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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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1987
1987 was a transformative year as I was officially
tired of being fat and unpopular. It all began when I decided to take some tennis
lessons. During a routine playback of our serves on video,
I saw it…my body on TV! It was time to take action. After my parents paid
for a little lypo – hey, if it helps, I’m all for it – a new
diet and exercise regime was on my agenda. I ate only pitas with vegetables and
diet thousand island dressing, Carl Buddig’s
diet turkey and low-cal yogurt all year long. Yuck! My exercise routine consisted
of running laps around the furnace in my basement and lifting my dad’s
ancient sand-filled weights. I later upgraded to jogging outside and watching
Yoga for Life and Body Electric on channel 20, the educational channel. Within
6 months I had dropped about 50 pounds and the world began to see me anew. Here’s
what happened… First, my parents turned in my pick-up truck for a black
Monte Carlo. I named her Marilyn. Then, girls that used to make fun of me started
to give me the "eye." I gave those bitches the "humph!" I
also started going out more and even got invited to parties at Houbolt Road – a
coveted cornfield-surrounded sanctuary of teen angst. I met my dear friends Julie
Drysch and Rita D’Amico on Houbolt Road and we remain friends to this day.
They’re both married now and we live so far apart but they’ll always
be my home girls!! Then at school I was chosen to be a student leader of Kairos.
Kairos, Latin for "the Lord’s time," was a weekend retreat for
seniors. It was meant to seal the deal on living your life as a Christian adult
in the eyes of the Lord, their moto was "God don’t make junk".
It was filled with student and teacher speeches, music and a bunch of "I
love yous". But, come Monday back at school, it was business as usual. The
thing is, only student council members and football players were ever chosen
to be student leaders…so why me?? I was only newly thin and neither a politician
nor letterman. I had to find out. The priest in charge of Kairos, Father Sam,
told me, in so many words, that since this was the last senior retreat of the
year – the popular kids went first – the bottom of the barrel freaks
and geeks that attend this one would relate and be inspired my me! Some compliment,
Sammy. My quest for popularity was, officially, over. I did the Kairos thing
all the same and it was fine but, truthfully, it was music and dancing that would
set me free, not my high school’s religious teachings. I soon discovered
what was to officially change my life forever… the teen club Medusa’s
in Chicago! Ok readers, "I Think We’re Alone Now." You know in
high school I "Always" wanted to be "Bad" but c’mon,
I was "Livin’ On A Prayer." Just have some "Faith" because "Heaven
Is a Place On Earth," or at least a nightclub in 80’s Chicago! 1987
heaven!
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the #1's
Alone - Heart
Always - Atlantic Starr
Bad - Michael Jackson
Could've Been - Tiffany
Didn't We Almost Have It All - Whitney Houston
Faith - George Michael
Head to Toe - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
Heaven Is a Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
(I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew
I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Aretha Franklin & George Michael
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
(I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
Jacob's Ladder - Huey Lewis & The News
La Bamba - Los Lobos
Lean On Me - Club Nouveau
Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Lost In Emotion – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
Mony Mony "Live" - Billy Idol
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott
Shakedown - Bob Seger
The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
Who's That Girl - Madonna
With Or Without You - U2
You Keep Me Hangin' On - Kim Wilde |
