In this episode of The 2000s Chart Show, we dive into the weeks that are always crucial in UK pop history: the race for the 2005 Christmas Number One. It’s a year that has it all: Novelty hits, emotional ballads and even alternative rock, and in this episode we revisit a uniquely chaotic moment in 2000s chart culture and music history.

We break down the key releases competing for the top spot: Crazy Frog’s festive chart assault (and assault on our ears), Nizlopi’s breakout viral hit JCB Song, and major pop entries from Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams, McFly, and the unholy team-up of Westlife and Diana Ross.

Less likely contenders include bands like The Subways and Depeche Mode alongside truly left-field contenders such as The Water Babies from a Vodafone ad and the entire England Cricket Team’s singing Jerusalem.

Packed with nostalgia, chart trivia, and cultural context, this episode is essential listening for fans of 2000s pop, UK chart music, Christmas Number One history, and the golden era of CD singles, Top of the Pops, and mid-2000s British music.

Perfect for listeners who love revisiting the songs, artists, and moments that defined the UK music charts in the 2000s.

We must have all been on the naughty list in Christmas 2005, because Santa gave us the horrible gift of the best singer ever to be in a girlband exiting the group.

This huge news eclipsed everything in the chart this week, which is very much a dumping ground before the big race for the Christmas number 1 begins. But we are getting new stuff like an incredibly ill-advised single from Charlotte Church, one of Franz Ferdinand’s best-ever songs and a dance cover of an 80s ballad classic.This week’s The 2000s Chart Show features the following tracks

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Babyshambles - Albion

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

Bob Sinclar feat. Gary Nesta Pine - Love Generation

Braund Reynolds - Rocket (A Natural Gambler)

Charlotte Church - Even God Can’t Change the Past

Craig David - Don’t Love You No More

The Cribs - You’re Gonna Lose Us

Daniel Powter - Bad Day

The Darkness - One Way Ticket

DHT feat. Edmee - Listen to Your Heart

50 Cent - Window Shopper

Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away

Girls Aloud - Biology

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

Herd & Fitz feat. Abigail Bailey - I Just Can’t Get Enough

Kanye West feat. Adam Levine - Heard ‘Em Say

Katie Melua - I Cried For You/Just Like Heaven

Kelly Clarkson - Because of You

KT Tunstall - Under the Weather

Liberty X - A Night to Remember

Madonna - Hung Up

Mystery Jets - Alas Agnes

Oasis - Let There Be Love

Paul Weller - Here’s the Good News

Pharrell feat. Gwen Stefani - Can I Have It Like That

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don’t Cha

Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu

Rihanna - If It’s Lovin That You Want

Robbie Williams - Tripping

The Rolling Stones - Rain Fell Down

Royksopp - What Else Is There

Sean Paul - Ever Blazin’

Simon Webbe - No Worries

The Strokes - Juicebox

Sugababes - Push the Button

Sugababes - Ugly

Tom Novy feat. Michael Marshall - Your Body

Westlife - You Raise Me Up

Will Young - Switch It On

If you still want more 00s pop music fun, subscribe to our Patreon and Substack, follow The 2000s Chart Show over at The App Formerly known as Twitter, TikTok and Instagram, and email us at the2000schartshow@gmail.com with your pop music memories.

If it’s lovin’ (of 2000s pop music) that you want, you’ve come to the right place, as we count down the 40 biggest selling songs of this week in 2005.Is Rihanna destined to be a one hit wonder following Pon De Replay? Will Oasis manage to stop squabbling enough to campaign properly for a number one single? How many times can Pete Doherty get arrested in one year? Will Sean Paul ever release a song not about fire? All will be revealed.

Featuring discussions of the following tracks:Antony & The Johnsons - You Are My Sister

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Babyshambles - Albion

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

Blink-182 - Not Now

Bob Sinclar feat. Gary Nesta Pine - Love Generation

Craig David - Don’t Love You No More

Daniel Powter - Bad Day

The Darkness - One Way Ticket

David Gray - Hospital Food

50 Cent - Window Shopper

Freefaller - She’s My Everything/Basket Case

The Futureheads - Area

Girls Aloud - Biology

Gorillaz - Dare

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

Hilary Duff - Wake Up

Jamie Cullum - Mind Trick

Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger

Kelly Clarkson - Because of You

Liberty X - A Night to Remember

Lil’ Kim - Lighters Up

Madonna - Hung Up

Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure

Oasis - Let There Be Love

Pharrell feat. Gwen Stefani - Can I Have It Like That

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don’t Cha

Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu

Rihanna - If It’s Lovin That You Want

Robbie Williams - Tripping

Sean Paul - Ever Blazin’

Sean Paul - We Be Burnin’

Sigur Ros - Hoppipolla

Simon Webbe - No Worries

Son of Dork - Ticket Outta Loserville

Sugababes - Push the Button

Tom Novy feat. Michael Marshall - Your Body

Westlife - You Raise Me Up

The White Stripes - The Denial Twist

Will Young - Switch It On