Well seeing as though we looked at the biggest hits of the 90's on the Billboard charts that were also hits in Australia and/or NZ that decade, I've decided to give the same courtesy to the 80's as Billboard also released a top 500 for that decade on their website which I found fascinating. Again, I'm only including songs that were hits in the southern hemisphere back in the day as I'm not particularly interested in looking over songs that flopped with us Aussies and Kiwis, although there are more entries regardless due to how few entries there are on the official list that didn't appeal to either nation.
It seemed like every song that Richard Marx released in his homeland proved to be more successful than the last when it came to his debut album in America, this nearly became hit first Billboard chart topper but missed out due to stiff competition during its peak. His first chart topper was "Hold on to the nights" which was the final single off said album.
So much for disco being dead once the 80's begun, heck this almost went to number one on Billboard and can easily rank among the Spinners biggest hits of the 70's to show you how slowly the disco backlash went into effect at the turn of the decade. That said, this was a chart topper for the Spinners in the UK (stylised as the Detroit spinners) so perhaps there was room for improvement as far as their success was concerned.
It's hard to say if Donna Summer saw the writing on the wall when it came to the disco backlash or if it was a coincidence her newfound love for Christianity had her change with the times when it did, either way this allowed her to continue having success in her homeland which included this feminist anthem becoming her biggest hit of the decade on Billboard just like it was here in Australia.
It's hard to say if this counts as a hip-hop track given how Rockwell seems to be speak talking rather than singing or rapping, even if it counted as such, it wouldn't have been the first hip hop track to top the Billboard charts as it got stuck behind Van Halen's earlier entry on this list.
This was almost Madonna's second Billboard chart topper as it was stuck behind Foreigner's entry from earlier likely due to audiences being baffled at the conceit of the song. Indeed, this is one of her less popular tracks in retrospect as it seems to be more at home in the 21st century rather than the 80's when it comes to how rude and obnoxious the lyrics make her out to be.
Whereas this was only a fan hit here in Australia as well as a mere top ten hit in NZ, it was a massive chart topper for MJ in the UK and his native America due to how much hype there was for his follow up to Thriller in both countries. I guess this is proof that he had to win back our respect in the southern hemisphere given how we waited five years for him to return with a new album.
If you want proof that Star War was all the rage back in the day, consider the fact that the video to this second American hit for Billy Ocean has him recreating the scenery of the original trilogy which likely led to the song nearly topping the Billboard charts for him two years after the final film's release. This was also a big hit here in Australia; however, the rest of the world wasn't impressed with this track.
Is there any surprise this wound up being the most successful in America for Culture club? Granted this is more due to it not having to compete with the Christmas sales of 1982 like it did in their native UK, however the fact this also almost went to number one on Billboard just like their debut did proves how on-board America was in accepting their message of cultural harmony.
How sad is it that these guys only escaped the one hit wonder bin in the western world by covering the one Japanese song to make it big in the west as a way of acknowledging their popularity in Japan? Not only was this a huge hit in NZ for the disco band, but it was also a hit in their native America likely because it wasn't a disco track as this was during the height of the disco backlash over there.
This is the only other appearance Sting will be making on this list both solo and with the Police, it appears Americans never really gravitated much towards his songwriting as although he had plenty of hits on Billboard only these two entries were distinct enough to make their 80's list on their website.
I'd love to say this is the earliest hip hop track from a female artist to make it big in America, unfortunately that honour goes to Blondie from earlier on this list and even if we disqualified that entry, Samantha Fox's "Naughty girls" would take that prize as that proved to be equally as popular as this debut single from Neneh Cherry was on Billboard a year prior to its release.
Given how airplay had become a factor on the Billboard charts, this meant that Patrick Swayze was able to have the second biggest hit off the Dirty dancing soundtrack in America as opposed to Eric Carmen like he did here in Australia (don't worry he's still to come on this list.) As this was meant to be a vanity project for the film's star, you can imagine that he didn't go on to have a music career.
I should point out that the Gogo’s did score a massive hit in their native America with "We got the beat" that would've made it on this list had it been a hit in Australia or NZ back in the day. This would explain how Belinda was able to score a massive hit with her solo debut on Billboard given how she almost topped those charts with that song as well as our charts in Australia with "Our lips are sealed."
