From dance floors to car radios, 1985 stayed pretty high-energy for most of the year; but by December, the Hot 100 felt like the holiday lights after midnight . . . still glowing, just quieter. With only two #1 singles across the entire month, it’s a soft finish to a stacked year.
1985 spent months bouncing between huge, everywhere at once #1s like Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” Wham! ft. George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” USA for Africa’s “We Are the World,” Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (and later “Shout”), Phil Collins’ “Sussudio,” a-ha’s “Take On Me,” and Starship’s “We Built This City.” December doesn’t try to compete with the highs of the year. It just… smooths the edges and lets the year fade out.
The #1 Songs in December 1985 (by chart week)
| Hot 100 chart week (issue date) | #1 song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 7, 1985 | “Broken Wings” | Mr. Mister |
| Dec 14, 1985 | “Broken Wings” | Mr. Mister |
| Dec 21, 1985 | “Say You, Say Me” | Lionel Richie |
| Dec 28, 1985 | “Say You, Say Me” | Lionel Richie |
And that’s it! 2 power ballads and into 1986 we go!
“Broken Wings” Mr. Mister
“Broken Wings” is peak mid-80s drama: soaring vocals, glossy production, and that I’m fine / I’m not fine emotional punch. It’s the kind of song that sounds like it was built for solitary night driving with streetlights, dashboard glow, heater on, feelings loud.
And honestly? November ended with Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin “Separate Lives” so the transition into this really fits.
“Say You, Say Me” Lionel Richie
This song hit so big in December 1985 that it carried into 1986 and stayed as #1 for 2 more weeks.
What makes it even more cinematic is that it was literally written for a movie. Lionel Richie recorded “Say You, Say Me” for the 1985 film “White Nights”. And in a very 80s industry twist: even though it was made for the film, it wasn’t included on the soundtrack album (widely attributed to label/rights complications). It later showed up when the soundtrack was reiussed.
It’s romantic without being saccharine, dramatic without being loud, just warm and cozy.
It’s pretty wild that the last month of a huge year boiled down to two moods: heartbreak + atmosphere with Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wings,” and cinematic romance + cozy feelings with Lionel Richie’s “Say You, Say Me.” No rapid chart shake-ups, no surprise last-second takeover—just two songs holding the top spot like the year was ready to exhale and step into 1986 quietly.