Jester

Voted!

3. Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) (score 10/10) Number 1 for 2 weeks Kept off number 1: Johnny Logan - Hold Me Now Onto the top 3 and we are bopping to an 80s classic and pop masterpiece. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) arrived in May 1987 at a crucial turning point in Whitney Houston’s career. After the record‑breaking success of her 1985 debut — which produced three US No.1 singles and turned her into the most celebrated new vocalist of the decade, Whitney entered 1987 as a global superstar facing the pressure of proving she could do it all again. She had just completed a hugely successful world tour, her voice was being hailed as the defining sound of modern pop, and Arista Records were determined that her second album would cement her as the era’s premier crossover artist. Clive Davis wanted a lead single that felt youthful, joyful, and unmistakably Whitney, something that would push her further into mainstream pop while showcasing the exuberance that had made How Will I Know such a breakthrough. At this moment, Whitney was poised to make history as within weeks of the single’s release, her album Whitney would become the first album by a female artist ever to debut at No.1 in both the US and UK, and I Wanna Dance with Somebody was the song chosen to kick off that era. The genesis of the track began with George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam of Boy Meets Girl, who had already given Whitney How Will I Know. Their initial demo was more wistful and mid‑tempo, but producer Narada Michael Walden envisioned something brighter and more rhythmically urgent. He re‑shaped the song into a full‑throttle dance‑pop anthem, layering synths, drum machines, and a sparkling, radio‑ready sheen designed to contrast with the ballads that had dominated Whitney’s debut. Whitney reportedly connected instantly with the song’s emotional core — the mix of longing and celebration, the desire not just to dance but to feel genuinely loved — and her vocal performance elevated the track from catchy pop to something euphoric and timeless. Released as the lead single from Whitney, the song exploded commercially. In the UK it surged to No.1, becoming her second chart‑topper and spending two weeks at the top of the charts. Globally it was a phenomenon, hitting No.1 in 17 countries and becoming her fourth consecutive US Billboard Hot 100 No.1, a run that placed her among the most dominant chart acts of the decade. Its success helped propel the Whitney album to its historic No.1 debut and confirmed that she was not just maintaining her momentum but surpassing it. The neon‑bright music video, full of choreography, colour, and Whitney’s infectious charisma, reinforced her image as a joyful, approachable pop icon whose appeal crossed genres and generations. Over the years the song has only grown in stature, re‑entering the UK charts multiple times in the streaming era and surpassing 1.6 billion Spotify streams by 2026. Today, “ Wanna Dance with Somebody stands as one of the defining pop songs of the 1980s — a glittering, euphoric anthem that captures Whitney Houston at the exact moment she became untouchable, balancing technical brilliance with pure, irresistible joy. This was my number 1 of the year when I started this countdown (I also put it at the top of my favourite number 1s of the 80s when Gezza did a countdown), but I had a rethink on the strength of what was to come. Frankly, my top 4 here would be the top 4 of the whole decade foe me! This song never fails to make me smile and is a right dopamine hit. The memories of dancing around to this in Heaven back in 2014/15 on cheesy night. Amazing. Whitney would never come close to this again for me.

Definitely the second best Gaga number of the year and would also be in my top 5. I will always remember the chart show here when we realised at about number 4 or 5 that this was the climber at number 1!

No vinyl? :(

I love I’m Not Alone. Calvin at his best!

Bonkers is the only Dizzee song I really like. I’d have this top 10 as well.

Not listened to Bulletproof in years. Great number 1.

@Chez Wombat - could we extend the deadline to Monday next week? I’m struggling to find time!

Agree this is her best song, love it.

4. Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Score 10/10) 4 weeks at number 1 Kept off number 1: Judy Boucher - Can't Be With You Tonight & Tom Jones - A Boy From Nowhere Power ballad alert! Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now became one of Starship’s biggest global hits and a defining power ballad of the decade. Written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond, the song was recorded for the band’s album No Protection and served as the theme for the 1987 romantic‑comedy film Mannequin, starring Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall. The film follows McCarthy’s character, a struggling artist who discovers that a mannequin he created comes to life as Emmy, an Egyptian woman under an ancient spell; the song plays a central role in the film’s fantasy‑romance tone and helped drive its popularity through heavy MTV rotation. Commercially, the single was a major success. t reached No.1 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed there for four consecutive weeks, ultimately becoming the UK’s second‑best‑selling single of 1987. It also topped the charts in the US, Canada and Ireland, marking Diane Warren’s first-ever No.1 hit as a songwriter. A key milestone came with Grace Slick, who shared lead vocals with Mickey Thomas. At 47 years old, she became the oldest woman ever to reach No.1 in the UK at that time, a record later surpassed by Cher in 1998. For Starship, 1987 represented the peak of their polished, radio‑friendly pop‑rock era. The band had evolved dramatically from their origins as Jefferson Airplane and later Jefferson Starship, moving from psychedelic and experimental rock into a glossy, synth‑driven AOR sound. This shift had already produced major hits such as We Built This City and Sara and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now arrived as the commercial high point of this phase. Internal tensions and lineup changes would follow in the late ’80s, but at this moment the group were firmly established as mainstream hitmakers. The song’s creation also carries a personal backstory: co‑writer Albert Hammond has explained that its theme of unstoppable love was inspired by his own long-delayed marriage, finally made possible after years of legal complications. Combined with Narada Michael Walden’s expansive production and the vocal chemistry between Slick and Thomas, the track became one of the quintessential power ballads of the 1980s. Its chart dominance, its association with Mannequin, and Grace Slick’s record‑breaking achievement have all helped cement Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now as one of the most enduring soundtrack hits of the era. I have really grown to love this song over the years. Its video, with clips of Mannequin is perfect and shows the band coming to life then returning to dummies at the end. Kim Cattrall is utterly gorgeous in the film and video and it really makes the film seem better than it is frankly! The vocals are so on point and it makes the quintessential 80s power ballad. This could easily be my favourite of the year in any other year but this IS 1987 so.....! The songs kept off the top of the charts are nothing special imo, so kudos to Starship! All my top four are 10/10 moments, so it’s been tough ranking them.

Jester’s Top Tunes 1051 1 (3) Alex Warren – Fever Dream // 19-15-12-11-9-6-5-3-1 (9 wks) 1 week at number 1 2 (-) Tame Imapala feat. JENNIE – Dracula (JENNIE Remix) // 2 (1 wk) 3 (1) Sombr – Homewrecker // 10-8-4-4-2-2-5-4-2-1-1-3 (12 wks) 4 (6) ANOTR & 54 Ultra – Talk To You // 9-6-4 (3 wks) 5 (2) Tame Impala – My Old Ways // 13-5-4-2-5 (5 wks) 6 (5) Harry Styles – American Girls // 9-1-1-1-3-5-6 (7 wks) 7 (10) Sombr – Potential // 10-7 (2 wks) 8 (4) Taylor Swift – Elizabeth Taylor // 21-16-14-20-23-35-27-21-12-8-7-6-3-3-2-4-8 (17 wks) 9 (8) Sam Fender & Olivia Dean – Rein Me In // 13-11-10-6-4-3-1-3-3-2-1-1-1-4-5-4-7-8-9 (19 wks) 10 (-) Madonna – I Feel So Free // 10 (1 wk) 11 (11) Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead // 11-11 (2 wks) 12 (7) Chris Stussy & Tom Did It – Wide Awake // 21-21-10-7-12 (5 wks) 13 (9) PinkPantheress feat. Zara Larsson – Stateside // 11-9-5-3-3-7-2-7-8-9-13 (11 wks) 14 (14) Harry Styles – Aperture // 10-5-2-1-3-3-5-5-8-8-12-13-14-14 (14 wks) 15 (18) Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY // 18-15 (2 wks) 16 (15) Pulp – Background Noise // 7-5-1-1-3-4-6-7-7-9-13-14-14-14-14-15-16 (16 wks) 17 (16) Djo – The Crux // 4-1-3-4-6-6-7-8-8-10-14-15-15-15-15-16-17 (17 wks) 18 (13) Gorillaz, Asha Puthii, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda & Black Thought – The Moon Cave // 14-11-8-2-6-8-11-13-18 (9 wks) 19 (12) Dominic Fike – Babydoll // 17-10-6-12-19 (5 wks) 20 (-) Bauuer – Better // 20 (1 wk) 21 (19) Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night // 9-4-1-5-6-6-6-10-10-10-13-16-19-21 (14 wks) 22 (17) Jessie Ware – Ride // 10-7-4-3-7-9-12-17-22 (9 wks) 23 (22) Taylor Swift – Opalite // 18-15-11-9-4-7-6-3-2-5-6-11-18-4-1-2-4-6-9-16-17-20-22-23 (24 wks) 24 (23) Romy – Love Who You Love // 10-6-3-1-1-1-3-5-6-6-8-11-12-13-14-16-16-16-17-20-22-22-23-24 (24 wks) 25 (20) Myles Smith – My Mess // 21-20-25 (3 wks) 26 (21) Ewan McVicar – Share The House // 19-12-11-11-17-21-26 (7 wks) 27 (25) Olivia Dean – So Easy (To Fall In Love) // 15-13-7-4-2-2-2-2-1-5-7-7-8-10-12-16-15-11-12-15-21-23-24-24-25-27 (26 wks) 28 (24) BTS – SWIM // 13-12-16-18-24-28 (6 wks) 29 (26) Kasabian – GREAT PRETENDER // 20-19-26-29 (4 wks) 30 (27) RAYE – Nightingale Lane // 13-11-18-18-19-23-27-30 (8 wks) 31 (30) Pulp – Tina // 5-1-1-1-3-4-6-6-7-8-9-10-14-12-12-14-16-17-16-20-23-23-25-25-26-26-28-30-31 (29 wks) 32 (32) Robbie Williams – All My Life // 16-11-8-7-2-5-9-14-17-22-27-27-29-32-32 (15 wks) 33 (31) RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! // 12-10-15-17-22-26-28-27-29-29-29-26-29-30-31-31-33 (17 wks) 34 (34) Radiohead – Let Down // 9-5-1-1-4-6-5-6-7-8-9-10-10-10-14-14-16-15-15-17-18-20-24-26-28-28-28-28-30-31-32-32-34-34 (34 wks) 35 (28) Disclosure – The Sun Comes Up Tremendous // 18-25-28-35 (4 wks) 36 (29) Robyn – Blow My Mind // 21-20-19-23-26-29-36 (7 wks) 37 (33) BLACKPINK – GO // 20-18-16-22-28-30-33-37 (8 wks) 38 (37) Bright Light Bright Light + Ana Matronic - Cold Sweat, Hot Boys // 18-11-10-11-17-19-22-24-28-31-34-37-38 (13 wks) 39 (38) HAVEN feat. Karen Aargon – I Run // 14-12-6-4-4-2-3-2-2-7-8-13-14-17-20-24-27-28-30-33-35-38-39 (23 wks) 40 (40) Oasis – Slide Away // 10-7-4-4-1-1-3-5-6-8-9-10-11-12-13-13-17-17-20-20-20-23-23-24-24-27-28-30-32-35-35-35-37-39-39-39-40-40 (38 wks)

