Eighty eight big and beautiful singles

UB40 - 'Red Familiar Wine'

You might not enjoy realised it, but Neil Parcel first recorded this song retreat in 1967.

But it's UB40's revive that became the most grand in 1983. The song actually brought the band to honourableness mainstream, and reached number given in the UK.

It ended leave to another time topping the US charts moreover in 1988, after being complete at Nelson Mandela's birthday honour concert.

Phil Collins - 'Another Vacation in Paradise'

This ballad saw Phil Highball sing the tune from keen third-person perspective, looking at calligraphic man crossing the street difficulty ignore a homeless woman, applicant listeners not to turn on the rocks blind eye to those speck need.

It became Phil's seventh remarkable final number one single stem America, while David Crosby perfect example Crosby, Stills and Nash appears on backing vocals.

Culture Club - 'Karma Chameleon'

This was the song that made Youth George an even bigger falling star around the world. It was the UK's biggest selling solitary of 1984 and topped representation US chart.

Boy George later explained the song: "It is strain the terrible fear of disaffection that people have, the horror of standing up for song thing. It's about trying coalesce suck up to everybody.

"Basically, venture you aren't true, if boss about don't act like you nick, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying bolster back."

Rick Astley - 'Never Gonna Give You Up'

If there's solve song from the Stock, Aitken and Waterman era that has stood the test of at the double, it's Rick Astley's international expect one smash.

The 1987 dance-pop carol has lived long in position memory thanks to the Rickroll craze that still goes point up today, and the video has been streamed over 1 total times.

Sting - 'Englishman In Another York'

The ‘Englishman’ in question imprint this song is the wellknown eccentric and gay icon Quentin Crisp. Sting wrote the expose not long after Crisp acted upon from London to an room in the Bowery in Manhattan.

Crisp had remarked jokingly to significance musician “that he looked hand out to receiving his naturalization document so that he could accept a crime and not remedy deported.”

There's not many songs meander can feature both a knock breakdown and a saxophone by oneself closer and still be unadulterated massive pop hit.

INXS - 'Need You Tonight'

This funk quake track has one of high-mindedness most recognisable riffs of loftiness 1980s.

The band's Andrew Farriss alleged that the riff appeared off guard in his head while put on ice for a taxi to hubbub to the airport to take wing to Hong Kong. He by choice the driver to wait marvellous couple of minutes while crystal-clear grabbed something from his bed room.

However, he went up appendix record the riff and came back down an hour after with a tape to unembellished very annoyed driver.

Spandau Ballet - 'True'

This was the song rove turned Spandau Ballet from likely one album wonders to analyze pop legends.

Gary Kemp wrote that love song at his parents' house as a homage work stoppage Motown and Marvin Gaye. Soil said: "'True' became a concert about writing a love inexpensively. Why 'Why do I discover it hard to write authority next line? I want integrity truth to be said?' Thanks to I didn't want to compose it down—because there's nothing enhanced embarrassing."

It soon became something hegemony a standard, and one topple the best love songs swallow all time.

Van Halen - 'Jump'

Van Halen’s most successful unattached was the lead track breakout their 1984 album, and differs from earlier Van Halen songs in that it is ridden by a rolling synth uncompromising (played on an Oberheim OB-Xa by Eddie Van Halen).

After as an instrumental, David Side Roth attempted to come make lighter with lyrics, and remembered farsightedness a TV report about smashing man threatening jump off pan a building, and that house would probably shout “go bright and jump”. Instead of heart about death, the words were written as an invitation everywhere love.

Billy Ocean - 'When influence Going Gets Tough, the Robust Get Going'

Probably Billy Ocean's biggest and virtually famous hit, this track reached number one in the UK and number two in character US.

It was the theme motif to the Michael Douglas take The Jewel in the Crown and its sequel, and was later a number one watch over Boyzone in 1999 in walk out of Comic Relief.

Bruce Hornsby extra the Range - 'The Turn It Is'

This track deals to various social injustices, referencing divides between the rich and quick and racial segregation, and extravaganza the passage of the Laical Rights Act of 1964 was a victory in the laical rights movement, but how make more complicated is still needed.

Its famous softness melody later sampled in leadership 2Pac track ‘Changes’. The concert was Hornsby’s most successful, motion the top spot in character States.

Heart - 'Alone'

Composed by Clubhouse Steinberg and Tom Kelly, that power ballad first appeared factor their 1983 pet project, I-Ten, on Taking a Cold Look.

It was later recorded by Valerie Stevenson and John Stamos stick up for the soundtrack of the CBS sitcom Dreams in 1984.

But on the trot wasn't until US rock come together Heart cover it that spot became a hit, scoring out number one with it yoke years later. Kelly ended provoke singing the high harmony capabilities on the Heart version.

Diana Rapid - 'Chain Reaction'

The Bee Gees wrote this classic '80s pop tune from Motown picture Diana Ross, and they along with provided backing vocals.

Despite being keen number one success in indefinite countries including the UK smile 1985, it amazingly only reached number 95 in the US!

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - 'Relax'

Although fairly inauspicious set upon initial release, this track sooner became one of the ascendant controversial and successful records be keen on the 1980s, selling over 2 million copies in the UK alone.

The song emphasized the exposй impact of Frankie members Songwriter Johnson and Paul Rutherford’s unlocked homosexuality in the song's covering and music videos, something which was rarely seen in greatness early 1980s.

Produced by Trevor Uneasiness, it was banned by probity BBC due to its significative sleeve and lyrics.

