1995 in British music

This is a summary of 1995 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

ummary

1995 saw a number of changes occur. Céline Dion's "Think Twice", which was released in October 1994 yet took until the end of January to reach the top, was the first UK number 1 single not to be available on vinyl in any form.

Around the middle of the year, the way singles entered the chart started to change. Instead of entering low and climbing up to their peak, singles would now usually enter at their peak, and then climb down the chart. In May, Robson & Jerome became the first British act to debut at number 1 with "Unchained Melody", after having sung the song on the ITV programme "Soldier Soldier". In May, music featured in an advertising campaign for Guinness reached number 2 – mambo tune "Guaglione" by Pérez Prado was a massive hit and the advert featured on an accompanying screensaver.

This was also the year which saw Britpop at its most popular. A highly publicised chart battle in August saw Oasis and Blur battling it out for the number 1 position, having both released their singles on the same day. Blur won the singles battle, with "Country House" beating Oasis' "Roll With It" to the top spot, but Oasis, with (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, would go on to greatly outsell Blur's album, the album of which would eventually become the second biggest album in the UK. After a decade in the business Pulp secured a first number one album while Britpop elder statesman Paul Weller also benefited from a return to popular and critical favour.

Singles that went on to sell over a million copies were Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise", the first rap single to sell over a million in the UK, both of Robson & Jerome's songs ("Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover", the biggest selling single of the year, and "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof") and Michael Jackson's "Earth Song". In addition, a second remix of New Order's "Blue Monday" (reaching number 17) pushed sales of that song over a million as well.

In all, there were 17 number one singles in 1995. As the 1990s continued the amount started to increase, and there wouldn't be a total as low as 1995's until 2007, which also saw 17 chart-toppers.

Charts

ingles

Top 10 albums

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1995 BRIT Awards winners were:

*Best British producer: Nellee Hooper
*Best soundtrack: "Pulp Fiction"
*British album: Blur: "Parklife"
*British breakthrough act: Oasis
*British dance act: M People
*British female solo artist: Eddi Reader
*British Group: Blur
*British male solo artist: Paul Weller
*British single: Blur - "Parklife"
*British Video: Blur - "Parklife"
*International breakthrough act: Lisa Loeb
*International female: k.d. lang
*International group: R.E.M.
*International male: Prince
*Outstanding contribution: Elton John

Mercury Music Prize

The 1995 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Portishead - "Dummy.

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]
* [http://www.everyhit.com/chartalb5.html everyhit.com]