although there are a few others of note posted above, none of them are a bigger injustice than this, I agree.

Only the Crazy Frog comes close as an injustice, seeing as that kept two sterling tracks from the top spot, but Vienna's an incredible song. They wuz robbed

They had a Star Trek hit - Star Trekin' - in the 80s. Strange but true.

Oh, yes I do know that song now (mainly because my aunt has a home video of my cousin making an arse of herslef dancing to it). Didn't know who made it though.

Bumping this thread up a bit!

I think you might have been confused by the fact that, before Bob The Builder, Eminem was kept off the top of the charts by Flat Eric.

The Pogues never made Christmas no. 1 with Fairytale of New York, but were beaten by the Pet Shop Boys 'Always on my Mind' - We've got a chance to put it right this year as the song is re-released on the 5th anniversary of Kirsty MacColl's death. Will it really get beaten again by Westlife or a song about a JCB?

Thank you ! I was wondering how on earth I conjured that story up. I might have got the singles wrong, but at least there's some degree of accuracy in it that I can stop questioning my sanity.

Definitely, although it only reached #2 because the sales were divided into 2 being a double A-sided single apparently. If they had just released Strawberry Fields Forever on its own, it would have been #1. But still, hey ho.

Other injustices were in britain - Let it Be, again the Beatles reaching #2 and Magical Mystery Tour also reaching number 2, although we'll let the latter off, as its competition was Hello Goodbye, by the Beatles!

Anything that keeps an Eminem track off no. 1 is doing us all a favour.

I can't bear to hear him whining on about his mom/wife/daughter/dog/hamster........ in that monotone voice whilst throwing in a few expletives to keep his moronic fans happy and make the song appear to have edge it doesn't possess.

Sod off Eminem, the sooner the better.
Poetry.....don't make me laugh !
Built an entire career on one sound - give him his due that takes talent !
Last edited by Lupe : 15-12-2005 at 01:07

It's weird. This is always the one most people mention. Even people who must have been tiny at the time (and probably bought 'Shaddapa Ya Face' ).


'Question' by the Moody Blues, one of the best songs of the 70s, held off No1 by 'Back Home' by the 1970 England World Cup Squad.


More recently, 'Speed of Sound' by Coldplay held off No1 by the annoying amphibian.

In many cases, the greatest songs ever made were either NOT #1 singles, or album tracks, or possibly even b-sides. They did a program on the best #2 singles ever....and they were far better! Obviously i'm going to be biased, but Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane is THE greatest single ever, that reached #2 famously. (it surely has to be the greatest double A side single at least!)

Blur - Tender.

Kept of no.1 by Britney Bloody Spears

to be fair to Britney, that song was iconic...it will be remembered for years to come...even if you dont like pop you have to admit it was a phenomenon.

No way is that an injustice!

Couldn't have been. "Stan" DID get to number one and "Starlight" didn't.

Although describing it as "excellent" stretches credibility a bit.

have you listened to Tender? what a song.

Tender is a great song. One of Blur's best, despite its length.

Anyway I didn't realise that City of Blinding Lights - one of my fave ever songs - was also beaten by bloody Crazy Frog. That makes me hate it even more now.

"Suspicious Minds" by Elvis kept off by Rolf Harris' "Two Little Boys".

And any track kept off by Westlife.. It's frightening that they are challenging Elvis and The Beatles for number ones.

Only in the UK though. Everywhere else in the world the Beatles and Elvis dominate the charts. Plus Westlifes "success" is very superficial....out of what, 13 #1 singles, none of them are million sellers or even close. The Beatles had 5 million sellers, a record which probably will never be beaten.

Also look at the album charts - The Beatles have 15 #1 albums and spent 175 wks at number 1....Westlife have 5 #1 albums and spent....errrrr 5 weeks at #1!

Westlife can achieve as many number 1 UK singles as they like, but the Beatles will always appeal to the wider market. 1 billion sales + confirms this!

They won't catch them, though. Especially Elvis, who manages to get No 1s years after he's died, and will probably get at least another one in the future.

Why would The Supermen Lovers - Starlight getting to no.1 be a chart injustice, it's not cheese is it. If you're fed up with Eminem, it would be preferable, it's a good record.

Not bad but far too long.

One of the best pop songs never to reach number 1 was Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" which is still a classic track. Dunno what it was beaten by.

penny lane/strawberry fields held of by release me... engelbert humperdink


s club 7 'new direction' held off by the ketchup song! lol..

Wasn't it 'Barbie Girl' keeping the lovely Imbruglia off the top spot?

I have, and I agree its an ace song...I was merely saying that "hit me baby one more time" was an international phenomemon, and the whole school girl look etc is one of the biggest events in pop culture ever.

The song/look has been covered many times on kareokes, talent shows etc, and many a fancy dress party.

So IMO it wasnt a shock it was number1, the country went mad for Britney, it sold over a million copies.