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#13. No Doubt - Don't Speak 3 weeks at #1 in 1997 (#1 of 24 for '97) TR3Vdo5etCQ One of the defining songs of the 90's in my opinion. This was a massive radio hit in North America and it's one of the earliest songs I can remember hearing a lot during my childhood. The first verses is very subtle, but then when that chorus hits for the first time it's one big explosion. That chorus is one big emotional outburst. Gwen Stefani does a really good job at expressing the emotion of it. She sings it with so much force. This song is about feeling miserable knowing that this relationship is about to crumble. Gwen is desperately pleading to be spared the truth. The chorus says it all: "Don't speak; I know just what you're saying; So please stop explaining; Don't tell me 'cause it hurts..". It's a really relateable feeling/situation to be in. The second verse changes it up from the first one and starts the louder instrumental halfway through the verse. And then after the instrumental interlude part, the song goes back into subtleness with "You and me I can see us dying, are we?".. but it's all to set up that hard hitting chorus one last time. 1997 ranking 24. R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly [558] 23. Will Smith - Men In Black [510] 22. LL Cool J - Ain't Nobody [506] 21. Gary Barlow - Love Won't Wait [504] 20. U2 - Discotheque [502] 19. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say "Eh-Oh!" [492] 18. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112 - I'll Be Missing You [445] 17. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean? [432] 16. Hanson - MMMBop [401] 15. White Town - Your Woman [389] 14. Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997 / Something About The Way You Look Tonight [377] 13. Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dance Floor [291] 12. Spice Girls - Mama / Who Do You Think You Are [277] 11. Various Artists - Perfect Day [270] 10. Blur - Beetlebum [236] 09. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work [160] 08. Spice Girls - Too Much [145] 07. Aqua - Barbie Girl [142] 06. Eternal feat. BeBe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One [121] 05. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) [Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix] [108] 04. Olive - You're Not Alone [104] 03. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life [97] 02. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats [95] 01. No Doubt - Don't Speak [13]

#14. Robyn with Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat 1 week at #1 in 2007 (#1 of 17 for '07) -ojHWQrm4UM I'll never know how Robyn managed to top the charts in 2007, but am I ever ecstatic that she did! This song is just flawless. It plays with song structure. There really isn't a chorus in this. But certain lines are repeated like "but I don't look back" and the song title. I love the production especially. I love how Robyn's voice sounds a bit shaky on this. It makes her sound broken. But she also sounds firm in trying to convince herself to move on. That's why she keeps saying "but I don't look back". She knows that this relationship has lost all hope, and nothing they do will fix it, but she's incapable of moving on from it. 2007 ranking 17. Leon Jackson - When You Believe [579] 16. The Proclaimers feat. Brian Potter & Andy Pipkin - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) [570] 15. Sugababes vs Girls Aloud - Walk This Way [498] 14. Take That - Shine [493] 13. Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls [413] 12. McFly - Baby's Coming Back / Transylvania [411] 11. Eva Cassidy & Katie Melua - What A Wonderful World [344] 10. Sugababes - About You Now [341] 09. Beyoncé & Shakira - Beautiful Liar [242] 08. Mika - Grace Kelly [234] 07. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby [193] 06. Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake - Give It To Me [175] 05. Kanye West - Stronger [151] 04. Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - The Way I Are [36] 03. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love [29] 02. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Umbrella [19] 01. Robyn with Kleerup - With Every Heartbeat [14]

#15. Lady Gaga - Poker Face 3 weeks at #1 in 2009 (#2 of 32 for '09) bESGLojNYSo "Just Dance" caught my attention in mid 2008 due to its oddness and made me wonder who this Lady Gaga person was. "Just Dance" was a fine introductory single, but "Poker Face" took things one step further. If my personal chart went far back enough to cover the entirety of the part of my life that I've followed pop music; this song would've been the biggest song ever on it. My chart began right when this song's domination would've ended, unfortunately. It's most certainly a song that I was beyond obsessed with for a long period of time. It's insanely catchy. A lot of the hooks are made from stuttering multiple words. It's something Gaga would do a lot, but it's a trick that worked really well. There's quotable Gaga-isms like "Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun" and "I'm bluffin' with my muffin; I'm not lying, I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunnin'". That bridge with the half rapping is so random that I love it; and because of the nonsensical lyrics in it. Gaga has publicly explained this song before. She has said that the so-called "muffin" is a metaphor for her..er.. lady parts, and that body part is what's showing its "poker face". It's keeping secret from her love interest where her sexuality is leaning. It's an interesting meaning, that's for sure, but it can be taken into a more broad meaning. Like more simply about putting on a poker face in order to gain control in a relationship. In other words, by not letting her lover know what's truly going through her head, her lover has nothing he can use against her. Or it could be seen as her acting all mysterious as a way of luring this guy in. I don't know. One thing's for sure, it's one catchy pop song. Also, there's a lot of gambling references in the song. Like it's a gamble to be with her. The big question is how well has this aged on me. I'd say pretty well, but not enough to be top 10.

