2004 in British music charts

2000s in music in the UK
Number-one singles
Number-one albums
Best-selling singles
Best-selling albums
Events
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Charts
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
1999 2010
Top 10 singles
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
1999 2010

This article gives details of the official charts from 2004. The year was special for many successful artists, including Eminem, Britney Spears, Scissor Sisters, Usher, Natasha Bedingfield, Jamelia, Franz Ferdinand and The Streets.

Summary of UK chart activity

The year started with the 2003 Christmas number one single topping the first chart of the year. This was followed by Michelle McManus, the winner of the second British series of Pop Idol with her first single release it topped the charts for 3 weeks. Second and third place contestants Mark Rhodes and Sam Nixon formed a duo, whose debut single was a cover of the Beatles song, "With a Little Help from My Friends", which also reached the No.1 spot.

On 9 March Westlife became a four piece after Brian McFadden decided to leave the band. His final single with the band was "Obvious" which peaked at No.3 in February; the remaining members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, and Kian Egan, went on to further success without McFadden.

In April, Eamon achieved the number one spot with a song with more profanities than any other hit single; it stayed at number one for 4 weeks. In another first the answer song by Frankee replaced the original single at the top of the charts and stayed there for 3 weeks despite selling less than half as many copies as Eamon. Both artists released follow-up songs but neither performed well, relegating the pair to one-hit wonder status.

A new version of Alltogethernow by The Farm was released to mark the Euro 2004 football tournament – it reached number five on 13 June with Come On England, a remake of Come On Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners) by 4-4-2, reaching number two.

The UK Official Download Chart began at the start of September, the first number 1 being Flying Without Wings by Westlife. U2 released their single Vertigo on music download services weeks before it came out on CD. It stayed at number one for 8 non-consecutive weeks on the download chart. While illegal sharing of music over the Internet had been popular for a number of years the music industry started creating new, pay-per-download services, which were very well received. Charting companies soon took notice and various download charts appeared on radio and television. The use and increased popularity of iPods also helped to promote download services, and Apple's online iTunes Music Store launched in the UK in June, selling over 450,000 songs in the first week.[1] Downloads began to be introduced into the main singles chart in 2005, although not fully until the beginning of 2007.

Albums by Dido, Katie Melua and Norah Jones dominated the first three months of the year. In May and June, Keane twice returned to the top of the charts with their album Hopes and Fears. The Scissor Sisters, The Streets and Maroon 5 also enjoyed great success with their albums. Numerous acts released greatest hits albums with Robbie Williams' being most successful, selling over one million copies in eight weeks.

Popular artists from the 1980s made successful returns with Duran Duran, The Cure, Depeche Mode and Morrissey releasing top ten singles. After appearing in the reality television show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, Peter Andre re-released his 1996 hit single Mysterious Girl, this time getting to the top spot.

In September and October Eric Prydz "Call on me" stayed at number one for five non-consecutive weeks and staying in the chart for a further 14 weeks.

In October the music industry mourned the loss of John Peel, the Radio 1 DJ famous for championing new bands and musical styles.

20 years after the original, the Band Aid single Do They Know It's Christmas? was re-recorded and became a massive success, easily selling the most singles of the year, and holding the Christmas number 1 spot. The second week of release saw the song sell almost as many as the first, pushing it to half a million in less than 14 days. This was all additional to the number of legal downloads as the song topped that chart as well. The song had sold over a million copies in a month.

Artists who narrowly missed out on number ones were Kelis whose Milkshake peaked at number two for 4 weeks in January and February and "Trick Me" in June. Other acts were Anastacia with Left Outside Alone who peaked at number three but was the seventh best selling of the year staying on the chart for 18 weeks. Also the long awaited return of Destiny's Child came in November when they peaked at number two for 4 weeks with Lose My Breath the first single released of their album "Destiny Fulfilled".

On the issue date of 7 November, the top five consisted of all American performers/acts.

This broke a record in UK chart history. The No. 6 was also held by an American act, Ja Rule featuring. Ashanti & R. Kelly with Wonderful.

