“Would you like me to be the cat?”The start of 2006 is a quiet one for the pop music industry before everything starts getting a little weird. But there’s still plenty of nostalgic 2000s pop bangers to enjoy in this our countdown of the 40 biggest-selling songs from this week 20 years ago.

Preston off of Ordinary Boys is in the Big Brother house, the Baywatch theme is being ransacked for two different dance tracks, Richard Ashcroft believes he can fly and Hard-Fi are breaking into Heathrow Airport. So business as usual in terms of the 2000s being berserk then, and we are the only music history podcast to take you through it all.Also on this ep:*We learn how that amazing Sony Bravia ad with the bouncy balls bouncing down the hill to the sound of José Gonzalez was done

*We discover Annie Mac’s brother’s band

*We learn which comedy icon is obsessed with the band Texas Plus the following incredible moments of 2000s pop music nostalgia:Aaron Smith feat. Luvli - Dancin’

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

Brian Kennedy & Peter Corry - George Best: A Tribute

Coldplay - Talk

Crimea - Lottery Winners on Acid

Daniel Powter - Bad Day

DHT feat. Edmee - Listen to Your Heart

Editors - Munich

Eminem - When I’m Gone

Girls Aloud - See the Day

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

Hard-Fi - Cash Machine

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

Hound Dogs - I Like Girls

James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover

James Blunt - You’re Beautiful

José Gonzalez - Heartbeats

Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot/Sink That Ship

Kanye West feat. Adam Levine - Heard ‘Em Say

Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger

Kelly Clarkson - Because of You

The Kooks - You Don’t Love Me

Madonna - Hung Up

Mylo - Muscle Car

Nizlopi - JCB Song

The Ordinary Boys - Boys Will Be Boys

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don’t Cha

Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu

Richard Ashcroft - Break the Night with Colour

Robbie Williams - Advertising Space

Shayne Ward - That’s My Goal

Simon Webbe - No Worries

Sugababes - Push the Button

Sugababes - Ugly

Sunblock - I’ll Be Ready

Texas - Sleep

Tom Novy feat. Michael Marshall - Your Body

Westlife feat. Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me

Westlife - You Raise Me Up

(Head over to our Patreon now to hear our episodes counting down my full 100 favourite songs of 2005)One year, 52 weeks and 500 songs that made it onto the UK top 40. We have crunched the numbers, made some tough decisions and listened to Verbalicious’ Don’t Play Nice on repeat A LOT to whittle it down to the best 40 songs that made it onto the chart 20 years ago.

Expect some songs you’ll love, some songs you probably love to hate and the ultimate celebration for the weird year of pop music that was 2005.

Including songs from Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Arctic Monkeys, Björk, Franz Ferdinand, Sugababes, The White Stripes, Gorillaz and many many more.

One of them is “here to win your heart and soul”. The other is five and his “dad’s Bruce Lee”. Which of them will secure the festive number one in the latest episode of the 2000s pop music history podcast where everyweek we’re reliving the 40 biggest selling songs of this week in 2005.

Other major contenders include the 'last ever' Eminem single, a re-release of Fairytale of New York, a very bad Girls Aloud track, Coldplay, a song actually 'sung' by 'Santa', some absolute Grannybait and one of James Blunt's most miserable tracks.This week’s episode of The 2000s Chart Show features the following tracks:Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

Brian Kennedy - George Best: A Tribute

The Choirboys - Tears in Heaven

Coldplay - Talk

Craig David - Don’t Love You No More

Crazy Frog - Jingle Bells / U Can’t Touch This

Daniel Powter - Bad Day

DHT feat. Edmee - Listen to Your Heart

Eminem - When I’m Gone

50 Cent - Window Shopper

Girls Aloud - Biology

Girls Aloud - See the Day

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

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

Hound Dogs - I Like Girls

James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover

Keedie / England Cricket Team - Jerusalem

Kelly Clarkson - Because of You

Madonna - Hung Up

Mariah Carey - Don’t Forget About Us

Mary J Blige - Be Without You

McFly - Ultraviolet / The Ballad of Paul K

Nizlopi - JCB Song

Oasis - Let There Be Love

The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don’t Cha

Pussycat Dolls - Stickwitu

Rihanna - If It’s Lovin That You Want

Robbie Williams - Advertising Space

Santa Sings - Is This the Way to Amarillo (Santa’s Grotto)

Sean Paul - Ever Blazin’

Shayne Ward - That’s My Goal

Simon Webbe - No Worries

The Strokes - Juicebox

Sugababes - Ugly

Tom Novy feat. Michael Marshall - Your Body

The Water Babies - Under the Tree

Westlife feat. Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me

Westlife - You Raise Me Up

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.

