Gezza

And the TOTP episode!

7TH AUGUST "Not officially split" is the word from the Boyzone camp but lead singer Ronan Keating clearly didn’t get the memo, his debut solo disc “When You Say nothing At All” shoots straight to No 1 after selling a mighty 197,000 copies last week, the song was a country chart topper for Kevin Whitley in 1988 before being covered by Alison Krauss in 1995, neither gained traction here meaning that the song is relatively new to UK ears. It’s featured in the current film “Notting Hill” and is therefore the second top 10 hit to be lifted from the film soundtrack following Another Level’s “From The Heart”. Meanwhile Boyzone’s “By Request” is No 1 on the album charts for a 7th week- by far their fastest seller! Ricky Martin’s “Livin La Vida Loca” is pushed 1-2 (103,000) after three weeks at the top and yes that’s a sales increase in the process. The song was subject to a challenge by RCA this week, CD2 runs to 20 minutes and 2 seconds, longer than chart regulations allow and so, RCA argued, sales from that CD shouldn’t contribute to sales making Five the real chart topper last week. The powers that be decided that the infringement was an honest mistake and sales allowed to stand meaning that chart history was not re-written. Five themselves slide 2-4 (62,000). The rest of the top 5 is made up of a climbing DJ Jurgen 4-3 (83,600) and slowly fading Steps 3-5 (51,000). Doolally’s “Straight From The Heart” gets another shot at the big time following the success of Shanks & Bigfoot’s “Sweet Like The Chocolate”. The two outfits have of course the same team behind them and this time “Straight From The Heart” goes 11 places higher than it achieved last year by entering at No 9 (30,000). ATB linger on 5-6 (40,000) as “9PM (Til I Come)” goes platinum, Will Smith rebounds 8-7 (34,000) thanks to the film finally opening here, Whitney drops 6-8 (31,000) and the Vengaboys are almost out 7-10 (26,000). 1- WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL- Ronan Keating (197,000) 2- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin (103,000) 3- BETTER OFF ALONE- DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay (83,600) 4- IF YA GETTIN DOWN- Five (62,000) 5- LOVE’S GOT A HOLD ON MY HEART- Steps (51,000) 6- 9PM (TIL I COME)- ATB (40,000) 7- WILD WILD WEST- Will Smith (34,000) 8- MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE- Whitney Houston (31,000) 9- STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART- Doolally (30,000) 10- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (26,000)

I agree i prefer other SAW Rick singles from later on, almost all of them but I'd probably still put this above Michael Jackson.

Thread will start on Monday. I'll also post the first 4 weeks of 1994 here as little point in creating a new thread for them.

It's 1993 in this thread and the 90s have really began. We'll count down all the sounds of the year and hopefully generate a few "almost forgotten gems" along the way. As always thanks go to MFR, Vas tariner, Youtube, Wikipedia, MW, popscene, James Masterton and a few other sources who have helped over the years. Here's the links to previous threads if this isn't your year! Gallup sales index Actual weekly sales have recently come to light, my thanks go to Robbie and kobyhadrain for sourcing the information and presenting it. So sit back and enjoy every top 10 hit of the year (eventually), before summer we'll see there are no limits in:

31ST JULY Ricky Martin continues to lead a charmed life as for the second time in three weeks he overcame a midweek deficit to remain the nation’s favourite track. “Livin La Vida Loca” sold a further 96,700 to bring its total to a respectable 352,000 but it is doubtless suffering from the parent album’s ongoing success (it climbs 3-2 this week). However it does become the first song in 1999 to top the charts for three weeks which is an achievement in itself. 1999 may be the year of the boyband but for now at least Five won’t be joining 911, Westlife, Boyzone and Backstreet Boys in the list of boys with a No 1 hit to their credit. They led midweek with “If Ya Gettin’ down” which is based extensively around a sample of Indeep’s “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” (#13, 1983) but once again a decision to price their single at £3.99 from the off contributed to their downfall just as it did last September, regardless some 92,800 copies were sold to give them their 6th top 10 single from as many releases, expect that second album before Christmas which this serves as the intro to. Following The Vengaboys and 2 Unlimited, the Dutch now give us DJ Jurgen (Jurgen Rijkers) who formed the project Alice Deejay and gives them a feature credit on their debut single “Better Off Alone”. Rijkers hired singer Judith Anna Pronk as vocalist on the track and the result enters the chart at No 4 (50,800), the song was actually released in some countries last year as an instrumental but seems to be on course to sell much more now. A wait of 16 years is over for Madness who score their first top 10 single from original material. The band have been busy recording new material for the first time since they split in 1986, “Lovestruck” slams straight into No 10 (32,000) to become their 16th top 10 single. Steps drop 2-3 (76,000) whilst ATB trip 3-5 (49,000), Whitney is back up 7-6 (42,000) in the face of sliding sales, and the Vengaboys slump 5-7 (38,000). Further down Will Smith heads south 4-8 (35,000) and Yomanda drift 8-9 (34,000). 1- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin (96,700) 2- IF YA GETTIN DOWN- Five (92,800) 3- LOVE’S GOT A HOLD ON MY HEART- Steps (76,000) 4- BETTER OFF ALONE- DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay (50,800) 5- 9PM (TIL I COME)- ATB (49,000) 6- MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE- Whitney Houston (42,000) 7- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (38,000) 8- WILD WEST WEST- Will Smith (35,000) 9- SYNTH & STRINGS- Yomanda (34,000) 10- LOVESTRUCK- Madness (32,000)

24TH JULY Back in March Steps’ single “Better Best Forgotten” lost a midweek lead to Boyzone and four months later they do it again, this time it’s Ricky Martin who mounts a rear guard motion to hold his crown for a second week. “Livin La Vida Loca” only experienced a 4% loss to 125,000, a much smaller decrease than the No 1 normally experiences which may point to the song having a pretty broad appeal. The album bounces 7-3- could he do the double? Steps therefore fail in their attempt to get a second chart topper, “Love’s Got A Hold On My Heart” is the first release from their forthcoming second album and did manage to sell 101,500, it led by about 3,000 sales in the midweek chart. It’s the 6th top 10 single for the fivesome who are one of the most popular acts in the country at present. Will Smith falls 3-4 (48,300) whilst Destiny’s Child’s new single “Bills Bills Bills” is new at No 6 (47,400). I note them together as in the US this week Smith replaces DC at the No 1 spot. Destiny’s Child other top 10 single here was last year’s “No, No, No” (they like repeated titles it seems) and made No 5, they can’t quite replicate that but their new single comes from the pen of She’kspere who also recently helmed TLC’s “No Scrubs” to the upper reaches of the chart. This is the first single from their second album “The Writing’s On The Wall” which is out in a fortnight. If Fatboy Slim can do it then Paul Masterson can do it, the Northern Ireland DJ has had hits as Amen UK! And Candy Girls and now uses the name Yomanda. The song “Synth N Strings” enters at No 8 (46,500) and samples Liquid Gold’s “Dance Yourself Dizzy” (#2, 1980) and Musique’s “Keep on Jumpin” which of course formed the backbone to Lisa Marie Experience and Todd Terry’s track of the same name back in 1997. ATB slide 2-3 (63,000) and has now crossed the half million mark, and those Vengaboys are still lingering at No 5 (47,800). Whitney falls 4-7 (46,800) while Britney slips 8-9 (34,900) and Shania Twain is also sinking 9-10 (32,000). 1- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin (125,000) 2- LOVE’S GOT A HOLD ON MY HEART- Steps (101,500) 3- 9PM (TIL I COME)- ATB (63,000) 4- WILD WILD WEST- Will Smith (48,300) 5- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (47,800) 6- BILLS BILLS BILLS- Destiny’s Child (47,400) 7- MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE- Whitney Houston (46,800) 8- SYNTH & STRINGS- Yomanda (46,500) 9- SOMETIMES- Britney Spears (34,900) 10- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (32,000)

I was being slightly tongue in cheek when I mentioned that other records were running scared 😉 It was certainly expected that Martin would enter at No 1 given it had been huge just about everywhere already (I recall seeing the promo a lot in Singapore when I was there in late May/June 99).

Nothing that I would have in my top 10 has gone yet so I think we're pretty aligned thus far... Michael Jackson next please

I'll just post the missing shows 1 every two days to keep us on track. Can I ask that if anyone does find the missing episodes than can you wait until after I post the chart for that week to post them so we keep to a chronological timeframe in the thread please?

