List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1990s explained

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]

Number-one singles

Best-selling single of the year[13]
scope=row style="background-color:lightblue" Best-selling single of the decade
scope=colscope=colArtistscope=colSinglescope=colRecord labelscope=colWeek ending datescope=colWeeks at
number one
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"638Band Aid II"Do They Know It's Christmas?"PWL3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"639New Kids on the Block"Hangin' Tough"CBS2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"640"Tears on My Pillow"PWL1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"641"Nothing Compares 2 U"Ensign4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"642Beats International"Dub Be Good to Me"Go! Beat4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"643Snap!""Arista2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"644Madonna"Vogue"Sire4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"645"Killer"MCA4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"646Englandneworder"World in Motion"Factory2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"647"Sacrifice" / "Healing Hands"Rocket5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"648Partners in Kryme"Turtle Power"SBK4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"649Bombalurina"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"Carpet 3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"650"" Capitol2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"651"Show Me Heaven"Epic4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"652""Go! Discs1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"653"Unchained Melody" †Verve/Polydor4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"654Vanilla Ice"Ice Ice Baby"SBK4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"655"Saviour's Day"EMI1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"656Iron Maiden"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"EMI2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"657Enigma"Sadness (Part I)"Virgin International1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"658Queen"Innuendo"Parlophone1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"659"3 a.m. Eternal"KLF Communications2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"660"Do the Bartman"Geffen3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"661"Should I Stay or Should I Go" Columbia2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"662""London1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"663""Chrysalis5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"664Cher""Epic5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"665Color Me Badd"I Wanna Sex You Up"Giant3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"666"Any Dream Will Do"Really Useful2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"667"" †A&M16
scope=row style="text-align:center;"668U2""Island1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"669 and The Wonder Stuff"Dizzy"Sense 2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"670"Black or White"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"671"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"672Queen"Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"Parlophone5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"673Wet Wet Wet"Goodnight Girl"The Precious Organisation4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"674Shakespears Sister"Stay"London8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"675Right Said Fred"Deeply Dippy"Tug 3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"676KWS"Please Don't Go"Network5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"677ErasureMute5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"678"Ain't No Doubt"East West3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"679Snap!"Rhythm Is a Dancer"Arista6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"680"Ebeneezer Goode"One Little Indian4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"681"Sleeping Satellite"EMI2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"682Boyz II Men"End of the Road"Motown3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"683Charles & Eddie"Would I Lie to You?"Capitol2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"684Whitney Houston"I Will Always Love You" †Arista10
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"6852 Unlimited"No Limit"PWL Continental5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"686Shaggy"Oh Carolina"Greensleeves2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"687"Young at Heart"London4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"688 and Queen with Lisa StansfieldFive Live (EP)Parlophone3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"689Ace of Base"All That She Wants"London3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"690UB40"(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You"DEP International2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"691Gabrielle"Dreams"Go! Beat3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"692Take That"Pray"RCA4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"693"Living on My Own"Parlophone2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"694Culture Beat"Mr. Vain"Epic4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"695DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince"Boom! Shake the Room"Jive2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"696Take That featuring Lulu"Relight My Fire"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"697Meat Loaf"I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" †Virgin7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"698Mr Blobby"Mr Blobby"Destiny Music 1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"699Take That"Babe"RCA1
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;"701D:Ream"Things Can Only Get Better"Magnet4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"702"Without You"Columbia4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"703Doop"Doop"Citybeat3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"704Take That"Everything Changes"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"705Prince""NPG2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"706""Cleveland City Blues 1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"707Stiltskin"Inside"White Water 1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"708Manchester United F.C."Come On You Reds"Polydor2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"709Wet Wet Wet"Love Is All Around" †The Precious Organisation15
scope=row style="text-align:center;"710Whigfield"Saturday Night"Systematic 4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"711Take That"Sure"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"712Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell"Baby Come Back"Virgin4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"713Baby D"Let Me Be Your Fantasy"Systematic 2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"714East 17"Stay Another Day"London5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"715Rednex"Cotton Eye Joe"Internal Affairs 3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"716"Think Twice"Epic7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"717Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton"Love Can Build a Bridge"London1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"718The Outhere Brothers"Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)"Eternal1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"719Take That"Back for Good"RCA4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"720Oasis"Some Might Say"Creation1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"721Livin' Joy"Dreamer"Undiscovered1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"722Robson & Jerome"Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" †RCA7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"723The Outhere Brothers"Boom Boom Boom"Eternal4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"724Take That"Never Forget"RCA3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"725Blur"Country House"Food2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"726"You Are Not Alone"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"727Shaggy"Boombastic"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"728Simply Red"Fairground"East West4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"729Coolio featuring L.V."Gangsta's Paradise"Tommy Boy2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"730Robson & Jerome"I Believe" / "Up on the Roof"RCA4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"731"Earth Song"Epic6
