Introduction
The claim that 1984 was the best year ever is regularly uttered. The claim itself is enough of a challenge to compile 40 singles that gave 1984 its color.
1984
This year 1984 is 40 years old. I turned 18 during that year and to me it was a hugely important musical year. Not only did I truly dicover the genius Prince following the release of the still phenomenal When Doves Cry, but the year also signalled the start of the solo career of David Sylvian, the start of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds and the release of a large number of albums I still consider my favorites, largely concentrating around the month of June, which yielded no less than 6 albums I still hold in the highest esteem. No other month has been that influential for me. Many (inter)national publications have declared 1984 to have been the best year for popmusic. Ofcourse this is open for debate, read the article 1984, the best year for pop music? for more of that claim.
Anyway, all this propmted me to compile a list of my personal favorites. Why 40? Well, 1984 is 40 years behind us. I have contemplated selecting 84 singles, but it made for an uneven list. So, for now, have fun with the list. At the bottom of this article the list is available as a Spotify play list. And remember: every single on this list is at least 40 years old…
N.B.: The list also contains 2 singles released before 1984. However, they both appeared in the Dutch charts for the first time in 1984.
Pre 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction Factory | (Feels Like) Heaven | December 1983 |
| INXS | Original Sin | December 1983 |
January & February 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Talk Talk | It’s My Life | January 3, 1984 |
| Echo & The Bunnymen | The Killing Moon | January 20, 1984 |
| Split Enz | Message To My Girl | January 1984 |
| Bette Midler | Beast Of Burden | February 10, 1984 |
| The Style Council | My Ever Changing Moods | February 10, 1984 |
| Bananarama | Robert De Niro’s Waiting… | February 20, 1984 |
| The World’s Famous Supreme Team | Hey DJ | February 1984 |
March & April 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| King Crimson | Sleepless | March 2, 1984 |
| The Special AKA | Nelson Mandela | March 8, 1984 |
| Depeche Mode | People Are People | March 12, 1984 |
| Simple Minds | Up On The Catwalk | March 12, 1984 |
| The Cure | The Caterpillar | March 26, 1984 |
| Cocteau Twins | Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops | April 2, 1984 |
| The Waterboys | The Big Music | April 2, 1984 |
| Bob Marley And The Wailers | One Love – People Get Ready | April 16, 1984 |
| The Human League | The Lebanon | April 24, 1984 |
| Killing Joke | Eighties | April 1984 |
| New Order | Thieves Like Us | April 1984 |
May & June 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Sheila E. | The Glamorous Life | May 2, 1984 |
| The Cult | Spiritwalker | May 11, 1984 |
| Sade | When Am I Going To Make A Living | May 14, 1984 |
| R.E.M. | So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) | May 15, 1984 |
| Prince | When Doves Cry | May 16, 1984 |
| David Sylvian | Red Guitar | May 21, 1984 |
| The Smiths | Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now | May 21, 1984 |
| Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds | In The Ghetto | June 18, 1984 |
July & August 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Everything But The Girl | Each And Every One | July 31, 1984 |
| Malcolm McLaren | Madam Butterfly | August 20, 1984 |
| The Blue Nile | Tinseltown In The Rain | August, 20 1984 |
September & October 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| U2 | Pride (In The Name Of Love) | September 3, 1984 |
| Madonna | Like A Virgin | October 31, 1984 |
| Chaka Khan | I Feel For You | October 1984 |
| Talking Heads | Slippery People | October 1984 |
| The Bangles | Going Down To Liverpool | October 1984 |
November & December 1984
| Artist | Single | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyd Cole And The Commotions | Rattlesnakes | November 2, 1984 |
| The Time | Jungle Love | December 12, 1984 |
| David Lee Roth | California Girls | December 19, 1984 |
| Time Zone | World Destruction | December 1984 |
Top 40 July 21, 1984
For your convenience below a copy of the Dutch Top 40 of July 21, 1984, exactly 40 years ago today.
In closing
I hope this ‘trip down memory lane’ was enjoyable. It was for me! Does the list miss songs that were essential to you? Let me know!
Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: 1984 is 40 years ago: 40 singles that gave the year its color. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.
