1985 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1985 Billboard Number One Hits list was packed with superstar pop, charity singles, movie themes, British imports, arena rock, synth-pop, and adult-contemporary ballads. Madonna opened the year with Like a Virgin, Wham! and George Michael owned the year-end chart with Careless Whisper, USA for Africa turned […]
1985 Billboard Number One Hits Read More »
1985 History, Facts, and TriviaQuick Facts from 1985World-Changing Event: Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet Premier in March 1985, launching the era of “Glasnost,” a policy of openness and transparency that began unraveling the Soviet Union from the inside. The Cold War had a new character, and he was surprisingly reasonable.Top Song: Careless Whisper by Wham! featuring
1985 Trivia, Fun Facts and Pop Culture History Read More »
1985 Music Hits: Big Rock, Pop Royalty, Movie Songs, R&B, and MTV Flash 1985 music hits sounded like the full middle chapter of the 1980s: bright, loud, dramatic, stylish, and occasionally wearing sunglasses indoors for no practical reason. Rock bands were everywhere, pop stars were becoming full-scale video icons, R&B was smooth and polished, and
1985 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics Read More »
1985 Oscars 57th Academy Awards Winners Announced: March 25, 1985 Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California Host: Jack Lemmon Eligibility Year: 1984 Trivia Amadeus Rules the Night: The film Amadeus directed by Milos Forman swept the Oscars, taking home eight awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for F. Murray Abraham.
1985 Oscars 57th Academy Awards Read More »
1985 Grammy Award WinnersWinners Announced: February 26, 1985Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los AngelesHost: John DenverEligibility Year: October 1, 1983 – September 30, 1984TriviaThriller Triumphs: Michael Jackson’s album Thriller won multiple awards, including Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical.Sade’s Smooth Introduction: The British band Sade won Best New Artist, riding high on the success of their debut album
1985 Grammy Award Winners Read More »
1984 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1984 Billboard Number One Hits list captured one of pop music’s most famous years: MTV power, movie soundtracks, superstar albums, British new wave, rock crossovers, R&B, and the full arrival of Prince and Madonna as era-defining forces. Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson opened the year
1984 Billboard Number One Hits Read More »
1984 Trivia, History, and Fun FactsQuick Facts from 1984World-Changing Event: Apple Computer unveiled the Macintosh personal computer on January 24, 1984, introduced by one of the most celebrated commercials in advertising history and priced at $1,995. Nearly 250,000 were sold that year. Personal computing had a face.Top Song: Like a Virgin by Madonna, which launched
1984 Trivia, Fun Facts and Pop Culture History Read More »
1984 Music Hits: MTV Pop, Purple Rain, Movie Songs, Rock Anthems, and Synth-Pop Everywhere1984 music hits landed right in the sweet spot of the MTV era. Pop stars had become video stars, movie soundtracks were feeding the charts, rock bands were still filling arenas, and synth-pop seemed to be coming out of every keyboard with
1984 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics Read More »
1984 Oscars 56th Academy AwardsWinners Announced: April 9, 1984Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CaliforniaHost: Johnny CarsonEligibility Year: 1983TriviaThe evening was dominated by Terms of Endearment. It won Best Picture, Best Director for James L. Brooks, and Best Actress for Shirley MacLaine.Sally Field’s famous speech, “You like me, you really like me!” took place
1984 Oscars 56th Academy Awards Read More »
1984 Grammy Award Winners Winners Announced: February 28, 1984 Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles Host: John Denver Eligibility Year: October 1, 1982 – September 30, 1983 A Closer Look at the 1984 Grammy Awards John Denver’s Hosting: John Denver returned as the host for the 1984 Grammy Awards, continuing his association with the Grammys.
1984 Grammy Award Winners Read More »
1983 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1983 Billboard Number One Hits list captured one of the most important pop years of the MTV era. Michael Jackson dominated with Billie Jean and Beat It, The Police ruled the summer with Every Breath You Take, Irene Cara brought Flashdance to the top, and
1983 Billboard Number One Hits Read More »
1983 History, Facts, and TriviaQuick Facts from 1983World-Changing Event: President Reagan called the Soviet Union an “Evil Empire” in a speech to the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida, on March 8, 1983 — the most confrontational framing of U.S.-Soviet relations by an American president in decades, and a signal that the Cold War’s
1983 Trivia, Fun Facts and Pop Culture History Read More »
1983 Music Hits: Michael Jackson, New Wave, Movie Songs, Rock, R&B, and Early MTV Energy 1983 music hits captured the moment when MTV, radio, dance floors, and movie soundtracks all started pulling pop culture in the same direction. Michael Jackson was everywhere, new wave had moved into the mainstream, rock bands were still filling arenas,
1983 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics Read More »
Thriller By Michael JacksonThriller is a music video by Michael Jackson that was released in 1983 as part of the album, Thriller. The video first aired on MTV on December 2, 1983. The video featured Jackson performing a dance routine with a group of zombies and was directed by John Landis.The “Thriller” music video was a turning
Thriller Video By Michael Jackson Released on December 2, 1983 Read More »
1983 Oscars 55th Academy AwardsWinners Announced: April 11, 1983Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CaliforniaHosts: Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore, Richard Pryor, Walter MatthauEligibility Year: 1982TriviaHost Versatility: The hosting ensemble included a diverse blend of talents. Liza Minnelli represented the musical theater community, Dudley Moore brought comedic flavor, Richard Pryor offered edgier comedy, and Walter
