8 February 1963 Elaine Murtagh from Cork, a singer with English-based vocal group The Avons, co-wrote 'Dance On!' with her English sister-in-law (and fellow Avon) Valerie Murtagh. This gives Elaine Murtagh and Cork the distinction of the first Irish person to write an Irish number one single - in fact, the first Irish person to … Continue reading The Shadows – ‘Dance On!’
Month: June 2023
Cliff Richard – ‘The Next Time’ / ‘Bachelor Boy’
11 January 1963 The first full year of the official Irish singles chart brings us three number ones from Cliff Richard. What's more, one of those three will be Cliff's first Christmas Irish number one. I'm amazed they didn't give up on the new charts after that, just re-think the clearly ill-starred enterprise. For those … Continue reading Cliff Richard – ‘The Next Time’ / ‘Bachelor Boy’
Duffy – ‘Mercy’
28 February 2008 The title and chorus lyric of 'Mercy' feel unfortunate since Duffy revealed the appalling ordeal she subsequently endured. (Content warning for that link: genuinely traumatic events.) Anyway, despite only topping the Irish charts for two non-consecutive weeks this was one of the biggest songs of 2008. A work client of mine even … Continue reading Duffy – ‘Mercy’
Elvis Presley – ‘Return To Sender’
14 December 1962 Elvis again, with a landmark Irish chart-topper again: 'Return To Sender' is Ireland's first official Christmas number one. And if you think that doesn't sound too festive, return to sender is what I do with your Christmas cards. (Also, there's an Elves Presley joke in there somewhere.) Anyway, as with 'She's Not … Continue reading Elvis Presley – ‘Return To Sender’
Frank Ifield – ‘Lovesick Blues’
16 November 1962 Knowing that the Beatles asteroid was hurtling through deep space already at this point, the impulse here is to fear for the future of a variety singer whose trademark was yodelling. However, plenty of easy listening cabaret crooners saw out that putative extinction event; one of them even pips the best Beatles … Continue reading Frank Ifield – ‘Lovesick Blues’
Basshunter – ‘Now You’re Gone’
24 January 2008 Was the nation of 'Maniac 2000' finally losing its taste for Euro-dance anthems? Certainly there used to be more of these records at number one in Ireland. And since in my 'Maniac 2000' treatise I linked the prevalence of Euro-house-trance bangers at number one to a feel-good factor of Irish society, their … Continue reading Basshunter – ‘Now You’re Gone’
The Tornados – ‘Telstar’
2 November 1962 Telstar was the first communications satellite, enabling live TV links and transmissions from around the world. I'm not sure how much use Irish broadcasters made of it in 1962, but there it was in the sky over Ireland, replacing God. 'Telstar' as a record is futuristic too - up to a point. … Continue reading The Tornados – ‘Telstar’
Elvis Presley – ‘She’s Not You’
5 October 1962 Here's the very first official Irish number one single, sitting on an Irish top ten—no Top 30 Hits on the fledgling RTÉ in its first year of service—compiled by future sports commentator and factoid maven Jimmy Magee. And our first Irish number one act is none other than Elvis, who at that … Continue reading Elvis Presley – ‘She’s Not You’
Britney Spears – ‘Piece Of Me’
10 January 2008 New year, same old problems for Britney. Today, having seen many other famous young women being chewed up and spat out by tabloid paparazzi Internet frenzy, we hopefully have a bit more empathy and understanding for her and what she lived through in the '00s. Still, it's with a heavy heart and … Continue reading Britney Spears – ‘Piece Of Me’
Leon Jackson – ‘When You Believe’
20 December 2007 The 2007 series of The X Factor wasn't a vintage year: no dazzling winner like Leona Lewis, no breakout finalist like One Direction or Olly Murs, not even a people's leftfield favourite like Jedward. Small-boyish Leon from Scotland beat big-boyish Rhydian from Wales, the two of them essentially distinguishable only by the … Continue reading Leon Jackson – ‘When You Believe’
