2003 in British music
Encyclopedia
This is a summary of 2003 in music
in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year. Whilst weeks at number one began to increase with significant numbers achieving 4 week runs, and The Black Eyed Peas
breaking a chart record in the 21st century, single sales rapidly plummeted, decreasing by 34% since 2002. The year became the first in ten not to contain a million selling single. The year was particularly successful for Britney Spears
, Justin Timberlake
, Dannii Minogue
Avril Lavigne
, Christina Aguilera
, t.A.T.u.
and Dido
.
spent the first 2 weeks of the year at the top of the charts with their debut single "Sound Of The Underground
", and would consolidate their success with a platinum selling debut album and 3 more top 3 hits in this year. One talent show winner was replaced by another, in the form of David Sneddon
a young performer from Scotland, who'd had lead roles in musicals and sung with bands around the pub circuit, including the Martians, and won BBC's Fame Academy
performing Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
" beating 36,000 other applicants. His debut single "Stop Living The Lie", entered the UK charts at #1 and remained there for 2 weeks. To date he is the only artist from a reality TV show to reach #1 with a self-written song. He had a further two top twenty hit singles and a top ten album, Seven Years Ten Weeks, and signed a development publishing deal with Universal Music in October 2003.
After the release of her debut single, "Complicated", which made #3 in the singles charts, Avril Lavigne
's début album, Let Go
climbed to the top of the album charts for 3 weeks. Consequently, she became the youngest female solo artist to top the albums chart at only 17 years of age. The album spawned three other Top 40 hits, the upbeat "Sk8er Boi
", the powerful "Losing Grip" and the loneliness ballad "I'm with You". None of these equalled the success of her début single, the highest peaking at #7.
released their début single, "All the Things She Said
" in the UK and it topped the charts for a total of 4 weeks, taking all of February with it. The accompanying video ostensibly depicted the girls imprisoned but concluded by revealing that it was the audience who was imprisoned; it stirred controversy with its images of the two girls kissing. They became the first Russian act to hit number 1 in the UK. Their album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane
peaked at #12 in the charts and spawned a #7 hit, "Not Gonna Get Us
" in May. London duo Turin Brakes
scored their first UK top ten hit when "Pain Killer" entered the chart at #5 on February 23. Previous to this, they had only enjoyed average success outside of the top 20.
After the massive success of his debut single as a solo artist, "Like I Love You" (#2), ex-*NSYNC member, Justin Timberlake
released his solo album, Justified
. Making #6 on its first chart run, it climbed back into the charts and this time made #1 for 2 weeks. Another solo star previously in a successful group took over from Justin. Previously in Destiny's Child
, Kelly Rowland
released her debut album, Simply Deep
which topped the charts for one week. Her debut single "Stole
", peaked at #2. Following their #1 album from 1999, alternative electronic band, Massive Attack
hit the top again with their new album, 100th Window
. The album spawned one single hit, "Special Cases" which made #15.
hit the top with a second release from her second album, Stripped. "Beautiful
" contrasted with the upbeat and raunchy "Dirrty
", as "Beautiful" was a love ballad that seemed to be very personal to Christina. She received praise from GLAAD because of the positive presentation of homosexual people in the video to the song, which was edited by the BBC
for showing on Top of the pops
. Interestingly enough, despite the fact that Britney
has received 1 more chart topper than Christina, as of January 2005, Christina has spent more weeks on top of the UK charts than Britney, with "Beautiful" adding another 2 to that list. With the official comic relief song of the year, Gareth Gates
returned to the top of the UK charts for a 4th and final time with a cover of Norman Greenbaum
's "Spirit in the Sky
". Taking it to the top for a 3rd time, Gareth became the only act to get to the top with this single who was not a one-hit wonder. Ringo Starr
released his album Ringo Rama
on the 24th.
Returning to the top for a week was Justin Timberlake and his debut album, Justified. By this time, he had released a follow up single to "Like I Love You" from the album. "Cry Me A River
", also peaked at #2 and was an emotional ballad creating controversy because many thought the song was about Britney, seeing as there was a Britney look-alike in the video. Taking the top of the albums chart for the following 4 weeks was jazz singer, Norah Jones
with her debut album, Come Away With Me
. No singles were released from the album, but despite this it was a hugely successful album.
's 1983 #38 hit, "Get Down Saturday Night". Featuring his vocals on the track, "Make Luv" was re-worked by Room 5 and was used in a TV advertisement for Lynx Deodorant
. Consequently it sold very well and topped the singles charts for almost the whole of April. The duo did another collaboration, "Music And You" in December as a Christmas release, but it only made #38.
Nu Metal band, Linkin Park
hit #1 for the first time with their third album, Meteora
. The album spawned 4 single hits, the highest peaking at #10. After a week, rock and roll duo, The White Stripes
took over for 2 weeks with their fourth album, Elephant
, spanning the very popular single, "7 Nation Army
", which peaked at #7. Returning to the top of the charts with A Rush of Blood to the Head
were Coldplay
. This album was previously at #1 in September 2002. It only remained at the top for a week this time.
for his one and only UK single, "Loneliness". It became the second of 9 to spend only a week at the top during the whole of 2003. This was a very good sign for the popularity of singles, however sales were at their all-time low. Back at the top for the first time in 6 years, was soul/RNB singer, R. Kelly
with a track from his new album, Chocolate Factory
. "Ignition Remix" was his first #1 single since "I Believe I Can Fly
" hit the top in 1997. The single was successful, topping the charts for 4 weeks receiving hugely high levels of airplay across all radio stations. Other big hits included Lisa Maffia
with her single All Over which managed to stay 3 weeks in the top 10 going on to sell over 90,000 copies.
With her 8th UK #1 album, Madonna
returns to the top of the album charts with her new release American Life
. The album contained the hits "Love Profusion
", "Hollywood", "American Life
" and "Die Another Day
". The latter was taken from the soundtrack to the James Bond
film of the same name, which itself was also a success. Returning to the top yet again was Justin Timberlake and his debut album, Justified, but its stay was only for a week. By this time it had spawned a 3rd #2 single, "Rock Your Body", which saw Justin turn towards dance music and show off his moves in the video. Despite the fact that Blur scored a 5th #1 album with their latest release, Think Tank, Justified was not kept from the top for long, returning to the top after a week, for what became its longest consecutive run at the top, ending at 3 weeks. In total, the album had spent 7 weeks at the top.
made their mark on the music industry with their début single "Bring Me To Life
", which topped the charts for 4 weeks. The band, a four piece from Little Rock, Arkansas
, fronted by Amy Lee
, went on to massive success with their début album, Fallen
which topped the album chart for a week and spawned another 3 Top 10 hits during the year.
Topping the charts for the third time since their career began in 1997, the Stereophonics
were back at the top with You Gotta Go There to Come Back
. The album spawned 2 Top 5 hits, following the pattern from their previous 2 chart topping albums. Back at the top for the first time since 2001 were Radiohead
with their 4th UK #1 album, Hail to the Thief
. Only at the top for a week, just like the Stereophonics, Evanescence reached the top of the charts with Fallen while "Bring Me To Life" was still at the top of the singles chart.
, Beyoncé Knowles
managed to reach the top of the UK charts with a solo release. After making an appearance in the third Austin Powers movie, Austin Powers in Goldmember
, Beyoncé put herself back in the public eye and then released her debut solo single from the movie, "Work It Out" which managed to make #7 on the UK singles chart. Her debut album, Dangerously in Love
topped the charts a week before she received her first (third, including her career with Destiny's Child
) number one single, and they both continued runs at the top simultaneously for 3 weeks when her second single was knocked off the top spot. "Crazy in Love" was an upbeat pop ballad, but was not as dance emphasised as "Work It Out". It featured the rapper Jay-Z
who was already a very successful artist and whose career began 6 years ago in 1997.
Featuring her four Top 10 hits; the club tune "Work It Out", the chart topping "Crazy In Love", the #2 hit "'03 Bonnie & Clyde
" also with Jay-Z and the massive US #1, "Baby Boy" in a duet with Sean Paul
. Beyoncé's debut album, "Dangerously In Love" topped the charts for five consecutive weeks, three of those weeks coinciding with when her second single, "Crazy in Love" was at the top of the charts. Her debut album sold 113,000 copies in its first week and was eventually certified two times (2x) platinum in October by the BPI
. The album itself have the most consecutive weeks to reach the top position on the UK album chart for 2003.
In 2004, Beyoncé released more singles from the album which fared well and then re-formed with her old girl group, Destiny's Child
who proved to be much more successful than expected.
with another love ballad, "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" which he said was a twin of his previous chart topper, "If You're Not The One", being about the same girl. Not only was the theme similar, but so was the chart performance, only spending a week at the summit. Urban/R&B songstress, Blu Cantrell
was next to top the charts with a single from her second album, Bittersweet. The single was "Breathe" and was a collaboration with Sean Paul, who was a Jamaican born Reggae performer. Although never airing enough on Radio 1 to make the play list, it still managed to enter the chart at #1 and stay there for 4 weeks and became the surprise smash hit of the year.
With an original fusion of modern rock and country/folk, English rock band The Coral
scored their 1st #1 album with their second release, Magic And Medicine
. The album spawned 3 hit singles, one of which hit the top 5, becoming their highest peaking single ever. However, it only took a week before Robbie Williams
hit the top of the charts again when Escapology
returned to the top of the charts after its 6 week stay over the Christmas season of 2002. It contained the hits, "Feel
", "Come Undone", "Something Beautiful
" and "Sexed Up
". Taking over after a week for a 2 week run was Eva Cassidy
with her 3rd UK #1 album, American Tune. She became the second female solo artist to have 3 consecutive UK #1 albums, after Madonna achieved this in 2000, however it could be said that Eva holds this record solo, because one of Madonna's albums was the soundtrack to Evita
which featured other vocalists as well as her, whereas Cassidy holds the full credit for all three of her albums. Even more amazingly, Cassidy started this run of consecutive #1 albums after passing away, so the entire record is posthumous.
's #42 hit from 1979 "Are you ready for love" was shortened, put into use in by Sky TV for their football premiership ads and consequently re-released when it shot straight to the top of the charts for a week. It was only Elton's 3rd solo #1 single. Next was the second single and first Top 30 hit from The Black Eyed Peas
. They are a 4 piece rap act from Los Angeles, California
and scored a 6 week run at the top with this single, becoming the biggest selling single of the year (however, failing to sell a million copies, becoming the first year to not have a million selling single since 1993) and also the longest stay at the top of the UK charts since Cher
's "Believe
" in 1998. The song, "Where Is The Love?
" featured an unaccredited Justin Timberlake
's vocals on the chorus and was about society and the corruption that had engulfed it and that people should begin to spread love to bring the world to a better state.
Topping the charts for 4 weeks with their debut album were rock band, The Darkness. Modelling themselves on bands like Queen
they had already scored one Top 40 hit from the album, with "Growing On Me
", which peaked at #11. Their next hit from the album, in the following month was their biggest, peaking at #2 and becoming what was considered to be the first classic anthem of the 21st century. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love
" was very Queen-esque and marked them as a hugely popular band. They made #2 again with their special Christmas release and the album, Permission to Land
spawned one final hit the following year, "Love Is Only A Feeling", which hit #5. Following on from the split of S Club earlier in the year, Rachel Stevens
made her solo debut in this month with "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex
", peaking at #2 for two inconsecutive weeks and spending a further 3 in the top 10. She would enjoy two top 30 albums and a further 6 top 30 singles before taking time out from music to focus on an acting career in 2006.
were back for a 3rd time with their new single "Hole In The Head
" taken from their 3rd album, Three
which strangely enough peaked at #3 in the albums chart. This was their last #1 single until "Push the Button" hit the top spot in October 2005. They continued successfully into 2004, scoring 2 #8 hits, "In The Middle
" & "Caught In A Moment
".
