Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22

This week's song is another one from something outside pop music as such, and another theme song, but from a TV show. On November 9 1985, the theme to Miami Vice by Czech-American musician, composer, and record producer Jan Hammer reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” for one week only. The video up top is the offcial video for the piece, but some people are probably more familhttps://youtu.be/dEjXPY9jOx8?si=_s3mEABu4kZeVBOx" target="_blank">WATCH]. The song was the first single from the Miami Vice soundtrack album

Nearly all of the songs in these annual “Weekend Diversion” posts have some sort of personal connection, some stronger than others. But this One? Hooboy, do I have connections to this one!

Back in 1985, my partner and I loved Miami Vice, and part of the reason was what we’d now call, the vibe. He was so much into the show’s esthetic that he had me paint the small second bedroom in our apartment that we used as a TV room in relevant colours: A kind of teal/mint/pale green for the walls, and a kind of pale sherbet orange for the trim work. While I wouldn’t use that colour scheme now, at the time it seemed pretty awesome.I also painted the rest of the apartment months earlier, but in a mostly Art Deco colour scheme that my partner really liked. For some reason, I’ve always been in charge of painting places I lived; good thing I actually like painting.

The show itself was far from perfect, of course, but it was definitely entertaining, and part of its appeal was the background music it used, including its theme music, which was very different from other TV show theme music at the time. We bought the soundtrack album on vinyl back in the day, though it’s now long gone, and some of the songs popped up on other compilations over the years. Still, in those long-ago days, it was fun while it lasted.

The theme to Miami Vice reached Number 14 in Australia, Number 3 in Canada, Number 22 in New Zealand, Number 5 in the UK, as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100”. The linked article doesn’t list any information on Certifications.

The Miami Vice soundtrack album reached Number 17 in Australia, Number One in Canada (3x Platinum), Number 5 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 11 in the UK (Gold), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified 4x Platinum in the USA.

This series will return next week (November 16) with the next Number One in this series, the first in five weeks that wasn’t a one-week Number One hit! Although, there’s one more to come later…

Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series:

Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 1 – February 2, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 2 – February 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 3 – March 12, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 4 – March 30, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 5 – April 13, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 6 – May 11, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 7 – May 18, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 8 – June 1, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 9 – June 8, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 10 – June 22, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 11 – July 6, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 12 – July 13, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 13 – July 27, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 14 – August 3, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 15 – August 24, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 16 – September 7, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 17 – September 21, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 18 – October 12, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 19 – October 19, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 20 – October 26, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 21 – November 2, 2025