political exile

There are actually some whispers going on that this whole viral thing about "Harlem Shake" was a very cleverly orchestrated stunt by Mad Decent (the song's label).

Rod Stewart and Sting aren't exactly what I had in mind - it was more about acts which made their first impact/debut in that period of time.. And Sting's success in the US in the last 20 years has been quite variable. One day he has his best-selling album ever (Ten Summoner's Tales), the next he has a flop (Mercury Falling) and then he rebounds but only after a computer ad (Brand New Day). Since then, his presence in the US mainstream has been pretty much non-existent. Thanks for Radiohead, I was forgetting about them.

How can Little Mix even think of hitting it big in America when they barely get by in their own turf? But then, stranger things have happened.

Well, I'd agree with the Spices, if only because their career was: a) brief; b) the shelf-life of those kinds of acts isn't usually very long anyway. As for Adele, I consider her to be in the same category as 1D and The Wanted: one pretty successful (or, in her case, double massive) era, but the future's still uncertain. 19 only went multi-platinum once 21 took over the Universe, and there are no guarantees she will continue to be big there - there aren't even guarantees in the UK, really. As for Jake Bugg, as was someone's suggestion: if the Arctic Monkeys or The Libertines can't/couldn't get arrested once they pass/got past the Channel Tunnel (well, Pete Doherty could, but that's another tale! :lol:), it's pretty much a given he won't as well. Those acts are just too insular in their references and delivery to ever manage more than cult status outside Britain. One act I could see breaking outside Britain if they tried a bit harder would be Biffy Clyro. Another is Jessie Ware. Her music is fresh, yet accessible enough for it to make an impression. What both have is a sound and attitude that isn't identified as "too British", so that's a plus.

Someone here has spoken of Olly's success in the US probably being a flash in the pan. I'd say even 1D and The Wanted aren't yet secure from falling into that category. And really, bar Coldplay, what other UK acts have had consistent US success in the last 15-to-20 years?

In a year positively filled with future classics and/or seminal tunes, this one sticks out like a sore thumb. Wikipedia (yeah, I know...) tells me there have been more than 200-count-em-200 covers of this Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson-written and composed song. But honestly, can anyone tell them apart? And do many people really have any idea what's this song and/or how it goes? XGd2kuMIJIo

^ Hmm, maybe. I believe that song is a usual feature in Worst #1 Singles Ever-type lists.

Speaking of forgotten chart toppers... I guess this one isn't also that remembered these days, however unjust that might be in some ways, since we're talking about the first all-Black British group to ever hit the top. 788BOtx_-Nw

Which ones, exactly?

Maybe Joe Bloggs has forgotten about it. But in terms of, well, hipster cred, you can bet your life it's quite fondly regarded. And contrary to what a lot of people might think, hipster cred does matter quite a bit.

"The Drugs Don't Work"? I guess they don't, since, as already stated, "Sex on Fire" is still as ubiquitous as they come. And while not undisputable part of the Big Canon, I reckon "Return of the Mack", "Your Woman", "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" and even "Fill Me In" aren't exactly forgettable; more like cult #1's, if you will.

Anyone remember the glorious musical careers of Lee Marvin and Telly Savalas? gJNqaWlsnXE J94-_w9ARX0

^^ Maybe, but it featured THE WOBBLE, so it might be one of those cases where a seemingly forgettable record actually holds many keys to what would become the future. AZ-27rdwJPs

I just looked at the list of 2006 #1's and, honestly speaking, out of twenty-four possibilities, I could only see at best four titles worth any sort of undeniable classic status. Certainly a much better ration than 2005, but nothing really Earth-shattering. To be fair I'll list those. The undeniables: Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy" Shakira, "Hips Don't Lie" (feat. Wyclef Jean) Justin Timberlake, "SexyBack" Take That, "Patience" And then there the up-for-debate ones: Ne-Yo, "So Sick" Sandi Thom, "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Head)" Nelly Furtado, "Maneater" Lily Allen, "Smile" Razorlight, "America" My Chemical Romance, "Welcome to the Black Parade" There's also Fedde Le Grand, which isn't really remembered by Joe Bloggs, but is very much considered a classic within dance music circles.

To illustrate my point, let's just say that their rivalry even extended beyond death and into the Forgotten #1 field! :P Do5MMmEygsY ufKxCclo7-c

The mid-noughties were a great time for completely forgotten #1's, as physical singles sales were at their lowest, downloads were still in their infancy and turnaround at the top was as swift as ever. So it became quite easy for singles to reach the top by way of fanbase rallying, rather than genuine across-the-board appeal. And on the rare occasions such a single came during that time, it would either be flash-in-the-pan/zeitgeisty things like talent show coronation songs or charity songs. I guess James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" might have been the only truly mass-appeal #1 of the mid-2000's.

Was he really? He went on to star on Heartbeat for five years and even managed a second hit single with the title theme song and everything. And I know for a fact (even though it wasn't shown here) that that series was very popular for quite a long time during its run.

^^ Shawty's like a melody in my head. ;) I might be wrong about this one, as I'm from Portugal and my Reception year self didn't register it. But does anyone genuinely remember this anymore? Or is it one of those so-bad-it-becomes-memorable moments? Perhaps even the fact that this was from Eastenders might have made it much more endurable than it otherwise might have become. I genuinely don't know, hence why I'm asking all these questions. JyTzmhFQt2o

Bar the odd exception ("Do They Know It's Christmas", "We Are the World", "Candle in the Wind 1997"), #1 charity tracks are some of the most readily forgotten. It's only natural, as they are meant to capture certain zeitgeisty moments. Some examples include: AmieR3KvQAc NBaTN-vBVfg J7uP3Bbu_pQ

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Where I come from, it's either "A Design For Life", "Motorcycle Emptiness" or, like I said, "If You Tolerate This...". With "From Despair to Where" and "La Tristesse Durera (Scream to a Sigh)" spiked in once in a while.

I was guessing you were. ;) Still, it's the truth: the Man/Woman on the Street doesn't remember "The Masses Against the Classes". But they certainly remember "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next".

This one I think merits no discussion. As forgotten and M.I.A. from public conscioussness as they come! 2rW8dg7drXA

I guess - focus on the word "guess" - the purpose of this thread is to list those songs which were originally non-Top 10 Top 40 hits of varying magnitude which have been all but M.I.A. from the general public's conscioussness.

As I've said in the aforementioned thread, a lot of us chart buffs (and/or fans of the artists) might rememeber these four songs. But the average Joe Bloggs or Sharon Tracy? I very much doubt it. In Billie Piper's case, if people remember "Because We Want To", that would already be a victory. And speaking of her, here's another totally forgotten chart topper: YECHW8BxqNg