Friday, 24 October 2025

Top of the Pops Machine

 Sitting in the cheap seats underneath the stars, I'm heading back to the 28th of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Looky star


28-8-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(5) SWEETBOX – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
Now at its peak.

(13) KAVANA – Special Kind Of Something
In the studio tonight but got no higher.

(7) ALDA – Real Good Time
Performing her only top ten hit and it got no higher.

(8) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever  (via satellite)
Another repeat showing of the former number one.

(NEW) SHERYL CROW – My Favourite Mistake
Here with what will become her fourth and final top ten hit when it peaks at number 9.

(20) FOO FIGHTERS – Walking After You
In the studio tonight but got no higher.

(3) THE CORRS – What Can I Do
Here tonight with their second of six top ten hits but it got no higher.

(NEW) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Millennium
Performing what will soon become his first of seven number one hits.

(ALBUM TRACK) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Man Machine
From his forthcoming number one album, I've Been Expecting You.

(1) BOYZONE – No Matter What  (and credits)
Third and final week at number one.




Top of the Pops Sounds Better With You

 Ooh baby, I feel like the 21st of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Hair & Co


21-8-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(6) SIMPLY RED – The Air That I Breathe
Getting tonight's show underway with the third single from their number one album, Blue, but this Hollies cover got no higher.

(7) SWEETBOX – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
With their only hit and it will go up two more places.

(4) CLEOPATRA – I Want You Back
Performing their third of four top ten hits but this Jackson 5 cover got no higher.

(3) SAVAGE GARDEN – To The Moon And Back
Here with their second of four top ten hits, this was their biggest and it was at its peak.

(28) BABYBIRD – If You’ll Be Mine
With their sixth of eight top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(5) SASH! feat. TINA COUSINS – Mysterious Times
Had already peaked at number 2.

(2) STARDUST – Music Sounds Better With You  (montage of TOTP clips with dancer)
Their only top ten hit but it could get no higher.

(1) BOYZONE – No Matter What  (and credits)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Friday, 17 October 2025

Top of the Pops No Matter What

 I can't deny that I believe it's the 14th of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Lloyd-zone


14-8-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(6) APOLLO 440 – Lost In Space
Had already peaked at number 4.

(14) HINDA HICKS – I Wanna Be Your Lady
With her third of four top 40 hits, this being her biggest but it got no higher.

(2) SASH! feat. TINA COUSINS – Mysterious Times
In the studio with their fourth of five number 2 hits.

(20) SOLID HARMONIE – I Wanna Love You
Performing their third and final top 40 hit, and it got no higher.

(4) PLACEBO – Pure Morning
Here with their second of three top ten hits, and it was at its peak.

(12) WILL SMITH – Just The Two Of Us  (via satellite)
Had already peaked at number two.

(18) FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS – Love Unlimited
Performing their fifth of eight top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(1) BOYZONE – No Matter What  (and credits)
First of three weeks at number one.


Top of the Pops In Space

 Mission control, this is the 7th of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Drum and space


7-8-98:   Presenter:  Jo Whiley

(5) ACE OF BASE – Life Is A Flower
Getting the show underway but the song could get no higher.

(7) LUCID – I Can’t Help Myself
Performing their only only top ten hit and it was at its peak.

(13) BRANDY & MONICA – The Boy Is Mine  (video)
Finally featured on the show, it had long since peaked at number 2.

(17) BABY BUMPS – Burning
Here with their first of two top 40 hits, this one being the biggest but it got no higher.

(2) PUFF DADDY & JIMMY PAGE – Come With Me  (video)
At its peak.

(4) APOLLO 440 – Lost In Space
Here with their second of three top ten hits, this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever  (via satellite)  (and credits)
Second and final week at number one.

Friday, 10 October 2025

Viva Top of the Pops

 Live forever for the 31st of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Viva Four-ever


31-7-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(18) FIVE – Got The Feeling
Had already peaked at number 3.

(3) PRAS MICHEL feat. O.D.B. & MYA – Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)
Had already peaked at number 2.

(14) LOVESTATION – Teardrops
In the studio but this Womack and Womack cover got no higher.

(25) THE SUPERNATURALS – I Wasn’t Built To Get Up
With their fifth and final top 40 hit and it got no higher.

