1997 Number One Songs UK

As in 1996, there were 24 1997 number one songs in the UK, and singles sales reached a five year high. So again a number of solo artists and bands got a piece of the action. Many of the 1997 number ones sold 100,000 or more records during each week spent at the top of the singles chart during this year of the 90s. One sold over a million copies for two consecutive weeks.

That’s because huge event occurred in 1997 here in the UK, just after I returned from a year in Australia in August. That led to the number one song of 1997 that spent the longest in pole position that year. Otherwise, hits of 1997 in the UK included one referencing a child’s toy, one about believing in the impossible, one from a major film and one re-entry.

I don’t remember a few of these tracks to be honest – but then I was on the other side of the world while the 1997 UK number ones up to August topped the singles chart. There’s a sprinkling of one-hit wonders, of course, and the obligatory novelty – and awful- hit among these 1997 top songs.

Let’s go. Here are all the 1997 songs that reached number one on the singles chart, in date order.

The 24 1997 number one songs in the UK

Spice Girls – 2 Become 1

2 weeks at number one in January 1997

Tori Amos – Professional Widow

1 week at number one in January 1997

White Town – Your Woman

1 week at number one in January 1997

Blur – Beetlebum

1 week at number one in February 1997

LL Cool J – Ain’t Nobody

1 week at number one in February 1997

U2 – Discotheque

1 week at number one in February 1997

No Doubt – Don’t Speak

3 weeks at number one in February & March 1997

Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are

3 weeks at number one in March & April 1997

Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats

1 week at number one in April 1997

R Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly

3 weeks at number one in April 1997

Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dance Floor

1 week at number one in May 1997

Gary Barlow – Love Won’t Wait

1 week at number one in May 1997

Olive – You’re Not Alone

2 weeks at number one in May 1997

Eternal with Bebe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One

1 week at number one in May & June 1997

Hanson – MmmBop

3 weeks at number one in June 1997

Puff Daddy & Faith Evans with 112 – I’ll Be Missing You

3 weeks at number one in June & July 1997

Oasis – D’You Know What I Mean

1 week at number one in July 1997

Puff Daddy & Faith Evans with 112 – I’ll Be Missing You (re-entry)

3 weeks at number one in July & August 1997

Will Smith – Men In Black

4 weeks at number one in August & September 1997

The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work

1 week at number one in September 1997

Elton John – Candle In The Wind (1997)

5 weeks at number one in September & October 1997

Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life

1 week at number one in October 1997

Aqua – Barbie Girl

4 weeks at number one in November 1997

Various Artists – Perfect Day

2 weeks at number one in November & December 1997

Teletubbies – Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh

2 weeks at number one in December 1997

Spice Girls – Too Much

1 week at number one in December 1997

What do you think of the 1997 number one songs in the UK?

So there you have it – the top 1997 popular songs according to the singles chart. The Spice Girls, Princess Diana’s passing and both indie and dance music all shaped which 1997 pop songs got to numero uno in that year.

The 1997 best songs for me, now, are by Blur, Oasis and No Doubt. I always found The Verve a but depressing (ditto re Radiohead). When I returned from Oz in 1997 the UK was firmly in the grip of Spicemania, and they racked up more weeks at the top than even Elton John.

Marcy x

Discover the number ones from every other year of the 90s here:

• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1998
• 1999

Note – This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy via these, I may earn a small fee. This does not affect the price you pay in any way. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.