Billboard 1985: The Rankdown (Winner Revealed)

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

lThe 80's were amazing, so let's get some extras in here. As  always, my top 100 of 1985 looked nothing like Billboard's, so you can consider some of my picks as extras.

100. John Waite - Tears (BB #37) (DOC #15)
From "No Brakes" album. Terrible quality video. Even for youtube standards.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMr2QSNvD3A

99. John Parr - Naughy Naughty (BB #23) (DOC #18)
Actually the first single before "St Elmo's Fire". A cool Billy Squier like rocker. Jon Parr really looked like a "Wise Guy"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=syhrz_AMLQU


98. Roman Holliday - One Foot Back In Your Door (BB #76) (DOC# 15)
Uptempo bop. This song was on the "Teachers" soundtrack. Great quality video.


93. Animotion - Let Him Go (BB #39) (DOC #12)
Second single following success of "Obsession" which barley dented the Top 40, but I love it. It had an 80's Latin High Energy vibe to it. 




A couple more extras that missed both Billboard's ,and my top 100, but still good songs.

Nolan Thomas - Yo' Little Brother (BB #57)  (DOC #34)
This is a great 80's music video. This could quite possible be the first Freestyle song ever? You can hear TKA and Stevie B. vibes all over it. The characters in the MV are supposed to be , Billy Idol, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi lauper, and my favorite Ric Ocasek from The Cars.





Scandal - Beat Of The Heart (BB #41) (DOC #27)
Third single off " Warrior" L.P.

[Unhinged]

#90

We Are The World

USA for Africa

Total Points: 603

Billboard Hot 100: 1⁽⁴⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 20

From: We Are the World

Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, this charity single was (mostly) recorded following the 1985 American Music Awards held on January 28, 1985. With over 20 million copies sold it is one of the biggest selling singles of all time. Within the first 3 days of release, over 800,000 copies of the single were sold in the US alone.

The studio recording includes appearances from the likes of:

• Lionel Richie
• Stevie Wonder
• Paul Simon
• Kenny Rogers
• James Ingram
• Tina Turner
• Billy Joel
• Michael Jackson
• Diana Ross
• Dionne Warwick
• Willie Nelson
• Al Jarreau
• Bruce Springsteen
• Kenny Loggins
• Steve Perry
• Daryl Hall
• Huey Lewis
• Cyndi Lauper
• Kim Carnes
• Bob Dylan
• Ray Charles 
• Dan Aykroyd
• Harry Belafonte
• Lindsey Buckingham
• Mario Cipollina
• Johnny Colla
• Sheila E.
• Bob Geldof
• Bill Gibson
• Chris Hayes
• Sean Hopper
• Jackie Jackson
• La Toya Jackson
• Marlon Jackson
• Randy Jackson
• Tito Jackson
• Waylon Jennings
• Bette Midler
• John Oates
• Jeffrey Osborne
• The Pointer Sisters
• Smokey Robinson

Someone loses their No. 2 with this leaving the rankdown...

Doc Indie Party Rock - 97 
★Disco★ - 51
mamooshka - 36 
Pale Shelter  - 76 
craziaskowboi - 86 
singingrulebritannia - 98 
newpower - 79 
Mirago - 39 
rgreen0625  - 19 
Red - 99 
Cody Wants Out...  - 45 
aerodynamite - 100 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 97 
Az Paynter  - 100 
mrmike855 - 98 
Glove Slap - 64 
Ky - 91 
Juanca - 2 
Sambalada  - 92 
Unhinged - 50

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Glove Slap]

This is out a bit earlier than I thought it'd be, but none of these types of songs have aged well. I'd expect Do They Know... and That's What Friends... to do about the same in its place.

[Unhinged]

#89

Who's Holding Donna Now

DeBarge

Total Points: 655

Billboard Hot 100: 6

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 85

From: Rhythm of the Night

This ballad, released in April of 1985, was the groups second consecutive Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Peaking at No. 6 on that chart, it also managed a four week run at No. 2 on R&B and was No. 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.

David Foster features as a co-writer on this track.

Can we please take a moment and appreciate how awesomely 80's their hair is on the single cover?

