Pop Shots – A Look At The Charts … From 37 Years Ago

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week I’m hopping into my time machine again, this time setting the coordinates for 37 years ago this week.

Back in January of 1984 we were rockin’, we were dancing, and we were rappin’ … although the quality of the latter could be debated. You’ll see why as we get into this look at the Billboard Hot 100 from 37 years ago this week.

Of course, since this is Pop Shots, you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

 

1. Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart
 

Certain songs define the ‘80s. They’re the songs that are on every ‘80s compilation, and are played during every ‘80s theme night. This chart features a few of those songs, with Yes’ “Owner of a Lonely Heart” being one of them.

The nonsensical break in the music video shows we’d fully entered the “music videos have to be more than just music” phase that was ushered in by Michael Jackson, and probably should’ve only been done by Michael Jackson. Seriously folks, who would want to break up a song as perfect as “Owner of a Lonely Heart”? Not this writer, that’s for sure!

 

4. The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep
 

Another absolute classic that’s synonymous with the ‘80s, “Talking in Your Sleep” is an era-defining tune, and an earworm for the ages. It’s also a warning to anyone who has secrets that talking in your sleep will, in fact, reveal all!

 

22. Shannon – Let the Music Play
 

Disco had to die for Freestyle music to be born, and once Freestyle was born we were given dance floor classics like Shannon’s “Let the Music Play.” This would be Shannon’s lone hit, but if you’re going to be a one-hit-wonder, this is a heck of a hit to have!

 

33. Nena – 99 Luftballons
 

Can we be real here – this song is so much better in its original German. “Luftballons” is such a great word, and it’s way more fun to sing than “red ballons.” Interestingly, the English version of the song isn’t even a direct translation. Maybe that’s why only the German version charted. 

 

38. Real Life – Send Me an Angel
 

The other night I was watching the 1986 BMX bike film Rad, which co-starred none other than Lori Loughlin (pre-Aunt Becky fame). Real Life’s classic song “Send Me an Angel” provided the soundtrack for a fairly epic bike dance scene that I’ve included above. In fact, this movie is the entire reason I chose to write about the music of January 1984.

That’s right, you’re reading a column that’s based on the fact that I randomly decided to watch an ‘80s movie about a small town boy doing whatever he can to compete in a BMX bike race.

I am journalism-ing so hard right now! 

 

42. Pat Benatar – Love is a Battlefield
 

I have a pretty simple rule when it comes to these throwback columns – if I have the option of including a Pat Benatar song, I’m going to include a Pat Benatar song. She just turned 68, and can rock the face off artists young enough to be her grandkids!

 

52. Re-Flex – The Politics of Dancing
 

As many of you know, I avoid talking politics on this site, but when it comes to “The Politics of Dancing,” that’s an issue I’m willing to publicly debate in a roundtable discussion! 

The title track of Re-Flex’s debut album – and only album until 2010. That’s not a typo, they went 26 years in-between albums! – “The Politics of Dancing” would prove to be the group’s only hit. The song is so perfectly ‘80s, I’m kind of surprised it isn’t included in more retrospectives of the era. 

 

54. Huey Lewis & The News – I Want a New Drug
 

Patrick Bateman was a monster, but one thing he got right was a strong appreciation of the Huey Lewis & The News album Sports, which features the classic “I Want a New Drug.”

Speaking of getting it right, Weird Al also got it right when he parodied this song, giving us “I Want a New Duck.”

Gotta say, Al has some mighty high expectations for his ducks! 

 

55. Quiet Riot – Cum on Feel the Noize
 

If you weren’t rockin’ out in the ‘80s, were you truly immersed in the era? Take the advice of Quiet Riot, and “Cum on Feel the Noize.”

 

91. Rodney Dangerfield – Rappin’ Rodney
 

Yes, this actually charted.

No, I can’t believe it either.

That said, the cameos in the video by Father Guido Sarducci, and Pat Benatar, are nice touches. Hey, that’s two Pat Benatar appearances in this week’s column!

 

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.

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