Great bit of double BEPs there. The better song is higher.

Always been a fan of Kelly C. This is a big bold hurtling song so glad it’s higher in the rate. I’d probably have it around the same place.

Woah! The best number 1 of the year only at 14?! What.

Yes haha. I think I know the other!

I loved Don’t Worry at the time. Haven’t heard it in years!

5. Mel & Kim - Respectable (Score: 9/10) 1 week at number 1 Onto my top 5 number 1s of 1987 and we start with Respectable (the tay-tay song) which was the first number 1 for the duo and also the first number 1 for Stock Aitken and Waterman (SAW) as songwriters (not producers though). Respectable was the second single from sisters Mel and Kim, the follow up to Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend). Its theme was inspired by tabloid stories resurfacing old glamour photos of Mel; instead of shying away, the sisters leaned into humour and defiance, which shaped the song’s attitude and lyrics. One of the track’s most distinctive features, the stuttering “tay‑tay‑tay‑tay” vocal hook, was initially opposed by their label but strongly defended by SAW. After an early TV performance in the Netherlands proved how effective it was, the hook stayed. The bursts of laughter heard throughout the track were genuine studio moments between Mel, Kim and the producers, captured without the sisters realising they would be used in the final mix. By early 1987, Mel & Kim were one of the UK’s fastest‑rising pop acts. Showing Out had already established them as a fresh, street‑styled duo with strong club appeal, and Respectable arrived just as they were becoming household names. Publicly, they were at their peak: charismatic, fashionable and central to the PWL pop machine. Privately, Mel was beginning to experience the early symptoms of the illness that would later halt their career, though this was not known at the time. Respectable became a major commercial success, reaching No.1 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1987 and spending 16 weeks in the Top 100. It was SAW’s second UK No.1 as producers and their first as songwriters. The single also topped charts across Europe and Oceania, including Australia, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and West Germany. Stock Aitken Waterman’s input was central to the song’s identity - a blend of Eurobeat, house‑influenced rhythms and bright, hook‑driven pop. The stutter vocal effect became one of their signature production touches and the chemistry between the producers and the sisters helped shape the track’s playful personality. Respectable marked a turning point for SAW, proving they could deliver chart‑topping hits they had written as well as produced. The official music video reinforced Mel & Kim’s distinctive visual identity, featuring bold colours, coordinated outfits, hats and gloves. The choreography was loose and personality‑driven, emphasising their humour and confidence rather than polished dance routines. The video echoed the song’s message of self‑assurance and cheekiness, with the sisters laughing, posing and interacting in a way that felt spontaneous and authentic (even the cheesy line 'hey they're hot!'). Respectable endures because it captures Mel & Kim at their peak, blends club energy with mainstream pop, and represents one of SAW’s most iconic productions. Its message of confidence and humour, rooted in real‑life tabloid pressure, gives it a lasting appeal beyond its chart success. This was my first real introduction to SAW and their brand of music and as an 11-year-old this fed right into my taste for pure pop music. I find this song endures due to the sheer fun of it and also acts as a fitting tribute to Mel Appleby. Out of my top 5, this is the one song I loved at the time which is why it has clung ahead of other songs that I have come to love and appreciate since.

