1993 in British music

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This is a summary of 1993 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Summary[]

15 songs reached the number 1 spot this year. Compared to 1992, there was an improvement to singles sales, with sales rising year on year for the first time since 1989. However, none of the singles released this year were million sellers, the first instance of this happening since 1990. The only song to sell over a million in 1993 was one from the previous year, Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You". It managed to sell sufficiently well enough to make its way onto the top 10 of both 1992 and 1993.

March saw The Bluebells reach number 1 with "Young at Heart", a song that had previously made number 8 in 1984. It was reissued after appearing in an advert for Volkswagen, and the band reformed to promote the song.

Take That got their first #1 in July, with "Pray". Debuting in 1991 with the #38 hit "Promises", they would go on to score another seven number 1s before splitting in 1996. "Pray" was followed by Freddie Mercury scoring a posthumous number 1 with a remixed version of "Living on My Own", the original version of which made number 50 in 1985, making it the first remix of a previously charted single to reach number 1.

The biggest selling single of the year came from Meat Loaf, who hit #1 for seven weeks from October with "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)". It came from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, also the biggest selling of the year.

Finally, as usual, December saw the Christmas number one single. Meat Loaf's successor at number 1 was Mr. Blobby, a popular character on the BBC One show Noel's House Party, with "Mr. Blobby" (the first ever eponymously titled number 1 single). In the final week before Christmas, he was knocked off by Take That's "Babe", making Mr. Blobby the first one-week #1 since U2's "The Fly" in November 1991, and making Take That the first act to have three singles in a row all enter at #1. However, the following week (Christmas week) saw Mr. Blobby climb back up to the top, the first time this had happened since January 1969, and officially become this year's Christmas number 1. Take That's "Babe" became the only chart topper of the year to spend only a week at the summit.

In the classical world, the British composer Michael Nyman enjoyed great success with his soundtrack for the film The Piano, which brought him an Ivor Novello Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and American Film Institute award; the album sold over three million copies. Veteran Welsh composer Daniel Jones died. A less well-known composer, Peter Reynolds, won notoriety when his three-minute work Sands of Time was performed in Cardiff city centre; it is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's shortest opera.

Events[]

  • 19 February - Elton John is forced to end a concert in Melbourne, Australia a half hour early when a swarm of grasshoppers invades the stage.
  • 16 April – Paul McCartney headlines a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, USA to celebrate "Earth Day". Other performers included Ringo Starr, Steve Miller and Don Henley.
  • 21 April – Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman marries designer Suzanne Accosta in France.[1]
  • 22 April - The Who's Tommy opens on Broadway.
  • 31 May - Oasis force their way on to the bill at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow. Alan McGee is in attendance, and then offers the band a recording contract on the spot.
  • 5 June - premiere of Jonathan Harvey's Inquest of Love at the London Coliseum.
  • 28 August - Bruce Dickinson plays his final show with Iron Maiden after announcing his departure from the band earlier in the year. He would rejoin the band in 1999.
  • 22 October - Oasis sign a recording contract with Creation Records
  • Rick Astley retires from the music industry at age 27 after selling 40 million records in a five-year period.

Charts[]

Number-one singles[]

Chart date
(week ending)		 Song Artist(s)
2 January "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston
9 January
16 January
23 January
30 January
6 February
13 February "No Limit" 2 Unlimited
20 February
27 February
6 March
13 March
20 March "Oh Carolina" Shaggy
27 March
3 April "Young at Heart" The Bluebells
10 April
17 April
24 April
1 May Five Live George Michael & Queen with Lisa Stansfield
8 May
15 May
22 May "All That She Wants" Ace of Base
29 May
5 June
12 June "(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You" UB40
19 June
26 June "Dreams" Gabrielle
3 July
10 July
17 July "Pray" Take That
24 July
31 July
7 August
14 August "Living on My Own" Freddie Mercury
21 August
28 August "Mr. Vain" Culture Beat
4 September
11 September
18 September
25 September "Boom! Shake the Room" DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
2 October
9 October "Relight My Fire" Take That featuring Lulu
16 October
23 October "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" Meat Loaf
30 October
6 November
13 November
20 November
27 November
4 December
11 December "Mr. Blobby" Mr. Blobby
18 December "Babe" Take That
25 December "Mr. Blobby" Mr. Blobby