+5 · Sigma ft. Paloma Faith · 'Changing' +4 · Lilly Wood & Robin Schulz · 'Prayer In C' +3 · George Ezra · 'Blame It On Me' +2 · Calvin Harris ft. John Newman · 'Blame' +1 · Sam Smith · 'I'm Not The Only One' -1 · Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora · 'Black Widow' -2 · Professor Green ft. Tori Kelly · 'Lullaby' -3 · Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj · 'Bang Bang' -4 · MAGIC! · 'Rude' -5 · Taylor Swift · 'Shake It Off'

#16. Take That - Back For Good 4 weeks at #1 in 1995 (#1 of 17 for '95) N2ICtCO8TCw This song reminds me a bit of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'", and probably "Love Is All Around" and "To Be With You" now that I think about it. It's Take That changing things up and doing a MOR ballad. And it's probably the best song they've ever done. I'm not usually a big fan of middle-of-the-road songs. I find them pretty boring. But, "Back For Good" is one huge exception. It may not have the best lyrics, but I guess I just really like instrumental, the tune, and the sentiment of the song. That feeling of desperation and begging for this person to come back. "Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn't mean it; I just want you back for good.." is a pretty strong chorus. It's a bit basic but it works. I do like the lyrics "Whenever I'm wrong just tell me the song and I'll sing it" and "Got a fist of pure emotion" though. 1995 ranking 17. The Outhere Brothers - Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle) [539] 16. Robson & Jerome - Unchained Melody [532] 15. The Outhere Brothers - Boom Boom Boom [520] 14. Robson & Jerome - I Believe / Up On The Roof [503] 13. Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton - Love Can Build A Bridge [441] 12. Blur - Country House [418] 11. Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone [410] 10. Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe [385] 09. Livin' Joy - Dreamer [278] 08. Michael Jackson - Earth Song [228] 07. Shaggy - Boombastic [218] 06. Take That - Never Forget [188] 05. Céline Dion - Think Twice [152] 04. Simply Red - Fairground [150] 03. Oasis - Some Might Say [120] 02. Coolio feat. LV - Gangsta's Paradise [27] 01. Take That - Back For Good [16]

#17. Rudimental feat. John Newman - Feel The Love 1 week at #1 in 2012 (#1 of 36 for '12) oABEGc8Dus0 My 2012 summer anthem and my year end #1. At first glance, lyrically speaking, it's repetitive – but I couldn't care less about that. The repetition of "You know I said it's true; I can feel the love; Can you feel it too; I can feel it ah-all" just makes it all that more powerful. It makes me want to shout out "I CAN FEEL IT ALL" along with the song. And then there's the instrumental which is so brilliantly amazing that I can't even put into words. I love the organ note that sticks throughout the song. Organs always add a dramatic mood. I love the drum n bass production. I love the horns. I love the part when the song comes to a stop and then builds up into this one final climax. 2012 ranking 36. James Arthur - Impossible [568] 35. The Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother [563] 34. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) [544] 33. The Script feat. will.i.am - Hall Of Fame [516] 32. Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa - Payphone [500] 31. Katy Perry - Part Of Me [476] 30. Psy - Gangnam Style [426] 29. will.i.am feat. Eva Simons - This Is Love [412] 28. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love [399] 27. Wiley feat. Ms D - Heatwave [393] 26. Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band feat. Military Wives - Sing [391] 25. Tulisa - Young [383] 24. Chris Brown - Turn Up The Music [379] 23. One Direction - Little Things [373] 22. Robbie Williams - Candy [349] 21. Sam And The Womp - Bom Bom [343] 20. Cover Drive - Twilight [322] 19. fun. feat. Janelle Monáe - We Are Young [301] 18. Olly Murs feat. Flo Rida - Troublemaker [298] 17. Jessie J - Domino [295] 16. Rihanna - Diamonds [292] 15. Labrinth feat. Emeli Sandé - Beneath Your Beautiful [271] 14. Flo Rida - Good Feeling [263] 13. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) [262] 12. Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing [196] 11. Rita Ora feat. Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. [173] 10. Little Mix - Wings [163] 09. DJ Fresh feat. Rita Ora - Hot Right Now [162] 08. Gotye feat. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know [140] 07. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe [106] 06. Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child [84] 05. Florence + The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name) [Calvin Harris Remix] [78] 04. Coldplay - Paradise [61] 03. David Guetta feat. Sia - Titanium [46] 02. Cheryl (Cole) - Call My Name [44] 01. Rudimental feat. John Newman - Feel The Love [17]

