Pop Shots – A Look At The Charts … From 39 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 39 years ago this week.

Touching down in July of 1985, we are officially at peak ‘80s. Nearly everything you think of as the ‘80s was somewhere on the Billboard Hot 100, with more classics that I can count. Before we get to those classics, however, I have one important question – why was the bathroom such a hot topic in music in the summer of ‘85?

Even though I was only approaching my 7th birthday, Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign made it so I kinda knew one thing that was going on in the bathroom (Alexa, play “White Lines”), but I never thought of a place that has urinals as a locale that would inspire great music (or in one of the above cases, a great cover).

Movies, however, have been known to inspire great music, and 1985 was a banner year for this, with a number of songs from this edition of the Billboard Hot 100 coming from major motion picture soundtracks, including three of the 13 I’m highlighting in this column.

So let’s get into this exploration in chart history! Of course, since this is Pop Shots, you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

1. Duran Duran – A View to a Kill

 

Of all the great Duran Duran songs, I feel like this one gets talked about the least. The theme from the James Bond film of the same name, it is still the only James Bond theme to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making the lack of play on ‘80s stations even more surprising. I guess bands only get a certain number of songs put in eternal rotation, and Duran Duran had so many hits, “A View to a Kill” has fallen through the cracks. Maybe someday it will be picked up again … if a radio station hires someone like me!

9. Tears for Fears – Shout

 

1985 was a huge year for Tears for Fears with both “Shout,” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” on the chart at the same time (this week they were at #9, and #43, respectively). Both are classics, and both are era defining hits that will be played forever.

14. The Power Station – Get It On (Bang a Gong)

 

Named after the Power Station recording studio in NYC, The Power Station was a short-lived supergroup consisting of Robert Palmer on vocals, Tony Thompson (formerly of Chic) on drums, and Duran Duran members John Taylor on bass, and Andy Taylor on guitar (so those two were at #1 and #14 with two different bands!). Bernard Edwards (also of Chic) was involved on the studio side as recording producer.

Their fantastic cover of T. Rex’s “Get It On” was their second, and final, Top 10 hit, following their debut single, “Some Like It Hot,” which peaked at #6, three spots higher than “Get It On” would climb.

It would be fun if we saw more supergroups like this forming in the present. Dreamcar, and Silk Sonic have proven it can still work!

18. Depeche Mode – People are People

 

An anti-bigotry anthem for the ages, it’s incredibly sad that the lyrics of Depeche Mode’s “People are People” not only still resonate today, but resonate more than ever.

As an aside, only a group as talented as Depeche Mode could write a song like this, and turn it into something you want to sing along to. The wildly powerful words of the bridge, and chorus are easy to remember, and the production … I mean, we’re talking about Depeche Mode here, so it’s incredible.

21. Huey Lewis & The News – The Power of Love

 

Featured on the soundtrack to Back to the Future, “The Power of Love” became Huey Lewis & The News’ first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is kind of crazy considering how many great songs they had already released, including the entire Sports album.

As someone once noted, “Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically …"

22. Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

 

When people think of the ‘80s this is always one of the songs that immediately comes to mind. Big synths, big hair, unique fashion, and sexual ambiguity to the nth degree.

Pete Burns’ life story would turn out to be a sad one, passing away at the age of 57 from health issues after what he estimated to be “probably 300” plastic surgeries, but his vocal greatness cannot be denied.

29. Bryan Adams – Summer of ’69

 

Bryan Adams had a hit celebrating the “Summer of ’69,” but the summer of ’85 was pretty good to him, as well. His power ballad, “Heaven” was at #20 this week, and “Summer of ’69” was right behind it at #29.

“Summer of ’69” is a prime example of perfect songwriting – Adams takes his story of youthful good times, growing up, and people changing, and makes it relatable to absolutely everyone. Sure, we didn’t have those exact experiences, but “Summer of ’69” has us fondly remembering our own youth, and old friends. His nostalgia taps into our nostalgia, which is why this song still feels just as good in 2024 as it did in 1985.

53. Mary Jane Girls – In My House

 

Mary Jane Girls were protégées of Rick James, and in the summer of ’85 they had everyone wanting to head over to their house.

“In My House,” which would peak at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, was produced, written, and arranged by Rick James, and to say that’s obvious would be an understatement. This sounds like a Rick James song, and – his extra-curricular activities aside – he was a damned good musician.

The follow up to “In My House,” “Wild and Crazy Love,” was also on the chart this week, coming in at #71.

Sadly, Mary Jane Girls disbanded in 1987.

55. Sade – Your Love Is King

 

I have no idea what the birth rate was nine months after each Sade single was released, but with “Your Love Is King” being the lead single off their debut album, Diamond Life, my guess is a whole lotta kids born in 1987 owe Sade a debt of gratitude for their conception.

I’m actually pretty sure all fertility drugs are just Sade Adu’s vocals in pill form.

I dare someone to try to prove me wrong.

57. Katrina and the Waves – Walking on Sunshine

 

If you’re going to be known for one song, it might as well be the happiest song in the history of the universe. “Walking on Sunshine” has the joy, and energy of a puppy seeing its owner walk through the door. I’m not even sure if this level of happiness is legally allowed in 2024, so it’s a good thing we had it in the ‘80s!

74. Dire Straits – Money For Nothing

 

For my money (see what I did there), “Money For Nothing” has one of the greatest opening guitar riffs of all-time. You know what, while I’m handing out accolades, lemme give Mark Knopfler his due as one of the great rock artists of his, or any other generation. I feel like in the ever expanding sea of classic rock sometimes people forget how fantastic Dire Straits were.

And yes, there’s a very questionable word used a few times in the second verse of “Money For Nothing.” Definitely a sign of the times. The insanely amazing music video was a much better sign of the times.

86. a-ha – Take On Me

 

Did I say something about insanely amazing music videos? a-ha’s “Take On Me” has entered the chat.

Arguably the greatest music video ever made, and quite possibly the greatest music video that ever will be made – it’s been nearly 40 years, and for all the technology now available, nothing comes close. Maybe there’s something to be said for the relationship between creativity and limitations – “Take On Me” is a true masterpiece. It also happens to be a damned good song.

98. Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)

 

An ‘80s classic that was made generationally iconic thanks to its inclusion at both the beginning, and the end of The Breakfast Club, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” will never be in danger of being forgotten.

Interestingly, Billy Idol was actually offered the song first, but turned it down. It certainly would’ve sounded different had Billy done it. I think it still would’ve been great, but Simple Minds totally knocked it out of the park.

Fun Fact – Simple Minds initially declined to record the song, but lead singer Jim Kerr’s wife at the time, Chrissie Hynde, liked it so much she urged him to change his mind. Without Chrissie Hynde who knows how this might have turned out!

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