This week in 1997

1 Barbie Girl Aqua

2 Torn Natalie Imbruglia

3 Tell Him Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion

4 Spice Up Your Life Spice Girls

5 Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle In The Wind Elton John

6 Choose Life PF Project feat Ewan McGregor

7 Open Road Gary Barlow

8 James Bond Theme Moby

9 Stay Sash! Feat La Trec

10 Put Your Arms Around Me Texas Few songs are as reviled as ‘Barbie Girl’ from

Danish-Norwegian dance pop group Aqua.

And yet, since its release

20 years ago, it has sold more than eight million copies around the world and currently ranks as the thirteenth best selling single of all time in the

UK. The song about Barbie and Ken was the subject of a lengthy lawsuit in the US as toymakers Mattel claimed the lyrics violated their trademark and turned Barbie into a sex object, therefore tarnishing the brand. Aqua and their record company MCA countersued for defamation. Both cases were eventually thrown out in the courts, the judge in the latter advising both parties to ‘chill’.