Weaver's UK Music Charts

Weaver's Charts

December 2000

Disclaimer: These charts are intended as a guide to the most successful records, measured by influence on public taste, in the UK during the period above. There is no representation of sales or airplay data in any market. Unauthorised reproduction in print, electronic, broadcast or other media is not permitted without the consent of the author.
Ps wk TITLE (album)
Act Peak Hon
1 7 INDEPENDENT WOMEN I (Charlie's Angels OST)
Destiny's Child 1 x 4
The lead single from the latest hip-chick flick comes from the group that seems to have taken up permanent residence on the listings. Destiny's Child has now had five massive hits in slightly less than 18 months. This is the biggest hit of the set, and becomes their first UK number one. It's spent eight weeks topping the Hot 100, four weeks on top of the world, two weeks in Canada. Taking advantage of a dip in both airplay and sales markets after Christmas allowed the Child to return for a fourth week at the top, and become the final UK and US #1 single of the millennium.
2 4 CAN WE FIX IT?
Bob The Builder 1 x 2
Like the Tweenies last month, Bob has been a massive tv star, even though he's all of 5 inches tall. Insanely popular with the under-fives, Bob - voiced by Neil Morrisey of "Men Behaving Badly" - has spun off into toys, lunchboxes, and now the obligatory record. Still like the Tweenies, this is an anthemic number, well-written and well-produced. Another overlooked classic. Being #1 over the Christmas period is great for sales, and this joined the Baha Men in challenging All Saints as the year's best seller, winning the race with a full week to spare.
3 4 STANTA (The Marshall Mathers LP)
Dido feat Eminem 2
Some commentators are calling this the best record of the year. The year being 1998, the record being Dido's "No Angel"; specifically, "Thank You" from her album. This provides the bed for the usual whine from the dullard, this time about a devoted fan who wants a reply from Santa Claus. He doesn't get one, takes a Pikachu hostage, and crashes a borrowed sleigh into a store. Some suggest this is an acerbic comment on the commercialisation of Christmas; others suggest this is a pile of twaddle over a great backing track. Whichever, the track has the ill-luck to be sandwiched between Destiny's Child and Bob the Builder - both spent two weeks at the top, while Stanta held in the runner-up position for its first four weeks.
4 5 NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE
S Club 7 2
Where are we up to? Single six, and already two albums have come and gone. "S Club" had three, "7" two, now here comes a non-album track. Originally scheduled for release in the Christmas crush, the Club went for the charidee route, donating their royalties to charity. They hoped to get a #1 from the experience, but came across a very strong Destiny's Child, and settled for #2. No matter what the cause, there's little excuse for syrupy ballads like this.
5 12 WHO LET THE DOGS OUT (Who Let the Dogs Out?)
Baja Men 1 x 1
Who, indeed. A collective from the Bahamas, responsible for a track that one either loves or hates on the first listen. It's been handled around the world by pop impressario Johnathan King, whom one also either loves or loathes after about ten seconds. This was shaping up to be a significant minor hit, peaking just outside the top 10, until a slow week and increased distribution combined to push the track to #2, inches behind U2. The viral qualities ensured it then turned into a massive hit, used by sports fans all over the world. Three weeks at #2 looked to be it for this track, but a gap in the market suddenly opened and the track claimed its rightful place as Britain's #1 on every chart - except the sales one. It's maintained a huge sales presence in the eleven weeks since, and looked likely to challenge for best seller of the year status without ever leading that pack for a week.
6 7 CAN'T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT (Coyote Ugly OST)
Leann Rimes 1 x 1 SS
Leann's career launched in 1996, with the album "Blue." Acres of press coverage for the star, then just 13, translated into precious few sales. "How Do I Live?" changed all that, setting records on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the longest-running hits ever - a surely unbreakable 69 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100; and 30 weeks in the UK Top 40, the longest run of the decade. She's not had a big hit since, but has been able to have a number of smaller releases tickle the bottom end of the chart.
Now enter a flick with plenty of barmaids dancing on the bar, and (er) that's about it. "Coyote Ugly" is a turkey, but the soundtrack is one of the few redeeming features. The lead track is this one, an upbeat track (just for a change) that plays to Rimes' strengths.
7 5 DON'T TELL ME (Music)
Madonna 5
It's not an instant hit by any stretch of the imagination, but it is something of a grower.
