World of Chig   

7.12.04
Band Aid 20: How many number ones have they all had?

My seeming obsession with Band Aid 20 has just about ended now, you'll be glad to know. (Like most people, I'm not that enamoured with the record anyway, just the event itself. Tonight's BBC One documentary on the recording session was very good though.) Before we let it lie, here's a list I've compiled, showing how Band Aid 20 has added to the tally of number ones for all the artists involved. With a list this long, there will probably be mistakes, so please add a comment if you spot any. Thanks.

1st number 1 single for;
Ash, Chris Martin/Coldplay, Justin Hawkins/The Darkness, Neil Hannon/The Divine Comedy, Dizzee Rascal, Ms Dynamite, Estelle, Grant Nicholas/Feeder, Danny Goffey (Supergrass, drums), Jamelia, Tom Chaplin/Keane, Beverley Knight, Lemar, Katie Melua, Roisin Murphy/Moloko, Skye/Morcheeba, Thom Yorke/Radiohead, Joss Stone, The Thrills, Fran Healy/Travis, Turin Brakes, Snow Patrol.

Also the first credited number one for Dido, although she was on Eminem’s chart-topper, ‘Stan’, scandalously uncredited.

2nd number 1 for: Natasha Bedingfield.

4th: Daniel Bedingfield.
4th: Bob Geldof; 2 with The Boomtown Rats, 1 with Band Aid.
4th: Sugababes.
4th: Midge Ure; 1 solo, 1 with Slik, 1 with Band Aid.

5th: Busted.
5th: Rachel Stevens; 4 with S Club 7.
5th: Will Young; 3 solo, 1 with Gareth Gates.

6th: Shaznay Lewis; 5 with All Saints.

8th: Bono; 5 with U2, 1 with Band Aid, 1 with LMC vs U2.

14th: Robbie Williams; 6 with Take That, 1 with Take That featuring Lulu, 1 with Nicole Kidman, 5 solo.

24th: Sir Paul McCartney (bass guitar); 17 with The Beatles, 1 with Wings, 1 with Stevie Wonder, 1 with The Christians, Holly Johnson, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman, 1 with Ferry Aid, 1 solo and 1 with Band Aid (technically on the 12” only).

If Damon Albarn (serving tea) had sung, it would have been his third after 2 with Blur (Country House and Beetlebum). UPDATE: In tonight's TV documentary, there was a brief shot of Damon playing the guitar, so is he on the single after all?

PS. If you were wondering what happened to Band Aids 3 to 19, wonder no more!

· link

Home