Elton John (pictured in 2011) achieved the best-selling single of 1997 with "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997", a tribute toDiana, Princess of Wales. The song entered the charts at number-one in September, where it remained for five weeks, ultimately spending 13 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10. It remainsthe best-selling single in UK chart history with over 4.77 million copies sold.Danish-Norwegian groupAqua (pictured in 2008) scored the second best selling single of the year with their signature song "Barbie Girl", which topped the chart for four weeks and spent 12 weeks in the top 10.In 1997,Puff Daddy (pictured in 2007) recorded a tribute song to his recently deceased friend,The Notorious B.I.G., called "I'll Be Missing You". SamplingThe Police's 1983 hit "Every Breath You Take", the track features vocals from Biggie's widow, singerFaith Evans, and R&B group112. The song spent 12 weeks in the UK top 10, with six of those weeks at number-one, becoming the third best selling single of the year.
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 during1997, as well as singles which peaked in1996 and1998 but were in the top 10 in 1997. 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).
Two hundred and twenty-eight singles were in the top ten in 1997. Ten singles from 1996 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. "Angels" byRobbie Williams and "Never Ever" byAll Saints were both released in 1997 but did not reach their peak until 1998.[4][5] Sixty-four artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1997.All Saints,[6]Aqua,[7]Daft Punk,[8]Natalie Imbruglia[9] andNo Doubt[10] were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1997.
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.
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" (1) was ranked as thebest-selling single of the decade, while "Barbie Girl" (4), "Perfect Day" (6) and "I'll Be Missing You" (9) were all ranked in the top 10 best-selling singles of the 1990s. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" also stands as thebiggest-selling single of all time in the UK (as of July 2018).[48]
Will Smith (pictured in 2009) spent four weeks at number-one with the song "Men in Black", which featured onthe soundtrack ofthe film of the same name.No Doubt, fronted byGwen Stefani (pictured third from right), had two top 10 hits in the UK this year, including "Don't Speak", which spent three weeks at number-one and lasted nine weeks in the top 10, becoming the seventh best selling single of the year.Bono (pictured in 2000) had five top 10 singles in 1997, the joint most with the members of fellow countrymenBoyzone. This included four with his bandU2, including the number-one hit "Discothèque" and one on the charity ensemble "Perfect Day", which topped the chart in November.Lancashire bandChumbawamba had one of the year's biggest selling singles, "Tubthumping", which spent three weeks at number two and had an 11-week stay in the top 10.Italian artistGala spent eight weeks in the UK top 10 this year with her hit single "Freed from Desire", which had its highest position at number two.Katrina and the Waves (lead singerKatrina Leskanich pictured in 1986) won the1997 Eurovision Song Contest with "Love Shine a Light", which reached number three in the UK.
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1997, including singles that reached their peak in 1996 or 1998. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.
a "Never Ever" reached its peak of number-one on 17 January 1998 (week ending).[5]
b "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" originally peaked at number 20 upon its initial release in 1996. It was remixed byArmand van Helden and re-released in 1997, reaching number-one in January.[49]
c "Remember Me" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 15 February 1997 (week ending).[50]
d The original solo version of "You Got the Love" by Candi Staton peaked at number 95 in 1986. The 1991 remix by The Source peaked at number 4.[51]
e The original version of "Show Me Love" peaked at number 6 upon its release in 1993.
f "Bellissima" charted as a double A-side single with another song, "I Have a Dream", across Europe in 1996 but only "Bellissima" reached the UK chart.[52]
gMakaveli was a stage name used by American rapperTupac Shakur (sometimes known alternatively as2Pac).[53]
h "Lovefool" originally peaked outside the top ten at number 21 upon its initial release in September 1996.[38]
n "Bitter Sweet Symphony" uses a sample of "The Last Time" byThe Rolling Stones. It was the subject of a legal challenge regarding plagiarism, and as a resultMick Jagger andKeith Richards had subsequent songwriting credits added.
o "Just a Girl" originally peaked outside the top ten at number 38 upon its initial release October 1996.
p "Bitch" was sometimes known by its censored title "Nothing in Between".
q "California Dreamin' originally peaked outside the top ten at number 23 upon its initial release in 1966.
r "Mo Money Mo Problems" was the first single released since The Notorious B.I.G.'s tragic death, and charted posthumously at number six.
s "Never Gonna Let You Go" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 13 September 1997 (week ending), and at number 9 on 27 September 1997 (week ending).
u "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind 1997" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 6 December 1997 (week ending), at number 10 on 20 December 1997 (week ending) and at number 10 on 3 January 1998 (week ending).
w "You Sexy Thing" originally peaked at number 2 upon its initial release in 1975. ABen Liebrand remix of the song was released in 1987 and peaked at number 10. In 1997, the original version of "You Sexy Thing" was re-released after it featured in the successful comedy filmThe Full Monty. This re-release peaked at number 6.
z "Teletubbies Say "Eh-oh"" was a remix of the theme tune from theTeletubbies children's television series. It spent two weeks at number-one in December but narrowly lost out to "Too Much" bySpice Girls for the Christmas number-one.[45]
aa Figure includes an appearance on the "Perfect Day" charity single.
bb Figure includes four top 10 hits with the group U2.
