Category Archives: throwback weekends

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Song of the Day #6,126: ‘We Are the World’ – USA for Africa

The #1 song in America the week of April 13, 1985, was a charity single that sold more than 20 million copies, becoming the eighth best-selling single of all time worldwide. I’m referring, of course, to ‘We Are the World,’ a song conceived as a way to raise money for and awareness of the famine in Africa.

‘We Are the World’ was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and performed by a laundry list of music stars. The song featured so many big names that it’s easier to list the major 80s icons who weren’t there: namely, Prince and Madonna.

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Song of the Day #6,125: ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ – Elton John

Throwing back to the week of April 12, 1975, we find Elton John atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Philadelphia Freedom.’ This was John’s fourth #1 hit on the chart on his way to seven in his career.

This was the first song John and lyricist Bernie Taupin ever wrote as a standalone single. John wanted to honor his friend Billie Jean King, who had become an international voice for feminism after her defeat of Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match. The song was named for the Philadelphia Freedoms, King’s team in the World Team Tennis league.

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Song of the Day #6,119: ‘I’m Telling You Now’ – Freddie and the Dreamers

The week of April 6, 1965, found Freddie and the Dreamers atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘I’m Telling You Now,’ a Merseybeat track that had success in the UK two years earlier. When it was rereleased for the U.S. audience, it gave the band their only chart-topping hit.

The song kicked off a minor dance craze called “The Freddie,” which basically consisted of extending your arms and legs as if you’re doing half-assed jumping jacks. You can see it in the Ed Sullivan clip of this song.

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Song of the Day #6,118: ‘Tweedle Dee’ – Georgia Gibbs

Throwing back to the week of April 5, 1955, we have a trio of repeats atop the Billboard chart: Bill Hayes’ ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett,’ Johnny Maddox’s ‘The Crazy Otto Medley,’ and The McGuire Sisters’ ‘Sincerely.’

At #4 that week, on its way to peaking at #3, was Georgia Gibbs’ recording of ‘Tweedle Dee.’ Gibbs had another song — ‘Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)’ — in the top ten at the same time.

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Song of the Day #6,112: ‘One More Night’ – Phil Collins

Phil Collins owned the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 the week of March 30, 1985, with the first U.S. single from his album No Jacket Required. ‘One More Night’ spent two weeks at #1, giving Collins his second chart-topper, following ‘Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)‘ the year before.

I have a soft spot for anything by Phil Collins, and this song certainly goes down easy, but it sounds like it was written in about 15 minutes (which is pretty close to the truth).

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