The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom. Since 2004 the chart has been based on the sales of both physical singles and digital downloads, with airplay figures excluded from the official chart. This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 2006, as well as singles which peaked in 2005 but were in the top 10 in 2006. The entry date is when the song appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and sixty-nine singles were in the top ten in 2006. Nine singles from 2005 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. "When I'm Gone" by Eminem was the only song from 2005 to reach its peak in 2006. Forty-two artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2006. Amy Winehouse, Fall Out Boy, Lily Allen, Ne-Yo and Timbaland were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 2006.
The 2005 Christmas number-one, "That's My Goal" by 2005 X Factor winner Shayne Ward, remained at number-one for the first three weeks of 2006. The first new number-one single of the year was "When the Sun Goes Down" by Arctic Monkeys. Overall, twenty-five different singles peaked at number-one in 2006, with McFly (2) having the most singles hit that position.
Background
Multiple entries
One-hundred and sixty-nine singles charted in 2006, with one-hundred and sixty singles reaching their peak this year (including the re-entries "Fairytale of New York", "Three Lions", "You Got the Love" and "You Spin Me Round" which charted in previous years but reached peaks on their latest chart run).
Forty-two artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2006. American singer Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls had the most top ten singles in 2006 with five. Four of the singles were with her band, the exception being "Come to Me", her debut solo single and a collaboration with P. Diddy. The single peaked at number 4 on 14 October 2006, its first week of release, and spent four weeks in the top 10 in total. The best-performing single with The Pussycat Dolls was "Stickwitu" which had peaked at number-one in 2005. "Beep" reached a high of number 2, "Buttons" landed one place lower and "I Don't Need a Man" was at number seven.
Five artists made the top 10 on four occasions in 2006, including The Pussycat Dolls as a group. British girlband Girls Aloud's tally again included a holdover from 2005, their number 9 hit "See the Day". "Whole Lotta History" went to number six in March, "Something Kinda Oooh" was a top 3 entry in October, while the group finished the year with their number four cover of "I Think We're Alone Now", best known as a hit for Tiffany in 1987.
Madonna had another year of chart success. "Hung Up" had topped the rankings in 2005 but she also had three new entries in 2006. "Sorry" made number-one for a single week on 4 March 2006, "Get Together" reached number seven in August and "Jump" squeezed in at number 9 in November.
Fergie and will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas were the final artists with four top 10 hits this year. will.i.am guested on The Pussycat Dolls' "Buttons", while the other three singles were as part of the band. "My Humps" and "Pump It" both reached number three, and they also got together with Sergio Mendes for a new interpretation of his song Mas Que Nada, taking it to number 6 in July. Fergie's other hit single was her solo debut "London Bridge", which peaked at number three.
Boyband McFly were one of a number of artists with three top-ten entries, including number-one singles "Star Girl" and "Don't Stop Me Now"/"Please, Please" (for Sport Relief). Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, The Black Eyed Peas, The Feeling, Nelly Furtado, The Ordinary Boys, P. Diddy, Pink and Sugababes were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 2006.
Chart debuts
Sixty-two artists achieved their first top 10 single in 2006, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, ten went on to record another hit single that year: Beatfreakz, Fall Out Boy, The Fratellis, Gnarls Barkley, James Morrison, The Kooks, Lily Allen, Ne-Yo, Sunblock and The Zutons. The Feeling and The Ordinary Boys both had two other entries in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
