January 1998, but we take a quick step into the early twentieth century…
You Make Me Wanna…, by Usher (his 1st of four #1s)
1 week, from 25th January – 1st February 1998
Since the mid-1990s, the British charts have been very British-led. This sounds like an obvious statement, but hear me out. In 1996, the only American acts to top the charts were the Fugees, twice (one of which was, to be fair, the year’s highest-seller), and Deep Blue Something. Back in 1994, it was only Prince and Mariah Carey. 1993 saw honorary American Shaggy, Meat Loaf, and a Will Smith-Jazzy Jeff combo. Compare that to 1990, when seven US acts made number one…
Clearly the fact that European-style dance music and Britpop were the big musical movements of the mid-nineties meant that the States didn’t get much of a look-in at the top of the charts. But 1997 saw a reversal of that trend, with #1 hits from the rogues gallery of R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, and Puff Daddy, plus No Doubt, Hanson, and Will Smith. 1998 will continue this way, starting with an up and coming eighteen-year-old called Usher.
I’ll admit that I padded this post out with the preceding couple of paragraphs because I’ve never found this sort of late-90s, twitchy, minimalist R&B very interesting. It’s very modern, sounding more like what’s to come in the early ‘00s than what’s come before, and Usher’s vocals are impressive. I do like his freestyles towards the end of the song, where he sounds like a more muscular Michael Jackson. He certainly doesn’t sound like a teenager here.
But it largely washes over me without really registering. This was the sound of the Billboard charts at the time, and there’s a significance to it topping the UK charts now. It reminds me of some early Destiny’s Child tracks from the same time, with the same jerky, pizzicato production. But I like ‘Bills Bills Bills’ much more than ‘You Make Me Wanna…’, which I can only explain through the fact that Beyoncé just makes things better.
Still, it introduces one of the big names of modern pop music. This was Usher’s first British hit, though he’d have to wait a couple more years to become a huge chart force. He’ll have four chart-toppers over an impressive twelve-year span (with at least one genuine banger) and a Top 10 career that will last the best part of two decades.
Again, this January is providing an interesting mix of one-week #1s that might not have made the top at any other time of year. A slow-burn girl group classic, Oasis at their most overblown, and a glimpse into the charts of the future. On a personal note, ‘You Make Me Wanna…’ (why the ellipsis?) was my twelfth birthday number one. Meh. Had I been born a day later I could have claimed the cheesy tune that is to come…
The UK Number Ones Blog 
“dont be negative don’t be negative” ….next song please! I have heard of him though…by name.
I liked this one, but never loved it as such, his 00’s biggies had a bit more oomph, I tended to file Usher under “pleasant but forgettable” for the most part – the one I most rate next is a chart-topper…
As a kid of the 2000s, I grew up on Usher’s music, so I can’t knock the dude’s music. He’s as much apart of my childhood as Eminem, Linkin Park, Kanye West, Coldplay and Green Day. My older cousin played Confessions constantly in the mid-2000s so I’m very familiar with that era of his career in particular. He’s got some bangers. Great performer and singer too, but that’s to be expected of a mainstream R&B artist.
This is an okay song. Definitely not one of his best. His vocals are the best part of the song. But otherwise it’s pretty forgettable. I don’t think I’ll remember this song after writing this comment.