All posts by mngr
David Bowie – Modern Love
David Bowie: Modern Love
Even if the single never hit the top of the charts, it did reach number 2 in the UK and the top ten in many countries, being a definite success in the English artist’s career.
It was included in the album Let’s Dance as the third single and regularly performed in his tours.
It was re-recorded with Tina Turner and used in a commercial, and it was also featured in films, TV shows and more.
It was written, performed and produced by David Bowie, inspired by the struggle between God and man.
Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow
Mike Oldfield: Moonlight Shadow
Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Belinda Carlisle: Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Samantha Fox – Touch Me (I Want Your Body)
Samantha Fox: Touch Me (I Want Your Body)
Released in 1986 from her first album Touch Me, it was the debut single of the British artist, reaching #4 in the US and #3 in the UK, but hitting the very top in Australia, Canada, in Scandinavian countries and others.
The song opens the road to international success gaining further remarkable achievements with successive hits.
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – Ebony and Ivory
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder: Ebony and Ivory
Hitting number 1 in both the US and UK charts, it’s one of the greatest songs of all time, not just of the eighties. It was a hit alover the world hitting the top spots in most ranking countries. It was released in 1982 by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, who both recorded the song in studio, but individually because of conflicting work schedules. The single was written exclusively by Paul McCartney.
Inspired by racial equality issues, the song allegorically refers to the keys on a keyboard, black and white, both necessary to play a piano.
Not surprisingly, it also caused political issues, but the ban in South Africa stands out, apparently for Stevie Wonder accepting an award for the song in the name of Nelson Mandela in 1984, during the Apartheid era.
Michael Jackson – Beat It
Michael Jackson: Beat It
1983 released single from the album Thriller, written, performed and co-produced by Michael Jackson (with Quincy Jones), it features contributions by other greats like Jeff Porcaro (Toto) and Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen).
The song, and its video, received many awards and featured at the top of the charts worldwide. It was in the top 5 while another of Michael Jackson’s songs was there as well, Billie Jean.
It was not only one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s, but also in the history of pop music, and not surprisingly, one of the most sold singles of all time.
It was used in parodies, commercials, movies, TV shows and video games; it was also used in a anti-drunk driving campaign.
Queen – Under Pressure
Queen: Under Pressure
It was written and recorded by the British band Queen in 1981 in collaboration with David Bowie and included in the 1982 album Hot Space. Although not hugely successful in the US charts, it was a huge hit in the UK, taking the top spot (also in Canada and the Netherlands), and went on to become one of the greatest songs of the 1980s.
There are uncertainties about who contributed to what part of the song, but it appears that Freddie Mercury was the leading songwriter while David Bowie’s lyrical contribution was clear.
Other Queen members made decisive contributions, but there were struggles as how to put the song together.
Toto – Africa
Toto – Africa
It was written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro. In Toto IV, the homonymous American rock band included the 1982 song reaching the top of the charts in the US (and Canada) in 1983, and the top positions in the UK in the same year, while having great success all-over the world.
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
Written by Per Gessle and performed by Swedish duo Roxette, which also included Marie Fredriksson, it was one of Roxette’s greatest hits, reaching the top spot in the charts in the US, Australia, Canada, and many European countries, although only getting close in the UK, but lasting for weeks in the top spots.