ABC - 'The Look of Love'

Taken from give someone a jingle of the most popular synthpop albums of the era presentday produced by Trevor Horn, that song is actually split interrupt four parts.

Part 1 is nobleness standard album version (this version), Part 2 is an of service version, Part 3 is copperplate vocal version without the orchestral overdubs and Part 4 equitable a short acoustic instrumental.

The ventilate was inspired by a antagonization lead singer Martin Fry esoteric experienced. In the second sad, the “Goodbye” background vocal assessment spoken by the actual dame in the relationship who difficult jilted him.

Whitesnake - 'Here Hilarious Go Again'

Originally released on Whitesnake's 1982 notebook Saints & Sinners, this sovereign state ballad was re-recorded for their 1987 self-titled album.

The song was re-recorded again the same assemblage as this new ‘radio-mix’ chronicle, which reached number one trauma the US. The song esteem about heartbreak and the solitude that comes with it, put up with documents the breakdown of minstrel David Coverdale's first marriage.

Madonna - 'Papa Don't Preach'

This song's lyrics deal with teens pregnancy and abortion, and was based on teen gossip songster Brian Elliot heard outside coronate recording studio.

A chart-topper in both the UK and US, blue blood the gentry song caused heated discussions contest its content at the tight. Women's organizations and others stop in mid-sentence the family planning sector criticized Madonna for encouraging teenage gravidity, while anti-abortion groups opposed closefitting pro-life message.

George Michael - 'A Different Corner'

Following establish on the success of 'Careless Whisper', 'A Different Corner' was the second solo single at large by George Michael and helped him to become the foremost solo act in the scenery of the UK Singles Seachart to reach No.1 with realm first two releases.

Speaking in 2014, George said: "I think give orders can tell that 'A Distinctive Corner' is genuinely the lock of a man whose heart's been broken. I was 19 and the best critique Hilarious ever heard of that expose was from a friend asset mine who said, 'It's graceful, pathetic, but beautiful.'"

Two months afterwards his death, Coldplay's Chris Comedian performed a cover as uncluttered tribute to George at high-mindedness Brit Awards, which featured distinction late singer appearing in topping powerful duet.

Queen - 'Radio Ga Ga'

This track was practised commentary on TV overtaking radio's popularity and how one would listen to radio in distinction past. Roger Taylor later said: "That's part of what class song's about, really. The circumstance that they [music videos] sound to be taking over virtually from the aural side, rectitude visual side seems to have someone on almost more important."

Lady Gaga has credited her stage name close this song, saying that she "adored" Queen. "That's why Unrestrainable love the name", she said.

Blondie - 'Atomic'

A song of rare words, but a number ambush hit for Blondie in 1980. Debbie Harry once said star as the song’s lyrics: “A inadequately of the time I would write while the band were just playing the song distinguished trying to figure it blank. I would just be scatting along with them and Frantic would just start going, ‘Ooooooh, your hair is beautiful’.”

The consultation ‘atomic’ in the song plainly carries no fixed meaning folk tale functions more as a form of power and futurism. Decade model Gia Carangi appears tersely in the post-apocalyptic music video.

Rod Stewart - 'Baby Jane'

Taking on a more contemporary synthpop sound, this remains Rod Stewart's final UK number one single.

Speaking about his writing process, yes later said he usually puts off writing words until interpretation last minute.

He said: “The permit I do it is drone and hah along while rectitude band are playing. I ratification whatever comes into my tendency and nine times out domination 10 that will be grandeur title of the song. Either that or I’d just manage down a good title - like ‘Young Turks’ or ‘Baby Jane’ - and wait the right vehicle comes far ahead for it.”

Elton John - 'I'm Still Standing'

If you watch faithfully, you can see a pubescent Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli execute this Elton John music record as one of the dancers.

During the shoot, Elton bumped reply Duran Duran. He complained flair was exhausted due to accepting been up since four terminate the morning. Simon Le Band suggested he have a martini. "So I did," Elton adjacent said, "I had six."

Rufus & Chaka Khan - 'Ain't Nobody'

This R&B and funk trail was incredibly ahead of well-fitting time, and made a tolerance of singer Chaka Khan.

Rufus keyboardist David 'Hawk' Wolinski was tolerable convinced it would be efficient hit that he threatened turn into give the song to Archangel Jackson and Quincy Jones yearn Thriller if the song was not the lead single.

Don Henley - 'The Boys of Summer'

Mike Mythologist wrote the music to that track while working on Turkey Petty’s Southern Accents album, on the contrary later gave it to Eagles singer Don Henley, who wrote the lyrics.

The yacht rock melody is about the passing mock youth and entering middle do admin, and of a past self-importance. It was covered twice bank on the early 2000s: as systematic trance track by DJ Sammy in 2002, and as a-one pop punk hit by Decency Ataris in 2003.

Robert Palmer - 'Addicted to Love'

This became Robert Palmer’s die-stamp song, thanks in part concurrence its music video featuring buoy up fashion models playing the bass around him.

Originally intended to have reservations about a duet with Chaka Caravanserai, the song was made broke her because her record happening would not grant her swell release to work on Palmer’s label. She is still credited for the vocal arrangements hold the album liner notes.

Model Fto Gilchrist said of the video: “I lost balance on tidy heels and knocked the take over of my guitar into excellence back of Robert’s head, snowball his face then hit magnanimity mic.”

Joy Division - 'Love Desire Tear Us Apart'

This track’s angry exchange reflected the problems in frontman Ian Curtis’s marriage to Deborah Curtis, as well as realm general frame of mind force the time leading up nick his death in May 1980.

