More chart for you.
20 - “Brazen (Weep),” Skunk Anansie
This London hard rock band, led by bald, black lead singer Skin (born Deborah Dyer) had their highest-charting hit with this power ballad about anger and betrayal. It’s the kind of song that would make Evanescence American superstars eight years later, but these people did it first, and I would say better.
19 - ”I Have a Dream/Bellissima,” DJ Quiksilver
The breakthrough hit for Turkish-German producer Orhan Terzi was this double A. Both are bouncy, anonymous Eruodance tracks, but the former is distinguishable by its repetitive Martin Luther King sample. Again, I think I’d have needed to experience rave culture to really get stuff like this.
18 - “You’re Not Alone,” Olive
These London trip-hoppers went to #1 with this atmospheric love song. It’s nice, but to me, it doesn’t rise to the level of the best of genre leaders Massive Attack and Portishead.
17 - “Amor (C’mon),” Porn Kings
The second hit for these Liverpudlians. Boom-cha boom-cha beat? Check. Female vocal sample? Check. Chattery keyboard notes? Techno chords? Check and check. Bleepy-bloop-by-numbers.
16 - “Sunday Shining,” Finley Quaye
The first hit for this Scottish scion of a musical family was this breezy jazz-reggae tune about fair weather and how he is both a lion and “a hero like Robert de Niro.” Shiny happy nonsense.
15 - “Midnight in Chelsea,” Jon Bon Jovi
The first single from Jon Bon’s only non-soundtrack solo album was this adult-rocker about observing the late life on the streets of the London neighbourhood. That may explain why it was a bigger hit on this side of the pond. It’s a decent enough song that shows the man’s surprising versatility. Scoff at his overt commercial instincts and his hair, but the man is a genuine talent.
14 - “I Could Not Love You More,” Bee Gees
The Gibbs’ 23rd Top Twenty was this David Foster-produced ballad. He indulges their tendencies toward big mush, which is unfortunately. Still, the harmonies are never not nice to listen to.
13 - “Love Rollercoaster,” Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Peppers picked up their second U.K. Top Ten with this enthusiastic run-through of The Ohio Players’ 1975 funk classic, recorded for the soundtrack of the film Beavis and Butt-head Do America. Inessential yet infectious.
12 - “I’ll Be There For You,” The Rembrandts
Though Friends was just as big, if not bigger, here than it was in the U.S., the jangly theme tune only reached #3 here. And thanks to record companies in America skewing the Hot 100 in the 90s by being selective in how and when they released radio hits as retail singles, it technically only went to #17 there. Only Canada made this. #1. And with the benefit of distance from its ubiquity, I find it just a pleasant, jangly, disposable pop song. But still, in a just world, the song these guys would be known for is “Just the Way it Is, Baby.”
11 - “I Want You,” Savage Garden
These Aussies are best remembered for horrible ballads, but I will never stop loving their perfectly poppy debut hit. It may just edge out “She Drives Me Crazy” for best use of that synthesized percussion sound that reminds me of a balloon being popped. Again, love to my nation for giving it its rightful #1.
10 - “Sun Hits the Sky,” Supergrass
The fifth Top Ten for the Oxford band was this power-pop about fearlessly taking on the world or something like that. Is it controversial to say I think these guys were better than Oasis and Blur? Well, I’m saying it. So there.
9 - “I’ll Be,” Foxy Brown featuring Jay-Z
The biggest hit for the New York rapper born Inga Marchand was this okay boast rhyme. She hold her own pretty well with her more renowned guest, but it’s just average to my very untrained ears.
8 - “Coco Jamboo,” Mr. President
More Eurodance, this time a German act win a track that sounds like Ace of Base with better rapping. There are worse ways to spend three minutes, I suppose.
7 - “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” Az Yet
This Philly vocal group had their biggest hit with a doo-woppy version of the 1982 Chicago ballad. The style change really is an improvement. Peter Cetera is supposed to be on this, but thankfully I don’t hear his voice. Maybe he plays piano?
6 - “How High,” The Charlatans
The fourth Top Ten for the West Midlands outfit was this okay rock track that showed their evolution from baggy to Britpop. They do okay in this style, but there was more than enough of this around.
5 - “Closer Than Close,” Rosie Gaines
This Oakland singer first gained attention for her three-year stint on Prince’s post-Revolution backing band New Power Generation. After she left in 1992, she continued to work with Prince, and she would score a solo hit with a remix of a track from a 1995 solo album. It works as a great showcase for her silky voice, which I’d previously only heard on backup on hits like “Cream” and “Diamonds and Pearls.” I’m glad she got at least a moment in the spotlight.
4 - “Free,” Ultra Naté
The New Jersey singer’s biggest hit was this uplifting dance anthem about living unfettered and unencumbered. The kind of aural adrenaline shot that only the best dance music can provide.
3 - “Time to Say Goodbye,” Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli
The ex Mrs. Lloyd Webber and the blind Tuscan singer first duetted on this version of the Italian song “Con te Partiro” (basically the original native lyrics with the title English phrase shoehorned in) at a boxing match in Germany. Then they recorded it, and it became a massive smash across Europe. It’s an operatic waltz with flowery metaphors that wouldn’t sound as good in English. But it has a very pop structure, and it manages to hook even my jaded ears. It’s the kind of accessible highbrow that fuels PBS pledge drives, but I still kind of like it.
2 - “I Wanna Be the Only One,” Eternal featuring BeBe Winans
The only #1 for the London girl group was this soul-pop love song featuring American gospel singer Winans, who sounds quite a bit like Luther Vandross. Not much more than okay.
1 - “MmmBop,” Hanson
The U17 Tulsa trio earned a Triple Crown with this jangle-hop earworm about holding on to meaningful relationships. Again, I will never stop loving it, nonsensical chorus and all. What’s amazing is that not only are they still an active band with a substantial fan base, but the boys have produced 12 kids among the three of them. How are they so successful and so fertile? It’s a secret no one knooooooooooows.
Done again. Back to Britain next. Toodles.
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