Second half.
20 - “Break Dance Party,” Break Machine
This was the second Top Ten from Village People producer Jacques Morali’s effort to cash in on the burgeoning hip-hop culture. Pretty much the same song as previous hit “Street Dance,” but not as good.
19 - “Thinking of You,” Sister Sledge
The Sledge siblings scored there first hit here in five years with this midtempo devotion jam. Another great Nile Rodgers groove.
18 - “One Better Day,” Madness
The Nutty Boys got serious on this slow, Latin-flavoured number about people who have fallen on hard times reflecting on better days. It was their lowest-charting of eighteen singles to that point, but when you see it’s still Top 20, that’s pretty impressive. And I think it deserved a bit better.
17 - “Red Guitar,” David Sylvian
After leaving the successful group Japan, Beckenham’s Sylvian picked up his first and biggest solo hit with this atmospheric number about how he is most comfortable playing the titular instrument, which he calls “the iron in my soul.” A bit New Wave, a bit jazz, all great.
16 - “Relax,” Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The Frankies were more than halfway through their yearlong chart run with this iconic single. No one has made synths sexier since. Laser beam me, indeed.
15 - “I Want to Break Free,” Queen
Again, we encounter the song that made America squeamish because the band dressed like women in the video. They missed out on a great pop song because of it. But American manhood was saved. Fair trade, I guess.
14 - “Automatic,” The Pointer Sisters
Another look at Ruth, June and Anita’s only Top Five here. Ruth’s uncharacteristically low lead vocal still impresses and seduces.
13 - “Smalltown Boy,” Bronski Beat
The breakthrough for Jimmy Somerville and company was this melancholy disco-blues about a young gay man in a tiny hamlet who feels he needs to leave his home to escape bullying and loneliness and find acceptance and love. The pain and isolation is palpable. It’s a great and important song. Top Five here, Top Ten in Canada, and...#48 in America. But given what I described about the Queen situation, I think I’ll give them credit for getting it that high.
12 - “Sad Songs (Say So Much),” Elton John
Elton does a tune about downbeat tunes. It’s a hit everywhere, and it’s better than I remember. A bright spot in an uneven decade.
11 - “Feel Like Buddy Holly,” Alvin Stardust
The artist also known as Bernard Jewry and Shane Fenton had one final run this year, scoring two Top Tens. The first was this loneliness ballad that name drops not only Holly, but also Paul McCartney and Paul Simon. It also contains not so subtle references to songs made famous by Elvis and Roy Orbison. It’s not much. Writer/producer Mike Batt did better stuff with The Wombles.
A double plus good Top Ten.
10 - “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” The Smiths
The third hit and first Top Ten for the Manchester mopemeisters sees Morrissey depressed by love, ex, employment, alcohol, and people in general, many of whom he’d like to “kick in the eye.” Like much of the band’s best work, it’s a beautiful downer.
9 - “High Energy,” Evelyn Thomas
The second and biggest hit for the Chicago singer was this spirited dance track about love that makes one happier than “all the gold in Fort Knox.” It became so popular and influential in the club scene that a new genre was named after it, although respelled “Hi-NRG.” You can certainly hear it’s echoes in pretty much everything Stock/Aitken/Waterman would go on to produce.
8 - “Pearl in the Shell,” Howard Jones
The fourth hit for the Southampton man was this burbly pop song about letting fear stop you from living up to your potential. The saxophone parts are the standout bit.
7 - “You’re the Best Thing,” The Style Council
The sixth hit from Paul Weller’s second act was this sweet soul song about romantic contentment. His smoothness here was as convincing as his anger with The Jam. Impressive versatility.
6 - “ Searchin’,” Hazell Dean
Chelmsford native Hazell Dean Poole started as a more traditional pop singer, but she didn’t find success until the second release of this very disco number about looking for love. Another song that would be placed in the Hi-NRG genre, and a very good one.
5 - “Only When You Leave,” Spandau Ballet
The fifth and final Top Five for the Islington New Romantics was this slick, sophisticated track about wanting more from a one-night stand. It stands with their best moments.
4 - “The Reflex,” Duran Duran
Their hit about using and bruising and lucky clover got two thirds of a Triple Crown, but Canada denied it, in spite of the fact that the video was filmed in Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Not the only trophy the Leafs have missed out on being a part of in the last fifty years.
3 - “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes,” Ultravox
The second and last Top Five for Midge Ure’s boys was this synthpopper about realizing you’re in the middle of a deadly catastrophe, depicted in the video as a nuclear meltdown. Interesting that this came out between Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Probably their best hit.
2 - “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” Deneice Williams
Another denied Triple Crown for the Footloose soundtrack, and once again it’s the Brits applying the brakes. Apparently, they didn’t want to hear it for Deneice. I’ll still give her a hand for getting so close.
And the one on top 34 years ago was...
1 - “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” Wham!
After five hits rooted in dance and rap, pop princes George and Andrew went retro and scored a transatlantic #1. But again, Canada denied the Triple Crown, leaving the boys hanging on like some sort of toy attached to a string. And a note from the future to young Andy: don’t put too much faith in George declaring “I’m not planning on going solo.”
Next time it’s back to the tournament. See you soon.
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