The most successful acts of 2004 were McFly whose first two debut singles entered at number one and they had two other top five hits later in the year. Natasha Bedingfield topped the singles, album and download charts. Britney Spears and Usher returned to the charts and had two number ones each (Toxic and Yeah! respectively) and another top five hits each. Girls Aloud also had big hits with songs including "The Show", "Love Machine" which both peaked at No. 2, and the 2004 Children in Need No. 1 single "I'll Stand by You". Former S Club star Rachel Stevens continued on with her solo career in this year too, reaching the top 3 once again with Sport Relief track "Some Girls" and a cover of Andrea True Connection's "More, More, More".

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
Song Artist(s) Sales
3 January "Mad World" Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules167,000
10 January 45,761
17 January "All This Time"Michelle McManus117,927
24 January 60,570
31 January 35,040
7 February "Take Me to the Clouds Above"LMC vs. U268,768
14 February 49,339
21 February "With a Little Help from My Friends"Sam & Mark42,776
28 February "Who's David?"Busted30,072
6 March "Mysterious Girl"Peter Andre107,870
13 March "Toxic"Britney Spears102,576
20 March "Cha Cha Slide"DJ Casper57,280
27 March "Yeah!"Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil' Jon87,354
3 April 49,616
10 April "Five Colours In Her Hair"McFly49,511
17 April 37,120
24 April "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)"Eamon153,287
1 May 99,783
8 May 79,293
15 May 55,732
22 May "F.U.R.B. (F U Right Back)"Frankee79,563
29 May 49,462
5 June 36,440
12 June "I Don't Wanna Know"Mario Winans featuring P. Diddy and Enya61,303
19 June 47,770
26 June "Everytime"Britney Spears54,022
3 July "Obviously"McFly42,400
10 July "Burn"Usher49,334
17 July 31,411
24 July "Lola's Theme"Shapeshifters51,967
31 July "Dry Your Eyes"The Streets54,539
7 August "Thunderbirds / 3AM"Busted70,665
14 August 36,288
21 August "Baby Cakes"3 Of A Kind55,067
28 August "These Words"Natasha Bedingfield68,745
4 September 40,978
11 September "My Place / Flap Your Wings"Nelly54,729
18 September "Real to Me"Brian McFadden34,435
25 September "Call On Me"Eric Prydz68,138
2 October 46,370
9 October 34,432
16 October "Radio" Robbie Williams 41,734
23 October "Call On Me"Eric Prydz23,519
30 October 21,749
6 November "Wonderful" Ja Rule featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti 23,706
13 November "Just Lose It" Eminem 63,312
20 November "Vertigo" U2 51,917
27 November "I'll Stand by You" Girls Aloud 57,957
4 December 29,992
11 December "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 20 292,594
18 December 287,849
25 December 231,492

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)Sales
3 January Life for RentDido233,629
10 January Friday's ChildWill Young54,442
17 January Life for RentDido30,711
24 January 30,638
31 January Call Off the SearchKatie Melua35,680
7 February 55,504
14 February 71,084
21 February Feels Like HomeNorah Jones235,890
28 February 84,941
6 March Call Off the SearchKatie Melua70,413
13 March 70,027
20 March 58,917
27 March PatienceGeorge Michael274,816
3 April ConfessionsUsher98,872
10 April AnastaciaAnastacia87,398
17 April 78,432
24 April Greatest HitsGuns N' Roses51,869
1 May 48,901
8 May D12 WorldD1286,666
15 May Greatest HitsGuns N' Roses39,166
22 May Hopes and Fears Keane155,432
29 May 79,576
5 June Under My SkinAvril Lavigne 87,496
12 June Hopes and FearsKeane58,732
19 June No Roots Faithless47,000
26 June Hopes and FearsKeane46,900
3 July A Grand Don't Come for FreeThe Streets34,000
10 July Scissor SistersScissor Sisters57,994
17 July Room on the 3rd FloorMcFly61,589
24 July Scissor SistersScissor Sisters45,000
31 July A Grand Don't Come for FreeThe Streets48,000
7 August Live in Hyde ParkRed Hot Chili Peppers63,330
14 August 42,259
21 August AnastaciaAnastacia35,445
28 August Songs About JaneMaroon 549,998
4 September Always Outnumbered, Never OutgunnedThe Prodigy64,300
11 September The LibertinesThe Libertines72,189
18 September UnwrittenNatasha Bedingfield83,954
25 September Out of NothingEmbrace55,613
2 October American IdiotGreen Day89,385
9 October Mind Body & SoulJoss Stone75,100
16 October Around the Sun R.E.M. 69,700
23 October 10 Years Of HitsRonan Keating101,135
30 October Greatest HitsRobbie Williams320,081
6 November 148,748
13 November Il Divo Il Divo132,829
20 November Encore Eminem 212,459
27 November 168,249
4 December How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb U2 200,863
11 December 127,982
18 December 178,539
25 December Greatest Hits Robbie Williams 183,871

