Hello! Welcome back to 80s countdown top 5 recap. Every week SiriusXM’s 80s on 8 channel broadcasts a countdown from the “decade of excess” hosted by the original MTV VJs. (Remember music videos?)
The 80s countdown is based on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart for a given week somewhere between 1980 and 1989. Every week, it’s a different year and I will be providing fun feedback about the song and trivia tidbits about songs on the countdown. We’re calling it Nick’s Mix as a nod to the mixtapes we all made back in the day.
As 2024 draws to a close, I want to once again say thank you to Dan for allowing me to write about something I love: Music. Fun fact (they’re not just for the songs!): I love talking music and not only the 80s Countdown, so if you comment, please suggest ideas!
Without further ado, let’s kick off the 80s Countdown for the week of December 26, 1987, when Three Men and a baby and Throw Mama from the Train were popular at the box office. Here are the top 5 songs from that week!
And remember: Dan has started building a community here on his new web site. Please check it out!
Number Five: She is only 16?
“Shake Your Love” by Debbie Gibson. This female artist rocketed to the charts with her first single “Only in My Dreams.” What I love about Gibson, is that she writes her own music. “Shake Your Love,” the number five single this week, peaked at #4. Believe it or not, it was her breakout hit in the U.K. anmd Not “Only in My Dreams.”
FUN FACTS: Debbie and I both were born in 1970, but I am six months older. She was the first female artist to write, produce, and sing a number one song on the Hot 100 chart with “Foolish Beat”. Not bad for a 16-year-old.
Back in 1987, there seemed to be a bit of competition. Another pop princess, Tiffany, was also a huge pop star and had a couple of #1 singles of her own. Boys really liked to talk about both singers. I do like both singers. Who has a better voice? I would tend to lean towards Tiffany as Tiffany has some raw sounds to her voice.
Number Four: Which Beatle, you ask?
“Got My Mind Set On You” by original Beatle, George Harrison. The history of this song is something of a long and winding road. A few months before the Beatles became popular, George was visiting his sister in Illinois and heard the James Ray version. When George went solo, he decided to record it and what a success that was! This song topped the Billboard chart.
FUN FACT: Last week we had another Beatle — Paul McCartney — on the chart with a duet.
I really do like the song George put out. I tend to not like the original versions of songs, especially the ones from the 1960s or 1970s. I guess I am an 80s snob. George had three #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and last charted with “When We Was Fab” in 1988. You can check out the video for “Got My Mind Set On You” below.
Number Three: It IS Love
“Is This Love” by Whitesnake. All you have to know is Tawny Kitaen. She is the blonde and former wife of the lead singer of the band. David Covedale and Kitaen were married only a couple of years, but they definitely made a splash in the world of music videos.
“Is This Love” peaked at #1 and Whitesnake also had another chart topper with “Here I Go Again,” which is my favorite song from the band. That song was actually a song from 1982, but they re-recorded, and by the magical powers of the 80s, in 1987 it became a smash.
David Coverdale is not singing or touring much due to vocal cords and back issues.
FUN FACT: This song was written by Coverdale and his guitarist for, TINA TURNER! My favorite part of the SiriusXM 80s countdown is when they mention who a song was originally intended for (just in case it was not the artist performing the song). The head of the record label told Coverdale to keep it. The CEO knew his music! Here is the video. WARNING: long 80s hair, incoming.
Number Two: Oh Whitney, we miss you
“So Emotional” by Whitney Houston. Whitney, Whitney, Whitney. You left us at 48. It was way too soon. I miss your voice. Whitney was and is, hands down, one of the top 5 female vocalists for me! This song proves it. This is her sixth consecutive #1 hit in a row. She would go on to have a seventh straight #1. She ended with 11 chart toppers overall.
Whitney’s long-time producer, Narada Michael Walden, also produced for Mariah Carey, the Temptations, and Aretha Franklin, just to name a few. “So Emotional” was written by the team who wrote, “Like a Virgin” and “True Colors”, Bill Steinberg and Tom Kelly.
Don’t be fooled by any artists breaking Whitney’s feat. I say that because the rules of the game have changed. Back in the 80’s, the charts were based solely on record sales and radio airplay. If a song wasn’t officially released as a single, it could not chart. Now, the chart includes YouTube plays, streaming services, and radio airplay.
FUN FACTS: Whitney’s version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” hit the Top 40. Her cousin is Dionne Warwick.
… and the number one song this week in 1987
Here are the hints: It is from an artist who had one of his songs banned (from the same year). The debut album had six Top 5 hits, including four number ones. It won Album of the Year at the Grammys and the album sold a whopping 25 million copies. Still don’t know? Here’s one more clue that should help you: He was part of a huge duo!
DRUMROLL PLEASE
If you guessed “Faith,” by George Michael, you got it!
WHAT a debut for this solo artist formerly of Wham!
FUN FACT: The video starts with the song that was banned — “I Want Your Sex” — before “Faith” kicks in! Enjoy the video below.
Until the next record spins
Thanks for learning and reading about songs from December 1987. Happy New Year to you all.
If you are on Twitter/X, be sure to join our live tweets every Friday night at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific using the hashtag #80sCountdown to be part of the fun! For the 80’s countdown it will be all about 1983. My article next week it will be all about Air Supply. I am glad I am doing that because last week we did the end of 1982, and the beginning of 1983 have 3 of the same songs!
In Memoriam: Jimmy Carter who won a grammy for a spoken word album, died at the age of 100. Also, uber producer Richard Perry, who produced for Carly Simon, Barbara Streisand and The Pointer Sisters!
Thank you to both men!
Nick
