List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1990s
The UK Singles Chart is a record chart compiled on behalf of the British record industry. Until 1 February 1994, the chart was compiled each week by Gallup – after this date, it was managed by Millward Brown, who expanded the number of sales figures sampled, and extended the use of electronic point of sale machines.[1] From July 1998 onwards, compilation of the chart was overseen by The Chart Information Network (CIN) and it was based entirely on sales of physical singles from retail outlets – airplay statistics are not used in compiling the official UK Singles Chart.[2][3] The chart week ran from Sunday to Saturday, and the Top 40 was first revealed on BBC Radio 1 on a Sunday.[4] 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.[5][6]
| UK Singles Chart number ones |
|---|
|
| UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company Christmas number one |
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Bryan Adams set a record in 1991 for the longest run at the top of the UK charts.
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.[7] 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.[8] Wet Wet Wet and Whitney Houston also had runs of 10 or more weeks at number one during the 1990s.[8] 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 almost 5 million copies, becoming the biggest-selling single in UK history.[9] 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.[10] Also, Cher is the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in the 1990s (a total of three) and the female solo artist with most weeks at number one (13). The final number one of the decade was the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" by Westlife.[11] Take That and the Spice Girls share the distinction of having achieved the most number-one hits in the 1990s, with eight each.[12]
Number-one singles
| † | Best-selling single of the year[13] |
|---|---|
| ‡ | Best-selling single of the decade[13] |
Elton John scored his first solo number one in 1990.
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After more than a decade without a hit, Meat Loaf topped the charts for the first time in 1993.
Danish pop band Aqua scored three consecutive number ones with one of the UK's biggest selling singles "Barbie Girl" in 1997, and the follow up's "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time" in 1998 making them one of the most successful bands this decade.
Spice Girls became the biggest act of the decade after they dominated the charts with eight out of their nine number one singles achieved in the '90s; "Wannabe", "Say You'll Be There", "2 Become 1", "Mama", "Spice Up Your Life", "Too Much", "Viva Forever" and "Goodbye".
In 1999 Australian film director Baz Luhrmann scored a number one hit with "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" after a radio campaign by Chris Moyles.
Mariah Carey scored her only solo UK number one single in 1994.
In 1999 an advert for Levi jeans featuring the puppet Flat Eric helped take Mr. Oizo's track "Flat Beat" to number one, holding off Eminem's debut single.
Fatboy Slim achieved commercial success in the 1990s, with several hits prior to his only number one single, "Praise You" in 1999.
German Eurodance group Snap! gained two massive number ones, first in 1990 with "The Power" and then in 1992 with their biggest hit to date "Rhythm Is a Dancer".
Cher managed to spend a total of thirteen weeks at number one this decade; The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", the Comic Relief charity single "Love Can Build a Bridge" with Neneh Cherry, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton, and one of the world's biggest selling singles "Believe".
| Contents |
|---|
| No. | Artist[nb 1] | Single[nb 1] | Week ending date[nb 1] | Weeks at number one[nb 1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||||
| 638 | Band Aid II | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | 23 December 1989 | 3 |
| 639 | New Kids on the Block | "Hangin' Tough" | 13 January 1990 | 2 |
| 640 | Kylie Minogue | "Tears on My Pillow" | 27 January 1990 | 1 |
| 641 | Sinéad O'Connor | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | 3 February 1990 | 4 |
| 642 | Beats International | "Dub Be Good to Me" | 3 March 1990 | 4 |
