The most popular songs of the 80s. Part 1

What can be called the best song of its time? First of all, an unrivalled composition, tested by listeners from all corners of the planet and conquered the ratings of the world charts! Today we continue our immersion into the atmosphere of warm and rhythmic eighties... Well, let's enjoy the pleasant sound of our favourite hits? Then let's go!

Joy - Touch by Touch (1985)

Today this Austrian Europop/Eurodisco band is known to every listener thanks to such unrivalled hits as "Valerie" and "Hello". However, the most celebrated and beloved track is rightly considered to be the radiant composition called "Touch by Touch". The song became the band's second official single, released in the autumn of 1985. The hit and incredibly catchy piece immediately broke a number of top charts, topping the Australian charts, as well as making it into the top twenty European dance hits. Interestingly, the single sold 50,000 copies in Austria, Portugal and Spain, earning it gold status.

Fancy - Flames of Love (1988)

And this German singer has forever remained in the minds of millions of listeners as the unrivalled artist in the history of Italian disco, thanks to his immortal hit "Flames of Love". In its time, this rhythmic work was heard from every radio and simply tore up the dance floors of 80s discos! It became the culmination of the singer's career, bringing Fancy huge popularity all over the world, including the former Soviet Union!

Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence (1990)

Of course, many listeners can justifiably argue about which Depeche Mode song is the most celebrated smash. But the legendary "Enjoy the Silence" definitely makes it onto any list of contenders for the title of the British collective's calling card. "Enjoy the Silence" - such a romantic title endowed his creation Martin Gore. Later in one of the interviews the musician recalled:

"Initially the demo version of "Enjoy the Silence" was very slow and very minimalist. But Alan suggested to speed up the tempo. After that we threw in some chords, but Flood and Alan couldn't get it down! "Why don't you play guitar too?" they asked. - they asked. I ended up writing a riff as well. I think it was the only time in our history that each of us exchanged our own views and concluded that it could be a worldwide hit!"

In the end, this exchange of views really brought to the world a beautiful schlager that you want to enjoy again and again... After its release "Enjoy the Silence" soared to number six on the UK Singles Chart and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and at the Brit Awards 1991 the track was voted the best British single. Well, what can I say - it's a worthy piece of work, don't you agree?

Mike Mareen - Love Spy (1986)

And one more incomparable "King of Italo-disco" is on our list, who conquered the 80s scene with his dynamic hit single called "Love Spy"! Today this composition is rightfully considered one of the most popular hits of its time, which was played literally at every disco! It was with this hot song that Mike Marin won the title of the main King of Italo-disco in the international music business!

"Love Spy" unfolds before the listener the story of a kind of agent who roams the earth and makes sure that love reigns on it forever... Quite a romantic and beautiful story, don't you think? In my opinion, it would be wonderful if there were as many such agents walking the earth as possible....

Michael Jackson - Billy Jean (1983)

This legendary creation of the great king of pop music would be simply unforgivable to pass over, touching upon the topic of the loudest hits of the 80s... The composition "Billie Jean" brought Michael Jackson enormous popularity, making him the most commercially successful artist of his time. By the way, it was "Billie Jean" that paved the way for black performers on MTV.

Michael himself said that he dedicated this iconic creation to the crazy groupies who were just chasing him and his brothers! That is, the song is not about a particular girl named Billie Jean, but about a lot of groupies, who were called "groupies" back in the sixties. Released in January 1983, the single instantly conquered all the world's top charts, becoming one of the best-selling singles in the world! The composition received the status of "platinum" and was honoured with two Grammys and several other prestigious awards. The influential publication Rolling Stone included "Billie Jean" in its famous list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Savage - Only You (1984)

Today, this characteristic representative of Italian disco of the 1980s, and perhaps the strongest Italian performer in this style, is widely known thanks to his creation "Only You". By the way, the stage name Savage was borrowed by the musician from one of his favourite comic book characters. Besides the hit song itself, probably, many people remember the lyric video for it... Yes, such a track will be a wonderful balm for the soul and a reason for nostalgia....

