This is a summary of 2003 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year. Whilst weeks at number one began to increase with significant numbers acheiving 4 week runs, and the Black Eyed Peas breaking a chart record in the 21st century, single sales rapidly plummeted, decreasing by 34% since 2002. The year became the first in ten not to contain a million selling single. The year was particularly successful for Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne, Christina Aguilera. Dido and Beyonce Knowles.

Summary

January

Remaining at the top from 2002, new girl band, Girls Aloud spent the first 2 weeks of the year at the top of the charts with their debut single "Sound Of The Underground". As one talent show winner left the top, another was responsible for their replacement. This time from BBC's Fame Academy, David Sneddon was a busker before he got on the show as a late replacement. He eventually became the winner and released his debut single "Stop Living The Lie", which came in at the top of the UK charts and remained on the top for 2 weeks. He'd retired from performing by the end of the year.

After the release of her debut single, "Complicated", which made #3 in the singles charts, Avril Lavigne's debut album, Let Go climbed up to the top of the albums charts for 3 weeks. Consequently, she became the youngest female solo artist to top the albums chart at only 17 years of age. The album spawned three other Top 40 hits, the upbeat "Sk8er Boi", the powerful "Losing Grip" and the loneliness ballad "I'm With You". None of these hits equalled the success of her debut single, the highest peaking at #7.

February

Hitting the Russian charts 3 years earlier, female lesbian duo, Tatu released their debut single, "All The Things She Said" in the UK and it topped the charts for a ttoal of 4 weeks, taking all of February with it. The video stirred controversy with its images of the two girls and their lesbian actions. However, a positive message was being sent out, the prejudice against homosexuality should stop, because the girls are caged and are being looked upon by people as animals, showing the seclusion from society that can occur if homosexual. They became the first Russian act to make No.1. Their album, 200 Km/H In The Wrong Lane peaked at #12 in the charts and spawned a #7 hit, "Never Gonna Get Us" in May.

After the massive success of his debut single as a solo artist, "Like I Love You" (#2), ex-N-Sync member, Justin Timberlake released his solo album, Justified. Making #6 on its first chart run, it climbed back into the charts and this time made #1 for 2 weeks. Another solo star previously in a successful group took over from Justin. Previously in Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland released her debut album, Simply Deep which topped the charts for one week. Her debut single "Stole", peaked at #2. Following their #1 album from 1999, alternative electronic band, Massive Attack hit the top again with their new album, 100th Window. The album spawned one single hit, "Special Cases" which made #15.

March

Returning to the top of the UK charts for the 4th time, US superstar, Christina Aguilera hit the top with a second release from her second album, Stripped. "Beautiful" contrasted with the upbeat and raunchy "Dirrty", as "Beautiful" was a love ballad that seemed to be very personal to Christina. She received praise from GLAAD because of the positive presentation of homosexual people in the video to the song. Interestingly enough, despite the fact that Britney has received 1 more chart topper than Christina, as of January 2005, Christina has spent more weeks on top of the UK charts than Britney, with "Beautiful" adding another 2 to that list. With the official comic relief song of the year, Gareth Gates returned to the top of the UK charts for a 4th and final time with a cover of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky". Taking it to the top for a 3rd time, Gareth became the only act to get to the top with this single who was not a one-hit wonder.

Returning to the top for a week was Justin Timberlake and his debut album, Justified. By this time, he had released a follow up single to "Like I Love You" from the album. "Cry Me A River", also peaked at #2 and was an emotional ballad creating controversy because many thought the song was about Britney, seeing as there was a Britney look-alike in the video. Taking the top of the albums chart for the following 4 weeks was jazz singer, Norah Jones with her debut album, Come Away With Me. No singles were released from the album, but despite this it was a hugely successful album.

April

Becoming the second single of the year to have a 4 week run at number one, the next chart topper was a re-working of Oliver Cheatham's 1983 #38 hit, "Get Down Saturday Night". Featuring his vocals on the track, "Make Luv" was re-worked by Room 5 and was used in a TV advertisment for Lynx Deodorant. Consequently it sold very well and topped the singles charts for almost the whole of April. The duo did another collaboration, "Music And You" in December as a Christmas release, but it only made #38.

Nu Metal band, Linkin Park hit #1 for the first time with their third album, Meteora. The album spawned 4 single hits, the highest peaking at #10. After a week, rock and roll duo, White Stripes took over for 2 weeks with their debut album, Elephant, spanning the very popular single, "7 Nation Army", which peaked at #7. Returning to the top of the charts with A Rush Of Blood To The Head were Coldplay. This album was previously at #1 in September 2002. It only remained at the top for a week this time.

May

With their 3rd chart single, guitar playing pop trio, Busted scored their first UK chart topper when "You Said No" hit the top. This was their 3rd consecutive Top 3 hit, following their debut single, "That's What I Go To School For" which made #3 in September 2002 and their second single, "Year 3000" which hit #2 in January of this year. "You Said No" was a slightly more lyrics focused compared to their previous 2 singles which had been more tune based. Criticised for making a mockery of rock bands in the new millennium, Busted quickly gained a huge fanbase with young audiences. Taking over after 7 days was German producer, Thomas Bruckner, re-named Tomcraft for his one and only UK single, "Loneliness". It became the second of 9 to spend only a week at the top during the whole of 2003. This was a very good sign for the popularity of singles, however sales were at their all-time low. Back at the top for the first time in 6 years, was soul/r'n'b singer, R Kelly with a track from his new album, Chocolate Factory. "Ignition Remix" was his first #1 single since "I Believe I Can Fly" hit the top in 1997. The single was successful, topping the charts for 4 weeks receiving hugely high levels of airplay across all radio stations.

With her 8th UK #1 album, Madonna returns to the top of the album charts with her new release American Life. The album contained the hits "Love Profusion", "Hollywood", "American Life" and "Die Another Day". The latter was taken from the soundtrack to the James Bond film of the same name, which itself was also a success. Returning to the top yet again was Justin Timberlake and his debut album, Justified, but its stay was only for a week. By this time it had spawned a 3rd #2 single, "Rock Your Body", which saw Justin turn towards dancier pop and show off his moves in the video. Despite the fact that Blur scored a 5th #1 album with their latest release, Think Tank, Justified was not kept from the top for long, returning to the top after a week, for what became its longest consecutive run at the top, ending at 3 weeks. In total, the album had spent 7 weeks at the top.

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Charts

Number 1 Singles

Number 1 Albums

Top 40 Singles of 2003

Top 40 Albums of 2003