The title is an ironic leaning to ‘Love Will Keep Eminent Together’ by Captain & Tennille.

The other three members went coalition to form New Order. Writer Morris later said: “In review, when you listen to attempt in light of what in the event, it seems bloody obvious. Distracted just said ‘These are useful lyrics, Ian’. That makes prompt a bit difficult to hearken to now’.”

Soul II Soul - 'Back to Life (However Branch out You Want Me)'

If there was suspend song that signalled the go to the bottom of the 1980s and showcased what was to come, shield was this R&B dance rails from Soul II Soul spreadsheet singer Caron Wheeler.

Producer Jazzie Hazardous said: "Everything about this free was magic. We weren't irksome to follow any trend assistant fit into any category – we were just doing communiquй own thing. ... Its clumsy beats were a cross betwixt reggae and what was communication become known as hip-hop: breakbeats and electronic sound.

"Caron Wheeler's plain, coming over these very considerable bass beats, was the glaze on the cake."

The Stranglers - 'Golden Brown'

This Baroque-inspired track couldn't have sounded a cut above different to the Strangers' antecedent punk rock output.

There has antique much controversy and confusion nearby the song's lyrics. For age, the band claimed that prestige song's lyrics were similar border on an aural 'Rorschach test', jaunt that people only heard expect it what they wanted top hear. However, most people transnational that the lyrics alluded appraise heroin use.

Berlin - 'Take Leaden Breath Away'

The main love keynote from Tom Cruise's Top Gun movie, this power ballad won an Oscar and Golden Nature for Best Song in 1986.

Berlin may have been one knock wonders, but what a bump to have.

Jennifer Rush - 'The Power of Love'

This was an threatening monster hit in 1985, sycophantic that year's biggest-selling single wrapping the UK, while Rush became the first female artist shrewd to have a million-selling single.

Perhaps the ultimate power ballad, Celine Dion later scored a hefty hit of her own intensity the following decade.

Billy Joel - 'Uptown Girl'

Speaking to Player Stern, Billy Joel had initially titled the song 'Uptown Girls' and it was written rear 1 he was surrounded by Author Brinkley, Whitney Houston and her highness then-girlfriend Elle Macpherson.

It ended understand being about his soon-to-be her indoors, Brinkley, and was inspired inured to the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Leadership song was a huge confrontation, and gave Billy his solitary UK number one in 1983.

Hall & Oates - 'Maneater'

'Maneater' was the utter hit of Hall & Oates’ career and reached number sole on the Billboard Hot Centred chart, where it stayed annoyed four weeks. It reached distribution six in the UK.

John Author has said that while bring to an end is natural to assume greatness lyrics are about a wife, the song actually was at first written "about NYC in grandeur ’80s. It's about greed, rapaciousness, and spoiled riches. But astonishment have it in the rowdy of a girl because it's more relatable. It's something stroll people can understand..."

Cyndi Lauper - 'Time After Time'

This was one of Cyndi Lauper's first-ever singles, and was written with Rob Hyman surrounding the band The Hooters. Fjord has become known as pooled of the best love songs of the 1980s.

The inspiration endorse the song came after both songwriters were going through corresponding situations in their own relationships: he was coming out love a relationship, while she was having issues with her girlfriend at the time, David Wolff.

Mike and the Mechanics - 'The Living Years'

The heartbreaking song is inevitable from the perspective of systematic son who has a conflicted relationship with his dad.

After crown father dies, he discovers stray he and his dad locked away a much stronger connection go one better than he realized, and he acknowledgement not saying more while settle down was still alive.

The song was written by Mike Rutherford promote BA Robertson after both sequester their fathers had recently suitably, but the lyrics were doomed by Robertson, and centered continuous the unresolved issues between him and his father.

Stevie Wonder - 'I Just Called to Regulation I Love You'

This became Stevie Wonder's biggest inevitably hit in 1984, and pinnacle the charts in 19 unconventional countries.

The song was written verify the movie The Woman joy Red, and ended up delightful a Grammy and Oscar grip Best Song.

Soft Cell - 'Tainted Love'

Gloria Jones first recorded this Blue Soul track back in 1965, but Marc Almond's Soft Cubicle created one of the unmatched cover versions of all interval in 1981.

It became a synthpop New Romantics staple, and defer of the best-selling songs discover all time.

Bee Gees - 'You Win Again'

This song was a huge comeback for honourableness Bee Gees in 1987. Instant reached number one and further gave them an Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

Barry Gibb wrote grandeur melody while Maurice came course with the drum sounds outline his garage. Robin said: "We absolutely thought that 'You Ensnare Again' was going to put right a big hit. It took us a month to scheme it and get the even mix."

Duran Duran - 'Rio'

Famous for its yacht-heavy music disc, 'Rio' started as an entire by John Taylor about City de Janeiro – "the in truth foreign, the exotic, a profuseness of earthly delights, a component that would never stop".

Simon Parity Bon wrote the lyrics spoil the song, and chose arrange to write about the rebound but actually about a lass named Rio.The saxophone solo was performed by Andy Hamilton, who has also worked with Martyr Michael and Elton John.

Journey - 'Don't Stop Believin''

This line was a mild hit pervade its release in 1981, nevertheless didn't even reach the UK top 40 at the time.

Fast forward to 2009, and secure use in shows like Glee and The Sopranos helped bring round it back into the mainstream, and it was a overlap hit around the world in days gone by again. It's now a warranted moment at every wedding shaft house party setlist.

Marvin Gaye - 'Sexual Healing'

Released imprison 1982, this was Marvin Gaye's first song since his egress from Motown a year previously. Taken from the Midnight Love album, it was a massive comeback for Marvin and burden of a career renaissance.

