31 August 2002 I've given you fair notice by now that this trip through the '00s Irish number ones will not be, contrary to what we thought we remembered, an extended Xenomania victory parade. We've already seen Six score two number ones, more than either Girls Aloud or the Sugababes will manage, and now here … Continue reading Atomic Kitten – ‘The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling)’
Mad’House – ‘Like A Prayer’
24 August 2002 Ireland went buck-wild for Euro-dance in the early 2000s. Why was this? Well, Ireland had gone buck-wild for Euro-dance in the early 1990s too and, as I proposed in my thesis here on 'Maniac 2000', those were both feel-good times for Ireland in general. To borrow the MBA vernacular of our Celtic … Continue reading Mad’House – ‘Like A Prayer’
Shakira – ‘Underneath Your Clothes’
27 July 2002 Remember in Argentina at the start of the '00s when there was an economic crash, a run on the banks, IMF intervention, and public riots? The President of Argentina at the time, Fernando de la Rúa, was unable to get a grip on the situation, and resigned in December 2001 in deep … Continue reading Shakira – ‘Underneath Your Clothes’
Scooter – ‘The Logical Song’
20 July 2002 I'm confused. This is Scooter's only Irish number one and by far their biggest hit here, so I expected it to be the one with the really long "SCOOTERRRRR!" and "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice". However, neither of those happen in 'The Logical Song'. In … Continue reading Scooter – ‘The Logical Song’
Six – ‘Let Me Be The One’
6 July 2002 Surprise! Yes, Six had a second single, never mind a second number one. Let's not be too harsh on ourselves, though. Public interest in TV talent show winners tended to be one-and-done; hopped up on the thrill of the vote, an over-enthusiastic viewership enables a rote valedictory chart-topper as series merch. In … Continue reading Six – ‘Let Me Be The One’
Elvis Vs JXL – ‘A Little Less Conversation’
15 June 2002 Housekeeping note: Yes, I intend to go back and do the Irish number ones of the 1960s and '70s. I started with the '80s partly on a whim, partly because the data is more reliable, but also from fond memories of the '80s chart pop of my childhood, little realising I would … Continue reading Elvis Vs JXL – ‘A Little Less Conversation’
Eminem – ‘Without Me’
25 May 2002 Is this the first Irish number one we can attribute to bantz? Certainly l'affaire Keano of the time made Eminem's 'Without Me' topical, or at least an easy reach for the same breakfast radio presenters who pre-Saipan had been regaling us with their World Cup-flavoured comedy songs and skits. Of course, Eminem … Continue reading Eminem – ‘Without Me’
The Irish World Cup Squad – ‘Here Come The Good Times’
18 May 2002 Yes, I know we can take issue with the song title, and with good reason: the good times are already here. Welcome to May 2002 and Celtic Tiger Ireland, baby! Like a neverending 'Maniac 2000', Ireland is still on one almighty buzz. The initial shock of 9/11 has eased, and besides, Ireland … Continue reading The Irish World Cup Squad – ‘Here Come The Good Times’
Nickelback – ‘How You Remind Me’
13 April 2002 I'm sure that if you took a random selection of people and asked them if Nickelback's 'How You Remind Me' is good or bad, they'd all say it's bad. Its badness was apparent even in 2002. And yet Nickelback with this song spent three months in Ireland's top ten, including five weeks … Continue reading Nickelback – ‘How You Remind Me’
Gareth Gates – ‘Unchained Melody’
23 March 2002 Oh great, it's 'Unchained Melody' again. Look, I have no problem with the principle of TV talent show personalities; after all, this time next chart-year we'll see the greatest pop act of the decade, who go on to sing the most exciting and innovative chart pop music of the decade, all thanks … Continue reading Gareth Gates – ‘Unchained Melody’