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"732"Jesus to a Child"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"733Babylon Zoo"Spaceman"EMI5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"734Oasis"Don't Look Back in Anger"Creation1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"735Take That"How Deep Is Your Love"RCA3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"736"Firestarter"XL3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"737"Return of the Mack"WEA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"738"Fastlove"Virgin3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"739Gina G"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"Eternal1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"740Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds"Three Lions"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"741Fugees"Killing Me Softly" †Columbia4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds"Three Lions"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"Fugees"Killing Me Softly" †Columbia1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"742"Forever Love"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"743Spice Girls"Wannabe"Virgin7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"744"Flava"Mushroom1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"745Fugees"Ready or Not"Columbia2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"746Deep Blue Something"Breakfast at Tiffany's"Interscope1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"747"Setting Sun"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"748Boyzone"Words"Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"749Spice Girls"Say You'll Be There"Virgin2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"750Robson & Jerome"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" / "Saturday Night at the Movies" / "You'll Never Walk Alone"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"751"Breathe"XL2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"752"I Feel You"Mushroom1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"753Boyzone""Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"754Dunblane"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"755Spice Girls"2 Become 1"Virgin3
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 West1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"757White Town"Your Woman"Chrysalis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"758Blur"Beetlebum"Food1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"759LL Cool J"Ain't Nobody"Geffen1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"760U2"Discotheque"Island1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"761No Doubt"Don't Speak"Interscope3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"762Spice Girls"Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are"Virgin3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"763"Block Rockin' Beats"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"764"I Believe I Can Fly"Jive3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"765"Blood on the Dance Floor"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"766"Love Won't Wait"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"767Olive"You're Not Alone"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"768Eternal featuring BeBe Winans"I Wanna Be the Only One"EMI1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"769Hanson"MMMBop"Mercury3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"770Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy 3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"771Oasis"D'You Know What I Mean?"Creation1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"772"Men in Black"Columbia4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"773""Hut1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"774"Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" ‡Rocket5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"775Spice Girls"Spice Up Your Life"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"776Aqua"Barbie Girl"Universal4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"777"Perfect Day"Chrysalis2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"778Teletubbies"Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!""BBC Worldwide2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"779Spice Girls"Too Much"Virgin2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;""Perfect Day"Chrysalis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"780All Saints"Never Ever"London1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"781Oasis"All Around the World"Creation1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"782Usher"You Make Me Wanna..."LaFace1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"783Aqua"Doctor Jones"Universal2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"784"My Heart Will Go On"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"785Cornershop"Brimful of Asha"Wiiija1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"786Madonna"Frozen"Maverick1
scope=row style="text-align:center;""My Heart Will Go On"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"787Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins"It's Like That"Sm:)e Communications 6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"788Boyzone"All That I Need"Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"789All Saints"Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade"London1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"790Aqua"Turn Back Time"Universal1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"All Saints"Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade"London1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"791"Feel It"Pepper1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"792B*Witched"C'est la Vie"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"793Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds"3 Lions '98"Epic3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"794Billie"Because We Want To"Innocent1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"795Another Level"Freak Me"Northwestside 1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"796Jamiroquai"Deeper Underground"Sony S21
scope=row style="text-align:center;"797Spice Girls"Viva Forever"Virgin2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"798Boyzone"No Matter What"Polydor3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"799Manic Street Preachers"If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"800All Saints"Bootie Call"London1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"801"Millennium"Chrysalis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"802 featuring Missy Elliott"I Want You Back"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"803B*Witched"Rollercoaster"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"804Billie"Girlfriend"Innocent1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"805Spacedust"Gym and Tonic"East West1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"806Cher"Believe" †WEA7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"807B*Witched"To You I Belong"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"808Spice Girls"Goodbye"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"809Chef"Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)"Columbia1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"810Steps"Heartbeat" / "Tragedy"Jive1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"811Fatboy Slim"Praise You"Skint1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"812911"A Little Bit More"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"813"Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)"Columbia1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"814"You Don't Know Me"ffrr1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"815Blondie"Maria"Beyond Music1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"816"Fly Away"Virgin1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"817"" †Jive2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"818Boyzone"When the Going Gets Tough"Polydor2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"819B*Witched"Blame It on the Weatherman"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"820Mr. Oizo"Flat Beat"F Communications2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"821"Perfect Moment"Innocent2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"822Westlife"Swear It Again"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"823Backstreet Boys"I Want It That Way"Jive1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"824Boyzone"You Needed Me"Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"825Shanks & Bigfoot"Sweet Like Chocolate"Pepper2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"826"Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)"EMI1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"827S Club 7"Bring It All Back"Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"828Vengaboys"Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!"Positiva1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"829ATB"9 PM (Till I Come)"Ministry of Sound2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"830"Livin' la Vida Loca"Columbia3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"831"When You Say Nothing at All"Polydor2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"832Westlife"If I Let You Go"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"833"Mi Chico Latino"EMI1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"834"Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"835Vengaboys"We're Going to Ibiza!"Positiva1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"836Eiffel 65"Blue (Da Ba Dee)"Eternal3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"837"Genie in a Bottle"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"838Westlife"Flying Without Wings"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"839Five"Keep on Movin'"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"840"Lift Me Up"EMI1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"841"She's the One" / "It's Only Us"Chrysalis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"842Wamdue Project"King of My Castle"AM:PM1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"843""EMI3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"844Westlife"I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"RCA4