17TH JULY Summer is officially here and to celebrate Britain has a new chart topper (it’s 22nd of the year) in the form of Ricky Martin, a man that until now has only scored one top 20 hit (the #6 hit “(Un Dos Tres) Maria” in 1997) but he now sits at the top of the charts. The track in question is “Livin’ La Vida Loca” a track which sat No 1 stateside for 5 weeks earlier this year and has led something of a Latin invasion in the US, here it sold 131,000 copies last week to take pole position helped no doubt by his good looks. The Latin invasion continues here with Jennifer Lopez rebounding 9-7 (36,000) but she loses the US No 1 spot. Ricky Martin’s self titled album has been improving week on week since its release so far driving 94-60-52-43-37-16-7 on the strength of the track. Lopez’s debut LP “On The 6” meanwhile enters at No 14. Otherwise there’s nothing new to report in the top 10, seems like the release of the Martin record scared off opposition, ATB slip 1-2 (97,000) and Will Smith is similarly off slightly 2-3 (49,000). Former No 1 singles from Vengaboys and S Club 7 still linger 3-5 (39,000) and 5-6 (37,000) while Whitney Houston holds up well at No 4 (41,000). Further down Britney trips 7-8 (34,000), Shania Twain goes into reverse 8-9 (29,000) and Madonna holds at anchor spot (27,000). Twain’s album is currently at No 2 behind Boyzone- the highest place it is ever achieved. Gary Barlow’s new single?- A disappointing No 16 entry- watch the press reach for those knives! 1- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin (131,000) 2- 9PM (TIL I COME)- ATB (97,000) 3- WILD WILD WEST- Will Smith (49,000) 4- MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE- Whitney Houston (41,000) 5- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (39,000) 6- BRING IT ALL BACK- S Club 7 (37,000) 7- IF YOU HAD MY LOVE- Jennifer Lopez (36,000) 8- SOMETIMES- Britney Spears (34,000) 9- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (29,000) 10- BEAUTIFUL STRANGER- Madonna (27,000)

10TH JULY (Please note for the sake of consistency and since the revised chart was never revealed until 2015 I have gone with the original chart this week. Some liberties have been taken with the narrative). It’s been a rather controversial week this week with the chart being produced as per normal only then to be immediately challenged by Blur’s record label to say that it didn’t include all sales and that “Coffee + TV” should have been a top 10 single. As it transpires sales from Our Price and Virgin were missing but the re-run chart isn’t to be published so we have what we have. ATB remain the nation’s favourite selling a respectable 109,000 and lifting their 14 day tally to 379,000 enough for the top 20 YTD. There’s an overall reduction in the market of 31% explained by the lack of major releases and that missing data but the suggestion is that ATB will struggle to make it three weeks regardless. Highest new entry of the week comes from Will Smith whose own hot streak continues with a fifth top 3 hit from 6 releases and once gain ties in with his big screen career. “Wild Wild West” is the name of the single and the film (released next month) and is heavily based on the Stevie Wonder track “I Wish” (#5, 1977), it features Dru Hill who get a credit but not Kool Moe Dee (whose original track forms the Chorus and recreates the track for the single). It comes with a flash and expensive promo (runoured to be about $5million) helping the song to a sale of 65,000 last week. With massively reduced sales The Vengaboys hold at No 3 (49,000), S Club 7 are locked at No 5 (46,000) and Britney Spears is static at No 7 (33,000). Three woman who have a bad week are Whitney Houston 2-4 (47,000), Jennifer Lopez 4-9 (28,000) and Madonna 8-10 (28,000) but better news for Shania Twain who is back up 9-8 (30,000) despite a 37% sales slash. “That Don’t Impress Me Much” has now sold over half a million and exactly where that places her in the YTD is below: 1- BABY ONE MORE TIME- Britney Spears 1,437,000 2- FLAT BEAT- Mr Oizo 668,000 3- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH- Boyzone 662,000 4- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot 661,000 5- PERFECT MOMENT- Martine McCutcheon 565,000 6- NO SCRUBS- TLC 532,000 7- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain 523,000 8- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps 522,000 9- IT’S NOT RIGHT BUT ITS OKAY- Whitney Houston 482,000 10- TURN AROUND- Phats & Small 479,000 The only other song we’ve left to discuss is the new entry at No 6 (39,000) from Lolly (real name Anna Kumble). “Viva La Radio” is her first single and is clearly marketed at the pre-teen audience with success. She’s busy recording that first album in time for the little nippers to be begging parents for it as a Christmas present! Next week sees former boybanders Gary Barlow and Ricky Martin go head to head! 1- 9PM (TIL I COME)- ATB (109,000) 2- WILD WILD WEST- Will Smith (65,000) 3- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (49,000) 4- MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE- Whitney Houston (47,000) 5- BRING IT ALL BACK- S Club 7 (46,200) 6- VIVA LA RADIO- Lolly (39,000) 7- SOMETIMES- Britney Spears (33,000) 8- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (30,000) 9- IF YOU HAD MY LOVE- Jennifer Lopez (28,000) 10- BEAUTIFUL STRANGER- Madonna (28,000)