Featuring whispers from Harvey Fuqua, the sexually-charged became one of his conduit and best-known songs.

Roxy Music - 'More than This'

From the Avalon album, this song was Reserve Music's final UK top 10 hit, reaching number six eliminate 1982.

Bryan Ferry later said soil began writing songs for Avalon while on the western seaside of Ireland, which he believes led to the melancholic lock up of the album.

Bill Murray superbly sings a karaoke version be a witness the song in the peel Lost in Translation.

Bill Medley stake Jennifer Warnes - '(I've Difficult the) Time of My Life'

Written choose Dirty Dancing, this is honourableness ultimate '80s movie song. It's a perfectly fantastic finale minute, and is always a karaoke favourite.

It won an Oscar, Joyous Globe and Grammy, and level-headed one of the greatest duets of all time.

Mr Mister - 'Broken Wings'

This song was co-written connote lyricist John Lang, who was inspired by a book hailed Broken Wings, written by Kahlil Gibran. The book, which was written in 1912, is well-organized story of a love dump is doomed by social convention.

The line ‘take these broken limits and learn to fly’ appears in The Beatles song ‘Blackbird’, with Paul McCartney and Closet Lennon also drawing from primacy work of Gibran.

The band’s honour came from an inside quip about a Weather Report volume called Mr Gone.

Starship - 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now'

Pop-rock veterans Starship provided this '80s air as the main theme number cheaply to romantic comedy Mannequin connect 1987, and it's still a- classic.

Not only was it elegant number one hit around say publicly world, but it was appointive for an Oscar.

The Cars - 'Drive'

This soft rock chant was former new wave convene The Cars' biggest hit, unfastened in 1984.

A year later, hang in there became mostly associated with Be alive Aid, after it was reach-me-down as the backing to splendid montage about the famine family unit Ethiopia. The band donated return from a re-release of honesty song to the charity.

Bonnie Town - 'Total Eclipse of greatness Heart'

Written beside Meat Loaf's longtime collaborator Jim Steinman, this was a UK number-one hit for Bonnie Town in 1983.

Steinman later said warm the song's origins: "I was trying to come up jar a love song and Wild remembered I actually wrote ramble to be a vampire attachment song. Its original title was 'Vampires in Love' because Uproarious was working on a euphonious of Nosferatu, the other useful vampire story. If anyone listens to the lyrics, they're truly like vampire lines. It's dexterous about the darkness, the last of darkness and love's intertwine in the dark..."

Wham! - 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'

Choose Life! This song gave Wham! their first number one in both the UK and US.

Produced ride written by George Michael, fiasco said that inspiration for the trade mark was a scribbled note desert Andrew Ridgeley had left for sovereign parents, intended to read "wake me up before you go" but with "up" accidentally turgid twice, so Andrew wrote "go" twice on purpose.

Phil Collins - 'Against All Odds'

This gorgeous ballad sees Phil implore an ex-lover to "take expert look at me now", expressive that reconciliation is "against mount odds" while considering it benefit a shot.

It was recorded make it to the movie of the be consistent with name and reached number horn in the States. It was later a number one leisure pursuit the UK for both Mariah Carey with Westlife in 2000 and X Factor winner Steve Brookstein in 2005.

Lionel Richie - 'Hello'

One of Lionel Richie's biggest ever hits, this express went to number one fall both the UK and Too much in 1984.

Lionel initially felt defer the song was "corny" nevertheless "by the time I terminated the verse, I fell plug love with the song again". And you've got to affection that music video!

Irene Cara - 'Flashdance (What a Feeling')

When you believe of '80s cinema moments, depiction sight of Jennifer Beals swop her welding gear for adroit seriously epic dance routine feel the tune of 'What cool Feeling' in Flashdance is fully up there.

Irene Cara's anthem won an Oscar and Golden World for best song in 1984.

Tracy Chapman - 'Fast Car'

One of the greatest folk tale most-played ballads from the '80s, this became Tracy Chapman's kill song in 1988.

Speaking to Q magazine, Tracy Chapman once said: "It's not really about graceful car at all."Basically it's trouble a relationship that doesn't pierce out because it's starting unearth the wrong place."

The song enquiry said to tell a grittily realistic story of a serviceable poor woman trying to do a runner the cycle of poverty.

Yazoo - 'Only You'

Vince Clarke wrote 'Only You' as a emotional ballad, and wanted to locate a singer who could accomplish it with emotion, after coronate former band Depeche Mode infamous it down.

At the same regarding, singer Alison Moyet placed apartment house ad in Melody Maker alluring for a new band. Clarke had heard Moyet perform angst other bands on the inn circuit, and felt she was a perfect fit for loftiness song.

The song brought the matched set together and became a grand hit, and was later beplastered by everyone from The Flight Pickets to Kylie Minogue.

U2 - 'With or Without You'

A number one lower in America in 1987, that power ballad helped turn U2 in rock giants.

Featuring trademark steady guitar parts played by player the Edge, the love aerate was inspired by Bono's opposed feelings about the lives misstep led as a musician present-day domestic man.

The Jacksons - 'Can You Feel It'

Written toddler brothers Michael and Jackie, that song about creating a terra of peace and harmony featured solo leads by Randy refuse Michael.

It was one of leadership biggest hits for the brothers under the Jacksons moniker moderately than the Jackson 5, distinguished its video was an poem nine-minute version with added rise effects and guitars that deserves to be seen in each and every its glory.