Absolution was the 4th release from British rock band, Muse
. Gradually acquiring a larger fan base, they finally scored a #1 album, with what has been by far their most successful to date. However, their run at the top was short-lived, because only after 7 days, Dido
was back at the top with her second album, Life For Rent
. Due to the success of No Angel
when re-issued due to her appearance in Eminem
's "Stan
", she began recording again and this album became another massive hit, but not quite as big as her debut. The album spawned 3 hit singles, two of which failed to make the Top 20, but one became her most successful single, "White Flag", peaking at #2. It spent 4 weeks at the top, but was to return to the top several times over the course of the next few months.
combining with Crooklyn Clan were the first #1 of November with "Be Faithful" which was made 5 years earlier, but only released now. It spent 2 weeks at #1 and became the second #1 of the year to hit the top many years after being made, with the first being t.A.T.u. and "All the Things She Said
". The dance song "Slow
" saw Kylie Minogue
hit the top for a 7th time. She was praised all over for trying a different style and making it just as good as her other music, however it did join record with Iron Maiden
's "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter" in becoming the lowest selling number one single of all time. Hitting the top for the second time were pop trio, Busted with their 5th chart hit, "Crashed The Wedding". Taking a different stance to their other singles, it still only managed one week at the summit. Hitting the top for a record 12th time were boyband Westlife
with their remake of the Barry Manilow
#11 hit from 1975, "Mandy". They were now 2 chart toppers ahead of the queen of pop, Madonna and 2 chart toppers behind the British Elvis, Cliff Richard
.
With a collection of their best tracks such as "Everybody Hurts
", "Imitation Of Life
", "Losing My Religion
" & "The Great Beyond
", R.E.M.
were back at the top with In Time - The Best Of R.E.M. - 1988-2003.
Failing to top the singles chart all year were boyband Blue
who scored a 3rd consecutive UK #1 album with their new release Guilty
. It had already spawned one hit, "Guilty
", and would create more including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" a collaboration with Stevie Wonder
on one of his old tracks, "Breathe Easy" and "Bubblin'". They split at the end of 2004 releasing a Greatest Hits compilation promoting it with a new track "Curtain Falls". Returning to number one for the first time was Dido with Life For Rent. Taking over from her was Michael Jackson
with his Number Ones collection. Scoring 7 #1's in the UK and 13 in the US, he had accumulated a large amount to make an album with. The album contained the likes of "Billie Jean
", "Rock with You", "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
", "Black or White
", "Earth Song
" & "Thriller
".
returned to the top of the UK charts for the 4th time with his new single "Leave Right Now". It was taken from his new album, Friday's Child, which later topped the charts. He now had as many chart toppers as Gareth Gates
and as of January 2005, they are still level. Taking over after 2 weeks was a duet from Ozzy Osbourne
and his daughter Kelly
with "Changes". Tipped to be the Christmas #1, Kelly was experiencing great success as a solo artist and also the song gave Ozzy his first #1 after 33 years of chart activity since he first started with Black Sabbath
. It was also the first father/daughter chart topper since Frank Sinatra
and Nancy Sinatra
topped the charts with "Somethin' Stupid
" in 1967. The Darkness' "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" was also anticipated to take the top spot, however in the week leading up to Christmas, the most unexpected thing happened. Taken from the soundtrack to the film Donnie Darko
, Michael Andrews
& Gary Jules
scored a chart topper with "Mad World". It was a remake of the "Tears for Fears
" #3 hit from 1982 and topped the UK charts for 3 weeks becoming the fastest selling single of the year and took the Christmas number one spot along with it.
With their 5th album, Turnaround gave Westlife their 4th #1 album. It contained the chart topping "Mandy" and the #3 hit from the following year, "Obvious". The following year Bryan McFadden split from the group, but they continued as a foursome releasing Allow Us To Be Frank with a cover of old big band classics. Topping the charts with his second album was Will Young and Friday's Child. which contained "Leave Right Now". However, the Christmas number one album was by one of the most successful female solo artists in the 21st century on the albums chart. Dido returned to the top for a further 3 weeks with Life For Rent. It has sold in excess of 2.2 million copies.
produced several new orchestral/instrumental works. British film score composer Rachel Portman
produced an opera, The Little Prince
, commissioned by the Houston Opera and premièred in the USA.
Michael Nyman
, during his period as Composer-in-Residence at Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Germany, produced his Violin Concerto and an opera Man and Boy: Dada
, with libretto by Michael Hastings
.
It was premièred at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
in the following year.
Issue Date
Issue Date
winners were:
were:
- Boy in Da Corner
.
was awarded to Girls Aloud
for their song No Good Advice
from the album Sound of the Underground.
was awarded to "Mandy
" by Westlife
.
2003 in music
-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year. Whilst weeks at number one began to increase with significant numbers achieving 4 week runs, and The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
breaking a chart record in the 21st century, single sales rapidly plummeted, decreasing by 34% since 2002. The year became the first in ten not to contain a million selling single. The year was particularly successful for Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
, Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, t.A.T.u.
T.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe...
and Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
.
January
Remaining at the top from 2002, new girl band, Girls AloudGirls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
spent the first 2 weeks of the year at the top of the charts with their debut single "Sound Of The Underground
Sound of the Underground (song)
"Sound of the Underground" is the debut single by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, later featured on their debut album of the same name. The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, and Niara Scarlett, and produced by Higgins and his production team Xenomania...
", and would consolidate their success with a platinum selling debut album and 3 more top 3 hits in this year. One talent show winner was replaced by another, in the form of David Sneddon
David Sneddon
David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002...
a young performer from Scotland, who'd had lead roles in musicals and sung with bands around the pub circuit, including the Martians, and won BBC's Fame Academy
Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
performing Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is the first single from British musician Elton John's 1974 album Caribou; it was released that year during the latter half of May in the United Kingdom, and on 10 June in the United States.-Lyrics and music:...
" beating 36,000 other applicants. His debut single "Stop Living The Lie", entered the UK charts at #1 and remained there for 2 weeks. To date he is the only artist from a reality TV show to reach #1 with a self-written song. He had a further two top twenty hit singles and a top ten album, Seven Years Ten Weeks, and signed a development publishing deal with Universal Music in October 2003.
After the release of her debut single, "Complicated", which made #3 in the singles charts, Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
's début album, Let Go
Let Go (Avril Lavigne album)
Let Go is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released on June 4, 2002. For a year after signing a record deal with Arista, Lavigne struggled due to conflicts in musical direction. Lavigne relocated to Los Angeles, California, and recorded there her earlier materials for...
climbed to the top of the album charts for 3 weeks. Consequently, she became the youngest female solo artist to top the albums chart at only 17 years of age. The album spawned three other Top 40 hits, the upbeat "Sk8er Boi
Sk8er Boi
"Sk8er Boi" is a song by Avril Lavigne, and is the second single from her debut album, Let Go . It was written by Avril Lavigne and The Matrix , and produced by The Matrix...
", the powerful "Losing Grip" and the loneliness ballad "I'm with You". None of these equalled the success of her début single, the highest peaking at #7.
February
Hitting the Russian charts 3 years earlier, female duo t.A.T.u.T.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe...
released their début single, "All the Things She Said
All the Things She Said
"All the Things She Said" is a song by Russian recording duo t.A.T.u., which was for their first English-language studio album 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane . The song was written by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Elena Kiper and Valeriy Polienko, while produced by Horn...
" in the UK and it topped the charts for a total of 4 weeks, taking all of February with it. The accompanying video ostensibly depicted the girls imprisoned but concluded by revealing that it was the audience who was imprisoned; it stirred controversy with its images of the two girls kissing. They became the first Russian act to hit number 1 in the UK. Their album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane
200 km/h in the Wrong Lane
200 km/h in the Wrong Lane is the debut studio album by Russian duo t.A.T.u.. It was released on 10 December 2002. The album was produced by Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Robert Orton and Ivan Shapovalov, who was the main and executive producerand writer. Before the release, it preceded...
peaked at #12 in the charts and spawned a #7 hit, "Not Gonna Get Us
Not Gonna Get Us
"Not Gonna Get Us" is the second single from t.A.T.u.'s debut English album 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane and was released in mid-2003. It was the last song taken from that album in the UK, where it reached #7 on the singles chart. The music was composed by Sergio Galoyan...
" in May. London duo Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes
Turin Brakes are a modern folk duo, comprising Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian, hailing from Balham, London. They had a UK top 5 hit with their song "Painkiller ".-1999–2003:...
scored their first UK top ten hit when "Pain Killer" entered the chart at #5 on February 23. Previous to this, they had only enjoyed average success outside of the top 20.
After the massive success of his debut single as a solo artist, "Like I Love You" (#2), ex-*NSYNC member, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
released his solo album, Justified
Justified (album)
Justified is the debut album by American pop singer Justin Timberlake. Released during the hiatus of the group *NSYNC, the album signaled Timberlake's desire to craft a more mature image than that of a "boy band member". The album features guest performances by Timbaland, Clipse, Bubba Sparxxx, and...
. Making #6 on its first chart run, it climbed back into the charts and this time made #1 for 2 weeks. Another solo star previously in a successful group took over from Justin. Previously in Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
, Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
released her debut album, Simply Deep
Simply Deep
Simply Deep is the debut solo album by American singer Kelly Rowland, first released by Columbia Records on October 28, 2002 in North America, and by February 3, 2003 throughout most international territories...
which topped the charts for one week. Her debut single "Stole
Stole (song)
"Stole" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written and co-produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner and recorded for Rowland's solo album Simply Deep...
", peaked at #2. Following their #1 album from 1999, alternative electronic band, Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
hit the top again with their new album, 100th Window
100th Window
-Personnel:* Robert "3D" Del Naja* Neil Davidge* Horace Andy – Vocals* Sinéad O'Connor – Vocals* Alex Swift – Additional programming and keyboards* Angelo Bruschini – Guitars* Jon Harris – Bass* Damon Reece – Drums...
. The album spawned one single hit, "Special Cases" which made #15.
March
Returning to the top of the UK charts for the 4th time, US superstar, Christina AguileraChristina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
hit the top with a second release from her second album, Stripped. "Beautiful
Beautiful (Christina Aguilera song)
"Beautiful" is a song written by Linda Perry and recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped...
" contrasted with the upbeat and raunchy "Dirrty
Dirrty
"Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa Muhammad, and Rockwilder for Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped...
", as "Beautiful" was a love ballad that seemed to be very personal to Christina. She received praise from GLAAD because of the positive presentation of homosexual people in the video to the song, which was edited by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
for showing on Top of the pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. Interestingly enough, despite the fact that Britney
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
has received 1 more chart topper than Christina, as of January 2005, Christina has spent more weeks on top of the UK charts than Britney, with "Beautiful" adding another 2 to that list. With the official comic relief song of the year, Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
returned to the top of the UK charts for a 4th and final time with a cover of Norman Greenbaum
Norman Greenbaum
Norman Greenbaum is an American singer-songwriter. He was raised in a traditional Jewish household and went to Hebrew school. His initial interest in music was sparked by Southern blues music and the folk music that was hugely popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
's "Spirit in the Sky
Spirit in the Sky
"Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in 1969. The single sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970 and reached number three in the U.S. Billboard chart, as well as number one on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone...
". Taking it to the top for a 3rd time, Gareth became the only act to get to the top with this single who was not a one-hit wonder. Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
released his album Ringo Rama
Ringo Rama
Ringo Rama is Ringo Starr's 12th studio album and was released in 2003. As the follow-up to 1998's Vertical Man, it continues Starr's alliance with Mark Hudson as well as most of his collaborators from that last project...
on the 24th.
Returning to the top for a week was Justin Timberlake and his debut album, Justified. By this time, he had released a follow up single to "Like I Love You" from the album. "Cry Me A River
Cry Me a River (Justin Timberlake song)
"Cry Me a River" is the second single from Justin Timberlake's solo debut album Justified. Released on December 17, 2002, the single, which features guest vocals and production by Timbaland & Scott Storch, won Timberlake a Grammy Award for "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" in 2004.-Background...
", also peaked at #2 and was an emotional ballad creating controversy because many thought the song was about Britney, seeing as there was a Britney look-alike in the video. Taking the top of the albums chart for the following 4 weeks was jazz singer, Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
with her debut album, Come Away With Me
Come Away with Me
Come Away with Me is the debut album of pianist and singer Norah Jones, released February 26, 2002 on Blue Note Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at New York City's Sorcerer Sound Studio and Shokan's Allaire Studios in 2001...
. No singles were released from the album, but despite this it was a hugely successful album.
April
Becoming the second single of the year to have a 4 week run at number one, the next chart topper was a re-working of Oliver CheathamOliver Cheatham
Oliver Cheatham is an American singer. He now resides in Surrey in England.Cheatham had a few hits in the 1980s, and he returned to the charts in 2003, when he was featured in Room 5's UK #1 single, "Make Luv", which sampled his 1983 song "Get Down Saturday Night"...
's 1983 #38 hit, "Get Down Saturday Night". Featuring his vocals on the track, "Make Luv" was re-worked by Room 5 and was used in a TV advertisement for Lynx Deodorant
Axe (deodorant)
Lynx is a brand of male grooming products, owned by the British/Dutch company Unilever and marketed towards young males.-History:Axe was launched in France in 1983 by Unilever...
