Favourite songs of 1984

MarshallFishMarshallFish Posts: 94
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Since the favourite songs from 1985 thread has done so well, I thought since it's 30 years on (in a few days), it's time 1984 had a favourite songs thread, also. It wasn't too shabby a year for music in 1984, too. I apologize if there's been a thread on this year already.

So a short list again off the top of my head:

Dancing in the Dark-Bruce Springsteen
When Doves Cry-Prince
Pride (In the Name of Love)-U2
Jump-Van Halen
Two Tribes-Frankie Goes to Hollywood
No More Lonely Nights-Paul McCartney
Free Nelson Mandela-Special AKA
Together In Electric Dreams-Giorgio Moroder and Phil Oakey
Smooth Operator-Sade
All Cried Out-Alison Moyet
Nobody Told Me-John Lennon
You're The Best Thing-Style Council
East of Eden-Big Country
Ghostbusters-Ray Parker Jr.
Human Racing-Nik Kershaw
Jump (For My Love)-Pointer Sisters
What's Love Got To Do With It-Tina Turner
Hammer to Fall-Queen
Michael Caine-Madness
Love's Crashing Waves-Difford and Tilbrook


Marshall

My new review of The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963 iTunes exclusive:
http://marshfish.hubpages.com/hub/Review-The-Beatles-Bootleg-Recordings-1963-iTunes-release
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Comments

  • Phoenix LazarusPhoenix Lazarus Posts: 17,305
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    I think my favourite from that year was I Want To Know What Love Is, by Foreigner. Eyes Without a Face, Billy Idol was also particularly good.
  • MarshallFishMarshallFish Posts: 94
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    How did I forget Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid, especially at this time of the year.

    Also, Robert DeNiro's Waiting by Bananarama.

    Marshall
  • koantemplationkoantemplation Posts: 101,293
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    '84 was one of the best years for music IMO.

    Nearly any compilation album from that era has hardly any songs on that I wouldn't like.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    my top 20

    1. Prince - When doves cry
    2. Carmel - More more more
    3. Wham! - Everything she wants
    4. Bronski Beat - Smalltown boy
    5. SOS Band - Just be good to me
    6. Wang Chung - Dance hall days
    7. China Crisis - Wishfull thinking
    8. Madonna - Holiday
    9. Echo and the Bunnymen - Killing moon
    10. Special Aka - Nelson mandela
    11. Alphaville - Big in japan
    12. Stranglers - Skin deep
    13. Laura Brannigan - Self controle
    14. Re-Flex - The politics of dancing
    15. Fiction Factory - (Feels like) Heaven
    16. Icicle Works - Love is a wonderful colour
    17. Sandie Shaw - Hand in glove
    18. Madonna - Lucky star
    19. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
    20. Phil Collins - Against all odds
  • RetroMusicFanRetroMusicFan Posts: 6,673
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    Some of my faves from that year were

    Relax, Two Tribes - FGTH
    The Politics Of Dancing - Re-Flex
    Master And Servant, People Are People - Depeche Mode
    Locomotion - OMD
    Lucky Star - Madonna
    Pride (In the Name of Love)-U2
    Jump-Van Halen
    Jump (For My Love)-Pointer Sisters
    Michael Caine-Madness
    Sexcrime (1984) - Eurythmics
    Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!
    99 Red Balloons - Nena
    Pipes Of Peace - Paul McCartney
    Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
    That's Livin' Alright (Auf Wiedersehen Pet) - Joe Fagin
    Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder
  • mialiciousmialicious Posts: 4,686
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    Arthur baker - Breakers revenge
    Pointer sisters - Automatic
    Pointer sisters - Im so excited
    Ollie & Jerry - Breakin' Theres no stopping' us
    Knights of the turntables - Techno scratch
    Melle mel & The Furious five - Step off
    Chaka Khan - I feel for you
    Bananarama - Cruel summer
    Davy DMX - One for the treble
    The Style council - You're the best thing
    Divine sounds - What people do for money
    Madonna - Like a virgin
    Madonna - Lucky star
    Shannon - Let the music play
    Shannon - Give me tonight
    Aleem - Release yourself
    Prince and the revolution - Purple rain
    Doug E fresh - Original human beatbox
    Tina Turner - Whats love got to do with it?
    Rockwell - Somebody's watching me
    Newcleus - Jam on it
    Pumpkin and the all stars - Here comes that beat!
    Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
    Whodini - Friends
    Whodini - The freaks come out at night
    Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde - Fast life
    Bruce springsteen - Dancing in the dark
    Key - Matic - Breakin' in space
    Ray parket Jnr - Ghostbusters
    Ice-T - Reckless
    Run DMC - Rock box
    UTFO - Roxanne, Roxanne
    Roxanne shante - Roxannes revenge
  • brumiladbrumilad Posts: 1,467
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    11. Alphaville - Big in japan
    German superstar to be Sandra recorded and released a German cover version as her unsuccessful debut single the same year (a year before her huge hit Mary Magdalena).

