A funny thing happened on the Billboard Hot 100 this week: 2 British pop acts had singles in the top 10, quite the feat right now, although it wouldn't have been 20 years ago. American music has always done well on the British chart (A US rapper is #1 in the UK this week), but UK music's popularity in the US seems to come in waves, and lately it's been on the wane.
There was the 70s British rock invasion, the 80s new wave, and the odd 90s blend of Oasis and Spice Girls. Now, finally, it appears that British pop may be catching on, as we have two top 1o hits by UK pop stars James Blunt and Natasha Bedingfield. Gorillaz and Coldplay have also had top 40 hits lately.
Last time a Brit had the #1 hit in the U.S. was 8 years ago when Elton John was #1 with "Candle In the Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight." Other Brits with US #1s in the 90s were the Spice Girls ("Wannabe" in 1997), Rod Stewart and Sting ("All For Love" with Bryan Adams in 1994), UB40 ("Can't Help Falling in Love," 1993), George Michael and Elton John ("Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me," 1992), Right Said Fred ("I'm Too Sexy," 1992), Londonbeat ("I've Been Thinking About You," 1991), EMF ("Unbelieveable," 1991), George Michael ("Praying For Time," 1990), and Maxi Priest ("Close to You," 1990).
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