Welcome back as we conclude this week’s countdown! It has been fun getting back into this. There are some classic songs in this top 10. Again, you can click on the album cover to get the song from Amazon, and you can click on the song title to watch the video on YouTube. WARNING: If you click on the #3 song title, you can’t unsee or unhear that song! Now, let’s Return to the U.K. for the week ending July 12, 1987, and wrap up this week’s countdown!
10. “Misfit” by Curiosity Killed the Cat”
9. “You’re the Voice” by John Farnham
8. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston
7. “Always” by Atlantic Starr
6. “My Pretty One” by Cliff Richard
5. “The Living Daylights” by a-ha
4. “Wishing Well” by Terence Trent D’arby
3. “Star Trekkin'” by The Firm
2. “Under the Boardwalk” by Bruce Willis
1. “It’s a Sin” by Pet Shop Boys
That wraps up this week’s U.K. countdown! I hope you enjoyed it. The next one will be back at stateside. In the meantime, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.
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Not to be confused with the hit song by the Thompson Twins, this ballad by the Irish singer, Johnny Logan, was the winner of the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest. Never released in the U.S., this song was a top 5 song in most of the European countries, with the exception of Switzerland, where it peaked at #6.
This worldwide smash hit was the first single released from Michael’s iconic Faith album. It was also part of the Beverly Hills Cop II Soundtrack, which was an awesome soundtrack.
Broken English was a British band formed in 1987 by Steve Elson (singer and guitarist), who at the time performed in a Rolling Stones tribute band. You can totally get that vibe from this song. It sounds like it could be a Rolling Stones song.
This was the 3rd single released from Billy Idol’s Whiplash Smile album. This song also appeared in a Miami Vice episode, which automatically gives it a Cool factor, as if Billy Idol isn’t enough for that.
Mel and Kim were sisters Melanie and Kim Appleby. Sadly, Melanie died of cancer in 1990 at the age of 23. She bears a striking resemblance to Maya Rudolph. This was the third single released from their debut album, F.L.M.
Unless you live under a rock, you know this signature song by Heart. It was a worldwide smash hit. But, did you know it was a cover? It was originally performed by 
This is a pretty cool tribute to the R&B legend, Smokey Robinson. Robinson was still going strong at the time. In October of 1987, in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100, Robinson’s hit, “One Heartbeat”, was in the top 10 along with this tribute song to him.
Not to be confused with David Bowie’s hit song, this song is by British rock and blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, Chris Rea. This song would peak at #12 here, but only landed at #81 in the U.S.
This sounds like a combination of Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, and Chris Isaak. This is not for me.
Back to a song familiar to the U.S. audience. This was the second single released from Whitesnake’s classic 1987 self-titled album. What an awesome rock ballad! It would reach #9 in the U.K., and #2 in the U.S.
This song was never released in the U.S. It would go on to reach #27 on this U.K. chart. According to Wikipedia, the song’s lyrics, as written by Robert Smith, were inspired when Smith caught a broadcast of the Sylvester Stallone written film ‘Rocky 2’ in which Rocky’s wife Adrian falls into a coma during childbirth. In a desperate hope to revive his wife, Rocky writes a poem for Adrian which at one point reads “…..and you kept trying to slip so I could catch you….”
This worldwide smash hit was the second single released from The Joshua Tree album.
Here is another worldwide smash hit. This song hit #1 in both the US and the UK, as well as several other countries. In addition to appearing on the Mannequin soundtrack, the song was also released on Starship’s album No Protection.
Here is a song and band I had never heard of. This song was from The Christians’ self-titled debut album, which contained their first five UK hit singles, including this one.
This is a cover of Gary Glitter’s 1977 song. Shakin’ Stevens had been recording music since the 1960’s. But, he didn’t hit it big until the ’80s. Then he would go on to be the UK’s biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s
This song was originally released in 1982, and would be Simple Minds’ first UK hit, reaching #13, and staying on the charts for 11 weeks. Then this live version would hit the charts again, coming off their 1987 album Live in the City of Light.
This was the second single released from the Sign o’ the Times album. It was only a minor hit in the US, not even reaching the top 40. But it was a bigger hit here in the UK, reaching up to #20.
