up with “Rise” which sold a further 62,000 at No 2 raising its total to 309,000 easily the biggest selling single of the year to date, her album remains No 1 as well. Just below her is the new Christina Aguilera single “What A Girl Wants”, already a No 1 Stateside it is has been remixed for single release and enters at No 3 (49,000). Aguilera’s album has been a disappointment so far making No 21 and vanishing after 4 weeks last November, it returned in January and this week lifts 48-33 but has yet to sell 100,000 copies. The success of Shania Twain continues into a new decade, her album “Come On Over” is still at No 2 this week having sold almost 2.6 million since its 1998 release, it had generated five singles four of which had gone top 10 but this week it gives her a sixth single and a fifth top tenner to boot. Again remixed from the album “Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)” has emerged in a dance remix and enters at No 5 (41,000), it was originally a US single two years ago making no 40, if you’re wondering how many singles she can pull from this album well she’s already managed 10 on the US Country chart so there may be more! You may recall that Aqua saw their first three singles all fly to No 1 so it has probably come as something of a shock that a first single from their second album should only make No 7. “Cartoon Heroes” convinced only 36,000 buyers last week which doesn’t bode well for the forthcoming album campaign. The power of TV strikes again, cast your mind back to 1998 when the cast of “Casualty” scored a No 5 hit with a cover of “Everlasting Love”, that track featured actress Rebecca Wheatley who plays receptionist Amy Howard and provided lead vocals on the single. She’s now released a solo single which also featured in a recent episode of the soap and it’s another cover this time of the Lorraine Ellison classic “Stay With Me Baby”, the song has been a hit three times already in the UK the biggest of which was the Walker Brothers version back in 1967 (#26) making this new version the biggest yet debuting as it does at No 10 (26,000). Eiffel 65 drift 3-6 (38,000), Sash descends 4-8 (31,000) and Britney slides 6-9 (28,000). 1- PURE SHORES- All Saints (199,084) 2- RISE- Gabrielle (62,000) 3- WHAT A GIRL WANTS- Christina Aguilera (49,000) 4- GO LET IT OUT- Oasis (43,000) 5- DON’T BE STUPID (YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU)- Shania Twain (41,000) 6- MOVE YOUR BODY- Eiffel 65 (38,000) 7- CARTOON HEROES- Aqua (36,000) 8- ADELANTE- Sash! (31,000) 9- BORN TO MAKE YOU HAPPY- Britney Spears (28,000) 10- STAY WITH ME BABY- Rebecca Wheatley (26,000)

Mariah is third highest so there are two left. Celine hasn't been yet.

NO 9- MARIAH CAREY (4,047,200) 23 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: WITHOUT YOU (559,000) Just moving over the 4 million mark in the UK Mariah is the third biggest selling female act of the decade. Her best year coming in 1994 when she was placed second behind Wet wet wet for sales of singles, that was the year when she scored her first and only UK chart topper of the decade with “Without You”. In total she achieved 16 top 10 hits throughout the decade counting her various duets, including 12 of them consecutively between 92 and 97....

NO 10- BRYAN ADAMS (4,030,300) 19 TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: EVERYTHING I DO (I DO IT FOR YOU) (1,533,000) BEST SELLING ACT OF 1991 Of course he’s in the top 10, he’s the biggest singles artists of 1991 with the 16wk chart topper “Everything I Do” selling 1.5 million- a third of his final total. Adams continued to have hits right through the decade though he couldn’t score himself another No 1, he did however managed to get to No 2 twice and score a massive hit with Mel C in 1998/99 with “When You’re Gone”...... Fun fact- based on just sales 1990-1993 he was the biggest singles act! We also hit the 4 million sales mark!

Back early so you get treated to No 10!

Yes and not of a well known track either by your average pop fan. Well spotted though!

You mean they use the same sample

Real life intervenes tomorrow so the top 10 will begin on Friday.

NO 11- WHITNEY HOUSTON (3,935,000) 17 UK TOP 40 HITS BEST SELLER: I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU (1,366,000) BEST SELLING ACT OF 1992 Ever so narrowly failing to make the decade top 10 it’s Whitney Houston, top single seller of 1992 with the all-conquering “I Will Always Love You”. Looking at her position at the end of 1993 she was on course to become the top act of the decade, but years of poor chart performance and an erratic release schedule 94-98 during which time she only hit the top 10 once took its toll before a comeback in 1999 gave a last minute push but alas too little, too late. Still 3.9 million singles sales in the decade does put her in an enviable position and the 4th highest placed female on the list....42nd on the 80s list by way of comparison.

NO 12- EAST 17/ E-17 (3,865,400) 18 UK TOP 40 HITS BEST SELLER: STAY ANOTHER DAY (923,000) Ended up as the third best boy band of the 90s are bad boys East 17. Throughout the decade they were portrayed as the anti Take That, and it worked a treat until the bad boy antics became all too real and the drug scandal of 1997 caused the group to split. They reformed in 1998 minus lead singer and songwriter Mortimer but could only muster 2 hits before that fell apart too. However 12 top 10 hits throughout the 90s was enough to place them at No 12, just one more reasonably sized hit would have made all the difference and put them top 10 but hey ho.....

Perfect 10 was about 25k away. The other two were not over 300k

I was going to say that @Spiceboy would be coming for you... .

NO 13- CHER (3,564,700) 17 UK TOP 40 HITS BEST SELLER: BELIEVE (1,669,000) There are just five females left on this rundown and here’s the first of them, Cher had a great 90s, probably the best decade of her career, in which she was the only woman to collect three chart toppers. She benefitted enormously from the sales of “Believe” which was the bestselling single of 98 and contributes considerably to her tally. The singer has now retired from touring (again) but showed just a few years ago that she can still get a top 20 single!

NO 14- ROBSON & JEROME (3,484,300) 3 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: UNCHAINED MELODY/ (THERE’LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER (1,843,000) BEST SELLING ACT OF 1995 Bet you were worried they were going to make the top 10 weren’t you? Well they aren’t far off, only 3 singles provide them with their 3.4 million sales, all of them No 1’s and they handsomely outsold every other act in 1995. They did of course start out in “Soldier Soldier” when Simon Cowell convinced them that they could shift records they recorded an album for him which also sold in outstanding quantities becoming the 7th biggest album of the decade. Their first single, a double A Sided hit “Unchained Melody/ White Cliffs Of Dover” sold 1.8 million and became the 2nd biggest selling single of the decade, to give them their due at least they quit when they were ahead.....

More likely with every year that passes!

NO 15- STEPS (3,472,400) 9 UK TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST HIT: TRAGEDY/ HEARTBEAT (1,149,000) Yes of course they were going to be here. Over 1.4 million singles sold in BOTH 98 & 99 made them one of the biggest acts of the late 90s and the leading lights of the “ultra pop” movement (ok I made that term up). The band enjoyed continual success right up until their split in 2001 when the obligatory solo careers followed with minimal success, still few could match the singles success the band had in those two years... Of Course they later reformed and whilst they only scored 1 top 75 hit they retain a firm fanbase.