Charting 1997: 19th April

Decidedly top-heavy this week, with seven new entries and a climber within the Top 10, but far less action lower down. And yet we still don't get a new Number One. 

01. (1) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
02.(NE) Blur - Song 2

For the second week running, a Britpop act on the Parlophone label made a strong initial showing but ended the week as runners up to R. Kelly by a relatively tiny margin. Rightly or wrongly, this is the more familiar song now than 'Richard III'; but perhaps it's not such a loss that it ended up entering at 2, as this ties in with the title, the running time and the fact that it was the second single from the album, second in the sequence and so on. Besides, I didn't buy the single myself so I can't complain.
This was of course the lead single from the album in the US and went on to become their biggest hit globally, though I could probably go a while without hearing it now. 
03.(NE) Orbital - The Saint

The brothers Hartnoll enjoy their second Top 3 hit of the year with the theme from the movie of The Saint. I get the impression the film was a bit crap, but fortunately this updating of the classic TV theme is right on the money. Bonus points from me for making a video that fits the general spy-movie idea without making us look at Val Kilmer.
04. (7) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
05.(NE) The Course - Ready Or Not
Remember that rubbish dance version of 'Don't Speak' that made the Top 75 a couple of weeks back? This is the same idea applied to the Fugees' chart topper of the previous year (and thus ultimately derived from the Chi-Lites). 
06. (3) No Doubt - Don't Speak
07.(NE) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
The young soul star who was supposedly discovered on Tube station, making her debut with a cover of the old Randy Crawford hit. Yes, that's the third cover in a row among these new entries.
08.(NE) Kavana - MFEO
I'm sure you can all come up with your own ideas of what that should stand for, but it's actually supposed to be "Made For Each Other". 
09.(NE) Suede - Lazy
The fourth Top 10 hit from the Coming Up album, which is essentially a slower version of the first two with a lyric that does seem to prove the title accurate. "Uncle Teds in their legendary vests" indeed.
10.(NE) Texas - Halo
The second single of their comeback, a massive epic production spoiled by a chorus that seems oddly unfinished. 
11. (2) Supergrass - Richard III
12.(NE) Erykah Badu - On And On
Ms Jackson's daughter when she seemed likely to become a major star. She seems actively to have resisted that since but she did leave behind this rather decent hazy-sounding retro-soul track.
13. (4) Smoke City - Underwater Love
14. (9) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
15. (6) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
16. (5) Depeche Mode - It's No Good
17.(NE) Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden {1997 re-issue}
One of four inevitable new tracks on his 1995 Greatest Hits album, it missed the Top 40 at the time but was now reactivated thanks to the film Jerry Maguire.
18.(11) The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes
19.(15) N-Trance - DISCO
20. (8) The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
21.(NE) Natural Born Grooves - Groovebird
It's Belgian dance time again.
22.(NE) Bryan Adams - 18 Til I Die
It's the usual chugging rock and the usual lyrical sentiment from Adams. At one point he sings "Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55" which surely means the opposite of what he thinks.
23.(14) The Charlatans - North Country Boy
24.(13) B Real/Busta Rhymes - Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)
25.(10) Makaveli - To Live And Die In LA
26.(19) Livin' Joy - Where Can I Find Love
27.(NE) MC Lyte - Keep On, Keepin' On {1997 reissue} ft Xscape
Re-released following her breakthrough hit earlier in the year. Not bad until it gets to the chorus.
28.(16) Cast - Free Me
29.(17) Funky Green Dogs - Fired Up!
30.(20) 3T - Gotta Be You ft Herbie
31.(18) SWV - Can We
32.(NE) Up Yer Ronson - I Will Be Released ft Mary Pearce
No relation to Mark Ronson. Or Mick Ronson.
33.(21) Gina G - Fresh
34.(27) Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
35.(28) Wet Wet Wet - If I Never See You Again
36.(12) The Future Sound Of London - We Have Explosive
37.(23) Boyzone - Isn't It A Wonder
38.(38) Blueboy - Remember Me
39.(30) Fugees - Rumble In The Jungle
40.(32) No Mercy - Where Do You Go

44.(NE) HHC - We're Not Alone/Plump
45.(NE) Crystal Waters - Say... If You Feel Alright
47.(NE) Ultracynic - Nothing Is Forever {1997}
60.(NE) Enigma - TNT For The Brain
71.(NE) Geoffrey Williams - Sex Life
I don't really know who he was but he seemed to have a lot of hits in the lower half of the Top 75 in the 1990s.