Scanning back through 1985 I also heartily agree with your “Dancing In The Street” review. Can't stand it! A huge mis-fire in a largely solid discography up until that point from Bowie. Sadly to be joined by many other duff hits in the 1990s.

 

 

I like Bowie's 90s singles a lot. I think we similarly disagree on when U2s best period was. It was deffo the 90s :D

1985

 

3rd place - Madonna - Into The Groove

 

8.5

 

 

 

I didn't see this coming. :o

 

I am of the opinion that generally, 80s Madonna is overrated. The pop music coming out of the UK from 1985 to 1990 was far better, in my opinion.

Anyway, away from the chorus, (which is ok) this is great. The synth bass just puts a spring in my step and the "live out your fantasies here with me" bit is what pop music is all about.

 

She ended up having 3 singles in the top 12 around this time.

 

There must have been a major push at the time. It was the first time she entered the chart in the top 5. Her best entry before this was at number 25 when Crazy For You entered 6 week before ( a single that was still in the top 6 when Into the Groove debuted at number 4.

 

There must have been a re-release of Holiday planned because there was enough copies around for it to join Into the Groove in the top 3, three weeks later.

 

It's time I revised all of her 80s singles.

 

Third best selling single of the year.

 

 

Glad you like Into The Groove, it's definitely one of Madonna's strongest singles and it perfectly encapsulates the free dance floor type of vibe so I can imagine it having been played all over the place.

 

My other 80s favourites from her are Borderline, Papa Don't Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita and Like a Prayer. I also really like 'Til Death Do Us Part which is an album track but it sounds pretty dated now, although it does still have an appeal.

There's a version of Like A Prayer that I love and one I don't.

I've just realised what is still to be included and it's one of my favourite 80s singles, a definite 10/10 moment so please let that be the winner! Indeed I think it may have been crowned Buzzjack's favourite song or something in the chart forum fairly recently.

I was being a bit facetious really, it's not exactly groundbreaking but for the reasons you mention in your review (the cut jumps and sampling) I really enjoy it. It's really odd to hear such a strong political statement, presuming it was one, from an Englishman about a war largely supported by America and Australia and NOT the UNited Kingdom. Especially with all the Falklands and Cold War stuff at the time..

 

Scanning back through 1985 I also heartily agree with your “Dancing In The Street” review. Can't stand it! A huge mis-fire in a largely solid discography up until that point from Bowie. Sadly to be joined by many other duff hits in the 1990s.

 

I agree solid including Little Drummer Boy from 1982 😊. In all seriousness though by the 90s he was out of fashion and more experimental!

In all seriousness though by the 90s he was out of fashion and more experimental!

 

Which worked for me.

1985

 

2nd place - Jennifer Rush - The Power of Love

 

9.0

 

 

 

What strikes me most about this song is the progression. Several of Jennifer's melodies get boosted and ramped up by spectacular vocals as the song progresses. That's nothing unusual but she does it with so many of the lyrics that each section has a different dynamic - nothing gets stale.

 

Her voice has wondaful character to it too. This is a hugely underrated song.

 

The Power of Love is a stark example of that feature of 80s chart behaviour that I mentioned earlier. This spent 13 weeks between numbers 40 and 100 but as soon as it hit the top 40, at number 36, it went 36-15-2-1...

 

It must be listened to in the album version.

 

Best selling single of the year.

Edited November 1, 20204 yr by Colm

Also the last million seller of the decade

1985

 

1st place - a-ha - Take On Me

 

10.0

 

 

 

The obvious bits first. Everyone loves trying to sing this song. Everyone loves the synth riff. Everyone loves the video. Everyone loves Morten.

 

Put simply - this is one of the greatest songs ever made. I had typed out "pop songs ever made" but I'm getting rather fed up of pop songs having praised heaped upon them, only to have that praise qualified by adding the word "pop". When people say "That's a good pop song" what they really mean is "That's a good song - for a pop song".

 

On a less fun, muso-nerdy note - there's Wagnerian structure to Take On Me. Something they injected into most of their magnificent songs and used most obviously on the follow up The Sun Always Shines on TV and Stay on These Roads.

Start small with the beat, bring in some keyboard flourishes. Followed that with drama-hyping bass synth before the unleashing the glorious, energetic, dizzying synth riff. *Remember to include Flight of the Bumble Be.

 

The extended version is a phenomenal "director's cut" take and is almost too much to cope with.

 

Their influence is everywhere - The Weeknd, Keane, Coldplay, Take That have all stolen their tricks. Best boy band ever.

 

Ninth best selling song of the year.

 

 

 

 

You can't just say "Everyone loves the video" and then not include the proper version!

 

Out of those 10, I would also put Take On Me in first place with 19 second and A Good Heart in third place.

Yeh fantastic song and one of the moments of TOTP in 1985!

 

Edited November 1, 20204 yr by Steve201

Take On Me is the right winner for me too, a total classic. It's one of those songs that just never fails to make me smile, so infectious and joyous.

1986 is utter tripe. So much MOR eugh....we're talking 1st place getting a 6.5

Edited November 1, 20204 yr by Colm

I would rank In To The Groove no 1 and Take On Me a close second. Both the best 80s made (with Sam Fox, Modern Talking, and Sandra). 1986, Rock Me Amadeus is brilliant but that missed year end top 10 so Lady In Red tops it for me with Madonna/Berlin/Sinitta/Billy all providing good songs.

Take On Me is the right winner for me too, a total classic. It's one of those songs that just never fails to make me smile, so infectious and joyous.

 

 

Yes it's far better than their No.1 single and is their signature tune really

I like Bowie's 90s singles a lot. I think we similarly disagree on when U2s best period was. It was deffo the 90s :D

 

 

Nah, Joshua Tree period for me.

Excellent choice of #1! It really does personify euphoria. I like to pretend the A1 version doesn't exist though :P

90s U2 was actually interesting. They showed a hunger for new sounds and new ways of writing songs.