#18. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate 2 weeks at #1 in 1999 (#1 of 35 for '99) 1qp6XhtoEv0 BAW BAW BAW.. BAW BAW BAW BAW.. "da da da da da da da..". One of the finest dance songs ever. Like a lot of dance songs, I don't have a lot to say on this. Everything about this song is just amazing. 1999 ranking 35. Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer [584] 34. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 [559] 33. Boyzone - When The Going Gets Tough [553] 32. Boyzone - You Needed Me [543] 31. Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up [530] 30. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca [522] 29. Martine McCutcheon - Perfect Moment [513] 28. The Offspring - Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) [509] 27. Westlife - I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun [491] 26. Geri Halliwell - Mi Chico Latino [485] 25. 911 - A Little Bit More [430] 24. Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away [415] 23. The Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza [408] 22. Westlife - If I Let You Go [369] 21. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat [355] 20. Steps - Heartbeat / Tragedy [348] 19. Westlife - Flying Without Wings [337] 18. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) [309] 17. Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing At All [287] 16. Westlife - Swear It Again [275] 15. Blondie - Maria [227] 14. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee) [225] 13. Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden - You Don't Know Me [207] 12. Robbie Williams - She's The One / It's Only Us [199] 11. Fatboy Slim - Praise You [178] 10. The Vengaboys - Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! [165] 09. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle [161] 08. Five - Keep On Movin' [158] 07. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back [148] 06. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time [139] 05. Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way [96] 04. The Wamdue Project - King Of My Castle [91] 03. B*Witched - Blame It On The Weatherman [67] 02. ATB - 9PM (Till I Come) [47] 01. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate [18]

#19. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Umbrella 10 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#2 of 17 for '07) CvBfHwUxHIk This is my 15th birthday #1. I was beyond obsessed with this song during that summer of 2007. If I had a personal chart back then, this would probably be my second or third biggest song on my all time chart. This spent 10 glorious weeks at #1 in the UK. And the only song to break the double-digit barrier in the last 20 years. If any song were to do it, I'm certainly glad it's this one. It's funny how this was her first UK #1, though. She follows up three #2 hits ("Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful") with a massive long running #1. I think it's pretty safe to say that before "Umbrella", pretty much no one thought Rihanna would be a contender for one of the biggest pop stars of recent years. Those three songs I mentioned were all big hits, but they had nothing on "Umbrella", and it didn't seem like she was going to last very long. I've always thought that making a song about an umbrella was genius. It's such an everyday object but a song centered around one wasn't exactly a common thing. It makes the song unique and it instantly grabs people's attention. Sure, it makes the whole thing a bit gimmicky, but the key is that it doesn't go overboard with it. Unlike if someone like Katy Perry had her hands on this. Also the umbrella gimmick goes one step further by adding a bit of a sexual undertone to it. The video especially. It's all to sell her "good girl gone bad" image. Most viable pop stars need an image and this is the one Rihanna went with to make herself stand out. The umbrella is obviously used as a metaphor. It's her way of saying she'll be there to support her love interest. But can be taken into a sexual context. "Umbrella" is a song packed full of hooks. This song wasn't even originally intended for Rihanna, but I can't imagine it being sung by anyone else. She makes it her own with her signature raspy vocals. The way she screams "BECAUSE". The way the middle 8 ends so strongly. And of course the "umbrella-ella-ella-eh-eh-eh" hook; which is undeniably catchy, and something people have quoted for years. Jay-Z isn't useless unlike a lot of tacked on rap features, but he does become forgotten about once his part is done. And the looped hi-hat sound works really well with the beat.