8 4 STRONGER (Oops I Did It Again)
Britney Spears 6
The third single from the album, and it's back to a first person narrative. Somewhat more raunchy and bizarre than anything she's released before, this becomes Birtney's smallest hit in the UK. There were raised eyebrows as this single climbed the listings very close to Bob the Builder, with many remarks about large plastic stars.
9 9 SHE BANGS (Sound Loaded)
Ricky Martin 4 SS
Finally, an up-tempo follow-up to last year's "Livin' La Vida Loca," the one that broke Ricky in the US. Since that trans-atlantic topper, he's released the rather good ballads "She's All I Ever Had" (not in the UK) and "Private Emotion" (with Meja,) and the singularly rubbish "Shake Your Bonbon." This is a stomper of a track, with plenty of opportunity to cross over and become a massive hit. Four weeks as the planet's biggest, one week in Canada. Though it never quite set UK radio alight, the airplay it did get enticed a lot of sales.
10 8 NUMBER ONE
Tweenies 6 SS
Enjoy this on two levels. One is that it is a kick-ass pop song, of the sort that the Spice Girls used to turn out in their sleep, and even S Club 7 and Steps would happily kill for. Combining an upbeat lyric with a strong rhythm, the song is happiness in a nutshell.
The other is as the logical follow-up to the 1997 Number One, "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh." That was from the BBC's new pre-school programme, featuring the brightly coloured aliens gadding about the countryside sprouting inane rubbish. So far, so New Labour's agricultural policy. The Tubbies were adopted by students up and down the land, and became the ultimate kitsch icon of the year.
Fast forward to 2000, and it's a year since Bella, Milo, Jake and Fizz burst onto the screen in a shower of glitter and action. If the Teletubbies' show is sedate and repetetive, the Tweenies' is fast, all action and requires a lot of concentration. Maybe that's why the fab four haven't quite achieved the same cult following as the Tubbies.
(Bear with me on this one.) Every episode of the Tweenies features the group singing a little song, which leads neatly into one of the marketing moves: an album. And an album needs a single. It's a tribute to the underlying quality of the song that it's got as high as it has with no radio airplay, and very little critical attention. The song itself has cliche after cliche in the verse, making utterly no sense; but the chorus is a stomping classic.
11 6 WALKING AWAY (Born To Do It)
Craig David 4
If only he were. This is completely anodyne, limp, wannabe soul that must have been made by vampires.
12 7 ONE MORE TIME
Daft Punk 3
The French trio is probably still best known for their bizarre video to 1997's "Da Funk," featuring a man in a beagle costume going around his life, carrying a ghettoblaster from which the tune played. That was inspirational; this is somehow cliched by comparison. It treads the same boards as Stardust's massive - and massively-overplayed - 1998 hit "Music Sounds Better With You." That shouldn't come as a total surprise, as Thomas Bangalter was in both acts. That he hasn't managed to move his style on in the two and a half years since, and the record isn't exciting, should be a worry.
Incidentally, the group has declined to promote this release in any way, and there's no video to rave about in four years time. A pity.
13 5 OPERATION BLADE (BASS IN THE PLACE)
Public Domain 11
One of two workings of the same tune, apparently based on New Order's 1983 recording, "Confusion." I don't see it myself, though Sumner and Hook will no doubt appreciate the royalty cheques. Nor do I see any point in either record, they're just a loud racket with a bloke shouting over the top. A bit like the "Hoover" sound that was unfathomably popular circa 1992.
14 2 WHAT MAKES A MAN (Coast To Coast)
Westlife 3
The best Christmas present that many chart fans got came a day early, when there was confirmation that this had failed to be the 6th consecutive Westside single to enter the sales chart at #1. Never mind the fact that only one had sold entirely at full price. Never mind the desparate measures they took to sneak past Melanie C in March. Never mind the fact that only three had topped this Fab 40. The UK's attention is only on the sales chart, and those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
15 8 SHAPE OF MY HEART (Black And Blue)
Backstreet Boys 4
The first single lifted from their fourth (count 'em!) album is a slushy, insipid number. Maybe this group is coming to the end of its life, too.