. Consequently it sold very well and topped the singles charts for almost the whole of April. The duo did another collaboration, "Music And You" in December as a Christmas release, but it only made #38.
Nu Metal band, Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
hit #1 for the first time with their third album, Meteora
Meteora (album)
Meteora is the second studio album by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released on March 25, 2003 through Warner Bros. Records, following Reanimation, a collaboration album which featured remixes of songs included on debut studio album Hybrid Theory...
. The album spawned 4 single hits, the highest peaking at #10. After a week, rock and roll duo, The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
took over for 2 weeks with their fourth album, Elephant
Elephant (album)
Elephant is the Grammy winning fourth album by the American alternative rock band The White Stripes. Released on April 1, 2003 on V2 Records, the album marks the band's major label debut...
, spanning the very popular single, "7 Nation Army
Seven Nation Army
"Seven Nation Army" is the first track on the album Elephant by American alternative rock band The White Stripes. It was released as a single in 2003. "Seven Nation Army" reached #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks for three weeks and won 2004's Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The song is known for its...
", which peaked at #7. Returning to the top of the charts with A Rush of Blood to the Head
A Rush of Blood to the Head
A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by English rock band Coldplay. Released on 26 August 2002 in the UK through the label Parlophone, the album was produced by the band and British record producer Ken Nelson...
were Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
. This album was previously at #1 in September 2002. It only remained at the top for a week this time.
May
With their 3rd chart single, guitar playing pop trio, Busted scored their first UK chart topper when "You Said No" hit the top. This was their 3rd consecutive Top 3 hit, following their debut single, "That's What I Go To School For" which made #3 in September 2002 and their second single, "Year 3000" which hit #2 in January of this year. "You Said No" was a slightly more lyrics focused compared to their previous 2 singles which had been more tune based. Criticised for making a mockery of rock bands in the new millennium, Busted quickly gained a huge fanbase with young audiences. Taking over after 7 days was German producer, Thomas Bruckner, re-named TomcraftTomcraft
Tomcraft is a German DJ and producer. He is specialized in progressive house and progressive trance and is better known for having created the tracks "Loneliness" and "Prosac", working alongside Eniac....
for his one and only UK single, "Loneliness". It became the second of 9 to spend only a week at the top during the whole of 2003. This was a very good sign for the popularity of singles, however sales were at their all-time low. Back at the top for the first time in 6 years, was soul/RNB singer, R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
with a track from his new album, Chocolate Factory
Chocolate Factory
Chocolate Factory is the fifth studio album by American R&B and soul musician R. Kelly, released February 18, 2003 on Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album took place mainly at Rockland Studios and Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois during 2001 to 2003. It was primarily...
. "Ignition Remix" was his first #1 single since "I Believe I Can Fly
I Believe I Can Fly
"I Believe I Can Fly" is a 1996 song by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song was written, produced and performed by Kelly and was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam. The song later appeared on Kelly's 1998 album R.....
" hit the top in 1997. The single was successful, topping the charts for 4 weeks receiving hugely high levels of airplay across all radio stations. Other big hits included Lisa Maffia
Lisa Maffia
Lisa Finch Maffia is a platinum selling English singer-songwriter, musician, fashion designer, model and presenter, who originally came to the public's attention as the main female member of So Solid Crew...
with her single All Over which managed to stay 3 weeks in the top 10 going on to sell over 90,000 copies.
With her 8th UK #1 album, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
returns to the top of the album charts with her new release American Life
American Life
American Life is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released on April 22, 2003 by Maverick Records and distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The album produced in its entirety by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï featured references to many parts of American culture...
. The album contained the hits "Love Profusion
Love Profusion
"Love Profusion" is the fourth and final single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her 2003 studio album American Life. It was released by Maverick Records on December 8, 2003 in the UK, Europe and Australia and in North America on March 16, 2004. The song failed to match the chart success...
", "Hollywood", "American Life
American Life (song)
"American Life" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was the first single from her 2003 studio album American Life...
" and "Die Another Day
Die Another Day (song)
"Die Another Day" is the theme to the James Bond film of the same name recorded by Madonna. The single was released in late 2002, marking Madonna's 20th career anniversary, and peaked at number eight in the United States and number three in the United Kingdom, selling 167,863 copies - making it the...
". The latter was taken from the soundtrack to the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film of the same name, which itself was also a success. Returning to the top yet again was Justin Timberlake and his debut album, Justified, but its stay was only for a week. By this time it had spawned a 3rd #2 single, "Rock Your Body", which saw Justin turn towards dance music and show off his moves in the video. Despite the fact that Blur scored a 5th #1 album with their latest release, Think Tank, Justified was not kept from the top for long, returning to the top after a week, for what became its longest consecutive run at the top, ending at 3 weeks. In total, the album had spent 7 weeks at the top.
June
Alternative metal band EvanescenceEvanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
made their mark on the music industry with their début single "Bring Me To Life
Bring Me to Life
"Bring Me to Life" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was written by Amy Lee, Ben Moody and David Hodges and produced by Dave Fortman. It also features guest vocals from Paul McCoy of the band 12 Stones. Wind-up released "Bring Me to Life" in 2003 as the lead single from Evanescence's...
", which topped the charts for 4 weeks. The band, a four piece from Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, fronted by Amy Lee
Amy Lee
Amy Lynn Hartzler , best known as Amy Lee, is an American singer-songwriter and classically trained pianist. She is co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Evanescence. She cites influences ranging from classical musicians such as Mozart to modern artists Björk, Tori Amos, Danny Elfman and...
, went on to massive success with their début album, Fallen
Fallen (Evanescence album)
-Critical response:Fallen has received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic scored the album three and a half stars out of five, and named it an AMG Album Pick, saying, "The album does include flashes of the single's PG-rated nu-metal...
which topped the album chart for a week and spawned another 3 Top 10 hits during the year.
Topping the charts for the third time since their career began in 1997, the Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
were back at the top with You Gotta Go There to Come Back
You Gotta Go There to Come Back
You Gotta Go There to Come Back is Stereophonics' fourth album, released on V2 in 2003. It became their third consecutive album to top the UK chart selling 101,946 copies in its first week. It was the final Stereophonics album with long-time original drummer Stuart Cable.The album shows a newly...
. The album spawned 2 Top 5 hits, following the pattern from their previous 2 chart topping albums. Back at the top for the first time since 2001 were Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
with their 4th UK #1 album, Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief
Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2003 through Parlophone Records. After two Radiohead albums that featured heavily processed vocals, less guitar, and strong influence from experimental electronica and jazz, Hail to the Thief was seen...
. Only at the top for a week, just like the Stereophonics, Evanescence reached the top of the charts with Fallen while "Bring Me To Life" was still at the top of the singles chart.
July
Following in the footsteps of her former colleague, Kelly RowlandKelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
, Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
managed to reach the top of the UK charts with a solo release. After making an appearance in the third Austin Powers movie, Austin Powers in Goldmember
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Austin Powers in Goldmember is a 2002 American spy comedy film and the third installment of the Austin Powers series starring Mike Myers in the title role. The movie was directed by Jay Roach, and co-written by Mike Myers and Michael McCullers. Myers also plays the roles of Dr. Evil, Goldmember,...
, Beyoncé put herself back in the public eye and then released her debut solo single from the movie, "Work It Out" which managed to make #7 on the UK singles chart. Her debut album, Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love
Dangerously in Love is the debut solo album of American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, released on June 22, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny's Child...
topped the charts a week before she received her first (third, including her career with Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
) number one single, and they both continued runs at the top simultaneously for 3 weeks when her second single was knocked off the top spot. "Crazy in Love" was an upbeat pop ballad, but was not as dance emphasised as "Work It Out". It featured the rapper Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
who was already a very successful artist and whose career began 6 years ago in 1997.
Featuring her four Top 10 hits; the club tune "Work It Out", the chart topping "Crazy In Love", the #2 hit "'03 Bonnie & Clyde
'03 Bonnie & Clyde
"03 Bonnie & Clyde" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z featuring R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It incorporates elements from the songs "Me and My Girlfriend" by Tupac Shakur, and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" by Prince and uses the theme from "Pasttime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder for the refrain...
" also with Jay-Z and the massive US #1, "Baby Boy" in a duet with Sean Paul
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
. Beyoncé's debut album, "Dangerously In Love" topped the charts for five consecutive weeks, three of those weeks coinciding with when her second single, "Crazy in Love" was at the top of the charts. Her debut album sold 113,000 copies in its first week and was eventually certified two times (2x) platinum in October by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
. The album itself have the most consecutive weeks to reach the top position on the UK album chart for 2003.
In 2004, Beyoncé released more singles from the album which fared well and then re-formed with her old girl group, Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
who proved to be much more successful than expected.
August
Hitting the top of the UK charts for the third time with his 5th single was Daniel BedingfieldDaniel Bedingfield
Daniel John Bedingfield is a British singer-songwriter. He is the brother of pop singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle.-Music career:...
with another love ballad, "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" which he said was a twin of his previous chart topper, "If You're Not The One", being about the same girl. Not only was the theme similar, but so was the chart performance, only spending a week at the summit. Urban/R&B songstress, Blu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Biography:Tiffany Cobb was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. Her father was a Narragansett Native American and Cape Verdean, and played in the National Basketball Association...
was next to top the charts with a single from her second album, Bittersweet. The single was "Breathe" and was a collaboration with Sean Paul, who was a Jamaican born Reggae performer. Although never airing enough on Radio 1 to make the play list, it still managed to enter the chart at #1 and stay there for 4 weeks and became the surprise smash hit of the year.
With an original fusion of modern rock and country/folk, English rock band The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
scored their 1st #1 album with their second release, Magic And Medicine
Magic and Medicine
-Personnel:The Coral* James Skelly – vocals, guitar, co-producer* Lee Southall – guitar, backing vocals, co-producer* Bill Ryder-Jones – guitar, co-producer* Paul Duffy – bass guitar, backing vocals, co-producer...
. The album spawned 3 hit singles, one of which hit the top 5, becoming their highest peaking single ever. However, it only took a week before Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
hit the top of the charts again when Escapology
Escapology (album)
-Background:In 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI. The contract featured a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams in the American market...
returned to the top of the charts after its 6 week stay over the Christmas season of 2002. It contained the hits, "Feel
Feel (Robbie Williams song)
"Feel" is a song by British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams. It was released on December 2, 2002 as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Escapology...
", "Come Undone", "Something Beautiful
Something Beautiful
"Something Beautiful" is a song by British pop singer Robbie Williams, it was released as the third single from his album Escapology in the summer of 2003.-Music video:...
" and "Sexed Up
Sexed Up
"Sexed Up" is a song by British pop singer Robbie Williams, released as the fourth and last single from his album Escapology in late 2003. It was originally recorded for Natalie Imbruglia who turned it down and was later released in 1998 in demo form as the b-side to his single "No Regrets".-Chart...
". Taking over after a week for a 2 week run was Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
with her 3rd UK #1 album, American Tune. She became the second female solo artist to have 3 consecutive UK #1 albums, after Madonna achieved this in 2000, however it could be said that Eva holds this record solo, because one of Madonna's albums was the soundtrack to Evita
Evita (film)
Evita is the 1996 film adaptation of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name based on the life of Eva Perón. It was directed by Alan Parker and written by Parker and Oliver Stone. It starred Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce...
which featured other vocalists as well as her, whereas Cassidy holds the full credit for all three of her albums. Even more amazingly, Cassidy started this run of consecutive #1 albums after passing away, so the entire record is posthumous.
September
Hitting the top for only the 6th time since his massively successful career began in 1971, Elton JohnElton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's #42 hit from 1979 "Are you ready for love" was shortened, put into use in by Sky TV for their football premiership ads and consequently re-released when it shot straight to the top of the charts for a week. It was only Elton's 3rd solo #1 single. Next was the second single and first Top 30 hit from The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
. They are a 4 piece rap act from Los Angeles, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and scored a 6 week run at the top with this single, becoming the biggest selling single of the year (however, failing to sell a million copies, becoming the first year to not have a million selling single since 1993) and also the longest stay at the top of the UK charts since Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
's "Believe
Believe (Cher song)
"Believe" is a song by American recording artist Cher. It was released on November 24, 1998 as the lead single from her twenty-third studio album of the same name. It was written by Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, and Timothy Powell and produced by Mark...
" in 1998. The song, "Where Is The Love?
