Cher, George Michael, U2 & Culture Club Make U.K. History

10/26/1998 2:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(10/26/98, 12 p.m. PST) - For the first time ever, the top five singles on the British charts are new entries. But while the singles may be new to the chart, the artists are all veterans.

Leading the pack is Cher, whose new single "Believe" is in the No. 1 position. According to the BBC, Cher was so jazzed by her success, she said she couldn't be happier "if she had twins."

While Cher's career dates back to the mid-'60s, when she was half of the duo Sonny & Cher, the artists in the No. 2-4 positions are all '80s staples. George Michael, who last made headlines when he was arrested for lewd conduct in a Beverly Hills, Calif. public restroom, is back with a No. 2 hit, "Outdoors."

Following closely behind at No. 3 is U2 with the "Sweetest Thing," which is a new-and-improved version of a track that was originally issued as the B-side of "Where The Streets Have No Name" back in 1987.

Michael isn't the only George in the history-making U.K. top 5. Boy George and the reunited Culture Club have yet to recapture the hearts of the American public, but the Brits still seemingly understand. "I Just Wanna Be Loved," the first single from the reformed combo, is popular enough to debut at No. 4.

Rounding out the Brit top five is relative newcomer Alanis Morissette, whose "Thank U," is proving to be a monster hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

To read myLAUNCH's exclusive full-length Culture Club feature, click here. And stay tuned for a new exclusive feature on Alanis Morissette (a Jagged Little Pill-era Q&A with Alanis is available now in the myLAUNCH archives by clicking here.)