The Music

December 1998

Heavy notice: These charts are not intended as any representation of sales or airplay data on any station. They are merely intended as a guide to the most successful records in the UK during this month. Unauthorised reproduction in print, electronic, broadcast or other media is not permitted without the express written consent of the author.

main chart

Bubblers

Qualification: No top 40 entry in this or any previous month.
Posn SINGLE - act album
1 CRUISE INTO CHRISTMAS - Jane MacDonald  
2 BIG PANTIE WOMAN - Barefoot Man  
3 GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE - Aqua Aquarium
4 BLUE - Leann Rimes Blue
5 NOBODY'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE Deborah Cox
6 SEARCHIN' MY SOUL - Vonda Shephard Songs from Ally McBeal
7 WHITE CHRISTMAS - Bing Crosby  
8 HANDS - Jewel Spirit
9 BECAUSE OF YOU - 98 Degrees  
10 BABY ONE MORE TIME - Britany Spears  

Well, Vonda failed to make the expected dent in the main list. Jane McDonald was a cruise line cabaret act, plucked to stardom by a fly-on-the-wall documentary, performing a medly of Christmas hits. Barefoot Man was championed by Radio 2's Sarah Kennedy. Leann Rimes' entry is the lead track from her 1996 album. Bing's is a re-release, and one of the tracks on McDonald's track. 98 Degrees and Britany both chart primarily on their US success; there's no news of a UK release for either track, which is a shame.

Recurrent Hits

Qualification: Entry in at least two monthly Top 40s but not this month's.
Posn SINGLE - act album Debut
- peak
1 WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME? - Coors Talk on Corners 8/98 - #3
2 DOO-WOP (THAT THING) - Lauryn Hill The Miseducation Of... 9/98 - #9
3 I JUST WANNA BE LOVED - Culture Club Greatest Moments 10/98 - #10
4 MILLENNIUM - Robbie Williams I've Been Expecting You 9/98 - #1
5 CRUSH - Jennifer Paige Jennifer Paige 8/98 - #3
6 SAVE TONIGHT - Eagle-Eye Cherry Desireless 7/98 - #4
7 NO MATTER WHAT - Boyzone Songs From Whistle Down the Wind 8/98 - #1
8 TORN - Natalie Imbruglia Left of the Middle 10/97 - #1
9 MY HEART WILL GO ON - Céline Dion Titanic OST 2/98 - #1
10 1999 - Prince 1999 2/85 - #2

Lauryn Hill's amazing success continues, holding at number 2 here. Eagle-Eye has now moved ahead of his official follow-up. "Torn" moves back up the rankings, while Dion's part of the most successful soundtrack ever returns one place lower. And Prince's return is mainly due to the re-release of "1999" by his old record label, to cash in on the topicality of the track. As a breaker, it would rank 22.

Personal Airplay

The ten records I've heard most this month...
Pos SINGLE act heard
1 GOODBYE Spice Girls 45
2 I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING Aerosmith 23
3 I WANT YOU Savage Garden 21
4 HARD KNOCK LIFE Jay-Z 19
5 TORN Natalie Imbruglia 17
6 THE SWEETEST THING U2 16
7 THANK YOU Alanis Morissette 15
THE POWER OF GOODBYE Madonna
THIS KISS Faith Hill
10 TAKE ME THERE Blackstreet, Mya, Ma$e, Blinky Blink 14
The Spices hit the top with the biggest monthly score of the year, denying Aerosmith a phenomenal fourth month at the head. Faith Hill falls in her third month, as does Alanis Morissette, but Madonna is on her way up. U2 re-enter from October, Savage Garden are back from June 97, and "Torn" moves up six plays and four places.

next month: main | breakers


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Update: January 4, 1999
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