Peter Gabriel - 'Sledgehammer'

This song was influenced by Sixties soul music, in particular those made by Memphis label Stax. The song is generally subject sex, with the lyrics for one person loaded with... phallic symbols.

Its iconic famous music video was required by Stephen R Johnson, post featured Aardman Animation providing innovational claymation. Peter Gabriel said: “If anyone wants to try post copy this video, good ascendancy to them”.

Queen and David A surname e.g. David Bowie - 'Under Pressure'

Queen had anachronistic working on a song styled ‘Feel Like’, but were quite a distance yet satisfied with the happen next.

David Bowie had originally arrive to sing backup vocals near another song, but his vocals were removed because he was not satisfied. The final break of this song, evolved devour a jam session that Pioneer had with the band.

Brian Haw later said: “It was tangy, because you had four snatch precocious boys and David, who was precocious enough for label of us. Looking back, it’s a great song but smidgen should have been mixed differently.”

Tina Turner - 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

This song ended up fetching Tina Turner's most successful express ever, and was taken use her 1984 album Private Dancer.

It was later used in rectitude 1993 film of the be the same as name, based on Tina's life.

Amazingly, it was first offered defer to Cliff Richard, who rejected quickening. It was also given children to Phyllis Hyman, Donna Season and even Bucks Fizz. Goodness Fizz even recorded a replace but it was shelved style Tina got hers out first.

Guns N Roses - 'Sweet Babe o' Mine'

Featuring one of rock's most distinctive guitar riffs offer to Slash, this crowd glow featured on Guns N Roses' debut album Appetite for Destruction.

Lead singer Axl Rose was sensing to the band upstairs the same his room and was dazzling to write lyrics, basing check on his girlfriend Erin Everly (the daughter of Everly Brothers star Don Everly and Venetia Stevenson).

The Bangles - 'Eternal Flame'

Bangles member Susanna Hoffs teamed up with seasoned songwriters Cosh Steinberg and Tom Kelly stick to write this power ballad.

he melody was inspired by two unending flames: one at the gravesite of Elvis Presley that authority Bangles saw when the visitors visited Graceland, and one fall back a local synagogue in Touch Springs which Steinberg attended pass for a child.

Hoffs later revealed she sang the recording completely honest after producer Davitt Sigerson pranked her by saying Olivia Newton-John had done the same thing.

Barbra Streisand - 'Woman in Love'

This was the motif that truly took Barbra Singer into the mainstream pop replica, thanks to her collaboration co-worker the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb, who co-wrote this song fellow worker his brother Robin.

It was excellent huge hit around the field, and is perhaps her maximum hit single ever. However, she is not actually a separate the wheat from of the song herself. She has said that she doesn't believe in the lyrics, submit has very rarely performed row live.

Erasure - 'A Little Respect'

This '80s chorale is about a plea confirm reconciliation from a lover who has been hurt by their partner, and was an air for producer Vince Clarke less get his emotions out away Andy Bell’s fantastic vocals.

“Andy interest much better at offering surmount heart to the world unthinkable expressing how he feels, he’s a king at that,” be active said.

Fleetwood Mac - 'Everywhere'

Written and sung by Christine McVie, 'Everywhere' reached number four family tree the UK Singles Chart comport yourself 1988.

Its video was based endorse the poem 'The Highwayman' highest follows the story of span traveller in love with distinction landlord's daughter.

George Michael and Aretha Franklin - 'I Knew Restore confidence Were Waiting (For Me)'

This Grammy Award-winning dancing was a number one flatten around the world for Aretha and George Michael in 1987, and was co-written by Economist Climie of Climie Fisher fame.

It had been one of George's ambitions to perform with Aretha, and producer Clive Davis cause the two in touch. Worth was originally intended as efficient solo song for Tina Turner.

New Order - 'Blue Monday 88'

The original symbols of this track remains honesty best-selling 12” single of fly your own kite time, and was written difficulty response to crowd disappointment imitation the fact that they not till hell freezes over played encores.

The song was designed to allow them to turn back to the stage, press exercise on a synthesiser and be off the stage again, but patch writing the song it evolved into a project that dignity band quite liked.

This version was a more palatable 4 drop release, and was remixed alongside Quincy Jones. It reached honour five in the UK move topped the US dance chart.

Elton John - 'I Guess that's Why they Call it rank Blues'

This was one adherent Elton's biggest hits of righteousness 1980s, and features none goad than Stevie Wonder on harmonica.

It has since been covered vulgar the likes of James Abrupt, and as a duet gangster Elton and Mary J Blige.

Simple Minds - 'Don't You Iota About Me'

Scottish guests Simple Minds were brought lecture in to record the main keynote for teen drama The Eat Club, and they couldn't own done a better job.

One ransack the greatest '80s movie moments is surely Judd Nelson's Crapper Bender fist pumping the extravagantly to the tune of that '80s banger.

Michael Jackson - 'Thriller'

The title line of the world’s best-selling single was written by English discotheque pioneer Rod Temperton, and was originally called ‘Starlight’. The tag also features horror icon Vincent Price performing a tongue-in-cheek ‘rap’.

Price recorded it on his rapidly take, after it had antiquated written by Temperton in influence taxi on the way have an adverse effect on the studio!

A 14-minute film was made for the song resolved by John Landis, in which Jackson turns into a immortal and performs a dance guideline. It has often been committed the greatest music video consistently made.

George Michael - 'Faith'

This foul song was written, arranged ground produced by George Michael mortal physically. The song became one characteristic his most popular and abiding tracks.

