Don’s Top 10 For May 19, 1985

(#8 last week) For 14 years, the man with perhaps the most unusual name in the history of pop music was a one-hit wonder, but what a hit it was, "Superstar", from "Jesus Christ Superstar", in which Mr. Head starred in several productions of. and now, from another bombastic Broadway production, "Chess", comes this, one of the most unusual hits in history. How many other hits have the lyrics "I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine!"

(#9 last week) How many hit songs change the language? This one did! For the first time, "Fresh" meant "good".

(#10 last week) Ironically, considering how big this song was, recording it was almost an afterthought for the album "Songs From The Big Chair". The producer changed their minds, arguing that it was just the right song for American chart success. He was right.

(#7 last week) The OTHER Jim Kerr & company, from the soundtrack to "The Breakfast Club". Simple Minds were the fourth recording act to be offered the song (the others were Cy Curnin of The Fixx, Bryan Ferry & Billy Idol), & even they initially turned down producer Keith Forsey. Good thing they changed their minds.

(#6 last week) The OTHER George Michael. Only I would love that two of the lead singers in this week's top 10 had the same names as famous radio DJs. :-)

(#4 last week) First recorded by Holly Knight & Michael Des Barres for the movie "A Night In Heaven", it was a total bomb until redone by this synthpop/dance outfit.

(#5 last week) It cracks me up that 27 years later, I STILL hear DJs pronounce this group's name as "Sayd" or "Sa-d". Um...no. It's "Shar-day".

(#3 last week) Yet ANOTHER movie song ("The Last Dragon")--4 this week, plus a Broadway tune. Where have all the soundtrack hits gone in the 2010s?

(#2 last week) Music from "Vision Quest" (quick--who starred?). A very important hit for Madonna: it was her first ballad, which meant it was her first biggie on Adult Contemporary radio. Interestingly, she was hired to perform this before she had had any hits on the radio. Oh, the movie starred Matthew Modine. Whatever happened to him?

(#1 last week; 9th week at #1) I'm a little stunned at how much I've missed hearing this song, considering how sick I was of it after 9 weeks at #1 in 1985. And watching the video is very emotional (loved hearing Stevie & Bruce trade verses); seeing all those great artists together in one room, some no longer with us. A magnificent moment in pop music history.