r/80smusic • • 2d ago

Last Song Standing: The Ultimate UK #1 Song of the 80's - Round 82

11 Upvotes

For a reminder of the rules, see the original post.

  • Rick Astley began singing at the age of 10 in his local church choir, inspiring a lifetime love of music for the talented vocalist from Lancashire. In 1985, Astley was taken under the collective wings of Stock-Aitken-Waterman, and his debut studio album Whenever You Need Somebody was released in November 1987. And Astley's first single from the album, "Never Gonna Give You Up", was destined to become bigger than the singer himself. The song reached #1 in both the UK and the US in 1987 and 1988, respectively, becoming the best-selling song of the year in the UK. Decades later, the song would become a phenomenon again due to the trend of "Rickrolling", or using a link to the song in place of another link as a bait-and-switch prank which persists as an internet meme to this very day. But while Rick has been no stranger to this game, he knows the rules, and so do I: total commitment of the ultimate song is what these voters are thinking of, and from the looks of it, the people think this could come from any other song in this game...and now, they just want to tell Rick how they're feeling, hoping that he'll understand - all the funny memes on the internet can't save Astley now, because the voters have given him up, let him down, turned around and deserted him!

SONGS STILL STANDING (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

  • 99 Red Balloons - Nena
  • Always on My Mind - The Pet Shop Boys
  • Another Brick in the Wall, Part II - Pink Floyd
  • Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
  • Atomic - Blondie
  • Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
  • Call Me - Blondie
  • Careless Whisper - George Michael
  • Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
  • Don’t Stand So Close to Me - The Police
  • Don’t You Want Me - The Human League
  • Down Under - Men at Work
  • Eternal Flame - The Bangles
  • Every Breath You Take - The Police
  • Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
  • Into the Groove - Madonna
  • It’s a Sin - The Pet Shop Boys
  • Let’s Dance - David Bowie
  • Like a Prayer - Madonna
  • Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • Tainted Love - Soft Cell
  • The Reflex - Duran Duran
  • The Tide Is High - Blondie
  • Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
  • True - Spandau Ballet
  • Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
  • West End Girls - The Pet Shop Boys
  • You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive

ELIMINATED SONGS

1-28. TBD
29. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
30. The Winner Takes It All - ABBA
31. Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
32. Easy Lover - Philip Bailey & Phil Collins
33. Town Called Malice / Precious - The Jam
34. Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
35. House of Fun - Madness
36. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
37. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. - a-ha
38. Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
39. There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) - Eurythmics
40. The Edge of Heaven - Wham!
41. Beat Surrender - The Jam
42. Freedom - Wham!
43. Papa Don't Preach - Madonna
44. I'm Your Man - Wham!
45. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
46. Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) - Enya
47. Ghost Town - The Specials
48. Going Underground / Dreams of Children - The Jam
49. Take My Breath Away - Berlin
50. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Aretha Franklin & George Michael
51. The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
52. You Can't Hurry Love - Phil Collins
53. I Feel for You - Chaka Khan
54. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
55. I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
56. A Different Corner - George Michael
57. Is There Something I Should Know? - Duran Duran
58. Fame - Irene Cara
59. Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris
60. Chain Reaction - Diana Ross
61. Heart - The Pet Shop Boys
62. Super Trouper - ABBA
63. Desire - U2
64. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
65. You Win Again - The Bee Gees
66. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
67. La Isla Bonita - Madonna
68. La Bamba - Los Lobos
69. Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
70. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
71. True Blue - Madonna
72. Stand by Me - Ben E. King
73. Imagine - John Lennon
74. Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
75. Working My Way Back to You / Forgive Me, Girl - The Spinners (The Detroit Spinners)
76. Start! - The Jam
77. Rock Me Amadeus - Falco
78. The Model / Computer Love - Kraftwerk
79. Woman - John Lennon
80. Dancing in the Street - David Bowie & Mick Jagger
81. The Final Countdown - Europe
82. When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean
83. Saving All My Love for You - Whitney Houston
84. Who's That Girl - Madonna
85. Ride on Time - Black Box
86. Prince Charming - Adam & the Ants
87. A Good Heart - Feargal Sharkey
88. One Day in Your Life - Michael Jackson
89. The Power of Love - Jennifer Rush
90. Hello - Lionel Richie
91. Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth
92. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
93. Being With You - Smokey Robinson
94. Too Much Too Young - The Special A.K.A. Live! (EP) - The Special A.K.A.
95. Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) - Soul II Soul
96. Stand and Deliver - Adam & the Ants
97. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
98. Xanadu - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra
99. (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
100. All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield
101. Belfast Child - Simple Minds
102. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
103. Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S
104. Baby Jane - Rod Stewart
105. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
106. China in Your Hand - T'Pau
107. I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
108. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
109. Candy Girl - New Edition
110. Red Red Wine - UB40
111. Caravan of Love - The Housemartins
112. Hand on Your Heart - Kylie Minogue
113. Don't Turn Around - Aswad
114. Geno - Dexys Midnight Runners
115. Give It Up - KC & the Sunshine Band
116. The Only Way Is Up - Yazz & the Plastic Population
117. Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
118. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies
119. Perfect - Fairground Attraction
120. We Are the World - USA for Africa
121. I Don't Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant
122. Frankie - Sister Sledge
123. I Got You Babe - UB40 & Chrissie Hynde
124. A Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
125. Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson
126. Pipes of Peace - Paul McCartney
127. 19 - Paul Hardcastle
128. One Moment in Time - Whitney Houston
129. I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue
130. Respectable - Mel & Kim
131. With a Little Help From My Friends / She's Leaving Home - Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg & Cara Tivey
132. Crying - Don McLean
133. I Know Him So Well - Elaine Page & Barbara Dickson
134. I Want to Wake Up With You - Boris Gardiner
135. Woman in Love - Barbra Streisand
136. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) - Paul Young
137. Too Many Broken Hearts - Jason Donovan
138. The Lady in Red - Chris de Burgh
139. If I Was - Midge Ure
140. I Should Have Known Better - Jim Diamond
141. Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers
142. Spirit in the Sky - Doctor & the Medics
143. Everything I Own - Boy George
144. Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart - Marc Almond feat. Gene Pitney
145. Feels Like I'm in Love - Kelly Marie
146. The Land of Make Believe - Bucks Fizz
147. Use It Up and Wear It Out - Odyssey
148. Sealed With a Kiss - Jason Donovan
149. I Owe You Nothing - Bros
150. Only You - The Flying Pickets
151. Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
152. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit
153. It's My Party - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
154. A Little Peace - Nicole
155. Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
156. Let It Be - Ferry Aid
157. My Camera Never Lies - Bucks Fizz
158. Begin the Beguine (Volver A Empezar) - Julio Iglesias
159. Living Doll - Cliff Richard & the Young Ones feat. Hank Marvin
160. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You - Glenn Medeiros
161. Japanese Boy - Aneka
162. Theme from S'Express - S'Express
163. Oh Julie - Shakin' Stevens
164. First Time - Robin Beck
165. Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson
166. Theme from M\A*S*H* (Suicide is Painless) - The Mash
167. What's Another Year - Johnny Logan
168. Every Loser Wins - Nick Berry
169. Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band
170. Especially for You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan
171. Save Your Love - Renée & Renato
172. Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey - The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman
173. This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
174. Happy Talk - Captain Sensible
175. Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz
176. Star Trekkin' - The Firm
177. You'll Never Walk Alone - The Crowd
178. Green Door - Shakin' Stevens
179. Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney
180. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid II
181. That's What I Like - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
182. You Got It (The Right Stuff) - The New Kids on the Block
183. Jack Your Body - Steve "Silk" Hurley
184. You'll Never Stop Me Loving You - Sonia
185. Let's Party - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
186. Doctorin' the TARDIS - The Timelords
187. Swing the Mood - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
188. Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
189. I've Never Been to Me - Charlene
190. There's No One Quite Like Grandma - St. Winifred's School Choir
191. The Chicken Song - Spitting Image