Where Is the Love?
"Where Is the Love?" is a song recorded by the American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas for their third album, Elephunk. It is the band's first record to feature Fergie. The song features vocals from Justin Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release.The single was...
" featured an unaccredited Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
's vocals on the chorus and was about society and the corruption that had engulfed it and that people should begin to spread love to bring the world to a better state.
Topping the charts for 4 weeks with their debut album were rock band, The Darkness. Modelling themselves on bands like Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
they had already scored one Top 40 hit from the album, with "Growing On Me
Growing on Me
"Growing on Me" is a song by the glam rock band The Darkness from their album Permission to Land. It was released as a single on June 16, 2003, peaking at #11 on the UK Singles Chart.-Tracklisting:UK CD Single# "Growing On Me" - 3:29...
", which peaked at #11. Their next hit from the album, in the following month was their biggest, peaking at #2 and becoming what was considered to be the first classic anthem of the 21st century. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love
I Believe in a Thing Called Love
"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is a 2003 single by the English rock band The Darkness. This was released as a single twice, the first time in August 2002 with "Love On The Rocks With No Ice" and "Love Is Only A Feeling." In September 2003, it was released as the third single off Permission to...
" was very Queen-esque and marked them as a hugely popular band. They made #2 again with their special Christmas release and the album, Permission to Land
Permission to Land
Permission to Land is the debut studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness, released in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2003 and in the United States on 5 August 2003. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number thirty-six on the American Billboard 200 chart...
spawned one final hit the following year, "Love Is Only A Feeling", which hit #5. Following on from the split of S Club earlier in the year, Rachel Stevens
Rachel Stevens
Rachel Lauren Stevens is an English singer-songwriter, actress, presenter, dancer, television personality and model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005...
made her solo debut in this month with "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex
Sweet Dreams My LA Ex
"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Rachel Stevens. It was released on 15 September 2003 as lead single from her debut solo album Funky Dory. Originally written for Britney Spears, the song was produced by Swedish Bloodshy & Avant, and received a mixed reception...
", peaking at #2 for two inconsecutive weeks and spending a further 3 in the top 10. She would enjoy two top 30 albums and a further 6 top 30 singles before taking time out from music to focus on an acting career in 2006.
October
Finally ending the long stint at the top from the Black Eyed Peas, the SugababesSugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
were back for a 3rd time with their new single "Hole In The Head
Hole in the Head
"Hole in the Head" is a dance-pop song performed by Sugababes, released in October 2003 as the lead single from their third studio album Three...
" taken from their 3rd album, Three
Three (Sugababes album)
-Canceled US Edition:-Charts:-Certifications:-Release history:-Setlist:¹Performed at the first Concert...
which strangely enough peaked at #3 in the albums chart. This was their last #1 single until "Push the Button" hit the top spot in October 2005. They continued successfully into 2004, scoring 2 #8 hits, "In The Middle
In the Middle
"In the Middle" is a pop song written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Niara Scarlett, Shawn Lee, Lisa Cowling, Andre Tegler, Phil Fuldner, Michael Bellina, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Heidi Range for the Sugababes' third studio album Three...
" & "Caught In A Moment
Caught in a Moment
"Caught in a Moment" is a pop ballad performed by British group Sugababes. It was written by Marius De Vries, Jony Lipsey, Karen Poole, and band members Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Heidi Range for the band's third studio album Three. Released in 2004 as the album's fourth and final single,...
".
Absolution was the 4th release from British rock band, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
. Gradually acquiring a larger fan base, they finally scored a #1 album, with what has been by far their most successful to date. However, their run at the top was short-lived, because only after 7 days, Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
was back at the top with her second album, Life For Rent
Life for Rent
Life for Rent is the second studio album by the British singer-songwriter Dido, released by Arista Records on 29 September 2003. The album was produced by Rollo Armstrong and American songwriter Rick Nowels. Work on the album began in mid 2002...
. Due to the success of No Angel
No Angel
No Angel is the debut album by pop singer/songwriter Dido. Originally released in June 1999 in the United States, the album found a mass audience when it was released worldwide in February 2001...
when re-issued due to her appearance in Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
's "Stan
Stan (song)
"Stan" is the third single from The Marshall Mathers LP, by rapper Eminem featuring Dido. It peaked at number one in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also included on Curtain Call: The Hits, performed with Eminem and Dido as well track 17 on Curtain Call: The Hits as a live Performance from...
", she began recording again and this album became another massive hit, but not quite as big as her debut. The album spawned 3 hit singles, two of which failed to make the Top 20, but one became her most successful single, "White Flag", peaking at #2. It spent 4 weeks at the top, but was to return to the top several times over the course of the next few months.
November
New York hip hop producer, club DJ and radio DJ, Fatman ScoopFatman Scoop
Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop is a hip hop promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw, loud voice....
combining with Crooklyn Clan were the first #1 of November with "Be Faithful" which was made 5 years earlier, but only released now. It spent 2 weeks at #1 and became the second #1 of the year to hit the top many years after being made, with the first being t.A.T.u. and "All the Things She Said
All the Things She Said
"All the Things She Said" is a song by Russian recording duo t.A.T.u., which was for their first English-language studio album 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane . The song was written by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Elena Kiper and Valeriy Polienko, while produced by Horn...
". The dance song "Slow
Slow (song)
-Charts:-Year-End charts:-Chart procession and succession:-Release history:...
" saw Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
hit the top for a 7th time. She was praised all over for trying a different style and making it just as good as her other music, however it did join record with Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter" in becoming the lowest selling number one single of all time. Hitting the top for the second time were pop trio, Busted with their 5th chart hit, "Crashed The Wedding". Taking a different stance to their other singles, it still only managed one week at the summit. Hitting the top for a record 12th time were boyband Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
with their remake of the Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
#11 hit from 1975, "Mandy". They were now 2 chart toppers ahead of the queen of pop, Madonna and 2 chart toppers behind the British Elvis, Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
.
With a collection of their best tracks such as "Everybody Hurts
Everybody Hurts
"Everybody Hurts" is a song by R.E.M., originally released on the band's 1992 album Automatic for the People and was also released as a single in 1993. It peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 on the French Singles Chart.-History:Much of the song was written by...
", "Imitation Of Life
Imitation of Life (song)
"Imitation of Life" is a song by R.E.M., the first single released from the band's 12th album, Reveal in 2001. The song peaked at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100 . It was the lowest chart of a lead single from an R.E.M. album in the United States since "Fall on Me" from Lifes Rich Pageant in 1986...
", "Losing My Religion
Losing My Religion
"Losing My Religion" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M. The song was released as the first single from the group's 1991 album Out of Time. Based around a mandolin riff, "Losing My Religion" was an unlikely hit for the group, garnering heavy airplay on radio as well as on MTV due...
" & "The Great Beyond
The Great Beyond
"The Great Beyond" is a song by R.E.M. It is not featured on an original studio album as it was written specifically for the 1999 movie Man on the Moon but was released as a single the following year for support of the film's soundtrack album. The single reached #3 in the UK singles chart, the...
", R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
were back at the top with In Time - The Best Of R.E.M. - 1988-2003.
Failing to top the singles chart all year were boyband Blue
Blue (boy band)
Blue are an English pop vocal group, whose members are Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa. Blue originally formed in 2001 before splitting in 2005. In 2009, it was confirmed that the band would reform. In April 2009, the group reunited and a Best of Blue Tour was announced...
who scored a 3rd consecutive UK #1 album with their new release Guilty
Guilty (Blue album)
-Charts:-Year-end charts:-Certifications:...
. It had already spawned one hit, "Guilty
Guilty (Blue song)
"Guilty" is a 2003 single by the British boy-band Blue from their third album of the same name. It reached a peak position of #2 on the UK singles chart and placed within the top 40 in many other countries...
", and would create more including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" a collaboration with Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
on one of his old tracks, "Breathe Easy" and "Bubblin'". They split at the end of 2004 releasing a Greatest Hits compilation promoting it with a new track "Curtain Falls". Returning to number one for the first time was Dido with Life For Rent. Taking over from her was Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
with his Number Ones collection. Scoring 7 #1's in the UK and 13 in the US, he had accumulated a large amount to make an album with. The album contained the likes of "Billie Jean
Billie Jean
"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
", "Rock with You", "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is a single by American recording artist Michael Jackson. Released under Epic Records on July 28, 1979, the song is the first single from Jackson's fifth studio album, entitled Off the Wall. Written by Jackson, it is in the key of B major and in common time...
", "Black or White
Black or White (song)
"Black or White" is a single by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. The song was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1991 as the first single from Jackson's eighth studio album, Dangerous...
", "Earth Song
Earth Song
"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is the fifth song on the second disc of the album. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious...
" & "Thriller
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
".
December
After a break of a year, Pop Idol Will YoungWill Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
returned to the top of the UK charts for the 4th time with his new single "Leave Right Now". It was taken from his new album, Friday's Child, which later topped the charts. He now had as many chart toppers as Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
and as of January 2005, they are still level. Taking over after 2 weeks was a duet from Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and his daughter Kelly
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne...
with "Changes". Tipped to be the Christmas #1, Kelly was experiencing great success as a solo artist and also the song gave Ozzy his first #1 after 33 years of chart activity since he first started with Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. It was also the first father/daughter chart topper since Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
and Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
topped the charts with "Somethin' Stupid
Somethin' Stupid
"Somethin' Stupid" is a song written by C. Carson Parks and originally recorded in 1966 by Parks and his wife Gaile Foote, as "Carson and Gaile". It is best known in the hit version by Frank Sinatra and his daughter, Nancy Sinatra....
" in 1967. The Darkness' "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" was also anticipated to take the top spot, however in the week leading up to Christmas, the most unexpected thing happened. Taken from the soundtrack to the film Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
, Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews (musician)
Michael Andrews is an American musician and film score composer. He is best known for a cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and which became a number one single in the UK in Christmas 2003.-Soundtrack...
& Gary Jules
Gary Jules
Gary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003...
scored a chart topper with "Mad World". It was a remake of the "Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
" #3 hit from 1982 and topped the UK charts for 3 weeks becoming the fastest selling single of the year and took the Christmas number one spot along with it.
With their 5th album, Turnaround gave Westlife their 4th #1 album. It contained the chart topping "Mandy" and the #3 hit from the following year, "Obvious". The following year Bryan McFadden split from the group, but they continued as a foursome releasing Allow Us To Be Frank with a cover of old big band classics. Topping the charts with his second album was Will Young and Friday's Child. which contained "Leave Right Now". However, the Christmas number one album was by one of the most successful female solo artists in the 21st century on the albums chart. Dido returned to the top for a further 3 weeks with Life For Rent. It has sold in excess of 2.2 million copies.
Classical music
Both Andrew Glover and Peter Maxwell DaviesPeter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE is an English composer and conductor and is currently Master of the Queen's Music.-Biography:...
produced several new orchestral/instrumental works. British film score composer Rachel Portman
Rachel Portman
Rachel Mary Berkeley Portman, OBE is a British composer, best known for her film work. She was the first female composer to win an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Score...
produced an opera, The Little Prince
The Little Prince (opera)
The Little Prince, subtitled A Magical Opera, is an opera in two acts by Rachel Portman to an English libretto by Nicholas Wright, based on the 1943 book of the same name by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry...
, commissioned by the Houston Opera and premièred in the USA.
Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
, during his period as Composer-in-Residence at Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Germany, produced his Violin Concerto and an opera Man and Boy: Dada
Man and Boy: Dada
Man and Boy: Dada is a 2003 opera by Michael Nyman on a libretto by Michael Hastings. It tells the story of a friendship between aging dada artist Kurt Schwitters and a twelve-year-old boy. These two characters and the boy's mother make up the cast of the opera.It was first performed at the...
, with libretto by Michael Hastings
Michael Hastings (playwright)
Michael Gerald Hastings was a British playwright, screen-writer, and occasional novelist and poet.He is probably best known for his 1984 play about the poet T.S. Eliot and his wife Vivienne Haigh-Wood, Tom & Viv, which became a motion picture released in 1994.Hastings was born in London...
.
It was premièred at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
The Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe is a theatre and opera house in Karlsruhe, Germany. It has existed in its present form and place at Ettlinger Tor since 1975...
in the following year.
