What Were The Top Ten Selling Singles In 1998?
The Cold Open
Britain in 1998 ricocheted between optimism and absurdity. The Good Friday Agreement promised a new future for Northern Ireland while France won the World Cup on home soil. Google flickered into life in a California garage, the Millennium Dome loomed on the Greenwich skyline, and teenage pop armies advanced in denim and glitter. The Spice Girls began to fracture, Eurodance collided with novelty rap, and Titanic’s soundtrack threatened to drown the airwaves. The charts delivered their judgement one single at a time.
Here are the top ten selling singles in the UK in 1998.
1. Believe – Cher
Sales: 1,500,000 • Label: WEA • Catalogue: WEA175CD
Autotune’s big bang moment. Seven weeks at No 1 and a middle-aged diva reinvented as a club queen.
2. My Heart Will Go On – Céline Dion
Sales: 1,550,000 • Label: Columbia • Catalogue: 665547 2
The Titanic theme turned into a cultural flood. Six weeks at No 1 and 90s balladry at full volume.
3. It’s Like That – Run DMC vs Jason Nevins
Sales: 1,150,000 • Label: Columbia • Catalogue: 665274 2
Old school hip hop refitted for the dancefloor. Six weeks at No 1 and tectonic shifts in clubland.
4. No Matter What – Boyzone
Sales: 1,150,000 • Label: Polydor • Catalogue: 563 769 2
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ballad turned boyband standard. Three weeks at No 1, peak curtain-twitch pop.
5. C’est La Vie – B*Witched
Sales: 1,030,000 • Label: Epic • Catalogue: 666 435 2
Irish denim-clad pop invasion. Two weeks at No 1 with “uh oh, uh oh” hooks and playground dominance.
6. How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes
Sales: 970,000 • Label: Curb • Catalogue: 566 759 2
Failed to reach higher than No 7 but lingered in the charts forever. Became one of the UK’s biggest-selling non-No 1s.
7. Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You) – Chef
Sales: 950,000 • Label: Columbia • Catalogue: 666 798 2
Isaac Hayes voicing a South Park character. Christmas absurdity that still managed to hit No 1.
8. Goodbye – Spice Girls
Sales: 900,000 • Label: Virgin • Catalogue: VSCDT 1712
Their final single as a five-piece. Christmas No 1 and three weeks at the top, a farewell wrapped in velvet.
9. Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) – Pras Michel featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Mýa
Sales: 870,000 • Label: Ruffhouse/Columbia • Catalogue: 666 236 2
From Bulworth. Smooth hip hop collaboration that peaked at No 2 but sold like a No 1.
10. Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
Sales: 850,000 • Label: Columbia • Catalogue: 665 606 2
Australian soft pop designed for late-night dedications. Peaked at No 4 but became a radio staple.
