We are back to continue the countdown! So far, this has been pretty cool. On today’s list, there are some very familiar songs to everybody. And there are some that we may have never heard before. And there are two songs with very familiar titles, but totally different from what we would expect. As usual, you can click on the song title to listen to the song on YouTube, and you can click on the album cover to get the song from Amazon. Now, let’s Return to the week ending July 12, 1987 in the U.K., and continue the countdown!
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.
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.
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.
That wraps up today’s list of songs. Come back tomorrow as we see what the biggest hits were in the U.K. this week in 1987!
It’s been far too long. At long last, we Return to the Top 40 countdown. This week, we’ll go back 30 years, and see what the 40 most popular songs were. At this time, I was getting ready to start my senior year of high school. I have a ton of great memories, and I loved the music back then. So, let’s Return to August 8, 1987, and check out songs 40-31 today. You can click on the song title to watch the video, and you can click on the album cover to buy/listen to the song from Amazon.
No, Danny Wilson is not a person. It is a Scottish pop group. This is one of those songs that I had forgotten about until I just heard it for the first time in a while.
Finally, a Happy song I approve of! This R&B tune is way better than Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, which is a million times better than the recent song “Happy” by Pharrell.
When you hear the words ’80s Rock, this is one of the first songs that come to mind. Great song, and great video. So many of us teenage boys really wanted to be that car.
Future candidate of the Return to the ’80s podcast’s segment, ‘Play This, Not That.’ Sure, “Your Love” is a great song, but The Outfield has many other great songs, which never get played. This was one of them. It reached #11 and never gets played.
This hit was off of the Red Rocker’s album I Never Said Goodbye, his only solo album released while he was with Van Halen. This is one of my favorites by him.
Here is a wrap-up of the Horrible and Great hits of the ’80s. I threw all the songs from my previous lists of each year, and picked my least favorite and favorite songs of the decade.
So, this is basically a Greatest Hits compilation of the Hits – Horrible and Great series.
The Horrible Hits came quite easy to me, and fell right into place. My favorites were a little tougher. They are always rotating in and out. Since I love so much ’80s music, it is difficult leaving some songs off the list.
Well, without further adieu:
Horrible
10. If This Is It – Huey Lewis and The News
Stick with the up-tempo songs, Huey! I loved every song on the Sports album – except for this one. It’s slow, boring, and there’s no feeling in it.
9. Harden My Heart – Quarterflash
This is one of the most overplayed ’80s songs out there. I’ve heard this song more in the past couple of years than I did during the entire ’80s decade! And it’s not even on my iPod! This may not have made the list if it were not so overplayed. This song is a little to slow for me, but not slow enough to be a good ballad. I can’t change the station fast enough when it comes on the radio.
8. Two Hearts – Phil Collins
I love Phil Collins, but this was probably the most overplayed among his overplayed songs.
7. Smooth Operator – Sade
The Stuck in the 80s guys were told to keep this song off their Horrible list. It did sound like they wanted it on there though. So, I will place it on my list yet again. Is this even a song? It is more like slow torture! Slow, slow torture.
6. True – Spandau Ballet
Ah, Ah-Ah-ah, AAAAAAARRRGGGHHHH!!! I can’t stomach this song. It is too boring, and it high on some kind of wuss factor. I’ll have to admit that it was funny seeing Steve Buscemi singing this song at the end of The Wedding Singer:
Unfortunately, since the song was included in the movie, it was also included on the movie’s soundtrack. Why didn’t they leave this song off, and put on “Do You Believe In Love”?
5. Stand – R.E.M.
This song is like a whiny “Hokey Pokey”. The only song I liked by R.E.M. was “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”, and then they disappeared.
4. Red Red Wine – UB40
Neil Diamond was a great songwriter. But, this was not one of his better songs, that’s for sure! I don’t know why it was remade, and I don’t understand why this was a hit. This is another song that comes on, and I can’t change the station fast enough.
3. Mandolin Rain – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
Bruce Hornsby has a unique sound on his piano. Unfortunately, every song I’ve heard by him sounds exactly the same. And they are all horrible. I can’t turn this song off fast enough as soon as I hear it.
2. The Girl Is Mine – Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
Two of the greatest music artists of all time took the biggest dump on the biggest album of all time! Uggh, this song makes me want to rip my ears off and rip all the skin off my face! The “doggon” song bites the big one! Especially when they start yapping in the song. This song should be taken off of all copies of Thriller, and be replaced by “Say, Say, Say”.
1. Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
How can I be happy when this crap comes on the radio!? Don’t tell me what to do, Bobby McFerrin! I was perfectly happy until this song came on and annoyed the crap out of me. Ooooooo! There’s no instruments. He makes all the sound effects with his mouth! Impressive! If I want that, I don’t have to subject myself to this dreck. I’ll just put on some Police Academy to watch Michael Winslow.
Great
10. Lost In Your Eyes – Debbie Gibson
My favorite Debbie Gibson song. Even people who weren’t into the teen music, at the time, liked this song. It is still great today.
9. Hard Habit to Break – Chicago
I still love this Chicago ballad! This was in the middle of their comeback during the David Foster years. I got sick of “You’re the Inspiration”, but I never got sick of this song. Unfortunately, the band became known more for their ballads. Their rock songs are just as good. But, “Hard Habit to Break” is one of my all time favorite Chicago songs.
8. Down Under – Men At Work
This song was a breakthrough for Men At Work, and basically introduced the U.S. to Australia and vegemite sandwiches. This is a fun song, and Colin Haye has a great unique voice. The band had a great string of hits. Will they get back together already?!
7. Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran
This song got a lot of people into Duran Duran. The exposure on MTV didn’t hurt either. I liked it when it came out because the video reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark. But, even without the video, the song itself is really good.
6. Like a Prayer – Madonna
This was Madonna at the peak of her career. This is my favorite song by her.
5. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
This is a great song without the video. But, much like “At This Moment” is linked with Family Ties, “Here I Go Again” will forever be linked with the video and Tawny Kitaen. How many of us guys wished that we were that car?!? 24 years later I still love this song. It stands the test of time for me.
4. Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
A perfect rock anthem. This is a fun song, that really rocks, and is still popular today. With all the great smash hits that Def Leppard has, this is one of the best.
3. The Living Years – Mike and the Mechanics
A really emotional song that packs quite a punch. Paul Carrack sounds great. The music and message are just awesome.
2. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
The ultimate ’80s song from the ultimate ’80s movie. You can’t think of one without the other. It even has staying power as this song is played while the losing American Idols are being booted. This song does get played alot, but somehow I cannot get sick of it.
1. Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey
“Don’t Stop Believin'” is one of my all time favorite songs, even after all these years. Everybody still gets into this song. And a new generation has even found it, as it became extremely popular from the television show Glee. Don’t Stop Believin’ this song will live on forever.
We are back to continue the countdown! So far, this has been pretty cool. On today’s list, there are some very familiar songs to everybody. And there are some that we may have never heard before. And there are two songs with very familiar titles, but totally different from what we would expect. As usual, you can click on the song title to listen to the song on YouTube, and you can click on the album cover to get the song from Amazon. Now, let’s Return to the week ending July 12, 1987 in the U.K., and continue the countdown!
It’s been far too long. At long last, we Return to the Top 40 countdown. This week, we’ll go back 30 years, and see what the 40 most popular songs were. At this time, I was getting ready to start my senior year of high school. I have a ton of great memories, and I loved the music back then. So, let’s Return to August 8, 1987, and check out songs 40-31 today. You can click on the song title to watch the video, and you can click on the album cover to buy/listen to the song from Amazon.
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