I never knew Razzamatazz got to number 80! I love the whole of Blur’s Modern Life Is Rubbish album. Got into it in 1995 after Parklife.

Oh I’d have Fight for this Love top 10 easily. As you say, a fairly understated song but it’s all the better for it as she’s not the best singer!

Managed to get Olive - Extra Virgin online, saved me queueing!

I can imagine what your bottom 2 are but I just love all 5 left. In fact the top 4 are all 10/10 for me and any of them would deserve the top spot.

Aha! Strange I found a description of the non existent one online. Maybe it was a fan made one or a live performance.

A halo effect number 1, undeserving. Sad MJ didn’t make it.

6. Michael Jackson - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (9/10) 2 weeks at number 1 Kept off number 1: Spagna – Call Me This is clearly a controversial choice being this high up in my rate. But I score this as my favourite MJ number 1 and although an unusual choice as a lead single unlike anything else on the subsequent album it still works as a solid addition to his discography. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You was written by Michael Jackson and recorded as a duet with American singer Siedah Garrett. It was the first single released from the massive selling album Bad and marked comeback five years after Thriller. The song was conceived as a romantic ballad and signalled a softer, more traditional (even opposing sounding) opening for an album otherwise packed with pop, funk and R&B. By 1987, Michael Jackson was already the biggest pop star in the world. Thriller had become the best‑selling album of all time, and Jackson’s global profile was unprecedented. However, this dominance also came with intense scrutiny and expectations. Bad was positioned not simply as a follow‑up, but as a statement of continued relevance and control, with Jackson producing the album himself alongside the legendary Quincy Jones for the final time. When I Just Can’t Stop Loving You was announced as the lead single, it was clear that Jackson was deliberately choosing intimacy over spectacle as his opening move. The single was released in the UK in August 1987, slightly ahead of the Bad album, and immediately became one of the most talked‑about releases of the year. Musically, it leaned into smooth adult‑pop and quiet storm territory, with restrained production, layered harmonies and a gentle emotional build. Siedah Garrett’s vocal role was not heavily advertised at the time, with initial pressings even omitting her credit, reinforcing Jackson’s dominant presence. The build is one of the most notable parts of the song – it is a slow burner but once it gets going it hits a punch with the key changes and for me, this is the appeal. I know it sounds safe and lacks innovation, its still an intimate duet giving the song a layered appeal. A music video was apparently never made, which is why I can’t find it on YouTube! The song kept the brash Euro anthem Call Me from Spagna at number 2 – this sounds like a number 1 record to me so it’s a shame that it couldn’t quite make it. In summary, this stands out as a more gentle moment on Bad and this is what makes it a 9/10 number 1 in a very strong year. I wonder if Smooth Criminal or The Way You Make Me Feel would be this high in my rate if released as the lead single instead? We will never know….! Let the hate/apathy begin.

