Sugar, Sugar

1969 single by the Archies

This article is about the song. For the confectionery company, see Sugar Sugar. For other uses, see Sugar Sugar (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Suga Suga.

"Sugar, Sugar"

A-side label of original 1969 US vinyl release

Single by The Archies
from the album  Everything's Archie
B-side| "Melody Hill"
Released|

* May 24, 1969
* July 1969 (re-release)

Recorded| 1969
Genre| Bubblegum pop[1][2]
Length| 2:48
Label| Calendar/Kirshner
Songwriter(s)|

* Jeff Barry
* Andy Kim

Producer(s)| Jeff Barry
The Archies singles chronology
| "Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.)"
(1968)  | "Sugar, Sugar"
(1969)  | "Jingle Jangle"
(1969)

|
|

"Sugar, Sugar" is a song written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, produced by Barry and recorded by the Archies, a fictional bubblegum pop band from Archie Comics. It was released as the group's third single on the Calendar Records label on May 24, 1969, rereleased on the Kirshner Records label in July 1969, and included on their second album, Everything's Archie. In the autumn of 1969, it topped both Billboard's Hot 100 (for four weeks) and the UK Singles Chart (for eight weeks), ranking number one for the year in both America and the UK. It is the most successful bubblegum pop single of all time, and is widely regarded as the apotheosis of the bubblegum music genre.

## History

[edit]

Produced by one of the co-writers, Jeff Barry, "Sugar, Sugar" features a group of studio musicians managed by Don Kirshner, former music supervisor to the Monkees. It was written in the key of D major.[3] Ron Dante provided the lead vocals, accompanied by Toni Wine and the other co-writer, Andy Kim. Together, they provided the voices of the Archies using multitracking. The single was initially released in late May 1969 on Kirshner's Calendar label (as with the group’s two previous singles, "Bang-Shang-A-Lang" and "Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.)"), achieving moderate success in the early summer in several radio markets. When re-released in mid-July 1969 (with pressings also on the Kirshner label), it attained enormous success nationwide across several months.[4]

Upon the song's initial release, Kirshner had promotion men play it for radio station personnel without revealing the group's name, as their previous single, "Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.)", had peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[5][6] In an article published in The Washington Times, Dante recounts that the label was removed from the record. It was taken to a top radio station, 1260 KYA in San Francisco, where the program director was told: "Just play it! It's a mystery group."[7]

The song was among the selections that astronaut Alan Bean chose when allowed to bring an audio cassette of music to listen to during the Apollo 12 mission in November 1969. According to historian Andrew Chaikin, "When it came on during the trip out from earth, the three of them [Bean, Pete Conrad, and Dick Gordon] would hold onto the struts in the command module and bounce weightlessly to the beat, dancing their way to the moon."[8]

## Chart performance

[edit]

In the issue of Billboard magazine dated September 20, the single started a four-week run at number one on the Hot 100, replacing the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women". It spent a then-lengthy 22 weeks on the Hot 100 (longer than any other single in 1969), and was one of only ten singles to spend 12 weeks in the Top Ten during the decade.[5] It topped Billboard's year-end list of the Top Hot 100 Singles of 1969. In August 1969 the record was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million.[9] (In 1989 the gold threshold was lowered to 500,000.)[10] In 2018 “Sugar, Sugar” ranked 81 in Billboard's Hot 100 60th Anniversary chart.[11]

Between late October and mid-December 1969 the single spent eight weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. "Sugar, Sugar" was awarded a gold disc in January 1970.[12] In February 2024 the song was certified Gold by the BPI for selling 400,000 units since it was made available digitally in November 2004.[13]

In the chart dated September 13, 1969, "Sugar, Sugar" topped the RPM 100 national singles chart in Canada, where it remained for three weeks. It also peaked at number one on the South African Singles Chart.[14] On February 5, 2006, "Sugar, Sugar" was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, as co-writer Andy Kim is originally from Montreal, Quebec.[15]

### Charts

[edit]

#### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1969–1970)  | Peak
position

|

Argentina (Escalera a la fama)[16] | 6
Australia (Go-Set)[17] | 5
Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] | 6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] | 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] | 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] | 4
Brazil (IBOPE)[22] | 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] | 1
Denmark (IFPI)[24] | 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] | 6
Germany (GfK)[26] | 1
Ireland (IRMA)[27] | 1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[28] | 11
Malaysia (Radio Malaysia)[29] | 2
Mexico (Radio Mil)[30] | 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] | 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] | 3
Norway (VG-lista)[33] | 1
Philippines[34] | 2
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[35] | 1
Singapore (Radio Singapore)[36] | 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[37] | 1
Spain (Promusicae)[38] | 1
Sweden (Sveriges Radio)[39] | 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] | 2
Turkey (Milliyet)[41] | 2
UK Singles (OCC)[42] | 1
US Billboard Hot 100[43] | 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[44] | 22
US Cash Box Top 100[45] | 1

#### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1969)  | Position

|

Canada Top Singles (RPM)[46] | 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47] | 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48] | 55
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[49] | 8
UK Singles (OCC)[50] | 1
US Billboard Hot 100[51] | 1
US Cash Box Top 100[52] | 1

### Certifications and sales

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Germany  | —  | 500,000[53]
Mexico  | —  | 300,000[54]
United Kingdom
1969 original release  | —  | 1,000,000[12]
United Kingdom (BPI)[55]
2004 digital re-release  | Gold  | 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57] | Gold  | 3,000,000[56]
Summaries
Worldwide
1969 sales  | —  | 6,000,000[58]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Cover versions

[edit]

### Wilson Pickett version

[edit]

"Sugar Sugar"

One of side-A labels of US single

Single by Wilson Pickett
from the album  Right On
B-side| "Cole, Cooke & Redding"
Released| April 1970
Recorded| 1969
Studio| Criteria, Miami
Genre| Soul
Length| 3:00
Label| Atlantic
Songwriter(s)| Andy Kim, Jeff Barry
Producer(s)| Dave Crawford, Jerry Wexler, Rick Hall, Tom Dowd
Wilson Pickett singles chronology
| "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
(1969)  | "Sugar Sugar"
(1970)  | "She Said Yes"
(1970)

|
|

#### Chart performance

[edit]

In May 1970, Wilson Pickett's cover of "Sugar, Sugar" reached No. 4 on Billboard's R&B chart, then in June peaked at No. 25 on the Hot 100. The parent album, Right On, reached No. 197 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Pickett's recording was used in Ang Lee's 1997 film The Ice Storm. In Canada, "Cole, Cooke & Redding" was the A-side and charted first, reaching No. 58 in April 1970.[59]

##### Charts

[edit]

Chart (1970)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[60] | 77
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[61] | 18

### Other versions

[edit]

* Sakkarin (a pseudonym of Jonathan King) recorded the song (as "Sugar Sugar") in 1971, reaching No. 12 in the UK chart[62] as well as No. 20 in Ireland[63] and No. 21 in Germany.[64]
* Ron Dante, lead singer of the Archies, recorded a disco version of the song in 1975.[65]
* Josie and the Pussycats, another Archie Comics creation, covered the song (as "Candy Girl (Sugar Sugar)") in the first season of the TV series Riverdale.[66]
* Homer Simpson from The Simpsons sings the song during the hallucination scene in episode "Boy-Scoutz 'n the Hood".

