1985 featured some of the greatest songs of the 1980s, and it is arguably the best year of the decade when you look at all of the iconic songs produced that year.
From one-hit wonders to well-known superstars who are still active today, 1985 was a wonderful year for music, with a multitude of recognizable songs that have stood the test of time.
The whole tapestry of music from the iconic to brief blips on the music radar are so well encompassed in 1985. Some of the biggest hits of all time were released that year. 1985 saw hits from legends and legends-to-be, as well as great hits from popular artists from several genres. Simply put, it was a fantastic year for music.
What makes 1985 such an iconic year for pop music?
The list of legendary singers with big hits that year is just astounding. Take a look at some of these names:
- Madonna - "Crazy for You," "Into the Grove," "Dress You Up," "Angel," "Material Girl"
- Elton John - "Nikita"
- Bruce Springsteen - "Born in the USA," "Glory Days," "I'm On Fire"
- Wintney Houston - "Saving All My for You," "You Give Good Love"
- David Bowie & Mick Jagger - "Dancing in the Street"
- Sting - "If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free"
- Chicago - "You're My Inspiration"
- Heart - "Never"
- Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is"
- Bryan Adams - "Run to You," "Summer of 69," "Heaven"
- Prince - "Raspberry Beret"
- Dire Straits - "Money for Nothing," "So Far Away"
- John Cougar Mellencamp - "Small Town"
That list doesn’t include some of the most famous (notorious?) one-hit wonders either. The songs are interwoven with those by more famous artists to form the very fabric of music at that time. How many of these do you remember?
- Katrina and the Waves - "Walking on Sunshine"
- Animotion - "Obsession"
- A-Ha - "Take On Me"
- Murray Head - "One Night in Bangkok"
- Jack Wagner - "All I Need"
There are also numerous artists with popular songs in 1985 whose careers were firmly established in the 80s and were well-known to fans at the time.
- Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)," "Alive and Kicking"
- Tears for Fears - "Shout," 'Head Over Heels," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
- The Eurythmics - "Would I Lie To You?" "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with my Heart)"
- Cory Hart - "Never Surrender"
- The Thompson Twins - "Lay Your Hands on Me"
- Mr. Mister - "Broken Wings"
- Dead or Alive - "You Spin Me 'Round (Like a Record)," "Lover Come Back to Me"
Some memorable songs from soundtracks also found their way to the charts in 1985, leaving lasting impressions.
- Lionel Richie - "Say You, Say Me" (White Nights)
- Huey Lewis and the News - "Power of Love" (Back to the Future)
- Duran Duran - "A View to a Kill" (A View to a Kill)
- John Parr - "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" (St. Elmo's Fire)
- Tina Turner - "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)" (Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome)
Numerous rock songs were also released in 1985, adding the the beautiful quilt-work of music from that year.
- Kiss - "Tears Are Falling"
- Ratt - "Lay it Down"
- Cheap Trick - "Tonight It's You"
- Motley Crue - "Home Sweet Home"
- Bon Jovi - "In and Out of Love"
Finally, it was the year for “We Are the World.” Many of the artists listed participated in this global phenomenon. In the eighties, artists were realizing they could use their fame and talents to raise money. In 1985, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote this song to raise money for food to help those devastated by a famine. The single sold more than 20 million copies.
Artists like Wham!, Glenn Frey, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, Phil Collins, and Jefferson Starship all had hits in 1985. Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," made famous almost 40 years later in Stranger Things, was a modest hit in 1985.
The year 1985 was a magnificent year for incredible, memorable, sing-a-long pop music that's left a lasting impression on fans for decades.