Nothing’s stopping ANYBODY in 1987! Earlier, Starship announced that nothing’s gonna stop us now, and now Samantha proclaims that nothing’s gonna stop me now. This is another song that did not chart very well in the US, but did better in the UK. However, I was very familiar with this song by one of my biggest 80s crushes. This song was off of Samantha Fox’s self-titled album, which also featured the hit song, “Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)”. There is not a bad song on that album.
Speaking of albums without a bad song, this hit was the second single released from the Invisible Touch album. That don’t make ’em like this anymore!
I am noticing that quite a few reissues are making the charts in the UK this week. And they are all great songs! I absolutely love this 1967 #1 hit by Jackie Wilson! 20 years later, it would chart again in this countdown, reaching up to #15.
This is an electronic instrumental. I don’t listen to today’s EDM. Or maybe if I do hear it, I black out from the pain of that crap going into my ears. This song is OK since it has a small sample of “Axel F” in it.
Apparently this song, a Carlton Banks favorite, had a resurgence in 1987. The Welsh Wonder (I just made that up) Tom Jones, originally had a smash hit with this song in 1965, when he was an unknown.
This is a pretty good freestyle song by Joyce Sims, who hails from Rochester New York. She never hit it too big in the U.S. This song did reach up to #23 on the U.S. R&B charts, but did not chart on the mainstream Billboard Hot 100. But, it reached up to #34 on the U.K. charts. She is still around, with her most recent album being released in 2014.
This song was originally recorded in 1973 by Ronnie Dyson, then made popular in 1974 by The Main Ingredient. This reggae version by Freddie McGregor became a huge hit in the U.K. reaching all the way up to #9.
This was Living in a Box’s follow-up single to their self-titled single. It did not chart at all in the U.S., but reached #30 on the U.K charts. I’m really digging this song. It’s a very cool, upbeat song that sticks with you.
Here’s a song that hit it big everywhere. This was Jody Watley’s debut solo single. In 1987, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Originally, Watley was a member of Shalamar, who are huge in England. I still can’t figure out why they don’t have a huge audience here.
This song by the synth-pop duo, Erasure, was a huge hit in the U.K., reaching all the way to #7. It did not chart at all on the Billboard Hot 100. They would have to wait for “Chains of Love” the following year for that.
This song was a worldwide smash hit for the Australian band. It was nominated for Best Group Video, and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the group a Best New Artist award. This song was also covered by Paul Young in 1991, and by Sixpence None the Richer in 2003.
Time for a little smooth jazz. Definitely not my kind of music. But, I do appreciate it much more now than I did when I was 16.
What the hell?!?!? Why have I not heard of this version before? I love the Bee Gees, and love this song. But, I had never heard about this super group, Boogie Box High. It consists of guitarist Nick Heyward (of Haircut One Hundred), keyboardist Mick Talbot (of The Style Council), guitarist–songwriter David Austin, bassist Deon Estus, and a singer you may have heard of – George Michael!
This was the end of Lionel Richie’s run in the ’80s. A sweet song to end it. Supposedly, it was written for Lionel’s daughter, Nicole.
Peter Gabriel had some groundbreaking videos in the late ’80s. Which means that they were on MTV every other song. Which also means that I couldn’t stand it! I was dreading listening to this again, but now I’m liking it a little more.
You got my rock in your rap! You got your rap in my rock! What?! Mmmm, delicious. Two great genres that go great together.
Bruce Willis hopped on that actors-turned-singers bandwagon. And he did a very respectful job of it, in my opinion.
At this time, I was too cool to watch cartoon movies. So, I’ve never seen An American Tail. But, I do love this song. Such a perfect duet with two incredible voices.
Nice ballad from The Jets, written by Rupert Holmes (“Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”), and sung by 13-year-old Elizabeth Wolfgramm.
If Chicago is asking us if we will still love them after the departure of Peter Cetera, the answer is Yes!
Between this, and Janet Jackson’s “Let’s Wait Awhile” earlier in the countdown, all we need to do is substitute Samantha Fox’s “Touch Me” with Jermaine Stewart’s “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off”, and we would have a perfect countdown for a Catholic school dance.