## In popular culture

[edit]

The song has been featured in various intellectual properties, such as Bee Movie, Compagni di scuola, Eddsworld, The Simpsons, and Family Guy.[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sugar Sugar: The Birth of Bubblegum Pop – Various Artists – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
2. ^ Read, Maddy (August 22, 2021). "Bubblegum pop: 'Commercialized, computerized and easy to sing to'". The Crimson White. Retrieved March 15, 2023. "Tracks that cemented their places in history as a part of the first wave of bubblegum pop include 'Saturday Night' by Bay City Rollers, 'Sugar Sugar' by the Archies and 'Indian Lake' by the Cowsills."
3. ^ Andy, Kim; Jeff, Barry; Archies, The (January 23, 2007). "Sugar, Sugar". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
4. ^ "50 Years Later, The Archies' 'Sugar, Sugar' Is Still 'Really Sweet'". Text.npr.org. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
5. ^ a b "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
6. ^ "The Archies - Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y-D.O.O)". Discogs. 1968. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
7. ^ Valcourt, Keith (March 26, 2017). "Archies singer Ron Dante: 'Cartoon Band Man'". The Washington Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
8. ^ Chaikin, Andrew (1994). A Man on the Moon. Penguin Putnam. p. 254\. ISBN 0140272011.
9. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Searchable database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
Search Artist: Archies
10. ^ Grein, Paul (May 14, 1989). "New Golden Rule: 500,000 Sales Mark for All Singles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
11. ^ "HOT 100 60TH ANNIVERSARY". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
12. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s: an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 276\. ISBN 0668064595. "In Britain the disc (RCA label) was No 1 for eight weeks and sold over a million there"
13. ^ "Award". BPI. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
14. ^ Brian Currin. "South African Singles Chart". Rock.co.za. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
15. ^ "Sugar Sugar". Cshf.ca. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
16. ^ "Billboard Magazine, September 27 1969" (PDF). p. 80. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
17. ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 4 October 1969". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
18. ^ "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1969". Top100singles.net.
19. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
20. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
21. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in French). Ultratop 50.
22. ^ "Billboard Magazine, December 27 1969" (PDF). p. 41. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5955." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
24. ^ "Billboard Magazine, January 3 1970" (PDF). p. 51. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
25. ^ Timo (August 13, 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit ANC - ARK". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
26. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sugar Sugar". Irish Singles Chart.
28. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Archies".
29. ^ "Billboard Magazine, September 6 1969" (PDF). p. 103. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
30. ^ "Billboard Magazine, December 13 1969" (PDF). p. 77. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
31. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Archies The" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
32. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
33. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar". VG-lista.
34. ^ "Billboard Magazine, August 30 1969" (PDF). p. 68. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
35. ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
36. ^ "Billboard Magazine, December 20 1969" (PDF). p. 73. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
37. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
38. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 1969). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
39. ^ "Billboard Magazine, January 24 1970" (PDF). p. 88. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
40. ^ "The Archies – Sugar Sugar". Swiss Singles Chart.
41. ^ "World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: ARCHIES". Artsisteschartsventes.blogspot.com. December 25, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
42. ^ "Archies: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
43. ^ "The Archies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
44. ^ "The Archies Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
45. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 9/13/69". cashboxmagazine.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
46. ^ "RPM Top Singles of 1969". Library and Archives Canada. RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
47. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1969". Retrieved September 3, 2020.
48. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1969". Retrieved September 3, 2020.
49. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1969". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
50. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
51. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
52. ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2018.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969
53. ^ "International - Cash Box - Germany" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 31, no. 31\. February 28, 1970. p. 59. Retrieved March 3, 2021 - via World Radio History.
54. ^ "International - Cash Box - Mexico" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 31, no. 34\. March 21, 1970. p. 68. Retrieved March 3, 2021 - via World Radio History.
55. ^ "British single certifications – The Archies – Sugar Sugar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
56. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s: an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 276\. ISBN 0668064595. "It got to No 1 for four weeks with 22 weeks in the bestsellers, and by October passed the three million sale in the U.S.A."
57. ^ "American single certifications – The Archies – Sugar, Sugar". Recording Industry Association of America.
58. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s: an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 276\. ISBN 0668064595. "It was also No 1 in many countries including Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Germany, and Mexico, and sales brought the global tally up to six million, making it the top disc of 1969"
59. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 25, 2970" (PDF).
60. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 233\. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
61. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 4, 1970" (PDF).
62. ^ "Sakkarin". The Official Charts Company.
63. ^ "Sakkarin". The Irish Charts.
64. ^ "Sakkarin: Sugar Sugar". Offizielle Deutsche Charts.
65. ^ "Ron Dante". Spectropop.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
66. ^ "Riverdale: Season 1 (Original Television Soundtrack)". iTunes. May 12, 2017. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018.

