Best Number 1 Single????

[AlanUK]

This Sunday will see the 1000th number 1 single since the charts were started in the 1950's.

Radio 1 are running a poll where you can look through all the number 1's that there have been and vote on which one you think is the best.

Here is the link...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/greatestno1/

I have had a look but there are so many that I feel I need more time in order to decide but I will post back tomorrow when I have had a think.

Why not have a look yourself and try and decide which you think is best and then come back and let us all know. You can even post a brief (or long winded ) explanation of why you chose that particular track if you like

I look forward to reading everyones choices.

Alan.

 

[Miffy2003]

Oh my gosh, I will never choose from so many!!!!

I will give the matter some careful consideration

 

[SplashMtn]

It just HAS to be Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody- the greatest song ever; never mind the best UK number one ever! It's three songs in one, it's by Queen, has crazy lyrics,it's by Queen, Freddie Mercury's lead vocals, and oh did I mention that it's by Queen?

 

[pooky_uk]

Has to be .....Benny Hill - Ernie the fastest mikman!

Have you also heard that as it is 70 years since the birth of Elvis BMG are re-releasing all of his no1 hits(18) over the next 17 weeks - they anticipate that most will go to the no1 spot again - Jailhouse Rock was re-released this week and sales indicate it will smash in at no 1.....here's the full artile
http://www.elvis.com/news/full_story.asp?id=734

Oops - I'm a week behind! Jailhouse Rock is already number 1....this week's release is "One Night"....

Love his tunes Also saw Jailhouse Rock in plymouth - was fab!

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Just had a quick look, and clicked on "A"
What an absolute crime that the A1 version of "take on me" got to number 1, but the Aha original didnt.

 

[AlanUK]

I know

I had a look at the chart singles site that links from the radio 1 site and it's amazing to look through the tracks and the artists and think of the songs that didn't make it to number 1.

There are also some really bad songs in there that have made it to number 1

 

[gilld]

I agree with, Alan, about some bad songs getting to No 1 and fantastic songs missing out. Surely one of the greatest musical travesties must be "Vienna" (Ultravox) being pipped at the post by "Shudduppa your face" (Joe Dloce).

I'll have a look, but choosing just one will be all but impossible.

 

[Duggas]

I'm with you SplashMtn, it just has to be Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Other than the 'National Anthem' (1st verse only not the rest) and 'Happy Birthday', how many other songs are there that most people know the words to.

 

[Madjock]

That is just way too hard! Picking one from each letter of the alphabet would be difficult enough but to pick just one all time greatest is just impossible!

It is great fun however to see listed and remember some of the ‘old’ tunes from my long ago youth and sounding just like my parents here “they just don’t make records like that anymore”

Annmarie

 

[gilld]

I am torn between Fleetwood Mac's Albatross, Procol Harem's A Whiter Shade of Pale, Thunderclap Newman's Something in the Air and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Will have to ponder a while longer.

 

[Miffy2003]

Although I was sorely tempted by Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" I have cast my vote for "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones.

I totally agree with Gill about bad songs being number one and stopping the true classics from getting there

 

[KissMeKenley]

I love 80's music. Warrant, firehouse, motley crue, etc. I voted for Foreigner, I want to know what love is. I know sooooooo chicky!!

 

[KayleeUK]

Remember some of these ....................Aqua - Barbie Girl, Jason Donovan – Too Many Broken Hearts, New Kids On The Block – Hangin' Tough, Right Said Fred – Deeply Dippy, Shamen – Ebeneezer Goode, Tiffany – I Think We're Alone Now, T'Pau – China In Your Hand Brilliant!!!

My vote is for Fatboy Slim – Praise You.

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

There are just too many to pick from!!!!!!!!!

What about the Wurzels......Combine Harvester.........Brotherhood of Man - Angelo.............Kelly Marie - Feels like i'm in love.....................Now those remind me of my childhood!!

 

[dixie2000]

I know that I should be old enough to know better but my DD listens to Radio 1 and has been telling me how funny it is in the afternoon, so Steve Wright has got the dunt and I am now listening to Colin & Edith and then Scott Mills and what a hoot they are! Scott Mills has been encouraging his listeners to vote for B*witched, Blame it on the Weatherman. So being easily led - that's what I've done

I'm going to make and point of listening now on Sunday to see what the result will be.

Helen

 

[AlanUK]

After much deliberation I have to agree that I think Bohemian Rhapsody should get my vote.

It was my initial thought but I really needed to have another look through just in case I found something else that I though was more deserving.

The problem I find with doing this sort of thing is separating the Artist from the song as there are some very deserving Artists who have given a lot to the musical world such as Elvis and The Beatles. As the title said though it's the best No. 1 of all time so I have stuk with the one song that I think was (and still is) truly groundbreaking.

Alan.

 

[jersey shark]

Great thread!

I'm interested in the differences between what makes a #1 song in the UK versus the US.

A great piece of trivia is that Paul McCartney's Mull of Kintyre was a very long running UK #1 (8 or 9 weeks I believe), yet this song didn't even crack the Hot 100 in the US? How does this happen?

I also noticed that many Paul McCartney & Wings #1 US hits (Jet, Let'em In, With A Little Luck, Band On The Run) seem to be missing from the UK list (unless I'm missing something)...kinda interesting.

Comments?

 

[AlanUK]

Hi Jersey Shark

I am no expert on what makes a UK or a US No 1 but I'll give you my thoughts anyway

I think in this day and age what makes a No 1 record is invariably publicity and clever marketing tricks rather than a good record. An example of this would be the Pop Idol phenomenon where the winner of the second series over here (A girl by the name of Michelle Macmanus) had enormous sales figures with her first single after winning the show and then subsequently flopped in spectacular fashion. I'm not even sure what her second single was or where it charted but I don't think it was even top 10

Given this I think it is inevitable that different songs and artists find their way to the top of the charts on either side of the Atlantic. The American market is far larger and less likely to be influenced by UK culture, whereas we are bombarded on a daily basis with US culture in the form of movies, TV shows and even news items. This leads the UK public to be highly influenced by happenings in the states which gives US artists a head start as they are likely to be well known here before the record company actually start releasing material into the market. On the contrary a UK artist will remain largely unknown in the US until they land in the US and start promoting themselves from the bottom of the ladder once again. For a lot of them this is a huge step down from being a household name in the UK/Europe to be completely unknown and they obviously find it a difficult step to take and to stick at when they can just go home and reap the benefits of their already enormous popularity.

It's interesting that the example you state of someone doing well in the US as opposed to the UK is actually a british act. In this particular case I think it is due to the popularity of Paul McCartney. It is possible that the success of Wings in the US relates back to McCartneys high profile and automatic public interest with him coming from the beatles meaning that the record company could easily market the band based on his name. (I believe the actual name of the band was Paul McCartney and Wings).

To summarise then...I think it comes down to differences in our cultures but that our culture is far more influenced by US culture than US culture is influenced by ours.

 

[daipp]

Well it seems that the 1000th number 1 is Elvis with Jailhouse Rocks.......

What can I say.

David

 

[WDWfan uk]

Whoa ... it's hard to select just one!!

Those of you voting for Bohemian Rhapsody, are you voting for Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days Of our Lives or BH on it's own? ....... These Are the Days Of our Lives made a powerful impression too. It is ironic that the Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics were never meant to make any sense but yet it stands out amongst the others.
I think Imagine will also get a very high vote.

Can't believe some of the crud that made it to number one!

Well..... I still can't quite commit to a decision Alan !