Originally Posted by ClareB:
“June 30 1984
40 WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT - Great song, and kicked off the chart well. Knowing of her turbulent personal life, you'd think it had been written especially for her. You know she really understands the situation she's singing about, and it gives the song that edge.
18 STUCK ON YOU - LIONEL RICHIE - Typical Lionel ballad. Nice enough, and certainly a pleasant change from Hello.
17 CHANGE OF HEART - CHANGE - A puzzler for me, this song. I always enjoy hearing on the radio, but i's not one I ever seek out to play myself.
15 TALKING LOUD AND CLEAR - ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK - Okay, but forgettable compared to their other hits. Such a shame it wasn't the excellent Locomotion in this chart.
11 THINKING OF YOU - SISTER SLEDGE - This was my introduction to Sister Sledge, being on Now 3, so it will always be my fave of theirs. Such a shame it just missed out on top 10.
10 TIME AFTER TIME - CYNDI LAUPER - Not a huge fan of Cyndi Lauper, but this is definitely a million times better than Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
09 SAD SONGS (SAY SO MUCH) - ELTON JOHN - Love the song, but terrible video. It just sums up perfectly how music can help you feel less alone when you're going through a bad time.
35 08 BREAKIN'...THERE'S NO STOPPING US - OLLIE AND JERRY - Good tune, but I can't say I into breakdancing back then!
06 JUMP (FOR MY LOVE) - POINTER SISTERS - Enjoyed hearing this more than I expected. Although I've always liked it, my go-to Pointer Sister songs are Slow Hand and I'm So Excited.
05 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO - WHAM! - I became a fully fledged Wham! fan after hearing this. Massively overplayed, and I can understand why it must drive some people crazy, but I don't think I'll ever tire of it.
04 SMALLTOWN BOY - BRONSKI BEAT - Although I remember this song from the time, mainly because it's on Now 3, but I was a bit too young to really understand what it's about. Of course, now I can appreciate what a stand out song it was.
03 RELAX - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - I think Tony likes to play this thinking he's being controversial, though it's long since lost it's shock value. It should've been banned from this chart, anyway, because they should play two tracks by the same artist in one chart.
02 I WON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME - NIK KERSHAW - One of the songs of summer '84, as far as I was concerned. Very catchy, so not surprising it was his biggest
hit. Now, though, I prefer Human Racing, which for some reason passed me by back then.
01 TWO TRIBES - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Well 1984 was certainly the year of Frankie. While I like the song, nine weeks at number one was far too much, even worse when Relax got back up to no. 2 behind it.
Not played
20 SMITHS - HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW - Not surprised this wasn't played, though it's a shame. A bit of misery wouldn't have hurt in this gernerally feel-good chart.
19 SCRITTI POLITTI - Can't say I remember this much from the time, but one I really like now.
16 SPANDAU BALLET - One of their songs I can take or leave. I'll Fly For You, which I think was their next single, is much better.
14 HIGH ENERGY - EVELYN THOMAS - Not keen on the tune, and I hate the fact it's a high energy tune called high energy. Yes, we get the message!
13 ART COMPANY - Wouldn't have minded hearing this, as you rarely do on the radio. So cheesey, but fun to hear once in a while.
12 GRANDMASTER FLASH AND MELLE MEL - So annoyed that this has been skipped again this year! I wonder if they think some people listening might just pick up on the drugs references and think it's a pro drugs song and complain.
07 MICHAEL JACKSON - Surprised and dissapointed this wasn't played. While the release was obviously a cash in on the success of Thriller, it's such a lovely, sweet, perfect summer song.”
Some additional comments:
Stuck On You - excellent song, very underrated but was always going to struggle after the enormous success of Hello. But just the next year Lionel brought out the wretched Say You Say Me and I'm not sure if his chart career ever really recovered.
Change of Heart - one of the best disco / dance songs ever. Indeed, one of the best songs ever.
Talking Loud and Clear - agree, not one of OMD's best.
Thinking of You - another all time classic.
Jump - a good song, but agreed nowhere near as good as I'm So Excited, which had initially been released two years previously but wasn't to become a hit until after Jump
Wake Me Up Before you Go Go - I had been a huge Wham! fan since Young Guns but my faith was tested by Club Tropicana and nearly finished off by this poor effort. Luckily, Careless Whisper, Freedom, Last Christmas and Everything She Wants restored my faith and Wake Me Up can be written off as a mere blip in their career.
Relax - Tony played this because it was in the Top 3, so of course it shouldn't have been banned, why can't an act have two songs played? Dreadful song though.
I Won't Let the Sun.. - good song, but nowhere near as good as Wouldn't it Be Nice?
Two Tribes - nothing special but a vast improvement on Relax. Although I don't like Relax, when it climbed back to Number 2 from a chart point of view it was very interesting and unusual to have the Top 2 by the same act / artist, especially when that act was still alive!
Only When I Leave - one of my favourite Spandau tracks (if not my favourite). I don't even remember I'll Fly For You so it didn't leave much impression.
High Energy - an above average track that I can take or leave. The song's called High Energy, why's that a problem?
White Lines - all time classic and if it was going up it should never have been skipped!
Farewell My Summer Love - dreary, one of MJ's worst ever singles. His other "old" hit, played the other week on 1981 POTP, was far superior in every way.