Tag Archives: Wham!

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 2/7/23

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Can you name the artist and song:

It was you, you and me, two hearts drawn together bound by destiny
It was you and you for me, every road leads to your door
Every step I take forever more

Wham!_featuring_George_Michael_US_releaseLast Song: “Careless Whisper” by George Michael/Wham! from Make It Big (1985)

Great job Craig (@cdennis0130), Adora (@Adora2000), NewWaveDuranie (@JTIsMyBassGod), Andrea (@ANDYP73),Erwin (@erwin_green), and Karina (@WillieSun)!!!

I’m never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it’s easy to pretend
I know you’re not a fool

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 12/23/22

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This will be the final Remember That Song of 2022.
I hope you all have a happy holiday season.
Thank you for all your support over all these years.
See you in 2023!

*** Deep Track ***

Can you name the artist and song:

No more champagne
And the fireworks are through
Here we are, me and you
Feeling lost and feeling blue

tumblr_lcz1xeqdbv1qbgvpzLast Song: “Last Christmas” by Wham! from Music from The Edge of Heaven (1986)

Great job Karina (@WillieSun), Craig (@cdennis0130), and Adora (@Adora2000)!!!

Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby, do you recognize me?
Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 10/5/22

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Can you name the artist and song (The 80s version):

I’d have sworn that with time
Thoughts of you leave my head
I was wrong, now I find
Just one thing makes me forget

MV5BZWIyNzNjYTItZTM1Mi00MTk1LTg1YzItZGU1Mzg3MWE5OGFiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTA1NDUwODc@._V1_Last Song: “Freedom” by Wham! from Make It Big (1985)

Great job Adora (@Adora2000) and Craig (@cdennis0130)!!!

Every day I hear a different story
People saying that you’re no good for me
Saw your lover with another
And she’s makin’ a fool of you

Artists, Music, Song of the Day

Song of the Day: “Careless Whisper” by Wham!

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“Careless Whisper” by Wham! hit #1 on this day in 1985. Most Wham! songs were written solo by George Michael, but this one was also credited to Andrew Ridgeley, the other half of Wham!. The song was released on the duo’s second album, 1984s Make It Big, but was also released as a George Michael solo single – credited in the US to “Wham featuring George Michael.” This was Epic Records first million-selling single and it was George Michael’s biggest-selling single in the UK, either as a solo artist or with Wham!, selling 1,365,995 copies. In America, “Careless Whisper” was certified platinum, meaning it sold over 2 million copies.
The song is best known for its iconic saxophone riff. The video was shot in Miami and directed by Duncan Gibbins, who later worked on George Michael’s videos “I Want Your Sex,” “Faith,” and “Father Figure.”

1983, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week (UK Edition) – 19 June 1983: Songs 10-1

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Logo: Tops of the popsWelcome back to this week’s Top 40 Countdown! If you missed the previous songs, you can go ahead and check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. This has been an exciting week for ’80s music! Today, there may be a few songs we haven’t heard much of. However, this list is covered with very familiar songs, and legendary artists. Let’s conclude this week’s countdown, and check them out!

 

10. “When We Were Young” by Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz was a U.K. pop group that had enormous success in Europe from 1981-84. Although they had no hits in the U.S., they had a string of top 10 hits in the early ’80s. This song was their 6th Top 10 hit.

 

9. “Nobody’s Diary” by Yazoo

This song by the synth-pop group, would peak at #3 in the U.K. It did not chart on the Mainstream U.S. chart, but did hit #1 in the U.S. Dance Clubs. I love this band, and Alison Moyet’s voice is so mesmerizing for me.

 

 

8. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” by Michael Jackson

This one is a bit familiar to everyone around the world. This was the opening track on Thriller, and the fourth single released. It would peak right here this week at #8 in the U.K., and reach #5 in the U.S.

 

 

7. “Waiting for a Train” by Flash and the Pan

I love me some play on words! I had never heard of this group before. This was The Australian group’s most successful single, peaking right here this week at #7.

