As it’s my birthday I thought I would indulge in a spot of musical nostalgia and take a look at the age old question of what was Number One in the charts on the day I was born. Wikipedia quite usefully lists all the UK number one singles since the chart was first created way back in 1952, but thankfully I didn’t have to go quite that far.
August 21st 1979 was the last week of a four week run at the top for The Boomtown Rats with their hit I don’t like Mondays. It’s not a particular favourite of mine, but it was an OK song as things stand, especially in an era polluted with neon, flares and disco music.
Having discovered the lists of Number Ones I decided to have a trawl through and see what else was number one in the last thirty years:
1979 – The Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays
1980 – Abba – The Winner Takes It All
1981 – Shakin’ Stevens – Green Door
1982 – Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen
1983 – KC And The Sunshine Band – Give It Up
1984 – George Michael – Careless Whisper
1985 – Madonna – Into The Groove
1986 – Chris de Burgh – The Lady In Red
1987 – Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett – I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
1988 – Yazz and the Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up
1989 – Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers – Swing The Mood
1990 – Bombalurina – Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
1991 – Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do It for You
1992 – Snap! – Rhythm Is A Dancer
1993 – Freddie Mercury – Living On My Own
1994 – Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
1995 – Blur – Country House
1996 – Spice Girls – Wannabe
1997 – Will Smith – Men In Black
1998 – Boyzone – No Matter What
1999 – Westlife – If I Let You Go
2000 – SPiller – Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)
2001 – Five – Let’s Dance
2002 – Sugababes – Round Round
2003 – Blu Cantrell – Breathe
2004 – 3 Of A Kind – Baby Cakes
2005 – McFly – I’ll Be OK
2006 – Shakira – Hips Don’t Lie
2007 – Robyn – With Every Heartbeat
2008 – Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
2009 – Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
So there you have it. These thirty songs are essentially the soundtrack of my life, now repeat after me: What a load of SHITE!