19th April 1986 for three weeks

As much as I think George Michael’s music is great, I have an unpopular opinion about this song: it’s rubbish.

It does nothing except highlight how great George’s voice is.

I never want to hear this again.

1/10

29th March 1986 for three weeks

I can remember hearing about this song on the news. It was a Comic Relief single which I wasn’t hugely aware of at the time, but it meant that the single was news worthy.

I remember that my mum liked the original version which was Number 1 in 1959.

This is the first time of discussing a song with a ‘featuring’ credit. This will become commonplace before long.

It’s not a great song, but I do remember enjoying it at the time.

2/10

8th March 1986 for three weeks

I love Chain Reaction. It’s a fantasic song and sun brilliantly by Diana Ross and the Bee Gees.

I don’t have any specific memories of this song, just that I have always liked it.

I also enjoyed the Steps’ version in 2001 but wouldn’t have admitted this to anyone at the time.

10/10

8th February 1986 for four weeks

How good was Billy Ocean? This was his only Number 1 single, but he has released some crackers – Love Really Hurts Without You, Caribbean Queen, Suddenly and Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car. And of course, my favourite, Red Light Spells Danger.

WTGGTTTGG is a fabulous pop song. Like much of Billy Ocean’s music, it has stood the test of time, still sounding great nearly 40 years later!

I can recall the Boyzone version in 1999 and I remember that it annoyed me because it was cheesy and not as good as the original version.

9/10

25th January 1986 for two weeks

I think that these days people remember A-ha for Take On Me. I have real memories of Take On Me. I can remember seeing the video on TV and loving the song.

I don’t have any specific memories of The Sun Always Shines on T.V. but I absolutely love it. It is such a great song and, I feel, it really holds up well in 2023. It is a great pop song and is just as strong as Take On Me.

If you haven’t listened for a while, The Sun Always Shines is well worth a listen. I am sure that you’ll love it.

10/10

12th January 1986 for two weeks

I must have heard this at some point as a child because when the East 17 version came out in 1993 I was familiar with it. In 1993 I thought that the East 17 version was alright (excuse the East 17 pun). I didn’t love it.

And that also goes for the Pet Shop Boys’ original. I think it’s alright. It is certainly better than the East 17 version but I just think that there are better Pet Shop Boys songs.

6/10

28th December 1985 for two weeks

We arrive at the final Number 1 on 1985 and meet one of the finest Christmas songs ever.

Shakin’ Stevens’ pension plan, Merry Christmas Everyone, was a huge song on its original release (which was apparently pushed back a year to avoid clashing with Do They Know It’s Christmas?) but has continued to be downloaded and streamed in huge quantities over the years. By Christmas 2022 it had achieved consumption of over 1.8 million!

It is a brilliant Christmas song. It puts you in a Christmassy mood and you cannot help but sing along and enjoy the moment. It is deservedly one of the most well known Christmas songs and is rightly a classic.

10/10

14th December 1985 for two weeks

This is the first time we’ll discuss Whitney Houston on this blog.

I don’t remember hearing this as a child but I am sure that I must have at some point. I recall hearing it as a teenager, but not before. It was probably on the Late Night Love Hour on MFM.

SAMLFY is a great song. It shows off Whitney’s incredible vocals as well as being just a great song. It’s no surprise that it made Number 1.

Like much of Whitney’s back catalogue, it has lasted well and is still heard on the radio.

8/10

30th November 1985 for two weks

I have no memories of I’m Your Man at all from my childhood. The first time I definitely know that I heard it was in 1997 when I purchased The Best Of Wham! If You Were There…

It was a great song and there was even a more upbeat version of it included on there.

It’s hearing yet another great Wham! song that reminds you what a genius George Michael was, and we have barely got started on his solo hits…

8/10

16th November 1985 for two weeks

Another Morrisons song, I heard this countless times during my five and a half years there. It became stuck in my head, but I don’t mind as A Good Heart is a great song!

I think this deserves more of a legacy than it has perhaps had. He really belts this song out. It’s a cracker.

9/10