 

 

6. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” by Elton John

Has anybody seen the Elton John movie, Rocketman? I haven’t seen it yet, but I heard it wasn’t that great. Anyway, this was one of Elton John’s biggest hits of the ’80s. It would peak at #5 in the U.K. and #4 in the U.S.

 

 

5. “Bad Boys” by Wham!

This was the third single released from Wham!’s debut album, Fantastic. I was not familiar with this song. If I had heard of it when it was first released, I would have made fun of it. I was in the beginning of my rocker phase, and Wham! singing about bad boys would have been funny to me.

 

4. “Flashdance…..What a Feeling” by Irene Cara

Here’s another smash hit that is very familiar tom U.S. audiences. This is pretty much Irene Cara’s signature song. This is the theme song for the iconic ’80s movie Flashdance.

 

 

3. “China Girl” by David Bowie

Here is a smash hit by the late, great David Bowie, from his iconic Let’s Dance album. This song was written by Bowie and Iggy Pop in 1977, and actually first appeared on Iggy Pop’s debut solo album The Idiot. But, this version was the more successful.

 

 

2. “Baby Jane” by Rod Stewart

Here is another music legend. This song was Rod Stewart’s final #1 single in the U.K. As the decade went on, Stewart was actually more popular in the U.S. He had a huge amount of success with his Out of Order album in the U.S. This song, from his Body Wishes album, peaked at #14 in the U.S.

 

1. “Every Breath You Take” by The Police

And we wrap up this week’s countdown with what I consider one of the most overrated and overplayed songs of the ’80s. There were so many much better songs on their Synchronicity album. However, this is the one that became their signature song. It was a #1 hit in the U.S. for 8 straight weeks, and was #1 here in the U.K. for 4 straight weeks. I may think the song is overrated, but there’s no denying its success. And it does give me nostalgia for the ’80s. So there’s that.

Well, that wraps up this week’s countdown. What a great week of music! I hope you enjoyed it. What were some of your favorite songs? The next Top 40 will be back in the U.S. In the meantime, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song – 6/10/19

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Can you name the artist and song:

You can see the summit but you can’t reach it
It’s the last piece of the puzzle but you just can’t make it fit

Last Song: “Everything She Wants ” by Wham! from the album Make It Big (1985)

Great job J-Dub, Adora (@Adora2000) and Poppy Kok (@blondasabat)!!!

They told me marriage was a give and take
Well, show me you can take you’ve got some giving to do

If you’d like to get this song from Amazon, click on the album cover below

1985, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week (UK Edition) – January 12, 1985: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back to the Top 40 Countdown! If you missed the previous posts, you can go ahead and check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. I hope you’ve been enjoying these songs this week. There will be quite a few familiar ones today. So let’s Returh to the week ending January 12, 1985, and see what was topping the charts in the U.K.

10. “The Power of Love” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

I had never heard this song in my life. However, it had topped the charts in the U.K. This was Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s third single, aft “Relax” and “Two Tribes”. This song is often regarded as a Christmas song, even though it doesn’t reference Christmas in the song lyrics. But, the video and the single cover are kind of Christmas themed

9. “Everything Must Change” by Paul Young

Paul Young had a handful of hits in the U.S>, including the #1 smash, “Every Time You Go Away”. But, he was even bigger in the U.K. This was his 5th top 10 hit there, and “Every Time You Go Away” hadn’t even been released as a single yet! I was unaware of this song, but I am liking it now.

8. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

Wow, this worldwide smash hit had staying power in the U.K. It had been the #2 song for three weeks in September the previous year, and is still in the Top 10 here! The song even re-entered the UK Top 75 on November 2, 2008, at No. 49.

 

7. “Shout” by Tears for Fears

This is one of the most recognizable songs of the mid-80s, and was a worldwide smash hit, hitting the top 10 in 25 countries.

 

 

6. “Nellie the Elephant” by Toy Dolls

You Brits are mad! I love this! This 1956 children’s song was made into a punk rock song by Toy Dolls. It became a #4 hit.

 

 

5. “We All Stand Together” by Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus

And this is another children’s song from the animated film Rupert and the Frog Song. Except this isn’t a punk song. This is the early-mid 80s Paul McCartney style that sticks in your head whether you want it to or not.

