# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1980 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 8, 2014, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748 "2014-10-08T11:35:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/21 "2014-10-08T17:31:19Z")
Even after 34 years, there are people who still have Funkytown stuck in their head. It’s in the DSM-V. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/22 "2014-10-08T17:35:32Z")
So far it looks like I am one of only two people cool enough to move to Funkytown. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/23 "2014-10-08T17:36:07Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Floyd, Floyd, a thousand times Floyd! 1. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/24 "2014-10-08T17:45:15Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I haven’t heard the Streisand one, but I’d probably find it quite well made and musical. YouTube “Woman in Love” – I’ll bet you’ve heard it. It’s one of those “_oh … **that’s** the title_” songs. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/25 "2014-10-08T17:45:28Z")
Aw, fudge. I really love “Another Brick in the Wall”, but “Sailing” takes it. It reminds me of being a little kid in Fort Lauderdale (okay, I was ten), and my mom would always say in a tone of wonder, “You know, Christopher Cross had never even been sailing when he wrote this song.” I just Googled that and it seems not to be true, but it really doesn’t matter…“Sailing” always makes me feel good. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/26 "2014-10-08T17:48:07Z")
I voted for _Rock With You_. It is a excellent song from one of the best pop albums ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/27 "2014-10-08T18:01:30Z")
I thought I’d decide between “Funkytown” and “Call Me”… then I remembered John Lennon and how devastating it was to lose him like that, ☹ and cast my vote for “Starting Over” as a sentimental farewell to the greatest. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/28 "2014-10-08T19:06:46Z")
Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” was my near automatic pick. I was around in 1980 and remember being rather underwhelmed by nearly all the #1 songs on the list at the time. The best I could say is that I could at least tolerate most of them. I didn’t consider John Lennon’s “Just Like Starting Over” because I don’t think it’s one of his better songs and most of its reign at #1 came in early 1981 and I want to save it as my pick for that year (which, for the most part, I recall being a pretty dire year for #1 songs). ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/29 "2014-10-08T19:10:54Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > YouTube “Woman in Love” – I’ll bet you’ve heard it. It’s one of those “_oh … **that’s** the title_” songs. You know, you’re right, exactly. Although I could swear that the tune is familiar to me not from Barbra directly, but from the Muzak while waiting to see the dentist. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/30 "2014-10-08T19:24:23Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > YouTube “Woman in Love” – I’ll bet you’ve heard it. It’s one of those “_oh … **that’s** the title_” songs. Yup, thanks! Should be called “Over and Over Again.” Not a bad song, and obviously beautifully sung. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/31 "2014-10-08T20:35:50Z")
Overall, that was another stinker of a year. “Coming Up (Live in Glasgow)” is about the last Paul McCartney single I really liked. So, it got me vote. Believe it or not, I considered “Woman in Love,” one of the few Barbra Streisand numbers I ever had a soft spot for. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/32 "2014-10-08T20:43:53Z")
I went with “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” on this one. Another Brick in the Wall is anthemic, but I don’t consider it to be a song in its own right - it’s just one verse of a suite which on the album includes “Another Brick in the Wall Part 1” and “The Happiest Days of Our Lives”. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/33 "2014-10-08T20:49:02Z")
I almost picked Sailing but then I remembered listening to Another One Bites the Dust a hell of a lot more. And then we got Another One Rides the Bus from that. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/34 "2014-10-08T20:52:44Z")
The 80s rule, but the 80s really didn’t start being the 80s until 1982. For now, we get a little disco, some really boring stuff, and two of the most iconic songs of any decade: “Another Brick in the Wall”, and “Another One Bites the Dust”. I chose the latter. Never did like Pink Floyd. Another One Bites the Dust proves that a song doesn’t have to be sophisticated or complicated to be great. Queen was always able to do both complex songs and ridiculously simple songs. Those simple songs became some of the most well known songs in rock history. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/35 "2014-10-08T21:17:58Z")
[It’s the Eighties! Do a lot of coke and vote for Ronald Reagan!](http://youtu.be/bs0osMzTZQA) So this was the offerings for my birth year, huh? I guess I’ll have to go with “Magic.” I have a soft spot for the \*Xanadu \*soundtrack, even though the ELO side got a \*\*lot \*\*more play at my house. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/36 "2014-10-08T21:27:53Z")
I voted for “Another One Bites the Dust” a good song by Queen, though the band had far greater songs in their history. But these two were the only ones to hit #1 on the Billboard Charts. The other song is not bad, with Freddie Mercury’s Elvis like vocals, though weak in their overall catalogue. The 1980 album “The Game” is not even Queen’s best. However good songs and simple. I like KC and the Sunshine Band’s last big single, it was a drastic change from their disco tunes, and it is cute and sad. “Magic” is my favorite Olivia Newton John song, love the chorus and haunting background. I like the McCartney and Blondie tunes, but no voting for them. I voted for Blondie in 1979, and may in 1981. Michael Jackson will get my vote down the line in later polls. None of the songs I hate, the least I like though is “Lady”. Even the Captain and Tennille song is their best, though not saying much. “Upside Down” is Ms. Ross’ stronger solo singles, Bill Joel’s is not bad though he had much better. I like Funky Town a lot, and will vote for most likely for John Lennon in 1981. “Sailing” is okay but boring, Cross did better on “Ride Like the Wind”. I knew Pink Floyd would most likely get most of the votes. Whew! ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/37 "2014-10-08T21:35:26Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > With the 80s, we’re entering familiar territory for me. From now on, I reckon I’ll be able not only to know the songs, but also to remember them from when they were released. > > Not quite there yet for 1980, though. > > My vote, unsurprisingly: **Pink Floyd** : _Another Brick in the Wall_ Ha! About the time you were phasing in I was phasing out. I started getting into The Blues and away from popular music. I also discovered college radio, and to this day I rarely listen to commercial stations. A few more years of these polls and you’ll be hitting your stride and I’ll be lost in the woods. I’m familiar with all the songs on this list but none of them actually appeal to me. I don’t have a single one in my record collection. My criteria for selecting a single song from these polls is: 1. Do I like this song? 2. Do I own this song? 3. Would I buy this song? I’m afraid I must abstain from voting this time around. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/38 "2014-10-08T21:44:56Z")
I thought there were quite a few strong contenders here. I have much love for Queen. I enjoyed some of the iconic disco hits. Lennon can’t go wrong. But I went with the majority - Pink Floyd - because after years of dreck (and some of it actually quite good) wasn’t this the first time that a psych-rock-experimental number made it to number one in the popular charts? And because, Pink Floyd. There has never been another band that compared. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/39 "2014-10-08T22:22:30Z")
I voted for Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”. My second choice was Olivia Newton-John’s “Magic”. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748/40 "2014-10-08T22:40:05Z")
I voted for David Gilmour’s guitar playing. Queen had a lot of songs better than _Crazy Little Thing Called Love_ and _Another One Bites the Dust_. Then again, Pink Floyd had a lot of songs better than _Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2_. But I had to take the opportunity to vote for David Gilmour’s guitar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1980/700748.md?page=3)