Welcome to the final post in the “Weekend Diversion: 1985” series. I first did a wrap-up post for the final post in last year’s series, which isn’t saying much: I’ve only done these series for three years.
Be that as it may, last year I noticed that the posts about songs would end the Sunday before Christmas, and that would happen again this year. I didn’t bother to look in 1983, but it was the same story, as it is in many years, actually. However, it’s not the Sundays themselves, but, rather, whether there was a new Number One on the final Sunday of the year. There wasn’t one in 1983, 1984, or 1985, and there won’t be in next year’s series, either.
The thing is, the final Number One song of a year may remain there for the last Sunday of the year, too, and that means it’s usually also the first Number One of the new year, too, because Billboard usually published a two-week edition wrapping up each year. So, the first new Number One of 1986 reached the top of the charts on January 18, so the first of next year’s series will be then, too. More time to plan the series?
Each year I do more than merely look at the charts and research the songs, I also look at the “Year in Music” to see what was going on in that year, and Wikipedia make it easy by having pages for each year. So, I looked at“1985 in music” page, mainly because it talks about things that aren’t about Chart Position, and so, things I probably wouldn’t mention in a post. They’re often things I either never knew or had forgotten.
For example, on March 27, 1985, “the South African Broadcasting Corporation bans Stevie Wonder's music in response to Wonder dedicating the Oscar he had won the night before to Nelson Mandela.” On April 1, David Lee Roth left Van Halen to begin his solo career (I didn’t know that was in 1985). On April 10, Madonna launched her first tour, “The Virgin Tour”, in Seattle. One forgets every famous person had to start somewhere. On September 19, the Parents Music Resource Center's (PMRC) US Senate hearing on music censorship begin in Washington, DC. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, rock star Frank Zappa, and country singer John Denver all testified against the PMRC’s censorship plans. One of its leaders, Tipper Gore, was the wife of US Senator Al Gore, and when Bill Clinton picked Gore to be his running mate in 1992, and that choice felt kind of icky to me because I remembered all the self-righteous busybody grandstanding of the PMRC and Tipper.
In addition to learning (or being reminded) about the music events of 1985, there were also some other things I learned this year, often by accident. I learned that the band Eurogliders was Australian, and that Dire Straits wasn’t (I have no idea why I thought they were). Worse, it was only last night that I learned that Mark Hollis, the lead singer of one of my favourite 80s bands, Talk Talk, died from cancer in February 2019. I found out because I was catching up on videos from “The Professor of Rock”, Adam Reader, who recently published a video about Hollis and Talk Talk. Adam mentioned that many people may not have known because it wasn’t widely reported at the time. That made the news even sadder to me.
Every year has good songs and—well, those that are less good. Some brilliant songs never reach Number One, and some that do—well, they’re less good. Good or bad, every pop song on the charts may carry memories for us, or help us to remember things. The songs we listened to at significant times in our life can help us celebrate, remember, heal—and feel. And, isn’t that just about the most wonderful thing ever? That, in a nutshell, is precisely why I do these series. I love pop music, I love the memories the songs stir up, and I seriously enjoy learning new things about the songs, artists, and anything/everything about them. As long as that’s true, I’ll keep doing this.
The new series, “Weekend Diversion: 1986” will begin on Sunday, January 18, 2026. I can’t wait to see what I learn—or remember—next year!
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 24 – November 30, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 25 – December 7, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 26 – December 21, 2025
Showing posts with label Weekend Diversion - 1985. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekend Diversion - 1985. Show all posts
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 26
Well, well, well: Here we are with the final Number One hit on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” for 1985—and the first of 1986, but more about that later. While this is this series' final post about a specific 1985 song, next week will conclude the series with a wrap-up post.
40 years ago this week, on December 21, 1985, the new Number One hit on the Billboard “Hot 100” was "Say You, Say Me" (video up top), by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie , who wrote and performed the song. It was featured in the 1985 movie White Nights. Yes, it was yet another song from a movie, and yes, it’s the second song from that movie that reached Number One (the first was "Separate Lives", which I talked about in Part 24 of this series back on November 30).
The song wasn’t included on the movie soundtrack album because Ritchie’s record label, Motown, wanted to save the song for his next album. Instead, the song was the lead single from the Ritchie’s third solo studio album Dancing on the Ceiling. However, the ties with the film weren’t totally severed: It won “Best Original Song” at the 58th Academy Awards ("Separate Lives" was also nominated).
The music video for “Say You, Say Me”, like that for "Separate Lives", used scenes from the movie, however, it wasn’t made as if it was part of the film’s story. I think that choice made Ritchie’s video the better of the two, though I didn’t really like either one. I’m picky, I know, and I also know that videos of songs used in movies also promoted the movie they were from. However, as I’ve said a few times, music videos were a unique art form, and I preferred ones that were more original. Yeah, well, Arthur’s Law and all that.
Actually, the same Law applies to the song itself. I never bought the song or album, nor any others, by Lionel Ritchie, however, years later Nigel bought digital versions of some of Ritchie’s music, and I still have those, of course. Which isn’t to suggest that I didn’t like the song—I was just more or less indifferent to it, though I liked it better than some of his other hits. There’s nothing even remotely unusual about that for me, of course..
"Say You, Say Me"reached Number 3 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Platinum), Number 8 in New Zealand, Number 8 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, on their “Adult Contemporary” Chart and on their “Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs” Chart. The song was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” Chart. The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The Dancing on the Ceiling album reached Number 2 in Australia, Number 3 in Canada (3x Platinum), Number 3 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (2x Platinum), and Number 1 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” chart, and also Number 3 on their “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” Chart. The album was certified 4x Platinum in the USA.
The final post in this series will be next week, December 28, a kind of liner notes for this year’s series.
The first post in next year's series, talking about the Number One Songs of 1986, will be on January 18, 2026. “Say you, say me” was Number One for the first two weeks of 1986, too, partly because of a combined year-end issue of Billboard.
Until next week, keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars. Or, something like that.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 24 – November 30, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 25 – December 7, 2025
40 years ago this week, on December 21, 1985, the new Number One hit on the Billboard “Hot 100” was "Say You, Say Me" (video up top), by American singer and songwriter Lionel Richie , who wrote and performed the song. It was featured in the 1985 movie White Nights. Yes, it was yet another song from a movie, and yes, it’s the second song from that movie that reached Number One (the first was "Separate Lives", which I talked about in Part 24 of this series back on November 30).
