15 October 2009 It's that time of year in the '00s again. Four of the final five number one singles of 2009 in Ireland, occupying 11 weeks out of 12, are by acts from UK TV talent shows. The last of those four, our 2009 Christmas number one, will be in extraordinary circumstances. Before that, … Continue reading Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida – ‘Bad Boys’
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Jim Reeves – ‘I Won’t Forget You’
24 July 1964 'I Won't Forget You' went to number one in Ireland in July 1964, was deposed for four weeks by our next chart-topper, and then regained the number one spot at the end of August for a further six weeks. Why the second, longer run at number one? Well, it's probably because on … Continue reading Jim Reeves – ‘I Won’t Forget You’
Roy Orbison – ‘It’s Over’
12 June 1964 I'm still finding it weird to see Roy Orbison on these early-'60s record covers as smiling, avuncular uncle Roy. In particular, I'm finding it weird just to see his eyes through clear glasses, and them being bright, happy eyes rather than bloodshot pools of febrile heartbreak. Anyway, I'll soldier on. 'It's Over' … Continue reading Roy Orbison – ‘It’s Over’
Industry – ‘Burn’
27 August 2009 Donal Skehan completists coming to 'Burn' will find it thin gruel indeed - their man just gets a few cute-one pouts and some backing vocals. The other three do all the main singing here. Even more noticeably than with their previous chart-topper, 'My Baby's Waiting', the group never appear together in this … Continue reading Industry – ‘Burn’
The Black Eyed Peas – ‘I Gotta Feeling’
16 July 2009 Here's one of the biggest singles in Irish chart history. 'I Gotta Feeling' by The Black Eyed Peas spent 12 weeks at number one in Ireland, more than the eleven weeks of '(Everything I Do) I Do It For You', the ten weeks of 'Maniac 2000', and every other chart-topper of the … Continue reading The Black Eyed Peas – ‘I Gotta Feeling’
Industry – ‘My Baby’s Waiting’
25 June 2009 "There are no second acts in American lives" is an F. Scott Fitzgerald line that gets trotted out in news articles whenever someone does have a second act in their lives, which is quite often. Even within the narrow scope of Irish singers who had an Irish number one single and whose … Continue reading Industry – ‘My Baby’s Waiting’
Millie – ‘My Boy Lollipop’
5 June 1964 The urban myth that a young pre-fame Rod Stewart played the harmonica on Millie's 'My Boy Lollipop' got an unexpected second wind in 2016 when it was repeated in an interview by Millie herself. For what it's worth, Rod says a session player called Pete Hogman played it, Hogman says he himself … Continue reading Millie – ‘My Boy Lollipop’
David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland – ‘When Love Takes Over’
18 June 2009 In France everything is political. The '00s wave of French superstar DJs, with their rive droite nightclub bling lifestyle, were generally suspected to be on the conservative centre-right, at least by association. Sure enough, David Guetta played fundraising gigs for Nicolas Sarkozy's victorious 2007 presidential campaign - in Irish terms, imagine him … Continue reading David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland – ‘When Love Takes Over’
The Veronicas – ‘Untouched’
11 June 2009 Is this the first Irish number one single from a computer game? I'm casting around for reasons why a 2007 song from an unknown Australian punk-pop act topped our charts in 2009 and I see it was featured on FIFA 09. I'm not a gamer, so I don't know if it even … Continue reading The Veronicas – ‘Untouched’
Dickie Rock and The Miamis – ‘I’m Yours’
29 May 1964 Here's the other half of Ireland's only joint number one single, along with Eileen Reid and The Cadets' 'Fallen Star'. I see Dickie Rock's group have here dropped the word 'Showband' from their name and are going by The Miamis, perhaps to seem like a proper '60s outfit. The only version of … Continue reading Dickie Rock and The Miamis – ‘I’m Yours’
