7. 182 points

 

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love

 

Chart peak: 1

 

Severin 11, King Rollo 17, Popchartfreak 21, jimwatts 29, AH Gold 13, dandy* 21, Chartjack2 23, Jade 20, JulianT 27

 

The Power Of Love was first heard in a session that Frankie Goes To Hollywood recorded for John Peel's Radio 1 show in 1983. As well as topping the chart the following year, it reached number 10 in 1993 and number 6 in 2000.

 

2 more classics there, Seal's peaked at 2 for me but had a big run anyway (it bumped into Sadness peaking I think), impeccable, and Frankie's is pure Xmas 1984, my boss at the time called it a "dirge" but he was always wrong about everything, it's darkly beautiful and optimistic and the line about "I'll protect you from The Hooded Claw" appeals to those of us of a certain age who watched animated "Wacky Races" spin-off "The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop" aka OTT camp actor Paul Lynde as that villain, formerly Uncle Arthur in "Bewitched" 60's fantasy sitcom.

“The Power Of Love” is my favourite of the Frankie holy trinity - sublime lyrics and delivery.

What a fantastic start to the top 10 so far *.*

 

I got around to watching All Of Us Strangers a couple of months ago and now I'll probably always associate 'The Power Of Love' with that movie.

I’m going to love everything now and these two are no exception, both 10/10 songs for me

6. 189 points

 

Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star

 

Chart peak: 1

 

Severin 25, King Rollo 6, Popchartfreak 16, Mango 24, jimwatts 20, AH Gold 6, dandy* 26, chartjack2 28, Jade 13, JulianT 25

 

This is just the second single so far to receive votes from everyone. The song was written while Bruce Woolley was still in the group and he recorded a different version with the band he moved to, The Camera Club, and theirs was the first one to be released (with Thomas Dolby on keyboards). The video was the first to be shown on MTV when it started in 1981. Buggles were followed by Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart and The Who.

 

 

 

5. 203 points

 

ABC - The Look Of Love

 

Chart peak: 4

 

Severin 13, King Rollo 23, Popchartfreak 25, Mango 17, jimwatts 27, AH Gold 30, dandy* 22, chartjack2 24, Jade 6, JulianT 16

 

It's a full house of votes for this one as well including a top score from AH Gold. It was actually in the lead after eight votes but scores in the lower range from Jade and Julian scuppered its chances. The lyrics were inspired by a break-up Martin Fry had experienced and the "goodbye" that can be heard during the song was spoken by the actual woman who had left him. Trevor has a cameo in the video.

 

'The Look Of Love' is one of the songs that defines the 80s for me.

'Video Killed The Radio Star' is brilliant and I'm surprised it's as low as #6!

4. 206 points

 

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes

 

Chart peak: 1

 

Severin 29, King Rollo 29, Popchartfreak 24, jimwatts 18, AH Gold 14, dandy* 29, chartjack2 30, Jade 30, JulianT 3

 

Five of the ten voters put this in their top 2 but just three points from Julian and nothing at all from Mango lead to it settling for 4th place. Helped by remixes being released almost every week, Two Tribes was the longest running number 1 single of the 1980s with nine weeks spent at the top of the chart and sold more than 1.5 million copies.

 

3. 208 points

 

t.A.T.u. - All The Things She Said

 

Chart peak: 1

 

Severin 16, King Rollo 15, Popchartfreak 15, Mango 26, jimwatts 5, AH Gold 28, dandy* 28, chartjack2 25, Jade 21, JulianT 29

 

Everyone voted for this one with three of us putting it in their top 3. t.A.T.u. were the first Russian act to reach number one in the UK with this reworked and translated version of their 2000 song 'Ya Soshla s Uma'.

 

I was first introduced to the FGTH singles when they were re-released in the 90s and back then I didn't get the fuss for Two Tribes and much preferred Relax and The Power of Love. Over time that's completely changed though, the production in particular is just an absolute force driving along for over 10 minutes without me ever getting bored. A shame it couldn't make the top 3, although I'd swap it out with the remaining Frankie track so can't grumble too much.

 

 

Absolutely love All The Things She Said, definitely one of my favourite singles from the early 00s. Immediately bought the album off the back of it and, whilst nothing else was quite as good, there were a fair few strong tracks on it.

Sorry everyone - I’ve never quite got into “Two Tribes”, but I’m sure it’s my fault and not the song’s!

'Two Tribes' is incredible and obviously my favourite of the Frankie trio as you can see from the scores! The U.K. showed so much taste to place it at #1 for 9 weeks *.*

My 5 points for t.A.T.U. was enough to lift them from 5th to 3rd :kink: As shown, I'm one of those who prefers 'Not Gonna Get Us', but their chart topper was still good.

I've voted for every song in the top 18 except one of the top 2 which only just missed my votes, nevertheless I'm expecting to be very unpopular when it's revealed :drama:

I knew Jim couldn’t be left to his own devices! :drama:

The top 5 all so close, points-wise!

 

Buggles is an ahead-of-its-time classic, but at the time it "merely" peaked at 4 in my charts - so great was the competition for classic records - but it topped my charts as an oldie in the 21st century. The Look Of Love is a perfect record, can't be improved on. Can't be covered. Two Tribes suffers from overplay for me, just a bit, those 9 weeks on top and frequent comebacks have never given it time to "rest" and come back fresh, but it is a masterpiece.

 

t.A.T.u. was my top track of the year, but it really doesn't get many oldies radio plays compared to the rest of the top 5 and the last time I heard it on the radio I was shocked to find I wasn't able to sing along to it a bit like I used to. The other big tracks I know inside out but this one seemed like I had to re-learn it, and didn't shine quite so much as it did at the time. Two girls holding hands was quite the massive cultural shock to some at the time, now of course it's obligatory in every video :teresa:

 

So, all in all, the correct top 2 I think. A groundbreaking, shocking, very gay, banned track that I rushed out to buy in protest at someone telling me I can't listen to something I love vs a track from one of my Holy Trinity of Pop Acts that puzzled everyone when it came out for not having a traditional song format and kicked off the grumbling that they were straying from the obvious Big Hits along with a homo-erotic video for a Latin-rhythm pop track. The album is their biggest-selling, ironically, but the backlash began in the USA in particular. The one I want to win is in my actual personal charts as we speak and was featured on Strictly t'other week in a medley.

Yeah sorry I'm with Julian, I just never got the fuss for 'Two Tribes' or FGTH in general tbh, don't shoot me please!

'All The Things She Said' thoroughly deserves its place in the top 3, an excellent slice of early noughties pop and the production is exquisite.

Edited December 5, 2024Dec 5 by Mangø hø hø!

I knew Jim couldn’t be left to his own devices! :drama:

It's a sin he prefers 'Not Gonna Get Us' but it's alright, there's no jealousy here (sorry, I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing) :kink:

Ask ourselves now can we forgive him, if he begs us to?

What have I, what have I...