Pop Shots – A Look At The Charts … From 34 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 34 years ago this week.

Touching down in March of 1989 I hear … pretty much the best of everything. The phrase “what a time to be alive!” tends to be overused, but as someone as who was alive, listening to the radio, and buying albums in 1989 I can attest – it was a heck of a time to be alive, and a fan of music

 In ’89 pretty much every genre of music had something amazing to offer, and the Billboard Hot 100 had plenty of examples of this with lots of memorable pop, rock, and hip-hop.

Here are 12 highlights from 34 years ago this week, including one of my favorite love songs of all-time, some classic hair metal, and a fictional hip-hop elixir we were all obsessed with.

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

2. The Bangles – Eternal Flame

 

For my money “Eternal Flame” is one of the greatest love songs ever written. The combination of the lyrics, Susanna Hoffs’ gorgeous voice, and the wonderful musical build equal a song that has no equal.



And yes, she was one of my first crushes. It was around that time I was discovering that girls are awesome, and Susanna Hoffs was certainly one of the most awesome of all (and still is)!

4. Roxette – The Look

 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – there must be something in the water in Sweden, because that country (which has a population roughly 1/30th of the U.S.) has been giving us phenomenal pop, and rock music for over 50 years. Roxette is part of that incredible lineage, and “The Look” was an amazing song.

7. Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy

 

Having already charted in their native UK, as well as Canada, Australia, and a number of European countries, Fine Young Cannibals finally landed stateside with “She Drives Me Crazy.” Sadly, they would disband just three years later, but thanks to this song they will never be forgotten.

9. Bobby Brown – Roni

 

It’s hard to overstate the chart dominance Bobby Brown had in 1989. “Roni” was one of THREE songs he had on this week’s edition of Billboard Hot 100, the others being “Every Little Step” at #84, and “My Prerogative” at #87. The latter two became classics, but “Roni,” which was co-written by Babyface and Darnell Bristol, was huge, as well, peaking at #3.

Bobby Brown was just that dude in ’89.

14. R.E.M. – Stand

 

By the time 1989 rolled around R.E.M. had become gigantic, and completely changed the landscape of college radio in the process. “Stand” was one of their quirkier songs, and if you were a kid in ’89, like I was, it was a nice introduction to a band with a catalog of music that only gets better with age.

23. Paula Abdul – Straight Up

 

Paula Abdul was CRUSHING IT in 1989. After her debut album, Forever Your Girl, got off to a slow start when released the previous year, it was “Straight Up,” the third single from the album, that launched Abdul into the stratosphere.

Forever Your Girl would finally hit #1 SIXTY FOUR WEEKS after its release – this was, and still is the longest an album has been out before hitting #1 – and “Straight Up” would be the first of four #1 songs from it. The title track, which was at #45 this week, would be next.

Imagine if the label had given up after just one, or two singles? Patience, and confidence in the music, are qualities that should be revisited by today’s music industry.

26. Tone-Loc – Funky Cold Medina

 

In the late ‘80s there was a version of mainstream hip-hop that seemed tailor made to connect with a younger, pop music leaning crowd. Tone-Loc was one of a number of rappers who were seeing great success in this area, with his raspy voice, and catchy singles (note: I said singles. Not everything on Loc-ed After Dark was fun and games).

The Young MC penned ode to a mythical beverage named “Funky Cold Medina” was an especially huge song for Tone-Loc, as was the Young MC co-written “Wild Thing,” that was just a dozen spots further down on this chart at #38.

By today’s standards, “Funky Cold Medina” might be considered questionable, but thankfully we’re here in 1989, and Medina’s on the drink list.

31. Def Leppard – Rocket

 

Def Leppard’s Hysteria must’ve been one of the most expensive albums made in the entire decade. The production lasted three full years, and involved Mutt Lang dropping out during pre-production sessions, leading the band to hire Jim Steinman, only to have to part ways with the legend due to creative differences. They then attempted to make a go of it with Lang’s engineer Nigel Green, before Lang ultimately returned a year later.

There was also the car accident that cost drummer Rick Allen his left arm, and the wait as he recovered, and re-learned how to play on a new customized drum kit.

Everything would end up worth the effort, and the wait, as Hysteria would sell over 20 million copies worldwide, including going diamond in the U.S., on the strength of SEVEN hit singles, with the final one being “Rocket.”

34. Sheena Easton – The Lover In Me

 

There were so many great women in pop in the ‘80s that history has, unfortunately, allowed a few to fall through the cracks. I guess there’s only so much time on an ‘80s retrospective to fit everyone. With that in mind, Sheena Easton is someone who deserves more shine than she usually receives. Between 1981 and 1991 she had 20 consecutive singles chart on the Billboard Hot 100, including 15 Top 40 hits, seven Top 10s, and one #1.

“The Lover In Me” was her final single to achieve Top 10 status.

48. Winger – Seventeen

 

1989 was glorious time for wild hair metal with wildly questionable lyrics. Winger’s “Seventeen” was a perfect example of this. Was it a great song? Absolutely. Was it creepy as hell? Also, absolutely. Yet, we still joyously sang along as Kip Winger belted out, “Daddy says she’s too young, but she’s old enough for me.”

You know what? We still joyously sing along … just not near any high schools.

68. Erasure – A Little Respect

 

Erasure’s “A Little Respect” might be one of the last ‘80s songs of the ‘80s songs. As the decade was coming to a close there was about to be a HUGE sea change in music, but “A Little Respect” sounds like it’s straight out of 1983. It also sounds fantastic!

69. Michael Damian – Rock On

 

Both a soap opera actor, and singer, Michael Damian hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his cover of David Essex’s 1973 song “Rock On.” It was Damian’s only big hit, and it remains one of the great, and for some reason completely slept on, covers of the decade.

Why certain songs disappear will always be a mystery, but that’s why it’s up to us to keep them in rotation.

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