Number-one downloads

Chart date
(week ending)
Song Title Artist
4 September Flying Without Wings Westlife
11 September These Words Natasha Bedingfield
18 September
25 September
2 October
9 October Vertigo U2
16 October
23 October
30 October Dogz Don't Kill People Wabbits Do Mouldie Lookin Stain (Chris Moyles)
6 November Vertigo U2
13 November
20 November
27 November
4 December
11 December Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid 20
18 December
25 December

Year-end charts

Between 28 December 2003 and 1 January 2005.

Best-selling singles

[2]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
Sales
1 "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Band Aid 20 1 1,094,000
2 "F**k It (I Don't Want You Back)" Eamon 1 552,407
3 "Cha Cha Slide" DJ Casper 1 351,421
4 "Call on Me" Prydz, EricEric Prydz 1
5 "Yeah!" Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris 1
6 "All This Time" McManus, MichelleMichelle McManus 1
7 "Left Outside Alone" Anastacia 3
8 "Mysterious Girl" André, PeterPeter André 1
9 "Toxic" Spears, BritneyBritney Spears 1
10 "Fuck You Right Back" Frankee 1
11 "I Don't Wanna Know" Winans, MarioMario Winans 1
12 "Baby Cakes" 3 of a Kind 1
13 "Take Me to the Clouds Above" LMC vs U2 1
14 "Milkshake" Kelis 2
15 "Lose My Breath" Destiny's Child 2
16 "My Band" D12 2
17 "These Words" Bedingfield, NatashaNatasha Bedingfield 1
18 "Everytime" Spears, BritneyBritney Spears 1
19 "Thunderbirds"/"3am" Busted 1
20 "Dry Your Eyes" Streets, TheThe Streets 1
21 "Lola's Theme" Shapeshifters 1
22 "In the Shadows" Rasmus, TheThe Rasmus 3
23 "Just Lose It" Eminem 1
24 "Thank You" Jamelia 2
25 "Hey Ya!" Outkast 3
26 "My Place"/"Flap Your Wings" Nelly 1
27 "Burn" Usher 1
28 "Dragostea din tei" O-Zone 3
29 "Mad World" Andrews, MichaelMichael Andrews featuring Gary Jules 1
30 "Against All Odds" Brookstein, SteveSteve Brookstein 2[lower-alpha 1] 153,770
31 "Somebody to Love" Boogie Pimps 3
32 "5 Colours in Her Hair" McFly 1 150,072
33 "Trick Me" Kelis 2
34 "I'll Stand by You" Girls Aloud 1
35 "Changes" Osbourne, OzzyOzzy Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne 1
36 "Leave (Get Out)" JoJo 2
37 "Dip It Low" Milian, ChristinaChristina Milian 2
38 "Hotel" Cassidy 3
39 "This Love" Maroon 5 3
40 "Some Girls" Stevens, RachelRachel Stevens 2
41 "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" Khia 4
42 "Obviously" McFly 1
43 "If There's Any Justice" Lemar 3
44 "Vertigo" U2 1
45 "Amazing" Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael 4
46 "Breathe Easy" Blue 4
47 "Slow Jamz" Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx 3
48 "Car Wash" Aguilera, ChristinaChristina Aguilera featuring Missy Elliott 4
49 "Love Machine" Girls Aloud 2
50 "I'm Still in Love with You" Paul, SeanSean Paul featuring Sasha 6

