| 1990s in music in the UK |
| Events |
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TheUK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by theOfficial Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2][3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of theUK Singles Chart during1992, as well as singles which peaked in1991 and1993 but were in the top 10 in 1992. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and forty-five singles were in the top ten in 1992. Ten singles from 1991 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Could It Be Magic" byTake That was released in 1992 but did not reach its peak until 1993. "Addams Groove" byMC Hammer, "Don't Talk Just Kiss" byRight Said Fred, "Justified & Ancient" byThe KLF featuringTammy Wynette, "Roobarb and Custard" byShaft and "Too Blind to See It" byKym Sims were the singles from 1991 to reach their peak in 1992. Twenty-seven artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1992.Celine Dion,East 17,Kris Kross,Manic Street Preachers andTake That were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1992.
The 1991Christmas number-one, "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"These Are the Days of Our Lives" byQueen, remained at number-one for the first three weeks of 1992. The first new number-one single of the year was "Goodnight Girl" byWet Wet Wet. Overall, twelve different singles peaked at number-one in 1992, with twelve unique artists having singles hit that position.
One-hundred and forty-five singles charted in the top 10 in 1992, with one-hundred and thirty-nine singles reaching their peak this year.
Twenty-seven artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1992. American singerMichael Jackson anddance groupThe Shamen shared the record for the most top ten singles in 1992 with four hit singles each. Jackson's highest-charting single of the year was "Heal the World", which peaked at number two in November. He reached the top 10 with a further three singles in 1992: "In the Closet", which charted at number eight; "Who Is It" (number 10) and "Remember the Time" (number three). The Shamen also had four top ten entries in 1992, with their highest-charting single, "Ebeneezer Goode", spending four weeks at number-one. Solo artistsCeCe Peniston,Madonna andFreddie Mercury, and bandsErasure,Take That andGuns N' Roses each reached the top 10 on three occasions.
Shakespears Sister were one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Stay".Annie Lennox,The Cure,George Michael,Prince andU2 were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1992.
Forty-four artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1992, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, three went on to record another hit single that year:Curtis Stigers,KWS andUndercover.CeCe Peniston andTake That both had two other entries in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
Annie Lennox had prior chart success as a member of the duoEurythmics but 1992 marked the start of her solo career, with "Why" becoming her first top 10 hit at number five.
Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Addams Groove" (fromThe Addams Family),God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II (Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey), "My Girl" (My Girl), "Everything About You" (Wayne's World), "Beauty and The Beast" (Beauty and The Beast), "This Used To Be My Playground" (A League of Their Own), "The Best Things In Life Are Free" (Mo' Money), "End of the Road" (Boomerang) and "I Will Always Love You" and "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (The Bodyguard).
TheComic Relief single for 1992, "(I Want to Be) Elected", was recorded byRowan Atkinson, in character as his alter-egoMr. Bean, alongsideBruce Dickinson from the rock bandIron Maiden. It was additionally credited toSmear Campaign which consisted of members of the groupSkin (known at the time asTaste). The single peaked at number nine on 11 April 1992 (week ending).
A joint project byManic Street Preachers andThe Fatima Mansions raised money forThe Spastics Society. The latter coveredBryan Adams' 1991 sixteen-week chart-topper "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", with the formerdoing a version ofSuicide Is Painless (Theme from M.A.S.H.)". The double A-side single peaked at number seven on 26 September 1992 (week ending).
Whitney Houston had the best-selling single of the year with a cover of "I Will Always Love You", from the soundtrack of the filmThe Bodyguard. The single spent fifteen weeks in the top 10 (including ten weeks at number-one), sold over 970,000 copies and was certified 2× platinum by theBPI.[4] "Rhythm Is a Dancer" bySnap! came in second place, selling over 675,000 copies and missing out by around 295,000 sales.Charles & Eddie's "Would I Lie to You?", "Stay" fromShakespears Sister and "Please Don't Go"/"Game Boy" byKWS made up the top five. Singles byBoyz II Men,Erasure,Jimmy Nail,Michael Jackson andWet Wet Wet were also in thetop ten best-selling singles of the year.
"I Will Always Love You" (10) also ranked in the top 10best-selling singles of the decade.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ‡ | Single peaked in 1991 but still in chart in 1992. |
| ♦ | Single released in 1992 but peaked in 1993. |
| (#) | Year-endtop-ten single position and rank |
| Entered | The date that the single first appeared in the chart. |
| Peak | Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart. |
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The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1992, including singles that reached their peak in 1991 or 1993 . The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.