#20. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There 2 weeks at #1 in 1996 (#1 of 24 for '96) 9ro0FW9Qt-4 My second favourite Spice Girls song. (My favourite is still to come..) It's fairly catchy and I love the production for some reason. It mixes R&B, pop, and a bit of funk; but there's a lot of sounds going on in it. The harmonies are on point. Everyone gets their moment to shine. Emma, Mel B and Geri get do solos in the verses, Victoria does the pre-chorus, Mel B also gets to do a short rap bit, and Mel C does a bunch of ad libs in the latter part of the song. The song never gets boring because of things like the rap bit, Mel C's ad libs, the "yeah I want you", the harmonica solo, etc. The video is pretty cool too. "Say You'll Be There" continues the theme of girl power from "Wannabe". It's about the two people in this relationship wanting different things. The boy is trying to bring love into the equation, but the girl just wants to remain close friends. The Spices make it clear that they're ones in control of it (like the line "Last time that we had this conversation I decided we should be friends".) The only thing they're asking from this guy is that he be there for them. 1996 ranking 24. Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions [580] 23. Robson & Jerome - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted / Saturday Night At The Movies / You'll Never Walk Alone [576] 22. Peter Andre - I Feel You [546] 21. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's [524] 20. Take That - How Deep Is Your Love [512] 19. Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack [447] 18. Dunblane - Knockin' On Heaven's Door / Throw These Guns Away [425] 17. Peter Andre - Flava [421] 16. George Michael - Fastlove [312] 15. Boyzone - A Different Beat [293] 14. Boyzone - Words [290] 13. Gary Barlow - Forever Love [289] 12. The Fugees - Ready Or Not [166] 11. Spice Girls - Wannabe [126] 10. George Michael - Jesus To A Child [124] 09. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman [115] 08. Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger [87] 07. The Prodigy - Breathe [55] 06. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 [51] 05. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun [33] 04. The Prodigy - Firestarter [32] 03. Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit [26] 02. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly [21] 01. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There [20]

#21. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly 5 weeks at #1 in 1996 (#2 of 24 for '96) oKOtzIo-uYw My fourth birthday #1. I'll admit I'm not familiar (like at all) with the original by Roberta Flack. But I really love this version. The song is about the feeling you get when you hear a song that really resonates with you. A song that describes you perfectly. There's just something about the mood of this song that I love. I don't know how to really explain it. The beat, Lauryn Hill's voice, the backing track in the chorus. I could do without the "one time two time" parts, but that's nitpicking.

#22. t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said 4 weeks at #1 in 2003 (#1 of 22 for '03) 8mGBaXPlri8 So this song can easily be interpreted to be about a homosexual relationship. I mean, the lyrics aren't entirely specific in that regard, but they do talk about isolation, fear of judgement, struggling to accept their feelings for the other person, worrying about their parents' approval, etc. But at the time, these two girls were going around letting everyone believe they were lesbians when they really weren't. It makes the whole thing feel gimmicky. And like they were exploiting the LGBT community just to get a hit song. That never sat quite right with me. But you know what, I still absolutely love this song and it's probably my favourite song of 2003, even if the meaning is pretty lost. It might seem hard to justify this being as high as #22 but I don't know. The chorus is really killer. As is the production. And I love that instrumental breakdown about halfway through. 2003 ranking 22. Fatman Scoop - Be Faithful [573] 21. Westlife - Mandy [565] 20. Busted - Crashed The Wedding [550] 19. R. Kelly - Ignition (Remix) [460] 18. Busted - You Said No [458] 17. Room 5 feat. Oliver Cheatham - Make Luv [454] 16. Ozzy & Kelly Osbourne - Changes [444] 15. David Sneddon - Stop Living The Lie [286] 14. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful [261] 13. Gareth Gates - Spirit In The Sky [258] 12. Elton John - Are You Ready For Love? (Remix) [246] 11. Daniel Bedingfield - Never Gonna Leave Your Side [241] 10. Will Young - Leave Right Now [223] 09. Blu Cantrell feat. Sean Paul - Breathe [195] 08. Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z - Crazy In Love [186] 07. Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love? [170] 06. Kylie Minogue - Slow [100] 05. Evanescence feat. Paul McCoy - Bring Me To Life [89] 04. Sugababes - Hole In The Head [37] 03. Tomcraft - Loneliness [28] 02. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World [24] 01. t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said [22]

#23. All Saints - Never Ever 1 week at #1 in 1998 (#3 of 30 for '98) X28-olxweYk "Never ever have I ever.." is almost like a tongue twister and it gets stuck in your head. This song starts with a spoken word intro that takes up about a minute. The narrator of the song has just gone through a break-up and is unsure why it ended. She asks a bunch of questions to her ex. She assumes it's entirely her own fault and wonders what she did wrong. It's an interesting way to begin a song. The intro grabs you. It's such a common thing for people to blame themselves after a break-up. After the intro, she's searching for some form of closure and continues to over-think and over-analyze the situation. Reasonably speaking, it's probably not entirely her own fault, but she can't stop thinking that it is. She just desperately needs answers and she's unable to move on without them. It's made it her feel lower than she ever has ("Never ever have I ever felt so low; When you gonna take me out of this black hole?"). Idk I just like that lyric for some reason. I just think this is a really well written song.

