What Were The Top Ten Selling Singles In 1993?
The Cold Open
Britain in 1993 shuffled between optimism and absurdity. John Major promised Back to Basics while his party collapsed under sleaze. The Bank of England wrestled with recession and Britpop’s earliest rumblings began to stir. Meanwhile, Gladiators barked “Contender ready!” on Saturday nights and Jurassic Park stomped across cinema screens. The charts veered from Meat Loaf’s Wagnerian excess to Gabrielle’s one-eyed optimism, with detours for cartoon mascots and continental Eurodance juggernauts.
Here are the top ten selling singles in the UK in 1993.
1. I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf
Sales: 761,000 • Label: Virgin • Catalogue: VSCDT 1443
A bombastic rock opera in miniature. Seven weeks at No 1 with Jim Steinman’s kitchen-sink production dragging the charts into melodrama.
2. (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You – UB40
Sales: 694,000 • Label: DEP International/Virgin • Catalogue: DEP 40
Elvis re-tooled for reggae. Twelve weeks at No 1 in the US and a steady chart-dominator in Britain with seven weeks at the top.
3. All That She Wants – Ace of Base
Sales: 650,000 • Label: London • Catalogue: ACECD 1
Swedish pop with a minor-key sting. Four weeks at No 1 and a template for Europop domination.
4. No Limit – 2 Unlimited
Sales: 630,000 • Label: PWL Continental • Catalogue: PWLCD 256
Endless chanting of “No no, no no no no, no no no no, no no there’s no limit.” Five weeks at No 1 and Eurodance in its purest form.
5. Dreams – Gabrielle
Sales: 590,000 • Label: Go! Beat • Catalogue: GODCD 98
Debut single that set the tone for UK soul in the decade. Three weeks at No 1, hook delivered by a singer with trademark eye patch.
6. Mr Blobby – Mr Blobby
Sales: 582,000 • Label: RCA • Catalogue: BLOBBY 1
Noel Edmonds’ pink polka-dotted nightmare unleashed on vinyl. Christmas No 1 and the nation’s patience tested to destruction.
7. Oh Carolina – Shaggy
Sales: 560,000 • Label: Greensleeves • Catalogue: GRED 378
Dancehall into the mainstream. Shaggy’s growl turned an old ska tune into a three-week No 1.
8. What Is Love – Haddaway
Sales: 550,000 • Label: Logic • Catalogue: 74321 16237 2
Euro-synth heartbreak. Peaked at No 2 in the UK but went top three across Europe. “Baby don’t hurt me” etched into eternity.
9. Mr Vain – Culture Beat
Sales: 540,000 • Label: Epic • Catalogue: 659 390 2
German Eurodance powerhouse. Two weeks at No 1 with a bassline built for warehouse nights and daytime radio alike.
10. I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Sales: 530,000 • Label: Arista • Catalogue: 74321 12786 2
Carried over from its 1992 peak. Another half-million sold in 1993 kept Whitney cemented as the decade’s dominant ballad voice.
