2005 in British music charts explained

This is a summary of 2005 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts. Average sales for a number-one single were 80,437 per week.

Prominent music genres included girlgroup pop, with the success of Sugababes and Girls Aloud, as well as Rock, Indie Rock and Soul.

Elvis Presley broke the record for the most UK number-one singles. Arctic Monkeys helped a continued resurgence of Indie Rock music, as part of the post-punk revival scene scoring two UK No1 singles in 2005, including I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.

Summary

The first number one of the year, displacing Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?",[1] was Steve Brookstein with his cover version of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds".

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of his birth, one of Elvis Presley's eighteen Number One singles were released each week from January until May. The first, "Jailhouse Rock", entered at Number One in early January. The second, "One Night", was the 1000th number-one single in the UK charts, and also set the record for being the lowest-selling weekly sale ever to reach the top spot. The run did not extend to a third week with "A Fool Such As I" only making number two, having been beaten by the debut release by Ciara. Elvis returned to the top spot in the fourth week, with "It's Now or Never".

The Scissor Sisters topped the album chart in the second week of 2005 having had a very successful 2004. Their eponymous album Scissor Sisters was released on 9 February 2004 and went on to sell 1,594,000 copies by the end of that year.

On 14 January pop band Busted announced that they were to split. The band had released two albums and topped the singles chart four times.

The Chemical Brothers topped the album and download charts with Push the Button and "Galvanize",[2] respectively, with the single reaching the top ten. Keane returned to the top of the chart in the second week of February due to their success at the BRIT Awards, while on 6 February, Eminem got his sixth number one with "Like Toy Soldiers", making him the most successful rap artist in the UK singles chart.

On 6 March, Stereophonics earned their first number-one single with "Dakota",[3] the first single to be taken from their new album, Language. Sex. Violence. Other?, which topped the album chart two weeks later.

The Comic Relief single of the year, the double A-side of "All About You" and "You've Got a Friend" by McFly, reached the top of the chart on 13 March. It was knocked off by a second Comic Relief single – a reissue of Tony Christie's "Is This the Way to Amarillo" with the associated video seeing comedian Peter Kay mime alongside various guest stars. Tony Christie topped the singles, album and download chart. The song spent seven weeks at the top of the singles charts, the longest stay at number 1 since Cher's "Believe" in 1998. On its original release in 1971, the song had charted no higher than No. 18.

On 29 May, Damon Albarn's Gorillaz topped the album charts with Demon Days. The following week, Gorillaz were knocked off the top by Albarn's former Britpop rivals Oasis who in turn were knocked off the top by Coldplay's eagerly awaited X&Y, which was met with mixed reviews itself. It was the second fastest album on first week sales only, second only to Oasis' 1997 release, Be Here Now.

Headliners at the major festivals included: The Foo Fighters and Green Day at T in the Park;[4] Faithless, Morrissey and R.E.M. at the Isle of Wight Festival; Feeder, Black Sabbath and System of a Down at the Download Festival; Scissor Sisters and Oasis at V Festival; Basement Jaxx and Faithless at Creamfields; New Order, Basement Jaxx, Keane and Kasabian at the Wireless Festival; Foo Fighters, Pixies and Iron Maiden at the Carling Weekend, while Glastonbury seen White Stripes, Coldplay and Basement Jaxx headline.

On 17 July 2005 James Blunt's single "You're Beautiful" went to number one six weeks after its release, having been in the top 15 for all the previous weeks. His album Back To Bedlam had hit the top spot the week previous. After five weeks at the top, he was then replaced by McFly, who scored their fourth chart topper with I'll Be OK, the second release from their second album Wonderland which was to also top the album chart, making them the youngest band ever to have scored two UK number-one albums.

Oasis then followed up their May chart topper Lyla with a second, The Importance of Being Idle, which would be their final number one before their break up in 2009. Gorillaz then scored their first (and to date only) number 1 when Dare, featuring the vocals of Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder topped the chart for a week. Pussycat Dolls reached number 1 on 11 September with Don't Cha, becoming the first American girl band to top the charts since Destiny's Child in 2001. Their next release, Stickwitu, would also top the chart for two weeks in early December.

After a year's break, Sugababes returned to the top of the charts for the fourth time with the release of Push the Button, and their fourth studio LP Taller in More Ways. These releases along with the album's second single Ugly would prove to be their last with Mutya Buena, who departed from the band that December to be replaced by Amelle Berrabah. The Arctic Monkeys entered the UK mainstream when their debut single, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", went in at Number One on 23 October, beating the new single by Robbie Williams and knocking the Sugababes off the top.

Robbie Williams' new album Intensive Care set a new record when it topped the UK album chart on 30 October, with British acts occupying the number-one spot in the album chart for 25 consecutive weeks. The previous record, set in March 1990, was 24 weeks.[5]

Kate Bush returned to the music world after a 12-year absence[6] with the single "King of the Mountain", which became her biggest UK hit in 20 years by reaching No. 4, and was followed on 7 November by the acclaimed double album Aerial, which reached No. 3 and was certified platinum.

In the latter part of the year, the album chart was dominated by the usual range of 'greatest hits' packages, the most successful being Eminem's , which topped the chart for four weeks in December and sold around nearly a million copies by early 2006. Mariah Carey also had success with her Greatest Hits album. Madonna also launched another successful comeback, spending three weeks at number one with her single "Hung Up". The coveted Christmas number one spot was taken by The X Factor winner Shayne Ward, who comfortably beat surprise contenders Nizlopi and the charity re-release of "Fairytale of New York". His single, "That's My Goal", became one of the quickest selling songs ever, with over 742,180 copies sold in just four days. Eminem continues to dominate in the albums chart with Curtain Call: The Hits reaching #1 for 5 weeks and selling around a million in the UK.

Chart calculation change

On 17 April, the first combined physical and downloaded singles sales chart was published, in an attempt by the record industry to boost flagging singles sales. It was suggested that this might make a significant impact on the demographics of chart as 96% of people downloading from the Internet at the time were male.[7]

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)Sales
1 January"Do They Know It's Christmas?"Band Aid 20231,929
8 January"Against All Odds"Steve Brookstein26,400
15 January"Jailhouse Rock"Elvis Presley21,262
22 January"One Night/I Got Stung"20,463
29 January"Goodies"21,128
5 February"It's Now or Never"Elvis Presley21,887
12 February"Like Toy Soldiers"Eminem30,496
19 February"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"U230,359
26 February"Get Right"Jennifer Lopez49,928
5 March"Over and Over"Nelly featuring Tim McGraw41,528
12 March"Dakota"Stereophonics40,378
19 March"All About You/You've Got a Friend"McFly158,000
26 March"(Is This the Way to) Amarillo"Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay266,844
2 April261,031
9 April130,700
16 April99,636
23 April69,000
30 April57,810
7 May47,945
14 May"Lonely"Akon87,695
21 May59,772
28 May"Lyla"Oasis75,124
4 June"Axel F"Crazy Frog149,466
11 June120,246
18 June72,281
25 June52,084
2 July"Ghetto Gospel"2Pac featuring Elton John56,016
9 July54,820
16 July39,627
23 July"You're Beautiful"James Blunt38,951
30 July46,443
6 August51,671
13 August44,875
20 August35,671
27 August"I'll Be OK"McFly45,814
3 September"The Importance of Being Idle"Oasis47,235
10 September"Dare"Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder26,661
17 September"Don't Cha"Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes85,021
24 September65,120
1 October44,897
8 October"Push the Button" 78,282
15 October64,489
22 October46,783
29 October"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"Arctic Monkeys38,962
5 November"You Raise Me Up" 97,288
12 November58,175
19 November"Hung Up" 105,128
26 November59,969
3 December40,254
10 December"Stickwitu" Pussycat Dolls 43,989
17 December31,311
24 December"JCB" 81,660
31 December"That's My Goal" 742,180

Number-one downloads

Chart date
(week ending)
Song Artist(s)
1 January "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 20
8 January "Vertigo" U2
15 January "What You Waiting For?" Gwen Stefani
22 January
29 January "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" Green Day
5 February "Galvanize" The Chemical Brothers
12 February
19 February
26 February
5 March "Dakota" Stereophonics
12 March
19 March "All About You/You've Got a Friend" McFly
26 March
2 April "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay
9 April
16 April
23 April
30 April "Speed of Sound" Coldplay
7 May
14 May
21 May "Don't Phunk with My Heart" The Black Eyed Peas
28 May
4 June "Feel Good Inc." Gorillaz featuring De La Soul
11 June
18 June
25 June "You're Beautiful" James Blunt
2 July
9 July
16 July "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Paul McCartney & U2
23 July "Electricity" Elton John
30 July "You're Beautiful" James Blunt
6 August
13 August "Bad Day" Daniel Powter
20 August
27 August
3 September
10 September
17 September "Don't Cha" The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
24 September
1 October
8 October "Push the Button" Sugababes
15 October
22 October
29 October
5 November "Hung Up" Madonna
12 November
19 November
26 November
3 December
10 December
17 December
24 December "JCB Song" Nizlopi
31 December "That's My Goal" Shayne Ward