Hands down, this is my favorite Huey Lewis and the News song. “All I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today.” That’s all anybody can ask.
Bon Jovi had a huge hit with “You Give Love a Bad Name”. But, this ’80s anthem is the one that changed them forever. When you say the words “’80s music” to somebody, this is one of a handful of songs that would immediately come to mind. This is totally deserving of the #1 spot, and a great way to end the countdown.
You better spin me right round, baby, right round, or I’m gonna find a brand new lover. I know “You Spin Me Round” gets all the attention, but I like this song better. Very underrated New Wave song.
Good song. Madonna never looked better. Creepy-ass video.
The R&B legend crossed over to the mainstream charts with this awesome, upbeat song.
This is a poignant song for us ’80s kids. But, no worries. Anytime you want to go back to the ’80s, you can come over here.
Speaking of going back, nothing brings me back more than a “hair band” power ballad!
Beautiful ballad, especially important amidst the AIDS crisis back then.
The ballads continue. A lot of people gave Journey crap for their Raised on Radio album. But, I loved that album, and this was a great ballad off of it. I also liked the concert videos they released at the time, including this one.
Once again, we have a song that I had forgotten about. We were in a really mellow mood at this time, as this is yet another ballad. Another awesome one, I may add.
Eh boy. I can’t explain it, but for some reason I just can’t take this music. Although, back in 1987 I would have rated this a 1 out of 5, but now I give it a 2.
Right back at ya, Samantha. Right back at ya. Although I was a huge rock fan back then, I did love all of Samantha Fox’s songs. There wasn’t a bad song on her first three albums. So, let’s sum things up:
Understandibly, this is Europe’s signature song. This is the epitome of ’80s rock, complete with keyboards, guitar, soaring vocals, and big hair. But, Europe is so much more than this song. They have several other great songs (just on this album alone).
This is the umpteenth version of this song. And I still haven’t heard a version I didn’t like. This is a slow ballad version.
Time for some pop funk!
Another smash hit from the legendary Invisible Touch album.
I totally forgot about this one! I remembered it as soon as I heard it. This sounds like a Prince song.
Very underrated song by Cyndi from her True Colors album.
Thank you Family Ties! This 1981 tune got renewed interest and became a smash hit thanks to Alex P. Keaton and Ellen Reed slow dancing and ripping the hearts out of ’80s kids.
Often imitated, but never duplicated, Exposé took the freestyle world by storm in the late ’80s. This was the 3rd single released from their classic debut album Exposure.
Outstanding dance version of the 1972 Bill Withers classic. Club Nouveau’s version hit number 1 for two weeks, and won a Grammy award in 1987 for Bill Withers, as the writer, for Best R&B Song.
Very cool rocker by REO, who were still going strong, as this song cracked the Top 40 this week, and would go on to be a top 20 hit.
Yeesh, this is a timely song title right now. I had forgotten about this song. This song also mentions the album title – Whiplash Smile. I always thought it was cool when there was no title track, but a song on the album had the title in the lyrics.
This was a huge hit for Robbie Nevil, reaching all the way up to #2 on the Hot 100. I was very much into rock at this point, so I didn’t care much for it. It didn’t help that it was constantly on the airwaves.
Great song that was Lou Gramm’s debut solo single. It would be his biggest solo hit, reaching #5. Still love this song to this day!
I never heard of this song in my life. It’s a good R&B slow jam song. This would go well on the soundtrack of a Tyler Perry movie.
Another song I had forgotten about. Stacey Q performed this on an episode of The Facts of Life. I kind of dig the guitar solo in this!
I love Boston! They were on fire in the late ’70s with back-to-back smash albums. However, it then took 8 years to release their 3rd album, Third Stage. It was another great album. But, what I remember most was when I bought the cassette, and in the liner notes, there were all kinds of excuses of why it took so long to release this album. Even back then, I thought that was strange.
My favorite Wang Chung song! No matter how down I am, this song always seems to lift me up.
We’ll close out today with another song I had never heard of before. I’ve been missing out! This song was off of Jeff Lorber’s Private Passion album. In 1988, Karyn White would go on to release her debut album, and had a great run as a solo artist.
Welcome back everybody! If you missed the previous songs, you can check out songs 
Return to the 80s 