1984 is one of the most significant years for popular music ever on record. It was the year Prince graduated from superstardom into megastardom. It was the year when people actually discovered Madonna is white. It was the year that gave us unforgettable albums by Tina Turner (Private Dancer), Cyndi Lauper (She’s So Unusual), Bruce Springsteen (Born in the USA), The Cars (Heartbeat City), and many others.
Unlike many of the other musical years of the 1980s, some of the biggest splashes came from albums, released the year before, that continued to make waves. Michael Jackson’s Thriller was actually released at the end of 1982, but continued pouring hit singles throughout the spring of 1984. Huey Lewis & The News released Sports in 1983, but the album continued to produce hits all through the end of 1984. The same can be said about Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down, with the final single being “Penny Lover.”
1984 was a year that upset many of the “Disco Sucks” fanatics of the late 1970s. Hardcore club music became mainstream again thanks to such classics as “Holiday,” by Madonna, “Let the Music Play,” by Shannon, “Lets Here it For The Boy,” by Denise Williams,” “Breakin’,” by Ollie and Jerry, “Jump,” by the Pointer Sisters and many others. To many rock fans, it was the beginning of “bubblegum” music but to others, the diversity on the pop music scene was welcoming.
If one person could claim the crown for 1984, it would have to be Prince, who released his hit movie, Purple Rain. This classic movie spawned a mega-successful soundtrack, several hit singles and the beginning of the PMRC, a group that tried to censor the type of music people could listen to. Michael Jackson, who held 1983’s crown, started the year off well but made a major career miscalculation when recording Victory with his brothers.
1984 was also known as the year of “girl power” as many female acts dominated the industry all at the same time. Cyndi Lauper was the biggest female star of 1984 with her She’s So Unusual album, while Madonna was a brewing superstar waiting to explode after her self-titled debut, originally released in 1983, started spawning hit after hit. Tina Turner was the comeback queen after her Private Dancer album made her the first post-40 year old woman to score a number one hit, “What’s Love Got To Do With It.”There were so many good singles released this year that it was very time consuming trying to figure out what my favorites are. Here is my final list:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - daryl d
If one of the editors has access to this, please-at your earliest convenience-correct the obvious formatting errors. I don't think I submitted it like it is printed.
Thanks,
Daryl
2 - Lisa McKay
Daryl, I fixed this because I just happened to be wandering through, but in general it's much more effective to email the editors directly with such requests.
3 - daryl d
Ok, will do. Thanks for your help, Lisa.
4 - Shannon Hall
I have to disagree totally with your review of Money Changes Everything, first of all this song is one of the greatest rock songs live,
Everyone goes crazy when Cyndi sings this at her concerts b.c it totally Rocks!,
Secondly the video is great as far as I'm concerned.
Third CBS said it hit # 8 on the charts
(which is disputed, but still it was the # 5 single on the album,
How many # 5 singles especially at that time even got to # 27?, in fact had it got to the Top 10 it would have broken the Beatles long time record of 4 top 10 singles.).
5 - daryl d
Shannon, you made some excellent points. Keep in mind that I LOVE Cyndi Lauper but thought this wasn't the right single to release after "All Through The Night." That said, it was impossible in 1984 to have five singles in a row hit the top 5 (I think Madonna was the first to ever do this with "La Isla Bonita" in 1987).
6 - Egbert Sousé
"“ What’s Love Got To Do With It ”-Tina Turner: The thought of a 45 year old having a number one hit single was unthought of until Tina returned with this classic."
"unthought of" by people who didn't pay attention to the following year when "Islands in the Stream" by 45-year-old Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton hit #1 on October 29. Not enough time to go back and point out the other artists who disprove this point.
7 - daryl d
I didn't realize "Islands in the Stream" was actually a number one hit, but you're right, it was.
8 - Glen Boyd
Another nice piece from you Daryl. Well done. You are on a roll.
-Glen
9 - JC Mosquito
Relatvely understated and even piece - keep up the good work, dd. I wish I could get inspired to write at least as often as you do.
10 - Al Barger
Yet you missed THE best song of 1984, which was of course "Hyperactive" by Thomas Dolby (which would mix up good in your iPod next to "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones)
11 - Darren
Thanks for the article. So much great music was released in 1984. It's interesting to think about how many of the artists you mentioned are still releasing music in 2007.
Cyndi Lauper is still writing, touring and releasing new material to this day and the quality just keeps getting better. She mightn't sell in huge numbers like Madonna but she has certainly remained true to herself.