Although this failed to top the Billboard charts like it did here in Australia, there was little doubt that Tina Turner's theme to her theatrical debut would be a massive success in her homeland given how much hype there was going into said film. She has one more entry to come on this list, making her presence on here rather pitiful all things considered.
Although it wasn't a huge chart topper on Billboard like it was over in NZ, the fact remains that Smokey Robinson was off to a great start for the 80's in his homeland due to how big this ballad was for him over there. This will be his final appearance on this list, although he did score some minor hits during the second half of the decade in his homeland.
Just like here in Australia, Eric Carmen was able to ride the success he had with his contribution to the Dirty dancing soundtrack in America with this track from his (then) most recent album. Also like in Australia, this was the last time he troubled the Billboard charts, which means his success was perfectly mirrored in both countries as he also only had one hit prior in America with "All by myself."
The last time Aretha Franklin troubled the Billboard charts was "Until you come back to me" from over a decade prior to her comeback with this entry, naturally it was a shoe in for Billboard's 80's list given how it was also a huge hit here in Australia and over in NZ for the 60's souls legend.
This is the first entry on Billboard's 80's list that failed to become a top five hit back in the day, this just goes to show you how slow America was in allowing hip hop to be a success back in the day even if admittedly this was a hit upon its initial release over there. Don't ask me what took it so long to top the Australian charts because to this day I still don't have the answer.
This was another song from the Purple one that nearly topped the Billboard charts this decade, I swear there were almost the same number of near misses this decade in America as there were actual chart toppers which admittedly has made it a nightmare for anyone to compile a comprehensive list of the biggest hits of the decade over there (including Billboard itself it seems.)
This was another predictable entry from Air supply on this list given how inescapable they were in America during the first half of the decade, at least they had some success here in Australia with these entries even if they were pitiful compared to what they achieved on Billboard.
OK I'm kind of cheating with this entry as obviously we're looking at the Stock Aiken Waterman remix rather than the original that became a hit for Kylie in Australia and NZ, however this remix didn't chart in either country and was a massive hit for her in America as well as throughout Europe, so I'm including it here. How can I not given how it was a massive worldwide hit for her?
It was the song that prevent MJ from having back-to-back chart toppers with his two entries from the start of this list, so you'd think it would stick around for quite some time on the Billboard charts given how it was also a massive chart topper throughout the rest of the world right? It turns out this wasn't the case which admittedly make sense given it's the only song on this list with Celtic influences.
Speaking of MJ, we have the title track to his album Bad which of course was a Billboard chart topper for him. It's one of the weakest number ones of the decade mind you as only five other songs managed to appear lower than it does on Billboard's 80's list, suggesting it was more of a fan hit that was boosted by airplay than anything.
This almost topped the Billboard charts for Kenny Loggins, this just goes to show how popular Top gun's soundtrack was in America as it was throughout the rest of the world if both the big hits were able to outrank several other iconic tracks from that year on this list, many of which didn't even make the cut to boot.
Here's the third entry from the Dirty dancing soundtrack I mentioned earlier, naturally it wasn't quite as big in America as it was here in Australia due to there being less competition here than there was over there, however Eric's fellow Americans were impressed with this track that played over the training montage in the film to make it a hit regardless.
I would say that I'm surprised this was more of a hit in Australia and NZ than it was in Stevie Wonder's native America except I'm not, yes this is more of a reggae track which is perhaps how he was able to score a hit on Billboard with this track, however he was one of the faces of disco throughout the 70's.
This is the only entry from the Commodores that made it onto Billboard's 80's list, I would've been surprised if it didn't given how it's a touching tribute to both Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson who both tragically lost their lives in 1984. These guys did have a few hits at the start of the decade while Lionel Richie was still with them, however they didn't make the cut due to having relatively weak chart runs.
Much like "Loverboy" from earlier on this list, this also almost topped the Billboard charts for Billy Ocean, which means he could've had five chart toppers in America this decade had there been less competition during the height of his popularity. This was his biggest hit here in Australia as well as his native UK, likely due to the popularity of the film this was written for.
