Some of the songs that peaked at #2 on the chart that TRULY deserved more than being remembered as a number two.
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
- The song that gets the most euphoric reaction any time I play it, anywhere I DJ. Universally adored, and truly when the UK heard *another* 'Neighbours' actor was releasing a song, NOBODY expected this. Yes, it's a cover, but the production and HER VOICE are utter pop perfection. Untouchable.
The Cardigans - Lovefool
- Originally stalling at #21 the re-release after being featured in 'Romeo & Juliet' incredibly nearly gave the Swedish darlings a #1 single ... if it wasn't for you pesky kids!! Ultra cool slice of Swedish pop with Nina's effortless and sassy vocals. Fool me!
Girls Aloud - No Good Advice / The Show
- Infinitely cooler than the debut #1 'Sound Of The Underground', I couldn't believe that this didn't make #1. Super cool follow-up track by what became an almost unstoppable girl group. I'm also tying this with 'The Show' because it's such a FANTASTIC pop song that is bonkers and genius.
Pulp - Common People
- This was EVERYWHERE and truly defines living in the UK better than any book or film. Everyone knew the words. Everyone knew Jarvis, and finally a weirdo bunch of music geniuses from oop North sold MILLIONS of records by poking fun at poshos playing poor. Everything about it is flawless.
George Michael - Outside
- The most spine-shatteringly brilliant comeback from a public scandal I can think of. The video is a glorious dildo in the face to the police arrest, only bettered by the song's super sharp lyrics, gorgeous vocal delivery and timeless production. I cannot believe how great this is, to this day.
Madonna - Ray Of Light
- I'll ALMOST forgive this one as 'Frozen' WAS #1, but I mean come on! This track is such a banger, the video was so much fun, and EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT ANNA FRIEL!!
Diana Ross - Upside Down
- SO close, Diana. Crazy to think that not all songs as omnipresent in modern culture and DJ sets, referenced by almost everyone, didn't actually become a #1 single. Still gets its dues in being played across the world, but still ... STILL.
Erasure - Sometimes
- You guys, Erasure NEVER had a self-penned #1 single and that is a true crime. This song launched them properly as mass-market pop stars, and rightfully so. It's an incredible moment for an unlikely duo who won the UK's hearts with Vince's quirky and brilliant production and Andy's other-worldly vocal abilities.
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done To Deserve This?
- Well, what DID they do? Not shy of a #1 single, THIS duo definitely deserved a #1 spot for this glorious use of faded popstar returning her to a spotlight. If you don't know the albums they produced for Dusty and Liza, then it's no surprise this missed #1. But please investigate.
Annie Lennox - No More "I Love You's"
- There has never been a more perfect vocal delivery in all time.
Kylie Minogue - Confide In Me
- Back with an orchestral bang, nobody expected Kylie to be purring in a middle 8 over a c*nty drum loop with strings aching and swirling like a crazy beautiful scene in a weird film noir. But she did it. And it should have been #1. It should still be #1.
Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart
- Apparently she initially didn't want to record this. CAN YOU IMAGINE. Diane Warren struck gold once more with this insane OTT ballad. "Un-cry these tears" is a genius line, growled by one of pop's BEST vocalists. Also props to Diana for helping us learn how to dramatically invert verbs for pop effect.
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
- WHY. WASN'T. THIS. NUMBER. ONE. There is still time.
Corona - The Rhythm Of The Night
- What more did you need than a gorgeous Brazilian model with 23 foot long braids spinning in front of a waltzer in a fairground to make you by this song?? Total rip off of Say When's 'Save Me' song [link] but still it's one of the 90s most iconic songs. Take me to turn to!
Real McCoy - Another Night
- Who was MC Sar? Why did he disappear? Also I remember a second mysterious girl appearing in the group on Top Of The Pops when they performed one of the worst live vocals I've ever seen. Patsy (in the video) was actually miming to Vanessa (new girl)'s vocals .. or something like that, because the 90s. Anyway. Song should have been #1.
Haddaway - What Is Love
- Left without comment.
Britney Spears - Piece Of Me
- Insanely cool pop song from Britney at a very weird point in time / her life that really should have been #1. But like, REALLY should have been.
Wham! - Everything She Wants / Last Christmas
- It BLOWS MY MIND (ft. Gwen Stefani) that this song, EVEN BACKED WITH LAST CHRISTMAS did not make UK #1. It's one of the most perfect pop songs even if it does potentially steal THIS Imagination song [link]. And "so now you tell me that you're having a baby" was sneakily interpolated in Spice Girls' 'Say You'll Be There' "so now you tell me that you've fallen in love". Boop!
Imagination - Just An Illusion
- Speaking of Imagination ... sampled perfectly on Mariah Carey's 'Get Your Number', this song was SO close to being #1 in the UK with a slice of disco / funk that just drips with cool. So good.
Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes.
- Janet Jackson has never had a UK #1 single. Process that.
Unbelievably, these incredible, and incredibly famous songs ALSO MISSED the UK Top 10.
Madonna - Take A Bow (16)
- Spectacularly ending a long run of Top 10 singles, it was unbelievably one of her BIGGEST US #1 SINGLES that did it. I'll never understand how this stunning Babyface ballad missed Top 10. It's homophobic!