As always, vote below for which remaining UK #1 80's song you think is the WORST, is your LEAST FAVORITE, or which one you otherwise want to ELIMINATE from the list. The song in this round with the most votes will be eliminated.

Please only vote for #1 UK songs! In addition to the list I've provided above, the full list of all the UK's #1 80's songs can be found here.

REMEMBER: check to see if the song you want to eliminate has already been posted by someone else before nominating it. If it has, upvote it instead of making a duplicate post.


r/80smusic • • 4h ago

1985 Chicago - Along Comes A Woman [Rock] (1985)

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70 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 12h ago

1982 Captain Sensible - Wot

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38 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 5h ago

1989 Peter Schilling - The Different Story (World Of Lust And Crime) (1989)

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10 Upvotes

Elektra Records


r/80smusic • • 2h ago

1981 The Tubes - I Don't Want To Wait Anymore (original video)

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3 Upvotes

I don't want to wait anymore
I just don't think I have the strength
The strength to carry on
Oh, I don't want to wait anymore
I waited so long
Forgot what I'm waiting for


r/80smusic • • 9h ago

1986 Big Audio Dynamite - V Thirteen - Live 1986

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10 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1h ago

1989 The Outfield - Inside Your Skin

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• Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 19h ago

Charlie Sexton - Beat's So Lonely

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59 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1d ago

1983 The Romantics - Talking In Your Sleep

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135 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1h ago

1989 The Bus - Buffalo Tom (1989)

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• Upvotes

Buffalo Tom!

"I will be there anyway....."

I went to see Buffalo Tom last weekend at London's trendy Shoreditch / Brick lane area. With its vintage shops and grunge.

An amazing band.

Well worth seeing.


r/80smusic • • 20h ago

1989 Hoodoo Gurus - Come Anytime

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23 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 9h ago

1987 Curiosity Killed the Cat - Red Lights

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2 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 11h ago

1983 Mac McAnally~Dark Ages

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2 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 20h ago

1987 In Tua Nua - Seven Into The Sea

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7 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 20h ago

1989 Tone Loc - I Got It Goin On

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5 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1d ago

1988 Bon Jovi - Bad Medicine (1988)

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56 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1d ago

1983 Jo Boxers - Just Got Lucky

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22 Upvotes

Your technique
It leaves me weak
My heart knows
It's the beat I seek
And I found it
(Just got lucky)
Oh yes, I found it
(Just got lucky)


r/80smusic • • 1d ago

1986 Eight Seconds - Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)

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7 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 2d ago

1986 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian

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235 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1d ago

1988 Anita Baker - Just Because (1988)

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27 Upvotes

Elektra Records


r/80smusic • • 2d ago

1982 Huey Lewis And The News - Workin' For A Livin' (1982)

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68 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 2d ago

1989 Dusty Springfield (with Pet Shop Boys) - “Nothing Has Been Proved” (1989)

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19 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 2d ago

1987 Def Leppard - Hysteria

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258 Upvotes

r/80smusic • • 1d ago

Question: Who is in this photo from Urgh A Music War archives

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0 Upvotes

A couple of folks suggested Bruce Moreland of Wall of Voodoo but it's not him.