This was Kenny Roger's second chart topper in the UK after "Lucille" from three years prior, so it makes sense that he would finally start having hits again on Billboard a decade after his last with his former band First edition. Even so, I get the feeling this was only big in Australia and NZ due to how popular he was in the UK rather than us Aussies and kiwis being country bumpkins.
This is the final appearance Tina Turner will have on this list, at least it nearly topped the Billboard charts which goes to show her fellow Americans hadn't quite discarded her when this first came out. It appears we Aussies did at first given how this bombed here on only makes an appearance due to its success in NZ, however the follow up single "What you get is what you see" revived her popularity with us.
This was Billy Joel's second Billboard chart topper, although you wouldn't know it given how long it's been since we last looked at him on this list (made worse when you consider I've skipped several entries on Billboard's 80's list.) Like I said before, "Uptown girl" has long since overshadowed this as the definitive track from An innocent man as far as the mainstream is concerned.
If you thought Murray Head is a one hit wonder in America with this track from the musical Chess, it turns out "Superstar" was a hit over the like it was throughout the rest of the world, meaning that he's a two-hit wonder on Billboard just like he is worldwide. This was only a minor hit in his native UK, meaning that it only crossed over to America due to how big it was in Australia and NZ.
This was the last song to be released as a single from Don't be cruel, naturally it was a big hit on Billboard for Bobby Brown given how it was a huge international hit for him including here in Australia where it was his first. This is his last appearance on Billboard's 80's list even though he had other hits from his debut album in America.
Although it feels a bit low on this list, it was inevitable that this one and only hit that Men without hats was able to achieve worldwide would appear on this list given how it was one of the first songs to benefit from MTV thanks to its bizarre music video. It appears this was most successful in NZ as it almost topped the charts over there as opposed to being a top five hit on Billboard.
This was also a flop for the Pointer sisters upon its initial release in America much like it was here in Australia, in fact if it wasn't for the fact the trio had a surprise hit in the UK with "Automatic" (which didn't make it onto Billboard's 80's list) I doubt this would've gotten a second chance anywhere in the world which would've been a shame as it's often considered their signature tune.
This could've been the Bangles second Billboard chart topper instead of "Eternal flame" from earlier on this list, it wasn't due to the stiff competition it had upon its initial release, however that just goes to show how chaotic the charts were in 1988 in America. This was also the theme song to the critically panned film Less than zero, a film you likely didn't realise existed if I didn't bring it up.
Given how they saw massive worldwide success with their one and only hit, you'd think this would've been a massive Billboard chart topper for Nu Shooz. Alas it wasn't as their worldwide success came when this became a surprise hit in the UK where it almost topped their charts, I'm guessing because it was a pseudo dance track which the Brits have always loved.
If you're wondering why I haven't mentioned Janet Jackson since her entry towards the top of this list, that's because I've skipped over her other Billboard chart topper "When I think of you" due to it failing to become a hit anywhere outside of her native America. Indeed, this is where she would flood my list if any of the other singles from Control was a success outside of this lead single.
Although they had a hit with "The breakup song" in America just like they did here in Australia, this was the only entry on Billboard's 80's list that the Greg Kihn band had due to it nearly topping the Billboard charts back in the day.
Again, so much for the disco backlash in America as it didn't seem to affect the Rolling stones when they released this at the start of the decade, although it's worth noting that their previous hit over there "Miss you" did go to number one so maybe it's possible this could've done the same if it came out just six months prior.
You'd think this would've been a hit for Toto upon its initial release in America like it was over in NZ, alas it was a flop on Billboard initially just like it was internationally and only becoming a success over there when the album it came from was crown album of the year at the Grammys. This allowed the song to skyrocket to number one in America before quickly falling out of the charts.
I guess Bryan Adams was able to score a second appearance on this list after all as he famously provided backing vocals for this one and only hit from his fellow Canadian band Glass tiger. This almost went to number one on Billboard due to how big it was in their homeland, however it got beaten out by much stiffer competition from earlier on this list.