#24. Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World 3 weeks at #1 in 2003 / 2004 (#2 of 22 for '03) lnpwbk9cYIc One of the best Christmas #1's ever. There's still one more festive #1 to come in this list, though. This is the most recent Christmas #1 to not be charity related or TV talent show related. This is one of the most depressing songs I've ever listened to it. It's a stripped down piano ballad, but the original by Tears For Fears isn't, and that version actually sounds weird to me because of it. The Tears For Fears version is fine but I definitely prefer this cover because it really captures the sombre mood. It's about depression and suicidal thoughts. The normalities of their life have become a monotonous rut. They see everything in the world as pointless and meaningless. For example, with the "Children waiting for the day they feel good; Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday" line, he's saying that something simple like a birthday, which most kids eagerly anticipate every year, to him it's just another day of the week. "The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had" is one chilling lyric.

#25. Spiller feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) 1 week at #1 in 2000 (#2 of 42 for '00) syOK6zmpOe0 Definitely one of my favourite dance songs ever. And I'm so glad this beat that messy "Out Of Your Mind" to #1. "Groovejet" is one chilled, laidback, summery song. It samples a disco song by Carol Williams. The production is basically a riff repeated over and over again. It's a brilliant production, but it can get a bit repetitive so that's why Sophie is added in. I really love her voice in this. I think because I find it pretty subdued which suits the song. The line "If this ain't love, why does it feel so good" sounds a bit cliche, but it's effective and it just sticks with me for some reason.

#26. Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit 1 week at #1 in 1996 (#3 of 24 for '96) KiLw45oAuD0 It's impossible for me to dislike this. It's another song that always makes me smile. It's just a bunch of campy fun. Right from that opening "do do do do do do do do" etc. I'm hooked. The chorus is insanely catchy "OOH AAH JUST A LITTLE BIT OOH AAH LITTLE BIT MORE". It's one of the few Eurovision songs to actually do something over here.

#27. Coolio feat. LV - Gangsta's Paradise 2 weeks at #1 in 1995 (#2 of 17 for '95) cpGbzYlnz7c One of the best rap songs ever. It has a really strong message about the gang mentality. It follows this one person that's stuck being a part of it, and they regret it but they can't get out. The instrumental with all the strings, and the backing vocals in the chorus are really haunting.

#28. Tomcraft - Loneliness 1 week at #1 in 2003 (#3 of 22 for '03) 3QV8cOmsTdI The entire intro of this song is EVERYTHING. The music video cuts down on it quite a bit, but there is a full 8 minute version of this song. And it's not just the intro that's amazing. This is one of the best dance songs of this decade. There's so much going on in this production.

#29. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love 7 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#3 of 17 for '07) 7_weSk0BonM Leona had so much hype coming off of X Factor. She needed that killer single to launch her career. And she got just that. This went #1 practically everywhere in the world. This song was originally intended for Jesse McCartney, of all people, but Ryan Tedder (who co-wrote and produced this) gave it to Leona instead once he had heard her voice. This song opens with that organ note, and that note is prominent until the middle 8. I've always loved that organ note because it really adds to the mood. Speaking of that middle 8, it is one powerful part of the song. This song is about being hurt by heartbreak in the past so much that it causes her to close herself off from ever letting anyone into her heart again. But then she meets someone that changes all that (that's what "you cut me open and I keep bleeding love" means). But all her friends and family aren't convinced and they don't want them to be together. And she's trying to deal with that. The middle 8 ("And it's draining all of me; Oh they find it hard to believe; I'll be wearing these scars; For everyone to see") is the climax of her frustration. And then there's the final chorus where Leona gets to show what she can do with her voice.