Mr Big - Wild World (1993)

For the first time, this celebrated composition was released not by its author, Cat Stevens, but by Jimmy Cliff. However, Stevens himself was also directly involved in the recording of the track. In the early 70s, their version became a gold hit and the first in Cat's creative career to reach number eight on the British top chart.

However, the greatest popularity of the work was gained in a new sound, which was given to it by the American band Mr. Big. Big. The guys recorded a cover of "Wild World" for their third album Bump Ahead, covering it in the style of a pop-rock ballad. Their version ended up hitting a number of the world's top charts, soaring to number twenty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Many people probably remember Nancy Bennett's version of Mr. Big. Nancy Bennett's version of Mr Big, which was very popular in its time.

Jason Donovan - Sealed with a Kiss (1989)

This romantic schlager, in fact, like the previous composition, is widely celebrated not by the mouth of the author himself, or rather, the authors. Originally, "Sealed with a Kiss" was written by a remarkable duo - composer Gary Geld and songwriter Peter Yudella. By the way, the result of their creativity was more than a hundred beautiful musical works, which were regularly in the lists of candidates for prestigious awards. However, it is the mentioned composition that became the loudest and most celebrated hit, which is known today thanks to the performance of Jason Donovan.

The title has a very romantic interpretation: "sealed with a kiss" or "sent with a kiss". Such a beautiful song seems even more magical thanks to the tender voice of the renowned Australian Jason Donovan.

Scorpions - Still Loving You (1984)

In almost half a century of their unrivalled creative activity, German rock band Scorpions have released a great number of real hits, including, undoubtedly, beautiful lyrical ballads. However, the most popular work is the legendary "Still Loving You", which was liked even by the listeners, who are infinitely far from rock music... Surely, this schlager was the favourite slow song of every 80s disco, because such a magnificent creation simply cannot leave any music lover indifferent....

In one of the interviews, Scorpions' permanent guitarist and composer Rudolf Schenker told in detail how the band members composed and recorded the iconic work:

"I composed the melody and stuff. The best part is that it took us about six years to put the song on the album. Matthias composed the guitar part. When we heard it for the first time, it was as if it was created especially for this ballad. And Klaus owns the lyrics. He went to great lengths to write it. I remember him saying how he wanted to create something special and beautiful... So he went to a snowy field for inspiration, where all these words came into his head... When he came home, he immediately wrote the lyrics that everyone knows today.

And this author's inspiration is preserved in the song.

"In general," continues the musician, "this song unfolds the story of a love relationship. The whole drama lies in the fact that both people are well aware that love is gradually leaving... However, they intend to try to get it back, to try to start from scratch. Yes, of course, departing love is a very, very old, well-loved story. We can't reinvent the wheel. But we can tell what has already been told a million thousand times, in our own way. That's exactly what we've done...".

Pet Shop Boys - Rent (1987)

Well, and let's finish our list, perhaps, with one of the most tender songs of the eighties era - "Rent" performed by Pet Shop Boys. The composition with the symbolic title "Rent" was released as a single in autumn 1987, but quickly reached the eighth line of the British top chart. It is about what happens in relationships when they are "rented" for money... Neil Tennant later explained the meaning of the song:

"I've often thought about that - paying for love. I knew that it happens a lot in America when people are in relationships just for money. When I thought of writing this song, for some reason I thought of one of the Kennedys and imagined that this politician keeps his woman in a posh flat in Manhattan and they have everything, they have a relationship, a family... They love each other, but this love remains a secret to everyone...".

The video for the song, directed by Derek Jarmen, is particularly deep and interesting. The video opens up several storylines at once. The first - shot in black and white - shows Chris Lowe arriving at King's Cross station on a train and passing various characters from the common people. The second - in colour - shows Margie Clarke playing the lady of a rich man who is hosting a dinner party. The woman is annoyed when the man pays no attention to her. She then asks Tennant, who plays a chauffeur, to drive her to King's Cross. There she meets Chris Lowe on the platform and the pair embrace.