This is the penultimate Billboard chart topper to appear on this list, it was the lead single to Richard Marx's second album as well as his second consecutive chart topper as this was the first thing he released after the success of "Hold on to the nights." Even though it was only a sleeper hit here in Australia, it remains a staple on our oldie’s stations to this day.
Cyndi was on a roll in her native America just like she was internationally when she released the third single to her debut album, it was a massive success on Billboard even if it had no chance of topping its charts. She made history with the fourth single "All through the night" as it was the first time an album spawned four top five hits on their charts, it sadly didn't make it on their 80's list on their website.
If you're wondering how this managed to become a massive hit on Billboard when it was only a moderate success here in Australia, that's because it was the lead single from their second album over there instead of "Dr Heckyl and Mr Jive" which was relegated to its third single and thus was caused it to bomb in America.
I know that this was more popular here in Australia than it was anywhere else in the world, however you have to forgive my shock when I found out just how much less popular it was in Cher's native America than it was even in NZ or the UK back in the day. What's worse is that after "Just like Jessie James" fell off the Billboard chart (which won't be appearing on this list) this was the last her fellow Americans heard of her music until "Believe" almost a decade later.
Again, I’m not sure how this wasn't a Billboard chart topper given that A: it came from one of the biggest names in music and B: it was taken from a popular film of the moment. I guess you can argue it had its success eaten up by both the album and soundtrack it came from, however that didn't prevent it from being a hit here in Australia where airplay wasn't a factor into its success.
How has it taken me this long to feature a song from the Cars on this list? I haven't skipped over any of their tracks either, meaning this was their biggest hit in their native America as they didn't have much success on Billboard in the 70's. At least this managed to be a big hit for them in their homeland as well as a decent hit here in Australia back in the day.
Even though these guys didn't have a number one anywhere in the world during their time in the spotlight, this was their biggest hit in their native UK and only missed the top spot on their charts due to it peaking during the Christmas of 1983. All this to say that it makes sense how this managed to crossover to America for the trio which led to them having a string of hits that didn't make Billboard's 80's list.
I have no idea how Americans came across this track from Thomas Dolby given how he saw no success in his native UK, heck this didn't even chart over there to give you an idea of how out of leftfield this was to become a hit on Billboard. Indeed, this was a massive hit in America which led to it crossing over to NZ which ensured its placement on this list.
And the surprises keep on coming as we have another song from a British band that wasn't exactly the biggest hit in their homeland to appear on this list, although at least this was a hit in America due to it being featured in a commercial which prompted Americans to check out what the fuss was about. All this to say, you'd think their actual UK chart topper "China in your hand" would've also been a hit on Billboard.
Although Foreigner did have moderate success in the 70's on Billboard, I feel this was the first major hit they had in America given how it secured a spot on this list. This was yet another sleeper hit for them here in Australia which is also how it got on this list, however the best was yet to come for the band as we’ve already looked at.
If you're wondering why this song which almost topped the Billboard charts at the start of the decade and even had a good chart run is appearing so low on this list, that's because we've now hit the stage where songs with decent chart runs from the first half of the decade are getting pushed aside for those from the second half that had weaker runs due to stiffer competition.
Here we are folks, this is the lowest ranking Billboard chart topper for the list, it's a good thing this was a moderate success in NZ otherwise I'd have to leave you hanging on what it was due to my own arbitrary rules for recreating Billboard's lists for this site of mine.
I'd say I would've been shocked if this didn't qualify for Billboard's 80's list, however that would mean I'd overlook the fact that Robert Plant didn't have any solo success in America following the demise of his band Led zeppelin at the start of the decade. Naturally this proved to be equally as successful in America as it was here in Australia and NZ for the supergroup.
Considering this was only barely a hit here in Australia, it's interesting this second single from Kick managed to match the success it had in NZ over to America as this almost topped the Billboard charts for the Australian band. They still have two more entries to come on this list, proving just how well loved they were by America even if that love wasn't as strong over there as it was in their homeland.
Even though this is the final entry from Air supply on my list, they would've had two more entries after this had I not skipped over every song that failed to become a hit outside of America. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, this was their debut single that they released at the start of the decade, for us Aussies and kiwis however, it was just another ballad from them in the 70's.