#30. Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha (Norman Cook Remix) 1 week at #1 in 1998 (#4 of 30 for '98) 5LBnMRWeV-E This song is about the Bollywood film culture in India. Don't get that in a lot of UK #1's. I don't know a lot about this subject, but from what I've read, ever since Bollywood films were introduced in India, they have gone on to become this huge captivating force in the country. They're a form of escapism from their everyday lives. Which is what "We don't care bout no Government warnings; About their promotion of a simple life; And the dams they're building" is referring to. The films often have singing and dancing in them. But the actors don't do the singing themselves, they lip sync to background singers. One of the big named background singers is Asha Bhosle, which is what the song title is referring to. But the word "asha" also means "hope", so there's a double meaning there. Many of these films depict a life that many Indians can only ever dream of having. The films provide them with hope. This song is very joyous, and the Norman Cook production really enhances that, and it captures the theme of hope. This song talks about just one example, but it shows that music and films can be a way of escaping. It's a very unique #1 hit.

#31. Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around 1 week at #1 in 2000 (#3 of 42 for '00) t1DWBKk5xHQ Kylie's big comeback single! The latter half of the 90's hadn't treated her so well; especially during the Impossible Princess era. Shame because that might just be my favourite Kylie album. But she came back stronger than ever in 2000. Ditching the more toned down sound of her last two albums, and going in a dance pop route. "Spinning Around" was originally meant for Paula Abdul's comeback (that never happened), but was instead given to Kylie. It has disco elements, mixed with more current synths. I found this song annoying at first, but I've grown to love it. A perfect song to have a comeback with. With lyrics like "Threw away my old clothes; Got myself a better wardrobe", "I'm through with the past", "And did I forget to mention that I found a new direction; And it leads back to me?", etc., this song can be interpreted as her saying that she's back with a new style, she knows it's what the audience wants, but it's what she wants to do. She's still staying true to herself ("There's no way I'm gonna fake it 'cuz it's gotta be real"). I don't know. That's just how I see it. I love how this song starts with the chorus because it's such a strong chorus.

#32. The Prodigy - Firestarter 3 weeks at #1 in 1996 (#4 of 24 for '96) wmin5WkOuPw And, well, yeah. This completes the four Prodigy / Chemical Brothers #1's. Again, the production is pretty aggressive. But probably the tamest compared to other 3 that I've already dealt with. It's not the most meaningful song ever. He's just running around proclaiming that he's a troublemaker. And showing his demented personality. Which all comes off a bit frightening. But that's the point.

#33. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun 1 week at #1 in 1996 (#5 of 24 for '96) p5NX1FC-7-w I've already talked about their harsh, dark, noisy productions in "Block Rockin' Beats". The reasons why I like that are pretty much the same reasons why I like this. But I find "Setting Sun" to be more cohesive of the two songs. Noel Gallagher does the vocals on this song; which I always forget about. But the singing isn't the most important part of this song. It's all about the production. The drums and the screeches and the breakdown where everything comes to a grinding halt. I have no idea what this song is about, though. Probably drugs.

#34. Melanie C feat. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - Never Be The Same Again 1 week at #1 in 2000 (#4 of 42 for '00) klCXBkn0VGs Such a beautiful song. It's about Mel C figuring out that she and her best friend have feelings for each other, and how that friendship will "never be the same again". Mel is trying really hard to assure her friend that everything will be okay. This song captures every bit of emotion perfectly. The production is perfect for it too. Left Eye's rap is also a really nice addition. Best solo Spice song.

#35. Liberty X - Just A Little 1 week at #1 in 2002 (#3 of 29 for '02) bItgfoBl4wE It's just really catchy I guess. This chorus is fire! "WORK it a little; get HOT just a little; meet ME in the middle; let GO, just a little bit moooooore (just a little bit); gimme just a little bit moooooore (just a little, just a little)". I don't have much else to say lol.

#36. Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - The Way I Are 2 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#4 of 17 for '07) U5rLz5AZBIA This was like the climax of the Timbaland domination. Well, actually, maybe "Apologize" is. ("4 Minutes" feels past that peak, though he was very much sought after in 2008.) But "The Way I Are" is when it felt like he could do no wrong. After giving Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake a bunch of hits, Timbaland was pursuing a solo thing. Well I can't really call it solo since there was always going to be features. The incorrect grammar in the title annoyed me at one point, but "The Way I Am" would just sound weird in this song. The lyrics in this song are really basic, and honestly borderline bad. But that doesn't even matter when it's one of the catchiest songs to ever go #1, with one of the most infectious beats. At the time, the production sounded dancier than anything Timbaland had done so far. It was one of my top songs of 2007, and I still love it to this day.