    I must admit I'm a bit more partial to this one because of Michael Cretu's (of Enigma fame) production.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQXzV9Rzh-4
  • Blondie XBlondie X Posts: 28,662
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    Prince - When Doves Cry
    Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
    Shannon - Let the Music Play
    Cameo - She's Strange
    Cheryl Lynn - Encore
    Jeffrey Osbourne - Stay With Me Tonight
    Dazz Band - Let It All Blow
    Gap Band - Burn Rubber On Me
    Stanley Clarke - Heaven Sent You
    Funk Deluxe - This Time
    Jones Girls - Keep It Coming
    Change - Change Of Heart
    Kashif - I've Been Missing You
    Brass Construction - Partyline
    Staples Singers - Slippery People
    Fonda Rae - Touch Me
    Major Harris - Got To Make Up Your Mind
    SOS Band - Weekend Girl/Just The Way You Like It/No ones Gonna Love You
    Rose Royce - Magic Touch
  • Blondie XBlondie X Posts: 28,662
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    5. SOS Band - Just be good to me

    Absolute classic but it was released in 1983 :)
  • cody jarrettcody jarrett Posts: 1,939
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    Just Be Good To Me entered the UK charts in April 1984, peaking at no13 2 weeks later.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    Blondie X wrote: »
    Absolute classic but it was released in 1983 :)
    Just Be Good To Me entered the UK charts in April 1984, peaking at no13 2 weeks later.

    might have been released in 83 in america, might have been here and was a 'sleeper', but it charted here (as cody says) in 84, therefore it was a hit in 84. :)
  • Blondie XBlondie X Posts: 28,662
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    might have been released in 83 in america, might have been here and was a 'sleeper', but it charted here (as cody says) in 84, therefore it was a hit in 84. :)

    OK, I stand corrected but it was definitely out here in 83 as I remember my mum playing it on a continuous loop when she was in labour with my little brother and he turned 30 a couple of weeks back.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    Blondie X wrote: »
    OK, I stand corrected but it was definitely out here in 83 as I remember my mum playing it on a continuous loop when she was in labour with my little brother and he turned 30 a couple of weeks back.

    sounds like a 'sleeper' then, it wasnt unusual back then for a track to be released, got airplay, even charted in the very lower reaches before taking off as the public suddenly took to it.
  • Multimedia81Multimedia81 Posts: 82,408
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    IIRC Just Be Good to Me started climbing the charts after Gary Davies used it as his theme music for his Dos and Don'ts feature.

    Of the songs listed so far I particularly like:-

    When Doves Cry
    Pride
    Ghostbusters
    More More More
    Just Be Good to Me
    Dance Hall Days
    Big in Japan
    Skin Deep (but I prefer the under-rated No Mercy)
    Breaking
    Like a Virgin
    Let It All Blow
    Change of Heart

    I shall look up 1984 and add some more later.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    IIRC Just Be Good to Me started climbing the charts after Gary Davies used it as his theme music for his Dos and Don'ts feature.
    .

    that would explain it..... released but primetime exposure got it noticed more.
  • RetroMusicFanRetroMusicFan Posts: 6,673
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    I prefer the under-rated No Mercy

    Great song by The Stranglers I am glad i'm not the only person who remembers it, it is indeed very under rated!
  • Hound of LoveHound of Love Posts: 79,878
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    So many fine tunes listed!:D

    I would add just a few more:

    Wood Beez....Absolute - Scritti Politti

    Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics

    Dr Mabuse - Propaganda

    Soul Train - Swans Way
  • MarshallFishMarshallFish Posts: 94
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    Just Be Good To Me entered the UK charts in April 1984, peaking at no13 2 weeks later.