Doc Indie Party Rock - 64 
★Disco★ - 45
mamooshka - 57 
Pale Shelter  - 93 
craziaskowboi - 18
singingrulebritannia - 75
newpower - 72
Mirago - 97 
rgreen0625 - 36 
Red - 88 
Cody Wants Out...  - 81 
aerodynamite - 85 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 66
Az Paynter - 99 
mrmike855 - 68 
Glove Slap - 85
Ky - 27
Juanca - 74
Sambalada - 67 
Unhinged - 94

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Unhinged]

#88

I Can't Hold Back

Survivor

Total Points: 658

Billboard Hot 100: 13

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 73

From: Vital Signs

First single from their album Vital Signs, this track managed a peak of No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1984. It also scored a three week stay at No. 1 on Billboard Top Rock Tracks.

Doc Indie Party Rock - 48 
★Disco★ - 75
mamooshka - 82 
Pale Shelter  - 88 
craziaskowboi - 48 
singingrulebritannia - 66 
newpower - 96 
Mirago - 54 
rgreen0625  - 87 
Red - 73 
Cody Wants Out... - 26 
aerodynamite - 89 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 94 
Az Paynter  - 54 
mrmike855 - 17 
Glove Slap - 59 
Ky - 81 
Juanca  - 82 
Sambalada  - 55 
Unhinged - 88

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Unhinged]

#87

Missing You

Diana Ross

Total Points: 708

Billboard Hot 100: 10

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 49

From: Swept Away

Released as the third single from Swept Away, this was her last Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Lionel Richie as a tribute to Marvin Gaye, who was fatally shot by his father in April of 1984.

Doc Indie Party Rock  - 93 
★Disco★ - 88
mamooshka - 61 
Pale Shelter  - 80 
craziaskowboi - 88
singingrulebritannia - 63
newpower - 87
Mirago - 59 
rgreen0625  - 89 
Red - 78 
Cody Wants Out...  - 15 
aerodynamite - 70 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 58
Az Paynter - 12 
mrmike855 - 57 
Glove Slap - 34
Ky - 36
Juanca - 70
Sambalada  - 75 
Unhinged - 98

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Glove Slap]

Y'all are some soulless hoes.

[Cody Wants Out...]

Are you serious you guys?

First, Survivor is gone (love the piano and overall instrumental scenery in "The Search is Over" btw) and now Diana Ross is gone too?

WHAT'S THIS WORLD COMING TO?!?

[Az Paynter]

Garbage comes from all walks of life...

[Glove Slap]

Not expecting my #100 to go just yet, but I hope Starship is coming soon.

[Unhinged]

#86

Never Surrender

Corey Hart

Total Points: 719

Billboard Hot 100: 3

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 44

From: Boy in the Box

A huge hit in Canada (No. 1 for 4 weeks), this song was also a hit in the US where it peaked at No. 3 in the summer of 1985. It won the Juno Award for "Single of The Year" and was certified platinum in Canada for sales of over 100,000 copies.

It was his final Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Doc Indie Party Rock  - 49 
★Disco★ - 58
mamooshka - 20 
Pale Shelter  - 39 
craziaskowboi - 100
singingrulebritannia - 73
newpower - 28
Mirago - 64 
rgreen0625 - 50 
Red - 90 
Cody Wants Out...  - 52 
aerodynamite - 81 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 89
Az Paynter  - 70 
mrmike855 - 77 
Glove Slap - 74
Ky - 72
Juanca  - 83 
Sambalada  - 51 
Unhinged - 71

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Cody Wants Out...]

Glove Slap I think it'll be my fault if Starship doesn't leave soon as I actually like the song...

[Pale Shelter]

i need to see my 99 soon

[Unhinged]

#85

Valotte

Julian Lennon

Total Points: 723

Billboard Hot 100: 9

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 78

From: Valotte

Released in late 1984 this was the second single (first in the US) from his debut album of the same name. The song was inspired by Lennon's time in the Tennessee Valley.

Doc Indie Party Rock  - 94 
★Disco★ - 68
mamooshka - 42 
Pale Shelter  - 54 
craziaskowboi - 82
singingrulebritannia - 17
newpower - 67
Mirago - 65 
rgreen0625  - 55 
Red - 51 
Cody Wants Out...  - 87 
aerodynamite - 61 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 95
Az Paynter  - 84 
mrmike855 - 71 
Glove Slap - 90
Ky - 87
Juanca  - 75 
Sambalada  - 64 
Unhinged - 93

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Unhinged]

#84

Suddenly

Billy Ocean

Total Points: 728

Billboard Hot 100: 4

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 52

From: Suddenly

This ballad, the title track from his 1984 album, was released in May of 1985.

Someone loses a Top 10 placement with this leaving the rankdown...

