Top of the Pops Hits the Sky

 I know a place where the sun hits the 20th of June 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top sun hit

20-6-97:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(25) LISA STANSFIELD – Never Gonna Give You Up

Getting the show underway with her seventeenth and final top 40 hit but the song got no higher.

(10) SUPERGRASS – Sun Hits The Sky

Brightening up the studio but the song got no higher.

(2) ETERNAL feat. BEBE WINANS – I Wanna Be The Only One

The former number one back in the studio for a fourth week in a row, albeit with a different gospel version of the song.

(6) THE CHARLATANS – How High

Performing their fourth and final top ten hit but it got no higher.

(NEW) MICHAEL JACKSON – History  (video)

Will peak at number 5.

(NEW) BLUR – On Your Own  (via satellite)

Will also peak at number 5.

(NEW) PET SHOP BOYS – Somewhere (video)

Will peak at number 9.

(21) DEL AMITRI – Not Where It’s At

Here with a song that got no higher.

(16) FINLEY QUAYE – Sunday Shining

Performing his first of five top 40 hits but this one got no higher.

(1) HANSON – MMMBop  (and credits)

Third and final week at number one.

Strange Top of the Pops

 I don't know if I'm coming or going baby, it's the 13th of June 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

Still number one

13-6-97:   Presenter:  Jo Whiley

(6) ROSIE GAINES – Closer Than Close

A third studio performance in a row for a song that had already peaked at number 4.

(13) WET WET WET – Strange

A second studio performance but the song got no higher.

(14) EN VOGUE – Whatever

Here tonight but the song was at its peak.

(11) SKUNK ANANSIE – Brazen (Weep)

Their biggest hit but it got no higher.

(2) ETERNAL feat. BEBE WINANS – I Wanna Be The Only One

Third week in a row on the show for the former number one.

(4) JON BON JOVI – Midnight In Chelsea

In the studio with his first of two solo top ten hits and this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(7) RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – Love Rollercoaster  (video)  (and charts)

Their second of four top ten hits was at its peak.

(1) HANSON – MMMBop  (and credits)

Second of three weeks at number one.

MMMTop of the Pops

 Ba duba dop ba du bop it's the 6th of June 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the MMMBops

6-6-97:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(2) ETERNAL – I Wanna Be The Only One

Last week's number one gets Jayne Middlemiss's presenting debut underway.

(11) GINA G – Ti Amo

With the fourth single from her top 12 album, Fresh, but it got no higher.

(10) TOBY BOURKE with GEORGE MICHAEL – Waltz Away Dreaming  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(5) ROSIE GAINES – Closer Than Close

A second studio performance but the song had already peaked at number 4.

(ALBUM TRACK) GARY BARLOW – Open Road

Performing the title track of his number one album, and it will become a number 7 single later this year.

(3) RADIOHEAD – Paranoid Android  (video)

The first single from their massive number one album, OK Computer. This was their biggest hit but it got no higher than number 3.

(1) HANSON – MMMBop  (and credits)

Making their debut with their first of three weeks at number one.

I Wanna Be Top of the Pops

 Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah it's only the 30th of May 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

The only number one

30-5-97:   Presenters:  The Spice Girls

(NEW) WET WET WET – Strange

Getting tonight's spicey show underway and the song will peak at number 13.

(15) FAITH NO MORE – Ashes To Ashes

In the studio but this meaty song got no higher.

(18) MONACO – Sweet Lips

Here with their second and final top 40 hit but it got no higher.

(4) ROSIE GAINES – Closer Than Close  (and charts)

Her only top ten hit was at its peak.

(2) SARAH BRIGHTMAN & ANDREA BOCELLI – Time To Say Goodbye

A second studio performance but the song could get no higher.

(NEW) TOBY BOURKE with GEORGE MICHAEL – Waltz Away Dreaming  (video)

George is in the studio tonight to introduce this video and the song will peak at number 10.

(1) ETERNAL feat. BEBE WINANS – I Wanna Be The Only One

Here for one week at number one.

(17) STRIKE – I Have Peace  (video)  (and credits)

Their fifth and final top 40 hit was at its peak.

Time to Say Top of the Pops

 And then she asks me, do I look alright, and I say darling you're the 23rd of May 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

Time to stay awake

23-5-97:   Presenters:  Mark Radcliffe & Marc Riley

(4) NO MERCY – Please Don’t Go

Getting the show underway with their second of two top ten hits but it got no higher.

(14) PLACEBO – Bruise Pristine

Performing their third of fifteen top 40 hits but this one got no higher.

(NEW) SKUNK ANANSIE – Brazen (Weep)

Here with the song that will become their biggest hit when it peaks at number 11.

(3) KATRINA & THE WAVES – Love Shine A Light

Back for a fourth studio performance but the song was now at its peak.

(11) THE REMBRANDTS – I’ll Be There For You  (and charts)

Had peaked at number 3 two years earlier, this time it made number 5.

(6) DAMAGE – Wonderful Tonight

In the studio a second time with this Eric Clapton cover that had already peaked at number 3.

(1) OLIVE – You’re Not Alone

Second and final week at number one.

(2) SARAH BRIGHTMAN & ANDREA BOCELLI – Time To Say Goodbye  (and credits)

Here in the studio tonight but the song could get no higher. 

You're Not Top of the Pops

 I'll wait till the end of time for the 16th of May 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the (Olive) Pits

16-5-97:   Presenter:  Dannii Minogue

(7) NORTH & SOUTH – I’m A Man Not A Boy

Getting tonight's proceedings underway with their only top ten hit but it got no higher.

(12) BROWNSTONE – 5 Miles To Empty

With their fourth of five top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(28) SINEAD O’CONNOR – This Is To Mother You

Here with her seventh and final top 40 hit but it got no higher.

(3) DAMAGE – Wonderful Tonight

Performing their third of four top ten hits and this was the biggest one but it got no higher.

(13) KATRINA & THE WAVES – Love Shine A Light  (and charts)

Went up ten more places.

(15) MARY J. BLIGE – Love Is All We Need

Here tonight but the song got no higher.

(1) OLIVE – You’re Not Alone

First of two weeks at number one for their only top ten hit.

(6) GARY BARLOW – Love Won’t Wait  (and credits)

Last week's number one.

Top of the Pops Shine a Light

 And we're all gonna shine a light together on the 9th of May 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!

Waving the flag

9-5-97:   Presenter:  Jo Whiley

(50) KATRINA & THE WAVES – Love Shine A Light  

The UK's most recent Eurovision winners get the show underway and the song will peak at number 3.

(3) THE SEAHORSES – Love Is The Law

With their first of two top ten hits and this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(2) GEORGE MICHAEL – Star People ’97  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(15) MANSUN – Taxloss

In the studio but got no higher.

(10) 911 – Bodyshakin’

Had already peaked last week at number 3.

(6) JAMIROQUAI – Alright  (video)

At its peak.

(13) BLACKSTREET – Don’t Leave Me 

Had already peaked at number 6.

(1) GARY BARLOW – Love Won’t Wait

Here for one week at number one.

(4) THE CARDIGANS – Lovefool  (video)  (and credits)

Peaked at number 2.