## Sources

[edit]

* The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, fifth edition. ISBN 978-0823076772. Billboard Books. 2003

* v
* t
* e

The Archies

* Ron Dante
* Toni Wine

Albums|

* The Archies
* Everything's Archie
* Jingle Jangle
* Sunshine
* The Archies Christmas Album

Singles|

* "Bang-Shang-A-Lang"
* "Feelin' So Good (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.)"
* "Sugar, Sugar"
* "Jingle Jangle"
* "Who's Your Baby?"
* "Sunshine"
* "Together We Two"

Related articles|

* The Archie Show
* "Seventeen Ain't Young"
* Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
* The Archies
* "Chapter Seventy-Four: Wicked Little Town"

* v
* t
* e

Wilson Pickett

Albums|

* The Exciting Wilson Pickett (1966)
* The Sound of Wilson Pickett (1967)
* Hey Jude (1969)
* Right On (1970)
* Wilson Pickett in Philadelphia (1970)
* Funky Situation (1978)
* American Soul Man (1987)

Singles|

* "If You Need Me" (1963)
* "In the Midnight Hour" (1965)
* "634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)" (1966)
* "Land of a Thousand Dances" (1966)
* "Mustang Sally" (1966)
* "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" (1967)
* "Funky Broadway" (1967)
* "Stagger Lee" (1967)
* "Hey Jude" (1968)
* "Born to Be Wild" (1969)
* "Hey Joe" (1969)
* "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (1969)
* "Sugar, Sugar" (1969)
* "Don't Knock My Love" (1971)
* "Mama Told Me Not to Come" (1972)

Related articles|

* The Falcons

* v
* t
* e

Andy Kim

Studio albums|

* Baby I Love You
* Andy Kim

Singles|

* "Baby, I Love You"
* "Be My Baby"
* "Rock Me Gently"
* "Oh, Pretty Woman"

Songwriting credits|

* "Jingle Jangle"
* "Sugar, Sugar"

Cover songs|

* "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"
* "If I Were a Carpenter"
* "This Guy's in Love with You"

* v
* t
* e

Billboard Year-End number one singles (1960–1979)

* 1960: "Theme from A Summer Place" – Percy Faith
* 1961: "Tossin' and Turnin'" – Bobby Lewis
* 1962: "Stranger on the Shore" – Mr. Acker Bilk
* 1963: "Sugar Shack" – Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs / "Surfin' U.S.A." – The Beach Boys
* 1964: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" – The Beatles
* 1965: "Wooly Bully" – Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
* 1966: "The Ballad of the Green Berets" – SSgt Barry Sadler / "California Dreamin'" – The Mamas & the Papas
* 1967: "To Sir with Love" – Lulu
* 1968: "Hey Jude" – The Beatles
* 1969: "Sugar, Sugar" – The Archies
* 1970: "Bridge over Troubled Water" – Simon & Garfunkel
* 1971: "Joy to the World" – Three Dog Night
* 1972: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Roberta Flack
* 1973: "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" – Tony Orlando and Dawn
* 1974: "The Way We Were" – Barbra Streisand
* 1975: "Love Will Keep Us Together" – Captain & Tennille
* 1976: "Silly Love Songs" – Wings
* 1977: "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" – Rod Stewart
* 1978: "Shadow Dancing" – Andy Gibb
* 1979: "My Sharona" – The Knack

* Complete list
* (1946–1959)
* (1960–1979)
* (1980–1999)
* (2000–2019)
* (2020–present)

* v
* t
* e

Best-selling singles by year in the United Kingdom

1950s|

* 1952: "Here in My Heart" – Al Martino
* 1953: "I Believe" – Frankie Laine
* 1954: "Secret Love" – Doris Day
* 1955: "Rose Marie" – Slim Whitman
* 1956: "I'll Be Home" – Pat Boone
* 1957: "Diana" – Paul Anka
* 1958: "Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis Presley
* 1959: "Living Doll" – Cliff Richard (UK)

