Cher had the best-selling single of 1998, "Believe", which topped the chart for seven weeks. At 52 years and five months old, Cher was, at the time, the oldest living female singer to achieve a solo number-one single in the UK.Celine Dion (pictured in 2008) had the second best seller of the year with "My Heart Will Go On". Taken from the soundtrack of the movie Titanic, the record spent a total of 11 weeks in the top 10, with two non-consecutive weeks at number-one. Dion had a total of three singles in the top 10 this year.Irish girl group B*Witched (pictured in 2013) made their UK top 10 debut in 1998 by scoring three consecutive number-one singles: "C'est la Vie", "Rollercoaster" and "To You I Belong".Former Take That singer Robbie Williams (pictured in 2016) scored his first solo UK number-one single in 1998 with "Millennium". It was one of four top 10 hits for the singer this year.
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 1998, as well as singles which peaked in 1997 and 1999 but were in the top 10 in 1998. The entry date is when the song 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).
The 1997 Christmas number-one, "Too Much" by Spice Girls, remained at number-one for the first week of 1998. Charity single "Perfect Day" by Various Artists returned to the top spot for an additional week. The first new number-one single of the year was "Never Ever" by All Saints. Overall, thirty-two different singles peaked at number-one in 1998, with All Saints, B*Witched, Boyzone (including the "Perfect Day" charity single) and Mel B (3) having the joint most singles hit that position.
Background
Multiple entries
One-hundred and ninety-four singles charted in the top 10 in 1998, with one-hundred and eighty-seven singles reaching their peak this year (including the re-entries "Sit Down" and "You're the One That I Want" which charted in previous years but reached peaks on their latest chart run).
Forty-nine artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1998. Two members of Spice Girls - Mel B and Melanie C - shared the record for the most top-ten singles in 1998 with six entries. Five of these singles were with the band, but they also had individual collaborations outside of the band. Mel B reached number one in September with "I Want You Back", which featured American rapper Missy "Missdemeanor" Elliott. Melanie C collaborated with Canadian rock artist Bryan Adams on "When You're Gone", the song peaking at number 3 in December. Three of Spice Girls top ten entries reached number-one: "Too Much" in December 1997, "Viva Forever" in July and "Goodbye" in December 1998. "Stop" peaked at number 2 in March, and they also featured on the England United collective single "(How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World" for the FIFA World Cup, which reached number 9.
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.
Ian Brown of The Stone Roses launched a solo career in 1998, reaching number 5 in January with his debut single "My Star". Inaya Day was a featured vocalist on "Horny '98" by Mousse T. vs. Hot 'n' Juicy but is not credited on the Official Charts Company listing. She would have her first official entry in 2006 with "Nasty Girl", reaching number 9. Fat Les was made up of Blur bassist Alex James (who had secured ten top 10 singles up to that point, including number-ones "Beetlebum" and "Country House"), artist Damien Hirst making his chart debut, and Keith Allen, also in the charts for the first time as a singer but he had written "New Order's 1990 single "World in Motion".
East 17 returned in 1998 after splitting up in 1997 under the name E-17, which they kept until the following year before breaking up again. Their only top 10 single under this name was the number 2 single "Each Time". Chef is a character from the television series South Park voiced by Isaac Hayes. He had recorded two top 10 singles under his own name - "Theme from Shaft" and "Disco Connection".
Jay Kay (pictured in 2017) and his band Jamiroquai scored their only UK number-one single in July 1998 with "Deeper Underground", taken from the soundtrack of the movie Godzilla.American R&B singer Usher (pictured in 2008) entered the UK top 10 for the first time this year with "You Make Me Wanna...", which spent one week at number-one in January.German DJ Mousse T. (pictured in 2017) spent six weeks in the top 10 in 1998 with his hit record "Horny '98", a collaboration with pop duo Hot 'n' Juicy, which peaked at number two.US R&B singer Brandy (pictured in 2004) had two singles in the top 10 this year, both reaching number two. "The Boy Is Mine" was a duet with fellow R&B artist Monica while "Top of the World" featured contributions from rapper and hip hop artist Mase.Jazz pop group Touch and Go (pictured in 2009) became one-hit wonders this year with their single "Would You...?", which reached number three in November.
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1998, including singles that reached their peak in 1997 or 1999. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist.
a "Heartbeat"/"Tragedy" reached its peak of number-one on 9 January 1999.
b "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)" reached its peak of number-one on 2 January 1999.
c "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).
e The original version of "Renegade Master" peaked outside the top 10 at number 11 upon its release in 1995. The remix by Fatboy Slim, entitled "Renegade Master '98", was released less than three years after Roger McKenzie (Wildchild)'s death.
f "Brimful of Asha" originally peaked outside the top 10 at number 60 upon its initial release in 1997. After a remixed version by Norman Cook became a radio and critical success, the song was re-released and reached number one in February 1998.
g "How Do I Live" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 11 April 1998 (week ending) for 3 weeks and at number 9 on 30 May 1998 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
h "The Boy Is Mine" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 11 July 1998 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
j "You're the One That I Want" originally peaked at number-one for 9 weeks upon its initial release in 1978. The song was re-released in 1998 to mark the 20th anniversary of Grease.
k "To the Moon and Back" originally peaked outside the top 10 at number 55 upon its initial release in 1997.
l East 17 were known as E-17 from 1998 until 1999.
m The original version of "Sit Down" peaked at number 77 upon its release in 1989. A re-recorded version was released in 1991 and peaked at number 2. The 1998 remix of "Sit Down" was remixed by Apollo 440.
n "Miami" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 2 January 1999 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
o Denise van Outen, Johnny Vaughan and Steps covered Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan's hit "Especially for You" as the official Children in Need single for 1998.[5]
p Released as the official single for Children in Need.
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