Lauryn Hill (pictured in 2007) and her band Fugees had the best selling single of 1996 with their cover of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly", which spent five non-consecutive weeks at number-one in June and July. The group scored a second chart-topper with "Ready or Not" in September while their cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" reached number two in November.Ian Broudie (pictured in 2007) and his band The Lightning Seeds collaborated with comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner on the song "Three Lions", recorded for the 1996 UEFA European Football Championship. The song spent nine weeks in the top 10 and had two non-consecutive weeks at number-one. Since its initial release, the song has continued to reappear in the UK charts around major football tournaments involving the England team; it reached number-one again in 2018 after England lost to Croatia in the semi-final of that year's FIFA World Cup.
The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official 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 the UK Singles Chart during 1996, as well as singles which peaked in 1995 but were in the top 10 in 1996. 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 ninety-five singles were in the top ten in 1996. Nine singles from 1995 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. "I Am Blessed" by Eternal was the only single from 1995 to reach its peak in 1996. Forty-nine artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1996. Backstreet Boys, The Chemical Brothers, Faithless, Lighthouse Family and Spice Girls were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1996.
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.
Robbie Williams had left Take That in 1995 and his debut solo single arrived this year, a cover of "Freedom! '90" by George Michael, renamed as "Freedom" and peaking in second spot. Former bandmates Gary Barlow and Mark Owen both launched solo careers in 1996 after the group went on hiatus - Barlow's "Forever Love" topped the chart, with Owen's "Child" reaching number 3.
In the aftermath of the Dunblane massacre, a school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland which claimed the lives of sixteen children and their teacher, surviving students and teachers recorded a tribute single, which included a cover of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (which included an extra verse specially written by Ted Christopher) and a new song "Throw These Guns Away". It peaked at number-one on 21 December 1996 (week ending) for a single week.
Peter Andre had a total of three UK top 10 hits this year, including the number-ones "Flava" and "I Feel You". "Mysterious Girl", which features Jamaican singer and rapper Bubbler Ranx, reached number two upon its initial release this year and would ultimately peak at number-one when it was re-released in 2004.Irish boy band Boyzone (pictured in 2009) had four top 10 singles in 1996, including the number-one hits "Words" and "A Different Beat".George Michael (pictured in 2011) had a total of three top 10 entries this year, including the number-one singles "Jesus to a Child" and "Fastlove".Following the break-up of Take That in 1996, Gary Barlow (pictured in 2017) went straight to number-one in the UK with his debut solo single "Forever Love". Take That's final single release prior to their initial split was their cover version of the Bee Gees song "How Deep is Your Love", which topped the chart for three weeks in March.
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1996, including songs that reached their peak in 1995. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.
i "Three Lions" spent one week at number one on 1 June 1996 (week ending) and returned to the top spot on 6 July 1996 (week ending) when England reached the semi-finals of Euro 96.
j "Where Love Lives" originally peaked outside the top ten at number 87 upon its initial release in 1990.
k "Crazy" originally peaked outside the top ten at number 19 upon its initial release in April 1995.
l "Higher State of Consciousness" was re-released in 1996 as a single containing remixes by various DJs and producers. The remixed version was credited to Wink rather Josh Wink.
m Spanish dance song Macarena was named by VH1 in the 2002 documentary series 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders as the best one-hit wonder of all time.
n Eternal recorded a version of the song "Someday" from the Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame which was used on the end credits of the VHS in the UK.
o "We've Got It Goin' On" originally peaked outside the top ten at number 54 upon its initial release in October 1995.
p "Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 4 January 1997 (week ending).
q "Don't Marry Her" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 28 December 1996 (week ending).
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