Best-selling albums

[3]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
Sales
1 Scissor Sisters Scissor Sisters 1 1,594,259
2 Hopes and Fears Keane 1 1,593,677
3 Greatest Hits Williams, RobbieRobbie Williams 1
4 Songs About Jane Maroon 5 1
5 Call Off the Search Melua, KatieKatie Melua 1
6 Anastacia Anastacia 1
7 Confessions Usher 1
8 Feels Like Home Jones, NorahNorah Jones 1
9 Final Straw Snow Patrol 3
10 Il Divo Il Divo 1
11 Greatest Hits Guns N' Roses 1
12 10 Years of Hits Keating, RonanRonan Keating 1
13 A Grand Don't Come for Free Streets, TheThe Streets 1
14 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb U2 1
15 Encore Eminem 1
16 The Soul Sessions Stone, JossJoss Stone 4
17 Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand 3
18 American Idiot Green Day 1 746,364
19 Unwritten Bedingfield, NatashaNatasha Bedingfield 1
20 Patience Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael 1
21 Friday's Child Young, WillWill Young 1
22 Ultimate Kylie Minogue, KylieKylie Minogue 4
23 Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Outkast 8
24 Allow Us to Be Frank Westlife 3
25 Greatest Hits: My Prerogative Spears, BritneyBritney Spears 2
26 Elephunk Black Eyed Peas, TheThe Black Eyed Peas 3
27 Twentysomething Cullum, JamieJamie Cullum 3
28 Greatest Hits Twain, ShaniaShania Twain 6
29 Room on the Third Floor McFly 1
30 Life for Rent Dido 1
31 Under My Skin Lavigne, AvrilAvril Lavigne 1
32 O Rice, DamienDamien Rice 8
33 Mind Body & Soul Stone, JossJoss Stone 1
34 The College Dropout West, KanyeKanye West 12
35 Thank You Jamelia 4
36 Destiny Fulfilled Destiny's Child 5
37 Best of Blue Blue 6
38 The Best of LeAnn Rimes Rimes, LeAnnLeAnn Rimes 2
39 Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New Collins, PhilPhil Collins 10
40 The Singles 1992–2003 No Doubt 5
41 Hot Fuss Killers, TheThe Killers 5[lower-alpha 2]
42 Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III Stewart, RodRod Stewart 3
43 A Ticket for Everyone Busted 11
44 What Will the Neighbours Say? Girls Aloud 6
45 Up All Night Razorlight 3
46 Who Killed...... The Zutons? Zutons, TheThe Zutons 6
47 Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 4[lower-alpha 3]
48 Singles Travis 4
49 Out of Nothing Embrace 1
50 Time to Grow Lemar 8

Best-selling compilations

[4]

No. Title Peak
position
1 Now 59 1
2 Now 57 1
3 Now 58 1
4 Pop Party 2 1
5 Ultimate Dirty Dancing (Original Soundtrack) 1
6 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Original Soundtrack) 2
7 Power Ballads II 1
8 Cream Classics 2
9 The Annual 2005 2
10 Essential R&B – The Very Best of R&B: Summer 2004 1

Notes:

  1. Reached number 1 in 2005
  2. Reached number 1 in 2005
  3. Reached number 1 in 1992

Total album sales of 2004

Total sales for albums in 2004 amounted to 163,405,658.[5]

Top 10 downloads of 2004

Position Song Title Artist
1 Vertigo U2
2 What You Waiting For? Gwen Stefani
3 Lose My Breath Destiny's Child
4 American Idiot Green Day
5 Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid 20
6 These Words Natasha Bedingfield
7 She Will Be Loved Maroon 5
8 Just Lose It Eminem
9 I Believe in You Kylie Minogue
10 Car Wash Christina Aguilera Featuring Missy Elliott

See also

References

  1. iTunes Music Store in Europe Sells 800,000 Songs in First Week
  2. "2004 Singles Top 100". Music Week (London, England: UBM): 19. 22 January 2005.
  3. "2004 Albums Top 100". Music Week (London, England: UBM): 21. 22 January 2005.
  4. "Compilations". Music Week (London, England: UBM): 22. 22 January 2005.
  5. "2009: being Boyled". Music Week. Retrieved 3 February 2010.