Doc Indie Party Rock - 85 
★Disco★ - 70
mamooshka - 88 
Pale Shelter  - 56 
craziaskowboi - 54
singingrulebritannia - 74
newpower - 73
Mirago - 89 
rgreen0625  - 60 
Red - 70 
Cody Wants Out...  - 53 
aerodynamite - 86 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 48
Az Paynter  - 8 
mrmike855 - 64 
Glove Slap - 96
Ky - 13
Juanca  - 72 
Sambalada - 54 
Unhinged - 83

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Az Paynter]

I... why?

[Glove Slap]

Apr 25, 2018 10:32:33 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

I... why?

Indeed. Why in the world would you put that in your top 10?

[Unhinged]

#83

Miami Vice Theme

Jan Hammer

Total Points: 749

Billboard Hot 100: 1⁽¹⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 27

From: Miami Vice Soundtrack

Prior to "Harlem Shake" in 2013 this was the last instrumental song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was first heard as part of the television show Miami Vice in September of 1984 and was released as a single in 1985.

It won Grammy Awards for "Best Instrumental Composition" and "Best Pop Instrumental Performance."

Doc Indie Party Rock - 77 
★Disco★ - 31 
mamooshka - 51 
Pale Shelter  - 29 
craziaskowboi - 44 
singingrulebritannia - 33 
newpower - 65 
Mirago - 88 
rgreen0625  - 79 
Red - 48 
Cody Wants Out...  - 96 
aerodynamite - 52 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 85 
Az Paynter  - 32 
mrmike855 - 39 
Glove Slap - 83 
Ky - 99 
Juanca  - 80 
Sambalada  - 79 
Unhinged - 81

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Glove Slap]

Iconic. The museum near me had some of the outfits on display and I felt I was in presence of fashion royalty.

[aerodynamite]

I wonder if this means Axel F will soon follow.

[Pale Shelter]

Apr 25, 2018 11:03:32 GMT -5 aerodynamite said:

I wonder if this means Axel F will soon follow.

surprised it outlasted Jan Hammer

[Unhinged]

#82

Cool It Now

New Edition

Total Points: 754

Billboard Hot 100: 4

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 26

From: New Edition

First single from their second album, this track was the groups first Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and their second No. 1 on the R&B chart. The song was eventually certified Gold in the US.

Doc Indie Party Rock - 50
★Disco★ - 25
mamooshka - 100 
Pale Shelter  - 94 
craziaskowboi - 61 
singingrulebritannia - 51 
newpower - 34 
Mirago - 84 
rgreen0625 - 95 
Red - 93 
Cody Wants Out... - 44 
aerodynamite - 62 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 35 
Az Paynter  - 96 
mrmike855 - 90 
Glove Slap - 78 
Ky - 10 
Juanca  - 52 
Sambalada  - 25 
Unhinged - 87

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Az Paynter]

This song was totally cringe-worthy.

[Unhinged]

#81

Too Late For Goodbyes

Julian Lennon

Total Points: 759

Billboard Hot 100: 5

Billboard Top 100 of 1985: 77

From: Valotte

Written by Julian and produced by Phil Ramone, this track became the most successful song of his career by peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1985.

It also placed inside the Top 40 in over a half dozen countries even reaching Gold status in Canada.

Doc Indie Party Rock - 80 
★Disco★ - 69
mamooshka - 58 
Pale Shelter  - 42 
craziaskowboi - 49 
singingrulebritannia - 52 
newpower - 60 
Mirago - 14 
rgreen0625  - 40 
Red - 39 
Cody Wants Out...  - 48 
aerodynamite - 57 
🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲 - 81 
Az Paynter - 86 
mrmike855 - 89 
Glove Slap - 72 
Ky - 69 
Juanca  - 87 
Sambalada  - 93 
Unhinged - 86

Observers

alexcuse
Albie

[Glove Slap]

Those vocals on CIN are something else .

[filthy]

I really want the actual top 3 to be the in top 3

[filthy]

And kind of suprised that We Are The World is already out

[Unhinged]

^Knowing how the crew here typically rank songs on these 80's lists I figured it wouldn't do too well. It's always been a very polarizing song as well.

[singingrulebritannia]

Polarizing? I figured the popular opinion now is that it's awful.

The truly messed up result is Julian Lennon being eliminated in the bottom 20.

[★Disco★]

Apr 25, 2018 12:23:38 GMT -5 Glove Slap said:

Those vocals on CIN are something else .

I feel like they were pitched up in the same way Madonna's early records had that effect on them.

I ranked the song so high because of nostalgic value. And it has been on the store playlist for 3 years now.