(12) CHARLI BALTIMORE – Money
She's here tonight but got no higher.

(11) CATATONIA – Strange Glue
Performing the fourth single from their number one album, International Velvet, but it got no higher.

(2) WILL SMITH – Just The Two Of Us  (via satellite)
At its peak.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever  (via satellite)  (and credits)
First of two weeks at number one.

Deeper Top of the Pops

 I'm going, I'm going. I'm going to the 24th of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Hood Friday


24-7-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(3) PRAS MICHEL feat. O.D.B. & MYA – Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)
Getting the show underway but the song had already peaked at number 2.

(14) ULTRA NATÉ – New Kind Of Medicine
In the studio but got no higher.

(9) PETER ANDRE – Kiss The Girl
Performing what will be his last hit for six years but it got no higher.

(10) ECHOBEATZ – Mas Que Nada
With their only hit and it was at its peak.

(2) ANOTHER LEVEL – Freak Me
Last week's number one.

(28) BILLIE MYERS – Tell Me
Here with her second and final top 40 hit and it got no higher.

(5) ACE OF BASE – Life Is A Flower
Performing their fourth of five top ten hits and it was at its peak.

(1) JAMIROQUAI – Deeper Underground  (and credits)
With their only number one and it topped the charts for one week.


Friday, 3 October 2025

Top of the Pops Immortality

 We don't say goodbye to the 17th of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


My song will go on


17-7-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(3) BILLIE – Because We Want To
Last week's number one gets the show underway.

(5) CELINE DION & THE BEE GEES – Immortality
Together in the studio tonight performing what was the Bee Gee's nineteenth and final top ten hit, and it got no higher.

(2) PRAS MICHEL feat. O.D.B. & MYA – Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)
In the studio at last with this new take on Islands in the Stream, but it could get no higher.

(6) EAGLE-EYE CHERRY – Save Tonight
A third studio performance but number 6 was its peak.

(13) FIVE – Got The Feeling
Had already peaked at number 3.

(11) MOUSSE T. feat. HOT ‘N’ JUICY – Horny
Had already peaked at number 2.

(9) GARBAGE – I Think I’m Paranoid
Performing their fourth of six top ten hits, but it got no higher.

(1) ANOTHER LEVEL – Freak Me  (and credits)
Here with their only number one hit and their only week at the top.


Top of the Pops Because We Want To

 Why you gotta play that song so loud? Because it's the 10th of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Top of the Billie


10-7-98:   Presenter:  Zoë Ball

(3) B*WITCHED – C’est La Vie
Getting Zoe Ball's last show as a regular host underway with the former number one.

(13) MATTHEW MARSDEN – The Heart’s Lone Desire
The Emmerdale and Corrie actor with his first of two top 40 hits, this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(26) THE JUNGLE BROTHERS – I’ll House You ’98
It peaked at number 22 in 1988, ten years later and it made number 26.

(8) KAREN RAMIREZ – Looking For Love
A second studio performance and the song was now at its peak.

(19) DESTINY’S CHILD – With Me
In the studio tonight but got no higher.

(7) MANSUN – Legacy
Performing their third of four top ten hits, this was their biggest but it got no higher.

(6) EAGLE-EYE CHERRY – Save Tonight
A second time in the studio but the song was at its peak.

(1) BILLIE – Because We Want To  (and credits)
Making her studio debut with her first of three number one hits.


Friday, 26 September 2025

Surfin' Top of the Pops

 If everybody had a 3rd of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Beach boy



3-7-98:   Presenter:  Kate Thornton

(6) EAGLE-EYE CHERRY – Save Tonight
Getting Kate's first show underway with his first of two top ten hits, but it got no higher.

(23) HANSON – Thinking Of You
With their fifth and final single from their number one album, Middle of Nowhere, but it got no higher.

(21) SPACE – Begin Again
In the studio but this dramatic song got no higher.

(10) 911 – How Do You Want Me To Love You?
With their seventh of ten top ten hits and this one was at its peak.

(16) ULTRA – Say It Once
Here tonight but go no higher.

(18) AARON CARTER – Surfin’ U.S.A.
In the studio with this Beach Boys cover but it got no higher.

(5) BEASTIE BOYS – Intergalactic  (video)
Their second of three top ten hits, this one being their biggest, but got no higher.

