1996 in British music

This is a summary of 1996 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

ummary

This year saw the start of an increase to the amount of number 1 singles. 24 hit the top spot this year, the highest since 1980, which had an equal number.

The first number 1 single of the year was "Jesus to a Child", George Michael's first solo #1 for 10 years. This was followed by Babylon Zoo's "Spaceman", which had been used in an advert for Levi's. The single was quite different from the version used in the advert, which had been sped up and re-arranged. It stayed at #1 for five weeks, sold over a million copies, and Jas Mann, the man behind Babylon Zoo, became the first solo male to make their chart debut at number 1.

After five years, the boyband Take That announced that they were splitting up, resulting in such distress for their many fans that a telephone helpline had to be set up. Their final number 1 came in March, a cover of the Bee Gees song "How Deep Is Your Love". Several of the members went on to start a solo career, with Gary Barlow the first to hit #1 with "Forever Love" in July. However, it would be Robbie Williams who would go on to score the most success as a solo artist.

After George Michael scored another number 1 with "Fastlove" in April, Gina G reached the top spot with "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" in May. This song was the UK's entry to the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, and originally reached #6 when it was released at the beginning of April. It hovered around the top 5 for the next few weeks, before moving up to 1 in the week of the contest. Although it didn't win, it still became the first Eurovision song to hit #1 since Nicole's "A Little Peace", which won the contest in 1982.

The next number 1 was also influenced by media events: "Three Lions", released by comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the band The Lightning Seeds, was the official song of the 1996 European Football Championship (Euro '96), which was being held in England. A rewritten version of the song ("Three Lions '98") would reach number 1 two years later, coinciding with the Football World Cup 1998 (France '98).

The Fugees had the biggest selling single of the year, with a cover of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song". It sold over a million copies.

However, by far the most successful act of the year was the Spice Girls, who kickstarted their career with three number 1 singles - the million-selling "Wannabe" in July, which was one of the longest No 1 stints by any girl group (7 weeks); ( Shakespears Sister "Stay" is the longest girl group No 1, 8 weeks), and remains the biggest selling single by one to this day, "Say You'll Be There" in October, and "2 Become 1" in December, also a million seller, and the year's Christmas number one single.

Oasis smashed the record for most weeks in the singles chart (previously held by Adam & The Ants in 1981) with 134 weeks, thanks to mass waves of re-entries of songs from their back catalogue throughout the year.

1996 is also grimly notable for having the drummers of two popular bands, Mathew Fletcher of Heavenly, on 14 June, and Chris Acland of Lush, on 17 October, commit suicide. Lush had at the time been in the final stanges of planning an American tour, which his devastated bandmates cancelled; they then disbanded.

Charts

ingles

Top 10 albums

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1996 BRIT Awards winners were:

*Artist of a generation: Michael Jackson
*Best British producer: Brian Eno
*Best soundtrack: "Batman Forever"
*British album: Oasis - "(What's the Story) Morning Glory"
*British breakthrough act: Supergrass
*British dance act: Massive Attack
*British female solo artist: Annie Lennox
*British group: Oasis
*British male solo artist: Paul Weller
*British single: Take That – "Back for Good"
*British video: Oasis – "Wonderwall"
*Freddie Mercury award: The Help Album for the Charity Warchild
*International breakthrough act: Alanis Morissette
*International female: Björk
*International group: Bon Jovi
*International male: Prince
*Outstanding contribution: David Bowie

Mercury Music Prize

The 1996 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Pulp - "Different Class.

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/ BBC Radio 1's Chart Show]
* [http://www.theofficialcharts.com/ The Official United Kingdom Charts Company]