Click for links to Series 5, Series 4, Series 3, Series 2, and Series 1 and a quick study of #2 songs
June does not have as many new additions as May. A number of those songs had pretty long runs at the top. Either way, I am happy to not have 28 new entries or whatever.
“Coming Up” by Paul McCartney (1980) – This was McCartney’s last number one song, this song actually had a pretty interesting history. It was released in the States as a single with a live version from Glasgow as the B-Side. Indeed, it was the live version of the song which got more radio airplay and traction. Indeed, putting the original single side by side with McCartney doing it live shows it. It’s a lot better as a live song – faster, more energetic – the vocal filtering in the record version just doesn’t work. (31 points)
SINGLE:
LIVE:
“Stars on 45 Medley” by Stars on 45 (1981) – Okay, last time I talked about Sheena Easton’s “Morning Train” as the strangest number one of the decade – I retract. This medley of old hits – a dance mix I presume – is the strangest. I am not sure if this is supposed to be a precursor to stuff like DJ Shadow or not, but it seems too clunky for that. It feels like a Wedding DJ performance as much as anything. The nice thing is that they play a lot of cool old songs. But come on – listening to it now, it is hard that it was a major single, let alone a #1. (24 points)
“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper (1984) – There is a lot of real solid 80s markers here. The hairstyle, the story-video. This was the number one from Lauper’s She’s So Unusual album – and of course it’s a ballad. But – it’s a good one, an unusually well written one. Also – while Lauper had a distinctive look and seemed like a pop creation – she really can sing. (“I Drove All Night” from 1989 is my favorite example of this) This song decidedly holds up (37 points)
“The Reflex” by Duran Duran (1984) – Hoo boy. Duran Duran’s first #1 song – which made it I believe as a hyped “first single from a new album” thing which comes up quite a bit. There is nothing about this video or song that doesn’t seem dated and trapped in the 1980s. It reminds me of an amusing story Greg Proops told on his The Smartest Man in the World (which I recommend you avail yourself of) podcast about seeing them recently. Simon Le Bron, even at his advanced age is basically the same guy – including flashing his tongue to the audience – yuck! Of course bassist John Taylor seems to have stopped aging. What this is a long way of saying that while this is a fairly unremarkable Duran Duran song compared to others – it is quite the time capsule. (34 points)
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears (1985) – Pretty clearly one of the best known songs of the decade. It has had a lot of staying power since – it was the theme to Dennis Miller Live for years. The Songs from the Big Chair album was a massive seller in 1985, and this is the more durable of the two number ones, although “Shout” is plenty good. (41 points)
“Heaven” by Bryan Adams (1985) – Oh, the heartstrings are tugged. This ballad (there is that word again) was the number one from Adams’ Reckless album. This is typical stuff – not terrible, but more terrible when you see how it opened up his career to much more atrocious stuff (see Robin Hood). (31 points)
“Live To Tell” by Madonna (1986) – Both featured on Madonna’s True Blue album and the film At Close Range, which starred her husband-at-the-time Sean Penn, listening to this now feels like constant droning. This is a long enough post – life is short. It did remind me that they were married though, and made a bad movie together.
“On My Own” by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (1986) – Really, it is inconceivable that a song like this would even be a major release now – let alone a number one. LaBelle and McDonald were big names – but clearly more adult contemporary now, than the exceedingly young pop stars of now. They weren’t has-beens – but they both achieved fame in the 1970s. But here is a duet, recorded in different cities – with LaBelle’s distinctive voice and McDonald’s rather glorious beard. But there is not much distinctive otherwise. (25 points)
“You Keep Me Hanging On” by Kim Wilde (1987) – One of the very few British solo women to ever have a number one, Kim Wilde actually had a big international hit in 1981 with “Kids in America”, which is probably more famous now than this. Of course, this is a cover of The Supremes classic – one of the best Motown songs of them all. Of course, Wilde covers it in a frankly, very archetypally 1980s way. It is a corruption of a Motown classic – no doubt – but thankfully the song itself is good enough to pull this through. (29 points)
“Always” by Atlantic Starr (1987) – First of all, Atlantic Starr sounds like a tech startup – not an 80s R&B group. One thing that is interesting for the genre is the co-ed leads. Usually, now a slow jam would be a male singer covered in sweat singing something to try to get the ladies to feel his muscles. So in that vein, this is a much different sort of ballad. But – it’s another easy listening sort of ballad which was amazingly successful in the decade, and I am trying not to nod off here. This is a hard genre to score high for me – but this might actually be better than I am going to give it credit for, but sorry. (26 points)
“Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam (1987) – Ah, this is more like it. I was about to fall asleep after the run of ballads before this. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam was a freestyle band who had a couple of number ones in 1987, this being the first. In aesthetic, pacing, and hook – this is clearly something which is a time capsule from the mid 80s. Seriously, I’m talking about right down to the solid mulletude sported all around, including the afro-style ones. This is the sort of song which is hard to resist – even as I can call it trifle. (34 points)
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston (1987) – As the first single from Whitney Houston’s follow-up to her star making debut, this song did not really even have to be good to get to the top of the charts. (indeed, later is a terrific example of this) As you can discern from this series – I cannot discuss Whitney rationally. The songs are trifle – and she largely did not write them. And I have given thumbs down to songs like this before – but the performer really matters. Seriously (to paraphrase Bill Simmons), when you watch shows like American Idol or The Voice or any other extrusion, basically television has a subgenre dedicated essentially to finding Whitney Houston again. (36 points)
“Together Forever” by Rick Astley (1988) – The non-RickRoll of Astley’s two trips to the top of the chart, I actually like this song better. I remember it being one of the preset sequences on a keyboard we owned when I was a kid, and indeed the hook is really really catchy. The heavy production and heaping spoonfulls of bells and keyboards is very typical of some of the really successful Britpop of the decade, whether it be this stuff or Swing Out Sister, and stuff like that. Everything about this – the video with the overexposed filter, so they look even pastier than in real life – takes me back. It is an immensely charming, very dated piece. (37 points)
“Foolish Beat” by Debbie Gibson (1988) – Bless her heart, Debbie Gibson did write her own songs, which put her above Tiffany in the “mall pop” battle which took place in 1987-88 when they both burst on the scene. “Could’ve Been” by Tiffany was one of the worst #1 songs of the decade. And of course, for Gibson – it took … wait for it … a soppy ballad to get her first #1. But this is decidedly better than Tiffany, and as a self-written expression of teenage mopiness, I give some credit. It’s not especially simpering considering – which is a relief. Extra credit for the prominent sax solo, which really is something you don’t get anymore. (30 points)
“Rock On” by Michael Damian (1989) – A cover of David Essex’s 1973 hit, one of the worst pop songs of the 1970s, Michael Damian – who if I recall correctly, was on a soap opera at the time – delivers a cover which, while awful, is probably about as good as you can do with this song. That said, Essex had the excuse of doing the song first, where it might have been considered experimental. Either way, this song being made to service Dream A Little Dream, the terrible two Coreys film, is all too appropriate. (20 points)
“Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler (1989) – This is one of those songs which I have to grudgingly acknowledge is well written, from a Bert Bachrach “hitmaker” sort of perspective. The song’s shelf life has been considerable – probably fairly. But, come on now. It is simpering, soppy, everything else – that it is a fairly good example of it is not enough for me to revisit this for my pleasure. (23 points)
“I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” by New Kids on the Block (1989) – Oh dear. I guess we’d have to wrestle with this at some point. I have friends who attended their concert a couple of years ago (?) – still getting fired up, moaning for their favorite kid (probably somewhat hipster ironically, but still). The nostalgia is powerful – and certainly the stuff in 1989 came out right at the beginning of my time of being aware of this stuff. But I did not really like this much at the time. (I will have to confess to other songs though) But of course, this is the sort of boy band manufactured ballad to get – well, in Tom Jones, it would have involved having lingerie thrown at them. NKOTB was a legitimate phenomenon then of course, and this was their first #1 – and the first single to prominently feature Jordan Knight’s high voice. I’m not sure if that is a plus. (26 points)
“Satisfied” by Richard Marx (1989) – The first single from Richard Marx’s (at the time) long-awaited follow up to his very successful debut – this song did not have to be good to hit the top. There are a ton of parts from the “80s song parts” store – the guitar solo in particular. This song has not really aged well for me – although the guitar riff is catchier than I perceived when I listened to it again. But the sound – especially with the subtle organ in the back is pretty dated. At the same time, there is enough silly here, especially in the video – the mullet, the heavy bag at the beginning, Marx’s attempts to look hard – that to give some “good-bad-video” points. (32 points)
The score now, with half a year of #1s? Of course, we have the rest of the summer to go – and I know (and you can probably identify) some songs which are pretty clearly going to hit pretty darn high here.
