Robbie's Angels tops list of No 1 should-have-beens

Robbie Williams’ Angels has come top of a list of songs which should have made it to number one – but never did.

Fri, 13 Aug, 2004 - 12:09

Robbie Williams’ Angels has come top of a list of songs which should have made it to number one – but never did.

The song, written with former collaborator Guy Chambers, remains one of the ex-Take That singer’s most popular tunes.

Released in December 1997, the ballad only got to number four while the top slot was taken by children’s favourite The Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!

Music fans have compiled a list of 50 songs which should have made it to the top of the UK charts but failed.

Stars who were unfairly denied a number one include pop queen Madonna, rockers Bon Jovi and Oasis.

The Guns n’ Roses classic Sweet Child O’ Mine became a rock anthem following its release in 1988.

But the classic, which takes 20th place in the poll for TV music channel VH1, only made it to 24th place in the UK Chart.

Other songs which should have made it to number one but didn’t include U2 ballad With or Without You. It only reached number four in 1987.

A-Ha’s Take on Me, which reached number two but was denied a number one by David Bowie and Mick Jagger’s Dancing in the Street, is also on the list.

Queen’s I Want to Break Free, which got to number three when the number one was Hello by Lionel Richie, also makes it into the poll.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which went to number 10, takes ninth place in the poll alongside the troubled star’s Smooth Criminal, which peaked at number eight.

Others in the list are Madonna’s Ray of Light – which reached number two in 1998 and was beaten to number one by All Saints’ Under the Bridge/Lady Marmalade; and Bon Jovi’s Livin on a Prayer, which reached number four in 1986, when Every Loser Wins by ex-EastEnders star Nick Berry claimed number one.

The Oasis hit Wonderwall, which reached number two and was denied the number one by Robson and Jerome’s I Believe/Up on the Roof and Queen’s Radio Ga Ga, which reached number two and was denied number one by Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax, should have also made the top slot, according to music fans.

Nearly 30,000 votes were cast for the poll for VH1, which is showing its list of the best number ones this weekend.

The Ones That Never Were – Top 20

1. Robbie Williams – Angels

2. Savage Garden – Truly, Madly, Deeply

3. Aerosmith – I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing

4. Ultravox – Vienna

5. Madonna – Ray of Light

6. Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer

7. Oasis – Wonderwall

8. Queen – Radio Ga Ga

9. Michael Jackson – Thriller

10. Bon Jovi – Always