Number-one singles
| Song | Artist(s) | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January | "Sound of the Underground Sound of the Underground (song) "Sound of the Underground" is the debut single by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, later featured on their debut album of the same name. The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, and Niara Scarlett, and produced by Higgins and his production team Xenomania... " | Girls Aloud Girls Aloud Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor... | 56,000 |
| 12 January | 34,471 | ||
| 19 January | "Stop Living the Lie Stop Living the Lie Stop Living the Lie was written by musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon, and was his No 1 debut release single 2003. The single was released on January 13, 2003 and during its first week it charted at number one in the UK singles chart, as well as reaching number seven in Ireland. The... " | David Sneddon David Sneddon David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002... | 108,312 |
| 26 January | 45,500 | ||
| 2 February | "All the Things She Said All the Things She Said "All the Things She Said" is a song by Russian recording duo t.A.T.u., which was for their first English-language studio album 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane . The song was written by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Elena Kiper and Valeriy Polienko, while produced by Horn... " | t.A.T.u. T.A.T.u. t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe... | 90,000 |
| 9 February | 57,000 | ||
| 16 February | 45,500 | ||
| 23 February | 40,500 | ||
| 2 March | "Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful is an adjective used to describe things as possessing beauty.Beautiful may also refer to:-Albums:* Beautiful * Beautiful * Beautiful * Beautiful... " | Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994... | 59,500 |
| 9 March | 42,500 | ||
| 16 March | "Spirit in the Sky Spirit in the Sky "Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in 1969. The single sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970 and reached number three in the U.S. Billboard chart, as well as number one on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone... " | Gareth Gates Gareth Gates Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly... and The Kumars The Kumars at No. 42 The Kumars at No. 42 was a British television show. It won an International Emmy in 2002 and in 2003. It ran for seven series totalling 53 episodes.-Plot:... | 273,508 |
| 23 March | 117,000 | ||
| 30 March | "Make Luv Make Luv "Make Luv" is a song released as a single in 2003 by Room 5 featuring the sampled voice of Oliver Cheatham. It gained a #1 placing the UK Singles Chart on March 30, 2003, where it remained for 4 weeks. The single's title track was a remix of Cheatham's 1983 #38 hit, "Get Down Saturday Night". It... " | Room 5 featuring Oliver Cheatham Oliver Cheatham Oliver Cheatham is an American singer. He now resides in Surrey in England.Cheatham had a few hits in the 1980s, and he returned to the charts in 2003, when he was featured in Room 5's UK #1 single, "Make Luv", which sampled his 1983 song "Get Down Saturday Night"... | 111,000 |
| 6 April | 66,500 | ||
| 13 April | 43,000 | ||
| 20 April | 32,500 | ||
| 27 April | "You Said No You Said No "You Said No" is the third single by English pop punk boyband Busted, released from their debut album Busted on April 21, 2003. The single was exclusively released in the UK. The song became their first to reach number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is about being rejected at a disco by a girl... " | Busted | 41,000 |
| 4 May | "Loneliness Loneliness (song) Loneliness is a song written by Andrea Martin, Edmund Clement, Ivan Matias and Eniac and produced by Eniac and Tomcraft. It was released as a single in 2002 worldwide and in 2003 in the United Kingdom... " | Tomcraft Tomcraft Tomcraft is a German DJ and producer. He is specialized in progressive house and progressive trance and is better known for having created the tracks "Loneliness" and "Prosac", working alongside Eniac.... | 36,617 |
| 11 May | "Ignition (Remix)" | R. Kelly R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play... | 70,000 |
| 18 May | 72,360 | ||
| 25 May | 67,000 | ||
| 1 June | 60,415 | ||
| 8 June | "Bring Me to Life Bring Me to Life "Bring Me to Life" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was written by Amy Lee, Ben Moody and David Hodges and produced by Dave Fortman. It also features guest vocals from Paul McCoy of the band 12 Stones. Wind-up released "Bring Me to Life" in 2003 as the lead single from Evanescence's... " | Evanescence Evanescence Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide... | 56,524 |
| 15 June | 47,500 | ||
| 22 June | 36,000 | ||
| 29 June | 34,300 | ||
| 6 July | "Crazy in Love" | Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010... | 72,500 |
| 13 July | 46,500 | ||
| 20 July | 34,600 | ||
| 27 July | "Never Gonna Leave Your Side Never Gonna Leave Your Side "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" is the fifth single of Daniel Bedingfield's first album, Gotta Get thru This. It became his third #1 hit on the UK Singles Chart in August 2003... " | Daniel Bedingfield Daniel Bedingfield Daniel John Bedingfield is a British singer-songwriter. He is the brother of pop singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle.-Music career:... | 36,500 |
| 3 August | "Breathe Breathe (Blu Cantrell song) "Breathe" is a song by American recording artist Blu Cantrell from her second studio album, Bittersweet . A remixed version featuring Sean Paul was released as a single in 2003.-Song information:... " | Blu Cantrell Blu Cantrell Blu Cantrell is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Biography:Tiffany Cobb was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. Her father was a Narragansett Native American and Cape Verdean, and played in the National Basketball Association... featuring Sean Paul Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:... | 47,312 |
| 10 August | 49,192 | ||
| 17 August | 44,000 | ||
| 24 August | 40,000 | ||
| 31 August | "Are You Ready for Love Are You Ready for Love "Are You Ready for Love" is a song recorded by Elton John in 1977, and was first released in the UK in 1979 on the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. It was written by Leroy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, and was originally produced in Philadelphia by Thom Bell... " | Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... | 56,923 |
| 7 September | "Where Is the Love? Where Is the Love? "Where Is the Love?" is a song recorded by the American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas for their third album, Elephunk. It is the band's first record to feature Fergie. The song features vocals from Justin Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release.The single was... " | The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide... | 94,308 |
| 14 September | 90,308 | ||
| 21 September | 79,000 | ||
| 28 September | 70,000 | ||
| 5 October | 65,000 | ||
| 12 October | 55,000 | ||
| 19 October | "Hole in the Head Hole in the Head "Hole in the Head" is a dance-pop song performed by Sugababes, released in October 2003 as the lead single from their third studio album Three... " | Sugababes Sugababes The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London... | 58,500 |
| 26 October | "Be Faithful Be Faithful "Be Faithful" is a song performed by American hip hop artist Fatman Scoop. It features and was produced by American hip hop production duo The Crooklyn Clan.The song heavily samples "Love Like This" by Faith Evans... " | Fatman Scoop Fatman Scoop Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop is a hip hop promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw, loud voice.... featuring The Crooklyn Clan The Crooklyn Clan The Crooklyn Clan is a New York based Hip-Hop and Mash Up production team. The members are Brooklyn NY natives DJ Sizzahandz & DJ Riz. The group was formed in 1993 with their first release on Nervous Records.... | 62,500 |
| 2 November | 51,400 | ||
| 9 November | "Slow Slow (song) -Charts:-Year-End charts:-Chart procession and succession:-Release history:... " | Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing... | 43,291 |
| 16 November | "Crashed the Wedding Crashed the Wedding "Crashed the Wedding" is a song by British pop rock band Busted, composed by James Bourne and Tom Fletcher. It was released as the first single from their second album, A Present for Everyone, on 10 November 2003, becoming their second single to reach #1 on the UK Singles Chart, with first week... " | Busted | 55,000 |
| 23 November | "Mandy Mandy (song) "Mandy", originally titled "Brandy", is a song jointly written and composed by Scott English and Richard Kerr."Brandy" had been a hit in 1971 for Scott English in the UK and in 1972 for Bunny Walters in New Zealand... " | Westlife Westlife Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one... | 70,000 |
| 30 November | "Leave Right Now Leave Right Now "Leave Right Now" is a popular song written by Eg White and performed by Will Young. It appears on Young's second album, Friday's Child, and was released as the first single from the album, and Young's fifth overall. The single went to number one in the UK Singles Chart, selling 117,700 in its... " | Will Young Will Young William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise... | 117,702 |
| 7 December | 83,000 | ||
| 14 December | "Changes Changes (Black Sabbath song) "Changes" is a song by Black Sabbath. It first appeared on Black Sabbath, Vol. 4 which was released in 1972. It is a ballad about relationship loss... " | Ozzy Osbourne Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal... & Kelly Osbourne Kelly Osbourne Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne... | 86,000 | 21 December | "Mad World" | Michael Andrews Michael Andrews (musician) Michael Andrews is an American musician and film score composer. He is best known for a cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and which became a number one single in the UK in Christmas 2003.-Soundtrack... featuring Gary Jules Gary Jules Gary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003... | 227,547 |
| 28 December | 167,000 |
Number-one albums
| Song | Artist(s) | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January | Let Go Let Go (Avril Lavigne album) Let Go is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released on June 4, 2002. For a year after signing a record deal with Arista, Lavigne struggled due to conflicts in musical direction. Lavigne relocated to Los Angeles, California, and recorded there her earlier materials for... | Avril Lavigne Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more... | 52,000 |
| 12 January | 38,000 | ||
| 19 January | 41,000 | ||
| 26 January | Justified Justified (album) Justified is the debut album by American pop singer Justin Timberlake. Released during the hiatus of the group *NSYNC, the album signaled Timberlake's desire to craft a more mature image than that of a "boy band member". The album features guest performances by Timbaland, Clipse, Bubba Sparxxx, and... | Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez... | 26,000 |
| 2 February | 51,000 | ||
| 9 February | Simply Deep Simply Deep Simply Deep is the debut solo album by American singer Kelly Rowland, first released by Columbia Records on October 28, 2002 in North America, and by February 3, 2003 throughout most international territories... | Kelly Rowland Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child... | 63,000 |
| 16 February | 100th Window 100th Window -Personnel:* Robert "3D" Del Naja* Neil Davidge* Horace Andy – Vocals* Sinéad O'Connor – Vocals* Alex Swift – Additional programming and keyboards* Angelo Bruschini – Guitars* Jon Harris – Bass* Damon Reece – Drums... | Massive Attack Massive Attack Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip... | 65,500 |
| 23 February | Justified | Justin Timberlake | 56,000 |
| 2 March | Come Away with Me Come Away with Me Come Away with Me is the debut album of pianist and singer Norah Jones, released February 26, 2002 on Blue Note Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at New York City's Sorcerer Sound Studio and Shokan's Allaire Studios in 2001... | Norah Jones Norah Jones Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies... | 71,000 |
| 9 March | 67,500 | ||
| 16 March | 60,000 | ||
| 23 March | 53,000 | ||
| 30 March | Meteora Meteora (album) Meteora is the second studio album by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released on March 25, 2003 through Warner Bros. Records, following Reanimation, a collaboration album which featured remixes of songs included on debut studio album Hybrid Theory... | Linkin Park Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries... | 93,886 |
| 6 April | Elephant Elephant (album) Elephant is the Grammy winning fourth album by the American alternative rock band The White Stripes. Released on April 1, 2003 on V2 Records, the album marks the band's major label debut... | The White Stripes The White Stripes The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced... | 64,191 |
| 13 April | 40,000 | ||
| 20 April | A Rush of Blood to the Head A Rush of Blood to the Head A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by English rock band Coldplay. Released on 26 August 2002 in the UK through the label Parlophone, the album was produced by the band and British record producer Ken Nelson... | Coldplay Coldplay Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a... | 39,000 |
| 27 April | American Life American Life American Life is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released on April 22, 2003 by Maverick Records and distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The album produced in its entirety by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï featured references to many parts of American culture... | Madonna Madonna (entertainer) Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983... | 65,000 |
| 4 May | Justified | Justin Timberlake | 48,000 |
| 11 May | Think Tank | Blur Blur (band) Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing... | 64,803 |
| 18 May | Justified | Justin Timberlake | 43,000 |
| 25 May | 48,000 | ||
| 1 June | 41,000 | ||
| 8 June | You Gotta Go There to Come Back You Gotta Go There to Come Back You Gotta Go There to Come Back is Stereophonics' fourth album, released on V2 in 2003. It became their third consecutive album to top the UK chart selling 101,946 copies in its first week. It was the final Stereophonics album with long-time original drummer Stuart Cable.The album shows a newly... | Stereophonics Stereophonics The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing... | 101,946 |
| 15 June | Hail to the Thief Hail to the Thief Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2003 through Parlophone Records. After two Radiohead albums that featured heavily processed vocals, less guitar, and strong influence from experimental electronica and jazz, Hail to the Thief was seen... | Radiohead Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992... | 114,320 |
| 22 June | Fallen Fallen (Evanescence album) -Critical response:Fallen has received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic scored the album three and a half stars out of five, and named it an AMG Album Pick, saying, "The album does include flashes of the single's PG-rated nu-metal... | Evanescence Evanescence Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide... | 38,500 |