16 12 BEAUTIFUL DAY (All That You Can't Leave Behind)
U2 1 x 2 Oct
In recent years, the first single off a U2 album has been something of an experimental track, unlike anything else on the disc. "The Fly," the first release from 1991's "Achtung Baby!" was a loud buzzing melody, while "Discotheque," first off 1997's "Pop" had a stomp that never turned up on the rest of the album. The roots of this single are there for all to see on tracks like "Stay (Faraway So Close)" off 1993's "Zooropa," and the more recent "If God Will Send His Angels" and "Last Night On Earth." A rootsy, guitar-based sound, like they've made all along the line. Despite the best efforts to convince otherwise. Two weeks at #1 on the World Chart, and the stamina of an ox, only dropping out of the weekly top 20 on New Year's Eve.
17 2 SUPREME (Sing When You're Winning)
Robbie Williams 8
The third single off the album is a poor re-tread of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," with lyrics that sound like something the Supremes' quality control would have turned down. Such career nuances mean nothing to Williams, who has blown his chances of breaking the US by releasing an album full of album filler, and not one decent song on it. This is one of them.
18 3 911 (The Ecleftic)
Wyclef Jean / Mary J Blige 14 Dec
The second single from Jean's sophomore set is an absolute classic. It features the vocal talents of Mary J Blige, which could explain a heck of a lot. This is sweet, seductive soul music at its very best. "Top of the Pops" insisted that Jean and a guest female vocalist changed the lyric to "Someone please call 999," but omitted to note that this ruined the rhyme structure of the chorus. Twerps.
19 6 GRAVEL PIT (The W)
Wu-Tang Clan 16 SS
The first hit single is based on a sample from Cameo's 1987 hit "Back And Forth", and doesn't sound up to much on first listen. After a few times round, the track begins to work on multiple levels, and turns from sounding rather good to a genuine work of genius.
20 4 I PUT A SPELL ON YOU (Hear My Cry)
Sonique 10
Yes, it's *that* song. A minor hit for writer Nina Simone, the classic version by Alan Price went to #9 in 1966. Sonique's version tickled the underbelly of the chart in 1998, and is now re-released on the back of "It Feels So Good." While it's not *quite* up to the high standards of that, or the sheer exuberance of "Sky," the track does have a certain charm.
21 8 DON'T THINK I'M NOT
Kandi 9 SS
This is a rather perky number, with an added dose of nastiness lurking just behind the glittery veneer. It's rather good, all told.
22 9 MY LOVE (Coast To Coast)
Westlife 1 x 1
Don't believe the hype. This is their sixth record without assistance, and (by my ranking) is only the third to become the most popular hit of its moment in the UK. Everyone agrees that "I Have A Dream" was #1 over Christmas and New Year last year; and most observers give the nod to "Flying Without Wings" in October 99. There's a strong argument that in its peak week, this was less popular than the Baja Men.
As to the song itself, it's Westlife-by-numbers. A dull ballad, lushly produced, great harmonies, yet completely devoid of emotion. Move on, there's nothing to hear here. Not even the award of Record Of The Year managed to add anything to this track, though it did spark a minor resurgence in sales.
23 19 MUSIC (Music)
Madonna 1 x 2
It's been a strange year for Madge, giving birth to her second child just a few weeks before this record was released, shacking up with film director Guy Richie in central London. And also completely losing touch with her muse. February's barking cover of "American Pie" remained reasonably close to the original, while not being the original. This tune, however, is all beat and dodgy video, without having any of Madonna's known talent for rhythm, tune, or song structure. Please, let this be a one-off lapse in production; I fear it's the start of the decline of the undisputed Queen Of Pop. Seven weeks at the top of the world chart, three in Canada, four in the US.
24 8 DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT (Onka's Big Monka)
Toploader 19 Nov
Originally released in February, this looked to fall into the dreaded "lost classic" stable when it scraped into the listings, only to fall away sharply. It's remained as one of Toploader's most popular tracks, though, and is re-released. The lead track features a really annoying remix, complete with the sort of annoying DJ instructions that gave the job a bad name ten years ago. It doesn't affect the brilliance of the track too much.
25 5 THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL (Ronan)
Ronan Keating 7
Oh, how insanely dull is this! Written by Bryan "boring" Adams, recorded by the man with *the* most boring voice in pop, it's a slow, ponderous ballad. Wake me up when it's over.
26 5 THIS I PROMISE YOU
N'Sync 18
Another ballad, though this one has a bit of meat to it.
