Kylie and Jason's Especially For You hits one million UK sales. Kylie: "I'm thrilled!"

It was the Christmas Number 1 that never was, but Kylie and Jason’s classic finally reaches a milestone of its very own, 26 years after first charting!
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In 1988, the UK was in the throes of a serious case of Kylie fever. Kicking off with a five-week run at Number 1 with debut single I Should Be So Lucky, and scoring three Number 2 hits, Kylie Minogue certainly made sure the year belonged to her.

Making the transition from teatime favourite on Australian soap Neighbours to fully-fledged popstar, the only thing hotter than Kylie’s chart career was gossip about her relationship with her on-screen paramour Jason Donovan. It was the “are they or aren’t they?” that had the nation gripped, and what better way to fan the flames than bring the perfect couple together to record a romantic duet and make a play for the coveted Christmas Number 1 spot? Especially For You was born!

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Above: Kylie and Jason's Especially For You original artwork

WIN: Special edition reissues of Kylie's first four albums up for grabs! Enter now!

26 years ago, Especially For You made its debut at Number 2, and the Official Charts Company can confirm that Kylie and Jason’s classic duet has now sold over a million copies.

Speaking exclusively to OfficialCharts.com, Kylie told us: “I’m thrilled to hear ‘Especially For You’ has become a million seller! Although so much time has passed since Jason and I recorded it in Sydney with Mike Stock, it has the ability to transport us all back to that time. It’s so touching to have a song which has a place in so many peoples’ hearts and one which remains a huge fan favourite.”

Especially For You is only the 154th single to join the exclusive million sellers’ club, and it’s the second time Kylie’s bagged herself a membership. The star’s 2001 Number 1 Can’t Get You Out Of My Head has also reached the million sales milestone. Especially For You was the second of seven Number 1s for everyone's favourite pop princess.

It’s also the second million-selling single for legendary music impresario Pete Waterman, who produced StepsHeartbeat/Tragedy, which achieved the feat in 1999.

Especially For You was Jason Donovan's first Number 1 – he'd have three more – so it's only fitting it should be his first million-seller too!

The story goes that there was never supposed to be a duet between the two stars, but PWL – the hit factory where all Kylie and Jason’s early hits came from – were inundated with phone calls wondering when the rumoured lovers’ single would be hitting the shops. Sensing they had a ready-made hit on their hands, ‘80s legendary producers Stock Aitken and Waterman got on the case.

Reminiscing about what was to become a huge pop moment, Pete Waterman tells OfficialCharts.com: "This was one of those records that nearly never made it. We mixed it – then scrapped it – started a new one with only the vocals, had 6 hours to do it all, mix it, and get it to the factory! We did it and it went on to sell over a million. Those were the days!"

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Above: Original masters for Kylie and Jason's Especially For You show the track was finished just a few days before release!

When released, the track seemed like a shoo-in for the Christmas Number 1 spot, but while 1988 was the year our two bright former soapstars broke through, a pop veteran decided Christmas was going to be his.

Cliff Richard’s singalong, not to mention swayalong, Mistletoe and Wine proved to be strong competition for the starry-eyed duo, and they had to settle for second place as the Official Christmas Number 1 turkey was being dished out. Thye stayed at Number 2 for a whole month!

All was not lost for Kylie and Jason, however… Cliff’s residency at the Number 1 spot couldn’t last for ever, much like the Christmas tree from your living room, and Kylie and Jason made that final push to become the first Number 1 of 1989, remaining there for three weeks!

And what completed the Top 3 the week Kylie and Jason debuted in the Official Singles Chart? Why, it was none other than Angry Anderson’s Suddenly – the song that soundtracked Kylie and Jason onscreen wedding as Neighbours’ star-crossed lovers Scott and Charlene. There really was no escape!

Kylie and Jason shippers were in their element two years ago when the pair reunited on stage to sing Especially For You at PWL's Hit Factory Live concert.

