December 1985 ended like a movie scene fading to black: “Say You, Say Me” floating in as the year closed out. And January 1986? It doesn’t interrupt that mood, it continues it. For the first half of the month, the …
Read moreSoft Landing, Big Heart: The Billboard Hot 100 #1s of January 1986
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 …
Read moreA Rocking Year, a Soft Exit: The Billboard Hot 100 #1s of December 1985
When you scroll through the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1985, you can feel TV, film and fall radio all colliding: Stevie’s sleek R&B groove, a TV-theme takeover, glossy arena pop, and a big screen power ballad closing the month. …
Read moreFrom Arena Chants to Power Ballads – November ’85 on the Hot 100
When you look back at the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1985, it’s clear that listeners had an appetite for variety. The top spot shifted weekly, giving us a snapshot of how diverse musical tastes really were in the mid-80s. …
Read moreFrom Rock Riffs to Power Ballads – October ’85 on the Hot 100