| 29 June | Dangerously in Love Dangerously in Love Dangerously in Love is the debut solo album of American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, released on June 22, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny's Child... | Beyoncé Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child... | 113,144 |
| 6 July | 86,500 | ||
| 13 July | 72,000 | ||
| 20 July | 49,000 | ||
| 27 July | 45,000 | ||
| 3 August | Magic and Medicine Magic and Medicine -Personnel:The Coral* James Skelly – vocals, guitar, co-producer* Lee Southall – guitar, backing vocals, co-producer* Bill Ryder-Jones – guitar, co-producer* Paul Duffy – bass guitar, backing vocals, co-producer... | The Coral The Coral The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine... | 62,792 |
| 10 August | Escapology Escapology (album) -Background:In 2002, Williams signed a record-breaking £80 million contract with EMI. The contract featured a number of provisos, including the label ceding greater creative control to the artist and a commitment to breaking Williams in the American market... | Robbie Williams Robbie Williams Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams... | 337,000 |
| 17 August | American Tune American Tune (album) American Tune is an album by American singer Eva Cassidy, released in 2003, seven years after her death in 1996. . It was her third posthumous UK number one album.- Track listing :... | Eva Cassidy Eva Cassidy Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996... | 42,500 |
| 24 August | 49,000 | ||
| 31 August | Permission to Land Permission to Land Permission to Land is the debut studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness, released in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2003 and in the United States on 5 August 2003. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number thirty-six on the American Billboard 200 chart... | The Darkness | 43,500 |
| 7 September | 48,600 | ||
| 14 September | 60,500 | ||
| 21 September | 64,000 | ||
| 28 September | Absolution | Muse Muse (band) Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard... | 71,597 |
| 5 October | Life for Rent Life for Rent Life for Rent is the second studio album by the British singer-songwriter Dido, released by Arista Records on 29 September 2003. The album was produced by Rollo Armstrong and American songwriter Rick Nowels. Work on the album began in mid 2002... | Dido Dido (singer) Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel... | 400,351 |
| 12 October | 198,714 | ||
| 19 October | 122,500 | ||
| 26 October | 89,500 | ||
| 2 November | In Time - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 | R.E.M. R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's... | 114,000 |
| 9 November | Guilty Guilty (Blue album) -Charts:-Year-end charts:-Certifications:... | Blue Blue (boy band) Blue are an English pop vocal group, whose members are Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa. Blue originally formed in 2001 before splitting in 2005. In 2009, it was confirmed that the band would reform. In April 2009, the group reunited and a Best of Blue Tour was announced... | 89,000 |
| 16 November | Life for Rent | Dido | 83,604 |
| 23 November | Number Ones | Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... | 118,157 |
| 30 November | Turnaround Turnaround (Westlife album) Turnaround is the fourth studio album by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 24 November 2003. The first single released was the upbeat track, "Hey Whatever". The song is essentially a cover of Irish rock band Relish's Rainbow Zephyr, but with a slightly changed set of lyrics and a... | Westlife Westlife Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one... | 154,169 |
| 7 December | Friday's Child Friday's Child (album) Friday's Child is the second album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 1 December 2003 and reached #1 in the UK Album Chart... | Will Young Will Young William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise... | 201,900 |
| 14 December | Life for Rent | Dido | 216,900 |
| 21 December | 270,652 | ||
| 28 December | 233,629 |
Top 40 Singles of 2003
| Position | Song Title | Artist | Highest Position | Sales |
| 1 | Where Is The Love? Where Is the Love? "Where Is the Love?" is a song recorded by the American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas for their third album, Elephunk. It is the band's first record to feature Fergie. The song features vocals from Justin Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release.The single was... |
The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide... |
1 | 614,506 |
| 2 | Spirit in the Sky Spirit in the Sky "Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in 1969. The single sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970 and reached number three in the U.S. Billboard chart, as well as number one on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone... |
Gareth Gates Gareth Gates Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly... & The Kumars |
1 | 551,527 |
| 3 | Ignition | R Kelly | 1 | 550,000 |
| 4 | Mad World | Michael Andrews Michael Andrews (musician) Michael Andrews is an American musician and film score composer. He is best known for a cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and which became a number one single in the UK in Christmas 2003.-Soundtrack... feat. Gary Jules Gary Jules Gary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003... |
1 | 395,000 |
| 5 | Leave Right Now Leave Right Now "Leave Right Now" is a popular song written by Eg White and performed by Will Young. It appears on Young's second album, Friday's Child, and was released as the first single from the album, and Young's fifth overall. The single went to number one in the UK Singles Chart, selling 117,700 in its... |
Will Young Will Young William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise... |
1 | 390,000 |
| 6 | All the Things She Said All the Things She Said "All the Things She Said" is a song by Russian recording duo t.A.T.u., which was for their first English-language studio album 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane . The song was written by Sergio Galoyan, Trevor Horn, Martin Kierszenbaum, Elena Kiper and Valeriy Polienko, while produced by Horn... |
t.A.T.u. T.A.T.u. t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe... |
1 | 336,000 |
| 7 | Changes Changes (Black Sabbath song) "Changes" is a song by Black Sabbath. It first appeared on Black Sabbath, Vol. 4 which was released in 1972. It is a ballad about relationship loss... |
Ozzy Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal... & Kelly Osbourne Kelly Osbourne Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne... |
1 | 335,000 |
| 8 | Breathe Breathe (Blu Cantrell song) "Breathe" is a song by American recording artist Blu Cantrell from her second studio album, Bittersweet . A remixed version featuring Sean Paul was released as a single in 2003.-Song information:... |
Blu Cantrell Blu Cantrell Blu Cantrell is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Biography:Tiffany Cobb was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. Her father was a Narragansett Native American and Cape Verdean, and played in the National Basketball Association... feat. Sean Paul Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:... |
1 | 330,000 |
| 9 | Make Luv Make Luv "Make Luv" is a song released as a single in 2003 by Room 5 featuring the sampled voice of Oliver Cheatham. It gained a #1 placing the UK Singles Chart on March 30, 2003, where it remained for 4 weeks. The single's title track was a remix of Cheatham's 1983 #38 hit, "Get Down Saturday Night". It... |
Room 5 feat. Oliver Cheatham Oliver Cheatham Oliver Cheatham is an American singer. He now resides in Surrey in England.Cheatham had a few hits in the 1980s, and he returned to the charts in 2003, when he was featured in Room 5's UK #1 single, "Make Luv", which sampled his 1983 song "Get Down Saturday Night"... |
1 | 320,000 |
| 10 | Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) "Christmas Time " is a single released by The Darkness in the UK during December 2003, to fall in with the famous UK Christmas Number One Race.-Race for Christmas #1:... |
The Darkness | 2 | 315,000 |
| 11 | Bring Me to Life Bring Me to Life "Bring Me to Life" is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was written by Amy Lee, Ben Moody and David Hodges and produced by Dave Fortman. It also features guest vocals from Paul McCoy of the band 12 Stones. Wind-up released "Bring Me to Life" in 2003 as the lead single from Evanescence's... |
Evanescence Evanescence Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide... |
1 | 300,000 |
| 12 | White Flag White Flag (song) "White Flag" is a song by English singer-songwriter Dido, released as the lead single from her second album Life for Rent on 1 September 2003. "White Flag" is the biggest hit of Dido's career. It is considered one of her signature songs, and helped Life for Rent sell over ten million copies worldwide... |
Dido Dido (singer) Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel... |
2 | 290,000 |
| 13 | In da Club In da Club "In Da Club" is a hip hop song performed by rapper 50 Cent from his commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin. The song was produced by Dr. Dre with co-production from Mike Elizondo. 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Elizondo wrote the song... |
50 Cent 50 Cent Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by... |
3 | 270,000 |
| 14 | Turn Me On | Kevin Lyttle Kevin Lyttle Kevin Lyttle is a soca artist hailing from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who had a worldwide hit with the interpellative soca ballad "Turn Me On", which was recorded by Lyttle and the dancehall artist Spragga Benz.-Career:Previously, Lyttle had subsisted on day jobs, such as customs officer... |
2 | 265,000 |
| 15 | Crazy in Love | Beyoncé | 1 | 265,000 |
| 16 | Move Your Feet Move Your Feet "Move Your Feet" is a song by Danish pop duo Junior Senior. The song, recorded in 2002, was Junior Senior's biggest hit, reaching #3 in the United Kingdom and #20 in Australia, and played at dance clubs the world over. The song appears on the album D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat along with a live... |
Junior Senior Junior Senior Junior Senior was a pop musical duo from Denmark. The duo consisted of Jesper "Junior" Mortensen and Jeppe "Senior" Laursen .... |
3 | 250,000 |
| 17 | I'm Your Man | Shane Ritchie | 2 | 254,000 |
| 18 | Stop Living the Lie Stop Living the Lie Stop Living the Lie was written by musician, singer and songwriter David Sneddon, and was his No 1 debut release single 2003. The single was released on January 13, 2003 and during its first week it charted at number one in the UK singles chart, as well as reaching number seven in Ireland. The... |
David Sneddon David Sneddon David Sneddon is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter.He has performed on British television, radio and theatre. Sneddon won the first BBC UK series of Fame Academy in 2002... |
1 | 245,000 |
| 19 | Be Faithful Be Faithful "Be Faithful" is a song performed by American hip hop artist Fatman Scoop. It features and was produced by American hip hop production duo The Crooklyn Clan.The song heavily samples "Love Like This" by Faith Evans... |
Fatman Scoop Fatman Scoop Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop is a hip hop promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw, loud voice.... feat. The Crooklyn Clan The Crooklyn Clan The Crooklyn Clan is a New York based Hip-Hop and Mash Up production team. The members are Brooklyn NY natives DJ Sizzahandz & DJ Riz. The group was formed in 1993 with their first release on Nervous Records.... |
1 | 220,000 |
| 20 | Shut Up | The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide... |
2 | 222,000 |
| 21 | Sound of the Underground Sound of the Underground (song) "Sound of the Underground" is the debut single by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, later featured on their debut album of the same name. The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, and Niara Scarlett, and produced by Higgins and his production team Xenomania... |
Girls Aloud Girls Aloud Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor... |
1 | 210,000 |
| 22 | Sweet Dreams My LA Ex Sweet Dreams My LA Ex "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Rachel Stevens. It was released on 15 September 2003 as lead single from her debut solo album Funky Dory. Originally written for Britney Spears, the song was produced by Swedish Bloodshy & Avant, and received a mixed reception... |
Rachel Stevens Rachel Stevens Rachel Lauren Stevens is an English singer-songwriter, actress, presenter, dancer, television personality and model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005... |
2 | 210,000 |
| 23 | Beautiful Beautiful (Christina Aguilera song) "Beautiful" is a song written by Linda Perry and recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped... |
Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994... |
1 | 200,000 |
| 24 | Pretty Green Eyes Pretty Green Eyes "Pretty Green Eyes" is a song originally written and recorded by Force & Styles featuring Junior. A remixed version appeared on their debut album All Over the UK and the song was released as a 12-inch single in 1997. The song achieved mainstream popularity in 2003 when it was covered by Ultrabeat... |
Ultrabeat Ultrabeat (English band) Ultrabeat are an English electronic music group from Liverpool, England consisting of producer and vocalist Mike Di Scala and producers Ian Redman and Chris Henry. Formed in 2002, Ultrabeat first emerged with their single "Pretty Green Eyes" which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart... |
2 | 197,000 |
| 25 | Lose Yourself Lose Yourself "Lose Yourself" is an Academy Award winning song by American hip-hop artist Eminem, released as the first single from the original soundtrack to the movie 8 Mile on October 22, 2002. It was written and produced by Eminem himself, along with longtime collaborator Jeff Bass, one half of the... |
Eminem Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition... |
1 | 195,000 |
| 26 | Superstar Superstar (Jamelia song) "Superstar" is a song by Danish pop singer Christine Milton, released on January 13, 2003 as the lead single from her debut album, Friday . It was written and produced by Cutfather, Joe Belmaati, and Remee, and spent seven weeks at number one on the Danish Singles Chart. The song was later covered... |
Jamelia Jamelia Jamelia Niela Davis , best known mononymously as Jamelia, is an English singer-songwriter, model, entertainer, television presenter and actress. She is most famous for her use of a cappella and prolific work in the R&B genre... |
3 | 185,000 |
| 27 | Are You Ready for Love? Are You Ready for Love? This article refers to the film. For the Elton John song see Are You Ready for LoveAre You Ready For Love? is a British romantic comedy feature film, directed by Helen M Grace, produced by Carnaby Films, 2006.- Plot :... |
Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
1 | 175,000 |
