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 1987.
Note: “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles started the year at number one, but it had previously also reached number one in 1986, and as is our rule, we will not include it here, since it was already included in our list for 1986.
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 1987…
- In April, the first cartoon short for The Simpsons aired on The Tracy Ullman Show. A total of 48 shorts aired before The Simpsons got its own show on Fox two years later.
- In January, Aretha Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- The first Final Fantasy video game was released in December for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and sold more than 400,000 copies during its original release.
- Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the House of Representatives in a special election in April, and has been reelected ever since, and first became the Speaker of the House in 2007.
- Construction of the Channel Tunnel (or the Chunnel as you may know it) that would connect Great Britain and France was approved. It opened to the public in 1994.
- In April, the first cartoon short for The Simpsons aired on The Tracy Ullman Show. A total of 48 shorts aired before The Simpsons got its own show on Fox two years later.
- In January, Aretha Franklin became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- The first Final Fantasy video game was released in December for the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and sold more than 400,000 copies during its original release.
- Nancy Pelosi was first elected to the House of Representatives in a special election in April, and has been reelected ever since, and first became the Speaker of the House in 2007.
- Construction of the Channel Tunnel (or the Chunnel as you may know it) that would connect Great Britain and France was approved. It opened to the public in 1994.
28. Billy Vera and the Beaters - At This Moment
The song was recorded years earlier, but rose to the top of the charts after being featured on multiple episodes of Family Ties as Alex P. Keaton’s love theme.
26. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Lost in Emotion
This single was inspired by two of Motown singer Mary Wells’ hits: “Two Lovers” and “You Beat Me to the Punch.”
25. Madonna - Who's That Girl
This single is from the soundtrack album from the film Who’s That Girl, which Madonna also starred in. Though the song made it to the top of the charts, the film bombed at the box office.
24. Huey Lewis and the News - Jacob's Ladder
The song was written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John, and Bruce eventually recorded a version for his 1988 album Scenes from the Southside as well.
23. Bob Seger - Shakedown
Written for the film Beverly Hills Cop II, Glenn Frey was originally supposed to record it, but he didn’t like the lyrics and also got laryngitis, so Seger ended up recording the song, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
20. Los Lobos - La Bamba
This song is a remake of Ritchie Valens’ version, and was featured in the movie La Bamba, which was a biopic about Valens starring Lou Diamond Phillips.
19. Aretha Franklin and George Michael - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
17. Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hangin' On
This song is a remake of the original version recorded by The Supremes in 1966, reworking the Motown sound into a more high energy version. Wilde even changed some of the lyrics.
16. Club Nouveau - Lean on Me
Yup, we’ve got another remake, this time of the classic song by Bill Withers from 1972, featuring a go-go beat and the faux-reggae refrain “We be jammin’!”
14. Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth
Carlisle’s only chart-topper as of 2021, the song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and the music video was directed by actress Diane Keaton.
13. Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died in Your Arms
11. Billy Idol - Mony Mony
What’s this? Another cover? Yes — this song was a remake of the 1968 song by Tommy James and the Shondells. “Weird Al” Yankovic also recorded a parody of the Idol version called “Alimony.”
10. Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
The theme song from the film Mannequin, this song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was inspired by co-writer Albert Hammond’s impending marriage to his girlfriend after the divorce from his previous wife was finalized.
9. Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now
Look what we have here — another cover song. Was 1987 just lacking in originality? This song was a cover of the 1967 version recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells.
8. Michael Jackson - Bad
The short film video produced for this song premiered on a TV special on CBS, was directed by Martin Scorsese, co-starred Wesley Snipes, and was partially based on West Side Story.
7. Heart - Alone
Another chart-topper, another cover. Yep, this is a cover of the 1983 original recorded by i-Ten, though Heart updated their version to be more of a power ballad than the original.
5. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time of My Life
Recorded as the theme from Dirty Dancing, this song won many awards including Best Original Song at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, as well as the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
3. Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
The song was written by George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who had also written one of Houston’s other hit songs, “How Will I Know.” The song went on to win the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
What was your favorite single from 1987? Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know in the comments!