| 643 | Snap! | "The Power" | 31 March 1990 | 2 |
| 644 | Madonna | "Vogue" | 14 April 1990 | 4 |
| 645 | Adamski featuring Seal | "Killer" | 12 May 1990 | 4 |
| 646 | England New Order | "World in Motion" | 9 June 1990 | 2 |
| 647 | Elton John | "Sacrifice" / "Healing Hands" | 23 June 1990 | 5 |
| 648 | Partners in Kryme | "Turtle Power" | 28 July 1990 | 4 |
| 649 | Bombalurina | "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" | 25 August 1990 | 3 |
| 650 | The Steve Miller Band | "The Joker"[nb 2] | 15 September 1990 | 2 |
| 651 | Maria McKee | "Show Me Heaven" | 29 September 1990 | 4 |
| 652 | The Beautiful South | "A Little Time" | 27 October 1990 | 1 |
| 653 | The Righteous Brothers | "Unchained Melody" † | 3 November 1990 | 4 |
| 654 | Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | 1 December 1990 | 4 |
| 655 | Cliff Richard | "Saviour's Day" | 29 December 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | ||||
| 656 | Iron Maiden | "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" | 5 January 1991 | 2 |
| 657 | Enigma | "Sadeness (Part I)" | 19 January 1991 | 1 |
| 658 | Queen | "Innuendo" | 26 January 1991 | 1 |
| 659 | The KLF ft. The Children of The Revolution | "3 a.m. Eternal" | 2 February 1991 | 2 |
| 660 | The Simpsons | "Do the Bartman" | 16 February 1991 | 3 |
| 661 | The Clash / Big Audio Dynamite II | "Should I Stay or Should I Go" / "Rush" | 9 March 1991 | 2 |
| 662 | Hale and Pace | "The Stonk" | 23 March 1991 | 1 |
| 663 | Chesney Hawkes | "The One and Only" | 30 March 1991 | 5 |
| 664 | Cher | "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" | 4 May 1991 | 5 |
| 665 | Color Me Badd | "I Wanna Sex You Up" | 8 June 1991 | 3 |
| 666 | Jason Donovan | "Any Dream Will Do" | 29 June 1991 | 2 |
| 667 | Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" † | 13 July 1991 | 16 |
| 668 | U2 | "The Fly" | 2 November 1991 | 1 |
| 669 | Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff | "Dizzy" | 9 November 1991 | 2 |
| 670 | Michael Jackson | "Black or White" | 23 November 1991 | 2 |
| 671 | George Michael & Elton John | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | 7 December 1991 | 2 |
| 672 | Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" | 21 December 1991 | 5 |
| 1992 | ||||
| 673 | Wet Wet Wet | "Goodnight Girl" | 25 January 1992 | 4 |
| 674 | Shakespears Sister | "Stay" | 22 February 1992 | 8 |
| 675 | Right Said Fred | "Deeply Dippy" | 18 April 1992 | 3 |
| 676 | KWS | "Please Don't Go" / "Game Boy" | 9 May 1992 | 5 |
| 677 | Erasure | Abba-esque (EP) | 13 June 1992 | 5 |
| 678 | Jimmy Nail | "Ain't No Doubt" | 18 July 1992 | 3 |
| 679 | Snap! | "Rhythm Is a Dancer" | 8 August 1992 | 6 |
| 680 | The Shamen | "Ebeneezer Goode" | 19 September 1992 | 4 |
| 681 | Tasmin Archer | "Sleeping Satellite" | 17 October 1992 | 2 |
| 682 | Boyz II Men | "End of the Road" | 31 October 1992 | 3 |
| 683 | Charles & Eddie | "Would I Lie to You?" | 21 November 1992 | 2 |
| 684 | Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" † | 5 December 1992 | 10 |
| 1993 | ||||
| 685 | 2 Unlimited | "No Limit" | 13 February 1993 | 5 |
| 686 | Shaggy | "Oh Carolina" | 20 March 1993 | 2 |
| 687 | The Bluebells | "Young at Heart" | 3 April 1993 | 4 |
| 688 | George Michael & Queen with Lisa Stansfield | "Five Live" | 1 May 1993 | 3 |
| 689 | Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | 22 May 1993 | 3 |
| 690 | UB40 | "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" | 12 June 1993 | 2 |
| 691 | Gabrielle | "Dreams" | 26 June 1993 | 3 |
| 692 | Take That | "Pray" | 17 July 1993 | 4 |
| 693 | Freddie Mercury | "Living on My Own" | 14 August 1993 | 2 |
| 694 | Culture Beat | "Mr Vain" | 28 August 1993 | 4 |
| 695 | DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince | "Boom! Shake the Room" | 25 September 1993 | 2 |
| 696 | Take That featuring Lulu | "Relight My Fire" | 9 October 1993 | 2 |
| 697 | Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" † | 23 October 1993 | 7 |
| 698 | Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | 11 December 1993 | 1 |
| 699 | Take That | "Babe" | 18 December 1993 | 1 |
| re | Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | 25 December 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | ||||
| 700 | Chaka Demus & Pliers | "Twist and Shout" | 8 January 1994 | 2 |
| 701 | D:Ream | "Things Can Only Get Better" | 22 January 1994 | 4 |
| 702 | Mariah Carey | "Without You" | 19 February 1994 | 4 |
| 703 | Doop | "Doop" | 19 March 1994 | 3 |
| 704 | Take That | "Everything Changes" | 9 April 1994 | 2 |
| 705 | Prince | "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" | 23 April 1994 | 2 |
| 706 | Tony Di Bart | "The Real Thing" | 7 May 1994 | 1 |
| 707 | Stiltskin | "Inside" | 14 May 1994 | 1 |
| 708 | Manchester United F.C. | "Come On You Reds" | 21 May 1994 | 2 |
| 709 | Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" † | 4 June 1994 | 15 |
| 710 | Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | 17 September 1994 | 4 |
| 711 | Take That | "Sure" | 15 October 1994 | 2 |
| 712 | Pato Banton | "Baby Come Back" | 29 October 1994 | 4 |
| 713 | Baby D | "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" | 26 November 1994 | 2 |
| 714 | East 17 | "Stay Another Day" | 10 December 1994 | 5 |
| 1995 | ||||
| 715 | Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | 14 January 1995 | 3 |
| 716 | Celine Dion | "Think Twice" | 4 February 1995 | 7 |
| 717 | Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | "Love Can Build a Bridge" | 25 March 1995 | 1 |
| 718 | Outhere Brothers | "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" | 1 April 1995 | 1 |
| 719 | Take That | "Back for Good" | 8 April 1995 | 4 |
| 720 | Oasis | "Some Might Say" | 6 May 1995 | 1 |
| 721 | Livin' Joy | "Dreamer" | 13 May 1995 | 1 |
| 722 | Robson Green & Jerome Flynn | "Unchained Melody" / "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" † | 20 May 1995 | 7 |
| 723 | Outhere Brothers | "Boom Boom Boom" | 8 July 1995 | 4 |
| 724 | Take That | "Never Forget" | 5 August 1995 | 3 |
| 725 | Blur | "Country House" | 26 August 1995 | 2 |
| 726 | Michael Jackson | "You Are Not Alone" | 9 September 1995 | 2 |
| 727 | Shaggy | "Boombastic" | 23 September 1995 | 1 |
| 728 | Simply Red | "Fairground" | 30 September 1995 | 4 |
| 729 | Coolio featuring L.V. | "Gangsta's Paradise" | 28 October 1995 | 2 |
| 730 | Robson & Jerome | "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" | 11 November 1995 | 4 |
| 731 | Michael Jackson | "Earth Song" | 9 December 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | ||||
| 732 | George Michael | "Jesus to a Child" | 20 January 1996 | 1 |
| 733 | Babylon Zoo | "Spaceman" | 27 January 1996 | 5 |
| 734 | Oasis | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | 2 March 1996 | 1 |
| 735 | Take That | "How Deep Is Your Love" | 9 March 1996 | 3 |
| 736 | The Prodigy | "Firestarter" | 30 March 1996 | 3 |
| 737 | Mark Morrison | "Return of the Mack" | 20 April 1996 | 2 |
| 738 | George Michael | "Fastlove" | 4 May 1996 | 3 |
| 739 | Gina G | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" | 25 May 1996 | 1 |
| 740 | Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | 1 June 1996 | 1 |
| 741 | Fugees | "Killing Me Softly" † | 8 June 1996 | 4 |
| re | Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | 6 July 1996 | 1 |
| re | Fugees | "Killing Me Softly" † | 13 July 1996 | 1 |
| 742 | Gary Barlow | "Forever Love" | 20 July 1996 | 1 |
| 743 | Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | 27 July 1996 | 7 |
| 744 | Peter Andre | "Flava" | 14 September 1996 | 1 |
| 745 | Fugees | "Ready or Not" | 21 September 1996 | 2 |
| 746 | Deep Blue Something | "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | 5 October 1996 | 1 |
| 747 | The Chemical Brothers | "Setting Sun" | 12 October 1996 | 1 |
| 748 | Boyzone | "Words" | 19 October 1996 | 1 |
| 749 | Spice Girls | "Say You'll Be There" | 26 October 1996 | 2 |
| 750 | Robson & Jerome | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" / "Saturday Night at the Movies" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" | 9 November 1996 | 2 |
| 751 | The Prodigy | "Breathe" | 23 November 1996 | 2 |
| 752 | Peter Andre | "I Feel You" | 7 December 1996 | 1 |
| 753 | Boyzone | "A Different Beat" | 14 December 1996 | 1 |
| 754 | Dunblane | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" / "Throw These Guns Away" | 21 December 1996 | 1 |
| 755 | Spice Girls | "2 Become 1" | 28 December 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | ||||
| 756 | Tori Amos | "Professional Widow" (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix) | 18 January 1997 | 1 |
| 757 | White Town | "Your Woman" | 25 January 1997 | 1 |
| 758 | Blur | "Beetlebum" | 1 February 1997 | 1 |
| 759 | LL Cool J | "Ain't Nobody" | 8 February 1997 | 1 |
| 760 | U2 | "Discotheque" | 15 February 1997 | 1 |
| 761 | No Doubt | "Don't Speak" | 22 February 1997 | 3 |
| 762 | Spice Girls | "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are" | 15 March 1997 | 3 |
| 763 | The Chemical Brothers | "Block Rockin' Beats" | 5 April 1997 | 1 |
| 764 | R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | 12 April 1997 | 3 |
| 765 | Michael Jackson | "Blood on the Dance Floor" | 3 May 1997 | 1 |
| 766 | Gary Barlow | "Love Won't Wait" | 10 May 1997 | 1 |
| 767 | Olive | "You're Not Alone" | 17 May 1997 | 2 |
| 768 | Eternal featuring BeBe Winans | "I Wanna Be the Only One" | 31 May 1997 | 1 |
| 769 | Hanson | "MMMBop" | 7 June 1997 | 3 |
| 770 | Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112 | "I'll Be Missing You" | 28 June 1997 | 3 |
| 771 | Oasis | "D'You Know What I Mean?" | 19 July 1997 | 1 |
| re | Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112 | "I'll Be Missing You" | 26 July 1997 | 3 |
| 772 | Will Smith | "Men in Black" | 16 August 1997 | 4 |
| 773 | The Verve | "The Drugs Don't Work" | 13 September 1997 | 1 |
| 774 | Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" ‡ | 20 September 1997 | 5 |
| 775 | Spice Girls | "Spice Up Your Life" | 25 October 1997 | 1 |
| 776 | Aqua | "Barbie Girl" | 1 November 1997 | 4 |
| 777 | Various artists | "Perfect Day" | 29 November 1997 | 2 |
| 778 | Teletubbies | "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"" | 13 December 1997 | 2 |
| 779 | Spice Girls | "Too Much" | 27 December 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | ||||
| re | Various artists | "Perfect Day" | 10 January 1998 | 1 |
| 780 | All Saints | "Never Ever" | 17 January 1998 | 1 |
| 781 | Oasis | "All Around the World" | 24 January 1998 | 1 |
| 782 | Usher | "You Make Me Wanna" | 31 January 1998 | 1 |
| 783 | Aqua | "Doctor Jones" | 7 February 1998 | 2 |
| 784 | Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 21 February 1998 | 1 |
| 785 | Cornershop | "Brimful of Asha (The Norman Cook Remix)" | 28 February 1998 | 1 |
| 786 | Madonna | "Frozen" | 7 March 1998 | 1 |
| re | Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 14 March 1998 | 1 |
| 787 | Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | 21 March 1998 | 6 |
| 788 | Boyzone | "All That I Need" | 2 May 1998 | 1 |
| 789 | All Saints | "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" | 9 May 1998 | 1 |
| 790 | Aqua | "Turn Back Time" | 16 May 1998 | 1 |
| re | All Saints | "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" | 23 May 1998 | 1 |
| 791 | The Tamperer featuring Maya | "Feel It" | 30 May 1998 | 1 |
| 792 | B*Witched | "C'est La Vie" | 6 June 1998 | 2 |
| 793 | Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "3 Lions '98" | 20 June 1998 | 3 |
| 794 | Billie | "Because We Want To" | 11 July 1998 | 1 |
| 795 | Another Level | "Freak Me" | 18 July 1998 | 1 |
| 796 | Jamiroquai | "Deeper Underground" | 25 July 1998 | 1 |
| 797 | Spice Girls | "Viva Forever" | 1 August 1998 | 2 |
| 798 | Boyzone | "No Matter What" | 15 August 1998 | 3 |
| 799 | Manic Street Preachers | "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" | 5 September 1998 | 1 |
| 800 | All Saints | "Bootie Call" | 12 September 1998 | 1 |
| 801 | Robbie Williams | "Millennium" | 19 September 1998 | 1 |
| 802 | Melanie B featuring Missy Elliott | "I Want You Back" | 26 September 1998 | 1 |
| 803 | B*Witched | "Rollercoaster" | 3 October 1998 | 2 |
| 804 | Billie | "Girlfriend" | 17 October 1998 | 1 |
| 805 | Spacedust | "Gym and Tonic" | 24 October 1998 | 1 |
| 806 | Cher | "Believe" † | 31 October 1998 | 7 |
| 807 | B*Witched | "To You I Belong" | 19 December 1998 | 1 |
| 808 | Spice Girls | "Goodbye" | 26 December 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | ||||
| 809 | Chef | "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)" | 2 January 1999 | 1 |
| 810 | Steps | "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" | 9 January 1999 | 1 |
| 811 | Fatboy Slim | "Praise You" | 16 January 1999 | 1 |
| 812 | 911 | "A Little Bit More" | 23 January 1999 | 1 |
| 813 | The Offspring | "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" | 30 January 1999 | 1 |
| 814 | Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden | "You Don't Know Me" | 6 February 1999 | 1 |
| 815 | Blondie | "Maria" | 13 February 1999 | 1 |
| 816 | Lenny Kravitz | "Fly Away" | 20 February 1999 | 1 |
| 817 | Britney Spears | "...Baby One More Time" † | 27 February 1999 | 2 |
| 818 | Boyzone | "When the Going Gets Tough" | 13 March 1999 | 2 |
| 819 | B*Witched | "Blame It on the Weatherman" | 27 March 1999 | 1 |
| 820 | Mr. Oizo | "Flat Beat" | 3 April 1999 | 2 |
| 821 | Martine McCutcheon | "Perfect Moment" | 17 April 1999 | 2 |
| 822 | Westlife | "Swear It Again" | 1 May 1999 | 2 |
| 823 | Backstreet Boys | "I Want It That Way" | 15 May 1999 | 1 |
| 824 | Boyzone | "You Needed Me" | 22 May 1999 | 1 |
| 825 | Shanks & Bigfoot | "Sweet Like Chocolate" | 29 May 1999 | 2 |
| 826 | Baz Luhrmann | "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" | 12 June 1999 | 1 |
| 827 | S Club 7 | "Bring It All Back" | 19 June 1999 | 1 |
| 828 | Vengaboys | "Boom Boom Boom Boom" | 26 June 1999 | 1 |
| 829 | ATB | "9pm (Till I Come)" | 3 July 1999 | 2 |
| 830 | Ricky Martin | "Livin' la Vida Loca" | 17 July 1999 | 3 |
| 831 | Ronan Keating | "When You Say Nothing at All" | 7 August 1999 | 2 |
| 832 | Westlife | "If I Let You Go" | 21 August 1999 | 1 |
| 833 | Geri Halliwell | "Mi Chico Latino" | 28 August 1999 | 1 |
| 834 | Lou Bega | "Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of...)" | 4 September 1999 | 2 |
| 835 | Vengaboys | "We're Going to Ibiza" | 18 September 1999 | 1 |
| 836 | Eiffel 65 | "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" | 25 September 1999 | 3 |
| 837 | Christina Aguilera | "Genie in a Bottle" | 16 October 1999 | 2 |
| 838 | Westlife | "Flying Without Wings" | 30 October 1999 | 1 |
| 839 | Five | "Keep on Movin'" | 6 November 1999 | 1 |
| 840 | Geri Halliwell | "Lift Me Up" | 13 November 1999 | 1 |
| 841 | Robbie Williams | "She's the One" / "It's Only Us" | 20 November 1999 | 1 |
| 842 | Wamdue Project | "King of My Castle" | 27 November 1999 | 1 |
| 843 | Cliff Richard | "The Millennium Prayer" | 4 December 1999 | 3 |
| 844 | Westlife | "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" | 25 December 1999 | 4 |
| Contents |
|---|
Artists by total number of weeks at number-one
| Artist | Weeks at number-one |
|---|---|
| Spice Girls | 22 |
| Take That | 21 |
| Wet Wet Wet | 19 |
| Bryan Adams | 16 |
| Cher | 13 |
| Robson & Jerome | 13 |
| Elton John | 12 |
| Michael Jackson | 11 |
| Whitney Houston | 10 |
| Queen | 9 |
| Celine Dion | 9 |
| George Michael | 9 |
| Boyzone | 9 |
| Snap! | 8 |
| Shakespears Sister | 8 |
| Westlife | 8 |
| Aqua | 7 |
| Meat Loaf | 7 |
| B*Witched | 6 |
| Run–D.M.C. | 6 |
| Jason Nevins | 6 |
Songs by total number weeks at number one
The following songs spent at least six weeks at number one during the 1990s.
| Artist | Song | Weeks at number one |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 16 |
| Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" | 15 |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You | 10 |
| Shakespears Sister | "Stay" | 8 |
| Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) | 7 |
| Celine Dion | "Think Twice" | |
| Robson & Jerome | "Unchained Melody" / "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" | |
| Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | |
| Cher | "Believe" | |
| Snap! | "Rhythm Is a Dancer" | 6 |
| Michael Jackson | "Earth Song" | |
| Run-DMC v. Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | |
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 for both acts. Appearances on the "Perfect Day" single are not included, as the individuals did not receive individual credit on the cover.
| Artist | Number ones |
|---|---|
| Spice Girls | 8 |
| Take That | 8 |
| Boyzone | 6[A] |
| B*Witched | 4 |
| Michael Jackson | 4 |
| George Michael | 4 |
| Oasis | 4 |
| Westlife | 4 |
| All Saints | 3 |
| Aqua | 3 |
| Cher | 3 |
| Elton John | 3[A] |
| Queen | 3 |
| Robson & Jerome | 3 |
- A. ^ Total does not include an appearance on the "Perfect Day" single.
Million-selling and platinum records
See also List of Platinum singles in the United Kingdom awarded before 2000 and List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom
In April 1973, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) began classifying singles and albums by the number of units sold. In the 1990s the highest threshold was "platinum record" and was awarded to singles that sold over 600,000 units.[26][27][nb 3] In February 1987, the BPI introduced multi-platinum awards so if a single sold 1,200,000 units it was classified as 2×platinum, 1,800,000 units as 3×platinum, and so on.[26]
Sixty-six records, including forty-seven number ones, were classified platinum in the 1990s and three other songs released in the 1990s were classified as platinum in the subsequent decade.[29] Thirty records from the decade sold over one million units.[30][31][32][33][34] Fourteen of these also went multi-platinum and "Candle in the Wind 1997" went nine times platinum and became the best-selling single of all time.[35] "Angels" by Robbie Williams, "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, and "Wonderwall" by Oasis all sold over one million copies but failed to get to number one.
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified platinum |
Year of millionth sale (Multi-platinum) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinéad O'Connor | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | 8 January 1990 | 1 March 1990 | — |
| Band Aid II | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | 11 December 1989 | 1 April 1990 | — |
| Elton John | "Sacrifice" | 1 May 1990 | 1 September 1990 | — |
| The Righteous Brothers | "Unchained Melody" | 15 October 1990 | 1 November 1990 | 2004–10 |
| Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | 29 October 1990 | 1 January 1991 | — |
| Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 17 June 1991 | 1 August 1991 | 1991, (2×: 1 September 1991) |
| Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" | 9 December 1991 | 1 December 1991 | — |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 31 October 1992 | 1 December 1992 | 1993, (2×: 1 January 1993) |
| Charles & Eddie | "Would I Lie to You?" | 12 October 1992 | 1 January 1993 | — |
| Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | 1 May 1993 | 1 June 1993 | — |
| UB40 | "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" | 10 May 1993 | 1 July 1993 | — |
| Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" | 27 September 1993 | 1 November 1993 | — |
| Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | 22 November 1993 | 1 December 1993 | — |
| Take That | "Babe" | 6 December 1993 | 1 January 1994 | — |
| Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" | 4 May 1994 | 1 June 1994 | 1994, (2×: 1 August 1994) |
| Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | 12 September 1994 | 1 September 1994 | 1994 |
| All-4-One | "I Swear"[No 2] | 6 June 1994 | 1 September 1994 | — |
| Pato Banton | "Baby Come Back" | 19 September 1994 | 1 November 1994 | — |
| East 17 | "Stay Another Day" | 21 November 1994 | 1 December 1994 | — |
| Céline Dion | "Think Twice" | 10 October 1994 | 1 January 1995 | 1994 |
| Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | 12 December 1994 | 1 February 1995 | — |
| Take That | "Back for Good" | 27 March 1995 | 1 April 1995 | 2007–2010 |
| Robson Green & Jerome Flynn | "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" | 21 November 1994 | 8 May 1995 | 1995, (2×: 1 May 1995) |
| Robson & Jerome | "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" | 30 October 1995 | 1 November 1995 | 1995 |
| Coolio ft. L.V. | "Gangsta's Paradise" | 16 October 1995 | 1 November 1995 | 1995 |
| Simply Red | "Fairground" | 18 September 1995 | 1 November 1995 | — |
| Michael Jackson | "Earth Song" | 27 November 1995 | 1 December 1995 | 1996 |
| Babylon Zoo | "Spaceman" | 15 January 1996 | 1 January 1996 | 1996 |
| Oasis | "Wonderwall"[No 2] | 30 October 1995 | 1 January 1996 | 2007 |
| Everything but the Girl | "Missing"[No 3] | 6 October 1995 | 1 January 1996 | — |
| Boyzone | "Father and Son"[No 2] | 13 November 1995 | 1 January 1996 | — |
| Take That | "How Deep Is Your Love" | 26 February 1996 | 1 March 1996 | — |
| Oasis | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | 19 February 1996 | 1 April 1996 | — |
| Robert Miles | "Children"[No 2] | 12 February 1996 | 1 April 1996 | — |
| Mark Morrison | "Return of the Mack" | 4 March 1996 | 1 May 1996 | — |
| Gina G | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" | 25 March 1996 | 1 May 1996 | — |
| Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | 1 June 1996 | 1 July 1996 | — |
| Fugees | "Killing Me Softly | 3 June 1996 | 1 June 1996 | 1996, (2×: 1 August 1996) |
| Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | 15 July 1996 | 1 August 1996 | 1996 |
| Spice Girls | "Say You'll Be There" | 14 October 1996 | 1 October 1996 | — |
| Various Artists | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | 9 December 1996 | 1 December 1996 | — |
| Spice Girls | "2 Become 1" | 16 December 1996 | 1 December 1996 | 1997 |
| Robson & Jerome | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" | 28 October 1996 | 1 January 1997 | — |
| Toni Braxton | "Un-Break My Heart"[No 2] | 21 October 1996 | 1 January 1997 | — |
| The Prodigy | "Breathe" | 11 November 1996 | 1 December 1996 | — |
| Spice Girls | "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are" | 3 March 1997 | 1 March 1997 | — |
| Hanson | "MMMBop" | 26 May 1997 | 1 June 1997 | — |
| R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | 17 March 1997 | 1 June 1997 | — |
| Oasis | "D'You Know What I Mean?" | 7 July 1997 | 1 July 1997 | — |
| The Rembrandts | "I'll Be There for You"[No 3] | 21 August 1995 | 1 July 1997 | — |
| Will Smith | "Men in Black" | 4 August 1997 | 1 August 1997 | — |
| Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans | "I'll Be Missing You" | 16 June 1997 | 1 July 1997 | 1997, (2×: 1 August 1997) |
| Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" |
13 September 1997 | 1 September 1997 | 1997, (2–6×: 1 September 1997) (7–9×: 1 October 1997) |
| Chumbawamba | "Tubthumping"[No 2] | 11 August 1997 | 1 October 1997 | — |
| Spice Girls | "Spice Up Your Life" | 13 October 1997 | 17 October 1997 | — |
| Various Artists | "Perfect Day" | 17 November 1997 | 21 November 1997 | 1997, (2×: 9 January 1998) |
| Aqua | "Barbie Girl" | 1 October 1997 | 7 November 1997 | 1997, (2×: 5 December 1997) |
| All Saints | "Never Ever" | 10 November 1997 | 5 December 1997 | 1998, (2×: 30 January 1998) |
| Natalie Imbruglia | "Torn"[No 2] | 27 October 1997 | 12 December 1997 | 2007 |
| Teletubbies | "Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'" | 1 December 1997 | 12 December 1997 | 1997, (2×: 19 December 1997) |
| Spice Girls | "Too Much" | 12 December 1997 | 9 January 1998 | — |
| Janet Jackson | "Together Again"[No 4] | 1 December 1997 | 23 January 1998 | — |
| Run-D.M.C. vs Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | 9 March 1998 | 27 March 1998 | 1998 |
| Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 9 February 1998 | 27 February 1998 | 1998, (2×: 24 April 1998) |
| Savage Garden | "Truly Madly Deeply"[No 4] | 16 February 1998 | 29 May 1998 | — |
| Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "3 Lions '98" | 1 June 1998 | 3 July 1998 | — |
| B*Witched | "C'est la Vie" | 1 June 1998 | 3 July 1998 | — |
| LeAnn Rimes | "How Do I Live"[No 7] | 2 March 1998 | 17 July 1998 | — |
| Boyzone | "No Matter What" | 3 August 1998 | 7 August 1998 | 1998 |
| Spice Girls | "Viva Forever" | 20 July 1998 | 13 August 1998 | — |
| Pras Michel ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mýa | "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"[No 2] | — | 21 August 1998 | — |
| Cher | "Believe" | 19 October 1998 | 30 October 1998 | 1998, (2×: 8 January 1999) (3×: 1 August 2014) |
| Stardust | "Music Sounds Better with You"[No 2] | 10 August 1998 | 6 November 1998 | — |
| Robbie Williams | "Angels"[No 4] | 1 December 1997 | 6 February 1998 | 1998, (2×: 4 December 1998) |
| Spice Girls | "Goodbye" | 14 December 1998 | 18 December 1998 | — |
| Steps | "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" | 9 November 1998 | 8 January 1999 | 1999 |
| Bryan Adams ft. Melanie C | "When You're Gone"[No 3] | 30 November 1998 | 12 February 1999 | — |
| Chef | "Chocolate Salty Balls" | 14 December 1998 | 26 February 1999 | — |
| Boyzone | "When the Going Gets Tough" | 1 March 1999 | 19 March 1999 | — |
| Britney Spears | "Baby One More Time" | 15 February 1999 | 19 February 1999 | 1999, (2×: 26 March 1999) |
| Mr. Oizo | "Flat Beat" | 22 March 1999 | 1 April 1999 | — |
| Martine McCutcheon | "Perfect Moment" | 5 April 1999 | 14 May 1999 | — |
| Shanks & Bigfoot | "Sweet Like Chocolate" | 17 May 1999 | 4 June 1999 | — |
| Shania Twain | "That Don't Impress Me Much"[No 3] | 10 May 1999 | 16 July 1999 | — |
| TLC | "No Scrubs"[No 3] | 14 December 1998 | 18 December 1998 | — |
| ATB | "9pm (Till I Come)" | 21 June 1999 | 23 July 1999 | — |
| S Club 7 | "Bring It All Back" | 7 June 1999 | 30 July 1999 | — |
| Ricky Martin | "Livin' la Vida Loca" | 1 July 1999 | 13 August 1999 | — |
| Lou Bega | "Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of...)" | 1 August 1999 | 17 September 1999 | — |
| Eiffel 65 | "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" | 13 September 1999 | 8 October 1999 | 1999 |
| Cliff Richard | "The Millennium Prayer" | 15 November 1999 | 3 December 1999 | — |
| Westlife | "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" | 13 December 1999 | 23 December 1999 | — |
| R. Kelly | "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time"[No 2] | 18 October 1999 | 14 January 2000 | — |
| Artful Dodger | "Re-Rewind"[No 2] | 29 November 1999 | 3 March 2000 | — |
| Alice DeeJay | "Better off Alone"[No 2] | 19 July 1999 | 19 May 2000 | — |
Additional information
- [No 2]: The singles "I Swear",[36] "Wonderwall",[37] "Father and Son",[38] "Children",[39] "Un-Break My Heart",[40] "Tubthumping",[41] "Torn",[42] "Ghetto Superstar",[43] "Music Sounds Better with You",[44] "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time",[45] and "Better Off Alone"[46] peaked at number two in the UK Singles chart.
