Charting 1997: 26th April

'I Believe I Can Fly' proves itself to be one of the jammiest Number Ones ever, topping the chart by a thin margin for the third week in a row.

01. (1) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
02.(NE) Robbie Williams - Old Before I Die
Although he'd reached the same position eight months earlier with his version of 'Freedom' this seemed to the official start of his solo career, the first time he'd really indicated what his musical direction was going to be. Second-rate Oasis pastiches seemed to be it at this stage.
03.(NE) U2 - Staring At The Sun
One of several U2 singles of this era that were significant hits in their day but never seem to get mentioned now. Actually not a bad song, in a melodic sort of way, though Bono comes up with some odd metaphors and rhymes. 
04. (4) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
05.(NE) Daft Punk - Around The World

I had to embed the video because to be honest, the song's just annoying without it. 
06.(NE) Blackstreet - Don't Leave Me
I believe this was their biggest hit in America. But I've no idea why.
07. (7) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
08.(NE) The Lightning Seeds - You Showed Me
Their only non-football-related Top 10 single came with this cover of the Turtles hit written by members of the Byrds. This version also seems to owe something to the Salt-N-Pepa version of the song. 
09. (5) The Course - Ready Or Not
10.(NE) Faithless - Reverence
Their third Top 10 hit on the trot, but probably not the one people remember. 
11. (6) No Doubt - Don't Speak
12. (3) Orbital - The Saint
13. (2) Blur - Song 2
14.(NE) Michelle Gayle - Sensational
Possibly not the most accurately-titled song is this chart, a perfectly decent track rather than an impressive one.
15.(14) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
16.(NE) 2Pac And Snoop Doggy Dogg - Wanted Dead or Alive
Will one of each do? 
17.(10) Texas - Halo
18.(13) Smoke City - Underwater Love
19.(15) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
20.(NE) The Wannadies - Hit
Their other Top 20 single. If I remember correctly this was given a limited 7" release the year before when contractual problems precluded full promotion, but I didn't get one of those and had to wait for this CD version. I always liked the argument they seem to be having in the middle.
21.(NE) G.U.N. - Crazy You
Produced by one of INXS, this marked their short-lived transition from the metal band (best known for their cover of 'Word Up') to AOR plodders. It didn't really save their career.
22.(NE) Zhane - Request Line
Standard-issue RnB girl-group stuff. 
23.(NE) The Supernaturals - Smile
A reissue of their debut single which scored their highest-ever chart position. Loved it then, still quite like it now. 
24.(NE) KRS-One - Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight)
Not a song I remembered from the time, but one I was quite pleased to discover. Nice chunk of old-school rap with the chorus based on Blondie's hit. 
25.(NE) Robert Owens - I'll Be Your Friend {1997 remix}
A version of a house track that had topped the US dance chart five years earlier.
26.(11) Supergrass - Richard III
27. (8) Kavana - MFEO
28.(18) The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes
29.(12) Erykah Badu - On And On
30.(17) Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden {1997 re-issue}
31.(16) Depeche Mode - It's No Good
32.(NE) David Bowie - Dead Man Walking
Still in the DnB groove. Not quite as good a song as 'Little Wonder' though, unfortunately.
33.(19) N-Trance - DISCO
34.(20) The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
35.(24) B Real/Busta Rhymes - Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)
36.(NE) Slacker - Scared
Apparently this samples Peter Gabriel, of all people. 
37. (9) Suede - Lazy
38.(31) SWV - Can We
39.(23) The Charlatans - North Country Boy
40.(28) Cast - Free Me


42.(NE) The Offspring - Gone Away
43.(NE) Pianoman - Party People (Live Your Life Be Free)
45.(NE) Lil' Kim - No Time ft Puff Daddy
50.(NE) Kim English - Supernatural
59.(RE) Blur - Beetlebum
61.(NE) Subcircus - You Love You