Charting 1997: 31st May

It always seems wrong for there to be a 31st of May, somehow, it feels like it should be one of the 30-day months. Anyway, that's my excuse for posting this late and I'm sticking to it.

01.(NE) Eternal - I Wanna Be The Only One ft BeBe Winans
Joining the surprisingly small number of all-female groups to have topped the singles chart (ignoring the presence of Bebe Winans), though by this point no longer the nation's favourite girlband. It always felt to me more like one of those cases where it seemed like a Number One single was due for an act, rather than this being an especially good song by them.
02. (2) Sarah Brightman And Andrea Bocelli - Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)
03. (1) Olive - You're Not Alone {1997}
04.(NE) Rosie Gaines - Closer Than Close
Garage remix of a solo track by Prince's former backing singer.
05.(11) The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You {1997}
I guess news of the reissue spread slowly.
06. (5) The Cardigans - Lovefool {1997}
07. (7) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
08. (3) Katrina And The Waves - Love Shine A Light
09. (6) Damage - Wonderful Tonight
10. (8) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
11.(10) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
12. (9) Toni Braxton - I Don't Want To
13. (4) No Mercy - Please Don't Go
14.(NE) Warren G - Smokin' Me Out ft Ron Isley
Based on the old Isley Brothers track 'Coolin' Me Out', with the chorus resung by the lead singer. Who thought this song - or indeed any song, ever - would be improved by the addition of Warren G is unclear.
15.(NE) Faith No More - Ashes To Ashes
Not the David Bowie song. Not a big radio hit either.
16.(13) Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind {1997}
17.(NE) Strike - I Have Peace
Fifth hit single from the UK dance act, not counting both chart appearances of their signature song 'U Sure Do'. Not that this could help their one album chart any higher than 155 though. 
18.(NE) Monaco - Sweet Lips
Speaking of acts better known for a debut hit, the second Top 20 in a row for Hooky and Pottsy and it's a more dance-flavoured track this time.
19.(NE) Basement Jaxx - Fly Life
Their first hit, a couple of years before they released an album and became properly well-known. I remember Andrew Collins and Stuart Maconie discussing this track on Radio 1:
"I can tell you something interesting: last week this was Number One on the list of Radio 1's most played records, but on commercial radio it was Number 41."
"Well, if that's you saying something interesting I hope you're never called upon to say something boring."
20.(12) North And South - I'm A Man Not A Boy
21.(18) Blackstreet - Don't Leave Me
22.(24) Suggs And Co - Blue Day ft The Chelsea Team
23.(17) 911 - Bodyshakin'
24.(NE) Geneva - Tranquilizer
The big single to lead into the album, with its anthemic-manqué chorus "Let's be happy while we're still young". They don't sound very happy though, do they?
25.(NE) Fluke - Absurd
Still plugging away with the odd song titles and still loved by soundtrack compilers but never quite stars.
26.(25) Eels - Susan's House
27.(22) The Seahorses - Love Is The Law
28.(19) Gary Barlow - Love Won't Wait
29.(NE) Cake - I Will Survive
A band from San Franciso covering a gay anthem and still managing not to be at all camp. Or interesting. They do add some swearing though.
30.(NE) Jeremy Healy And Amos - Argentina
The ex-members of Haysi Fantaysee and E-Zee Posse teamed up for a number of hits, of which this was not the most remembered. They subsequently married Patsy Kensit and Lisa I'Anson respectively.
31.(NE) Double 99 - RIP Groove
One of the big garage hits of 1997. Not the last we'd hear of this. 
32.(NE) Symposium - The Answer To Why I Hate You
A band famous for their fanatical fanbase. You can imagine if Twitter had been around then it would have been full of trends like #IATWIHYoutMonday and #TheAnswerToWhyILoveRoss .
33.(NE) Stereophonics - More Life In A Tramp's Vest
Their first Top 40 single, which finds Kelly Jones in the persona of a grumpy greengrocer. Still one of their best songs, I think.
34.(29) Brownstone - 5 Miles To Empty
35.(16) Ginuwine - Tell Me Do U Wanna
36.(28) Maxwell - Ascension, No-One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder {1997}
37.(32) George Michael - Star People '97
38.(31) Mary J Blige - Love Is All We Need
39.(15) Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew/One In A Million
40.(34) Republica - Drop Dead Gorgeous

54.(NE) Counting Crows - Daylight Fading
67.(NE) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - (Are You) The One I've Been Waiting For?
Rumoured to be about PJ Harvey, though Cave has never confirmed nor denied this.

72.(RE) Backstreet Boys - Anywhere For You
73.(NE) Spellbound - Heaven On Earth