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Number One! I’ve always loved the sound of that.
It’s
such a catchy
term in our culture: the #1 movie or book, your best friend, your favorite restaurant
or store and of course, the ultimate, the #1 hit single! Ever since I can remember
I’ve been obsessed with music charts. On Sundays growing up in Joliet,
Illinois I would rush home after church to listen to Casey Kasem’s Top
40 on the radio, diligently writing down each hit in my composition notebook,
completely mesmerized
by the time we hit #1! There was also this awesome record store in town called
The Crow’s Nest that would have these free pink photocopied flyers of the
chart listings from the local radio station that I would collect obsessively.
I was hooked! So I thought I would share my obsession with the #1 hit singles
from my favorite decade, the 80’s, here with you at fredflare.com. Over
the next 11 weeks I’ll be reminiscing while presenting the best of the
best
of the decade of decadence. I’m sure you’ll see ones that you think
are missing – and it’s true, there are some great hits that will
be absent – but they just didn’t have the power needed to make it
all the way to #1. That’s what it takes to be a true chart topper! Enjoy!
XXOO Chris |
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1983
As the sun dawned on the Cabbage Patch Kids
of ‘83, so too it began my year of firsts. I was finally in 8th grade at
a newly renovated and glamorous St. Ray’s Junior High and I was so ready
to graduate. But first I had to endure the typical trials and tribulations of
any 13-year-old. Beginning with
my first crush, Colette Naal. Colette was a picture
perfect replica of my mother… Can
you say Oedipus Rex? She was beautiful with long, blonde hair and the preppy
aficionado of the St. Ray’s student body. That crush ended abruptly
when that girl-bully Jane Paul busted me staring at Colette in Social Studies
class. I was horrified! Then my first girlfriend, Lynn Peyla. Lynn lived in the
neighborhood and was rich! Her mom was always getting her Spiegel catalog orders
delivered from the exciting brown UPS truck. We hugged behind Lynn’s garage,
but it didn’t last. Next, my first Spring Break… with my Grandma
Isabelle. We trekked down to Orlando to spend a week gallivanting Disney style.
For as much as I loved Mickey and Magic Mountain, I loved even more laying out
poolside at the Howard Johnson’s. Still in my t-shirt – I was fat
after all – I’d catch some rays while listening to my new Sony Walkman.
I owned only two cassettes at the time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller and
the Footloose Soundtrack. What a feeling! Back in Joliet, I got invited to my
first party at the house of the über-popular Murer twins, Meg and Matt.
Although, I was only invited by default. The whole graduating class got invited,
regardless of their social status. But my best first of the year was joining
a sports team at school. Well, actually I volunteered to be the manager of the
7th grade basketball team. It was my scheme of getting in with the… cheerleaders!
I was a total "Maniac" for cheerleaders so "Let’s Dance" and
rock out to the hits of 1983!!
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the #1's
Africa - Toto
All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
Baby, Come to Me - Patti Austin & James Ingram
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Flashdance...What a Feeling - Irene Cara
Islands in the Stream - Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
Let's Dance - David
Bowie
Maniac - Michael Sembello
Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - Eurythmics
Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
Total Eclipse Of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler |
