Number 2 Hits of 1997 & 1998

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve featured bumper editions of the Nineties Revival, with an incredible 42 number two hit singles of 1997 and 1998.

 

In these years, England and Scotland qualify for the Football World Cup in France, St Martins Square in Basildon was completed and named and Geri Halliwell sold her Union Jack dress in a charity auction for £41,000.

 

Whilst Billie Piper became the youngest solo female artist to reach number one since Helen Shapiro and Elton John achieved the biggest selling single EVER with Candle in the Wind, there was plenty of  brilliant music which didn’t quite top the charts.

Tuesday 14th of February:

Whitney Houston I’m Every Woman.
Boyzone, Picture Of You.
Cardigans, Love Fool (From Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack).
Sash, Encore Une Fois.
Boyzone, Isn’t It a Wonder.
Blur, Song 2.
No Mercy, Where Do You Go (Summer Anthem).
George Michael, Star People.
Oasis, Stand By Me.
Boyzone, Baby Can I Hold You.
Sash, Stay.
Meredith Brooks, Bitch (US #2).
Mariah Carey, Honey (UK #2 album).

The Verve, Bittersweet Symphony.
Kula Shaker, Hush.
Sash, Ecaudor.
George Michael, You Have Been Loved.
Dario G, Sunchyme.
Natalie Imbruglia, Torn.
Gala, Freed From Desire.
Backstreet Boys, Quit Playing Games With My Heart.
En Vogue, Don’t Let Go (US #2).
Robbie Williams, Old Before I Die.
Paul McCartney, Young Boy (US and UK #2 Album).

Best of the Rest: Warren G, I Shot the Sheriff / Supergrass, Richard III.
More Best of the Rest: Fugees, No Woman No Cry, Sarah Brightman, Time to Say Goodbye.
Number One Movie: She’s The One (Starring Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz).

Numbr One Single: U2, Discotheque (New Entry).
Featured Albums: Butterfly, Mariah Carey and Paul McCartney, Flaming Pie.
TV Show Debuts: Robot Wars, Jonathan Creek and Midsomer Murders.

Tuesday 21st of February:

Blur, Parklife.
Bamboo, Bamboogie.
Backstreet Boys, All I Have To Give.
Natalie Imbruglia, Big Mistake.
Spice Girls, Stop.
All Saints, Never Ever (Best single & Video, 1998 Brit Awards).
Madonna, Ray of Light.
Fat Les, Vindaloo (Unofficial anthem of France ’98).
Pras Michael, Ghetto Superstar.
Will Smith, Just the Two of Us.
Shania Twain, You’re Still The One (US #2).
Sheryl Crow, My Favourite Mistake (UK #2 album track).

Stardust, Music Sounds Better With You.
Steps, One For Sorrow.
Five, Everybody Get Up.
Shola Ama, You Might Need Somebody (Best British Female, 1998 Brit Awards).
T-Spoon, Sex on the Beach (Summer anthem).
Beautiful South, Perfect 10.
911, More Than A Woman.
George Michael, Outside.
Madonna, Frozen (US #2).
Lighthouse Family, Raincloud (UK #2 album track).

Best of the Rest: Busta Rhymes, Turn It Up / Brandy & Monica, Boy is Mine / Sash, Mysterious Times / Puff Daddy, Come with Me.
More Best of the Rest: Brandy, Top of the World / Jay Z, Hard Knock Life / Boyzone, I Love the Way You Love Me.
Number One Movie: Titanic (13 weeks).

Numbr One Single: Cornershop, Brimful of Asha (New Entry).
Featured Albums: Postcards from Heaven, Lighthouse Family & The Globe Sessions, Sheryl Crow.
Random Trivia: What happened to John Prescott at the 1998 Brit Awards?

A: Chumbawamba poured a bucket of water over him.

In the final edition of nineties number two hits there’s classics from Eminem, Phats & Small and Whitney Houston. The Nineties Revival is presented and produced by Mark Hardie and can be heard on Gateway 97.8 FM every Tuesday evening from 7.