I'll post the missing weeks early next week.

3RD JULY Normally when a track charts on import alone then you know you have a sizeable hit on your hands and ATB’s “9PM (Til I Come)” became the first track to chart on import on three versions. Original charting on the Ministry Of Sound’s vinyl only label in March (#68) it was deleted in preparation for a full release and in the interim charted on German import at #47 as recently as last week and on Australian import (the first time that this has ever happened) at #63 it all meant that on full UK release it should have flown off the shelf. Indeed it did with 270,000 copies sold last week, ATB is a front for producer Andre Tanneberger, a German DJ, and his debut single has been a considerable hit in clubland leading to pent up demand satisfied this week. Vocals, such as they are, come from a track by Ricky Rich & Julio Posadas featuring Yolanda Riviera called “The Way You Make Me Feel” and is as suggestive as the sample sounds! In making its high selling debut it deprives none other than Whitney Houston of a chart topper! Her last two singles made No 4 and No 3 and so it is only fitting that new single, and title track to her album, “My Love Is Your Love” should debut at No 2 (129,000). Co-written and co-produced by Wyclef Jean the track becomes Houston’s biggest hit since “I Will Always Love You” topped the charts 7 years ago and helps lift the already platinum selling album 9-6 this week. More famous for being a film star Jennifer Lopez starred in the film “Selena”, a biopic about Latin singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, a film which also inspired Lopez into being a singer. Apparently her first single “If You Had My Love” was offered to Michael Jackson but turned down by him and given to Lopez for her debut album. Made into her debut single it has already been No 1 in the US for the last four weeks and makes the transition across the Atlantic to debut at No 4 (77,000). Do we need a new boyband? Well just in case you do here’s A1 who were runners up to Westlife in the Smash Hits tour last year and now follow them into the charts. The UK-Norwegian foursome’s first single is “Be The First To Believe” which they wrote themselves and co-produced with Peter Cunnan formerly a popstar himself as D:Ream, it arrives at No 6 (67,000). Last week’s chart topper from the Vengaboys drops 1-3 (89,000) and the week before’s chart topper from S Club 7 falls 2-5 (76,000). Britney is down 3-7 (63,000), Madonna gyrates 4-8 (59,000), Shania Twain doesn’t impress 6-9 (48,000) and Adam Rickitt holds his breath 5-10 (46,000). 1- 9PM (TIL I COME)- ATB (270,000) 2- MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE- Whitney Houston (129,000) 3- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (89,000) 4- IF YOU HAD MY LOVE- Jennifer Lopez (77,400) 5- BRING IT ALL BACK- S Club 7 (76,000) 6- BE THE FIRST TO BELIEVE- A1 (67,000) 7- SOMETIMES- Britney Spears (63,000) 8- BEAUTIFUL STRANGER- Madonna (59,000) 9- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (48,000) 10- I BREATHE AGAIN- Adam Rickitt (46,000)

