Monday, March 23, 2015

Bracketology: 1985 singles, Quarterfinals


Just in case your productivity at work wasn't low enough.

In the spirit of March Madness, I've created this bracket of the top eight pop singles from 1985 and we'll match them against each other, round by round, until a winner emerges. I hope you'll play along because I'm sure your bracket will turn out differently from mine. Singles and seedings taken directly from the December 28, 1985 issue of Billboard magazine:







Fill out your bracket(s) with your personal favorites and check back for the semifinal round.

6 comments :

  1. I've always personally rejected Billboard's year-end charts as being an accurate reflection of the years in question. Too many carry-overs from previous years due to their end of December publication deadlines. In fact, you'll see that two of my picks below (2 & 3) peaked in 1984. That being said, I'm happy to have my selections entered into the record!

    Based on the matchups you've provided, these are all no-brainers for Dirk:

    #1: Careless Whisper – Wham! Featuring George Michael
    #2: I Feel For You – Chaka Khan
    #3: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!
    #4: Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears

    *(And, oh by the way, Foreigner, Mark says not to let the door hit you on the way out!)

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    Replies
    1. Via Mr. Peabody's WABAC machine, I've forwarded your chart concerns to the editors of Billboard magazine circa 1985.

      To be honest, I was going to use the Top 8 of 1985 as presented in Whitburn's Pop Annual (which uses peak dates), but I didn't like that list as much:

      1) Say You, Say Me - Lionel Richie
      2) We Are the World - USA for Africa
      3) Careless Whisper - Wham!
      4) Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
      5) Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
      6) Shout - Tears for Fears
      7) Broken Wings - Mr. Mister
      8) I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner

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    2. If we're talkin' 1985, I do indeed like that list better... Even though (I agree) it does blow song-wise.

      By the way, "I had a dream, I had an awesome dream"; worst #1 song lyrics ever? What say you? Me say, "yes"!

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  2. 1 - Money For Nothing
    2 - I Feel For You
    3 - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
    4 - Like A Virgin

    Wham having two in the race meant only one could progress (sorry, George and Andrew).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Let the hurtful rumors and petty gossip begin.
    HERC went with:

    •Careless
    •I Want To Know
    •Wake
    •Errbody

    One memory and one memory alone is married to Foreigner's ballad. "I Feel For You" would have triumphed in any other bracket.

    MRS. HERC, the woman in said memory, weighs in with her picks but obviously doesn't share the same memory to song linkage that HERC does:
    •Careless Whisper
    •I Feel For You
    •Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
    •Everybody Wants To Rule The World

    She actually hummed each song before making her picks. Very cute.

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    Replies
    1. No offense intended, but Mrs. HERC is lookin' like Mrs. DIRK with those picks... I endorse them 110%!

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