The song wasn’t included on the movie soundtrack album because Ritchie’s record label, Motown, wanted to save the song for his next album. Instead, the song was the lead single from the Ritchie’s third solo studio album Dancing on the Ceiling. However, the ties with the film weren’t totally severed: It won “Best Original Song” at the 58th Academy Awards ("Separate Lives" was also nominated).
The music video for “Say You, Say Me”, like that for "Separate Lives", used scenes from the movie, however, it wasn’t made as if it was part of the film’s story. I think that choice made Ritchie’s video the better of the two, though I didn’t really like either one. I’m picky, I know, and I also know that videos of songs used in movies also promoted the movie they were from. However, as I’ve said a few times, music videos were a unique art form, and I preferred ones that were more original. Yeah, well, Arthur’s Law and all that.
Actually, the same Law applies to the song itself. I never bought the song or album, nor any others, by Lionel Ritchie, however, years later Nigel bought digital versions of some of Ritchie’s music, and I still have those, of course. Which isn’t to suggest that I didn’t like the song—I was just more or less indifferent to it, though I liked it better than some of his other hits. There’s nothing even remotely unusual about that for me, of course..
"Say You, Say Me"reached Number 3 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Platinum), Number 8 in New Zealand, Number 8 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, on their “Adult Contemporary” Chart and on their “Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs” Chart. The song was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” Chart. The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The Dancing on the Ceiling album reached Number 2 in Australia, Number 3 in Canada (3x Platinum), Number 3 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (2x Platinum), and Number 1 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” chart, and also Number 3 on their “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” Chart. The album was certified 4x Platinum in the USA.
The final post in this series will be next week, December 28, a kind of liner notes for this year’s series.
The first post in next year's series, talking about the Number One Songs of 1986, will be on January 18, 2026. “Say you, say me” was Number One for the first two weeks of 1986, too, partly because of a combined year-end issue of Billboard.
Until next week, keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars. Or, something like that.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 24 – November 30, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 25 – December 7, 2025
Sunday, December 07, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 25
This week's song is the penultimate in this year’s series, though there will be a wrap-up post after the the last song post. This week in 1985, December 7, 1985, the new Number One hit on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” was "Broken Wings" (video up top), by American pop rock band Mr. Mister Released in June 1985, the song was the lead single from the band’s 1985 Album Welcome to the Real World. The song was the band’s first Number One.
This is another song from that era that seemed to be everywhere at the time. I never bought the song or album, nor any other by Mr. Mister, however, I do have the song one at least one comilation CD bought some years later. I didn’t mind the song, and the sound was nice, but I did think that the lyrics were kind of banal. Even so, I didn’t hold that against it, mainly because that’s true for a lot of hit songs. Maybe the lyrics of this song weren’t banal enough?
I didn’t pay all that much attention to the music video for the song, thoug I didn’t mind it. either—I mean, I didn’t love it, but that’s not that unusual, actually. Still, when researching this post I read at the link that “lead vocalist/bassist Richard Page driving through the desert in a classic Ford Thunderbird” was “the first allusion to birds”. Okay, then. That was far too subtle for me to notice, though I seldom paid that much attention to any video, so there’s that.
"Broken Wings"reached Number 4 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 29 in New Zealand, Number 4 in the UK (Gold), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, Number 3 on their “Adult Contemporary” Chart and Number 4 on their “Mainstream Rock” Chart. The song was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” Chart.
The Welcome to the Real World album reached Number 17 in Australia, Number 2 in Canada (3x Platinum), Number 21 in New Zealand, Number 6 in the UK (Gold), and Number 1 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” chart. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.
This series will return in two weeks (December 21) with the last Number One in this series. The final post in this series will be after that post.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 24 – November 30, 2025
This is another song from that era that seemed to be everywhere at the time. I never bought the song or album, nor any other by Mr. Mister, however, I do have the song one at least one comilation CD bought some years later. I didn’t mind the song, and the sound was nice, but I did think that the lyrics were kind of banal. Even so, I didn’t hold that against it, mainly because that’s true for a lot of hit songs. Maybe the lyrics of this song weren’t banal enough?
I didn’t pay all that much attention to the music video for the song, thoug I didn’t mind it. either—I mean, I didn’t love it, but that’s not that unusual, actually. Still, when researching this post I read at the link that “lead vocalist/bassist Richard Page driving through the desert in a classic Ford Thunderbird” was “the first allusion to birds”. Okay, then. That was far too subtle for me to notice, though I seldom paid that much attention to any video, so there’s that.
"Broken Wings"reached Number 4 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 29 in New Zealand, Number 4 in the UK (Gold), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, Number 3 on their “Adult Contemporary” Chart and Number 4 on their “Mainstream Rock” Chart. The song was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” Chart.
The Welcome to the Real World album reached Number 17 in Australia, Number 2 in Canada (3x Platinum), Number 21 in New Zealand, Number 6 in the UK (Gold), and Number 1 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” chart. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.
This series will return in two weeks (December 21) with the last Number One in this series. The final post in this series will be after that post.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 24 – November 30, 2025
Sunday, November 30, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 24
This week's song is another one-week Number One hit on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, the last one-week Number One of 1985. On November 30, 1985, "Separate Lives" (video up top), performed by British singer Phil Collins and American singer Marilyn Martin reached Number One. The song, written by American singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, was featured on the soundtrack for the 1985 movie White Nights. Yes, yet another song from a movie soundtrack.
I don’t think I ever saw the film, though maybe I saw it on cable some time after it was released? If so, I don't remember it. Still, I’ve always thought that songs used for movie soundtracks should be able to stand on their own as pop songs, and I think this song does that. Being able to appreciate it as a pop song is one thing (and a rather low bar, to be honest…), but that doesn’t mean I liked this song, because I didn’t much like it. It was okay, I supose, but was too slow and ponderous for my taste, though the vocals were solid. I think that if the tempo had even been slightly, faster I’d have liked it better. On the other hand, there’s never been a year in which I liked every Number One, so, yeah.
The music video for the song was blended with scenes from the movie, but that didn’t click with me, mainly because, as I said, I don’t think I saw the movie. Still, it was well done for what it was.
“Separate Lives” reached Number 14 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number 29 in New Zealand, Number 4 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and their “Adult Contemporary” Charts.
The White Nights soundtrack album reached Number 17 in Australia, Number 14 in Canada, and Number 17 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” chart. The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK, and its sales apparently didn’t receive any certifications.