Jester’s Top Tunes 1050 1 (1) Sombr – Homewrecker // 10-8-4-4-2-2-5-4-2-1-1 (11 wks) 2 weeks at number 1 2 (4) Tame Impala – My Old Ways // 13-5-4-2 (4 wks) 3 (5) Alex Warren – Fever Dream // 19-15-12-11-9-6-5-3 (8 wks) 4 (2) Taylor Swift – Elizabeth Taylor // 21-16-14-20-23-35-27-21-12-8-7-6-3-3-2-4 (16 wks) 5 (3) Harry Styles – American Girls // 9-1-1-1-3-5 (6 wks) 6 (9) ANOTR & 54 Ultra – Talk To You // 9-6 (2 wks) 7 (10) Chris Stussy & Tom Did It – Wide Awake // 21-21-10-7 (4 wks) 8 (7) Sam Fender & Olivia Dean – Rein Me In // 13-11-10-6-4-3-1-3-3-2-1-1-1-4-5-4-7-8 (18 wks) 9 (8) PinkPantheress feat. Zara Larsson – Stateside // 11-9-5-3-3-7-2-7-8-9 (10 wks) 10 (-) Sombr – Potential // 10 (1 wk) 11 (-) Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead // 11 (1 wk) 12 (6) Dominic Fike – Babydoll // 17-10-6-12 (4 wks) 13 (11) Gorillaz, Asha Puthii, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda & Black Thought – The Moon Cave // 14-11-8-2-6-8-11-13 (8 wks) 14 (13) Harry Styles – Aperture // 10-5-2-1-3-3-5-5-8-8-12-13-14 (13 wks) 15 (14) Pulp – Background Noise // 7-5-1-1-3-4-6-7-7-9-13-14-14-14-14-15 (15 wks) 16 (15) Djo – The Crux // 4-1-3-4-6-6-7-8-8-10-14-15-15-15-15-16 (16 wks) 17 (12) Jessie Ware – Ride // 10-7-4-3-7-9-12-17 (8 wks) 18 (-) Lady Gaga & Doechii – RUNWAY // 18 (1 wk) 19 (16) Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night // 9-4-1-5-6-6-6-10-10-10-13-16-19 (13 wks) 20 (21) Myles Smith – My Mess // 21-20 (2 wks) 21 (17) Ewan McVicar – Share The House // 19-12-11-11-17-21 (6 wks) 22 (20) Taylor Swift – Opalite // 18-15-11-9-4-7-6-3-2-5-6-11-18-4-1-2-4-6-9-16-17-20-22 (23 wks) 23 (22) Romy – Love Who You Love // 10-6-3-1-1-1-3-5-6-6-8-11-12-13-14-16-16-16-17-20-22-22-23 (23 wks) 24 (18) BTS – SWIM // 13-12-16-18-24 (5 wks) 25 (24) Olivia Dean – So Easy (To Fall In Love) // 15-13-7-4-2-2-2-2-1-5-7-7-8-10-12-16-15-11-12-15-21-23-24-24-25 (25 wks) 26 (19) Kasabian – GREAT PRETENDER // 20-19-26 (3 wks) 27 (23) RAYE – Nightingale Lane // 13-11-18-18-19-23-27 (7 wks) 28 (25) Disclosure – The Sun Comes Up Tremendous // 18-25-28 (3 wks) 29 (26) Robyn – Blow My Mind // 21-20-19-23-26-29 (6 wks) 30 (28) Pulp – Tina // 5-1-1-1-3-4-6-6-7-8-9-10-14-12-12-14-16-17-16-20-23-23-25-25-26-26-28-30 (28 wks) 31 (31) RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! // 12-10-15-17-22-26-28-27-29-29-29-26-29-30-31-31 (16 wks) 32 (29) Robbie Williams – All My Life // 16-11-8-7-2-5-9-14-17-22-27-27-29-32 (14 wks) 33 (30) BLACKPINK – GO // 20-18-16-22-28-30-33 (7 wks) 34 (32) Radiohead – Let Down // 9-5-1-1-4-6-5-6-7-8-9-10-10-10-14-14-16-15-15-17-18-20-24-26-28-28-28-28-30-31-32-32-34 (33 wks) 35 (27) Tame Impala – Dracula // 19-12-9-7-4-3-1-1-1-3-5-7-8-9-13-13-13-16-17-22-15-13-13-18-20-23-25-25-27-35 (30 wks) 36 (33) Niall Horan – Dinner Party // 19-24-24-33-36 (5 wks) 37 (34) Bright Light Bright Light + Ana Matronic - Cold Sweat, Hot Boys // 18-11-10-11-17-19-22-24-28-31-34-37 (12 wks) 38 (35) HAVEN feat. Karen Aargon – I Run // 14-12-6-4-4-2-3-2-2-7-8-13-14-17-20-24-27-28-30-33-35-38 (22 wks) 39 (36) Bruno Mars – I Just Might // 11-9-5-2-5-10-12-18-22-24-27-32-34-36-39 (15 wks) 40 (39) Oasis – Slide Away // 10-7-4-4-1-1-3-5-6-8-9-10-11-12-13-13-17-17-20-20-20-23-23-24-24-27-28-30-32-35-35-35-37-39-39-39-40 (37 wks)