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

On the 2000s charts this week, Christmas is coming, and the charts are getting in the mood with such festive topics as... America’s obsession with guns! Being in love with a straight man (relatable TBH)! Doing things with a radio that would get my episode shadowbanned if I put it in this description!

Winter for many represents the end of things, and so it’s fitting that we also have the end of another attempted boyband, with Freefaller going out with one of the most abysmal covers of the entire 2000s. And no one told 50 Cent that Christmas was a time for goodwill towards all men, as he dedicates his latest single Window Shopper to keeping four different feuds going.In our latest episode, we’re talking all this plus the following 2005 tracks:Alkaline Trio - Mercy Me

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

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

The Dead 60s - Ghostfaced Killer

50 Cent - Window Shopper

Foo Fighters - Resolve

Freefaller - She’s My Everything/Basket Case

Girls Aloud - Biology

Goldie Lookin Chain - R’n’B

Gorillaz - Dare

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia

Hilary Duff - Wake Up

Kaiser Chiefs - Modern Way

Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger

Kelly Clarkson - Behind these Hazel Eyes

Korn - Twisted Transistor

Liberty X - A Night to Remember

Lil’ Kim - Lighters Up

Madonna - Hung Up

Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure

Paul McCartney - Jenny Wren

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

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don’t Cha

Robbie Williams - Tripping

Sean Paul - We Be Burnin’

Simon Webbe - No Worries

Son of Dork - Ticket Outta Loserville

Stereophonics - Rewind

Sugababes - Push the Button

Tom Novy feat. Michael Marshall - Your Body

Uniting Nations feat. Laura More - Ai No Corrida

Various Artists - Ever Fallen in Love With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve

Westlife - You Raise Me Up

The White Stripes - The Denial Twist

Will Young - Switch It On

It is a truth of 2000s pop universally acknowledged that you can’t mistake my biology...but did the British public in the 00s have enough musical taste to put the best Girls Aloud song (and maybe best song of all time?) to number one?Or did they prefer Fergie and her humps, bumps and lovely lady lumps? Or perhaps Will Young’s first attempt at an overtly gay single? The Darkness’ too late comeback? Or even Liberty X’s desperate attempt to stay on the charts with a sad cover for Children in Need?Find out on the latest episode of the 2000s pop music history podcast where every week we’re counting down the 40 biggest selling songs from this week in 2005. This week’s ep also features:-The hilarious feud between Charlotte Church and Cheryl Tweedy-Donny Tourette being thrown off buses, banned from Download Festival and generally being the biggest berk of all time-An inspired ballad take on My Humps-Jack White sending out copies of his single via balloonsPlus the usual 2000s pop music nostalgia, and discussions of the following tracks:Arcade Fire - Wake Up

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

Black Eyed Peas - My Humps

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

Friday Hill - Baby Goodbye

Funeral for a Friend - History

Girls Aloud - Biology

Goldfrapp - Number 1

Gorillaz - Dare

Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia

Hilary Duff - Wake Up

Jamiroquai - (Don’t) Give Hate a Chance

Kaiser Chiefs - Modern Way

Kate Bush - King of the Mountain

Katie Melua - Nine Million Bicycles

Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger

Kelly Clarkson - Behind these Hazel Eyes

Kubb - Wicked Soul

Liberty X - A Night to Remember

Lil’ Kim - Lighters Up

Madonna - Hung Up

The Modern - Jane Falls Down

My Chemical Romance - I’m Not Okay (I Promise)

Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure

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

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - Don’t Cha

Robbie Williams - Tripping

Rosetta Life feat. Billy Bragg - We Laughed

Sean Paul - We Be Burnin’

Simon Webbe - No Worries

Son of Dork - Ticket Outta Loserville

Sugababes - Push the Button

Towers of London - How Rude She Was

Uniting Nations feat. Laura More - Ai No Corrida

Westlife - You Raise Me Up

The White Stripes - The Denial Twist

Will Young - Switch It On