Artists by total number of weeks at number-one

scope=colArtistscope=colWeeks at number-one
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Spice Girls22
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Take That21
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Wet Wet Wet19
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Bryan Adams16
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Cher13
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Robson & Jerome13
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Elton John12
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Michael Jackson11
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Whitney Houston10
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Queen9
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Celine Dion9
scope=row style="text-align:left;"George Michael9
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Boyzone9
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Snap!8
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Shakespears Sister8
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Westlife8
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Aqua7
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Meat Loaf7
scope=row style="text-align:left;"B*Witched6
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Run–D.M.C.6
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Jason Nevins6

Songs by total number weeks at number one

The following songs spent at least six weeks at number one during the 1990s.

scope=colArtistscope=colSongscope=colWeeks 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"

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.

scope=colArtistscope=colNumber ones
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Spice Girls8
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Take That8
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Boyzone6
scope=row style="text-align:left;"B*Witched4
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Michael Jackson4
scope=row style="text-align:left;"George Michael4
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Oasis4
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Westlife4
scope=row style="text-align:left;"All Saints3
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Aqua3
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Cher3
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Elton John3
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Queen3
scope=row style="text-align:left;"Robson & Jerome3

By record label

The following record labels had five or more number ones on the UK Singles Chart during the 1990s.

scope=colRecord labelscope=colNumber ones
RCA22
Virgin/Virgin International19
Epic17
Polydor10
Columbia/CBS9
EMI9
London9
Chrysalis5
Jive5

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.[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.

