Pete
Mr. Eighties
- Apr 29, 2023
- 5,597
- 382
From dance music to new wave, to glam metal to dance-pop, the 1980s had it all when it comes to music, with artists trying to outdo themselves and each other as the decade wore on. Every January 1st, we symbolically look ahead in hope of better days for ourselves and the world around us over the next 365 days in front of us. Let's take a quick look at what Billboard's Hot 100 #1 song was on January 1st of every year in the 80s, from 1980 to 1989.
1980 - Rupert Holmes "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"
Featured in many films over the years, the song shot up in the US charts after being added to radio playlists in October and would be the final US #1 song of the 1970s as the decade turned into the 1980s.
1981 - John Lennon "(Just Like) Starting Over"
After being murdered on December 8, 1980, this would sadly be the last single Lennon would release in his lifetime.
1982 - Olivia Newton-John "Physical"
Released in late September of 1981, “Physical” would remain #1 on top of the Hot 100 chart longer than any other song in the decade (10 weeks).
1983 - Hall & Oates "Maneater"
Featured on the duo's 11th studio album (H2O), “Maneater” hit #1 on the Hot 100 chart on December 18, 1982, remaining in the top spot for four weeks, which would be longer than any of Hall & Oates five other #1's.
1984 - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson "Say, Say, Say"
Written by both McCarney and Jackson, the song would be released as the lead single to McCartney's album Pipes of Peace. After its release in October 1983, it would become Jackson's unprecedented 7th Top 10 hit inside a year and would already be certified gold by the time the New Year hit.
1985 - Madonna "Like a Virgin"
Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, “Like A Virgin” would spend six weeks at #1. The song was Madonna's first of many #1 singles, selling over five million copies around the world, cementing Madonna's place as a pop culture icon.
1986 - Lionel Richie "Say You, Say Me"
Winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, the track would become Richie's 9th #1 on the Adult Contempory charts.
1987 - The Bangles "Walk Like An Egyptian"
Spending four weeks at #1 on the Top 100, the song would not only be The Bangles first #1 single, but also become Billboard's #1 song of 1987.
1988 - George Michael "Faith"
Following in The Bangles' footsteps in 1987, Michael's single from his debut solo album of the same name would become the #1 US single of the year in 1988.
1989 - Poison "Every Rose Has Its Thorn”
Poison's signature song and their only #1 hit in the United States, “Every Rose Had Its Thorn” hit #1 on Christmas Eve of 1988 and stayed there for three weeks.
1980 - Rupert Holmes "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"
Featured in many films over the years, the song shot up in the US charts after being added to radio playlists in October and would be the final US #1 song of the 1970s as the decade turned into the 1980s.
1981 - John Lennon "(Just Like) Starting Over"
After being murdered on December 8, 1980, this would sadly be the last single Lennon would release in his lifetime.
1982 - Olivia Newton-John "Physical"
Released in late September of 1981, “Physical” would remain #1 on top of the Hot 100 chart longer than any other song in the decade (10 weeks).
1983 - Hall & Oates "Maneater"
Featured on the duo's 11th studio album (H2O), “Maneater” hit #1 on the Hot 100 chart on December 18, 1982, remaining in the top spot for four weeks, which would be longer than any of Hall & Oates five other #1's.
1984 - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson "Say, Say, Say"
Written by both McCarney and Jackson, the song would be released as the lead single to McCartney's album Pipes of Peace. After its release in October 1983, it would become Jackson's unprecedented 7th Top 10 hit inside a year and would already be certified gold by the time the New Year hit.
1985 - Madonna "Like a Virgin"
Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, “Like A Virgin” would spend six weeks at #1. The song was Madonna's first of many #1 singles, selling over five million copies around the world, cementing Madonna's place as a pop culture icon.
1986 - Lionel Richie "Say You, Say Me"
Winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, the track would become Richie's 9th #1 on the Adult Contempory charts.
1987 - The Bangles "Walk Like An Egyptian"
Spending four weeks at #1 on the Top 100, the song would not only be The Bangles first #1 single, but also become Billboard's #1 song of 1987.
1988 - George Michael "Faith"
Following in The Bangles' footsteps in 1987, Michael's single from his debut solo album of the same name would become the #1 US single of the year in 1988.
1989 - Poison "Every Rose Has Its Thorn”
Poison's signature song and their only #1 hit in the United States, “Every Rose Had Its Thorn” hit #1 on Christmas Eve of 1988 and stayed there for three weeks.