Song | Artist | |
1 | West End Girls | Pet Shop Boys |
2 | Kiss | Prince |
3 | With or Without You | U2 |
4 | Beat It | Michael Jackson |
5 | Billie Jean | Michael Jackson |
6 | Rock With You | Michael Jackson |
7 | Father Figure | George Michael |
8 | Jump | Van Halen |
9 | Livin on a Prayer | Bon Jovi |
10 | Down Under | Men At Work |
11 | Faith | George Michael |
12 | How Will I Know | Whitney Houston |
13 | Like a Virgin | Madonna |
14 | The Tide Is High | Blondie |
15 | Centerfold | J Geils Band |
16 | (I Just) Died in Your Arms | Cutting Crew |
17 | Don’t You (Forget About Me) | Simple Minds |
18 | We Are the World | USA For Africa |
19 | Like A Prayer | Madonna |
20 | Greatest Love of All | Whitney Houston |
21 | Everybody Wants to Rule The World | Tears For Fears |
22 | Rapture | Blondie |
23 | Man in the Mirror | Michael Jackson |
24 | Careless Whisper | Wham featuring George Michael |
25 | Footloose | Kenny Loggins |
26 | Walk Like an Egyptian | Bangles |
27 | Karma Chameleon | Culture Club |
28 | I Love Rock and Roll | Joan Jett and the Blackhearts |
29 | Celebration | Kool and the Gang |
30 | So Emotional | Whitney Houston |
31 | Two Hearts | Phil Collins |
32 | Need You Tonight | INXS |
33 | Call Me | Blondie |
34 | Let’s Dance | David Bowie |
35 | Never Gonna Give You Up | Rick Astley |
36 | Together Forever | Rick Astley |
37 | Time After Time | Cyndi Lauper |
38 | Every Rose Has Its Thorn | Poison |
39 | My Prerogative | Bobby Brown |
40 | Got My Mind Set on You | George Harrison |
41 | Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car | Billy Ocean |
42 | Addicted to Love | Robert Palmer |
43 | Owner of a Lonely Heart | Yes |
44 | I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) | Whitney Houston |
45 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul |
46 | Maneater | Darryl Hall and John Oates |
47 | Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 | Pink Floyd |
48 | Rock Me Amadeus | Falco |
49 | Chariots of Fire | Vangelis |
50 | Open Your Heart | Madonna |
51 | One More Try | George Michael |
52 | Wishing Well | Terrence Trent D’Arby |
53 | The Way You Make Me Feel | Michael Jackson |
54 | Say, Say, Say | Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson |
55 | 9 to 5 | Dolly Parton |
56 | Straight Up | Paula Abdul |
57 | The Look | Roxette |
58 | Head to Toe | Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam |
59 | The Reflex | Duran Duran |
60 | I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) | Aretha Franklin and George Michael |
61 | Flashdance … What a Feeling | Irene Cara |
62 | That’s What Friends Are For | Dionne Warwick |
63 | Physical | Olivia Newton John |
64 | I Can’t Go For That | Hall and Oates |
65 | I’ll Be There For You | Bon Jovi |
66 | Crazy Little Thing Called Love | Queen |
67 | Everything She Wants | Wham |
68 | Africa | Toto |
69 | Satisfied | Richard Marx |
70 | Coming Up | Paul McCartney |
71 | Come on Eileen | Dexy’s Midnight Runners |
72 | These Dreams | Heart |
73 | Anything For You | Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine |
74 | Heaven | Bryan Adams |
75 | Ebony and Ivory | Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder |
76 | The Living Years | Mike and the Mechanics |
77 | At This Moment | Billy Vera and the Beaters |
78 | Bette Davis Eyes | Kim Carnes |
79 | Foolish Beat | Debbie Gibson |
80 | She Drives Me Crazy | Fine Young Cannibals |
81 | Eternal Flame | The Bangles |
82 | Kyrie | Mr. Mister |
83 | Shake You Down | Gregory Abbott |
84 | You Keep Me Hangin On | Kim Wilde |
85 | Kiss Is On My List | Hall and Oates |
86 | Funkytown | Lipps, Inc |
87 | Let’s Hear It for the Boy | DeNiece Williams |
88 | Keep on Loving You | REO Speedwagon |
89 | Hello | Lionel Richie |
90 | I Love a Rainy Night | Eddie Rabbitt |
91 | Live to Tell | Madonna |
92 | I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) | New Kids on the Block |
93 | Lost in Your Eyes | Debbie Gibson |
94 | Say You, Say Me | Lionel Richie |
95 | Always | Atlantic Starr |
96 | Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now | Starship |
97 | (Just Like) Starting Over | John Lennon |
98 | On My Own | Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald |
99 | Crazy for You | Madonna |
100 | Seasons Change | Expose |
101 | Can’t Fight This Feeling | REO Speedwagon |
102 | One More Night | Phil Collins |
103 | I Want to Know What Love Is | Foreigner |
104 | Stars on 45 Medley | Stars on 45 |
105 | Escape (The Pina Colada Song) | Rupert Holmes |
106 | Wind Beneath My Wings | Bette Midler |
107 | Sara | Starship |
108 | Lean on Me | Club Nouveau |
109 | Baby, Come to Me | Patti Austin and James Ingram |
110 | Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) | Phil Collins |
111 | Where Do Broken Hearts Go | Whitney Houston |
112 | Could’ve Been | Tiffany |
113 | Do That To Me One More Time | Captain and Tennille |
114 | Jacob’s Ladder | Huey Lewis and the News |
115 | Morning Train (Nine to Five) | Sheena Easton |
116 | When I’m With You | Sheriff |
117 | Rock On | Michael Damian |
118 | Please Don’t Go | KC and the Sunshine Band |
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