27 17 LADY HEAR ME TONIGHT
Modjo 1 x 2
The group is French, and has a silent "d" in its name. The loop is a Chic b-side from 79, and the sound a fairly urgent call over a laid-back groove. It's OK, but it's not really up to much. The record-buying public, showing its usual ability to be led by radio bosses, lap it up in spades. It has shown remarkable tenacity, sticking on radio playlists for over four months so far.
28 10 HOLLER (Forever)
Spice Girls 1 x 1
Single number 10 - promoted as a double-A with sappy "Let Love Lead the Way" - is the tenth number one of their career, leaving them just one behind the Beatles' all-time record. However, if any other act released this, it wouldn't be anything like so big. It's actually a dull mess of lite R&B, without any of the charm that marked the group's earlier work. It seems they're missing Geri more than they think. The album slumped out of the top 20 after just two weeks, suggesting that the Spices are Over. The contractual Greatest Hits seems very close.
29 13 BLACK COFFEE (Saints And Sinners)
All Saints 1 x 1 SS
The second single (after February's massive Leo-induced frenzy) could never quite top the brilliance of "Pure Shores," though it pushes all the right buttons. The former release remains the year's biggest hit; the latter tops the listings on sales of barely 50,000, the smallest sale for a #1 single since Hangover Week, the week after new year. It's remained popular at radio for three months, the second All Saints track to have huge airplay properties.
30 3 AGAIN (Greatest Hits)
Lenny Kravitz 20 NB
Returning to his U2-lite rocking numbers is never a bad move for the inconsistent Mr Kravitz. This is his best release in a very long time, and has an eye-popping video to boot. The UK release was scheduled for early December, but it fell off the release roster for no adequately explored reason. The video gets heavy rotation on MTV and Play, which suggests a belated release may follow in the new year.
31 3 WASSUP
Da Mutts 25
One of two records based on a beer commercial to have graced the Weekly recently, this is the only one to make the Monthly 40. The track is based around the hook to Rick James' "Superfreak," the same sample that MC Hammer turned into an international megasmash as "U Can't Touch This" in 1990. These Mutts won't be anything like as successful.
32 3 THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME (Crush)
Bon Jovi 20
Third single is completely forgettable.
33 15 I'M OUTTA LOVE (Not That Kind)
Anastacia 5
When R&B met disco down a dark alley one night, this was the result. A little rough round the edges, but a fantastic tune that has already hit it across the continent. A real grower in the UK, Anastacia has continued long past her expected sell-by date and turned into a major hit that just won't go away.
34 2 INCOMPLETE (Unleash the Dragon)
Sisqo 23 SS
Turning his hand to a more soft ballad proved a great move for Sisqo, who secured the first US #1 of his career when this track hit the top in August. Belatedly released over here, the track has been ruined by a completely gratuitous remix. It's preformed by the same airheads that massacred Toploader (qv), and transforms a downtempo ballad of longing into a juddering mess of beat and thump. SureShot status goes to the original mix only.
35 2 I JUST WANNA LOVE U
Jay Z 27
Oh, how nice for you.
36 6 PLEASE DON'T TURN ME ON (It's All About the Stragglers)
Artful Dodger 6
The third release from one of the most over-hyped groups of the year. Anything to do with "garage", this year's media-created scene, has been loved; anything else has been ignored. Oh to be able to leave this instantly forgettable stuff on the shelf where it belongs.
37 19 GOTTA TELL YOU
Samantha Mumba 5
The latest product of the stable that produced Westlife and Boyzone, Mumba is a 17 year old Irish lass. I still say this is a completely unremarkable piece of pop, with here-today-gone-tomorrow written all over it. Even though it's gone and proven me wrong by going top 5 in the US.
38 7 ORIGINAL PRANKSTER
The Offspring 15
So, was the idea of giving this track away as an MP3 to promote the album a good one? The jury is still out on the group's abortive stunt, pulled at the insistence of their record company. The track itself is no great shakes, not quite scaling the genius of "Why Don't You Get a Job" and "Pretty Fly," but still keeping on the right side of respectable.
39 4 CASE OF THE EX
Mya 34 NB
The siren voice from 1998's "Ghetto Superstar" returns with a charming little number, strong on content. Strong support forced a move up the release schedules from spring to late January.