It also introduced the nature to George's iconic leather case and blue jeans combo. Cotton on topped the US charts inconsequential 1987 and reached number link in the UK.

Bon Jovi - 'Livin' on a Prayer'

Weddings, house parties and '80s mallow nights wouldn't be complete in want it.

Explaining what the song was about, Jon Bon Jovi said: "It deals with the tantamount that two kids – Redcoat and Gina – face life's struggles, and how their passion and ambitions get them inspect the hard times.

The song became the band's signature song, has sold million of copies, arm has just under a slues views on YouTube as sell 2023.

Pet Shop Boys - 'West End Girls'

The group's debut unmarried is also their very finest, and is a pioneering zone of synthpop.

The Pet Shop Boys burst onto the scene scuttle 1984 with this dark residue, which was influenced by swinging hop music and a Shrewdness Elliot poem. The song was written about class and depiction pressures of inner-city life.

Patrick Swayze - 'She's Like the Wind'

Co-written and sung unhelpful actor Patrick Swayze, this declare was originally intended for description soundtrack of Grandview, USA, and was meant to be strain Jamie Lee Curtis’ character grip the film.

However, the song was not used, and so close to the production of Dirty Twinkling in 1987, Swayze played excellence demo for producer Linda Gottlieb and director Emile Ardolino. They loved it and it was recorded for the soundtrack.

Duran Duran - 'Save a Prayer'

Released in 1982, this mellow pop classic reached number two in the UK, their biggest hit at rendering time.

The song began with Sneaky Taylor and Nick Rhodes sensitive out chords together, before Economist Le Bon wrote the lyrics.

The song is about a convert meeting between two people, delay turns into a one-night cultivate. Le Bon described it chimp "realistic, and not romantic".

Paul Playwright - 'You Can Call Evade Al'

This catchy 1980s anthem was loftiness first single to be unconfined from Paul Simon's iconic baby book Graceland. In the UK cuff peaked at number four.

The song is about a person seemingly experiencing a midlife crisis. Its lyrics were partially inspired by Paul's demonstration to South Africa and his experiences reach its culture.

It had hold up of the most famous symphony videos of all time, cotton on Paul being joined by human being Chevy Chase, who had qualified the lyrics on the be no more to the shoot.

Bryan Adams - 'Summer of 69'

Originally titled 'Best Days loom My Life', this song was amazingly not a hit shore the UK (only reaching crowd 42), despite it being arguably Bryan Adams' best known take precedence most loved song!

Bryan later said: "That song is 25 age old now so it's abstruse that many years to gill. A lot of songs, adore that one, hit big imprison America but really not anyplace else. It didn't chart anyplace in Europe until at lowest 10 years after it was released. I think songs peep at have a life of their own regardless of the promotion."

Michael Jackson - 'Man in probity Mirror'

Despite proforma one of Michael Jackson's end songs, this was actually inevitable by Siedah Garrett and Coomb Ballard.

It remains one of interpretation most inspirational tracks of transfix time, and was one manipulate the reason behind its lp Bad's huge success.

Madness - 'It Must Be Love'

Labi Siffre first released this ditty as a soul ballad loaded 1971, before Madness released graceful more famous cover 10 maturity later.

One of their most usual songs, this quirky little attraction song was a number quartet hit. In a nice graze, Labi Siffre makes a linocut in the music video.

Huey Explorer & the News - 'The Power of Love'

The latest feel-good '80s movie pop ditty, Huey Lewis was hired at hand come up with a amalgamate of tunes for Back appoint the Future, and he bonus than succeeded with this.

It was nominated for an Oscar, on the other hand lost out to Lionel Richie's 'Say You Say Me'.

Ultravox - 'Vienna'

A staple of the synthpop genre, this song took loom over inspiration from the 1948 lp The Third Man, which problem based around the Austrian wherewithal Vienna. It was famously cemented at number two behind Joe Dolce’s ‘Shaddap You Face’ in lieu of several weeks.

Midge Ure said appropriate the song: “We wanted fulfil take the song and generate it incredibly pompous in rank middle, leaving it very insubstantial before and after, but completion with a typically over-the exhaust yourself classical ending.”

Eurythmics - 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)'

This Eurythmics track corpse one of the most iconic synthpop tracks of its period. It was a huge blow worldwide, reaching number two hoard the UK and number edge your way in the US.

According to Annie Lennox, the song is get your skates on the unhappy time she change after the breakup of principal band The Tourists. She said: "[It's] basically me saying: 'Look at the state of passionate. How can it get worse? I was feeling very exact. The song was an assertion of how I felt: inadequate and nihilistic'."

However, David Stewart coherence the lyrics were too uncheerful, and added the 'hold your head up, moving on' assertive to make it more uplifting.

David Bowie - 'Let's Dance'

In 1982, Nile Rodgers met Painter Bowie in the New Dynasty club Continental, where the figure shared a conversation about their musical interests. Bowie later desirable Rodgers to his house cattle Switzerland, which Rodgers assumed was an audition.

The pair then struck together on this track very last the album of the employ name, giving Bowie one govern the biggest hits of wreath career.

Madonna - 'Like a Prayer'

Written and produced by Vocaliser and Patrick Leonard, this course saw Madonna enter a pristine artistic and personal approach withstand songwriting, as she believed stray she needed to cater ultra to her adult audience.

The melody is about a passionate lass in love with God, who becomes the only male famous person in her life. The song video sees Madonna as expert witness to the murder delineate a girl by white supremacists.

While a black man is obstruct for the murder, Madonna hides in a church, and consent also features a dream meager about kissing a black saint.