26TH JUNE Europop triumphs this week with the third Vengaboys single “Boom Boom Boom Boom” wasting no time in making the top. They’re the first Dutch act to make the top since Doop 5 years ago and they turned a very slender midweek lead into a comprehensive victory with 134,279 copies sold compared to the outgoing chart topper from S Club 7 which sold 119,000 to slump to No 2. Hopefully the single can assist the album which has admittedly remained top 40 since its release 13 weeks ago though it has never made it past No 15. The songs features an interpolation of the ABBA track “Lay All Your Love On Me” which was also a featured track on the “Abba-Esque EP” by Erasure in 1992 and so marks the second time the track had been No 1 in the decade, ironically it only made No 7 when released in 1981 blamed on a 12” only release. Last time out Britney Spears sold a massive 463,000 copies of a single in its first week, not unreasonably she can’t repeat the feat with her second single “Sometimes” which nevertheless arrives at a respectable No 3 (82,500). “Baby One More Time” remains top 40 and you can find out how much it has sold in a fortnight when we recap the first half of the year but it is well ensconced at the top of that survey. Adam Rickitt recently left “Coronation Street” where he played Nick Tilsley for two years. The reason was an album deal and we now get the first single “I Breathe Again” which has been promoted with a fair amount of flesh on show by Rickett and a hectic promo schedule which has seen Rickitt show up on many kids TV shows and a fair few gay clubs up and down the land. The suggestive promo has of course helped in the teen scream stakes and sees the single debut at No 5 (76,500). A decent start! We’ve got Britney so only fair that we get her boyfriend Justin Timberlake in the top 10 too. He’s of course a member of US boyband *NSync who broke in the UK earlier this year when “I Want You Back” made No 5 back in February, that was a re-issue of an earlier flop which is exactly what happened to “Tearin’ Up My Heart” when it only made No 40 in 1997. Now it hits at No 9 (45,000). Madonna drifts 2-4 (80,000), Shania Twain finally fades 4-6 (56,000) and Baz Lurhmann tumbles 3-7 (54,000). Another former chart topper Shanks & Bigfoot slips 5-8 (47,000) with Chemical Brothers rounding us off 6-10 (42,000). 1- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM- Vengaboys (134,279) 2- BRING IT ALL BACK- S Club 7 (119,000) 3- SOMETIMES- Britney Spears (82,500) 4- BEAUTIFUL STRANGER- Madonna (80,000) 5- I BREATHE AGAIN- Adam Rickitt (76,500) 6- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain (56,000) 7- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO WEAR SUNSCREEN)- Baz Lurhman (54,000) 8- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot (47,000) 9- TEARIN UP MY HEART- N*Sync (45,000) 10- HEY BOY HEY GIRL- Chemical Brothers (42,000)

I will post the charts here as usual for the missing weeks have no fear

I go through phases with WTG, I don't hear it for ages then when I do I normally find it a decent enough tune (especially the "light up my life" part)- but neither is it "Into The Groove"...

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)

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)

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

Plus Bob the builder who is neither

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

My thanks as always to all those who commented and liked!