| 28 | Cry Me a River Cry Me a River (Justin Timberlake song) "Cry Me a River" is the second single from Justin Timberlake's solo debut album Justified. Released on December 17, 2002, the single, which features guest vocals and production by Timbaland & Scott Storch, won Timberlake a Grammy Award for "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" in 2004.-Background... |
Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez... |
2 | 175,000 |
| 29 | All I Have All I Have (song) "All I Have" is the title of a song by American recording artist Jennifer Lopez, featuring American rapper LL Cool J. Written by Lopez, Makeba Riddick, Curtis Richardson, and Ron G and produced by Cory Rooney, Ron G, and Dave McPherson, it was released in December 2002 as the second single from... |
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller... feat. LL Cool J LL Cool J James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor... |
2 | 175,000 |
| 30 | Stole Stole (song) "Stole" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written and co-produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner and recorded for Rowland's solo album Simply Deep... |
Kelly Rowland Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child... |
2 | 175,000 |
| 31 | Mandy Mandy (song) "Mandy", originally titled "Brandy", is a song jointly written and composed by Scott English and Richard Kerr."Brandy" had been a hit in 1971 for Scott English in the UK and in 1972 for Bunny Walters in New Zealand... |
Westlife Westlife Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one... |
1 | 174,000 |
| 32 | Fly on the Wings of Love Fly On The Wings Of Love "Fly on the Wings of Love" is a song by the Olsen Brothers, which was the winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2000, performed for Denmark, singing in English.... |
XTM XTM XTM are a Catalan dance music act consisting of brothers Xasqui and Toni Ten. They are best known for their 2003 Eurodance cover version of the song Fly on the Wings of Love, which was originally the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2000, performed by the Danish duet Olsen Brothers.XTM's... & DJ Chucky presents Annia |
8 | 165,000 |
| 33 | I Believe in a Thing Called Love I Believe in a Thing Called Love "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is a 2003 single by the English rock band The Darkness. This was released as a single twice, the first time in August 2002 with "Love On The Rocks With No Ice" and "Love Is Only A Feeling." In September 2003, it was released as the third single off Permission to... |
The Darkness | 2 | 165,000 |
| 34 | Year 3000 Year 3000 "Year 3000" is a pop punk song performed by English boyband Busted, released as the second single from their debut album Busted. The song was co-written by Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones from the band McFly, and Busted lead guitarist James Bourne... |
Busted | 2 | 165,000 |
| 35 | If You're Not the One If You're Not the One "If You're Not the One" is a pop song written by Daniel Bedingfield and produced by Mark Taylor for Bedingfield's debut album Gotta Get thru This... |
Daniel Bedingfield Daniel Bedingfield Daniel John Bedingfield is a British singer-songwriter. He is the brother of pop singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle.-Music career:... |
1 | 165,000 |
| 36 | Proper Crimbo Proper Crimbo "Proper Crimbo" is a Christmas song from the comedy programme, Bo' Selecta, in which Leigh Francis sings as Craig David and Michael Jackson. Crimbo is a slang term for Christmas. The video for the song sees Francis perform as other characters over the track, and includes appearances from real-life... |
Bo Selecta | 4 | 163,000 |
| 37 | The Fast Food Song The Fast Food Song "The Fast Food Song" was the debut single by the British-based band the Fast Food Rockers, released from their album It's Never Easy Being Cheesy. It was the first single release from the album. Its chorus mentions the fast food restaurants McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The... |
Fast Food Rockers Fast Food Rockers The Fast Food Rockers were a British pop group known for their novelty music. The band claim to have met at a fast-food convention in Folkestone.-Career:... |
2 | 155,000 |
| 38 | I Know What You Want I Know What You Want "I Know What You Want" is a song written by rapper Busta Rhymes, and produced by Rick Rock for Rhymes' eighth album It Ain't Safe No More . It featured American singer Mariah Carey, and was co-written by Rah Digga, Rampage, Rick Rock and Spliff Star... |
Busta Rhymes Busta Rhymes Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes... feat. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993... |
3 | 150,000 |
| 39 | Baby Boy Baby Boy (Big Brovaz song) "Baby Boy" is a single released in 2003 by the UK Hip hop/R&B group Big Brovaz. The single is the fourth single taken from Big Brovaz's 2002 debut album, Nu-Flow.... |
Big Brovaz Big Brovaz Big Brovaz were an R&B / Hip hop music group from London, England in their seven year career they released two studio albums and eight singles. There were three line up changes with two of the original members leaving half way through shaking up the dynamics of the group... |
4 | 150,000 |
| 40 | Scandalous | Mis-Teeq Mis-Teeq Mis-Teeq are a British R&B girl group, comprising singers Alesha Dixon, Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington. Originally a quartet which included Zena McNally, the group was formed in 1999 and released three major studio albums and seven consecutive UK top ten singles, including international hits... |
2 | 150,000 |
| 41 | Ladies Night | Atomic Kitten Atomic Kitten Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost... |
8 | 150,000 |
| 42 | Jump (For My Love) Jump (for My Love) "Jump " was the opening track of the Pointer Sisters' 1983 album, Break Out.Released prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics games, the song's video featured footage of athletes competing in track and field events. The song was the second of four Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in a row for the sisters... |
Girls Aloud Girls Aloud Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor... |
2 | 135,000 |
| 43 | Hole In The Head Hole in the Head "Hole in the Head" is a dance-pop song performed by Sugababes, released in October 2003 as the lead single from their third studio album Three... |
Sugababes Sugababes The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London... |
1 | 145,000 |
| 44 | Never Leave You Never Leave You -Charts:The song immediately rushed to the top of the charts, charting at #1 in the UK and #2 in Ireland, the song knocked The Black Eyed Peas's song "I Gotta Feeling" of the top spot on 2 August 2010, but failed to knock I Gotta Feeling of the Irish top spot, and charted behind it.-End-of-year... |
Lumidee Lumidee Lumidee Cedeño is an American singer-songwriter and rapper. Cedeño was born in Spanish Harlem where she was raised by her grandparents... |
2 | 140,000 |
| 45 | Favourite Things Favourite Things "Favourite Things" is a single released in 2003 by the UK Hip hop/R&B group Big Brovaz. The single is a track on Big Brovaz's 2002 debut album, Nu-Flow... |
Big Brovaz Big Brovaz Big Brovaz were an R&B / Hip hop music group from London, England in their seven year career they released two studio albums and eight singles. There were three line up changes with two of the original members leaving half way through shaking up the dynamics of the group... |
2 | 140,000 |
| 46 | Loneliness Loneliness Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling in which a person feels a strong sense of emptiness and solitude resulting from inadequate levels of social relationships. However, it is a subjective experience... |
Tomcraft Tomcraft Tomcraft is a German DJ and producer. He is specialized in progressive house and progressive trance and is better known for having created the tracks "Loneliness" and "Prosac", working alongside Eniac.... |
1 | 130,000 |
| 47 | Boys Of Summer The Boys of Summer (song) "The Boys of Summer" is a song by Don Henley, with lyrics written by Henley and music composed by Henley and Mike Campbell, longtime guitarist for Tom Petty. It is the lead track and first single from Henley's 1984 album Building the Perfect Beast. The song's music video won many awards... |
DJ Sammy DJ Sammy Samuel Bouriah , professionally known as DJ Sammy Is a DJ and producer. He has released five albums and has had five Top 10 hits with "Heaven" reaching number one in the UK in 2002. His career started with former spouse Marie José in the making of his first singles, under the stage name of DJ Sammy... |
2 | 128,000 |
| 48 | Crashed the Wedding Crashed the Wedding "Crashed the Wedding" is a song by British pop rock band Busted, composed by James Bourne and Tom Fletcher. It was released as the first single from their second album, A Present for Everyone, on 10 November 2003, becoming their second single to reach #1 on the UK Singles Chart, with first week... |
Busted | 1 | |
| 49 | No Letting Go No Letting Go "No Letting Go" is a reggae fusion song recorded by Jamaican singer Wayne Wonder. The song was written by Steven Marsden and V.W. Charles and produced by Marsden. It was included on Wonder's 2003 studio album No Holding Back and was released as the lead single from the album... |
Wayne Wonder Wayne Wonder Wayne Wonder is a Jamaican reggae fusion artist... |
3 | 120,000 |
| 50 | '03 Bonnie & Clyde '03 Bonnie & Clyde "03 Bonnie & Clyde" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z featuring R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It incorporates elements from the songs "Me and My Girlfriend" by Tupac Shakur, and "If I Was Your Girlfriend" by Prince and uses the theme from "Pasttime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder for the refrain... |
Jay-Z Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010... featuring Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child... |
2 |
Top 40 Albums of 2003
| Position | Album Title | Artist | Highest Position | Sales |
| 1 | Life for Rent Life for Rent Life for Rent is the second studio album by the British singer-songwriter Dido, released by Arista Records on 29 September 2003. The album was produced by Rollo Armstrong and American songwriter Rick Nowels. Work on the album began in mid 2002... |
Dido Dido (singer) Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel... |
1 | 2,168,000 |
| 2 | Stripped Stripped (Christina Aguilera album) Stripped is the fourth studio album by American pop recording artist Christina Aguilera. It was released on October 26, 2002. It reached the top two of the album charts in both the United States and United Kingdom and features two UK number-one hits: "Dirrty" which gained criticism and controversy... |
Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994... |
2 | 1,959,000 |
| 3 | Justified Justified (album) Justified is the debut album by American pop singer Justin Timberlake. Released during the hiatus of the group *NSYNC, the album signaled Timberlake's desire to craft a more mature image than that of a "boy band member". The album features guest performances by Timbaland, Clipse, Bubba Sparxxx, and... |
Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez... |
1 | 1,296,000 |
| 4 | Gotta Get Thru This Gotta Get Thru This Gotta Get Thru This is the first album of Daniel Bedingfield. It reached #2 on the UK Albums Chart, and is certified 5x Platinum, having sold around 1.5 million copies... |
Daniel Bedingfield Daniel Bedingfield Daniel John Bedingfield is a British singer-songwriter. He is the brother of pop singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle.-Music career:... |
2 | |
| 5 | Come Away with Me Come Away with Me Come Away with Me is the debut album of pianist and singer Norah Jones, released February 26, 2002 on Blue Note Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at New York City's Sorcerer Sound Studio and Shokan's Allaire Studios in 2001... |
Norah Jones Norah Jones Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies... |
1 | |
| 6 | Permission To Land Permission to Land Permission to Land is the debut studio album by British hard rock band The Darkness, released in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2003 and in the United States on 5 August 2003. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number thirty-six on the American Billboard 200 chart... |
The Darkness | 1 | |
| 7 | A Rush of Blood to the Head A Rush of Blood to the Head A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by English rock band Coldplay. Released on 26 August 2002 in the UK through the label Parlophone, the album was produced by the band and British record producer Ken Nelson... |
Coldplay Coldplay Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a... |
1 | |
| 8 | Busted Busted (2002 album) Busted is the self-titled debut studio album by English pop punk boy band Busted. It was released in the UK in September 2002 and peaked at #2 the following January after the success of second single "Year 3000", which reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart... |
Busted | 1 | |
| 9 | Number Ones | Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... |
1 | |
| 10 | In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 is the second official compilation album released by R.E.M. Issued in 2003, it includes tracks from their Warner Bros. Records era, from 1988's Green to 2001's Reveal, as well as two new recordings and two songs from movie soundtracks... |
R.E.M. R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's... |
1 | |
| 11 | Let Go Let Go (Avril Lavigne album) Let Go is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released on June 4, 2002. For a year after signing a record deal with Arista, Lavigne struggled due to conflicts in musical direction. Lavigne relocated to Los Angeles, California, and recorded there her earlier materials for... |
Avril Lavigne Avril Lavigne Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more... |
1 | |
| 12 | Friday's Child Friday's Child (album) Friday's Child is the second album from original Pop Idol winner Will Young. The album was released on 1 December 2003 and reached #1 in the UK Album Chart... |
Will Young Will Young William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise... |
1 | |
| 13 | Elephunk Elephunk -Commercial response:In the United States, Elephunk reached number 14 on the Billboard Top 200 and is their first album to chart in the top 15. It gained even more commercial success in the UK Album Charts where it reached number 3. It has sold over 1.6 million copies in the UK and... |
The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide... |
3 | |
| 14 | Dangerously in Love Dangerously in Love Dangerously in Love is the debut solo album of American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles, released on June 22, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in 2002 to 2003 at several studios, during the hiatus of her then-group Destiny's Child... |
Beyoncé | 1 | |
| 15 | Fallen Fallen (Evanescence album) -Critical response:Fallen has received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic scored the album three and a half stars out of five, and named it an AMG Album Pick, saying, "The album does include flashes of the single's PG-rated nu-metal... |
Evanescence Evanescence Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide... |
1 | |
| 16 | Innocent Eyes | Delta Goodrem Delta Goodrem Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home... |
2 | |
