Chart of 1993

This was the first year since 1989 that the number of single sales actually rose from the previous year. However no single released in 1993 sold over a million copies.

East 17 - Deep

This was their first big success and top 5 hit after the rocking song House Of Love made it to number 10 earlier in the year. East 17 were seen as a harsher alternative to the fresh boy next door look epitomised by Take That. Much of their lyrics were very deep and double meanings abounded in their music. In restrospect East 17 were a very alternative boyband that were possibly slightly mis-marketed. This song comes from the massive Walthamstow album.



M People - Moving On Up

Number 2 hit of the Mancunian soul dance group that famously beat Blur and Oasis to the BRIT Award for Best album in 1994 and 1995! This was the group's only success on the mainstream US chart where it got to number 34.



Bee Gees - For Whom The Bell Tolls

Lush power ballad from the Manx brothers. They scored a UK top 5 hit with this.



Take That feat. Lulu - Relight My Fire

Another homoerotic video from Take That featuring the genious inclusion of Lulu. This is massive gay anthem and watching the video it ain't hard to see why!



Annie Lennox - Love Song For A Vampire

The Scottish pop singer with a soul voice released this to coincide with the film Bram Stokers Dracula. It reached number 3. I love the offbeat nature of this.



Spin Doctors - Two Princes

Great feel good pop-rock song from the American group. This was their biggest success and have hardly troubled the charts since 1993. However, they're still together and recording as a group.



4 Non Blondes - What's Up?

The biggest hit for the American rock chicks. This was covered a year later by DJ Miko as a dance song to a repeat of the original's success.



Freddie Mercury - Living On My Own

A re-release of his 1985 hit. The video contains footage of Freddie's 39th birthday party.



Snow - Informer

Everyone was feelin' this at the time, but no one had the faintest idea what he was singing about! It epitomises the reggae vibe that was prevalent through so much music in 1993.



Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Boom! Shake The Room

Huge party song from a guy who is now one of the biggest black actors in America. "Jazzy Jeff" now works as a major R&B producer in the States.



Take That - Babe

The boys' biggest single of 1993, but beaten to the Christmas number 1, by the evil Mr Blobby! This track is sung mainly by Mark.



Culture Beat - Mr Vain

A German dance act that had an enormous Europe wide hit with this banging tune. Their producer died in a car accident at the end of 1993 at 29 years old, but the group held together and have now released 5 albums in total.



Haddaway - What Is Love?

The biggest hit of another German eurodance outfit (there were hundreds at the time ha!). This was his only success in the USA, but he released 3 albums and had a string of successful singles across Europe.



Shaggy - Oh Carolina

And aside from eurodance, the other major musical influence of the year was of course reggae. Shaggy had a string of hits after this and made a comeback in 2001. Oh Carolina was a Jamaican dancehall cover of an original ska track by the Folkes Brothers.



Gabrielle - Dreams

The début single of one of the most prolific British female singers with 18 hits to her name. This was the first time a début act had ever entered the British charts at number 2. She then climbed to number 1 and stayed there for 3 weeks.



2 Unlimited - No Limit

The biggest selling song of the year in the combined European chart, and the 4th biggest selling song of the year in the UK. This is the Dutch group's best known hit and got them to number 1 in 35 countries.



Ace Of Base - All That She Wants

A reggae-eurodance hit from the Swedish pop group. This was their breakthrough single and conquered almost all the European charts and gave them a number 2 in the USA. They followed up with many equally successful hits and have to date released 8 albums with a 9th in the pipeline. This was the third biggest selling song of the year in the UK.



UB40 - (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You

The Brummie boys scored their biggest hit with the cover of an Elvis classic. Their influence is mainly ska and reggae and obviously 1993 was exactly the right time for them to get the second biggest selling single of the year.



Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)

The biggest selling single of 1993 was neither reggae or eurodance, but reserved for an old rocker, who has taken on iconic status in Europe (especially the UK and Germany). The vid for this song goes on for nearly 8 minutes and it helped relaunch Meat Loaf's career after a period of difficulty in the late '80's. The female singer is credited only as Mrs Loud, but her real name is Lorraine Crosby, a performer from Northumbria. However, in the video her part is lip-synched by Dana Patrick.