1983 Oscars 55th Academy Awards Read More »
1983 Grammy Award WinnersWinners Announced: February 23, 1983Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los AngelesHost: John DenverEligibility Year: October 1, 1981 – September 30, 19821983 Grammys Trivia and Noteworthy MomentsKing of Pop’s Reign: Michael Jackson’s Thriller snagged eight awards, setting a record for most wins by an artist in a single year.Toto’s Triumph: The band Toto nabbed
1983 Grammy Award Winners Read More »
1982 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1982 Billboard Number One Hits list captured the early MTV era beginning to take shape, with pop-rock, new wave, movie themes, classic rock crossovers, R&B duets, and one very physical carryover from 1981. Olivia Newton-John opened the year with Physical, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
1982 Billboard Number One Hits Read More »
1982 Trivia, History, and Fun FactsIn 1982, Michael Jackson released Thriller and changed the music industry’s understanding of what an album could sell. E.T. arrived in theaters and became the highest-grossing film in history. The Commodore 64 made home computing affordable for the first time. Cats opened on Broadway and ran for 18 years. The
1982 Trivia, Fun Facts and Pop Culture History Read More »
1982 Music Hits: Rock Anthems, New Wave, R&B, Early Hip-Hop, and Big Soundtrack Moments 1982 music hits caught pop music in the middle of a major shift. Classic rock and arena rock still had plenty of power, new wave and synth-pop were moving into the mainstream, R&B and funk were getting sleeker, and hip-hop was
1982 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics Read More »
1982 Oscars 54th Academy AwardsWinners Announced: March 29, 1982Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CaliforniaHost: Johnny CarsonEligibility Year: 19811982 Oscars Trivia and Noteworthy MomentsHenry’s Final Award: Henry Fonda won his only Oscar for On Golden Pond, and sadly, he passed away a few months later.British Underdog: Chariots of Fire, a British film, surprised everyone
1982 Oscars 54th Academy Awards Read More »
1982 Grammy Award Winners Winners Announced: February 24, 1982 Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California Host: John Denver Eligibility Year: October 1, 1980 – September 30, 1981 1982 Grammy Trivia and Noteworthy Moments Denver’s Return: John Denver reprised his hosting role, having been a popular choice from previous ceremonies. Posthumous Recognition: John Lennon and
1982 Grammy Award Winners Read More »
1981 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-TopperThe 1981 Billboard Number One Hits list sat right at the edge of the MTV era, with soft rock, R&B, country crossover, movie themes, new wave, yacht rock, and pop-rock all sharing the Hot 100 summit. John Lennon opened the year with (Just Like) Starting Over, Kim
1981 Billboard Number One Hits Read More »
1981 History, Facts, and TriviaIn 1981, MTV launched with Video Killed the Radio Star and immediately began transforming how music was sold, consumed, and experienced. Raiders of the Lost Ark arrived in theaters, and Harrison Ford became the dominant action hero of his generation. Prince Charles married Lady Diana before a television audience of 750
1981 Trivia, Fun Facts and Pop Culture History Read More »
1981 Popular Music Chart: Arena Rock, Funk, Soft Rock, New Wave, and Early MTV Energy 1981 popular music sat right at the edge of a major pop-culture shift. MTV launched in August, rock bands were still ruling radio, funk and R&B were bringing deep grooves, soft rock ballads were everywhere, and new wave was starting
1981 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics Read More »
1981 Oscars 53rd Academy AwardsWinners Announced: March 31, 1981Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, CaliforniaHost: Johnny CarsonEligibility Year: 1980Oscar Trivia for the Film BuffsHost with the Most: Johnny Carson, famed for his long-running The Tonight Show, returned to host the Oscars, showcasing his quick wit and effortless charm.First-Timer’s Luck: Ordinary People, a film about
1981 Oscars 53rd Academy Awards Read More »
1981 Grammy Award WinnersWinners Announced: February 25, 1981Held at: Radio City Music Hall, New YorkHost: Paul SimonEligibility Year: October 1, 1979 – September 30, 1980Notable Trivia‘Sailing’ Smooth: Christopher Cross made history this year. He swept all four major categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
1981 Grammy Award Winners Read More »
1980 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper The 1980 Billboard Number One Hits list opened a new decade with a strange and fascinating mix: leftover disco, soft rock, pop-soul, movie songs, arena rock, country-pop, funk, and the first signs of the cleaner 1980s radio sound. KC and the Sunshine Band opened the chart
1980 Billboard Number One Hits Read More »
1980 Fun Facts, Trivia, and HistoryQuick Facts from 1980World Changing Event: On February 22, the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union 4-3 at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. The Soviets had won every Olympic gold medal since 1964. The Americans were college kids. Sportscaster Al Michaels asked: “Do you believe in miracles?” The
1980 History, Fun Facts and Trivia Read More »
1980 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics 1980 music was a true bridge year between the late 1970s and the new sound of the 1980s. Classic rock, disco, funk, soft rock, country crossover, early rap, new wave, and movie songs all shared the same radio space. AC/DC, Queen, Pink Floyd, Blondie, Michael
1980 Music Hits: Top Songs, Radio Favorites, and Pop Classics Read More »
Pop Culture Headlines: 1980 Top Events in January 1980 Pop Culture History 1. The Rubik’s Cube Debuts Internationally (January 29, 1980): Hungarian inventor Ernő Rubik’s puzzle cube was formally introduced to the world at a toy fair in London, kicking off a craze that would see well over 100 million units sold by the mid-1980s.
1980 Pop Culture Headlines Read More »
{{ excerpt | truncatewords: 55 }}
{% endif %}