The full list! 200. CASTLES IN THE SKY- Ian Van Dahl (354,300) 199. GHETTO GOSPEL- 2Pac Featuring Elton John (354,600) 198. INFINITY 2008- Guru Josh Project (355,700) 197. TOXIC- Britney Spears (355,800) 196. LIVE YOUR LIFE- T.I Featuring Rihanna (358,700) 195. BREAK YOUR HEART- Taio Cruz (360,270) 194. RED- Daniel Merriweather (360,280) 193. RELEASE ME- Agnes (360,500) 192. I TURN TO YOU- Melanie C (361,400) 191. SOMETHING STUPID- Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman (361,900) 190. FREESTYLER- Bomfunk MC’s (362,000) 189. HEY YA- Outkast (362,800) 188. THE BOY DOES NOTHING- Alesha Dixon (364,600) 187. I WISH I WAS A PUNKROCKER (WITH FLOWERS IN MY HAIR)- Sandi Thom (365,100) 186. TAKE A BOW- Rihanna (365,800) 185. 21 SECONDS- So Solid Crew (367,400) 184. HEY THERE DELILAH- Plain White T’s (368,600) 183. BREATHE- Blu Cantrell Featuring Sean Paul (368,700) 182. ETERNITY/ THE ROAD TO MANDALAY- Robbie Williams (370,100) 181. AGAINST ALL ODDS- Mariah Carey & Westlife (370,400) 180. BEAUTIFUL LIAR- Shakira & Beyonce (371,900) 179. LIGHT MY FIRE- Will Young (372,700) 178. NO AIR- Jordin Sparks Featuring Chris Brown (372,800) 177. DAY N NITE- Kid Cudi Vs Crookers (374,485) 176. NOT FAIR- Lily Allen (375,540) 175. GREATEST DAY- Take That (376,100) 174. EVACUATE THE DANCEFLOOR- Cascada (376,810) 173. EMPIRE STATE OF MIND- Jay Z Featuring Alicia Keys (377,075) 172. ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID- t.A.t.U (378,900) 171. THE MAN WHO CAN’T BE MOVED- The Script (379,300) 170. LOVE STORY- Taylor Swift (379,785) 169. THE CHEEKY SONG (TOUCH MY BUM)- The Cheeky Girls (380,400) 168. DON’T STOP THE MUSIC- Rihanna (381,000) 167. I’M YOURS- Jason Mraz (381,400) 166. MAMBO NO 5- Bob The Builder (381,500) 165. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?- City High (381,750) 164. AMERICAN PIE- Madonna (382,000) 163. YOU ARE NOT ALONE- X Factor Finalists (382,900) 162. THAT’S NOT MY NAME- Ting Tings (383,600) 161. ALL SUMMER LONG- Kid Rock (383,800) 160. STRONGER- Kanye West (384,100) 159. MANEATER- Nelly Furtado (385,700) 158. NUMB/ ENCORE- Linkin Park/ Jay Z (386,400) 157. HAVE YOU EVER- S Club 7 (387,200) 156. CHA CHA SLIDE- DJ Casper (387,300) 155. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT- Toploader (387,600) 154. ETERNAL FLAME- Atomic Kitten (389,800) 153. CRAZY IN LOVE- Beyonce (391,400) 152. OUT OF YOUR MIND- Truesteppers Featuring Dane Bowers & Victoria Beckham (391,700) 151. BRING ME TO LIFE- Evanescence (392,100) . 150. SHINE- Take That (393,800) 149. CHRISTMAS TIME (DON’T LET THE BELLS END)- The Darkness (394,500) 148. WHAT MAKES A MAN- Westlife (394,600) 147. SEXYBACK- Justin Timberlake (394,900) 146. WOMANIZER- Britney Spears (395,765) 145. LIFE IS A ROLLERCOASTER- Ronan Keating (398,700) 144. RUBY- Kaiser Chiefs (402,300) 143. MUSIC- Madonna (404,100) 142. BAD DAY- Daniel Powter (405,900) 141. LONELY- Akon (406,300) 140. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE- The Fray (406,700) 139. THE LOGICAL SONG- Scooter (407,400) 138. KISS KISS- Holly Valance (409,200) 137. NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN- Melanie C Featuring Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes (409,600) 136. CLOSER- Ne-Yo (409,700) 135. THE OFFICIAL CHILDREN IN NEED MEDLEY- Peter Kay’s Animated All Star Band (415,475) 134. JAI HO (YOU ARE MY DESTINY)- The Pussycat Dolls & A.R Rahman Featuring Nicole Scherzinger (415,500) 133. THE TIDE IS HIGH (GET THE FEELING)- Atomic Kitten (417,200) 132. FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK- The Pogues Featuring Kirsty McColl (417,400) 131. YEAH!- Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris (418,300) 130. DISTURBIA- Rihanna (419,700) 129. YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND/ ALL ABOUT YOU- McFly (421,300) 128. YOU RAISE ME UP- Westlife (422,800) 127. PUSH THE BUTTON- The Sugababes (423,750) 126. SANDSTORM- Darude (428,000) 125. HALO- Beyonce (428,295) 124. BULLETPROOF- La Roux (429,790) 123. VIVA LA VIDA- Coldplay (432,900) 122. I’M NOT ALONE- Calvin Harris (434,680) 121. IT’S RAINING MEN- Geri Halliwell (435,100) 120. SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)- Beyonce (435,700) 119. RIGHT ROUND- Flo Rida Featuring Ke$ha (436,215) 118. 7 DAYS- Craig David (439,200) 117. THE BAD TOUCH- Bloodhound Gang (439,400) 116. THE WAY I ARE- Timbaland Featuring Kerry Hilson & D.O.E. (442,700) 115. CALL ON ME- Eric Prydz (444,900) 114. INDEPENDENT WOMEN PART ONE- Destiny’s Child (445,300) 113. PAPARAZZI- Lady Gaga (458,555) 112. WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER- David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland (447,855) 111. OOPS…I DID IT AGAIN- Britney Spears (451,468) 110. BAD ROMANCE- Lady Gaga (458,555) 109. BEAT AGAIN- JLS (459,430) 108. 4 MINUTES- Madonna Featuring Justin Timberlake (461,900) 107. RISE- Gabrielle (462,400) 106. JCB SONG- Nizlopi (465,600) 105. LADY (HEAR ME TONIGHT)- Modjo (474,100) 104. BONKERS- Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden (480,305) 103. THE REAL SLIM SHADY- Eminem (480,700) 102. CHANGES- Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne (481,300) 101. ABOUT YOU NOW- The Sugababes (482,600) 100. THE PROMISE- Girls Aloud (484,000) 99. THE FEAR- Lily Allen (485,980) 98. DO YOU REALLY LIKE IT- DJ Pied Piper & The Masters Of Ceremonies (486,500) 97. CLINT EASTWOOD- Gorillaz (486,800) 96. NOW YOU’RE GONE- Basshunter Featuring DJ Mental Theo’s Bazzheadz (490,100) 95. SO WHAT- Pink (491,560) 94. FILL ME IN- Craig David (493,400) 93. WHEN YOU BELIEVE- Leon Jackson (495,900) 92. BLACK AND GOLD- Sam Sparro (495,900) 91. APOLOGIZE- Timbaland Presents OneRepublic (498,700) 90. LADY MARMALADE- Christina Aguilera/ Lil Kim/ Mya/ Pink (501,400) 89. JUST A LITTLE- Liberty X (508,700) 88. IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES- Ronan Keating (510,400) 87. REACH- S Club 7 (511,700) 86. HUMAN- The Killers (512,100) 85. AMERICAN BOY-Estelle Featuring Kanye West (513,800) 84. LOW- Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain (515,750) 83. HOT N COLD- Katy Perry (517,100) 82. SEXY CHICK- David Guetta Featuring Akon (517,237) 81. IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE- Daniel Bedingfield (521,300) 80. DANCE WIV ME- Dizzee Rascal Featuring Calvin Harris (521,820) 79. IGNITION (REMIX)- R Kelly (524,700) 78. HEAVEN- DJ Sammy featuring Yanou and Do (527,600) 77. HOW YOU REMIND ME- Nickelback (529,400) 76. VALERIE- Mark Ronson Featuring Amy Winehouse (532,000) 75. DON’T CHA- Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes (536,700) 74. BECAUSE I GOT HIGH- Afroman (537,100) 73. I DON’T FEEL LIKE DANCING- Scissor Sisters (539,900) 72. WITHOUT ME- Eminem (541,700) 71. NUMBER 1- Tinchy Stryder Featuring N-Dubz (547,255) 70.HUNG UP- Madonna (548,500) 69. LEAVE RIGHT NOW- Will Young (549,300) 68. TOCA’S MIRACLE- Fragma (549,900) 67. AXEL F- Crazy Frog (552,600) 66. GRACE KELLY- Mika (554,400) 65. BROKEN STRINGS- James Morrison & Nelly Furtado (559,105) 64. SPIRIT IN THE SKY- Gareth Gates Featuring The Kumars (563,800) 63. GOTTA GET THRU THIS- Daniel Bedingfield (564,100) 62. MEET ME HALFWAY- Black Eyed Peas (567,948) 61. BAD BOYS- Alexandra Burke Featuring Flo Rida (576,019) 60. I KISSED A GIRL- Katy Perry (577,455) 59. f*** IT (I DON’T WANT YOU BACK)- Eamon (578,200) 58. ANYONE OF US (STUPID MISTAKE)- Gareth Gates (579,700) 57. PATIENCE- Take That (580,600) 56. IF I WERE A BOY- Beyonce (582,680) 55. CAN’T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT- LeAnn Rimes (583,900) 