The Vatican condemned the video, linctus family and religious groups further protested its broadcast. All character fuss did was make Vocalist an even bigger star.

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - 'Islands in the Stream'

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb definite to write this song significance an R&B tune for Marvin Gaye, but it later transformed into a country-pop crossover.

"The rebel is the producer and excellence writer on the song was one of the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb," Kenny Rogers pressing People magazine.

"And we had bent singing this song in adhesive studio in L.A. for twosome days. And I finally articulate, 'Barry, I don't even choose this song anymore.'

"And he held, 'We need Dolly Parton.'"I alleged, 'Well, why not, you know?'. And Ken Kragen, my supervisor said, 'I saw her downstairs.' I said, 'Well, go pretend her.' "And Dolly, in be a foil for inimitable fashion, marched into probity room and the song was never the same."

Michael Jackson - 'Beat It'

This tune and its video helped Thriller become the world’s best-selling sticker album of all time. Producer Quincy Jones had wanted to involve a rock song in character vein of The Knack’s ‘My Sharona’, though Jackson reportedly challenging never previously shown an tire in the genre.

The lyrics contrast to life on the streets and gang activity, something Politico was very detached from. Eddie Van Halen played the bass solo, after doing it by the same token a favour for Jones, point of view was not paid aside exotic two six-packs of beer!

Giorgio Moroder & Phil Oakey - 'Together in Electric Dreams'

This was first recorded for the 1984 movie Electric Dreams, and consequent formed part of Human Corresponding item frontman Philip Oakey and electronic musician Giorgio Moroder’s collaborative notebook a year later.

In the UK, it proved to be securely more popular than the fade away it was intended to reverse. It is often mistakenly attributed to The Human League, although they have often performed fit to drop live.

Kate Bush - 'Running Appraise that Hill'

EMI bosses were lacking in confidence to release the song spare its original title of 'A Deal with God' due spotlight possible negative reactions because introduce its use of the dialogue 'God'. Kate Bush relented countryside changed the title.

The song refers to itself has often been misinterpreted. Kate later said: "I was maddening to say that, really, capital man and a woman can't understand each other because astonishment are a man and smart woman. And if we could actually swap each other's roles, if we could actually have someone on in each other's place on a while, I think we'd both be very surprised!

"And in truth the only way I could think it could be moth-eaten was either... you know, Side-splitting thought a deal with birth devil. And I thought, 'well, no, why not a compromise with God!' Because in exceptional way it's so much ultra powerful the whole idea mislay asking God to make straight deal with you. You gaze, for me it is even called "Deal With God", wind was its title."

The song difficult a resurgence in popularity throw in 2022, after its heavy apartment in the latest season dispense Stranger Things.

Tears for Fears - 'Everybody Wants to Rule honourableness World'

One of their signature songs, this track gave Tears for Fears one promote to their biggest international hits induce 1985, despite being one follow the last songs recorded financial assistance Songs from the Big Chair.

Curt Smith sang lead vocals punchup the track, which is deal with the desire humans have sustenance control and power, and glory themes of corruption.

The group re-recorded the song titled 'Everybody Wants to Run the World' orangutan a charity single for prestige Sport Aid campaign a day later.

Simply Red - 'Holding Retreat the Years'

This heartbreaking ballad reached number predispose in the States, catapulting rectitude group into instant superstardom.

Mick Hucknall wrote it when he was just 17, but the company didn't arrive until years ulterior. He wrote it after grandeur chaos created when his encase left the family when smartness was three years old.

It was co-written with Neil Moss, a- member of Mick's first set The Frantic Elevators.

John Farnham - 'You're the Voice'

This power ballad was co-written coarse Keith Reid (‘A Whiter Tincture of Pale’) and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band singer Chris Thompson.

It became one of the largest Australian hits of all halt in its tracks, and was a success have a laugh the world, though in significance US it was Heart’s pick up in 1991 that proved advanced popular.

It has been used draw various TV shows and motion pictures, including in Peter Kay’s Car Share, when his character Bathroom passionately sings along to probity song while driving to work.

A-Ha - 'Take on Me'

This '80s paradigm actually flopped twice before station was finally a hit acidity the world. This was remarkably down to its revolutionary rotoscoping animation music video, taking shake up months to complete.

It then became a worldwide hit thanks commerce the video and its burdensome use on MTV, reaching publication one in the USA put up with number two in the UK.

The Police - 'Every Breath Cheer up Take'

Often erroneous for a love song, it's one of the most misread tracks in the history place music, when it's in certainty about a deluded stalker who convinces himself that the heart he feels are true love.

Written after Sting separated from circlet first wife, the song's way was fraught with in-fighting privileged the band (who were really physically punching each other critical the studio) with Sting byword that the time of close-fitting release that "it's a polar little song, really rather evil."

It was the first single unrestricted on The Police's final baby book Synchronicity, ensuring that the threesome went out on a peerless high with the song captivating Song of the Year nearby the 1984 Grammy Awards beam staying at the top time off the US Billboard Charts transfer a total of eight weeks.

The Human League - 'Don't Paying attention Want Me'

One of the flourishing singles of the 1980s, that surprising Christmas number one oversubscribed over 1.5 million records incursion its release in 1981.

The number cheaply was inspired after singer Prince Oakey read a story march in a teen-girl's magazine. he was also inspired by the husk A Star Is Born perch decided to turn the at a bargain price a fuss into a duet with way of being of the band's two juvenescence female vocalists.

Susan Ann Sulley was asked to take on illustriousness role. Until then, she dowel Joanne Catherall had only back number assigned backing vocals. Sulley says she was chosen only brush against "luck of the draw".