12 - Scott
That's true, I saw one of her concerts last year and she really was awesome, I'm not sure why people give her a hard time when she's actually somebody who's got lots of talent.
13 - daryl d
Thanks all, for the comments. Criticism, good or bad--as long as it attacks the writing and not the person--can only make one grow as a writer. Unlike many on this site who have been writing about music for years, I've only started recently.
I hate when I am so sure of my facts and I end up being wrong. Tina Turner was ABSOLUTELY not the first artist in his/her mid 40s to have a number one hit. I guess her number one was more dramatic because of all she went through.
JC-the only reason I am inspired to write so much is because, well, I don't have a job right now! But I do like to write as well, especially about subjects I'm passionate about.
Darren-you are absolutely correct about Cyndi. I don't know much about her personal life, but believe she didn't become a drug junkie, didn't have a nervous breakdown, and still plays concerts and releases albums. And unlike other pop stars from the 1980s who despise Madonna-for no other real reason except that she continues to be somewhat commercial successful-Cyndi has complimented her several times. She's not bitter about anything. I met Cyndi at The Coffee Bean in Westwood, CA last year and I couldn't help acting like a crazed fan. She was so nice to me!
14 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Am I the one who has to mention the kick ass album that was named after this great year in Pop...Do I really have to name it?
Yes, Good Article, but you overlooked Van Halen's album 1984 which had a number one single for 5 weeks for Night Ranger's Sister Christian?? I guess maybe its not as poppy but that was VH's first Grammy Nomination(Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group).
15 - daryl d
Damn, Van Halen! 1984! Jump, Panama, I'll Wait (I think that was the title) and Hot for Teacher. I'm not just saying that I left this out to satisfy the readers, but yes, it was an unfortunate ommission.
The only thing I will say is that even though 1984 is definitely one of the greatest albums of the year, it hasn't aged as well as some of the other works of 1984. Could it be because of the direction Van Halen went in?
16 - Scott
Well Van Halen getting back with David Lee Roth is really good news (I just hope their individual egos don't get in the way again).
17 - Joey
I think you're spot on with including Laura Branigan's "Self Control" at #5. She was ahead of her time with that video. MTV actually banned the video - kinda nuts in todays world where that would be considered very tame. The song was a huge hit world wide and I still enjoy the song and video to this day.
18 - Robby D
How can you mention music in 1984 and NOT mention Wild Boys by Duran Duran. Double D had one of the biggest albums (Arena) and one of the biggest tours that year (Sing Blue Silver). Not to mention overall music and cultural impact.
19 - daryl d
Robby:
I listed what was, in my opinion, the best. I actually didn't become a Duran Duran fan until 1992. Their teeny bopper image was a big turnoff for me in the 80s but I have come to respect their legacy. Their new material is pretty good, in my opinion.
20 - Ray Ellis
By 1984, the first phase of Duran Duran was in its downward spiral. The band was crumbling.
21 - Christopher Rose
I quite enjoy daryl's writing, despite the fact that he has such, how can I put it politely, courageously shallow taste in music!
22 - daryl d
I saw Duran Duran live in 1983 and thought they were just the coolest band in the world. I loved "Rio," "Union of The Snake," and "Hungry Like the Wolf." When they released "The Reflex" they became a girlie bopper group and it made me absolutely sick. They were "New Kids on the Block" before New Kids actually existed. But I do like how Duran Duran came back in 1992 and think "Ordinary World" is one of the best songs of the early 90s.
Christopher, I am legendary for my "bad" taste in music. But keep in mind, I am not a music critic; I am a music fan.
23 - Christopher Rose
I see it the other way round, Daryl. You are quite a music critic but not much of a music fan! ;-)
24 - Omar Cyndi fan
This person who made this article have to know more about Cyndi Lauper I'm sure he doesn't had nor a little annoyance for know a little about Cyndi and only wrote speculating of her as every people , I'm sure he doesn't know that true colors surpased at all to Shes so unusual and She has super hits beyond the 80s and 90s anyway Cyndi should publish more info of her debut for all people stop to say incoherences like that guy !!! n_n bye bye
25 - Sean
Cyndi Lauper continues is still making wondeful music. I actually love "Money Changes Everything" and the video was way cool. I saw her in concert, she did 19 songs live ...I couldn't believe how talented she really is. This woman is so underated! Her voice keeps getting better with age. If you have a chance to see her live..do yourself a favor...go and witness one of the most talented singers in the music industry today(2007). She really is a very gifted artist.