Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1984.
For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Band Aid 1984
In 1984, Torvill and Dean wins gold at the Winter Olympics, the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated, the miners’ strikes begin, comedian Tommy Cooper collapses and dies from a heart attack live on TV, police officer Yvonne Fletcher is shot and killed in the Libyan Embassy siege, a Brighton hotel is bombed by the IRA in an attempt to kill PM Margaret Thatcher- she narrowly escapes injury, but 5 people are killed and 31 were injured, the Thames Barrier is opened by the Queen, British unemployment reaches an all time record high, runner Zola Budd controversially collides with Mary Decker during the 3000 metre race at the Los Angeles Olympics, Prince Harry (officially Henry) is born, the Band Aid charity single is released and goes to the top of the charts, pop band Bucks Fizz are involved in a serious road accident, Marvin Gaye is shot and killed by his father and the films Ghostbusters, Gremlins, the Terminator, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Footloose are released. I turned 8 years old.
I think 1984 is another one of my favourite years so far. So many big names this week and our George features twice. So here’s my top ten 10 tunes from 1984, in no particular order. There’s a Spotify playlist at the end as per.
- Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham! (This video is pure 80s, pure Wham! and pure George- shaky camera work and bad miming ‘n’ all)
2. White Lines (Don’t Do It) by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel
Is this the most perfect band photo ever?
3. Borderline by Madonna
4. Hero Takes a Fall by the Bangles (watch the Bangles destroying the patriarchy in this video)
5. Seven Seas by Echo and the Bunnymen
6. Careless Whisper by George Michael
7. Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat
8. The Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
9. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
10. Purple Rain by Prince
What?! Now you want me to pick one, singular track from that lot to be my favourite?! When you’ve got George Michael, Cyndi Lauper, Frankie, Wham AND Prince in that list altogether, it’s not possible, surely?…but I’m thinking as I still can’t listen to Purple Rain without getting misty eyes, it’s probably that. So, can you decide which one is your favourite? Let me know below.
See you next Friday for 1985.
Just Another Blog From a Woman 
Love Prince, but can’t go past Wham! You had my daughter singing and bopping along too….great memories Haley. Xx
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Ha this is wonderful! That happens to be one of my daughter’s favourite songs too. You can’t beat a bit of Wham! Thanks Lorelle x
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👍🏼❤️
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Cyndi Lauper and Bronski Beat. I have been trying to do my own take on the Top Ten Tunes, and I always end up with about 50 very random songs. Or, I start listening to music and stop writing. I think I will just stick with reading your lists!
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Haha! It is so hard trying to limit myself to 10 songs every week (I completely fail with 1989 by the way, it’ll be a top 15). Cyndi Lauper and Bronski Beat are very good choices indeed.
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I believe, due to my Minnesota residency, I am contractually obligated to vote for anything Prince as a favorite. Though he honestly was a bit too funky for me musically–I really only liked the top 40 stuff, not really the deep tracks–he made a huge impact on the music scene here. But, if I’m picking a personal fav, I think it’s Time After Time.
I may have known that Indira Ghandi was assassinated, but I don’t remember having that knowledge. It’s amazing that in the same year two female heads of state had their lives threatened (and one taken). I wonder if that means anything.
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Ah of course, Prince was from Minnesota! I can imagine the kind of impact he made on the city. It only takes one amazing artist to have a huge influence for generations. Liverpool still has a thriving music scene due to the Beatles. But yes Cyndi Lauper was probably my second favourite this week.
I hadn’t actually picked up on two female world leaders’ lives being threatened in one year (despite me writing this!) and I think you’re right, I think that does mean something. Sadly.
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I got married in ’84. (I’m surprised you didn’t mention it in your review of the year!). Has to be George, Careless Whisper.
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Haha I’m surprised I didn’t mention it too! Yes, good choice, Careless Whisper is such a perfect pop song. I miss George.
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Nope, this ones too tough… just can’t call it this week! I’d go for a threesome (ooh-er) of The Bangles, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper 😁
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What an AMAZING trio of female acts though. Is it me, but were female musicians a bit more interesting in the 80s?
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You’re absolutely right! It’s got to be Purple Rain. That’s an all-time classic song
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It’s a stunning song👍🏻
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Wow, I was 4 at the time so don’t remember much of this, but I LOVE Ghostbusters! It was definitely the era of big hair and lots of bright make-up!
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You gotta love Ghostbusters. And big hair & bright make-up Haha.
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Even if this was a few years before I was born these are mostly songs I have heard. Good list!
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Yes these songs are still popular today, which shows what strong tunes they are. Cheers.
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Great list! But then it was gonna be! 84 is one of the golden years of the 80’s. Pick one? Tough but I’ll go with White Lines. Melle Mel and the Furious 5 are godfathers of rap. By the way since people insist of giving their age I was 14! Yep I lived through it as a teenager!