This series will return in one week (December 7) with the next Number One in this series.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
I don’t think I ever saw the film, though maybe I saw it on cable some time after it was released? If so, I don't remember it. Still, I’ve always thought that songs used for movie soundtracks should be able to stand on their own as pop songs, and I think this song does that. Being able to appreciate it as a pop song is one thing (and a rather low bar, to be honest…), but that doesn’t mean I liked this song, because I didn’t much like it. It was okay, I supose, but was too slow and ponderous for my taste, though the vocals were solid. I think that if the tempo had even been slightly, faster I’d have liked it better. On the other hand, there’s never been a year in which I liked every Number One, so, yeah.
The music video for the song was blended with scenes from the movie, but that didn’t click with me, mainly because, as I said, I don’t think I saw the movie. Still, it was well done for what it was.
“Separate Lives” reached Number 14 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number 29 in New Zealand, Number 4 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and their “Adult Contemporary” Charts.
The White Nights soundtrack album reached Number 17 in Australia, Number 14 in Canada, and Number 17 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” chart. The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK, and its sales apparently didn’t receive any certifications.
This series will return in one week (December 7) with the next Number One in this series.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23 – November 16, 2025
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 23
This week's song is something different: It was Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” for MORE than one week! On November 16 1985, "We Built This City" (video up top) by American rock band Starship began a two week run at the top of the charts. The group was technically a spin-off of sorts of the legendary American rock band Jefferson Starship, which, in turn, was founded as Jefferson Airplane. The main link to the former group was singer Grace Slick, who provides female vocals. The song was Starship’s debit single, and from their debut album Knee Deep in the Hoopla, which takes its name from a lyric in this week’s song.
The song was originally about the decline of live-performance venues in 1980s Los Angeles—which led critics to point out the irony of the song being done in a polished corporate-music style. The song went on to be a hit in many countries (see below), but maybe the critique could be part of the reason so many people seem to hate the song? Whatever, I wasn’t one of them.
Throughout my life, I’ve liked songs for many reasons (or none at all) and this song was one of them. I liked the song mainly because I liked Grace Slick: I bought (and loved) her 1980 solo album, Dreams, and for me she was the main attraction for Starship. In any event, I liked the song and its arrangement, even if I thought some of the lyrics were really stupid, like “Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember?”, which I particularly loathed.
I think I’ve been pretty clear that for me pop music doesn’t have to be Great Art™, I just have to have some sort of connection to it—literally ANY connection. If it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it (or, like me, mercifully choose not to dance to it…), I’ll probabably give it a good record rating. Still, it WAS popular.
"We Built This City" reached Number One in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 11 in New Zealand, Number 12 in the UK (Platinum), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and their “Mainstream Rock” Chart. The song also was Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100”. The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The Knee Deep in the Hoopla album reached Number 34 in Australia, Number 16 in Canada (Platinum), Number 43 in New Zealand, and Number 7 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified Platinum in the USA. (There’s no chart information for the UK, which usually means it didn’t reach the bottom rung).
This series will return in—gasp!—two weeks (November 30) with the next Number One in this series. Ironically, perhaps, that song was yet another one-week Number One.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
The song was originally about the decline of live-performance venues in 1980s Los Angeles—which led critics to point out the irony of the song being done in a polished corporate-music style. The song went on to be a hit in many countries (see below), but maybe the critique could be part of the reason so many people seem to hate the song? Whatever, I wasn’t one of them.
Throughout my life, I’ve liked songs for many reasons (or none at all) and this song was one of them. I liked the song mainly because I liked Grace Slick: I bought (and loved) her 1980 solo album, Dreams, and for me she was the main attraction for Starship. In any event, I liked the song and its arrangement, even if I thought some of the lyrics were really stupid, like “Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don't you remember?”, which I particularly loathed.
I think I’ve been pretty clear that for me pop music doesn’t have to be Great Art™, I just have to have some sort of connection to it—literally ANY connection. If it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it (or, like me, mercifully choose not to dance to it…), I’ll probabably give it a good record rating. Still, it WAS popular.
"We Built This City" reached Number One in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 11 in New Zealand, Number 12 in the UK (Platinum), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and their “Mainstream Rock” Chart. The song also was Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100”. The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The Knee Deep in the Hoopla album reached Number 34 in Australia, Number 16 in Canada (Platinum), Number 43 in New Zealand, and Number 7 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified Platinum in the USA. (There’s no chart information for the UK, which usually means it didn’t reach the bottom rung).
This series will return in—gasp!—two weeks (November 30) with the next Number One in this series. Ironically, perhaps, that song was yet another one-week Number One.
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
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 22 – November 9, 2025
Sunday, November 09, 2025
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
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
Sunday, November 02, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 21
This week's song is another new one, and another oddity in this series: There's no official music video of the song. Nevertheless, on November 2 1985, “Part-Time Lover” ("video" up top) by American R&B singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” for one week only. The song, which was his last solo Number One so far, was simultaneously at the top of four different Billboard charts (see chart information at the bottom of this post). The song was the lead single from his album, In Square Circle, and the was his twentieth studio album. Sheesh!
I remember hearing this song back in the day, but it must’ve been on radio, since there was no music video. I know I liked the uptempo nature of the song, and its sound reminded me of something, though I didn’t really think about it much. Apparently Wonder deliberately made it evocative of some of the 1960s songs by The Supremes. I also didn’t realise that Luther Vandross sang backing vocals on the song.
I never bought any of Stevie Wonder’s singles or albums, though I had some of his songs on compilation albums. I particularly remember liking his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, but didn’t buy that album either, so that’s nothing unusual for me. In fact, for much of my young adulthood, and especially in the 80s, I didn’t buy a lot of albums that contained songs I liked, mainly because I didn’t have a lot of disposable cash for records.
“Part-Time Lover” reached Number 3 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number One in New Zealand (Gold), Number 3 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and also on its R&B, dance, and “Adult Contemporary” charts. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.
The album In Square Circle reached Number 8 in Australia, Number 7 in Canada (2x Platinum), Number 3 in New Zealand (Gold), Number 5 in the UK (Gold), and Number 5 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified 2x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return next week (November 9) with the next Number One in this series, the fifth of five one-week Number One hits in row during this period in 1985.
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
I remember hearing this song back in the day, but it must’ve been on radio, since there was no music video. I know I liked the uptempo nature of the song, and its sound reminded me of something, though I didn’t really think about it much. Apparently Wonder deliberately made it evocative of some of the 1960s songs by The Supremes. I also didn’t realise that Luther Vandross sang backing vocals on the song.
I never bought any of Stevie Wonder’s singles or albums, though I had some of his songs on compilation albums. I particularly remember liking his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, but didn’t buy that album either, so that’s nothing unusual for me. In fact, for much of my young adulthood, and especially in the 80s, I didn’t buy a lot of albums that contained songs I liked, mainly because I didn’t have a lot of disposable cash for records.