    Wasn't the Beats International (Fatboy Slim/Norman Cook & Lindy Layton) single "Dub Be Good To Me" in 1990 a "semi-cover version" of Just Be Good To Me? I know it had a sample of The Clash's Guns of Brixton in it.

    Speaking of Beats, another pretty good single from 1984 was Dr. Beat by Miami Sound Machine. I guess this was Gloria Estefan's first UK hit.

    Marshall

    My review of The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963 iTunes exclusive release:
    http://marshfish.hubpages.com/hub/Review-The-Beatles-Bootleg-Recordings-1963-iTunes-release
  • Kiko H FanKiko H Fan Posts: 6,546
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    "2 Minutes To Midnight" - Iron Maiden.
  • Phoenix LazarusPhoenix Lazarus Posts: 17,305
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    Skin Deep (but I prefer the under-rated No Mercy)
    Great song by The Stranglers I am glad i'm not the only person who remembers it, it is indeed very under rated!

    Very good song, as was Always the Sun by them, two years later. A bit of an Indian summer, after a few lean years following their initial period of success.
  • Multimedia81Multimedia81 Posts: 82,408
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    To celebrate these songs being 30 years old this year, I shall list some more today:-

    John Lennon:- Nobody Told Me/ Living on Borrowed Time
    Thomas Dolby:- Hyperactive
    Soft Cell:- Down in the Subway
    Julia & Co:- Breaking Down
    Scritti Politti:- Wood Beez/ Absolute
    Howard Jones:- Pearl in the Shell/ Like to Get to Know You Well
    Change:- Change of Heart
    Grandmaster & Melle Mel:- White Lines
    Bananarama:- Rough Justice
    Human League:- Life On Your Own/ Louise
    Echo & the Bunnymen:- Seven Seas
    Queen:- It's a Hard Life
    Elton John:- Passengers
    David Bowie:- Blue Jean
    Psychedelic Furs:- Heartbeat
  • CoreenBaconskinCoreenBaconskin Posts: 596
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    My favourite year for music, and you've all listed my favourite songs!

    Would add Love Resurrection by Alison Moyer, Ain't Nobody by Chaka Khan, White Lines by Grandmaster Flash, Medicine Song, Stephanie Mills, Thomas Dolby, Hyperactive and I Scare Myself, Duran; Reflex and Wild Boys.

    Special mention for Just Be Good To Me. It's perfect! Dance music was amazing back then.
  • CoreenBaconskinCoreenBaconskin Posts: 596
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    Also Dennis Edwards, Don't Look Any Further and Tina Turner, Private Dancer.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,382
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    I know I'm in the minority on this one but I always loved "The War Song" by Culture Club. Used to be obsessed with it back in the day.
  • AdamDowdsAdamDowds Posts: 2,598
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    Depeche Mode's 4th album Some Great Reward is one of my favourite albums of the 80's, released in 1984. Something To Do, Lie To Me, People Are People, Somebody and Blasphemous Rumours are my highlights from the album. OMD's 5th album, Junk Culture is also very good, not one bad track on there.

    But there is also;

    The Alan Parsons Project - Prime Time
    Dead Can Dance - East of Eden
    Shakatak - Down on the Street
    Howard Jones - Like to Get to Know You Well (previously mentioned)
    Mezzoforte - Spring Fever
    Mike Oldfield - Discovery
    Like a Virgin
    Duran Duran - Wild Boys

    Not my favourite year, but still some very strong tracks.
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