1960s|

* 1960: "It's Now or Never" – Elvis Presley
* 1961: "Wooden Heart" – Elvis Presley
* 1962: "I Remember You" – Frank Ifield (UK)
* 1963: "She Loves You" – The Beatles (UK)
* 1964: "Can't Buy Me Love" – The Beatles (UK)
* 1965: "Tears" – Ken Dodd (UK)
* 1966: "Green, Green Grass of Home" – Tom Jones (UK)
* 1967: "Release Me" – Engelbert Humperdinck (UK)
* 1968: "Hey Jude" – The Beatles (UK)
* 1969: "Sugar, Sugar" – The Archies

1970s|

* 1970: "The Wonder of You" – Elvis Presley / "In the Summertime" – Mungo Jerry (UK)
* 1971: "My Sweet Lord" – George Harrison (UK)
* 1972: "Amazing Grace" – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (UK)
* 1973: "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
* 1974: "Tiger Feet" – Mud (UK)
* 1975: "Bye Bye Baby" – Bay City Rollers (UK)
* 1976: "Save Your Kisses for Me" – Brotherhood of Man (UK)
* 1977: "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" – Wings (UK)
* 1978: "Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring" – Boney M.
* 1979: "Bright Eyes" – Art Garfunkel

1980s|

* 1980: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – The Police (UK)
* 1981: "Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (UK) / "Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (UK)
* 1982: "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners (UK)
* 1983: "Karma Chameleon" – Culture Club (UK)
* 1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid (UK)
* 1985: "The Power of Love" – Jennifer Rush
* 1986: "Don't Leave Me This Way" – The Communards (UK)
* 1987: "Never Gonna Give You Up" – Rick Astley (UK)
* 1988: "Mistletoe and Wine" – Cliff Richard (UK)
* 1989: "Ride on Time" – Black Box

1990s|

* 1990: "Unchained Melody" – The Righteous Brothers
* 1991: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" – Bryan Adams
* 1992: "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston
* 1993: "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" – Meat Loaf
* 1994: "Love Is All Around" – Wet Wet Wet (UK)
* 1995: "Unchained Melody" – Robson & Jerome (UK)
* 1996: "Killing Me Softly" – Fugees
* 1997: "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" / "Candle in the Wind 1997" – Elton John (UK)
* 1998: "Believe" – Cher
* 1999: "...Baby One More Time" – Britney Spears

2000s|

* 2000: "Can We Fix It?" – Bob the Builder (UK)
* 2001: "It Wasn't Me" – Shaggy featuring Rikrok (UK)
* 2002: "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" – Will Young (UK)
* 2003: "Where Is the Love?" – Black Eyed Peas
* 2004: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid 20 (UK)
* 2005: "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay (UK)
* 2006: "Crazy" – Gnarls Barkley
* 2007: "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis (UK)
* 2008: "Hallelujah" – Alexandra Burke (UK)
* 2009: "Poker Face" – Lady Gaga

2010s|

* 2010: "Love the Way You Lie" – Eminem featuring Rihanna
* 2011: "Someone like You" – Adele (UK)
* 2012: "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra
* 2013: "Blurred Lines" – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams
* 2014: "Happy" – Pharrell Williams
* 2015: "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson (UK) featuring Bruno Mars
* 2016: "One Dance" – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla (UK)
* 2017: "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran (UK)
* 2018: "One Kiss" – Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa (UK)
* 2019: "Someone You Loved" – Lewis Capaldi (UK)

2020s|

* 2020: "Blinding Lights" – The Weeknd
* 2021: "Bad Habits" – Ed Sheeran (UK)
* 2022: "As It Was" – Harry Styles (UK)
* 2023: "Flowers" – Miley Cyrus
* 2024: "Stick Season" - Noah Kahan

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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