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]
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. 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]
| Best-selling single of the year[13] | |||
| scope=row style="background-color:lightblue" | ‡ | Best-selling single of the decade |
|---|
| scope=col | scope=col | Artist | scope=col | Single | scope=col | Record label | scope=col | Week ending date | scope=col | Weeks at number one | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 638 | Band Aid II | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | PWL | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 639 | New Kids on the Block | "Hangin' Tough" | CBS | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 640 | "Tears on My Pillow" | PWL | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 641 | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | Ensign | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 642 | Beats International | "Dub Be Good to Me" | Go! Beat | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 643 | Snap! | "" | Arista | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 644 | Madonna | "Vogue" | Sire | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 645 | "Killer" | MCA | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 646 | Englandneworder | "World in Motion" | Factory | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 647 | "Sacrifice" / "Healing Hands" | Rocket | 5 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 648 | Partners in Kryme | "Turtle Power" | SBK | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 649 | Bombalurina | "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" | Carpet | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 650 | "" | Capitol | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 651 | "Show Me Heaven" | Epic | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 652 | "" | Go! Discs | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 653 | "Unchained Melody" † | Verve/Polydor | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 654 | Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | SBK | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 655 | "Saviour's Day" | EMI | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 656 | Iron Maiden | "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" | EMI | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 657 | Enigma | "Sadness (Part I)" | Virgin International | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 658 | Queen | "Innuendo" | Parlophone | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 659 | "3 a.m. Eternal" | KLF Communications | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 660 | "Do the Bartman" | Geffen | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 661 | "Should I Stay or Should I Go" | Columbia | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 662 | "" | London | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 663 | "" | Chrysalis | 5 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 664 | Cher | "" | Epic | 5 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 665 | Color Me Badd | "I Wanna Sex You Up" | Giant | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 666 | "Any Dream Will Do" | Really Useful | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 667 | "" † | A&M | 16 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 668 | U2 | "" | Island | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 669 | and The Wonder Stuff | "Dizzy" | Sense | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 670 | "Black or White" | Epic | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 671 | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Epic | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 672 | Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" | Parlophone | 5 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 673 | Wet Wet Wet | "Goodnight Girl" | The Precious Organisation | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 674 | Shakespears Sister | "Stay" | London | 8 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 675 | Right Said Fred | "Deeply Dippy" | Tug | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 676 | KWS | "Please Don't Go" | Network | 5 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 677 | Erasure | Mute | 5 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 678 | "Ain't No Doubt" | East West | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 679 | Snap! | "Rhythm Is a Dancer" | Arista | 6 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 680 | "Ebeneezer Goode" | One Little Indian | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 681 | "Sleeping Satellite" | EMI | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 682 | Boyz II Men | "End of the Road" | Motown | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 683 | Charles & Eddie | "Would I Lie to You?" | Capitol | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 684 | Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" † | Arista | 10 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 685 | 2 Unlimited | "No Limit" | PWL Continental | 5 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 686 | Shaggy | "Oh Carolina" | Greensleeves | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 687 | "Young at Heart" | London | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 688 | and Queen with Lisa Stansfield | Five Live (EP) | Parlophone | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 689 | Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | London | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 690 | UB40 | "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" | DEP International | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 691 | Gabrielle | "Dreams" | Go! Beat | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 692 | Take That | "Pray" | RCA | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 693 | "Living on My Own" | Parlophone | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 694 | Culture Beat | "Mr. Vain" | Epic | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 695 | DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince | "Boom! Shake the Room" | Jive | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 696 | Take That featuring Lulu | "Relight My Fire" | RCA | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 697 | Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" † | Virgin | 7 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 698 | Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | Destiny Music | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 699 | Take That | "Babe" | RCA | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | Destiny Music | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 700 | "Twist and Shout" | Mango | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 701 | D:Ream | "Things Can Only Get Better" | Magnet | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 702 | "Without You" | Columbia | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 703 | Doop | "Doop" | Citybeat | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 704 | Take That | "Everything Changes" | RCA | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 705 | Prince | "" | NPG | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 706 | "" | Cleveland City Blues | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 707 | Stiltskin | "Inside" | White Water | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 708 | Manchester United F.C. | "Come On You Reds" | Polydor | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 709 | Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" † | The Precious Organisation | 15 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 710 | Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | Systematic | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 711 | Take That | "Sure" | RCA | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 712 | Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell | "Baby Come Back" | Virgin | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 713 | Baby D | "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" | Systematic | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 714 | East 17 | "Stay Another Day" | London | 5 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 715 | Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | Internal Affairs | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 716 | "Think Twice" | Epic | 7 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 717 | Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | "Love Can Build a Bridge" | London | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 718 | The Outhere Brothers | "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" | Eternal | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 719 | Take That | "Back for Good" | RCA | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 720 | Oasis | "Some Might Say" | Creation | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 721 | Livin' Joy | "Dreamer" | Undiscovered | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 722 | Robson & Jerome | "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" † | RCA | 7 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 723 | The Outhere Brothers | "Boom Boom Boom" | Eternal | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 724 | Take That | "Never Forget" | RCA | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 725 | Blur | "Country House" | Food | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 726 | "You Are Not Alone" | Epic | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 727 | Shaggy | "Boombastic" | Virgin | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 728 | Simply Red | "Fairground" | East West | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 729 | Coolio featuring L.V. | "Gangsta's Paradise" | Tommy Boy | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 730 | Robson & Jerome | "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" | RCA | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 731 | "Earth Song" | Epic | 6 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 732 | "Jesus to a Child" | Virgin | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 733 | Babylon Zoo | "Spaceman" | EMI | 5 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 734 | Oasis | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | Creation | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 735 | Take That | "How Deep Is Your Love" | RCA | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 736 | "Firestarter" | XL | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 737 | "Return of the Mack" | WEA | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 738 | "Fastlove" | Virgin | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 739 | Gina G | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" | Eternal | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 740 | Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | Epic | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 741 | Fugees | "Killing Me Softly" † | Columbia | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | Epic | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | Fugees | "Killing Me Softly" † | Columbia | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 742 | "Forever Love" | RCA | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 743 | Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | Virgin | 7 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 744 | "Flava" | Mushroom | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 745 | Fugees | "Ready or Not" | Columbia | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 746 | Deep Blue Something | "Breakfast at Tiffany's" | Interscope | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 747 | "Setting Sun" | Virgin | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 748 | Boyzone | "Words" | Polydor | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 749 | Spice Girls | "Say You'll Be There" | Virgin | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 750 | Robson & Jerome | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" / "Saturday Night at the Movies" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" | RCA | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 751 | "Breathe" | XL | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 752 | "I Feel You" | Mushroom | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 753 | Boyzone | "" | Polydor | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 754 | Dunblane | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | RCA | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 755 | Spice Girls | "2 Become 1" | Virgin | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 756 | "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" | East West | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 757 | White Town | "Your Woman" | Chrysalis | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 758 | Blur | "Beetlebum" | Food | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 759 | LL Cool J | "Ain't Nobody" | Geffen | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 760 | U2 | "Discotheque" | Island | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 761 | No Doubt | "Don't Speak" | Interscope | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 762 | Spice Girls | "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are" | Virgin | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 763 | "Block Rockin' Beats" | Virgin | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 764 | "I Believe I Can Fly" | Jive | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 765 | "Blood on the Dance Floor" | Epic | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 766 | "Love Won't Wait" | RCA | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 767 | Olive | "You're Not Alone" | RCA | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 768 | Eternal featuring BeBe Winans | "I Wanna Be the Only One" | EMI | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 769 | Hanson | "MMMBop" | Mercury | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 770 | Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 | "I'll Be Missing You" | Puff Daddy | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 771 | Oasis | "D'You Know What I Mean?" | Creation | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 | "I'll Be Missing You" | Puff Daddy | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 772 | "Men in Black" | Columbia | 4 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 773 | "" | Hut | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 774 | "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" ‡ | Rocket | 5 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 775 | Spice Girls | "Spice Up Your Life" | Virgin | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 776 | Aqua | "Barbie Girl" | Universal | 4 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 777 | "Perfect Day" | Chrysalis | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 778 | Teletubbies | "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"" | BBC Worldwide | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 779 | Spice Girls | "Too Much" | Virgin | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | "Perfect Day" | Chrysalis | 1 | ||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 780 | All Saints | "Never Ever" | London | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 781 | Oasis | "All Around the World" | Creation | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 782 | Usher | "You Make Me Wanna..." | LaFace | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 783 | Aqua | "Doctor Jones" | Universal | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 784 | "My Heart Will Go On" | Epic | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 785 | Cornershop | "Brimful of Asha" | Wiiija | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 786 | Madonna | "Frozen" | Maverick | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | "My Heart Will Go On" | Epic | 1 | ||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 787 | Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | Sm:)e Communications | 6 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 788 | Boyzone | "All That I Need" | Polydor | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 789 | All Saints | "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" | London | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 790 | Aqua | "Turn Back Time" | Universal | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | All Saints | "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" | London | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 791 | "Feel It" | Pepper | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 792 | B*Witched | "C'est la Vie" | Epic | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 793 | Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds | "3 Lions '98" | Epic | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 794 | Billie | "Because We Want To" | Innocent | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 795 | Another Level | "Freak Me" | Northwestside | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 796 | Jamiroquai | "Deeper Underground" | Sony S2 | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 797 | Spice Girls | "Viva Forever" | Virgin | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 798 | Boyzone | "No Matter What" | Polydor | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 799 | Manic Street Preachers | "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" | Epic | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 800 | All Saints | "Bootie Call" | London | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 801 | "Millennium" | Chrysalis | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 802 | featuring Missy Elliott | "I Want You Back" | Virgin | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 803 | B*Witched | "Rollercoaster" | Epic | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 804 | Billie | "Girlfriend" | Innocent | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 805 | Spacedust | "Gym and Tonic" | East West | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 806 | Cher | "Believe" † | WEA | 7 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 807 | B*Witched | "To You I Belong" | Epic | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 808 | Spice Girls | "Goodbye" | Virgin | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2 | |||||||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 809 | Chef | "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)" | Columbia | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 810 | Steps | "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" | Jive | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 811 | Fatboy Slim | "Praise You" | Skint | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 812 | 911 | "A Little Bit More" | Virgin | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 813 | "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" | Columbia | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 814 | "You Don't Know Me" | ffrr | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 815 | Blondie | "Maria" | Beyond Music | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 816 | "Fly Away" | Virgin | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 817 | "" † | Jive | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 818 | Boyzone | "When the Going Gets Tough" | Polydor | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 819 | B*Witched | "Blame It on the Weatherman" | Epic | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 820 | Mr. Oizo | "Flat Beat" | F Communications | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 821 | "Perfect Moment" | Innocent | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 822 | Westlife | "Swear It Again" | RCA | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 823 | Backstreet Boys | "I Want It That Way" | Jive | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 824 | Boyzone | "You Needed Me" | Polydor | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 825 | Shanks & Bigfoot | "Sweet Like Chocolate" | Pepper | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 826 | "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" | EMI | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 827 | S Club 7 | "Bring It All Back" | Polydor | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 828 | Vengaboys | "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" | Positiva | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 829 | ATB | "9 PM (Till I Come)" | Ministry of Sound | 2 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 830 | "Livin' la Vida Loca" | Columbia | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 831 | "When You Say Nothing at All" | Polydor | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 832 | Westlife | "If I Let You Go" | RCA | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 833 | "Mi Chico Latino" | EMI | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 834 | "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)" | RCA | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 835 | Vengaboys | "We're Going to Ibiza!" | Positiva | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 836 | Eiffel 65 | "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" | Eternal | 3 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 837 | "Genie in a Bottle" | RCA | 2 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 838 | Westlife | "Flying Without Wings" | RCA | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 839 | Five | "Keep on Movin'" | RCA | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 840 | "Lift Me Up" | EMI | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 841 | "She's the One" / "It's Only Us" | Chrysalis | 1 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 842 | Wamdue Project | "King of My Castle" | AM:PM | 1 | ||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 843 | "" | EMI | 3 | |||||||
| scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 844 | Westlife | "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" | RCA | 4 |
| scope=col | Artist | scope=col | Weeks at number-one |
|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Spice Girls | 22 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Take That | 21 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Wet Wet Wet | 19 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Bryan Adams | 16 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Cher | 13 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Robson & Jerome | 13 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Elton John | 12 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Michael Jackson | 11 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Whitney Houston | 10 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Queen | 9 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Celine Dion | 9 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | George Michael | 9 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Boyzone | 9 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Snap! | 8 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Shakespears Sister | 8 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Westlife | 8 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Aqua | 7 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Meat Loaf | 7 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | B*Witched | 6 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Run–D.M.C. | 6 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Jason Nevins | 6 | |
The following songs spent at least six weeks at number one during the 1990s.
| scope=col | Artist | scope=col | Song | scope=col | 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" | ||||
| Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112 | "I'll Be Missing You" | ||||
| Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | ||||
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.
| scope=col | Artist | scope=col | Number ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Spice Girls | 8 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Take That | 8 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Boyzone | 6 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | B*Witched | 4 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Michael Jackson | 4 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | George Michael | 4 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Oasis | 4 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Westlife | 4 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | All Saints | 3 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Aqua | 3 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Cher | 3 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Elton John | 3 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Queen | 3 | |
| scope=row style="text-align:left;" | Robson & Jerome | 3 | |
The following record labels had five or more number ones on the UK Singles Chart during the 1990s.
| scope=col | Record label | scope=col | Number ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCA | 22 | ||
| Virgin/Virgin International | 19 | ||
| Epic | 17 | ||
| Polydor | 10 | ||
| Columbia/CBS | 9 | ||
| EMI | 9 | ||
| London | 9 | ||
| Chrysalis | 5 | ||
| Jive | 5 | ||
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.[14] [15] 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.[14]
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.[16] Thirty records from the decade sold over one million units.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] 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.[22] "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.
The singles "I Swear",[23] "Wonderwall",[24] "Father and Son",[25] "Children",[26] "Un-Break My Heart",[27] "Tubthumping",[28] "Torn",[29] "Ghetto Superstar",[30] "Music Sounds Better with You",[31] "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time",[32] and "Better Off Alone"[33] peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart.
The singles "I'll Be There for You",[34] "Missing",[35] "When You're Gone",[36] "That Don't Impress Me Much",[37] and "No Scrubs"[38] peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart.
The singles "Together Again",[39] "Truly Madly Deeply",[40] and "Angels"[41] peaked at number four in the UK Singles Chart.
The single "How Do I Live" peaked at number seven in the UK Singles Chart.[42]