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Brilliant. You must have slightly stronger memories of these songs then. Even though there’s only a 6 year difference between us. White Lines is just a classic.
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It is funny though that a lot of music did pass me by and I picked up on it later. But yes when your a teenager songs can be very evocative.
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They certainly are.
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Wow, what a year that was! I joined the Army in 1984 at just turned 18 and there is a lot of music that defines this period for me. You have picked some real crackers again,, but my favourites are George Michael and Cindy Lauper! 🙂
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You were in the army? That’s awesome! George & Cyndi are great choices. Cyndi has proved very popular this week.
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Yes, it was where I originally met my husband, although it took us 25 years ans several marriages before we actually got together again! 🙂
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Oh wow. That sounds a book or a movie could be written there!
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It certainly was strange how things turned out….maybe one day!
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Crapdoodles, I know all of those even if I spent the 80’s in Rock and goth! Do you listen to Absolute 80’s radio on DAB. Awesome for track from that decade and brilliant hosts too during the week. Have to put up with Frank Skinner at weekends lol. My playlist would probably suit my writing methinks, especially that decade, although I was also a huge Marillion and Tull fan then too!
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Aah Marillion. I had plenty of friends that were into them. Do you know what, I don’t listen to Absolute radio, but I think I “absolutely” think I should be!
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I love lyrics and well crafted words. Early Marillion had that in spades! I found Absolute when I had an in car DAB fitted. It was first on the list alphabetically. Brilliant for school runs in the morning lol seven stations so you can pick your era/tastes and the same banter across all of them. Really recommend the breakfast show!
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Great tunes! I love a good 80’s compilation album 🙂
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Me too! Cheers Emma.
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Your lists Hayley always make me think “What the heck was I listening too, back then?”, well here is the No.1 song in NZ back then. As you know I am more of a rock and ballad sort of girl 🙂 The song was Poi – E and very catchy 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLUygS0IAQ
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How fantastic! I actually really love this. Also, like the random breakdancing! Thanks Suzanne.
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Haha yes we had a laugh watching the video. We were lucky to grow up knowing about our other significant culture. So catchy isn’t it 😁
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Haha. Yes very!
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Time after Time is the best song of all time. Shivers down my spine xx
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Such a beautiful song. Good choice Orla x
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Am I right in thinking this was the year that Careless Whisper was Christmas number 2? So, it’s never been at number 1, because of Band Aid. and George Michael donated all the proceeds from Careless Whisper to Band Aid anyway.
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You’re almost right. It was “Last Christmas”, but you reminding me of that has literally brought a tear to my eye. He was such a wonderfully generous soul.
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I wish I knew the 80s ! Unfortunately I wasn’t even born, but the music is always so cool to listen to 😊
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Glad you like some 80s music, Oriana. It won’t be long until I’ll be doing the 90s and then in a few months it’ll be the noughties!
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This is my teens (and Oriana has made me feel ancient!) – and I can hardly contain my excitement at this list. Whatever happened to Echo & the Bunnymen? My friend Dom styled his hair just like that….I was a huge Bangles and Bronski Beat (and then Communards later) fan, but loved Cyndi Lauper & a bit of Wham. Always loved dancing!! But I guess the king has to be Prince….my hubby’s list would look v different and would heavily feature Marillion, saw them mentioned above! He and my brother listen to Absolute, and still go to Marillion gigs (most recent at Royal Albert Hall) – in fact i made my bro a Marillion wedding cake, but I digress!! off to dig out my best of the 80s vinyl to dance away the afternoon xxx
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Oh yes dig out all your vinyl! Marvellous. I still have some too. I was a huge Bangles fan too. I just wanted to be them. I seriously need to get listening to Absolute. I have a feeling I probably won’t listen to anything else again ha.
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Three favorites: #1, 8, and 9. All great songs. I love this list because it’s the year I was born! Lots of great songs came from the 80s and 90s.
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Yes! I was getting worried that no one had chosen Frankie yet. It’s such an emotional song. 1984 was a great musical year to be born.
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Holy Toledo. It’s so sad that two of these artists have passed away, Prince and George Michael. Reading your Friday posts certainly brings back memories. Thanks for the walk down memory lane! 🙂
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I know. Losing Bowie, George & Prince in the same year was just too cruel. I’m glad you’re enjoying the trips down memory lane though.
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I was 16 and disco dancing my heart out in 1884, so I remember ALL of these. Ah….the memories! I love Careless Whisper and Borderline comes a very close second!
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Borderline is such a great pop tune. One of Madonna’s best in my opinion. Thanks Gloria.
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Purple rain 👍top on my list
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Such a good song.
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