“Part-Time Lover” reached Number 3 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number One in New Zealand (Gold), Number 3 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and also on its R&B, dance, and “Adult Contemporary” charts. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.
The album In Square Circle reached Number 8 in Australia, Number 7 in Canada (2x Platinum), Number 3 in New Zealand (Gold), Number 5 in the UK (Gold), and Number 5 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified 2x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return next week (November 9) with the next Number One in this series, the fifth of five one-week Number One hits in row during this period in 1985.
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
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 20
On October 26 1985, yet another song hit Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” for one week only: Forty years ago this week, “Saving All My Love for You” (video up top) by American singer Whitney Houston reached the top. The song was the second single from her debut album, Whitney Houston, and was her first Number One on the “Hot 100”.
It’s almost hard to remember a time before Whitney, but it’s also difficult to think of her without thinking of the tragedy her life became. However, there’s still the music, and this song was the first time many of us ever heard anything by Whitney Houston, and so many of us thought something along the lines of, “that voice!” Whitney’s range was incredible, and her command of songs was clear (including the songs I wasn’t keen on…). Back in the day, I liked this song, though I never bought it as a single nor any of her albums.
I didn’t know until I researched this post that the song was originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. for their 1978 album, Marilyn & Billy (Side note: Wikipedia doesn’t have an article for their album, which is unusual, but I’ve encountered that before). I’ve never heard their version.
What I also didn’t know before my research is that this song’s video was the first of hers to be broadcast by MTV. The channel rejected her debut single, “You Give Good Love” because they thought it was “too R&B”. MTV did play the video for “Saving All My Love For You”, because, ya know, Number One and all. As an aside, MTV is switching off their music channels at the end of the year, beginning in the UK and Ireland.
“Saving All My Love for You” reached Number 20 in Australia, Number 8 in Canada, Number 5 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number One in the UK (Gold), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and a;so on its “Hot Black Singles”, and “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number 5 on Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” and Number One on their “Top Black Contemporary Singles” charts.
The song was 2x Platinum on the USA.
The album Whitney Houston reached Number One in Australia (5x Platinum), Number One in Canada (Diamond), Number 3 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (4x Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified 14x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return next week (November 2) with the next Number One in this series, the fourth of five one-week Number One hits from this period in 1985. November 2 is also a very significant date in my life, but that’s its own story.
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
It’s almost hard to remember a time before Whitney, but it’s also difficult to think of her without thinking of the tragedy her life became. However, there’s still the music, and this song was the first time many of us ever heard anything by Whitney Houston, and so many of us thought something along the lines of, “that voice!” Whitney’s range was incredible, and her command of songs was clear (including the songs I wasn’t keen on…). Back in the day, I liked this song, though I never bought it as a single nor any of her albums.
I didn’t know until I researched this post that the song was originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. for their 1978 album, Marilyn & Billy (Side note: Wikipedia doesn’t have an article for their album, which is unusual, but I’ve encountered that before). I’ve never heard their version.
What I also didn’t know before my research is that this song’s video was the first of hers to be broadcast by MTV. The channel rejected her debut single, “You Give Good Love” because they thought it was “too R&B”. MTV did play the video for “Saving All My Love For You”, because, ya know, Number One and all. As an aside, MTV is switching off their music channels at the end of the year, beginning in the UK and Ireland.
“Saving All My Love for You” reached Number 20 in Australia, Number 8 in Canada, Number 5 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number One in the UK (Gold), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and a;so on its “Hot Black Singles”, and “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number 5 on Cash Box “Top 100 Singles” and Number One on their “Top Black Contemporary Singles” charts.
The song was 2x Platinum on the USA.
The album Whitney Houston reached Number One in Australia (5x Platinum), Number One in Canada (Diamond), Number 3 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (4x Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified 14x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return next week (November 2) with the next Number One in this series, the fourth of five one-week Number One hits from this period in 1985. November 2 is also a very significant date in my life, but that’s its own story.
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
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 19
Well, this is more like it: This week’s song from 1985 is one I DO remember, and very, very well at that. In fact, at the time it was one of my favourite songs.
On October 19 1985, “Take On Me” (video up top) by Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. The song was the first single from their debut album, Hunting High and Low—well, technically it was the second single: The first was released in Norway.
Continuing the theme, the 1985 hit was actually the second version of the song, with the unsuccessful original version released in October 1984. In fact, even the 1985 version was released twice, and it was the second release that led to the song becoming a hit.
An important factor in it becoming a hit was the famous music video—well, the second (of course?) music video, actually: The first video was for the original version of the song. MTV played the well-known video (the version up top) in heavy rotation, and that definitely helped the song rise in the charts. Like a lot of people, I’d never heard of rotoscoping, and I can’t recall ever seeing anything using the technique before that video.
As I’ve said previously (in a 2019 post talking about some songs I liked at the time, including the Weezer cover of this song, among others), back in the day I owned the album Hunting High and Low on vinyl, though I couldn’t bring it with me. Since then, I’ve acquired the song several times on various compilation CDs. This song, then, still pops up my music rotation.
“Take On Me” reached Number One in Australia, Number 2 in Canada, Number 7 in New Zealand, Number 2 in the UK (Gold for physical sales), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and it was also Number One on Cash Box “Top 100 Singles”.
The album Hunting High and Low reached Number 15 in Australia (Gold), Number 8 in Canada, Number One in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (3x Platinum), and Number 15 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.
This series will return next week (October 26) with the next Number One in this series, the third of five one-week Number One hits from this period in 1985.
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
On October 19 1985, “Take On Me” (video up top) by Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. The song was the first single from their debut album, Hunting High and Low—well, technically it was the second single: The first was released in Norway.
Continuing the theme, the 1985 hit was actually the second version of the song, with the unsuccessful original version released in October 1984. In fact, even the 1985 version was released twice, and it was the second release that led to the song becoming a hit.
An important factor in it becoming a hit was the famous music video—well, the second (of course?) music video, actually: The first video was for the original version of the song. MTV played the well-known video (the version up top) in heavy rotation, and that definitely helped the song rise in the charts. Like a lot of people, I’d never heard of rotoscoping, and I can’t recall ever seeing anything using the technique before that video.
As I’ve said previously (in a 2019 post talking about some songs I liked at the time, including the Weezer cover of this song, among others), back in the day I owned the album Hunting High and Low on vinyl, though I couldn’t bring it with me. Since then, I’ve acquired the song several times on various compilation CDs. This song, then, still pops up my music rotation.
“Take On Me” reached Number One in Australia, Number 2 in Canada, Number 7 in New Zealand, Number 2 in the UK (Gold for physical sales), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”, and it was also Number One on Cash Box “Top 100 Singles”.