(1) BADDIEL, SKINNER & THE LIGHTNING SEEDS – Three Lions ’98  (and credits)
Third and final week at number one.


Top of the Pops Vindaloo

 Me and me mum and me dad and me gran we're off to the 25th of June 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Curry on up the charts


25-6-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(2) FAT LES – Vindaloo
Getting the show underway but this footie song could get no higher.

(24) TINA ARENA – Whistle Down The Wind
Here with her fifth and final top 40 hit but it got no higher.

(23) IMAJIN – Shorty
Performing their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 22.

(11) DANA INTERNATIONAL – Diva
This year's Eurovision winner is in the studio with her only hit and it got no higher.

(9) KAREN RAMIREZ – Looking For Love
In the studio with her only top ten hit and it peaked at number 8.

(6) LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY – Lost In Space
Here tonight with their fourth of five top ten hits but it got no higher.

(4) B*WITCHED – C’est La Vie
Another showing for the former number one.

(26) LIONEL RICHIE – Closest Thing To Heaven
Here with us tonight but the song got no higher.

(1) BADDIEL, SKINNER & THE LIGHTNING SEEDS – Three Lions ’98  (and credits)
Second of three weeks at number one.


Friday, 19 September 2025

Three Lions of the Pops

 It's coming home, it's the 19th of June 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Three lads at the top


19-6-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(3) FIVE – Got The Feeling
Getting the show underway but got no higher.

(22) PULP – A Little Soul
In the studio but got no higher.

(8) DES’REE – Life
Performing her first of two top ten hits, this one her biggest but it got no higher.

(20) SILVER SUN – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
This 70's cover was their third of four top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(21) IAN BROWN – Can’t See Me
Here with the third and final single from his top 4 album, Unfinished Monkey Business, but it got no higher.

(5) DARIO G – Carnaval De Paris
In the studio with their second of three top ten hits and it was at its peak.

(2) FAT LES – Vindaloo
The whole gang is in the studio tonight with their first of two top ten hits, this one was the biggest but it could get no higher.

(1) BADDIEL, SKINNER & THE LIGHTNING SEEDS – Three Lions ’98  (and credits)
Here tonight with the first of three weeks at number one with this updated version of the football song.


Top of the Pops of the World

 How does it feel to be on the 12th of June 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Witches of Elstree


12-6-98:   Presenter:  Jo Whiley

(2) MOUSSE T. feat. HOT ‘N’ JUICY – Horny
Getting tonight's show underway and the song was now at its peak.

(7) LUTRICIA McNEAL – Stranded
Had already peaked at number 3.

(18) SHANIA TWAIN – When
Here tonight but got no higher.

(17) ALEXIA – Gimme Love
With her second of three top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(15) DEL AMITRI – Don’t Come Home Too Soon
In the studio with the Scottish world cup song but it got no higher.

(4) MARIAH CAREY – My All
Also in the studio tonight but the song was at its peak.

(9) ENGLAND UNITED – On Top Of The World
The supergroup is here with the official England 1998 World Cup song, but it got no higher.

(1) B*WITCHED – C’est La Vie  (and credits)
Second and final week at number one.


Friday, 12 September 2025

C'est La Top of the Pops

 Say you will say you won't say you'll do the 5th of June 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!


Jo with the flow



5-6-98:   Presenter:  Jo Whiley

(19) NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Wishing I Was There
Getting the show underway but got no higher.

(ALBUM TRACK) BOYZONE – All That I Need
The former number one single from their number one album, Where We Belong.

(12) SUPER FURRY ANIMALS – Ice Hockey Hair
In the studio with their ninth of nineteen top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(3) MOUSSE T. feat. HOT ‘N’ JUICY – Horny
Here with a big summer hit and it will go up one more place.

(NEW) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever
Performing what will be their final single before Gerri Halliwell quits the group, which will then delay its release until next month, when it will top the charts.

(17) GLORIA ESTEFAN – Heaven’s What I Feel
Here tonight but got no higher.

(18) N-TYCE – Boom Boom
Performing their fourth and final top 40 hit, but it got no higher.

(1) B*WITCHED – C’est La Vie  (and credits)
Making their studio debut with the first of four number one hits and this will top the charts for two weeks.