| 17 | Get Rich or Die Tryin' Get Rich or Die Tryin' (album) Get Rich or Die Tryin is the debut studio album of American rapper 50 Cent, released February 4, 2003, on Aftermath Entertainment under a joint venture with Shady Records and distribution by Interscope Records. Its initially planned release was pushed seven days ahead due to heavy bootlegging and... |
50 Cent 50 Cent Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by... |
2 | |
| 18 | By the Way By the Way By the Way is the eighth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The album was released on July 9, 2002 on Warner Bros. Records. It sold over 286,000 copies in the first week, and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The singles from the album included "By the Way", "The... |
Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock... |
1 | |
| 19 | A Present for Everyone A Present for Everyone A Present for Everyone is the second and final studio album by British pop rock band Busted. It was released on 17 November 2003 by Universal Island Records and debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart... |
Busted | 2 | |
| 20 | Greatest Hits Greatest Hits (Red Hot Chili Peppers album) Greatest Hits is the second compilation album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was released on November 18, 2003 by Warner Bros. Records. Aside from their cover of "Higher Ground", all songs on the compilation are from their tenure on Warner Bros... |
Red Hot Chili Peppers | 4 | |
| 21 | Dutty Rock Dutty Rock Dutty Rock is the second album by reggae/dancehall toaster Sean Paul. It was released on November 12, 2002. It features two U.S. #1 singles, "Get Busy" and "Baby Boy" with Beyoncé. It also features singles "Gimme the Light", "Like Glue" and "I'm Still in Love with You", which all charted in the top... |
Sean Paul Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:... |
2 | |
| 22 | Elephant Elephant Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct... |
The White Stripes The White Stripes The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced... |
1 | |
| 23 | Turnaround Turnaround (Westlife album) Turnaround is the fourth studio album by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 24 November 2003. The first single released was the upbeat track, "Hey Whatever". The song is essentially a cover of Irish rock band Relish's Rainbow Zephyr, but with a slightly changed set of lyrics and a... |
Westlife Westlife Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one... |
1 | |
| 24 | Pure Pure (Hayley Westenra album) Pure is the first internationally published Album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. Her previous albums were released only in New Zealand and nearby Australia. This album also received professional consultation from the legendary Sir George Martin who helped to create its... |
Hayley Westenra Hayley Westenra Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide... |
7 | |
| 25 | The R. In R&B Collection, Vol. 1 The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 The R. In R&B Collection, Vol. 1 was the first compilation album released by R&B superstar R. Kelly celebrating his 11-year career which saw him go from the lead singer of the new jack swing group, Public Announcement, to becoming the leader of contemporary R&B throughout the 1990s and today... |
R. Kelly R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play... |
4 | |
| 26 | Home Home A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either... |
Simply Red Simply Red Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz... |
2 | |
| 27 | Escapology Escapology For the Jessica Mauboy song, see Inescapable.Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.-History:The art... |
Robbie Williams Robbie Williams Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams... |
1 | |
| 28 | You Gotta Go There to Come Back You Gotta Go There to Come Back You Gotta Go There to Come Back is Stereophonics' fourth album, released on V2 in 2003. It became their third consecutive album to top the UK chart selling 101,946 copies in its first week. It was the final Stereophonics album with long-time original drummer Stuart Cable.The album shows a newly... |
Stereophonics Stereophonics The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing... |
1 | |
| 29 | Guilty Guilty (Blue album) -Charts:-Year-end charts:-Certifications:... |
Blue Blue (boy band) Blue are an English pop vocal group, whose members are Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa. Blue originally formed in 2001 before splitting in 2005. In 2009, it was confirmed that the band would reform. In April 2009, the group reunited and a Best of Blue Tour was announced... |
1 | |
| 30 | Live at Knebworth Live at Knebworth Live at Knebworth, also known as Live Summer 2003 with different cover text, is a live album by English pop singer Robbie Williams, recorded and released in 2003. The album is his first live album, and is a compilation of songs performed during three consecutive shows at Knebworth, England.The... |
Robbie Williams | 2 | |
| 31 | Three | Sugababes Sugababes The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London... |
3 | |
| 32 | The Very Best of The Very Best of Sheryl Crow -International release:Internationally some tracks were changed:*"The Difficult Kind" was replaced by "Run Baby Run".*"Steve McQueen" was replaced by "C'mon C'mon ".... |
Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop... |
2 | |
| 33 | Greatest Hits 1970-2002 Greatest Hits 1970-2002 Greatest Hits 1970–2002 is a career-spanning collection of Elton John's biggest hits up to 2002. It was released in an alternate 3-CD version and slightly different versions in the United States and the United Kingdom.... |
Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
3 | |
| 34 | As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II | Rod Stewart Rod Stewart Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry.... |
4 | |
| 35 | Meteora Meteora The Metéora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in... |
Linkin Park Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries... |
1 | |
| 36 | Michael Buble Michael Bublé (album) Michael Bublé is the major label debut album released by Canadian crooner Michael Bublé. The album was released in February 2003.- Production and Composition :... |
Michael Bublé Michael Bublé Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was... |
6 | |
| 37 | Bryn Bryn Bryn is a component ward of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is part of the larger town of Ashton-in-Makerfield and is geographically indistinguishable from it. It forms a separate local council ward... |
Bryn Terfel Bryn Terfel Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner.... |
6 | |
| 38 | Twentysomething Twentysomething (album) Twentysomething is the third album by Jamie Cullum. It was released in 2003 in his native UK, and in May 2004 in the United States.On this release Cullum performs some original material as well as some covers and standards... |
Jamie Cullum Jamie Cullum Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early... |
5 | |
| 39 | The Eminem Show The Eminem Show The Eminem Show is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Eminem, released in 2002. It was the best-selling album of 2002 in the United States, with sales of 7.6 million copies. At the Grammy Awards of 2003 it was nominated for Album of the Year and became Eminem's third LP in four years to... |
Eminem | 1 | |
| 40 | Ladies Night | Atomic Kitten Atomic Kitten Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost... |
5 | 519,871 |
BRIT Awards
The 2003 BRIT AwardsBrit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
winners were:
- Best British Male Solo Artist: Robbie WilliamsRobbie WilliamsRobert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
- Best British Female Solo Artist: Ms Dynamite
- Best British Group: ColdplayColdplayColdplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
- Best British Album: ColdplayColdplayColdplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
- A Rush of Blood to the HeadA Rush of Blood to the HeadA Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by English rock band Coldplay. Released on 26 August 2002 in the UK through the label Parlophone, the album was produced by the band and British record producer Ken Nelson... - Best British Urban Act: Ms Dynamite
- Best British Dance Act: SugababesSugababesThe Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
- British Breakthrough Artist: Will YoungWill YoungWilliam Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
- Best International Male: EminemEminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
- Best International Female: PinkPink (singer)Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
- Best International Group: Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
- International Breakthrough Artist: Norah JonesNorah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
- Best International Album: EminemEminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
- The Eminem ShowThe Eminem ShowThe Eminem Show is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Eminem, released in 2002. It was the best-selling album of 2002 in the United States, with sales of 7.6 million copies. At the Grammy Awards of 2003 it was nominated for Album of the Year and became Eminem's third LP in four years to... - Best British Single: Liberty XLiberty XLiberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
- Just A LittleJust a Little"Just a Little" is a single by Liberty X, released in 2002. The song debuted at number one in the UK when released, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week. It only stayed at number one for a week, being replaced by Eminem's "Without Me". Despite this the record remained in the chart all... - Best Pop Act: BlueBlue (boy band)Blue are an English pop vocal group, whose members are Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa. Blue originally formed in 2001 before splitting in 2005. In 2009, it was confirmed that the band would reform. In April 2009, the group reunited and a Best of Blue Tour was announced...
- Outstanding Contribution: Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
Ivor Novello Awards
The winners of the Ivor Novello AwardsIvor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
were:
- Best Song Musically and Lyrically – "Leave Right NowLeave Right Now"Leave Right Now" is a popular song written by Eg White and performed by Will Young. It appears on Young's second album, Friday's Child, and was released as the first single from the album, and Young's fifth overall. The single went to number one in the UK Singles Chart, selling 117,700 in its...
" – Will YoungWill YoungWilliam Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
, written by Francis WhiteEg WhiteFrancis Anthony "Eg" White is a British musician, songwriter and producer. White is primarily known for his work with successful commercial pop acts such as Adele, Duffy, Will Young and James Morrison... - Best Contemporary Song – "Stronger Than MeStronger Than Me"Stronger Than Me" is a song by English singer–songwriter Amy Winehouse from her debut album, Frank . Written by Winehouse and Salaam Remi and released in the United Kingdom as the album's lead single on 6 October 2003, it ended up as the lowest-charting single from Frank and of Winehouse's career,...
" – Amy WinehouseAmy WinehouseAmy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, written by Winehouse and Salaam RemiSalaam RemiSalaam Remi Gibbs, better known as Salaam Remi, is a hip hop producer and keyboard player, known for his association with Nas, Amy Winehouse, and his reggae-tinged approach to production... - The Ivors Dance Award – "Strict Machine" – GoldfrappGoldfrappGoldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, written by Alison GoldfrappAlison GoldfrappAlison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
, William GregoryWill GregoryWilliam Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
and Nick Batt - PRS Most Performed Song – "Superstar" – JameliaJameliaJamelia Niela Davis , best known mononymously as Jamelia, is an English singer-songwriter, model, entertainer, television presenter and actress. She is most famous for her use of a cappella and prolific work in the R&B genre...
, written by Mich Hansen, Joseph Belmaati and RemeeRemeeRemee is a Danish producer, composer and song writer.-Career:Throughout his career Remee has written more than 60 hits around the world and has sold over 25 million records... - International Hit Of The Year – "White Flag" – DidoDido (singer)Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
, written by Dido Armstrong, Rollo ArmstrongRollo ArmstrongRollo Armstrong is one half of the music producers/remixers team Rollo and Sister Bliss and is a founding member of the electronic music group Faithless.-Early life:...
and Rick NowelsRick NowelsRichard Wright Nowels Jr. is a Grammy / Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter/producer who has worked with many of the most vibrant artists in contemporary music... - Best Selling UK Single – "Mad World" – Michael AndrewsMichael Andrews (musician)Michael Andrews is an American musician and film score composer. He is best known for a cover version of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", which he recorded with Gary Jules for the Donnie Darko soundtrack, and which became a number one single in the UK in Christmas 2003.-Soundtrack...
ft. Gary JulesGary JulesGary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003...
, written by Roland OrzabalRoland OrzabalRoland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is known mainly as a co-founding member of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint vocalist, but he has also achieved success as a producer of other artists.- Early career :Orzabal... - Songwriters Of The Year – The Darkness (Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, Ed Graham)
Mercury Music Prize
The 2003 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Dizzee RascalDizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
- Boy in Da Corner
Boy in Da Corner
Boy in da Corner is the debut album of British grime MC Dizzee Rascal, released on 21 July 2003 by XL Recordings in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States...
.
Popjustice £20 Music Prize
The 2006 Popjustice £20 Music PrizePopjustice £20 Music Prize
The Popjustice £20 Music Prize is an annual prize awarded by a panel of judges organised by music website Popjustice to the singer of the best British pop single of the past year....
was awarded to Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
for their song No Good Advice
No Good Advice
"No Good Advice" is a song by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their debut album Sound of the Underground . The song was written by Aqua's Lene Nystrøm Rasted, Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania...
from the album Sound of the Underground.
The Record of the Year
The Record of the YearThe Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is an award voted by the UK public. For many years it was given in conjunction with television programmes of the same name...
was awarded to "Mandy
Mandy (song)
"Mandy", originally titled "Brandy", is a song jointly written and composed by Scott English and Richard Kerr."Brandy" had been a hit in 1971 for Scott English in the UK and in 1972 for Bunny Walters in New Zealand...
" by Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
.
See also
- List of UK Dance Chart number-one singles of 2003
- List of UK Indie Chart number-one singles of 2003
- List of UK Rock Chart number-one singles of 2003