The album Hunting High and Low reached Number 15 in Australia (Gold), Number 8 in Canada, Number One in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (3x Platinum), and Number 15 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album was certified Platinum in the USA.
This series will return next week (October 26) with the next Number One in this series, the third of five one-week Number One hits from this period in 1985.
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
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 18
It probably had to happen at some point: This week’s song is one I don’t remember—at all. If I did hear it at some point when it was on the charts 40 years ago, it certainly didn’t make enough of an impression on me for me to remember anything about it.
Be that as it may, on October 12 1985, “Oh Sheila” (video up top) by American R&B band Ready for the World reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. It was the band’s only Number One on the “Hot 100”, though they have a later Number One R&B Hit. The song was the third single from their debut album, Ready for the World.
When I watched the video in preparation for this post, I wondered if the band was British, but they're not. According to the Wikipedia article on the song (linked above), “singer Melvin Riley Jr… said ‘I like that kind of accent, so I thought I'd use that sound’." Next, I thought it sounded an awful lot like a Prince song from that era, and that same article said that was a common “misattribution” due to similarties. In fact, it specifically reminded me of a song by Sheila E., and the article says that another reason people thought this was a Prince song was because they thought the title referred to Sheila E. I’m relieved that even after hearing this song 40 years after it was a hit, I still had the same thoughts that many people back in the day thought, too—maybe it’s true that I really didn’t miss anything?
I really have nothing more to say about this song: It’s okay, I guess, but I don’t think I would’ve liked it if I’d heard it back in 1985—though I wouldn’t have hated it, either. There are plenty of pop songs I’ve been similarly neutral about, so this isn’t an even remotely unusual thing for me. Well, finding a song I don’t remember at all hit Number One in an era where I paid very close attention to the charts IS unusual, so there’s that, I guess.
“Oh Sheila” reached Number 14 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number 24 in New Zealand, Number 50 in the UK, as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and also on their “Hot Black Singles”, and “Hot Dance/Disco Club Play” charts, and it was also Number One on Cash Box. Apparently, the song’s sales weren’t certified in any of these countries.
The album Ready for the World reached Number 17 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”, and Number 3 on their “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart. The album was certified Platinum in the USA. There’s no reported chart position or sales certifications for the album in any of the other countries I write about.
This series will return next week (October 19) with the next Number One in this series. That song will be the second of five one-week Number One hits from this period in 1985, and one of my personal favourites from that time.
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
Be that as it may, on October 12 1985, “Oh Sheila” (video up top) by American R&B band Ready for the World reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. It was the band’s only Number One on the “Hot 100”, though they have a later Number One R&B Hit. The song was the third single from their debut album, Ready for the World.
When I watched the video in preparation for this post, I wondered if the band was British, but they're not. According to the Wikipedia article on the song (linked above), “singer Melvin Riley Jr… said ‘I like that kind of accent, so I thought I'd use that sound’." Next, I thought it sounded an awful lot like a Prince song from that era, and that same article said that was a common “misattribution” due to similarties. In fact, it specifically reminded me of a song by Sheila E., and the article says that another reason people thought this was a Prince song was because they thought the title referred to Sheila E. I’m relieved that even after hearing this song 40 years after it was a hit, I still had the same thoughts that many people back in the day thought, too—maybe it’s true that I really didn’t miss anything?
I really have nothing more to say about this song: It’s okay, I guess, but I don’t think I would’ve liked it if I’d heard it back in 1985—though I wouldn’t have hated it, either. There are plenty of pop songs I’ve been similarly neutral about, so this isn’t an even remotely unusual thing for me. Well, finding a song I don’t remember at all hit Number One in an era where I paid very close attention to the charts IS unusual, so there’s that, I guess.
“Oh Sheila” reached Number 14 in Australia, Number One in Canada, Number 24 in New Zealand, Number 50 in the UK, as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and also on their “Hot Black Singles”, and “Hot Dance/Disco Club Play” charts, and it was also Number One on Cash Box. Apparently, the song’s sales weren’t certified in any of these countries.
The album Ready for the World reached Number 17 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”, and Number 3 on their “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart. The album was certified Platinum in the USA. There’s no reported chart position or sales certifications for the album in any of the other countries I write about.
This series will return next week (October 19) with the next Number One in this series. That song will be the second of five one-week Number One hits from this period in 1985, and one of my personal favourites from that time.
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
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 17
Here’s a first: This week’s song contains words that younger or more sensitive viewers/listeners may find inappropriate. This week in 1985 a song that was not from a movie was reached the top of the charts. On September 21 1985, “Money for Nothing” (video up top) by British rock band Dire Straits reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. It was the second single from their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms.
Let’s get ”the lyrics controversy” out of the way first: The second verse uses the word “faggot”, though many versions used a different word, like for broadcasts (I can remember Chicago-based stations using the word “bozo”, though I could well be remembering that incorrectly because it was 40 years ago, after all, and because the actual song uses the word “yoyo” in the first verse). At any rate, I bought the album Brothers in Arms, and I remember feeling a little squirmy at hearing the word. However, It was also clear to me that the song is from the point of view of a blue collar worker, and that person uses the word as a matter of course, but, in context, he’s also grudgingly admiring someone who gets “money for nothing”. I absolutely get all that, and got it way back when, however, I still had some reservations.
First, not everyone would get the fact that singer Mark Knopfler was basically performing a role, not endorsing a world view. Also, in 1985 there was a still a LOT of stridently—often aggressively so—anti-gay rhetoric coming from church and state, and using the word would inadvertently reinforce the negativity and bigotry. Ironically, even though the developed world (perhaps no longer including the USA…) has moved forward on LGBTQ+ issues, it’s no longer socially acceptable to use the word.
In general, I think that the acceptability of various words is, always has been, and probably always will be, a topic of often heated debate. My general attitude is that context is important, and so, I seldom engage with those who hold strong opinions about words used in songs. For me, this song and that word were no different.
Another thing about this song that is notable is its music video. The video was an early—and primitive—use of 3D computer animation, and it almost didn’t happen. Knopfler hated the idea of music videos because, as a performer, he felt it degarded the song and the performance by relegating it. The video director, Steve Barron, was asked by the label to convince Knopfler to have a video because while MTV was interested in the song, they didn’t want a video that was just a performance video of Knopfler and the band: They wanted a concept.
