He Had the Biggest Hit of the ‘00s

CHART REWIND. The biggest UK singles hit of the last decade, Will Young’s “Evergreen,” was performed as the winning song of Pop Idol UK back in 2002. Today, the Idol franchise produces new stars yearly around the world and was followed by X-Factor in the UK. The track was written by the Swedish songwriters Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson and David Kreuger, and had already been recorded by Westlife.

It only appeared on the Westlife’s album World of Our Own, and was never issued as a single. Will Young’s version of the track immediately topped the UK singles chart, staying there for three consecutive weeks.  The track was included on Will Young’s debut album From Now On. That album produced the No.1 singles “Light My Fire,” and “The Long and Winding Road” as well as “Don’t Let Me Down,” which peaked at No.2.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc-sq7cJGho

The second biggest hit of the  ‘00s was “Unchained Melody” with Gareth Gates. He was the runner-up behind Will Young in Pop Idol, and the track succeeded “Evergreen” on the chart.

Will Young hasn’t issued any album since 2008 when Let It Go bowed. The set spawned four singles, yet only one reached the UK Top 10. “Changes” was co-written by Young himself and Eg White of James Morrison fame. In 2009, a greatest hits compilation was issued including the new track “Hopes & Fears.” It flopped as it only managed to reach No.65 in the UK.