Chart Position - Would you rather...
 

have a #1 single which falls out the top 10 after 1 week, or a single that reaches #2 but gradually falls out the top 10 after 8 weeks?

Peaks at #2 but stays longer as it means it will sell more, meaining you make more money, which also means your more popular, meaning if you have a album a greater chance of that charting higher and selling more

Number 1 single

I'd rather have the no.1 no matter how long it lasted in the top10 for.

Number 1 is a number 1 at the end of the day, even though it may not have longetivity, it will still be known as a number one single.

Going off obsessiveness Rule the World was never number 1 but was really popular. So the 2nd option.

I can't think of any examples of the former.

Peak @ #2

peak at 2

for example - rude boy

Number one. As Callum says a number one is a number one at the end of the day.

Number 1 songs are remembered forever. Nobody remembers sales or how long they stayed in charts for.

mhm, such as this illustrious elite:

2000:
Westlife "I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun
Manic Street Preachers "The Masses Against the Classes"
Geri Halliwell "Bag It Up"
Melanie C. featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes "Never Be The Same Again"
Craig David "Fill Me In"
5ive / Queen "We Will Rock You"
Black Legend "You See the Trouble with Me"
A1 "Take on Me"
Steps "Stomp"
Westlife "My Love"
A1 "Same Old Brand New You"

2001:
Rui da Silva "Touch Me"
Emma Bunton "What Took You so Long?"
Hear’Say "The Way to Your Love"
Westlife "Queen of My Heart"

2002:
Will Young and Gareth Gates "The Long and Winding Road"
Westlife "Unbreakable"

2003:
David Sneddon "Stop Living the Lie"
Busted "You Said No"
Fatman Scoop "Be Faithful"
Westlife "Mandy"

2004:
Sam & Mark "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Busted "Who's David?"
Usher "Burn"
Busted "Thunderbirds/3am"
Nelly "My Place/Flap Your Wings"
Brian McFadden "Real to Me"
Ja Rule featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti "Wonderful"

2005:
Nelly featuring Tim McGraw "Over and Over"
McFly "I'll Be OK"

2006:
McFly "Don't Stop Me Now/Please, Please"
McFly "Star Girl"

Those I've highlighted should be removed, I often hear them in various places. :)

Number one.

well I guess everyone will have different ideas of which No#1s were memorable but I think we can agree that being No#1 isn't a guarantee for notoriety/fame.

Peak @ 2