I was never a huge fan of Dire Straits, or of “Money for Nothing”, but I liked them both well enough to buy the album Brothers in Arms on vinyl, and I liked that a lot. I may have also bought one or two other albums, but I don’t know for sure because, again, it was a long time ago, but also because I only brought maybe a dozen or so albums with me to New Zealand, and there were no Dire Straits albums among them. But I remember having this particular album, and one of the reasons I remember it so clearly is because of that one controversial word.
“Money for Nothing” reached Number 4 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 4 in New Zealand (5x Platinum), Number 4 in the UK (Platinum), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and also on their “Top Rock Tracks” chart, and it was alss Number One on Cash Box. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.
The album Brothers in Arms was rather successful: It reached Number One in Australia (17x Platinum), Canada (Diamond), New Zealand (24x Platinum), the UK (15x Platinum), and also on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (9x Platinum). Successful? It’s among the most successful of any of the albums I’ve mentioned in this series.
This series will return in two weeks, on October 12 with another first in this series—or, all of them, actually.
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
Let’s get ”the lyrics controversy” out of the way first: The second verse uses the word “faggot”, though many versions used a different word, like for broadcasts (I can remember Chicago-based stations using the word “bozo”, though I could well be remembering that incorrectly because it was 40 years ago, after all, and because the actual song uses the word “yoyo” in the first verse). At any rate, I bought the album Brothers in Arms, and I remember feeling a little squirmy at hearing the word. However, It was also clear to me that the song is from the point of view of a blue collar worker, and that person uses the word as a matter of course, but, in context, he’s also grudgingly admiring someone who gets “money for nothing”. I absolutely get all that, and got it way back when, however, I still had some reservations.
First, not everyone would get the fact that singer Mark Knopfler was basically performing a role, not endorsing a world view. Also, in 1985 there was a still a LOT of stridently—often aggressively so—anti-gay rhetoric coming from church and state, and using the word would inadvertently reinforce the negativity and bigotry. Ironically, even though the developed world (perhaps no longer including the USA…) has moved forward on LGBTQ+ issues, it’s no longer socially acceptable to use the word.
In general, I think that the acceptability of various words is, always has been, and probably always will be, a topic of often heated debate. My general attitude is that context is important, and so, I seldom engage with those who hold strong opinions about words used in songs. For me, this song and that word were no different.
Another thing about this song that is notable is its music video. The video was an early—and primitive—use of 3D computer animation, and it almost didn’t happen. Knopfler hated the idea of music videos because, as a performer, he felt it degarded the song and the performance by relegating it. The video director, Steve Barron, was asked by the label to convince Knopfler to have a video because while MTV was interested in the song, they didn’t want a video that was just a performance video of Knopfler and the band: They wanted a concept.
I was never a huge fan of Dire Straits, or of “Money for Nothing”, but I liked them both well enough to buy the album Brothers in Arms on vinyl, and I liked that a lot. I may have also bought one or two other albums, but I don’t know for sure because, again, it was a long time ago, but also because I only brought maybe a dozen or so albums with me to New Zealand, and there were no Dire Straits albums among them. But I remember having this particular album, and one of the reasons I remember it so clearly is because of that one controversial word.
“Money for Nothing” reached Number 4 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 4 in New Zealand (5x Platinum), Number 4 in the UK (Platinum), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and also on their “Top Rock Tracks” chart, and it was alss Number One on Cash Box. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.
The album Brothers in Arms was rather successful: It reached Number One in Australia (17x Platinum), Canada (Diamond), New Zealand (24x Platinum), the UK (15x Platinum), and also on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (9x Platinum). Successful? It’s among the most successful of any of the albums I’ve mentioned in this series.
This series will return in two weeks, on October 12 with another first in this series—or, all of them, actually.
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
Sunday, September 07, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 16
Well, what do you know? This week in 1985 yet another song from a movie was top of the charts. On September 7 1985, “St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)” (video up top) by British singer John Parr reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. It was the main theme for the film St. Elmo's Fire, and was the first single from the film’s soundtrack album. The song was written by Parr and David Foster, who also produced the record. The Wikipedia article about the long (linked to above) says the song “was created and edited within 24 hours”.
I remember the movie and the song, and while I thought they were “okay, I guess”, I didn’t exactly love either one. Before I saw it, I thought the film sounded almost like a sequel to The Breakfast Club. It absolutely wasn’t that of, course—it just had some of the same actors, and was one of the “Brat Pack” genre of films in that era, but that’s all the connection there was between the two films, and I knew all that before I ever saw the movie.
What I liked about the song was that it had a nice radio-friendly sound, and Parr’s voice was different enough from other artists of that era to be interesting. However, I loathed the music video—and, in fact, I still do.
The music video, was directed by Kort Falkenberg III, who devised the unusual concept with the film’s director, Joel Schumacher. It’s essentially a sequel to the film, with all seven main cast members appearing, and visiting the now burned-out St Elmo’s Fire bar. None of with is why I loathed the music video, it was the final scene, described well by the section of the Wikipedia article on the song that talked about the video. It says: “The ending of the video shows Parr singing to each individual cast member from the film before he disappears into the night, and the cast follows him.” Yeah, that just didn’t work for me. At all. I thought it was utterly silly, so much so that I thought it was “cringe” decades before that became a term. In fact, I loathe that scene so much that in reserarching this post, I initially stopped the video before the end to avoid shuddering at the sight of that scene. But, because I;m a professional I realised I needed to check to make sure that scene was still in the YouTube version. It is, of course, and I still loathe it. To each their own.
While I’ve had fun joking about all the songs from movies that became Number One in 1985, I had a thought when writing this post: In the old days, it was quite common for songs from movies to become hits on the pop charts, but now that seldom—never?—happens. These days, movie soundtracks often use pop songs by established artists, but the songs have often been released by the artist before the movie even comes out. I have no idea why movies often don’t bother with pop songs written for the movie—maybe it was to cut costs?
“St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)” reached Number 4 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 5 in New Zealand, Number 6 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and Number 2 on their “Mainstream Rock” chart, as well as Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100”. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.
The soundtrack album for St. Elmo’s Fire reached Number 90 in Australia, Number 16 in Canada, Number 40 in New Zealand, and Number 21 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album didn’t chart in the UK. It apparently didn’t receive any certifications.
This series will return in two weeks, on September 21 with the next 1985 Number One in this series.
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
I remember the movie and the song, and while I thought they were “okay, I guess”, I didn’t exactly love either one. Before I saw it, I thought the film sounded almost like a sequel to The Breakfast Club. It absolutely wasn’t that of, course—it just had some of the same actors, and was one of the “Brat Pack” genre of films in that era, but that’s all the connection there was between the two films, and I knew all that before I ever saw the movie.
