Awww I really like True Blue, fun pastiche of the late 50's/early 60's melodic pop era but with that 80's synth beat. She disowned it when she split up with Sean Penn and has stayed Not True Blue ever since, banning it from the Immaculate Collection and all other hits collections to my annoyance. Nice background harmony melodies going on, that key change is great, and lyrically sums up the teen songs of the past and her girlie vocals suit the material. Beats Wham to my Best To Drop Out title so far.

11. The Lady In Red - Chris de Burgh

Born in Argentina to British parents, Chris de Burgh eventually made his way to the UK where he signed his first record contract in 1974. The following year, his single 'Flying' spent 17 weeks at number 1 in Brazil. Later that same year, his Christmas song 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' got to number 1 in Ireland but failed to make an impression in the UK. It's now better known in Britain but is not one of the regular Christmas songs that move into the top 40 each December. By 1986, a UK top 40 hit still eluded him until The Lady In Red climbed from 76 to 40 and then to number 10 before reaching number 1 two weeks later and staying there for three weeks in August.

Chris had only one more top 10 single, 'Missing You', in 1988 but has eight top 10 albums to his name.

Many of you will be relieved that this has finally appeared. When I first heard it, I immediately noticed the backing track had a resemblance to the wonderful two minute intro to 'Duchess' by Genesis on the full album version from 1980. They both use a Roland drum machine. If you ignore the vocals, you have a relaxing piece of chillout music and that keyboard effect in the chorus that sounds like a voice stands out in particular. As for the vocals and the lyrics, I don't mind them. It's a love song he wrote about the first time he met his future wife, there's nothing too unpleasant to my ears. It may have regularly appeared in polls for worst number 1 or worst song of the 80s but I'm sticking up for it.

I don't know if I would have got 'True Blue' being one of Madonna's #1's in the 80s if I was quizzed on it. It's okay but her other 80's #1's are far better (though not crazy on 'Who's That Girl' either actually).

'The Lady In Red' whilst I don't dislike it, it is pretty naff and plodding. Would've swapped this and 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' around positions wise and that is one of the really great Christmas songs to never be a regular top 40 returnee. Could really do with a new peak :( 40 feels unjust.

(I did suddenly tweak that this was what most in here were talking about too!)

I can’t say I like The Lady In Red, but I perhaps don’t hate it as much as many, though it’s a bit saccharine for me.

Into the top 10 and I’ve now got a feeling yours is going to be (almost) the same as mine.

Edited Monday at 18:191 day by Jaz13music

And there is my bottom song at last. Awful slush. I am afraid I despise it!

I hadn't noticed Lady In Red was yet to come! It doesn't offend me tbh, though it's a little earnest for something so corny and I do prefer some other 80s ballads.

Not a whole lot else I have a lot to say about so far, Don't Leave Me This Way is a pretty good cover though not a big favourite.

10 minutes ago, Jester said:

And there is my bottom song at last. Awful slush. I am afraid I despise it!

That's the one I thought it would be and you sum it up the way I view it.

In my early memories of music and the charts from 1987 onwards I remember there being 2 Chris's and the way I differentiated them was the naff one with the funny hair and the cool one with the guitar. I was too young to really know what a love song was let alone what the lyrics were about. Musically I found it both cheesy and boring at the same time. On a more positive note about De Burgh I do think he has a better Christmas song than the other Chris.

I think “Don’t Leave Me this Way” is my favourite of the bottom half. I’m not particularly familiar with the other versions and there’s something quite exhilarating about this one.

I think “Every Loser Wins” is my bottom. I don’t really mind “Lady In Red” either though it would still be a few places lower.

I'm afraid I OD'd on this at the time, Uni friends first dance song at the wedding and all that, and non-stop radio play since. Just too plodding and overly-familiar, I have to turn it off. OTOH very happily hear A Spaceman Came Travelling, Don't Pay The Ferryman, and some other earlier songs. I really dislike Missing You, that's way worse than Lady In Red - like what you did with the title, literally missing "You" 😄

I find the video for 'True Blue' quite charming but am not really a fan of the song, as the lyrics are a bit too sickly. There was a thread that invited posters to rank her #1s in the Madonna Artist Forum and it was towards the bottom for me, with 'American Pie' last. Pleased that you rate 'Like A Prayer' and 'Frozen' though as I love both of them too.

'The Lady In Red' is dirge for me so I'm pleased it just missed out on the top 10 much love for the also mentioned 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' though.

2 hours ago, Popchartfreak said:

I'm afraid I OD'd on this at the time, Uni friends first dance song at the wedding and all that, and non-stop radio play since. Just too plodding and overly-familiar, I have to turn it off. OTOH very happily hear A Spaceman Came Travelling, Don't Pay The Ferryman, and some other earlier songs. I really dislike Missing You, that's way worse than Lady In Red - like what you did with the title, literally missing "You" 😄

Well spotted! I've corrected it now.

I never really liked Don't Leave me This Way.

The Chicken Song is far too low.

Nothing too spectacular so far. Probably "Edge Of Heaven" is my favourite so far followed by "True Blue" (a very mid Madonna song) and "Lady In Red", which has its moments, but is in total too cheesy.

Hoping for the good stuff now!!! Did not look up so far what is missing.