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album Artist
1 January Greatest Hits Robbie Williams
8 January American Idiot Green Day
15 January Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters
22 January Hot Fuss The Killers
29 January
5 February Push the Button The Chemical Brothers
12 February Tourist Athlete
19 February Hopes and Fears Keane
26 February Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters
5 March Some Cities Doves
12 March G4 G4
19 March The Massacre 50 Cent
26 March Language. Sex. Violence. Other? Stereophonics
2 April Definitive Collection Tony Christie
9 April
16 April Counting Down the Days Natalie Imbruglia
23 April The Singles Basement Jaxx
30 April Trouble Akon
7 May Devils and Dust Bruce Springsteen
14 May Trouble Akon
21 May Heart and Soul Steve Brookstein
28 May Forever Faithless – The Greatest HitsFaithless
4 June Demon Days Gorillaz
11 June Don't Believe the Truth Oasis
18 June X&Y Coldplay
25 June
2 July
9 July
16 July Back to BedlamJames Blunt
23 July
30 July
6 August
13 August
20 August
27 August
3 September
10 September Wonderland McFly
17 September Back to Bedlam James Blunt
24 September Life in Slow Motion David Gray
1 October
8 October Piece by Piece Katie Melua
15 October You Could Have It So Much Better Franz Ferdinand
22 October Taller in More Ways Sugababes
29 October The Prodigy
5 November Intensive Care Robbie Williams
12 November Face to Face Westlife
19 November Ancora Il Divo
26 November Confessions on a Dancefloor Madonna
3 December
10 December Eminem
17 December
24 December
31 December

Number-one compilation albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album
1 January Now 59
8 January
15 January R&B Anthems 2005
2 April Now 60
7 May Happy Songs
14 May Clubland X-Treme Hardcore
21 May Happy Songs
28 May Massive R&B
4 June
11 June Driving Rock Ballads
18 June Dad Rocks
25 June
2 July Hairbrush Divas Presents Sing-A-Long Summer
9 July Clubland 7
16 July Gatecrasher Classics
23 July
30 July
6 August Now 61
13 August
20 August
27 August
3 September
15 October Acoustic Love
22 October
29 October
5 November Pop Party 3
12 November
19 November
26 November
3 December Now 62
10 December
17 December
24 December
31 December

Year-end charts

Between 2 January and 31 December 2005.

Best-selling singles

[8]

scope=colscope=colTitlescope=colArtistscope=colPeak
position
scope=colSales[9]
scope=row style="text-align:center;"1"(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" featuring Peter Kay11,100,233
scope=row style="text-align:center;"2"That's My Goal"1874,444
scope=row style="text-align:center;"3"Axel F"Crazy Frog1525,123
scope=row style="text-align:center;"4"You're Beautiful"1474,455
scope=row style="text-align:center;"5"Don't Cha"Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes1380,936
scope=row style="text-align:center;"6"All About You"/"You've Got a Friend"McFly1338,553
scope=row style="text-align:center;"7"Lonely"Akon1334,413
scope=row style="text-align:center;"8"Hung Up"Madonna1327,504
scope=row style="text-align:center;"9"You Raise Me Up"Westlife1323,466
scope=row style="text-align:center;"10"Push the Button"Sugababes1306,695
scope=row style="text-align:center;"11"Bad Day"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"12"JCB Song"Nizlopi1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"13"Ghetto Gospel"2Pac featuring Elton John1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"14"Feel Good Inc."Gorillaz2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"15"Switch"4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"16"I Like the Way"BodyRockers3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"17"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"Arctic Monkeys1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"18"Let Me Love You"Mario2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"19"Tripping"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"20"We Belong Together"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"21"Signs"Snoop Dogg featuring Justin Timberlake & Charlie Wilson2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"22"Shot You Down"Audio Bullys featuring Nancy Sinatra3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"23"Get Right"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"24"Don't Phunk with My Heart"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"25"Over and Over"Nelly featuring Tim McGraw1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"26"Dare"Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"27"We Be Burnin'"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"28"Stickwitu"Pussycat Dolls1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"29"Candy Shop"50 Cent featuring Olivia4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"30"Since U Been Gone"5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"31"Lyla"Oasis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"32"My Humps"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"33"Pon de Replay"Rihanna2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"34"Crazy Chick"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"35"Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"36"Roc Ya Body (Mic Check 1 2)"MVP5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"37"The Importance of Being Idle"Oasis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"38"1 Thing"Amerie4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"39"Doctor Pressure"Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"40"Dakota"Stereophonics1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"41"Speed of Sound"Coldplay2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"42"Somewhere Else"Razorlight2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"43"No Worries"4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"44"1, 2 Step"Ciara featuring Missy Elliott3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"45"Like Toy Soldiers"Eminem1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"46"Falling Stars"Sunset Strippers3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"47"Hollaback Girl"8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"48"Rich Girl" featuring Eve4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"49"Hate It or Love It" featuring 50 Cent4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"50"Lay Your Hands"4