What I liked about the song was that it had a nice radio-friendly sound, and Parr’s voice was different enough from other artists of that era to be interesting. However, I loathed the music video—and, in fact, I still do.
The music video, was directed by Kort Falkenberg III, who devised the unusual concept with the film’s director, Joel Schumacher. It’s essentially a sequel to the film, with all seven main cast members appearing, and visiting the now burned-out St Elmo’s Fire bar. None of with is why I loathed the music video, it was the final scene, described well by the section of the Wikipedia article on the song that talked about the video. It says: “The ending of the video shows Parr singing to each individual cast member from the film before he disappears into the night, and the cast follows him.” Yeah, that just didn’t work for me. At all. I thought it was utterly silly, so much so that I thought it was “cringe” decades before that became a term. In fact, I loathe that scene so much that in reserarching this post, I initially stopped the video before the end to avoid shuddering at the sight of that scene. But, because I;m a professional I realised I needed to check to make sure that scene was still in the YouTube version. It is, of course, and I still loathe it. To each their own.
While I’ve had fun joking about all the songs from movies that became Number One in 1985, I had a thought when writing this post: In the old days, it was quite common for songs from movies to become hits on the pop charts, but now that seldom—never?—happens. These days, movie soundtracks often use pop songs by established artists, but the songs have often been released by the artist before the movie even comes out. I have no idea why movies often don’t bother with pop songs written for the movie—maybe it was to cut costs?
“St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)” reached Number 4 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 5 in New Zealand, Number 6 in the UK (Silver), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and Number 2 on their “Mainstream Rock” chart, as well as Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100”. The song wasn’t certified in the USA.
The soundtrack album for St. Elmo’s Fire reached Number 90 in Australia, Number 16 in Canada, Number 40 in New Zealand, and Number 21 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. The album didn’t chart in the UK. It apparently didn’t receive any certifications.
This series will return in two weeks, on September 21 with the next 1985 Number One in this series.
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
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 15
Another week in 1985, and another song from a movie was top of the charts. Yay or nay? On August 24 1985, “The Power of Love” (video up top) by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. It was written for the soundtrack for the movie Back to the Future, and was the band’s first Number One on the “Hot 100”.
I liked this song, and the movie it was part of—in fact, I have all three Back to the Future movies on DVD. I suppose I could equivocate and say I liked it in much the same way I liked other songs at the top of the “Hot 100”, but this at least is a song I own—through a compilation disc, but that definitely counts!
On the other hand, I don’t have any particular memories about this song, nor any special connections to it. That’s not a criticism or shortcoming in any way whatsoever, though, because that same thing is true for most pop songs most of the time in that era. Nevertheless, this song would be in the soundtrack of any Major Motion Picture set in 1985 that I made, and that’s actually no small thing.
The music video, however, is something that I think is completely unextraordinary: Despite some attempts to tie-in the movie, it’s really just a run-of-the-mill performance video, little different from so many others. This is one of the things that annoyed me the most about songs in this era: Music videos were a major thing back then, and presenting an ordinary performance video seemed lazy. Nowadays, of course, music videos aren’t the “thing” they were way back then, but in 1985 I was always disappointed when music videos didn’t innovate. Still, I’m also well aware that this sort of video was common in 1985, so I cut it some slack.
“The Power of Love” reached Number One in Australia, Canada (Gold), Number 3 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), Number 9 in the UK (Platinum), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and on their “Mainstream Rock” chart. The song The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The soundtrack album for Back to the Future reached Number 36 in Australia, Number 21 in Canada (Gold), Number 47 in New Zealand, Number 66 in the UK, and Number 12 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. It was Certified Gold in the USA.
This series will return on September 7 with the Number One song for that week in 1985.
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
I liked this song, and the movie it was part of—in fact, I have all three Back to the Future movies on DVD. I suppose I could equivocate and say I liked it in much the same way I liked other songs at the top of the “Hot 100”, but this at least is a song I own—through a compilation disc, but that definitely counts!
On the other hand, I don’t have any particular memories about this song, nor any special connections to it. That’s not a criticism or shortcoming in any way whatsoever, though, because that same thing is true for most pop songs most of the time in that era. Nevertheless, this song would be in the soundtrack of any Major Motion Picture set in 1985 that I made, and that’s actually no small thing.
The music video, however, is something that I think is completely unextraordinary: Despite some attempts to tie-in the movie, it’s really just a run-of-the-mill performance video, little different from so many others. This is one of the things that annoyed me the most about songs in this era: Music videos were a major thing back then, and presenting an ordinary performance video seemed lazy. Nowadays, of course, music videos aren’t the “thing” they were way back then, but in 1985 I was always disappointed when music videos didn’t innovate. Still, I’m also well aware that this sort of video was common in 1985, so I cut it some slack.
“The Power of Love” reached Number One in Australia, Canada (Gold), Number 3 in New Zealand (2x Platinum), Number 9 in the UK (Platinum), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and on their “Mainstream Rock” chart. The song The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The soundtrack album for Back to the Future reached Number 36 in Australia, Number 21 in Canada (Gold), Number 47 in New Zealand, Number 66 in the UK, and Number 12 on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. It was Certified Gold in the USA.
This series will return on September 7 with the Number One song for that week in 1985.
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
Sunday, August 03, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 14
On August 3 1985, “Shout” (video up top) by English pop rock band Tears For Fears reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. It was the second single from their second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair. While the song was their second Number One on the “Hot 100”, it was released before their first Number One hit, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, which was the subject of Part 9 of this series.
I liked this song every bit as much as their earlier songs, and some of their other songs, too—including another 1985 song that didn’t reach Number One—maybe I should do a “best of the rest” sort of post? Dunno—there were quite a lot of Number One songs in 1985.
One of the reasons I liked this song is that, for me, it rekindled a memory by somehow evoking a recollection of a 1981 dance song by Canadian duo Voggue. The song was called “Dancin' the Night Away” [LISTEN on YouTube]. The two aren’t remotely similar, but it was something about the percussive start of “Shout” that for some reason stirred my memory of the Voggie song, or maybe that they both later had percussion bits, but whatever it was, it was a welcome association: “Dancin' the Night Away” was the one of the first songs I ever danced to with my first-ever boyfriend in the first gay bar I’d ever been to. For me, anything that rekindles such a memory, however tenuous the prompt may be, is welcome. And that right there is precisely why pop music has always been such a powerful force in my life: Music really is the “soundtrack of our lives,” as Dick Clark is said to have put it. Also, I still have the 12-inch single, 44 years after I bought it.