Whitney Houston - Step By Step (13)
- A song written by Annie Lennox and sung by Whitney Houston with stunning vocal delivery ... what could go wrong. Only the people of the UK, that's all.
Mariah Carey - Emotions (17)
- Seventeen are you JOKING. Are you REAL? This powerhouse vocal delivery with insane full pelt vocals AND WHISTLE NOTES didn't go Top TEN? No words. *whistles profanities at the sky*
Dream - He Loves You Not (17)
- Also peaking at #17 is this fantastic slice of pop akin to Christina Aquilera with those insane drum patterns. It features the iconic line "you can flut your pretty eyes" (flutter -> flut = wild genius). Sadly not enough for the UK to care enough to be kind.
Cathy Dennis - Too Many Walls (17)
- ALSO NUMBER 17. Granted: Cathy's voice isn't the most belting or powerful of any of the solo ladies kicking around in the 90s. However this ballad is gorgeous, her vocals are vulnerable and almost perfect. Plus she was colouring in her hair with felt tip pens! Give the woman another Top 10, UK!
Erasure - Chains Of Love (11)
- How the F*CK was this song not Top 10 for one of the UK's most successful, joyful and triumphant duos in history? This song is catchy beyond words and SHIP OF FOOLS HAD JUST REACHED #6. I MEAN WHAT WERE YOU ALL DOING?!
Saint Etienne - He's On The Phone (11)
- Probably the most sure that the label had ever been that yes, finally Saint Etienne would have a Top 10 smash with the Motiv 8 (tick) remix of a camp as hell song (tick) bizarrely featuring Etienne Daho (tick) at a time where the charts were camp, weird and LOVED a Motiv8 remix. NUMBER F*CKING ELEVEN HOW DARE YOU.
Wannadies You & Me Song (18)
- Stop for a second. Try to cope that the song EVERY SINGLE TEEN was singing after 'Romeo & Juliet' by Baz Luhrmann peaked at #18 in the charts. Disgraceful! It's an incredible song. Super twee, but utterly forgivable as this Scandinavian band proved in other moments like 'Hit' and 'Might Be Stars' that they can also punch and turn up the distortion. A gorgeous song that deserved more.
PSB - Being Boring (20)
- One of the PSB's most understated and beautiful moments released as a single. Admittedly it's not the sure-fire hit that 'So Hard' undoubtedly was and is, but it's a stunning song and at a point in time when the band had just had TEN consecutive Top 10 singles, this should not have been the one to break that chain.
Eternal - Crazy (15)
- OK, the song is not a classic. But I STAN this song. And it deserved to be Top 10 for these reasons: 1) It gave all the members their own solo moment which is the only time in Eternal History this was allowed so for God's sake it should have been encouraged. 2) Louise's "this is why!" announcement into the first verse. Amazing. 3) That "WOOOO!" is so forced I live for it. 4) It was ETERNAL. They deserved every single from that album to be Top 10. Even 'So Good'. Which I also STAN.
Unbelievably, these incredible, and incredibly famous songs MISSED the UK Top 10.
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (22 - like WTF)
- Not even TOP TWENTY (!!) for one of the most iconic songs of all time!! Unacceptable. That 'Black Cat' is the only top 15 single from 'Rhythm Nation' is utterly insane to me. And I imagine Janet is still furious to this day.
Girls Aloud - Untouchable (11)
- Ending their Top 10 run is truly one of the fan favourite songs. Girls Aloud fans still tweet about that to this day. As they should. How did that happen?
Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way (12)
- I'm really fucking sorry: this song and video are GLORIOUS and I fail to accept that this deserved to stall outside the Top 10. How DARE.
Deuce - Call It Love (11)
- Endlessly enjoyable pop song from cult, fabulous UK kitsch pop band Deuce. Only one of their songs went Top 10 and this one TRULY deserved a Top 10 placing. JX even remixed it for God's sake.
Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse (15)
- Fantastic single from 'Supernature' that probably only missed Top 10 as it was preceded by 'Number 1' which I think is one of their weakest singles, especially given the previous was 'Ooh La La' and they had THIS in the wings.
All Saint - Chick Fit (failed to chart)
- NOT EVEN TOP 40 for one of All Saints' strongest songs. I'm LIVID. I'm STILL LIVID. Quoted as due to being cancelled as a physical single, and rift between band and label, but still this track is so under-exposed and deserved to be a smash.
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me (17)
- Undeniably cool slice of power funk pop from one of music's strongest girl groups. They didn't fare well at all in the UK charts and this is one example of them being unjustly outside the Top 10. (#17!!)
Cranberries - Linger (14)
- Timeless song from one of Ireland's finest bands and voices. #14 hit for the band, just below the peak position of #13 achieved by multiple other Cranberries songs, but was adored by all.
Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait (43)
- Again stalled OUTSIDE Top 40 for the THEME FROM 'Dawson's Creek' ... WHAT. It blows my mind that 'Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?' came out of nowhere and went Top 15, and this which was EVERYWHERE did not. I love WHATCG by the way, and I'm glad this incredible artist got ONE song justly noted.
Pulp - This Is Hardore (12)
- I read that this song missing Top 10 gave Jarvis depression and I totally understand. It's a bond theme that never was, and is a masterpiece from the mind of a truly bonkers and original songwriter. MAJESTY.