- [No 3]: The singles "I'll Be There for You",[47] "Missing",[48] "When You're Gone",[49] "That Don't Impress Me Much",[50] and "No Scrubs"[51] peaked at number three in the UK Singles chart.
- [No 4]: The singles "Together Again",[52] "Truly Madly Deeply",[53] and "Angels"[54] peaked at number four in the UK Singles chart.
- [No 7]: The single "How Do I Live" peaked at number seven in the UK Singles chart.[55]
Notes
- The artist, song name, date of number-one and duration are those given by The Official Charts Company. The dates are those for the Saturday after publication. The actual sales week represented is that up to and including the previous Saturday (i.e. from 13 to 7 days prior to the chart date).[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
- For the week ending 15 September 1990, "The Joker" was tied with Deee-Lite's "Groove Is in the Heart" for the number of copies sold. Due to a rule introduced in the 1980s, the song that had climbed the most in the charts from the previous weeks was classified as number-one – "The Joker" climbed five places and "Groove Is in the Heart" had climbed three places. As a result of this controversial technicality, the rule was later scrapped and it was announced that "The Joker" had sold eight more copies after sales figures had been reviewed.[24][25]
- The number of sales required to qualify for Platinum, Gold and Silver discs was dropped in 1989 from the former thresholds of Silver (250,000 units), Gold (500,000 units), and Platinum (1,000,000 units) to the current thresholds of Silver (200,000 units), Gold (400,000 units), and Platinum (600,000 units)[26][28]
References
- General
- Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 689–704. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- Specific
- "Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts". London: The Official UK Charts Company. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
- Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 14. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
- "New singles formats to save the charts". BBC News. 16 October 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- "Corporate FAQs". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- "Charting a rocky course". BBC News. 14 April 2000. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- Dennis, Jon (5 August 2003). "Chart attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). p. 689.
- "Celebrating 1,000 Number Ones" (PDF). Music Week. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- "Elton's candle burns in Canada". BBC News. 11 October 1999. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- "Cher's treble success". BBC News. 27 May 1999. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). p. 704.
- Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). pp. 475, 500.
- "Chart Archive – 2000s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1990". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1991". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1992". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1993". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1994". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1995". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1996". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1997". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1998". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- "All the Number One Singles: 1999". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- Cousins, Andrew (November 2007). "The Music Scene in 1990". Inside Time. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- "Record-Breakers and Trivia: Quirks Of The Number One Position". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- "International Certification Award levels" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 2010. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- Gallup (4 February 1989). "The Top of the Pops Chart" (PDF). Record Mirror: 4. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
- "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
Customise search with the following settings – Search by: "Keyword", By Award: "Platinum", By Format: "Single" – then search by each individual year. - "Stats and Facts: Million Sellers". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- "Million-Selling Singles". everyHit. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- Jones, Alan (1 June 2010). "Pendulum and Black Eyed Peas make historic week for sales charts". Music Week.
19 singles released in the last century have also crossed the million sales mark, including such veteran campaigners as ... Take That’s Back For Good (959,000 to 1,042,000).
- "The Biggest-Selling Love Songs of All Time". everyHit.com. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
- Ken Bruce (presenter) (30 August 2010). "UK's Million Sellers with Ken Bruce". BBC. BBC Radio Two. Missing or empty
|series=(help) - Espiner, Mark (30 June 2001). "Sounds and vision – The Guardian Profile: George Martin". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: All-4-One". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Featured Artists: Oasis". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Boyzone". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Robert Miles". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Toni Braxton". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Chumbawamba". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Natalie Imbruglia". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Mya". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Stardust". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: R. Kelly". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Alice DeeJay". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Rembrandts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Everything but the Girl". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Melanie C". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Shania Twain". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: TLC". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Janet Jackson". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: Savage Garden". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Featured Artists: Robbie Williams". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Artist Chart History: LeAnn Rimes". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
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