Official Charts Flashback 1999: Ronan Keating – When You Say Nothing At All

We’ve all wanted our better halves to shut the heck up at times, haven’t we? If they’re not nagging about the washing up, they’re telling you to stop leaving towels on the bathroom floor. But never has wanting someone to be quiet sounded so romantic as it did when Ronan Keating took this tribute to getting someone to button it to Number 1 way back in 1999.

We joke, of course, the tune is actually about how true love is unspoken and a mere look can communicate utter devotion, and When You Say Nothing At All was the perfect theme for romantic comedy Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.

The track was a big moment for Ronan – it was his first time with only his name up in lights, after five years of hits as lead singer of Irish boyband Boyzone.

Knocking Ricky Martin off Number 1, When You Say Nothing At All was actually a cover – it was first a hit in the US for country singer Keith Whiley in 1988, and again for Alison Krauss in 1995. It was only once Ronan got his hands on it that the track made it all the way to the top of the Official Singles Chart, spending its second week there this week in 1999.

It would be the first of 14 consecutive Top 10s for Ronan as a solo artist, and two more solo chart-toppers would follow – Life Is A Rollercoaster in 2000 and If Tomorrow Never Comes in 2002. Adding to Boyzone’s tally of six Number 1s, Ronan’s scored nine chart-topping singles in the UK, which isn’t bad really, is it?

With Boyzone, Ronan’s biggest seller would be the million-selling No Matter What, a Number 1 for the band in 1998. All alone, When You Say Nothing At All is Ronan’s top seller – over 680,000 copies sold in the UK.

Watch the video for Ronan’s 2001 hit Lovin’ Each Day before we count down the rest of the Top 5 from today in 1999.

2: Alice Deejay – Better Off Alone

Good old Alice, who had five Top 40 Eurodance hits starting with this one, wasn’t actually called Alice. The brains behind the operation was actually a Dutch dude called DJ Jurgen. Two more Top 10s – Back In My Life and Will I Ever – followed, bit this was their biggest hit. It peaked right here at Number 2 and sold over 680,000 copies.

3: Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca

Ricky’s first – and final so far, but let’s not dwell – Number 1 was the sound of summer 1999 and part of a Latin pop explosion. It sold over 900,000 copies. You can find out all you need to know about Ricky’s big hit in its very own Flashback.

4: Basement Jaxx – Rendez Vu

The second of five Top 10 hits for the London dance duo, and their highest charting single in the UK so far. The Jaxx have scored 19 Top 40 hits and are a fave of new singing sensation Ella Eyre. Rendez Vu peaked at Number 4 and has sold over 160,000 copies. The band have notched up six Top 40 albums, including a Number 1 for their 2005 singles collection – one of three Top 10s.

5: Eminem FT Dr Dre – Guilty Conscience

Slim Shady’s second Top 10 of 26, and the first of four team-ups with mentor Dr Dre to hit the Top 40. Guilty Conscience peaked at Number 5 and has sold over 220,000 copies.

See the full Top 40 from today in 1999.

This time last year…

Avicii was still rocking at the top of the Official Singles Chart, scoring a third week at Number 1, and Lana Del Rey was enjoying her highest chart position ever as Summertime Sadness FT Cedric Gervais rocketed 28 places to Number 4. See the full Top 40 from today in 2013.