40 8 WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN (Human Clay)
Creed 29 NB
Like "Higher", a slow-burning ball of firey rage. One week as the US #1 back in October. The UK release is on new year 2001, and there's a small swell of opinion - and, more importantly, airplay - gathering behind this band.
SureShots on yellow, Singles of the Month on red, records Not British hits on green.

Ps	wk	TITLE (album) Act	Peak	Hon
1	7	INDEPENDENT WOMEN I (Charlie's Angels OST) Destiny's Child	1 x 4
The lead single from the latest hip-chick flick comes from the group that seems to have taken up permanent residence on the listings. Destiny's Child has now had five massive hits in slightly less than 18 months. This is the biggest hit of the set, and becomes their first UK number one. It's spent eight weeks topping the Hot 100, four weeks on top of the world, two weeks in Canada. Taking advantage of a dip in both airplay and sales markets after Christmas allowed the Child to return for a fourth week at the top, and become the final UK and US #1 single of the millennium.
2	4	CAN WE FIX IT? Bob The Builder	1 x 2
Like the Tweenies last month, Bob has been a massive tv star, even though he's all of 5 inches tall. Insanely popular with the under-fives, Bob - voiced by Neil Morrisey of "Men Behaving Badly" - has spun off into toys, lunchboxes, and now the obligatory record. Still like the Tweenies, this is an anthemic number, well-written and well-produced. Another overlooked classic. Being #1 over the Christmas period is great for sales, and this joined the Baha Men in challenging All Saints as the year's best seller, winning the race with a full week to spare.
3	4	STANTA (The Marshall Mathers LP) Dido feat Eminem	2
Some commentators are calling this the best record of the year. The year being 1998, the record being Dido's "No Angel"; specifically, "Thank You" from her album. This provides the bed for the usual whine from the dullard, this time about a devoted fan who wants a reply from Santa Claus. He doesn't get one, takes a Pikachu hostage, and crashes a borrowed sleigh into a store. Some suggest this is an acerbic comment on the commercialisation of Christmas; others suggest this is a pile of twaddle over a great backing track. Whichever, the track has the ill-luck to be sandwiched between Destiny's Child and Bob the Builder - both spent two weeks at the top, while Stanta held in the runner-up position for its first four weeks.
4	5	NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE S Club 7	2
Where are we up to? Single six, and already two albums have come and gone. "S Club" had three, "7" two, now here comes a non-album track. Originally scheduled for release in the Christmas crush, the Club went for the charidee route, donating their royalties to charity. They hoped to get a #1 from the experience, but came across a very strong Destiny's Child, and settled for #2. No matter what the cause, there's little excuse for syrupy ballads like this.
5	12	WHO LET THE DOGS OUT (Who Let the Dogs Out?) Baja Men	1 x 1
Who, indeed. A collective from the Bahamas, responsible for a track that one either loves or hates on the first listen. It's been handled around the world by pop impressario Johnathan King, whom one also either loves or loathes after about ten seconds. This was shaping up to be a significant minor hit, peaking just outside the top 10, until a slow week and increased distribution combined to push the track to #2, inches behind U2. The viral qualities ensured it then turned into a massive hit, used by sports fans all over the world. Three weeks at #2 looked to be it for this track, but a gap in the market suddenly opened and the track claimed its rightful place as Britain's #1 on every chart - except the sales one. It's maintained a huge sales presence in the eleven weeks since, and looked likely to challenge for best seller of the year status without ever leading that pack for a week.
6	7	CAN'T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT (Coyote Ugly OST) Leann Rimes	1 x 1	SS
Leann's career launched in 1996, with the album "Blue." Acres of press coverage for the star, then just 13, translated into precious few sales. "How Do I Live?" changed all that, setting records on both sides of the Atlantic as one of the longest-running hits ever - a surely unbreakable 69 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100; and 30 weeks in the UK Top 40, the longest run of the decade. She's not had a big hit since, but has been able to have a number of smaller releases tickle the bottom end of the chart. Now enter a flick with plenty of barmaids dancing on the bar, and (er) that's about it. "Coyote Ugly" is a turkey, but the soundtrack is one of the few redeeming features. The lead track is this one, an upbeat track (just for a change) that plays to Rimes' strengths.
7	5	DON'T TELL ME (Music) Madonna	5
It's not an instant hit by any stretch of the imagination, but it is something of a grower.