“Shout” was, as Roland Orzabal later described it, "a simple song about protest", and that, too, is another reason I liked the song: I have a long history of gravitating to songs about protest and defiance of authority. What I didn’t know until I researched this post was that the exterior scenes in the music video were filmed in Dorset on the south coast of England—I do remember wondering where it was, a detail I’d forgotten.
“Shout” reached Number One in Australia, Canada (Platinum), and New Zealand (Gold), Number 4 in the UK (Gold), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and on their “Hot Dance Club Play” charts. It was also Number One on the Cash Box. The song The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The album Songs from the Big Chair reached Number 5 in Australia, Number One in Canada (7x Platinum), Number 2 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (3x Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. It was Certified 5x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return in three weeks, on August 24, with the Number One song for that week in 1985.
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
I liked this song every bit as much as their earlier songs, and some of their other songs, too—including another 1985 song that didn’t reach Number One—maybe I should do a “best of the rest” sort of post? Dunno—there were quite a lot of Number One songs in 1985.
One of the reasons I liked this song is that, for me, it rekindled a memory by somehow evoking a recollection of a 1981 dance song by Canadian duo Voggue. The song was called “Dancin' the Night Away” [LISTEN on YouTube]. The two aren’t remotely similar, but it was something about the percussive start of “Shout” that for some reason stirred my memory of the Voggie song, or maybe that they both later had percussion bits, but whatever it was, it was a welcome association: “Dancin' the Night Away” was the one of the first songs I ever danced to with my first-ever boyfriend in the first gay bar I’d ever been to. For me, anything that rekindles such a memory, however tenuous the prompt may be, is welcome. And that right there is precisely why pop music has always been such a powerful force in my life: Music really is the “soundtrack of our lives,” as Dick Clark is said to have put it. Also, I still have the 12-inch single, 44 years after I bought it.
“Shout” was, as Roland Orzabal later described it, "a simple song about protest", and that, too, is another reason I liked the song: I have a long history of gravitating to songs about protest and defiance of authority. What I didn’t know until I researched this post was that the exterior scenes in the music video were filmed in Dorset on the south coast of England—I do remember wondering where it was, a detail I’d forgotten.
“Shout” reached Number One in Australia, Canada (Platinum), and New Zealand (Gold), Number 4 in the UK (Gold), as well as Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and on their “Hot Dance Club Play” charts. It was also Number One on the Cash Box. The song The song was certified Gold in the USA.
The album Songs from the Big Chair reached Number 5 in Australia, Number One in Canada (7x Platinum), Number 2 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number 2 in the UK (3x Platinum), and Number One on the USA’s “Billboard 200”. It was Certified 5x Platinum in the USA.
This series will return in three weeks, on August 24, with the Number One song for that week in 1985.
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
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 13
This week in 1985, “Everytime You Go Away” (video up top) by by the English singer Paul Young reached Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100”. The song was the third single from Young’s second studio album, The Secret of Association. It was Young’s only Number One on the “Hot 100”.
“Everytime You Go Away” was written byDaryl Hall, and was an album track on the 1980 Hall and Oates album, Voices, and wasn’t released as a single. Hall & Oates also recorded it for their 1985 concert album, Live at the Apollo.
I well remember this version of the song, and I thought it was a good pop song. However, at the time, I didn’t know it as originally a Hall and Oates song, thought that wasn’t unusual for me any more than it might be for anyone at any given time. I was aware of three of the singles from their Voices album, but I didn’t own it, and wasn’t exactly a fan of them, though I didn’t dislike them, either.
I was also aware of other Paul Young songs, if for no other reason than he was the first singer on Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, a song I talked about late last last year. I also know his 1982 cover of “Love of the Common People”, and also his 1983 cover of Marvin Gaye’s, “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)”, however, neither song was a hit in the USA, where I was living in 1982 and 83, so it’s possible I didn’t hear one or both until I moved to New Zealand. At this point in my life, my personal pop culture history—and so, my memory of pop culture and me—is a bit muddled and all mooshed together. At any rate, I like those songs well enough, too.
Similarly, I liked this week’s song well enough, too. It’s slow, easy pace, and the fact its pitch and key were all in my range meant I could/did/still do sing along with it. So, that’s something, I guess.
Paul Young’s cover of “Everytime You Go Away” reached Number 20 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 1 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and “Adult Contemporary” charts, and Number 14 on their “Mainstream Rock” chart. It was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” Chart. The song The song was certified Gold in the USA. The song didn’t chart in New Zealand.
The album The Secret of Association reached Number 6 in Australia (Platinum), Number 4 in Canada (2x Platinum), Number 3 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number One in the UK (2x Platinum), and Number 19 on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 200” chart. The album was certified Gold in the USA.
This series will return next week, August 3, with the song that hit Number One that week in 1985.
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
“Everytime You Go Away” was written byDaryl Hall, and was an album track on the 1980 Hall and Oates album, Voices, and wasn’t released as a single. Hall & Oates also recorded it for their 1985 concert album, Live at the Apollo.
I well remember this version of the song, and I thought it was a good pop song. However, at the time, I didn’t know it as originally a Hall and Oates song, thought that wasn’t unusual for me any more than it might be for anyone at any given time. I was aware of three of the singles from their Voices album, but I didn’t own it, and wasn’t exactly a fan of them, though I didn’t dislike them, either.
I was also aware of other Paul Young songs, if for no other reason than he was the first singer on Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, a song I talked about late last last year. I also know his 1982 cover of “Love of the Common People”, and also his 1983 cover of Marvin Gaye’s, “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)”, however, neither song was a hit in the USA, where I was living in 1982 and 83, so it’s possible I didn’t hear one or both until I moved to New Zealand. At this point in my life, my personal pop culture history—and so, my memory of pop culture and me—is a bit muddled and all mooshed together. At any rate, I like those songs well enough, too.
Similarly, I liked this week’s song well enough, too. It’s slow, easy pace, and the fact its pitch and key were all in my range meant I could/did/still do sing along with it. So, that’s something, I guess.
Paul Young’s cover of “Everytime You Go Away” reached Number 20 in Australia, Number One in Canada (Gold), Number 1 in the UK (Silver), and Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and “Adult Contemporary” charts, and Number 14 on their “Mainstream Rock” chart. It was also Number One on the Cash Box “Top 100” Chart. The song The song was certified Gold in the USA. The song didn’t chart in New Zealand.
The album The Secret of Association reached Number 6 in Australia (Platinum), Number 4 in Canada (2x Platinum), Number 3 in New Zealand (Platinum), Number One in the UK (2x Platinum), and Number 19 on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 200” chart. The album was certified Gold in the USA.
This series will return next week, August 3, with the song that hit Number One that week in 1985.
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
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