Number-one albums[]

Chart date
(week ending)		 Album Artist(s)
2 January Greatest Hits: 1965-1992 Cher
9 January
16 January
23 January Live/The Way We Walk, Volume Two: The Longs Genesis
30 January
6 February Jam Little Angels
13 February Pure Cult The Cult
20 February Words of Love Buddy Holly & The Crickets
27 February Walthamstow East 17
6 March Diva Annie Lennox
13 March Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz
20 March
27 March Their Greatest Hits Hot Chocolate
3 April Songs of Faith and Devotion Depeche Mode
10 April Suede Suede
17 April Black Tie White Noise David Bowie
24 April Automatic for the People R.E.M.
1 May Cliff Richard - The Album Cliff Richard
8 May Automatic for the People R.E.M.
15 May Republic New Order
22 May Automatic for the People R.E.M.
29 May Janet Janet Jackson
5 June
12 June No Limits 2 Unlimited
19 June What's Love Got to Do with It Tina Turner
26 June Emergency on Planet Earth Jamiroquai
3 July
10 July
17 July Zooropa U2
24 July Promises and Lies UB40
31 July
7 August
14 August
21 August
28 August
4 September
11 September Music Box Mariah Carey
18 September Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Meat Loaf
25 September In Utero Nirvana
2 October Bat out of Hell II: Back Into Hell Meat Loaf
9 October Very Pet Shop Boys
16 October Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Meat Loaf
23 October Everything Changes Take That
30 October Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Meat Loaf
6 November
13 November
20 November Both Sides Phil Collins
27 November Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Meat Loaf
4 December
11 December
18 December
25 December

Year-end charts[]

Best-selling singles[]

[2]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" Meat Loaf 1
2 "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" UB40 1
3 "All That She Wants" Ace of Base 1
4 "No Limit" 2 Unlimited 1
5 "Dreams" Gabrielle 1
6 "Mr Blobby" Mr Blobby 1
7 "Oh Carolina" Shaggy 1
8 "What Is Love" Haddaway 2
9 "Mr. Vain" Culture Beat 1
10 "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston 1
11 Five Live (EP) George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield 1
12 "Young at Heart" The Bluebells 1
13 "Tease Me" Chaka Demus & Pliers 3
14 "Babe" Take That 1
15 "Please Forgive Me" Bryan Adams 2
16 "Boom! Shake the Room" Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince 1
17 "Informer" Snow 2
18 "Pray" Take That 1
19 "Sweat (A La La La La Long)" Inner Circle 3
20 "Living on My Own" Freddie Mercury 1
21 "What's Up?" 4 Non Blondes 2
22 "The Key The Secret" Urban Cookie Collective 2
23 "Don't Be a Stranger" Dina Carroll 3
24 "It Keeps Rainin' (Tears from My Eyes)" Bitty McLean 2
25 "Two Princes" Spin Doctors 3
26 "Little Bird"/"Love Song for a Vampire" Annie Lennox 3
27 "The River of Dreams" Billy Joel 3
28 "Relight My Fire" Take That featuring Lulu 1
29 "True Love" Elton John and Kiki Dee 2
30 "The Love I Lost" West End featuring Sybil 3
31 "Twist and Shout" Chaka Demus & Pliers featuring Jack Radics and Taxi Gang 3[a]
32 "Give It Up" The Good Men 5
33 "For Whom the Bell Tolls" Bee Gees 4
34 "Right Here" SWV 3
35 "Mr. Loverman" Shabba Ranks 3
36 "Moving On Up" M People 2
37 "U Got 2 Let the Music" Cappella 2
38 "Exterminate!" Snap! featuring Niki Haris 2
39 "Deep" East 17 5
40 "When I'm Good and Ready" Sybil 5
41 "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" Sub Sub featuring Melanie Williams 3
42 "One Night in Heaven" M People 6
43 "That's the Way Love Goes" Janet Jackson 2
44 "It's Alright" East 17 5[b]
45 "Tribal Dance" 2 Unlimited 4
46 "Go West" Pet Shop Boys 2
47 "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Lenny Kravitz 4
48 "She Don't Let Nobody" Chaka Demus & Pliers 4
49 "Why Can't I Wake Up with You" Take That 2
50 "Give In to Me" Michael Jackson 2

Best-selling albums[]