8	4	STRONGER (Oops I Did It Again) Britney Spears	6
The third single from the album, and it's back to a first person narrative. Somewhat more raunchy and bizarre than anything she's released before, this becomes Birtney's smallest hit in the UK. There were raised eyebrows as this single climbed the listings very close to Bob the Builder, with many remarks about large plastic stars.
9	9	SHE BANGS (Sound Loaded) Ricky Martin	4	SS
Finally, an up-tempo follow-up to last year's "Livin' La Vida Loca," the one that broke Ricky in the US. Since that trans-atlantic topper, he's released the rather good ballads "She's All I Ever Had" (not in the UK) and "Private Emotion" (with Meja,) and the singularly rubbish "Shake Your Bonbon." This is a stomper of a track, with plenty of opportunity to cross over and become a massive hit. Four weeks as the planet's biggest, one week in Canada. Though it never quite set UK radio alight, the airplay it did get enticed a lot of sales.
10	8	NUMBER ONE Tweenies	6	SS
Enjoy this on two levels. One is that it is a kick-ass pop song, of the sort that the Spice Girls used to turn out in their sleep, and even S Club 7 and Steps would happily kill for. Combining an upbeat lyric with a strong rhythm, the song is happiness in a nutshell. The other is as the logical follow-up to the 1997 Number One, "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh." That was from the BBC's new pre-school programme, featuring the brightly coloured aliens gadding about the countryside sprouting inane rubbish. So far, so New Labour's agricultural policy. The Tubbies were adopted by students up and down the land, and became the ultimate kitsch icon of the year. Fast forward to 2000, and it's a year since Bella, Milo, Jake and Fizz burst onto the screen in a shower of glitter and action. If the Teletubbies' show is sedate and repetetive, the Tweenies' is fast, all action and requires a lot of concentration. Maybe that's why the fab four haven't quite achieved the same cult following as the Tubbies. (Bear with me on this one.) Every episode of the Tweenies features the group singing a little song, which leads neatly into one of the marketing moves: an album. And an album needs a single. It's a tribute to the underlying quality of the song that it's got as high as it has with no radio airplay, and very little critical attention. The song itself has cliche after cliche in the verse, making utterly no sense; but the chorus is a stomping classic.
11	6	WALKING AWAY (Born To Do It) Craig David	4
If only he were. This is completely anodyne, limp, wannabe soul that must have been made by vampires.
12	7	ONE MORE TIME Daft Punk	3
The French trio is probably still best known for their bizarre video to 1997's "Da Funk," featuring a man in a beagle costume going around his life, carrying a ghettoblaster from which the tune played. That was inspirational; this is somehow cliched by comparison. It treads the same boards as Stardust's massive - and massively-overplayed - 1998 hit "Music Sounds Better With You." That shouldn't come as a total surprise, as Thomas Bangalter was in both acts. That he hasn't managed to move his style on in the two and a half years since, and the record isn't exciting, should be a worry. Incidentally, the group has declined to promote this release in any way, and there's no video to rave about in four years time. A pity.
13	5	OPERATION BLADE (BASS IN THE PLACE) Public Domain	11
One of two workings of the same tune, apparently based on New Order's 1983 recording, "Confusion." I don't see it myself, though Sumner and Hook will no doubt appreciate the royalty cheques. Nor do I see any point in either record, they're just a loud racket with a bloke shouting over the top. A bit like the "Hoover" sound that was unfathomably popular circa 1992.
14	2	WHAT MAKES A MAN (Coast To Coast) Westlife	3
The best Christmas present that many chart fans got came a day early, when there was confirmation that this had failed to be the 6th consecutive Westside single to enter the sales chart at #1. Never mind the fact that only one had sold entirely at full price. Never mind the desparate measures they took to sneak past Melanie C in March. Never mind the fact that only three had topped this Fab 40. The UK's attention is only on the sales chart, and those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
15	8	SHAPE OF MY HEART (Black And Blue) Backstreet Boys	4
The first single lifted from their fourth (count 'em!) album is a slushy, insipid number. Maybe this group is coming to the end of its life, too.
