Every year, songs shoot to the top of the charts, either for just one week, or for multiple weeks in a row. In a series of posts, we’re going to rank Billboard’s “The Hot 100” number one singles for each year of the 1980s and 1990s. Today, we’re looking at the year 1984.
Note: “Say Say Say” by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson started the year at number one, but it had previously also done so in 1983, and as is our rule, we will not include it here, since it was already included in our list for 1983.
As always, these lists are subjective, we’re not claiming to be the definitive ranking here. We’re not that important, but you are, so we hope seeing the below songs conjures up a friendly memory or two.
But first, to get you in the mood for the year 1984…
- Apple launched the Macintosh computer with their famous “1984” commercial directed by Ridley Scott, which aired during Super Bowl XVIII.
- Top artists from Britain and Ireland came together to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to raise money and awareness for the famine in Ethiopia, and Africa in general.
- The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, CA — as a retaliation for the US boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the Soviet Union boycotted these 1984 games.
- The first-ever MTV Video Music Awards was held — Madonna famously performed “Like a Virgin” wearing a combination bustier/wedding gown and her trademark “Boy Toy” belt.
- In April, the National Cancer Institute announced they had found the cause of AIDS, a retrovirus that would later be named the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- Apple launched the Macintosh computer with their famous “1984” commercial directed by Ridley Scott, which aired during Super Bowl XVIII.
- Top artists from Britain and Ireland came together to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to raise money and awareness for the famine in Ethiopia, and Africa in general.
- The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, CA — as a retaliation for the US boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the Soviet Union boycotted these 1984 games.
- The first-ever MTV Video Music Awards was held — Madonna famously performed “Like a Virgin” wearing a combination bustier/wedding gown and her trademark “Boy Toy” belt.
- In April, the National Cancer Institute announced they had found the cause of AIDS, a retrovirus that would later be named the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
16. Deniece Williams - Let's Hear it for the Boy
Featured on the Footloose soundtrack, this song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.
15. Prince and the Revolution - Let's Go Crazy
This song was both the opening song on the album Purple Rain, as well as the film, and was notable for opening with a funeral-like organ solo.
14. Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Written as the theme song for the Ghostbusters film, Huey Lewis and the News sued for plagiarism of their song “I Want a New Drug” — Lewis ended up receiving a settlement.
12. Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Featured in the opening title sequence for Footloose, the song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and is one of Loggins’ most recognizable songs.
10. Stevie Wonder - I Just Called to Say I Love You
Wonder’s best-selling single to date, this song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the film The Woman in Red.
3. John Waite - Missing You
Though this is John Waite’s most well-known single as a solo artist, he also was the lead vocalist for the bands The Babys and Bad English.
What was your favorite single from 1984? Let us know in the comments!
