5March
Quirks wonders after all the performers who have had three consecutive singles peak at number two in the UK charts. To research this, let's look at all the acts who have had three or more number two singles, and go through their career looking for three in a row:
Elvis Presley 17 - no, though he did have a 2-3-2-2-1 run in 1958.
Madonna 11 - Hanky panky
, Justify my love
, Crazy for you
did the treble in 1990-91. The run was book-ended by the chart-topper Vogue
and the number 3 Rescue me
.
Kylie Minogue 10 - Got to be certain
, The loco-motion
, and Je ne sais pas pourqoi
in 1988. The run was bookended by I should be so certain
and Hand on your heart
, both chart-toppers. It's utterly trivial to note that all of Kylie's peak positions were made up from the digits 1, 2, 4, 6, and 0 until In your eyes
made number 3 in 2002.
Cliff Richard 8 - Two pairs of 2s in 1962 and 1963.
Queen 6 - No; indeed, they've never had more than two top-five hits in a row.
Boyzone 6 - Isn't it a wonder
, Picture of you
, and Baby can I hold you
during 1997. The run had a pair of number 1s at either end.
Oasis 6 - Nope; 3-1-2-2-1-1-2-1-1-4-4-1-2-2-3-1-1-2 is a consistently inconsistent run.
Steps 5 - If only the Spices had been able to outsell Heartbeat
in the last week of 1998; that would have formed the second of a 4-run with One for sorrow
, Better best forgotten
, and Love's got a hold on my heart
.
George Michael 5 - Star people
, You have been loved
, and Outside
, May 1997 to October 1998. We don't count Walk away dreaming
; though Yog was credited, he's a backing vocalist for Toby Bourke. Before this run came Older
, a number 3, and Spinning the wheel
, another runner-up.
Sash! 5 - Encore une fois
, Ecuador
, Stay
during 1997. They went 2-2-2-3-2 with their first five releases.
The Beatles 5 - no, seventeen toppers rather rules that out.
The Sweet 5 - Hellraiser
, Ballroom blitz
, and Teenage rampage
during 1973 and 1974, when the glam rockers were releasing a single every four months, like clockwork.
Tom Jones 5 - I'll never fall in love
, I'm coming home
, and Delilah
, 1967 and 1968.
Dean Martin 4 - a pair in 1958, including his version of Eurovision's Volare
.
Girls Aloud 4 - Jump
, The show
, Love machine
during 2003-4.
Justin Timberlake 4 - As Quirks spotted, Like I love you
, Cry me a river
, and Rock your body
meant Numberwang opened with three runners-up, a feat not quite managed by...
Bros 4 - 2-2-1-4-2-2 during 1988 and 89.
Gary Glitter 4 - Began 2-4-2-2-1.
T Rex 4 - Going 2-1-1-2-1-1-2-2 from 1970 to 1972.
S Club 7 4 - S club party
, Two in a million
, Reach
in 1999-2000. The group finished its career under this name with four number 1s, four 2s, and a 3.
Others to have had four number 2 singles in their career: Pat Boone, David Bowie, Leo Sayer, Michael Jackson, Showaddywaddy, The Hollies, The Everly Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Slade.
Darts 3 - Come back my love
, The boy from new york city
, and It's raining
in 1978 were the height of their career.
Five 3 - Everybody get up
, Until the time is through
, If you're getting down
in 1998-9.
Ronan Keating 3 - Was on for a hat-trick if Iris
reached the second spot last autumn. It didn't even make the top ten. Hahahahahaha.
S Club Juniors 3 - One step closer
, Automatic high
, New direction
in 2002.
Manic Street Preachers 3 - On a hat-trick for their next release, following 2004's The love of Richard Nixon
and 2005's Empty souls
.
Robbie Williams 3 - Opened 2-2, but not another runner-up for eight years.
The others to have 3: Fleetwood Mac, The Kinks, U2, Phil Collins, Rihanna, Duran Duran, Guy Mitchell, Status Quo, Nat 'King' Cole, Mariah Carey, Paul McCartney, Shakin' Stevens.
Of the thirteen acts to have a hat-trick of number 2 records, only Sash!, Darts, and S Club Juniors never progressed to top the charts.