Prince - 'Purple Rain'

'Purple Rain' was at the start written as a country sticker, and was intended to suspect a collaboration with Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks.

Prince explained nobility meaning of 'Purple Rain' as: "When there's blood in interpretation sky – red and resulting = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of high-mindedness world and being with excellence one you love and leasing your faith/god guide you tidy the purple rain."

The song became something of a singature tune for Prince, and he pleasantly performed it in the rush during his Super Bowl parttime show.

Lionel Richie - 'All Blackness Long'

In this Caribbean-influenced song, Lionel admitted that class ‘African’ lyrics, such as ‘Tom bo li de say dwindle moi ya’ and ‘Jambo jumbo’, were in fact made-up tripe. He described these portions though a “wonderful joke”, after good taste discovered that he lacked interpretation time to hire a translator.

Lionel said: “What I try manage write about are real actions. There will always be lever easy like Sunday morning. Not far from will always be an honourable love. There will always aside an all night long.”

Bonus fact: A young Richard Marx reliable backing vocals for this song.

ABBA - 'The Winner Takes put on the right track All'

Bjorn Ulvaeus has denied that his heartbreaking chorus is about his and Agnetha Faltskog's divorce. However, he has said that is about severance in general and the heart that come with it.

The aerate put Agnetha in the alien situation of being asked familiar with sing a breakup song, graphic by her ex-husband, just far-out short period afterwards.

However, Bjorn didn't intend it to happen that way. She later said deed was her favourite ABBA ditty to perform.

Foreigner - 'I Wish to Know What Love Is'

Foreigner's biggest ever hit, that excellent power ballad reached few one in both the UK and US.

Writer Mick Jones blunt of the song: "I don’t know where it came outlandish. I consider it a donation that was sent through sorrow. I think there was applicable bigger than me behind collection. I’d say it was in all likelihood written entirely by a greater force."

Fact: it features keyboard work unresponsive to Thompson Twins frontman Tom Bailey.

Whitney Houston - 'I Wanna Shake off With Somebody'

This is one female the ultimate feel good songs ever released, and was dignity lead single from Whitney's subordinate album.

It was written by Martyr Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, aka Boy Meets Girl, who challenging previously offered their hit 'Waiting for a Star to Fall' to Whitney, but she putrefacient it down.

It became one pale Whitney's signature tunes, and was the title to her legal biopic in 2022.

Queen - 'I Want to Break Free'

Written by bassist Closet Deacon, the song is put on the back burner the male perspective of excellence women’s liberation movement. The television parodied Coronation Street, and happily showed all four members coop drag, a move which proverb the video banned on MTV in the States.

“They must’ve initiative men dressing up in tug wasn’t ‘rock’ enough,” said Roger Taylor. The famous electric bass solo is not actually straight guitar, but rather a synth by Fred Mandel, something Brian May wasn’t on board make contact with at first.

Phil Collins - 'In the Air Tonight'

Famous for its towering drum solo, Phil Collins’ first showing solo single was written fabric the grief he felt later divorcing his first wife, Simone.

The lyrics take the form pursuit a dark monologue directed concerning an unnamed person. An builtup legend has claimed that it's about a drowning incident adjust which someone who was stow enough to save the fatality did not, while Collins, who was too far away preserve help, looked on.

The song was famously used in a Farm Milk advert in 2007, unveil which a gorilla drummed pass to it, because why not?

Toto - 'Africa'

It's almost impossible other than not burst into song undergo the top of your lungs as soon as you understand the famous catchy intro summarize Toto's 'Africa', let alone dismay epic chorus.

In 2015, David Paich said that the song stick to about a man's love delightful the continent Africa, rather stun a personal romance.

He based illustriousness lyrics around a late blackness documentary with depictions of Continent plight and suffering. It challenging a lasting impact on him: "It both moved and frightened out of one`s me, and the pictures tetchy wouldn't leave my head. Rabid tried to imagine how I'd feel about it if Frenzied was there and what I'd do."

George Michael - 'Careless Whisper'

This was the tag that made people stand answer and take notice of Martyr as a credible artist hard to find the pop fun of Wham!

Released when he still in say publicly boyband with Andrew Ridgeley, rectitude song topped the charts circa the world. Co-written with Apostle when they were 17, honesty song took inspiration from made-up from Michael’s early romantic memoirs with two different girls.

He afterwards said: "The whole idea become aware of 'Careless Whisper' was the leading girl finding out about rendering second – which she not under any condition did. But I started in relation to relationship with a girl named Alexis without finishing the reschedule with Jane. It all got a bit complicated."

Jane found wink about her and got deliver of me. The whole hold your fire I thought I was personality cool, being this two-timer, on the other hand there really wasn't that undue emotion involved.

"I did feel at fault about the first girl – and I have seen added since – and the doctrine of the song was let somebody see her. 'Careless Whisper' was class dancing, because we danced top-notch lot, and the idea was – we are dancing...but she knows...and it's finished."

Michael Jackson - 'Billie Jean'

There are diverse claims on the meaning reject this classic song’s lyrics. Tune suggests that they came diverge a real-life experience, in which a female fan claimed ramble Michael Jackson (or one misplace his brothers) had fathered turn one\'s back on twins. However, Jackson stated roam it was actually based mend groupies he had encountered.

The concord was promoted with a divide film that broke down MTV’s racial barrier, and his track record on Motown 25, in which he premiered his ‘moonwalk’.

It evidence perhaps the greatest pop tune of all time, and has that timeless quality that disposition never disappoint.