List of number-one singles from the 1990s (UK)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| UK number-one singles |
|---|
| UK singles chart Official Charts Company Christmas number one |
The UK Singles Chart is a record chart compiled on behalf of the British record industry. During the 1990s, the chart was compiled by The Chart Information Network (CIN) based entirely on sales of physical singles from retail outlets - airplay statistics are not used in compiling the official UK Singles Chart.[1][2] The chart week runs from Sunday to Saturday, and the Top 40 is first revealed on BBC Radio 1.[3] Record companies began making singles available to radio stations much further in advance of their release dates and making greater use of direct marketing techniques in the 1990s. As a result, the number of singles that entered the charts at number one increased dramatically, and it became commonplace for singles to enter the charts at the top and then plummet down the listing soon after.[4][5]
During the decade, 206 singles reached the number one position on the chart. "Hangin' Tough" by New Kids on the Block reached number one on the first new chart of the decade, replacing "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II which had been number one on the last chart issued in 1989.[6] The longest spell at the top was achieved by Bryan Adams's song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", which spent 16 weeks at number one in 1991, beating the record for the longest unbroken run at the top of the charts which had been held by Slim Whitman's "Rose Marie" since 1955.[7] Wet Wet Wet and Whitney Houston also had runs of 10 or more weeks at number one during the 1990s.[7] Although it only spent five weeks at number one, Elton John's 1997 single "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" sold over 5 million copies, becoming the biggest-selling single in UK history.[8] Cher's song "Believe" spent 7 weeks at number-one at the end of 1998 and became the biggest-selling single by a female artist in UK history.[9] The final number one of the decade was the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" by Westlife.[10] Take That and the Spice Girls share the distinction of having achieved the most number one hits in the 1990s, with eight each.[11]
Contents |
[edit] Singles
1990
| Artist | Single | Reached number 1 | Weeks at number 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Kids on the Block | "Hangin' Tough" | 7 January 1990 | 2 |
| Kylie Minogue | "Tears on My Pillow" | 21 January 1990 | 1 |
| Sinéad O'Connor | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | 28 January 1990 | 4 |
| Beats International | "Dub Be Good to Me" | 25 February 1990 | 4 |
| Snap! | "The Power" | 25 March 1990 | 2 |
| Madonna | "Vogue" | 8 April 1990 | 4 |
| Adamski featuring Seal | "Killer" | 6 May 1990 | 4 |
| Englandneworder | "World in Motion" | 3 June 1990 | 2 |
| Elton John | "Sacrifice" / "Healing Hands" | 17 June 1990 | 5 |
| Partners in Kryme | "Turtle Power" | 22 July 1990 | 4 |
| Bombalurina | "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" | 19 August 1990 | 3 |
| The Steve Miller Band | "The Joker" | 9 September 1990 | 2 |
| Maria McKee | "Show Me Heaven" | 23 September 1990 | 4 |
| The Beautiful South | "A Little Time" | 21 October 1990 | 1 |
| The Righteous Brothers | "Unchained Melody" | 28 October 1990 | 4 |
| Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | 25 November 1990 | 4 |
| Cliff Richard | "Saviour's Day" | 23 December 1990 | 1 |
1991
1992
| Artist | Single | Reached number 1 | Weeks at number 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Wet Wet | "Goodnight Girl" | 19 January 1992 | 4 |
| Shakespears Sister | "Stay" | 16 February 1992 | 8 |
| Right Said Fred | "Deeply Dippy" | 12 April 1992 | 3 |
| KWS | "Please Don't Go"/"Game Boy" | 3 May 1992 | 5 |
| Erasure | "Abba-esque" (EP) | 7 June 1992 | 5 |
| Jimmy Nail | "Ain't No Doubt" | 12 July 1992 | 3 |
| Snap! | "Rhythm Is a Dancer" | 2 August 1992 | 6 |
| The Shamen | "Ebeneezer Goode" | 13 September 1992 | 4 |
| Tasmin Archer | "Sleeping Satellite" | 11 October 1992 | 2 |
| Boyz II Men | "End of the Road" | 25 October 1992 | 3 |
| Charles and Eddie | "Would I Lie To You?" | 15 November 1992 | 2 |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 29 November 1992 | 10 |
1993
| Artist | Single | Reached number 1 | Weeks at number 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Unlimited | "No Limit" | 7 February 1993 | 5 |
| Shaggy | "Oh Carolina" | 14 March 1993 | 2 |
| The Bluebells | "Young at Heart" | 28 March 1993 | 4 |
| George Michael & Queen with Lisa Stansfield | "Five Live" | 25 April 1993 | 3 |
| Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | 16 May 1993 | 3 |
| UB40 | "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" | 6 June 1993 | 2 |
| Gabrielle | "Dreams" | 20 June 1993 | 3 |
| Take That | "Pray" | 11 July 1993 | 4 |
| Freddie Mercury | "Living on My Own" | 8 August 1993 | 2 |
| Culture Beat | "Mr Vain" | 22 August 1993 | 4 |
| DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince | "Boom! Shake the Room" | 19 September 1993 | 2 |
| Take That featuring Lulu | "Relight My Fire" | 3 October 1993 | 2 |
| Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" | 17 October 1993 | 7 |
| Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | 5 December 1993 | 1 |
| Take That | "Babe" | 12 December 1993 | 1 |
| Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | 19 December 1993 | 2 |
1994
| Artist | Single | Reached number 1 | Weeks at number 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaka Demus and Pliers | "Twist and Shout" | 2 January 1994 | 2 |
| D-Ream | "Things Can Only Get Better" | 16 January 1994 | 4 |
| Mariah Carey | "Without You" | 13 February 1994 | 4 |
| Doop | "Doop" | 13 March 1994 | 3 |
| Take That | "Everything Changes" | 3 April 1994 | 2 |
| The Artist Formerly Known As Prince | "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" | 17 April 1994 | 2 |
| Tony Di Bart | "The Real Thing" | 1 May 1994 | 1 |
| Stiltskin | "Inside" | 8 May 1994 | 1 |
| Manchester United Football Squad | "Come on You Reds" | 15 May 1994 | 2 |
| Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" | 29 May 1994 | 15 |
| Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | 11 September 1994 | 4 |
| Take That | "Sure" | 9 October 1994 | 2 |
| Pato Banton | "Baby Come Back" | 23 October 1994 | 4 |
| Baby D | "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" | 20 November 1994 | 2 |
| East 17 | "Stay Another Day" | 4 December 1994 | 5 |
1995
| Artist | Single | Reached number 1 | Weeks at number 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | 8 January 1995 | 3 |
| Céline Dion | "Think Twice" | 29 January 1995 | 7 |
| Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | "Love Can Build a Bridge" | 19 March 1995 | 1 |
| Outhere Brothers | "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" | 26 March 1995 | 1 |
| Take That | "Back for Good" | 2 April 1995 | 4 |
| Oasis | "Some Might Say" | 30 April 1995 | 1 |
| Livin' Joy | "Dreamer" | 7 May 1995 | 1 |
| Robson Green & Jerome Flynn | "Unchained Melody" / "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" | 14 May 1995 | 7 |
| Outhere Brothers | "Boom Boom Boom" | 2 July 1995 | 4 |
| Take That | "Never Forget" | 30 July 1995 | 3 |
| Blur | "Country House" | 20 August 1995 | 2 |
| Michael Jackson | "You Are Not Alone" | 3 September 1995 | 2 |
| Shaggy | "Boombastic" | 17 September 1995 | 1 |
| Simply Red | "Fairground" | 24 September 1995 | 4 |
| Coolio featuring L.V. | "Gangsta's Paradise" | 22 October 1995 | 2 |
| Robson & Jerome | "I Believe / Up on the Roof" | 5 November 1995 | 4 |
| Michael Jackson | "Earth Song" | 3 December 1995 | 6 |
1996
1997
1998
1999
[edit] By artist
The following artists achieved three or more number one hits during the 1990s. George Michael's collaborations with Elton John and Queen, in which both acts received billing on the single's cover, are counted against both acts. Appearances on the "Perfect Day" single are also included, although the artists did not receive individual credit on the cover.
| Artist | Number one hits |
|---|---|
| Spice Girls | 8 |
| Take That | 8 |
| Boyzone | 7[A] |
| Westlife | 4 |
| Oasis | 4 |
| Michael Jackson | 4 |
| George Michael | 4 |
| B*Witched | 4 |
| Elton John | 4[A] |
| Cher | 3 |
| Robson & Jerome | 3 |
| Queen | 3 |
| All Saints | 3 |
| Aqua | 3 |
| Bono | 3[B] |
- A. ^ Total includes appearance on the "Perfect Day" single.
- B. ^ Bono achieved two number ones as a member of U2 and also appeared on the "Perfect Day" single.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- General
- Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 689–704. ISBN 1-9049-9400-8.
- Specific
- ^ Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 14. ISBN 1-9049-9400-8.
- ^ "New singles formats to save the charts". BBC News. 16 October 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3196892.stm. Retrieved on 22 December 2008.
- ^ "Corporate FAQs". The Official UK Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/faq.php#whocompiles. Retrieved on 22 December 2008.
- ^ "Charting a rocky course". BBC News. 14 April 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/711907.stm. Retrieved on 22 December 2008.
- ^ Dennis, Jon (5 August 2003). "Chart attack". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2003/aug/05/radio.popandrock. Retrieved on 22 December 2008.
- ^ Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). pp. 689.
- ^ a b "Celebrating 1,000 Number Ones" (PDF). Music Week. January 2005. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/lowdown/music_week_supplement.pdf. Retrieved on 20 January 2009.
- ^ "Elton's candle burns in Canada". BBC News. 11 October 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/471353.stm. Retrieved on 22 December 2008.
- ^ "Cher's treble success". BBC News. 27 May 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/354542.stm. Retrieved on 19 January 2009.
- ^ Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). pp. 704.
- ^ Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). pp. 475, 500.
|
|||||||||||||||||
