Tag Archives: tb80s

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Song of the Day #5,944: ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ – Stevie Wonder

I’ve mentioned the song that topped Billboard’s Hot 100 the week of October 13, 1984, three times before on the blog, but this is its first appearance as a song of the day.

Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You,’ the lead single from the film The Woman in Red, is famous — in my book — for winning the Best Song Oscar over much superior competition. This treacly love song beat out Deniece Williams’ ‘Let’s Hear it for the Boy’ and Kenny Loggins’ ‘Footloose’ as well as Phil Collins’ ‘Against All Odds’ and Ray Parker Jr.’s ‘Ghostbusters.’

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Song of the Day #5,923: ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ – Prince

The week of September 22, 1984, found John Waite atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Missing You.’ A few weeks ago I wrote about that song and mentioned that it was the only 1984 chart-topper to spent just one week at #1. This was that week.

Right on its heels was Prince’s ‘Let’s Go Crazy,’ a week away from its own berth at #1, where it would spend two weeks. This was Prince’s second #1 hit, following ‘When Doves Cry’ a few weeks earlier.

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Song of the Day #5,902: ‘Missing You’ – John Waite

Tina Turner had the #1 song the week of September 1, 1984, with ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It?‘ It was her first and only solo #1, and spent three weeks atop the Hot 100.

That week, the second spot was held by English singer-songwriter John Waite with his soft rock balled ‘Missing You.’ Waite would eventually replace Turner at #1, topping the chart for a single week. ‘Missing You’ was the only song in that great music year to spend only one week at #1.

Turner would cover this song 12 years later for her album Wildest Dreams.

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Song of the Day #5,881: ‘State of Shock’ – The Jacksons feat. Mick Jagger

Ray Parker Jr. claimed #1 on the Hot 100 the week of August 11, 1984, with ‘Ghostbusters.’ Prince sat at #2 with ‘When Doves Cry,’ relinquishing the top spot after five weeks.

At #3 was The Jacksons with ‘State of Shock,’ the first single from their album Victory. This was the only Jacksons album to include all six brothers. It was released on the heels of Michael’s record-shattering Thriller.

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Song of the Day #5,860: ‘Ghostbusters’ – Ray Parker Jr.

I recently wrote about the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of July 21, 1984, today’s Throwback Weekend focus.

This was one of the weeks that Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ topped the chart, relegating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’ to #2 and depriving The Boss of what would have been his only #1 hit.

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