Best-selling singles downloads

scope=colscope=colTitlescope=colArtist
scope=row style="text-align:center;"1"You're Beautiful"James Blunt
scope=row style="text-align:center;"2"Hung Up"Madonna
scope=row style="text-align:center;"3"Bad Day"Daniel Powter
scope=row style="text-align:center;"4"Push the Button"Sugababes
scope=row style="text-align:center;"5"Feel Good Inc"Gorillaz
scope=row style="text-align:center;"6"Don't Cha"Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
scope=row style="text-align:center;"7"That's My Goal"Shayne Ward
scope=row style="text-align:center;"8"Is This the Way to Amarillo"Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay
scope=row style="text-align:center;"9"Gold Digger"Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
scope=row style="text-align:center;"10"I Like the Way"BodyRockers

Best-selling albums

[10]

scope=colscope=colTitlescope=colArtistscope=colPeak
position
scope=colSales
scope=row style="text-align:center;"1Back to Bedlam12,367,758
scope=row style="text-align:center;"2X&YColdplay11,999,260
scope=row style="text-align:center;"3Intensive Care11,434,315
scope=row style="text-align:center;"4EmploymentKaiser Chiefs31,312,122
scope=row style="text-align:center;"5Demon DaysGorillaz11,198,202
scope=row style="text-align:center;"6Face to FaceWestlife11,142,563
scope=row style="text-align:center;"7Eye to the Telescope31,023,650
scope=row style="text-align:center;"8Breakaway3952,225
scope=row style="text-align:center;"9Eminem1926,012
scope=row style="text-align:center;"10Forever Faithless – The Greatest HitsFaithless1912,887
scope=row style="text-align:center;"11Piece by Piece1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"12Hot Fuss1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"13Don't Believe the TruthOasis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"14AncoraIl Divo1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"15Confessions on a DancefloorMadonna1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"16American IdiotGreen Day1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"17Scissor SistersScissor Sisters1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"18Hopes and FearsKeane1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"19Never Forget – The Ultimate CollectionTake That2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"20Love. Angel. Music. Baby.4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"21Monkey Business4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"22Taller in More WaysSugababes1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"23Life in Slow Motion1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"24The SinglesBasement Jaxx1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"25PCDPussycat Dolls8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"26G4G41
scope=row style="text-align:center;"27In Your HonourFoo Fighters2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"28Definitive Collection1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"29The Massacre50 Cent1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"30In Between Dreams10
scope=row style="text-align:center;"31The Emancipation of Mimi7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"32TouristAthlete1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"33TroubleAkon1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"34Keep On2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"351
scope=row style="text-align:center;"36Ultimate CollectionEurythmics5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"37Language. Sex. Violence. Other?Stereophonics1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"38Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"39The Magic Numbers7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"40Greatest Hits7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"41Retrospectacle – The Supertramp AnthologySupertramp9
scope=row style="text-align:center;"42It's Time4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"43Late Registration2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"44KasabianKasabian4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"45Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"46Guilty Too3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"47Living a Dream4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"48Il DivoIl Divo2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"49Mind Body & Soul9
scope=row style="text-align:center;"50You Could Have It So Much BetterFranz Ferdinand1

Best-selling compilation albums

[11]

scope=colscope=colTitlescope=colPeak
position
scope=row style="text-align:center;"1Now 621
scope=row style="text-align:center;"2Now 611
scope=row style="text-align:center;"3Now 601
scope=row style="text-align:center;"4Pop Party 31
scope=row style="text-align:center;"5Dance Party1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"6Pop Jr2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"7Happy Songs1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"8The Annual 20062
scope=row style="text-align:center;"9Housework Songs3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"10Gatecrasher Classics1

Notes:

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 2005-01-02. X Factor star ends Band Aid reign. en-GB. 2021-06-04.
  2. News: 2005-02-16. Galvanise is still top download. en-GB. 2021-06-04.
  3. News: 2005-04-07. Stereophonics score download hit. en-GB. 2021-06-04.
  4. News: 2005-02-11. Green Day headline T in the Park. en-GB. 2021-06-04.
  5. http://breakingnews.iol.ie/entertainment/?jp=cwcwqlqlcwql IOL | Robbie Williams to set UK chart record
  6. News: 2005-09-01. Kate Bush returns after 12 years. en-GB. 2021-06-04.
  7. News: Move over girls The boys are back in town to buy up the charts . The Times . London . 8 April 2005 . 22 April 2010 . Adam . Sherwin.
  8. 2005 Singles Top 100 . . . London, England . 13 . 14 January 2006.
  9. Book: David . Roberts . . Guinness World Records . London, England . 2006 . 19th . 8 . 978-1-90499-410-7.
  10. 2005 Albums Top 100 . Music Week . UBM . London, England . 15 . 14 January 2006.
  11. Compilations . Music Week . UBM . London, England . 16 . 14 January 2006.