Got any memories of this classic track? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter and we can talk about it together, togeeeeeeeether.

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Main photo and above photo: Grant Matthews

The UK's million-selling singles

YEAR OF RELEASE TITLE ARTIST
2014 RATHER BE CLEAN BANDIT
2013 COUNTING STARS ONEREPUBLIC
2013 LA LA LA NAUGHTY BOY FT SAM SMITH
2013 HAPPY PHARRELL WILLIAMS
2013 BLURRED LINES ROBIN THICKE FT TI & PHARRELL
2013 GET LUCKY DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS & NILE RODGERS
2013 WAKE ME UP AVICII
2012 DIAMONDS RIHANNA
2012 LET HER GO PASSENGER
2012 CALL ME MAYBE CARLY RAE JEPSEN
2012 GANGNAM STYLE PSY
2012 IMPOSSIBLE JAMES ARTHUR
2011 MOVES LIKE JAGGER MAROON 5 FT CHRISTINA AGUILERA
2011 PARTY ROCK ANTHEM LMFAO FT LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK
2011 GIVE ME EVERYTHING PITBULL FT NE-YO, AFROJACK, NAYER
2011 PRICE TAG JESSIE J FT B.O.B
2011 SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW GOTYE FT KIMBRA
2011 SOMEONE LIKE YOU ADELE
2011 THE A TEAM ED SHEERAN
2011 TITANIUM DAVID GUETTA FT SIA
2011 WE ARE YOUNG FUN FT JANELLE MONAE
2011 WE FOUND LOVE RIHANNA FT CALVIN HARRIS
2010 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) BRUNO MARS
2010 ROLLING IN THE DEEP ADELE
2010 LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE EMINEM FT RIHANNA
2010 FIREWORK KATY PERRY
2010 ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) RIHANNA
2010 WHEN WE COLLIDE MATT CARDLE
2009 BAD ROMANCE LADY GAGA
2009 FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE CHERYL COLE
2009 I GOTTA FEELING BLACK EYED PEAS
2009 POKER FACE LADY GAGA
2008 HALLELUJAH ALEXANDRA BURKE
2008 SEX ON FIRE KINGS OF LEON
2008 USE SOMEBODY KINGS OF LEON
2007 BLEEDING LOVE LEONA LEWIS
2007 RULE THE WORLD TAKE THAT
2006 CHASING CARS SNOW PATROL
2006 CRAZY GNARLS BARKLEY
2005 (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY
2005 THAT'S MY GOAL SHAYNE WARD
2004 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? BAND AID 20
2002 ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN WILL YOUNG
2002 UNCHAINED MELODY GARETH GATES
2001 CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD KYLIE MINOGUE
2001 IT WASN'T ME SHAGGY FT RIKROK
2001 PURE AND SIMPLE HEAR'SAY
2001 WHOLE AGAIN ATOMIC KITTEN
2000 CAN WE FIX IT? BOB THE BUILDER
1999 ...BABY ONE MORE TIME BRITNEY SPEARS
1999 BLUE (DA BA DEE) EIFFEL 65
1998 HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY STEPS
1998 BELIEVE CHER
1998 I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING AEROSMITH
1998 MY HEART WILL GO ON CELINE DION
1998 NO MATTER WHAT BOYZONE
1997 ANGELS ROBBIE WILLIAMS
1997 BARBIE GIRL AQUA
1997 I'LL BE MISSING YOU PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS
1997 IT'S LIKE THAT RUN-DMC VS JASON NEVINS
1997 NEVER EVER ALL SAINTS
1997 PERFECT DAY VARIOUS ARTISTS
1997 SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT / CANDLE IN THE WIND '97 ELTON JOHN
1997 TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" TELETUBBIES
1997 TORN NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
1996 2 BECOME 1 SPICE GIRLS
1996 KILLING ME SOFTLY FUGEES
1996 SPACEMAN BABYLON ZOO
1996 THREE LIONS BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS
1996 WANNABE SPICE GIRLS
1995 BACK FOR GOOD TAKE THAT
1995 EARTH SONG MICHAEL JACKSON
1995 GANGSTA'S PARADISE COOLIO FT LV
1995 I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF ROBSON & JEROME
1995 MYSTERIOUS GIRL PETER ANDRE FT BUBBLER RANX
1995 UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN
1995 WONDERWALL OASIS
1994 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU MARIAH CAREY
1994 LOVE IS ALL AROUND WET WET WET
1994 SATURDAY NIGHT WHIGFIELD
1994 THINK TWICE CELINE DION
1992 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU WHITNEY HOUSTON