 

4. “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner

We all know this power ballad by Foreigner. It was a Top 10 hit in many countries, and #1 in some of them. We’ve heard this song millions of times. But to mix things up, the YouTube link goes to the newly recorded version featuring Shriners Hospitals For Children patients. This is very cool! And the proceeds from this version, which was just released on January 1, 2019, go to Shriners Hospitals For Children. You can donate at https://showthemlove.org/.

3. “Like a Virgin” by Madonna

Here is yet another worldwide smash. This was the lead single from the Like a Virgin album.

 

 

2. “Last Christmas” by Wham!

I love this song. However, when you start hearing it in stores in September and October, it’s a little ridiculous. I know it is after Christmas now, but I can understand that it is still charted this high at this point, because it was released in December. Wham! thought they would have had the Christmas song market cornered in December 1984. And they would have too, if it wasn’t for…

1. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid

I still love this song, and it was for such a great cause. It is so funny to see how young everybody looks in the video! And I just figured this out. In this song, these awesome British artists asked to “Feed the World”. Later on in the year, U.S. artists came out and proclaimed “We Are the World”. Were they expecting to get fed? Greedy bastards! I am just kidding of course. Both songs, as well as Wham!’s “Last Christmas”, raised money for the people suffering the famine in Ethiopia.

Well, that’s a wrap. The next countdown will be back in the U.S. Until next time, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

1985, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week: January 19, 1985 – Songs 10-1

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Hey Everybody! Welcome back to this week’s Top 40 Countdown! If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31, 30-21 and 20-11. When I began this week, I had no idea that this would be one of the best, if not THE best countdown I’ve covered so far. Let’s see if this streak continues today. Let’s Return to the week ending January 19, 1985, and wrap up the countdown.

10. “Careless Whisper” by Wham! Featuring George Michael

We start the top 10 with one of the most iconic sax riffs of the ’80s. This is one of the few Wham! songs co-written by Andrew Ridgeley (the other member of Wham!, kids).

9. “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen

One of the most patriotic songs ever. Right President Reagan. Only if you consider a song about how Vietnam veterans were mistreated, to be patriotic. Oops.

8. “We Belong” by Pat Benatar

One of my favorite Pat Benatar songs. It was the lead single off of her Tropico album and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

7. “The Wild Boys” by Duran Duran

Awesome song. Crazy-ass video.

6. “Run to You” by Bryan Adams

Lead single from one of my favorite albums, Reckless.

5. “Easy Lover” by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins

What do you get when you combine one of the most successful musicians of the ’80s with a lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire? Pure perfection.

4. “I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner

Great ballad that would be one of Foreigner’s signature songs.

3. “You’re the Inspiration” by Chicago

Classic Chicago ballad, made memorable by the fake Madonna and fake Billy Idol in the video.

2. “All I Need” by Jack Wagner

General Hospital knew how to churn out the musicians!Landing at #2 isn’t too shabby for a soap opera actor!

1. “Like a Virgin” by Madonna

Madonna was at the top of her game here as one of the biggest ’80s icons.

 

 

 

Well that wraps up this week’s countdown. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. Until next time, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 1/9/18

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Can you name the artist and song:

First time I fell in love, I didn’t know what hit me
So young and so naive, I thought it would be easy
Now I know I got to take

Last Song: “Freedom” by Wham! from the album Make It Big (1984)

Great job Brent (@jonbrent13), Drew (@ChristiedDrew), and Jim (@JimVilk)!!!

Saw your lover with another
And she’s making a fool of you
Oh
If you loved me baby
You’d deny it

If you’d like to purchase this song from Amazon, click on the album cover below:

1984, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – November 10, 1984: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back as we wrap up this week’s countdown. If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. If you are in the U.S., I hope this countdown has provided a little escape from the election day craziness. This has been a great week of music. For those of us who grew up around the time of this countdown, we were so lucky to enjoy some great music. Now let’s Return to the week ending November 10, 1984, and wrap up this countdown.

