80’s LYRICS

As we head into the dog days of summer, we’re going to revisit a feature that we’ve often had many requests for more, more, more (thank you Andrea True).  Everybody knows the words to their favourite songs, but not everyone knows the song title.  The five lyric selections below were ALL from number 1 songs during the 1980’s.  How difficult can that be? Well, let’s see then, shall we...

QUESTIONS:

1.     This lyric came from a number one song in 1982: “We all know that people are the same where ever you go.  There is good and bad in everyone.  We learn to live.  We learn to give each other what we need to survive together alive”.  So what ‘80’s song are those lyrics from?  Bonus marks for knowing the singer or singers.    

2.     This 1985 number one came from a movie soundtrack: “I’ve been waitin’ for so long.  For something to arrive.  For love to come along.  Now our dreams are comin’ true.  Through the good times and the bad.  Yeah, I’ll be standing there by you”.  The co-writer of this hit is also the singer, and its success came at a ‘Heavenly’ time for this Canadian.  Can you name the song as well as the singer?  

3.     At the end of October in 1986, this song from a female singer with bright, colourful hair was number one for two weeks.  A portion of the lyrics are:  “In a world full of people.  You can lose sight of it all.  And the darkness inside you.  Can make you feel so small.”   Can you be ‘true’ to yourself and name the song and the artist who sang it?

4.     If you know your ‘80’s music, this one should be a snap.  It was number one for two weeks in July 1980.  Some of the lyrics are:  “Oh, it doesn’t matter what they say in the papers.  ‘Cause it’s always been the same old scene.  There’s a new band in town.  But you can’t get the sound from a story in a magazine...aimed at your average teen”.  This singer/songwriter had previously been an amateur boxer with 22 out of 28 wins.  It was his first number one hit, although it wouldn’t be his last – he had two more chart toppers during the 1980’s.  So, what’s the song already and who sang it?

5.     This number one song from 1987 had already been a Top five hit twenty years previously for a Midwestern U.S. group.  This time out, the singer was a 16 year old female who started out singing in malls.  A portion of the lyrics are: “Running just as fast as we can.  Holding on to one another’s hand.  Tryin’ to get away into the night.  And then you put your arms around me.  And we tumble to the ground.  And then you say...”  Can you name the singer and the name of the famous hit?

ANSWERS

1.  Sir Paul McCartney (although he wasn’t a ‘Sir’ yet) and Stevie Wonder are the two performers of this song.  Paul wrote the song “Ebony & Ivory” and it hit the top of the singles chart for the week of May 15, 1982 and remained there for 7 weeks.  It was replaced by “Don’t You Want Me” from the Human League for the week of July 3rd.

2.  Do you remember a 1983 movie called “A Night In Heaven”?  It starred Christopher Atkins (of “Blue Lagoon” with Brooke Shields).  The songs’ co-writers were Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams.  Adams wasn’t yet the superstar he would later become, but he was getting there.  He’d hit the Hot 100 singles chart previously with “Straight From the Heart” (# 10 in 1983); “Cuts Like A Knife” (# 15 in ‘83); “This Time” (# 24 in ’83); “Run To You” (# 6 in ’85) and “Somebody” (# 11 in ’85).  The song “Heaven” was written specifically for the movie and was Bryan’s first number one.  Adams would go on hit the top rung of the singles chart several more time with songs such as “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” in 1991 from the movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, “All For Love” with Rod Stewart and Sting in ’94 from the movie “The Three Muskateers” and “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman” in ’95.  That one was featured in the Johnny Depp movie, “Don Juan de Marco.  

3.  Cyndi Lauper is the singer in question.  “True Colors” is the name of her number one hit from the last week in October and the first week of November in 1986.  For both of those weeks, the number two song was Tina Turner’s “Typical Male”.  That one never made number one.  “True Colors“ was replaced at the top of the charts by the group Boston with their hit, “Amanda”.  “True Colors” was Cyndi’s second, and so far, last number one.  Her previous numero uno was 1984’s “Time After Time”.  Cyndi first hit the charts in late ’83 with her signature song, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” which made it as high as number two in March of ‘84.   

4.  “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me” was Billy Joel’s first number one single.  1980 was the year.  His next number one was “Tell Her About It” in ‘83.  Then in ‘89, he hit the top of the charts again with “We Didn’t Start The Fire”.  “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me” replaced Paul McCartney’s “Coming Up” as the top single for the week of July 19^th, 1980.  Billy stayed on top for two weeks and was knocked out of the top spot by Olivia Newton-John’s “Magic”.     

5.  The singer was Tiffany.  Her cover of Tommy James & The Shondells 1967 hit, “I Think We’re Alone Now” stayed in the number one spot for two weeks in November of ‘87.  Ironically it was replaced by another previous Tommy James hit, “Mony Mony”, only this was a live version by Billy Idol.