16	12	BEAUTIFUL DAY (All That You Can't Leave Behind) U2	1 x 2	Oct
In recent years, the first single off a U2 album has been something of an experimental track, unlike anything else on the disc. "The Fly," the first release from 1991's "Achtung Baby!" was a loud buzzing melody, while "Discotheque," first off 1997's "Pop" had a stomp that never turned up on the rest of the album. The roots of this single are there for all to see on tracks like "Stay (Faraway So Close)" off 1993's "Zooropa," and the more recent "If God Will Send His Angels" and "Last Night On Earth." A rootsy, guitar-based sound, like they've made all along the line. Despite the best efforts to convince otherwise. Two weeks at #1 on the World Chart, and the stamina of an ox, only dropping out of the weekly top 20 on New Year's Eve.
17	2	SUPREME (Sing When You're Winning) Robbie Williams	8
The third single off the album is a poor re-tread of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," with lyrics that sound like something the Supremes' quality control would have turned down. Such career nuances mean nothing to Williams, who has blown his chances of breaking the US by releasing an album full of album filler, and not one decent song on it. This is one of them.
18	3	911 (The Ecleftic) Wyclef Jean / Mary J Blige	14	Dec
The second single from Jean's sophomore set is an absolute classic. It features the vocal talents of Mary J Blige, which could explain a heck of a lot. This is sweet, seductive soul music at its very best. "Top of the Pops" insisted that Jean and a guest female vocalist changed the lyric to "Someone please call 999," but omitted to note that this ruined the rhyme structure of the chorus. Twerps.
19	6	GRAVEL PIT (The W) Wu-Tang Clan	16	SS
The first hit single is based on a sample from Cameo's 1987 hit "Back And Forth", and doesn't sound up to much on first listen. After a few times round, the track begins to work on multiple levels, and turns from sounding rather good to a genuine work of genius.
20	4	I PUT A SPELL ON YOU (Hear My Cry) Sonique	10
Yes, it's that song. A minor hit for writer Nina Simone, the classic version by Alan Price went to #9 in 1966. Sonique's version tickled the underbelly of the chart in 1998, and is now re-released on the back of "It Feels So Good." While it's not quite up to the high standards of that, or the sheer exuberance of "Sky," the track does have a certain charm.
21	8	DON'T THINK I'M NOT Kandi	9	SS
This is a rather perky number, with an added dose of nastiness lurking just behind the glittery veneer. It's rather good, all told.
22	9	MY LOVE (Coast To Coast) Westlife	1 x 1
Don't believe the hype. This is their sixth record without assistance, and (by my ranking) is only the third to become the most popular hit of its moment in the UK. Everyone agrees that "I Have A Dream" was #1 over Christmas and New Year last year; and most observers give the nod to "Flying Without Wings" in October 99. There's a strong argument that in its peak week, this was less popular than the Baja Men. As to the song itself, it's Westlife-by-numbers. A dull ballad, lushly produced, great harmonies, yet completely devoid of emotion. Move on, there's nothing to hear here. Not even the award of Record Of The Year managed to add anything to this track, though it did spark a minor resurgence in sales.
23	19	MUSIC (Music) Madonna	1 x 2
It's been a strange year for Madge, giving birth to her second child just a few weeks before this record was released, shacking up with film director Guy Richie in central London. And also completely losing touch with her muse. February's barking cover of "American Pie" remained reasonably close to the original, while not being the original. This tune, however, is all beat and dodgy video, without having any of Madonna's known talent for rhythm, tune, or song structure. Please, let this be a one-off lapse in production; I fear it's the start of the decline of the undisputed Queen Of Pop. Seven weeks at the top of the world chart, three in Canada, four in the US.
24	8	DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT (Onka's Big Monka) Toploader	19	Nov
Originally released in February, this looked to fall into the dreaded "lost classic" stable when it scraped into the listings, only to fall away sharply. It's remained as one of Toploader's most popular tracks, though, and is re-released. The lead track features a really annoying remix, complete with the sort of annoying DJ instructions that gave the job a bad name ten years ago. It doesn't affect the brilliance of the track too much.
25	5	THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL (Ronan) Ronan Keating	7
Oh, how insanely dull is this! Written by Bryan "boring" Adams, recorded by the man with the most boring voice in pop, it's a slow, ponderous ballad. Wake me up when it's over.
26	5	THIS I PROMISE YOU N'Sync	18
Another ballad, though this one has a bit of meat to it.