10. “Desert Moon” by Dennis DeYoung

Earlier in the countdown, we had a song by Tommy Shaw in the wake of the band Styx falling apart. Now we have the former Styx frontman, Dennis DeYoung with his solo effort. This is an outstanding song, that would peak right here at #10.

9. “Hard Habit to Break” by Chicago

Thanks to producer, David Foster, we were right in the middle of Chicago’s renaissance. I do get slightly annoyed that most people only know of Chicago from their power ballads, even though they have some incredible rock songs. But, with a song like this, I can totally see why. This is one of my favorites by them. I love that both Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin sing on this. I love both of their voices. Great combination!

8. “Blue Jean” by David Bowie

David Bowie (still can’t believe he is gone) was still making an impact on the music world at this point. This song was off of his Tonight album, which was his follow-up to the mega-successful Let’s Dance album. This song was launched with a 21-minute short film, Jazzin’ for Blue Jean. The film won the 1985 Grammy Award for “Best Video, Short form” (Later renamed “Best Music Video”), which would be Bowie’s only competitive Grammy Award during his career. He was nominated for several, but this was his only win, in addition to his Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

7. “Better Be Good to Me” by Tina Turner

This song is from Tina Turner’s huge comeback album, Private Dancer. This song was originally recorded and released in 1981 by Spider, a band from New York City with one of the co-writers, Holly Knight, as a member. Of course Tina had the most successful version. The song won Tina Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, one of four Grammys awarded to Turner in that ceremony.

6. “Out of Touch” by Daryl Hall & John Oates

There weren’t too many acts as big in the ’80s as Hall & Oates.This was their lead single from their 1984 album Big Bam Boom. It would be their last #1 hit. The song was also their 14th straight top 40 hit since 1980.

Before we continue, let’s see what was topping some of the other charts this week in 1984:

The number one country song was “I’ve Been Around Enough to Know” by John Schneider (Yes, that John Schneider from The Dukes of Hazzard)

Topping the Rock charts was “I Can’t Hold Back” by Survivor

Number one on the Adult Contemporary charts was “What About Me?” by Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and James Ingram

The Number 1 album was Purple Rain by Prince and the Revolution

And topping both the R&B and the Dance charts is our #5 song on the Hot 100 this week:

5. “I Feel For You” by Chaka Kahn

While Prince was a megastar performer himself, he also wrote music covered by other artists. This was one of them. Prince wrote this song, and it was on his debut album. It was also covered by The Pointer Sisters on their 1982 album, So Excited!.
Then Chaka Kahn took over, and this song would start a big comeback for her. Melle Mel (from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five) did the rapping. And Stevie Wonder is on the harmonica.

4. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham!

This was Wham!’s big breakthrough hit. It became their first American and UK number-one hit. To be honest, I really hated this song when it first came out. I like it now because of its nostalgic value. It should also be noted that while it was at the top of the charts for two weeks, it prevented the next song from becoming a #1 hit…

3. “Purple Rain” by Prince

Yes, perhaps Prince’s signature song, this never hit #1 (still can’t believe he is gone). That doesn’t change anything though. This is an iconic song of the decade. For a lot of people, when you mention the ’80s, one of the first images that come to mind is the cover of the Purple Rain soundtrack and movie poster. And if you listened to our Prince episode of the Return to the ’80s podcast, you would know that there is a Journey connection here. After recording the song, Prince phoned Jonathan Cain from Journey asking him to hear it, worried it might be too similar to “Faithfully“, a Journey single composed by Cain which had recently been in the charts. Cain reassured Prince telling him the songs only shared the same four chords. Prince was extremely sensitive to Copyright infringement. It’s good to see he put his money where his mouth was, and was careful himself.

2. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder

This was one of Stevie Wonder’s most commercially successful hits. It was featured in the Gene Wilder (still can’t believe he’s gone) movie The Woman in Red. The ballad won both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was also nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Song of the Year and Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the Grammy Awards.

1. “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)” by Billy Ocean

I always loved Billy Ocean’s voice. This is a good one. It won Ocean the 1985 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, making him the first British artist to win in that category.

Well that wraps up this week’s Countdown. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. Did you have any favorites or least favorites? Let’s do another one of these in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.