scope=colArtistscope=colSongscope=colDate releasedscope=colDate certified
platinum
scope=colYear of millionth sale
(Multi-platinum)
"Nothing Compares 2 U"
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
"Sacrifice"
"Unchained Melody"2004–10
"Ice Ice Baby"
""1991, (2×: 1 September 1991)
"Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
"I Will Always Love You"1993, (2×: 1 January 1993)
"Would I Lie to You?"
"All That She Wants"
"(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You"
"I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)"
"Mr Blobby"
"Babe"
"Love Is All Around"1994, (2×: 1 August 1994)
"Saturday Night"1994
"I Swear"[No 2]
"Baby Come Back"
"Stay Another Day"
"Think Twice"1994
Rednex"Cotton Eye Joe"
"Back for Good"2007–2010
"Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover"1995, (2×: 1 May 1995)
"I Believe" / "Up on the Roof"1995
Coolio ft. L.V."Gangsta's Paradise"1995
Simply Red"Fairground"
"Earth Song"1996
Babylon Zoo"Spaceman"1996
"Wonderwall"[No 2]2007
"Missing"[No 3]
"Father and Son"[No 2]
"How Deep Is Your Love"
"Don't Look Back in Anger"
"Children"[No 2]
"Return of the Mack"
"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"
"Three Lions"
"Killing Me Softly1996, (2×: 1 August 1996)
"Wannabe"1996
"Say You'll Be There"
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
"2 Become 1"1997
"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted"
"Un-Break My Heart"[No 2]
"Breathe"
"Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are"
Hanson"MMMBop"
"I Believe I Can Fly"
"D'You Know What I Mean?"
"I'll Be There for You"[No 3]
"Men in Black"
"I'll Be Missing You"1997, (2×: 1 August 1997)
"Candle in the Wind 1997" /
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"
1997, (2–6×: 1 September 1997)
(7–9×: 1 October 1997)
"Tubthumping"[No 2]
"Spice Up Your Life"
"Perfect Day"1997, (2×: 9 January 1998)
"Barbie Girl"1997, (2×: 5 December 1997)
"Never Ever"1998, (2×: 30 January 1998)
"Torn"[No 2]2007
Teletubbies"Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'"1997, (2×: 19 December 1997)
"Too Much"
"Together Again"[No 4]
"It's Like That"1998
Celine Dion"My Heart Will Go On"1998, (2×: 24 April 1998)
"Truly Madly Deeply"[No 4]
"3 Lions '98"
"C'est la Vie"
"How Do I Live"[No 7]
"No Matter What"1998
"Viva Forever"
"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"[No 2]
Cher"Believe"1998, (2×: 8 January 1999) (3×: 1 August 2014)
"Music Sounds Better with You"[No 2]
"Angels"[No 4]1998, (2×: 4 December 1998)
"Goodbye"
"Heartbeat" / "Tragedy"1999
"When You're Gone"[No 3]
"Chocolate Salty Balls"
"When the Going Gets Tough"
Britney Spears""1999, (2×: 26 March 1999)
"Flat Beat"
"Perfect Moment"
"Sweet Like Chocolate"
"That Don't Impress Me Much"[No 3]
"No Scrubs"[No 3]
"9pm (Till I Come)"
"Bring It All Back"
"Livin' la Vida Loca"
"Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of...)"
"Blue (Da Ba Dee)"1999
""
"I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
"If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time"[No 2]
"Re-Rewind"[No 2]
"Better off Alone"[No 2]

Additional information

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]

