DISQUS

Jack Feerick · 1 year ago

John Candy sang in the chorus, though, fulfilling his role as — of course — Dan Aykroyd’s Canadian equivalent.

Dan Aykroyd was, of course, born in Ottawa and was discovered when he was working with the Second City troupe in Toronto. He's as Canadian as maple syrup!

jasonhare · 1 year ago

ARGH! Of course. I knew that, too. Thanks for the correction! (I'll leave it as-is so everyone can see how dumb I am.)

StevenMurphy · 1 year ago

I am glad someone else spotted that gaffe... my work is done.

crane · 1 year ago

But at least Dan Aykroyd was a Blues Brother. What was John Candy's band?

Sara G · 1 year ago

Since John Belushi was no more he had to do it. I would like to see a revival of WE ARE THE WORLD for Darfur or something like that.
Pretty sad about El DeBarge, hope he is found not guilty. Chico worked in the band with Bobby who was an AIDS victim.

em · 1 year ago

thanks for the Way Back machine. LOVE these songs and remembering some great times. Thanks

thefxc · 1 year ago

Best chart attack yet!

So I'll drop some pointless science: Berlin's "No More Words" does indeed have something to do with Vision Quest: it's played in one of the movie's mini-montages--Terri Nunn's "No!" that ends the bridge is synced to Matthew Modine opening his bedroom door to find out that Linda Fiorentino had left.

Still, I wonder if it's on the b-side to throw Berlin some royalties since Madonna was so popular, or because they wanted to add a currently-popular song because they didn't think Madonna could carry the single herself? Do kids today even know what a "B-side" is???

Thanks for the column, awesome as always...

drcastrato · 1 year ago

possibly the best chart attack ever. so many great songs, and greater videos. thanks

Rob · 1 year ago

Interestingly, enough six of the songs in this top 10 had connections to films/stage shows. "Rhythm of the Night" made its debut in the Berry Gordy-produced "Last Dragon" and "Everyone Wants to Rule the World" appeared in the closing credits of Martha Coolidge's "Real Genius" later that year. I wonder if that's a record for the top 10 (or at least Chart Attack)

Does anybody remember Faltermeyer's score for Fletch, which was released later that month? He could basically sue himself for plagiarism. (It's such a ripoff that I didn't even feature his music when I talked about the "Fletch" soundtrack on my blog a few months ago)

And Jason? I disagree with you. I still think "Head Over Heels" is superior.

Mike · 1 year ago

I'm with Rob-"Head Over Heels" is a better song, although "...Rule The World" is pretty stellar. I say that the library setting of the "Heels" video pushes it over the edge, as does "Donnie Darko" (I'm pretty sure I remember "Head Over Heels" being in that movie, but now I wonder if that was maybe a figment of my imagination. Hmm.

Anyway, um...DeBarge. Chico was actually never a member of the DeBarge group. About a year after "Rhythm of the Night" hit, Chico had a pretty big hit with "Talk To Me", a song that sounds almost exactly like Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately?". Then he went to jail for conspiracy to sell drugs or something like that. After he came out, he shaved his head, turned into a Grade-B D'Angelo and had a Gold album with "Long Time No See". As for where he is now, no idea, but there was a recent article in VIBE magazine (easily the best article featured in that magazine in nearly a decade) spotlighting the troubles of the DeBarge family. They almost make The Jacksons look normal.

jasonhare · 1 year ago

Are you SURE Chico's not the chick in the photo?

I'm loving the comments (and corrections) today. Keep 'em coming!

Mike · 1 year ago

Well...seeing as they all kinda look like chicks, I'm gonna say that's a trick question and refuse to answer.

Elaine · 1 year ago

A stellar cover of "Mad World" was in Donnie Darko. It's almost better than the original.

CC · 1 year ago

A Chart Attack where I actually know all the songs. I'm glad to see Power Station finally get its due. Plus, 'Everything she wants', one of my fave Wham songs.

jefito · 1 year ago

"Head Over Heels" is great, but "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is perfect. I think I could listen to that song on a continuous loop for a month without getting tired of it.

Matt Wardlaw · 1 year ago

I do have a weak spot for Head over Heels.

This list really demonstrates how top notch 1985 was!

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

Weird. I pulled out the old vinyl LP of "Songs From The Big Chair" and was listening to this just last night. Okay, so it's not THAT weird since Jason lives in my closet, but I'm just sayin'. Dude, just admit to your wife she was right about the date on the milk just bein' too close to the edge and go home!

But, Phil Collins Album, folks, I am always surprised by two things - the first is how great a band Tears For Fears was/is. The second is that they were/are left as little more than a footnote in pop now. Even Orzabal's solo TFF attempts were decent, including "Me And My Big Ideas" with Oleta Adams.

Now, Jason, if you just call your wife and sing "Me And My Big Ideas" I'm sure all would be forgiven...

