On this day in 2002 Darius went to No.1 in the charts with his debut single, ‘Colourblind’.
Darius sold an amazing 111,900 copies in its first week of release.
This was a HUGE amount to sell and to put it into perspective his nearest rivals Gareth Gates, who was at No.2 that week, sold 52,000 copies of ‘Any One Of Us’. and Will Smith, who was at No.3 with ‘Black Suits Comin’ sold 39,000. He also outsold songs by George Michael and Britney Spears.
Darius, became the third Pop Idol contestant to score a No.1 single in 2002, following Gareth and Will Young, but he was the only one to do so with a song that he had written himself.
Talking to the Daily Record after it was announced that he was Number 1 Darius said:
“I am absolutely over the moon. I'm gobsmacked. Because I left six months between Pop Idol and the release of Colourblind, my aim was just to get into the Top 10.
I didn't think Colourblind would get to No1. For the public to support me like this is incredible.”
He told heat magazine "It's incredible, every dream I’ve ever had seems to be coming true right now."
And speaking to BBC News he said: "This is a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life.
"I am over the moon that people like something that I've written.
"Colourblind is the best way that I can thank the public for their support through Pop Idol, not by churning a cover song out off the back of the incredible success of the programme, but by going in on my own."
He added that he hoped the song “could put smiles on the faces of people.”
It did and it still does Darius, even 21 years on 💛🙏🏻
Top Ten For Sunday 4th August 2002:
1 (New) Darius - Colourblind
2 (1) Gareth Gates - Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake)
3 (New) Will Smith - Black Suits Comin'
4 (New) P Diddy ft Usher & Loon - I Need A Girl (Part One)
5 (2) S Club Juniors - Automatic High
6 (3) Shakira - Underneath Your Clothes
7 (New) Britney Spears ft P Williams - Boys
8 (4) Scooter - The Logical Song
9 (6) Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles
10 (7) Nelly - Hot In Here
You can read some articles that were published in August 2002 about Darius being No.1 below:
The Scotsman, Monday 5th August 2002:
BBC News Website, Sunday 4th August 2002:
heat Magazine, 10th - 16th August 2002:
The Daily Record, Monday 5th August 2002:
POP idol Darius Danesh's dream came true last night after he shot straight to the top of the charts with his debut single Colourblind.
There were tears of joy from the 21-year-old Scot as he got the call to confirm he had made it to No1 at 2pm yesterday.
And there was a special word of thanks for the Daily Record after we presented him with a specially made- up front page to honour his achievement.
Darius, with parents Booth and Avril and brothers Cyrus and Aria, celebrated with champagne at the family home in Bearsden, Glasgow, before setting off on a boating trip on Loch Lomond.
And the chart-topper promised fans: "The best is yet to come."
Darius said: "I am absolutely over the moon. I'm gobsmacked. Because I left six months between Pop Idol and the release of Colourblind, my aim was just to get into the Top 10.
"I didn't think Colourblind would get to No1. For the public to support me like this is incredible.
"I appreciate the Scottish support which has helped me to get to No1.
"I feel very grateful to the Record for their support and to everyone who has bought the single."
Colourblind outsold singles by George Michael, Britney Spears and Pop Idol rival Gareth Gates.
Unlike the other Pop Idol finalists, Darius wrote the song himself and turned down the chance to sign to Simon Cowell's BMG label - which has churned out cover versions by Will Young and Gates.
Instead, Darius penned a deal with the Mercury label, a decision which he admits could have backfired.
He said: "It was a big risk turning down Simon Cowell but auditioning for Pop Idol a year ago was also a huge risk. That was the biggest decision I'd ever had to make."
Darius is now halfway to fulfilling the prophecy he made when he was chucked out of Popstars.
He recalled: "I told Nasty Nigel I'd get to No 1 and have a platinum album before I was 35. Now that could come true long before then but I just want to make good music."
He will go back into the studio this week before returning to Scotland for next weekend's One Big Sunday concert in Falkirk.
He admitted "I can't wait. I'll be singing as though I was at home with my guitar except I'll probably be singing a bit louder."
The Liverpool Echo, Monday 5th August 2002
POP IDOL semi-finalist Darius Danesh was today ``over the moon'' after his debut single stormed straight in at number one in the UK charts.
The Glaswegian singer, 21, knocked his friend and fellow contestant Gareth Gates off the top spot with the self-penned track Colourblind in the first week of its release.
Ending Gates's three weeks at the top with Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake), now at number two, makes Darius the third Pop Idol star to land a number one after Gates and contest winner Will Young.
Newsround Website, Monday 4th August 2002