27	17	LADY HEAR ME TONIGHT Modjo	1 x 2
The group is French, and has a silent "d" in its name. The loop is a Chic b-side from 79, and the sound a fairly urgent call over a laid-back groove. It's OK, but it's not really up to much. The record-buying public, showing its usual ability to be led by radio bosses, lap it up in spades. It has shown remarkable tenacity, sticking on radio playlists for over four months so far.
28	10	HOLLER (Forever) Spice Girls	1 x 1
Single number 10 - promoted as a double-A with sappy "Let Love Lead the Way" - is the tenth number one of their career, leaving them just one behind the Beatles' all-time record. However, if any other act released this, it wouldn't be anything like so big. It's actually a dull mess of lite R&B, without any of the charm that marked the group's earlier work. It seems they're missing Geri more than they think. The album slumped out of the top 20 after just two weeks, suggesting that the Spices are Over. The contractual Greatest Hits seems very close.
29	13	BLACK COFFEE (Saints And Sinners) All Saints	1 x 1	SS
The second single (after February's massive Leo-induced frenzy) could never quite top the brilliance of "Pure Shores," though it pushes all the right buttons. The former release remains the year's biggest hit; the latter tops the listings on sales of barely 50,000, the smallest sale for a #1 single since Hangover Week, the week after new year. It's remained popular at radio for three months, the second All Saints track to have huge airplay properties.
30	3	AGAIN (Greatest Hits) Lenny Kravitz	20	NB
Returning to his U2-lite rocking numbers is never a bad move for the inconsistent Mr Kravitz. This is his best release in a very long time, and has an eye-popping video to boot. The UK release was scheduled for early December, but it fell off the release roster for no adequately explored reason. The video gets heavy rotation on MTV and Play, which suggests a belated release may follow in the new year.
31	3	WASSUP Da Mutts	25
One of two records based on a beer commercial to have graced the Weekly recently, this is the only one to make the Monthly 40. The track is based around the hook to Rick James' "Superfreak," the same sample that MC Hammer turned into an international megasmash as "U Can't Touch This" in 1990. These Mutts won't be anything like as successful.
32	3	THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME (Crush) Bon Jovi	20
Third single is completely forgettable.
33	15	I'M OUTTA LOVE (Not That Kind) Anastacia	5
When R&B met disco down a dark alley one night, this was the result. A little rough round the edges, but a fantastic tune that has already hit it across the continent. A real grower in the UK, Anastacia has continued long past her expected sell-by date and turned into a major hit that just won't go away.
34	2	INCOMPLETE (Unleash the Dragon) Sisqo	23	SS
Turning his hand to a more soft ballad proved a great move for Sisqo, who secured the first US #1 of his career when this track hit the top in August. Belatedly released over here, the track has been ruined by a completely gratuitous remix. It's preformed by the same airheads that massacred Toploader (qv), and transforms a downtempo ballad of longing into a juddering mess of beat and thump. SureShot status goes to the original mix only.
35	2	I JUST WANNA LOVE U Jay Z	27
Oh, how nice for you.
36	6	PLEASE DON'T TURN ME ON (It's All About the Stragglers) Artful Dodger	6
The third release from one of the most over-hyped groups of the year. Anything to do with "garage", this year's media-created scene, has been loved; anything else has been ignored. Oh to be able to leave this instantly forgettable stuff on the shelf where it belongs.
37	19	GOTTA TELL YOU Samantha Mumba	5
The latest product of the stable that produced Westlife and Boyzone, Mumba is a 17 year old Irish lass. I still say this is a completely unremarkable piece of pop, with here-today-gone-tomorrow written all over it. Even though it's gone and proven me wrong by going top 5 in the US.
38	7	ORIGINAL PRANKSTER The Offspring	15
So, was the idea of giving this track away as an MP3 to promote the album a good one? The jury is still out on the group's abortive stunt, pulled at the insistence of their record company. The track itself is no great shakes, not quite scaling the genius of "Why Don't You Get a Job" and "Pretty Fly," but still keeping on the right side of respectable.
39	4	CASE OF THE EX Mya	34	NB
The siren voice from 1998's "Ghetto Superstar" returns with a charming little number, strong on content. Strong support forced a move up the release schedules from spring to late January.
40	8	WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN (Human Clay) Creed	29	NB
Like "Higher", a slow-burning ball of firey rage. One week as the US #1 back in October. The UK release is on new year 2001, and there's a small swell of opinion - and, more importantly, airplay - gathering behind this band.

breakers...

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