Hits of Australia and NZ: Hits of the 80's Australia VII

I know this feels a little reductive considering every entry on this list appeared on my biggest hits of 1980-1992 lists, however I love the 80's and I'm sure the 80's aficionados in my audience would want a list like this given how I've already done one for the 90's and 70's on this site. The same rules I applied to the 90's list apply here, I'll only add commentary to songs that didn't appear on one of my official year end lists and will be ranking them based on how long they lasted on our charts.

#61 for 1983

#49 for 1982

#45 for 1986

#57 for 1984

#62 for 1989

#58 for 1984

#52 for 1985

#67 for 1980

#79 for 1988

#63 for 1989

#50 for 1982

#68 for 1980

#63 for 1981

#53 for 1985

#46 for 1986

#62 for 1983

#59 for 1984

#51 for 1982

#64 for 1981

#72 for 1987

#73 for 1987

#65 for 1981

#60 for 1984

#61 for 1984

#52 for 1982

#80 for 1988

#53 for 1982

#81 for 1988

#54 for 1985

#47 for 1986

#66 for 1981

#62 for 1984

#63 for 1984

#74 for 1987

#48 for 1986

#82 for 1988

#55 for 1985

#69 for 1980

#54 for 1982

#70 for 1980

#63 for 1983

#75 for 1987

#76 for 1987

#64 for 1983

#64 for 1984

#67 for 1981

#83 for 1988

#55 for 1982

#65 for 1984

#71 for 1980

#77 for 1987

Given how she left the 80's with one of the biggest hits of all time here in Australia, it’s a bit surprising that the third single from Heart of stone wouldn't be more of a success here were it not for the fact that said album was a massive success in its own right and thus would've eaten up most of its success here. Even so, that didn't prevent this track which compares Cher's relationship to that of an American outlaw from being a success here.

#56 for 1982

Although Whitesnake had achieved moderate success in their native UK prior to this ballad, this was what made them an overnight sensation internationally due to it nearly topping the Billboard charts due to it being their first song they released in the hair metal genre. This led to their earlier entry becoming a massive chart topper in America for the band and putting them on the level of Bon Jovi and Def Leppard in America.

#78 for 1987

#49 for 1986

This is a bit of an odd entry given how we have a classic two for one deal here, it's also odd since both of these songs made the cut for this list but not "Love dimension" which was the second single from Kate Ceberano's solo album from the end of the 80's. I guess all three songs are about as big as each other were you to separate these two from each other in terms of popularity.

#79 for 1987

#57 for 1982

I'm dumbstruck as to how this wasn't a bigger success here in Australia back in the day, sure it charted for quite some time which is why it appears on this list, but surely this Billboard chart topper and staple on oldies stations deserved to at least crack our top ten right? In any case, this title track to Bruce Hornsby's debut album was able to make waves thanks to its timeless piano riff amongst all the sophistopop of the moment.

#50 for 1986

#58 for 1982

#56 for 1985

This is another entry that could've make the cut for one of my lists had it not peaked during the Christmas period of 1984, although I was willing to write this off as a victim of high album sales given how it's the fourth single from Cyndi's debut album as well as it being the second ballad from said album. Even so, it remains one of her most iconic songs in her catalogue due to its critical acclaim.

#80 for 1987

So, this was the song that Sinitta decided to introduce herself to the world with, this feels like something the Village people would've released at the start of the decade which perhaps explains why it was such a huge success in her native UK as well as doing reasonably well here in Australia upon its initial release. What makes this track hilarious is that she would be the longtime mistress of one Simon Fueller, which I guess is what this song is about.

#72 for 1980

This is one of those songs that's way more intelligent than you'd otherwise realise given how the lyrics are very political but are hidden in what many will describe as highly irritating production even for the mid 80's (I'm sadly inclined to agree on this point.) This was the only hit for the American duo Sly fox, although it was a huge international hit for them as well as on the Billboard charts.

We have one final hit from Leo Sayer to feature on this site of mine, I get the feeling this would've been an easy top ten hit for him had it come out around the same time as his final top ten hit "Have you ever been in love" given how much on a roll he was on prior to when MTV forever changed the music landscape against his favour.

It looks like we Aussies were only mildly amused by this novelty track from Corey Hart, although it's worth noting that it stuck around for quite some time on our charts which made it eligible for this bonus list of mine. Many people (including me) are convinced this is a rip-off musically of the Eurythmics, that combined with the premise of the lyrics resulted in this song's infamy.

19 weeks