List of Platinum singles in the United Kingdom awarded before 2000
See also List of Platinum singles in the United Kingdom awarded since 2000, List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom.
On 1 April 1973 the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) launched the Certified Awards scheme for singles and albums. From then until 1988, Platinum was awarded to singles with sales or shipments of 1 million (with double or triple Platinum being introduced in 1985).[1]
In 1989, the thresholds were changed so that a single with sales or shipments of 600,000 became eligible for Platinum (and any multiples thereof). The only song to be certified Platinum during both periods is "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (in its original release in 1975 and again in 1991 following the death of Freddie Mercury), while the Spice Girls had the most Platinum singles awarded before 2000 with eight.[2] This total has been passed in the 21st century by Rihanna with 13.
Awards from 1973–1988 (1 million units)[]
2× Platinum (available 1985 onwards)[]
Only one single was ever awarded a multi-Platinum certification during the 1 million unit era, although "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid would also have qualified.
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified Platinum |
Date certified 2× Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings | "Mull of Kintyre" | November 1977 | December 1977 | November 1986 |
Platinum (1973–1988)[]
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Park Orchestra | "Eye Level" | November 1972 | January 1978 |
| Gary Glitter | "I Love You Love Me Love" | November 1973 | January 1974 |
| Slade | "Merry Xmas Everybody" | December 1973 | December 1980 |
| John Lennon | "Imagine" | October 1975 | February 1981 |
| Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | October 1975 | January 1976 |
| Brotherhood of Man | "Save Your Kisses for Me" | March 1976 | May 1976 |
| David Soul | "Don't Give Up on Us" | December 1976 | February 1977 |
| Boney M. | "Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring" | April 1978 | May 1978 |
| Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta | "You're the One That I Want" | May 1978 | July 1978 |
| Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta | "Summer Nights" | September 1978 | October 1978 |
| Village People | "Y.M.C.A." | November 1978 | January 1979 |
| Boney M | "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" | November 1978 | December 1978 |
| Art Garfunkel | "Bright Eyes" | January 1979 | May 1979 |
| Blondie | "Heart of Glass" | January 1979 | February 1979 |
| Pink Floyd | "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" | November 1979 | January 1980 |
| Human League | "Don't You Want Me" | November 1981 | January 1982 |
| Dexys Midnight Runners | "Come On Eileen" | June 1982 | September 1982 |
| Culture Club | "Karma Chameleon" | September 1983 | October 1983 |
| Frankie Goes to Hollywood | "Relax" | January 1984 | March 1984 |
| Frankie Goes to Hollywood | "Two Tribes" | June 1984 | June 1984 |
| George Michael | "Careless Whisper" | July 1984 | September 1984 |
| Stevie Wonder | "I Just Called to Say I Love You" | August 1984 | September 1984 |
| Band Aid | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | November 1984 | December 1984 |
| Wham! | "Last Christmas" | December 1984 | January 1985 |
| Jennifer Rush | "The Power of Love" | May 1985 | November 1985 |
Awards from 1989–1999 (600,000 units)[]
Multi-Platinum[]
Only one single was awarded a multiple above double: "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John which is certified as 9× Platinum for shipping over 5.4 million units, following the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.
9× Platinum[]
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified multi-Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" | September 1997 | October 1997 |
2× Platinum[]
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified double platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | June 1991 | September 1991 |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | October 1992 | January 1993 |
| Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" | May 1994 | August 1994 |
| Robson & Jerome | "Unchained Melody/White Cliffs of Dover" | May 1995 | May 1995 |
| Fugees | "Killing Me Softly" | June 1996 | August 1996
|
| Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | July 1996 | December 1996 |
| Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans | "I'll Be Missing You" | June 1997 | August 1997
|
| Aqua | "Barbie Girl" | October 1997 | December 1997
|
| All Saints | "Never Ever" | November 1997 | January 1998 |
| Various Artists | "Perfect Day" | November 1997 | January 1998 |
| Teletubbies | "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"" | December 1997 | December 1997 |
| Robbie Williams | "Angels" | December 1997 | December 1998 |
| Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | February 1998 | April 1998 |
| Cher | "Believe" | October 1998 | January 1999
|
| Britney Spears | "...Baby One More Time" | February 1999 | March 1999 |
Awarded triple platinum after 2000
Also awarded double platinum in 2013
Platinum awards[]
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers | "Swing the Mood" | August 1989 | August 1989 |
| Black Box | "Ride On Time" | August 1989 | October 1989 |
| Band Aid II | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | December 1989 | April 1990 |
| Sinéad O'Connor | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | January 1990 | March 1990 |
| Elton John | "Sacrifice" | May 1990 | September 1990 |
| The Righteous Brothers | "Unchained Melody" | October 1990 | November 1990 |
| Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | October 1990 | January 1991 |
| Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives" | December 1991 | December 1991 |
| Charles & Eddie | "Would I Lie to You?" | October 1992 | January 1993 |
| Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | May 1993 | June 1993 |
| UB40 | "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" | May 1993 | July 1993 |
| Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" | September 1993 | November 1993 |
| Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | November 1993 | December 1993 |
| Take That | "Babe" | December 1993 | January 1994 |
| All4One | "I Swear" | June 1994 | September 1994 |
| Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | September 1994 | September 1994 |
| Pato Banton | "Baby Come Back" | September 1994 | November 1994 |
| Celine Dion | "Think Twice" | October 1994 | January 1995 |
| East 17 | "Stay Another Day" | November 1994 | December 1994 |
| Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | December 1994 | February 1995 |
| Take That | "Back for Good" | March 1995 | April 1995 |
| The Rembrandts | "I'll Be There for You" | August 1995 | July 1997 |
| Simply Red | "Fairground" | September 1995 | November 1995 |
| Coolio featuring L.V. | "Gangsta's Paradise" | October 1995 | November 1995
|
| Everything but the Girl | "Missing" | October 1995 | January 1996 |
| Robson & Jerome | "I Believe (1953 song)/Up on the Roof" | October 1995 | November 1995 |
| Oasis | "Wonderwall" | October 1995 | January 1996
|
| Boyzone | "Father and Son" | November 1995 | January 1996 |
| Michael Jackson | "Earth Song" | November 1995 | December 1995 |
| Babylon Zoo | "Spaceman" | January 1996 | January 1996 |
| Robert Miles | "Children" | February 1996 | April 1996 |
| Oasis | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | February 1996 | April 1996
|
| Take That | "How Deep Is Your Love" | February 1996 | March 1996 |
| Mark Morrison | "Return of the Mack" | March 1996 | May 1996 |
| Gina G | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" | March 1996 | May 1996 |
| Peter Andre | "Mysterious Girl" | May 1996 | August 1996 |
| Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | June 1996 | July 1996 |
| Louise | "Naked" | June 1996 | December 1996 |
| Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | July 1996 | August 1996
|
| Spice Girls | "Say You'll Be There" | October 1996 | October 1996 |
| Toni Braxton | "Un-Break My Heart" | October 1996 | January 1997 |
| Robson & Jerome | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" | October 1996 | January 1997 |
| The Prodigy | "Breathe" | November 1996 | January 1997 |
| Dunblane | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | December 1996 | December 1996 |
| Spice Girls | "2 Become 1" | December 1996 | December 1996 |
| Spice Girls | "Mama / Who Do You Think You Are" | March 1997 | March 1997 |
| R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | March 1997 | June 1997 |
| Hanson | "MMMBop" | May 1997 | June 1997 |
| Oasis | "D'You Know What I Mean?" | July 1997 | July 1997 |
| Will Smith | "Men in Black" | August 1997 | August 1997 |
| Chumbawamba | "Tubthumping" | August 1997 | October 1997 |
| Spice Girls | "Spice Up Your Life" | October 1997 | October 1997 |
| Natalie Imbruglia | "Torn" | October 1997 | December 1997
|
| All Saints | "Never Ever" | November 1997 | December 1997 |
| Janet Jackson | "Together Again" | December 1997 | January 1998 |
| Spice Girls | "Too Much" | December 1997 | January 1998 |
| Savage Garden | "Truly Madly Deeply" | February 1998 | May 1998 |
| Leann Rimes | "How Do I Live?" | March 1998 | July 1998 |
| Run–D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | March 1998 | March 1998
|
| Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "3 Lions '98" | June 1998 | July 1998 |
| B*Witched | "C'est la Vie" | June 1998 | July 1998 |
| Spice Girls | "Viva Forever" | July 1998 | August 1998 |
| Pras Michel featuring ODB & Mýa | "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" | August 1998 | August 1998 |
| Boyzone | "No Matter What" | August 1998 | August 1998 |
| Stardust | "Music Sounds Better with You" | August 1998 | November 1998 |
| Steps | "Heartbeat / Tragedy" | November 1998 | January 1999 |
| Bryan Adams featuring Melanie C | "When You're Gone" | November 1998 | February 1999 |
| Spice Girls | "Goodbye" | December 1998 | December 1998 |
| Chef | "Chocolate Salty Balls" | December 1998 | February 1999 |
| Boyzone | "When the Going Gets Tough" | March 1999 | March 1999 |
| Mr. Oizo | "Flat Beat" | March 1999 | April 1999 |
| TLC | "No Scrubs" | March 1999 | July 1999 |
| Martine McCutcheon | "Perfect Moment" | April 1999 | May 1999 |
| Shania Twain | "That Don't Impress Me Much" | May 1999 | July 1999 |
| Shanks & Bigfoot | "Sweet Like Chocolate" | May 1999 | June 1999 |
| S Club 7 | "Bring It All Back" | June 1999 | July 1999 |
| ATB | "9 PM (Till I Come)" | June 1999 | July 1999 |
| Ricky Martin | "Livin' la Vida Loca" | July 1999 | August 1999 |
| Lou Bega | "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)" | August 1999 | September 1999 |
| Eiffel 65 | "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" | September 1999 | October 1999 |
| Cliff Richard | "Millennium Prayer" | November 1999 | December 1999 |
| Westlife | "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" | December 1999 | December 1999 |
Certified 2× Platinum since 2000
References[]
- ^ "Certified Awards – A Timeline" (PDF). BPI. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "British single certifications – Spice Girls". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Spice Girls in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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