1991 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU BRYAN ADAMS
1989 RIDE ON TIME BLACK BOX
1988 ESPECIALLY FOR YOU KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN
1987 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL
1985 THE POWER OF LOVE JENNIFER RUSH
1984 CARELESS WHISPER GEORGE MICHAEL
1984 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? BAND AID
1984 GHOSTBUSTERS RAY PARKER JR.
1984 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU STEVIE WONDER
1984 LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS WHAM!
1984 TWO TRIBES FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
1983 BLUE MONDAY NEW ORDER
1983 KARMA CHAMELEON CULTURE CLUB
1983 RELAX FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
1983 RED RED WINE UB40
1983 UPTOWN GIRL BILLY JOEL
1982 COME ON EILEEN DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS
1982 EYE OF THE TIGER SURVIVOR
1982 FAME IRENE CARA
1982 THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT TIGHT FIT
1981 DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' JOURNEY
1981 DON'T YOU WANT ME? HUMAN LEAGUE
1981 STAND & DELIVER ADAM AND THE ANTS
1981 TAINTED LOVE SOFT CELL
1979 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) PINK FLOYD
1979 BRIGHT EYES ART GARFUNKEL
1979 HEART OF GLASS BLONDIE
1979 I WILL SURVIVE GLORIA GAYNOR
1978 HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS
1978 MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD BONEY M
1978 RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING BONEY M
1978 SUMMER NIGHTS JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
1978 YMCA VILLAGE PEOPLE
1978 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
1977 I FEEL LOVE DONNA SUMMER
1977 MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL WINGS
1976 DANCING QUEEN ABBA
1976 DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA JULIE COVINGTON
1976 DON'T GIVE UP ON US DAVID SOUL
1976 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE
1976 SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
1976 UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE SHOWADDYWADDY
1975 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY QUEEN
1975 IMAGINE JOHN LENNON
1975 SAILING ROD STEWART
1973 I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE GARY GLITTER
1973 MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY SLADE
1973 TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE DAWN FT TONY ORLANDO
1972 EYE LEVEL THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA
1972 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND
1971 I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING THE NEW SEEKERS
1969 SUGAR SUGAR THE ARCHIES
1968 HEY JUDE THE BEATLES
1967 RELEASE ME ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
1967 THE LAST WALTZ ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
1966 GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME TOM JONES
1965 TEARS KEN DODD
1965 THE CARNIVAL IS OVER THE SEEKERS
1965 UNCHAINED MELODY THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
1964 CAN'T BUY ME LOVE THE BEATLES
1964 I FEEL FINE THE BEATLES
1964 WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER THE BEATLES
1963 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND THE BEATLES
1963 SHE LOVES YOU THE BEATLES
1962 I REMEMBER YOU FRANK IFIELD
1962 THE YOUNG ONES CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS
1961 STRANGER ON THE SHORE MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND
1960 IT'S NOW OR NEVER ELVIS PRESLEY
1957 DIANA PAUL ANKA
1957 MARY'S BOY CHILD HARRY BELAFONTE
1955 (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS
1942 WHITE CHRISTMAS BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA

©2015 Official Charts Company . All rights reserved.

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