1994 in British music

This is a summary of 1994 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

ummary

The first number 1 single of the year was also the 700th, a reggae version of "Twist and Shout" by Chaka Demus & Pliers. The next month saw Mariah Carey get her first (and, to date, only) solo number 1 with "Without You", after having 8 previous #1s in the United States.

In late May, Wet Wet Wet reached number 1 with "Love Is All Around", from the film "Four Weddings and a Funeral". It would remain at number 1 for fifteen weeks, the second longest consecutive run at #1 ever in the UK Singles Chart, and become the biggest selling single of the year. When Whigfield replaced it in September, she became the first act ever to make their chart debut at number 1, with "Saturday Night". After having been played frequently in clubs that summer, there was high demand for the song on its release. Since both "Saturday Night" and "Love Is All Around" were still in the charts at the end of December ("Love Is All Around" having just re-entered the top 40 at number 37) the final top 40 of 1994 contained all but one of the number 1 singles since the end of May - Take That's "Sure" (which topped the chart for two weeks, but only spent five weeks in the Top 40) was the only absentee.

Manchester rockers Oasis found their success on their debut album, "Definitely Maybe", which shot to number #1 on its first week out in September.

December saw the debut of Boyzone to the charts, with a #2 cover of The Osmonds 1974 #1 "Love Me For a Reason". They would go on to have another fifteen singles, six reaching #1 and the rest reaching the top five, as well as four #1 albums.

Aside from Wet Wet Wet and Whigfield, the only other million selling single this year came from Céline Dion, with "Think Twice" (though it wouldn't reach number 1 until 1995). In all, 15 singles topped the chart this year, the second lowest number for any year in the decade.

This was the year when Karl Jenkins, soon to be the UK's favourite classical composer, launched his crossover project, "Adiemus", with the album, "". Popularized through its use in TV commercials, the title track became known to classical and popular music fans alike. It also made the name of vocalist Miriam Stockley.

A record was broken in 1994 for the longest song to become a UK top 10 hit when Bon Jovi released the single "Dry County" in March, when it peaked at #9. The song was 9 minutes and 52 seconds long.

Charts

ingles

Top 10 albums

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1994 BRIT Awards winners were:

*Best soundtrack: "The Bodyguard"
*Best British producer: Brian Eno
*Best selling album & Single: Meat Loaf
*British album: Stereo MC's - "Connected"
*British breakthrough act: Gabrielle
*British dance act: M People
*British female solo artist: Dina Carroll
*British group: Stereo MC's
*British male solo artist: Sting
*British single: Take That - "Pray"
*British video: Take That - "Pray"
*International breakthrough act: Björk
*International female: Björk
*International group: Crowded House
*International male: Lenny Kravitz
*Outstanding contribution: Van Morrison

Mercury Music Prize

The 1994 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to M People - "Elegant Slumming.

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 everyhit - Music database]