[3]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Meat Loaf 1
2 Automatic for the People R.E.M. 1
3 So Close Dina Carroll 2
4 Everything Changes Take That 1
5 One Woman: The Ultimate Collection Diana Ross 1
6 So Far So Good Bryan Adams 1
7 Promises and Lies UB40 1
8 Both Sides Phil Collins 1
9 Zooropa U2 1
10 Music Box Mariah Carey 1
11 Pocket Full of Kryptonite Spin Doctors 2
12 Ten Summoner's Tales Sting 2
13 End of Part One: Their Greatest Hits Wet Wet Wet 4[c]
14 Elegant Slumming M People 2
15 Duets Elton John 5
16 Unplugged Eric Clapton 2
17 Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz 1
18 The One Thing Michael Bolton 4
19 Take That & Party Take That 2
20 Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits Bette Midler 3
21 Debut Björk 3
22 Connected Stereo MCs 2
23 Janet Janet Jackson 1
24 Keep the Faith Bon Jovi 5[d]
25 Emergency on Planet Earth Jamiroquai 1
26 Diva Annie Lennox 1
27 Unplugged...and Seated Rod Stewart 2
28 What's Love Got to Do with It Tina Turner 1
29 Very Pet Shop Boys 1
30 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... Arrested Development 3
31 River of Dreams Billy Joel 3
32 The Red Shoes Kate Bush 2
33 No Limits 2 Unlimited 1
34 Dangerous Michael Jackson 6[e]
35 Duets Frank Sinatra 5
36 Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 9[f]
37 Walthamstow East 17 1
38 Stars Simply Red 11[g]
39 The Hits 2 Prince 5
40 "The Spaghetti Incident?" Guns N' Roses 2
41 So Natural Lisa Stansfield 6
42 Ingénue k.d. lang 3
43 Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf 15[h]
44 A Touch of Music in the Night Michael Crawford 12
45 Suede Suede 1
46 In Utero Nirvana 1
47 Republic New Order 1
48 Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine 17
49 The Album Cliff Richard 1
50 Duran Duran Duran Duran 4

Best-selling compilation albums[]

[4]

No. Title Peak
position
1 The Bodyguard Original Soundtrack 1
2 Now 26 1
3 The Best Dance Album in the World... Ever! 1
4 Blues Brother Soul Sister Vol. 2 1
5 Now 24 1
6 100% Dance 1
7 Now 25 1
8 Originals 1
9 Best of Dance '93 1
10 100% Dance Vol. 2 1

Notes:

  1. ^ Reached number 1 in 1994
  2. ^ Reached number 3 in 1994
  3. ^ Reached number 1 in 1994
  4. ^ Reached number 1 in 1992
  5. ^ Reached number 1 in 1991
  6. ^ Reached number 1 in 1992
  7. ^ Reached number 1 in 1991
  8. ^ Reached number 9 in 1981

Music awards[]

BRIT Awards[]

The 1993 BRIT Awards winners were:

  • Best British producer: Peter Gabriel
  • Best soundtrack: "Wayne's World"
  • British album: Annie Lennox: "Diva"
  • British breakthrough act: Tasmin Archer
  • British female solo artist – Annie Lennox
  • British group: Simply Red
  • British male solo artist: Mick Hucknall
  • British single: Take That - "Could It Be Magic"
  • British video: Shakespear's Sister - "Stay"
  • International breakthrough act: Nirvana
  • International solo artist: Prince
  • International group: R.E.M.
  • Outstanding contribution: Rod Stewart

Mercury Music Prize[]

The 1993 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Suede - Suede.

Classical Music[]

Opera[]

  • Michael Nyman – Noises, Sounds & Sweet Airs

Births[]

  • 12 January – Zayn Malik (One Direction)
  • 17 January – Frankie Cocozza, singer
  • 13 February – Sophie Evans, Welsh singer and actress
  • 5 July – Hollie Cavanagh, English-American singer
  • 29 August – Liam Payne (One Direction)
  • 13 September – Niall Horan (One Direction)

Deaths[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Daily Telegraph
  2. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  3. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 25.
  4. ^ "Top 50 Compilations". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 26.
  5. ^ "Tony Brent – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  6. ^ Independent obituary
  7. ^ Nicolas Roeg, Obituary: Stanley Myers, The Independent, Saturday, 13 November 1993

External links[]

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