JonCummings · 1 year ago

Though I love "Head Over Heels" and continue to tolerate "Everybody" despite how overplayed it was for YEARS, my fave "Big Chair" hit remains "Shout." I'm sure it's a minority opinion, but I like the drama--and, as a very early TfF adopter during the Hurting days, I like its connection to the Primal Scream inspiration of their debut album.

Dunphy, I'm confused on the "Phil Collins album" reference in your post. Are you being Mr. Subliminal, or is that a joke I'm not getting, or what?

Random comments:
My favorite "We Are the World" story remains the way Stevie Wonder taught Dylan how to sing his lines in a "Dylan voice."

Much as I love George Michael, it ticked me off the way he would make videos with remixes that sent you scurrying for the 12-inch single. "Everything She Wants" has the extra vocal bridge at the end, "Freedom" has the piccolo trumpets, and most egregiously, "Monkey" had the infinitely superior Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis remix with the great "watch out, baby who's that..." hook that left the album track in the dust.

jasonhare · 1 year ago

Totally with you, Jon. I remember getting the 12" for "Monkey" and thinking, "holy shit, this is AWESOME!"

Joe · 1 year ago

I believe Dunphy is using "Phil Collins Album" as an expletive, e.g. "My first car was a complete piece of Phil Collins Album." As big a Collins fan as I am (Genesis Fan Club since '82), can't argue with that.

Also love me some TFF - saw 'em in '84 at Radio City Music Hall, and they were on!

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

Yes, Jon. And yes.

It's just another day for you and me in paradise.

JonCummings · 1 year ago

Yeah, well, David Archuletta you! (Best I could come up with on no notice.)

MarlboroTestMonkey7 · 1 year ago

"Everybody wants to rule the world", such a perfect song! Essential part of my Desert Island Album.
Now, a better "Songs From The Big Chair" can be constructed using tracks from "Saturnine, Martial & Lunatic" into the following sequence: The Working Hour, I Believe, Broken/Head over Heels/When in love with a blind man, Shout/My life in the suicide ranks, Pharoahs/Everybody AND Goodnight Song for proper closure.
The video? Simple and pure blisssssss.

Beau · 1 year ago

"Shout" is actually the best song from that album, but it's one of the best of the 80s in general.

"Head Over Heels" had the best video, by far.

The curious thing to me about "We Are the World," besides the ego-tripping strained voices, was that the British version sang "Feed the World." So these guys answer "We Are the World." Does that mean we're supposed to feed them?

And here's an eerie coincidence -- my Last.fm player just kicked up ... Axel F!

DavidMedsker · 1 year ago

Wow, that DeBarge video, to quote Patton Oswalt, is gayer than eight guys blowing nine guys. I love that fake party chatter in the background, though. On a serious note, I loved the 12" mix to "Talk to Me," Janet Jackson-cribbing and everything.

I was in a high school singing group, and my teacher forced us to sing this song. I died inside a little every time.

Elaine · 1 year ago

This was (a week in) the month in which I graduated HS. At the time I thought the music was pitifully bad, but, looking back now, I guess it could have been worse. But I'll never forgive my fellow seniors for voting "We Are The World" as our class song. We are NOT. We're not the children, either. We're not making a choice to save our own lives and we never will. Countless millions raised in the last 23 years for famine relief in faraway lands and it's like nothing has changed. Except Bono is richer and more famous. Coincidence?

I'm feeling cynical today. But happy birthday, J. How old were you in 1985?

jasonhare · 1 year ago

Thanks, Elaine. Always nice to see you on here. On this day in 1985, I was eight years (and two days) old. I was a Top 40 sponge from '84 until about '91. This was a good week to soak in a lot of music.

nojarama · 1 year ago

I agree, it was a wonderful time in music. I admit that the "Axel F" song is quite fantastic, except for the fact that he completely ripped off "Situation" by Yazoo (or Yaz as we were meant to suffer with stateside)

Maxus · 1 year ago

Omigosh. I've only ever heard "Rhythm of the Night" filtered through my floor (the neighbor from Hell lives downstairs), but I always assumed it was performed by Miami Sound Machine. Are you absolutely sure El isn't just Gloria Estefan with a really thin 'stache?

Breadalbane · 1 year ago

Ah, 1985. Yea verily, musically it doth not sucketh as much as I remember. Although the suck factor on the El Debarge track is pretty high...

By the way, I have to lodge a complaint -- Northern Lights featured absolutely nobody even remotely exciting? Sure there's lots o' mellow gold heroes in the mix (Dan Hill, David Foster, Anne Murray), and I'll grant that as much as I love Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell or Neil Young, you personally may not find their folk-rock brilliance "exciting". (Your loss.) And I'm not even gonna try to defend Bryan Adams, though I've always kinda liked "Run To You". But that still leaves Bob Rock and Paul Hyde, two members of the Payola$ who put out a couple of great punk/pop/new wave albums in the early 80s; Carole Pope of Rough Trade, who did the same; and Lisa Dalbello, another off-beat new-waver (whose almost psychotic breathy-to-screechy "Gonna Get Close To You" will either intrigue you, or turn you off completely.)

