The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2][3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1997, as well as singles which peaked in 1996 and 1998 but were in the top 10 in 1997. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
Two hundred and twenty-eight singles were in the top ten in 1997. Ten singles from 1996 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. "Angels" by Robbie Williams and "Never Ever" by All Saints were both released in 1997 but did not reach their peak until 1998.[4][5] Sixty-four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1997. All Saints,[6] Aqua,[7] Daft Punk,[8] Natalie Imbruglia[9] and No Doubt[10] were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1997.
Elton John recorded a reworking of his 1973 single "Candle in the Wind as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in 1997.[11] Released as a double-A side with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" and spending five weeks at number-one, it sold almost 4.8 million copies and remains (as of 2018) the best-selling single of all-time.[12] The other major event to impact the charts in 1997 was the passing of The Notorious B.I.G.[13] A tribute song by Puff Daddy, the rapper's wife Faith Evans and R&B group 112, "I'll Be Missing You" which sampled The Police's "Every Breath You Take", ranked as the third best-selling single of the year.[14]
The 1996 Christmas number-one, "2 Become 1" by Spice Girls, remained at number-one for the first two weeks of 1997.[15] The first new number-one single of the year was "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" by Tori Amos.[16] Overall, twenty-four different singles peaked at number-one in 1997, with Spice Girls (4) having the most singles hit that position.[17]
Background
Multiple entries
Two-hundred and twenty-eight singles charted in the top 10 in 1997, with two-hundred and sixteen singles reaching their peak this year.
Sixty-four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1997. U2 frontman Bono and the five members of Boyzone shared the record for the most top ten singles in 1997 with five hit singles each. Four of Bono's entries were with the band, the most successful of which was the number-one hit "Discothèque" in February.[18] "Staring at the Sun" peaked at number 3 in April,[19] "Please" made number 7 in September[20] and "Last Night on Earth" reached number 10 in July.[21] His other appearance was on the BBC charity single for Children in Need, "Perfect Day", alongside artists such as Boyzone, David Bowie, Elton John and the original composer of the song Lou Reed. The song entered the chart in November and spent 3 weeks at number-one, and 9 weeks in the top 10.[22] Along with U2, eight other acts had four singles in the top 10: 911, Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, Brett Anderson (from the britpop band Suede), George Michael, Spice Girls and Texas
No Doubt were one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Don't Speak".[10] All Saints,[5] Daft Punk,[8] Jon Bon Jovi,[23] Oasis[24] and Toni Braxton were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1997.[25]
Chart debuts
Eighty-five artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1997, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, fourteen went on to record another hit single that year: All Saints, The Course, Daft Punk, DJ Quicksilver, Eels, Hanson,[26] Kavana, Mansun, No Doubt, No Mercy, The Notorious B.I.G., Orbital, The Seahorses and Shola Ama. Sash! and The Verve both had two other entries in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
- Notes
Makaveli was a pseudonym used by the late Tupac Shakur, who had charted at number six under the name 2Pac in 1996 with "California Love", alongside Dr. Dre.[27][28] The Seahorses was formed by former The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire.[29] His old group had debuted in 1989 with "Fools Gold"/"What the World is Waiting For", a number 8 hit.[30]
"Midnight in Chelsea" was Jon Bon Jovi's first single to make an impact without his bandmates, peaking at number four. He had a second hit single this year, "Queen of New Orleans", which reached number 10.[23] Will Smith first made the chart in the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince using his character name from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.[31] The single "Men in Black" was the first time he charted under his own name.[32]
The "Perfect Day" charity single brought together musicians and performers from across entertainment, both established and new to the UK charts but performing as this line-up for the first time. The solo artists with previous chart credits were David Bowie, Elton John, Gabrielle, Joan Armatrading, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega and Tom Jones. Several artists had made the charts with their groups before, including Bono (U2), Brett Anderson (Suede), Heather Small (M People), Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin' Criminals), Ian Broudie (The Lightning Seeds), Shane MacGowan (The Pogues), as well as Keith Duffy, Michael Graham, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately (all Boyzone). Additionally, conductor Andrew Davis, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, string group Brodsky Quartet, soprano saxophone player Courtney Pine and tenor horn player Sheona White all played on the track.[22]
Songs from films
Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Ain't Nobody" and "Love Rollercoaster" (from Beavis & Butthead Do America),[33] "Rumble in the Jungle" (When We Were Kings),[34] "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" (Space Jam),[35] "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" (Evita),[36] "The Saint" (The Saint),[37] "Lovefool" (Romeo + Juliet),[38] "The End Is the Beginning Is the End" and "Gotham City" (Batman & Robin),[39] "Men in Black" (Men in Black),[40] "James Bond Theme" (Tomorrow Never Dies),[41] "You Sexy Thing" (The Full Monty)[42] and "Spice Up Your Life" and "Too Much" (Spiceworld: The Movie).[43]
Charity singles
Best-selling singles
Elton John had the best-selling single of the year with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997". The song spent thirteen weeks in the top 10 (including five weeks at number one), sold over 4.77 million copies and was certified 8× platinum by the BPI.[11] "Barbie Girl" by Aqua came in second place, selling more than 1.5 million copies and losing out by around 3.27 million sales.[7] Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112's "I'll Be Missing You",[44] "Perfect Day" from Various Artists[22] and "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!" " by Teletubbies made up the top five.[45] Singles by Will Smith,[32] No Doubt,[10] Natalie Imbruglia,[9] Spice Girls and Chumbawamba[46] were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.[47]
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" (1) was ranked as the best-selling single of the decade, while "Barbie Girl" (4), "Perfect Day" (6) and "I'll Be Missing You" (9) were all ranked in the top 10 best-selling singles of the 1990s. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" also stands as the biggest-selling single of all time in the UK (as of July 2018).[48]
Top-ten singles
- Key
| Symbol | Meaning |
| ‡ | Single peaked in 1996 but still in chart in 1997. |
| ♦ | Single released in 1997 but peaked in 1998. |
| (#) | Year-end top-ten single position and rank |
| Entered | The date that the single first appeared in the chart. |
|---|---|
| Peak | Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart. |
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1997, including singles that reached their peak in 1996 or 1998. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.
Notes
See also
References
- General
- "Six decades of singles charts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- Specific
External links
- 1997 singles chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)
- Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1997 at the Official Charts Company