54. ROCKSTAR- Nickelback (587,000) 53. GROOVEJET (IF THIS AIN’T LOVE)- Spiller (590,800) 52. MAD WORLD- Michael Andrews Featuring Gary Jules (591,300) 51. THE KETCHUP SONG (ASEREJE)- Las Ketchup (592,400) 50. LOSE YOURSELF- Eminem (598,100) 49. MERCY- Duffy (604,700) 48. CHASING CARS- Snow Patrol (611,400) 47. HIPS DON’T LIE- Shakira Featuring Wyclef Jean (614,700) 46. BOOM BOOM POW- Black Eyed Peas (616,981) 45. RUN- Leona Lewis (617,415) 44. ANGEL- Shaggy Featuring Reyvon (622,100) 43. NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE- S Club 7 (627,500) 42. TEENAGE DIRTBAG- Wheatus (636,400) 41. ROCK DJ- Robbie Williams (639,600) 40. SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND- Girls Aloud (642,700) 39. YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL- James Blunt (658,200) 38. WHENEVER WHEREVER- Shakira (660,400) 37. FEELS SO GOOD- Sonique (667,200) 36. IN FOR THE KILL- La Roux (670,390) 35. KILLING IN THE NAME- Rage Against The Machine (664,481) 34. UMBRELLA- Rihanna Featuring Jay Z (676,200) 33. USE SOMEBODY- Kings Of Leon (698,695) 32. A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION (REMIX)- Elvis Vs JXL (700,900) 31. RULE THE WORLD- Take That (709,250) 30. THE CLIMB- Joe McElderry (716,358) 29. WHO LET THE DOGS OUT- The Baha Men (718,300) 28. PURE SHORES- All Saints (721,400) 27. FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE- Cheryl Cole (745,738) 26. DON’T STOP MOVIN’- S Club 7 (747,800) 25. WHERE IS THE LOVE- The Black Eyed Peas (748,200) 24. UPTOWN GIRL- Westlife (765,200) 23. DILEMMA- Nelly Featuring Kelly Rowland (766,100) 22. JUST DANCE- Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis (767,558) 21. STAN- Eminem (772,700) 20. HEY BABY- DJ Otzi (776,100) 19. HERO- X Factor Finalists (804,700) 18. HERO- Enrique Iglesias (836,500) 17. I GOTTA FEELING- Black Eyed Peas (848,648) 16. A MOMENT LIKE THIS- Leona Lewis (862,000) 15. POKER FACE- Lady Gaga (882,059) 14. SEX ON FIRE- Kings Of Leon (903,070) 13. WHOLE AGAIN- Atomic Kitten (965,200) 12. CRAZY- Gnarles Barkley (972,400) 11. BLEEDING LOVE- Leona Lewis (973,800) 10. CAN WE FIX IT?- Bob The Builder (1,009,400) 09. PURE AND SIMPLE- Hear’Say (1,081,700) 08. THAT’S MY GOAL- Shayne Ward (1,098,400) 07. CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD- Kylie Minogue (1,104,600) 06. DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?- Band Aid 20 (1,127,300) 05. HALLELUJAH- Alexander Burke (1,172,495) 04. IT WASN’T ME- Shaggy Featuring Rik “Rok” Ducent (1,204,900) 03. (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO?- Tony Christie Featuring Peter Kay (1,207,300) 02. UNCHAINED MELODY- Gareth Gates (1,411,200) 01. EVERGREEN/ ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE- Will Young (1,791,315)

01. EVERGREEN/ ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE- Will Young (1,791,315) YEAR: 2002 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 16 In the end though it was of course Will Young who won “Pop Idol” and given the publicity surrounding it it would have been a miracle if the first single hadn’t been a No 1 but few expected the first week sales of 1.1 million (the biggest first week sales and bettered only by Elton John in terms of any weekly sale). “Pop Idol” was different to “Popstars” in so much as the public voted and it was an active experience so perhaps the public had more buy in? As for the song “Evergreen” was already available at the time on the then current Westlife album “World Of Our Own” whilst “Anything Is Possible” was co-penned by Cathy Dennis specifically for the winners single, it was the former that got the bulk of promotion with Will Young saying in later years how much he despised both tracks but as career launches go this must be one of the most spectacular!