Oh, and the ensemble also features Oscar Peterson, the greatest jazz pianist of the last 50 years, and a not-bad vocalist (in the Nat King Cole mode) to boot.

The Great White North awaits your apology...

jefito · 1 year ago

Didn't Bob Rock produce some Loverboy records? He doesn't deserve anyone's apology.

Breadalbane · 1 year ago

Rock has indeed produced some schlock, but he merely engineered some Loverboy records while in the employ of producer Bruce Fairbairn. Which, come on, it's hard to blame him for -- his Payola$ records sold about 6 copies outside of Canada, and a man's gotta eat. Anyway, he only became a producer after the Payola$ broke up. Which means that maybe if we had all just gotten together and bought a few more copies of No Stranger To Danger, Bob Rock could have stayed a Payola and the 90s would have sounded a whole lot different...

Beau · 1 year ago

Geddy!!!

jasonhare · 1 year ago

The American version had Ray Charles jumping up and down because he couldn't contain his excitement. Cyndi Lauper ruined about three takes because her jewelry was rattling in the background. Kim Carnes was invited to sing ONE WORD. Michael Jackson had his "sha-la, sha-lingay" idea shot down in front of hundreds of stars. Al Jarreau started a singalong of "Day-O" at 4 in the morning. I stand by my previous comment.

I will agree with you regarding Oscar Peterson. It's been years since I've listened to "Tears Are Not Enough," but unless there's a two-minute Peterson solo in the middle, I'm still giving this song the finger.

Maxus · 1 year ago

Sade: "The proper pronunciation doesn't have an r in it: Sha-day.
But Americans tend to put an r in it: Shar-day." Sha-Day is a Do-Day.

Pete · 1 year ago

Her record label actually put "pronounced Shar-day" on the first album spine next to the name of the band. Blame Sony for the mispronunciation!

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

Sharday. Shahday. De doo doo doo, de dah dah dah.

Bill LaLonde · 1 year ago

Murray Head is also the brother of Anthony Stewart Head, who played Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

sini · 1 year ago

I love Chart Attack from top to bottom.

Retro_Remixes · 1 year ago

Fabulous column !

Don't forget that the We Are The World album also featured a who's who roster of popular artists all contributing their best crappy songs that were left off of their proper albums. Although the Pointer Sisters track rocks quite nicely, thank you so much.

jabartlett · 1 year ago

I concur that this is one of the all-time great editions of Chart Attack. I was program director of a Top 40 station in an Illinois college town in 1985, and I can manage to remember the following, albeit little else:

--My station participated in the nationwide "We Are the World" thing. (We also participated in "Hands Across America," but that's a story for another time.)

--Of all the songs on the radio that spring, practically nothing sounded hotter than "One Night in Bangkok," probably because it was just so damn weird. (I'm surprised nobody else has observed that Murray Head had scored a hit previously, with the title song from "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1971.)

--"Beverly Hills Cop" played on one screen of our local two-screen theater for something like six months straight.

Also, the "We Are the World" album includes Bruce Springsteen's live version of "Trapped," which is far from crappy.

Nice work, Jason.

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

So I took my position in the Hands Across America line when who should I notice standing next to me, waiting to grasp my palm? Paul Reubens!!

David Ragland · 1 year ago

Thanks for this. I love every song on this list . . . they all bring back memories.

sini · 1 year ago

"Human Nature" and "Slow Hand" are so much better than "Crazy for You."

Pete · 1 year ago

"No More Words" was featured in the film Vision Quest but wasn't included on the soundtrack album...

Pete · 1 year ago

Ahh-just noticed as I scroll down the comments someone else pointed this out...

Breadalbane · 1 year ago

Hmmm... still no apology for the baseless slam against Canadian musicians.

I'd tread very carefully if I were you. You don't want to piss us off -- we could send another Celine Dion down your way like *that*.

DwDunphy · 1 year ago

Go ahead. We'll be out of ammo over in Iraq soon enough and will need something to drop.

Joel · 1 year ago

"John Candy sang in the chorus, though, fulfilling his role as — of course — Dan Aykroyd’s Canadian equivalent."

Ummm...But Dan Aykroyd's Canadian too.

Ray · 1 year ago

One thing about 1985, there were a lot of "night" songs in the charts (of course two of them were on this top 10!). This provided a little wordplay fun that year, such as "One More Night... In Bangkok", "Rhythm of the Night... In Bangkok", "Just Another Night... in Bangkok", and (a little further down the Top 40) "One Lonely Night... in Bangkok".

jollymoon · 1 year ago

Songs trigger memories?

still the smoothest operator... !!

Great comments, but no Sade "Your Love is King" ?

Sade Still ROCKS

Just got to give kudos to the most wonderful singer in the world. More music please...any news on a new album? www.sade-usa.com