UK No.1 Hit singles 1969-2018 (pick one from each year)

Thanks bro, this was enjoyable, but certainly not as easy as I thought it would be.

So, whilst convalescing I decided it was the perfect time to tackle this challenge. Little did I know it would take 3 days and much agonizing, plus an end result that I could easily change.

Here's the thing. Just because a single reaches No.1 doesn't mean I like it. Clearly. But when you have to choose from a set list, you have to make some tough choices, and leave a certain amount of integrity behind.

Some were easy, no brainers. The track from 1969 for example. I spent less than 5 seconds thinking about it. 1998 and 2005 were immensely tricky conversely, and resulted in me selecting tracks that I wouldn't necessarily listen to on a regular basis, or even say I particularly liked hugely. But that's the essence of the challenge.

In parallel, I popped each track into a playlist, in case I wanted to while away a few hours wondering why on earth I chose Stay another day by East 17.....

Enjoy.

My list of favourite No. 1 hit singles (UK) from 1969 until 2019

Year	Title	Artist	Why
1969	I heard it through the Grapevine	Marvin Gaye	Because it was No.1 the moment I was born.
1970	Band of Gold	Freda Payne	Close call with Tears of a Clown
1971	Maggie May	Rod Stewart	Great intro, and reminds me of Dad
1972	Without you	Nilsson	Great ballad that still works
1973	Blockbuster	Sweet	So close with Mr Glitter I love you love me
1974	Sugar Baby Love	The Rubettes	Closely followed by Waterloo
1975	Oh Boy	Mud	So many contenders!
1976	Under the moon of love	Showaddywaddy	I loved their dance steps on TOTPs
1977	Mull of Kintyre	Wings	I remember singing this on  way to school
1978	Rivers of Babylon	Boney M	It seemed to be No. 1 for ever (5 weeks)
1979	Are “friends” electric?	Tubeway Army	I’d never seen or heard anything like this
1980	The Tide is High	Blondie	It reminds me of Chris Cocksedge
1981	Making your mind up	Bucks Fizz	Simply because it was first 45 I bought
1982	Do you really want to hurt me	Culture Club	Goombay Dance Band, Ebony & Ivory, Musical Youth, Survivor, Fame….
1983	Wherever I lay my hat	Paul Young	In a great year, I couldn’t stop playing this
1984	Careless Whisper	George Michael	If it were videos, Band Aid
1985	Into the Groove	Madonna	Endures well. Last minute switch with 19
1986	Sun always shines on TV	AHA	I love the way it builds
1987	I just can’t stop lovin’ you	MJ & Siedah G	I waited and waited for this first single post Thriller
1988	Theme from S-Express	S-Express	I liked dancin’ to this one 4 sure
1989	Ride on Time	Black Box	Another one that got me to the dancefloor
1990	Show me Heaven	Maria McKee	Another soppy one
1991	Don’t let the sun go down	George & Elton	The live version was spine tingling
1992	Would I lie to you	Charles & Eddie	I remember Mum & Dad liking this too
1993	I’d do anything for love	Meatloaf	Sorry DJ Jazzy Jeff. Such a story of a song!
1994	Stay another day	East 17	I can still see the fake snow falling in the vid
1995	Some might say	Oasis	Swagger
1996	Breakfast at Tiffany’s	Deep Blue Something	This song has always got under my skin
1997	MMMBop	Hanson	Close between No Doubt but this reminds me of my brothers bizarrely
1998	If you tolerate this	Manic Street Preachers	Stands out in this poor musical year
1999	She’s the one	Robbie Williams	I love the piano melody in the background
2000	Beautiful day	U2	No real strong favourite
2001	Survivor	Destiny’s Child	Strong lyrics & beats
2002	If you’re not the one	Daniel Beddingfield	Bit soppy but the lyrics endure
2003	Crazy in Love	Beyonce & Jay Z	Sorry Christina A… so powerful from the go
2004	Burn	Usher	Not for the lyrics, for the amazing voice
2005	Dakota	Stereophonics	Had forgotten it, but best of poor bunch
2006	I don’t feel like dancin’	Scissor Sisters	Got me dancing..!
2007	I’m gonna be 500 miles	Proclaimers	Easy choice, eternal
2008	If I were a boy	Beyonce	Thought provoking & great voice
2009	I gotta feeling	Black eyed  peas	Nice build up
2010	Just the way you are	Bruno Mars	Close with Matt Cardle
2011	Someone like you	Adele	The relentless piano background gets me every time
2012	Little Things	One Direction	Cup of tea…best lyric
2013	Wrecking Ball	Miley Cyrus	Just a tune that gets stuck in my head
2014	Stay with me	Sam Smith	I do like his voice
2015	Hello	Adele	Another cracker
2016	Say you won’t let go	James Arthur	We enjoyed following his progress X Factor
2017	Perfect	Ed Sheeran	Another slow one with feeling
2018	Shotgun	George Ezra	Refreshingly different