Notes

  1. Web site: Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts . 2007 . . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php . 10 January 2008 . dead . 6 April 2012 .
  2. Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. Guinness World Records Limited. 18th.
  3. Web site: New singles formats to save the charts. BBC News. 16 October 2003 . 22 December 2008.
  4. Web site: Corporate FAQs . . 22 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100317142924/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/faq.php . 17 March 2010 .
  5. Web site: Charting a rocky course. BBC News. 14 April 2000. 22 December 2008.
  6. Web site: Chart attack. Jon. Dennis. The Guardian. 5 August 2003. 22 December 2008.
  7. Book: Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 689. 18th.
  8. Web site: Celebrating 1,000 Number Ones. https://web.archive.org/web/20060508165440/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/lowdown/music_week_supplement.pdf. 8 May 2006. Music Week. January 2005. 13 November 2010.
  9. Web site: Elton's candle burns in Canada. BBC News. 11 October 1999. 22 December 2008.
  10. Web site: Cher's treble success. BBC News. 27 May 1999. 19 January 2009.
  11. Book: Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 704. 18th.
  12. Book: Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 475, 500. 18th.
  13. Web site: Chart Archive – 2000s Singles. everyHit.com. 29 July 2010.
  14. Web site: Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. 7 June 2010. 1 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120501114320/http://bpi.co.uk/members-area/article/bpi-certified-awards.aspx. dead.
  15. Web site: International Certification Award levels . . 7 June 2010 . 7 . March 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726171640/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/international-award-levels.pdf . 26 July 2011 .
  16. Web site: Certified Awards Search . . 7 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110820035204/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx . 20 August 2011 .
    Customise search with the following settings – Search by: "Keyword", By Award: "Platinum", By Format: "Single" – then search by each individual year.
  17. Web site: Stats and Facts: Million Sellers . . 19 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080416145908/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/stats-million_sellers.php . 16 April 2008 . dead .
  18. Web site: Million-Selling Singles. everyHit. 12 June 2010.
  19. 1 June 2010. Alan. Jones. 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)..
  20. Web site: The Biggest-Selling Love Songs of All Time. everyHit.com. 14 November 2010.
  21. UK's Million Sellers with Ken Bruce. Ken Bruce (presenter). BBC. BBC Radio Two. 30 August 2010.
  22. Web site: Sounds and vision – The Guardian Profile: George Martin. Espiner. Mark. 30 June 2001. The Guardian. 3 August 2010.
  23. Web site: Artist Chart History: All-4-One. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134226/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/all-4-one/. 15 June 2011.
  24. Web site: Featured Artists: Oasis. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101203012508/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/oasis. 3 December 2010.
  25. Web site: Artist Chart History: Boyzone. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134248/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/boyzone/. 15 June 2011.
  26. Web site: Artist Chart History: Robert Miles. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134304/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/robert%20miles/. 15 June 2011.
  27. Web site: Artist Chart History: Toni Braxton. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134310/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/toni%20braxton/. 15 June 2011.
  28. Web site: Artist Chart History: Chumbawamba. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134328/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/chumbawamba/. 15 June 2011.
  29. Web site: Artist Chart History: Natalie Imbruglia. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134343/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/natalie%20imbruglia/. 15 June 2011.
  30. Web site: Artist Chart History: Mya. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134352/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/mya/. 15 June 2011.
  31. Web site: Artist Chart History: Stardust. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110217174120/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/stardust/. 17 February 2011.
  32. Web site: Artist Chart History: R. Kelly. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134433/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/r%20kelly/. 15 June 2011.
  33. Web site: Artist Chart History: Alice DeeJay. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134443/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/alice%20deejay/. 15 June 2011.
  34. Web site: Artist Chart History: Rembrandts. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134455/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/rembrandts/. 15 June 2011.
  35. Web site: Artist Chart History: Everything but the Girl. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134507/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/everything%20but%20the%20girl/. 15 June 2011.
  36. Web site: Artist Chart History: Melanie C. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120420211242/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/melanie%20c. 20 April 2012.
  37. Web site: Artist Chart History: Shania Twain. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110217172628/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/shania%20twain/. 17 February 2011.
  38. Web site: Artist Chart History: TLC. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615122952/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/TLC/. 15 June 2011.
  39. Web site: Artist Chart History: Janet Jackson. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313015710/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/janet%20jackson/. 13 March 2013.
  40. Web site: Artist Chart History: Savage Garden. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010.
  41. Web site: Featured Artists: Robbie Williams. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101203012513/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/robbie%20williams. 3 December 2010.
  42. Web site: Artist Chart History: LeAnn Rimes. The Official Charts Company. 26 September 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615134831/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/leann%20rimes/. 15 June 2011.

References

General
Specific

External links