# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1987 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139 "2014-10-22T12:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/21 "2014-10-22T15:33:29Z")
I like Lisa Lisa’s “Head to Toe” best, a very Supremes-like song, and feel fondly toward Kim Wilde’s “You Keep Me Hanging On,” which of course _is_ the Supremes. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/22 "2014-10-22T15:40:27Z")
“With Or Without You” just ahead of “Faith”. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/23 "2014-10-22T15:41:14Z")
I picked “With or Without You.” Just a beautiful, timeless song. Heart’s “Alone” is a distant second. As a 9-year-old I used to belt out that song in my bedroom like nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/24 "2014-10-22T16:20:42Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > A lot of meh. Si! Los Lobos it is, then! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/25 "2014-10-22T16:33:43Z")
Ah, 1987. The year U2 went from ‘that Irish band who did Sunday Bloody Sunday’ to ‘that Irish band that’s the biggest thing since the Beatles’. Essentially, the attained immortality in 1987…The Joshua Tree led to Rattle and Hum led to Achtung Baby. I voted for Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/26 "2014-10-22T17:20:32Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I definitely started tuning out music at this point. This is where my slow fade away from pop music began. There are about a dozen songs on this list that I don’t even know. Yeah, me too. In stark contrast to previous years, there’s nothing on this list I’ve ever owned a copy of, except the Bangles and U2 (and I think I have a Huey Lewis greatest hits compilation somewhere)—and quite a few that I don’t even know what they sound like. So from here on out, I can only pick from the songs I recognize, not from the entire list. > [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Ah, 1987. The year U2 went from ‘that Irish band who did Sunday Bloody Sunday’ to ‘that Irish band that’s the biggest thing since the Beatles’. Essentially, the attained immortality in 1987…The Joshua Tree led to Rattle and Hum led to Achtung Baby. Well, _The Unforgettable Fire_ was pretty big when I was in high school; and when _The Joshua Tree_ came along, it didn’t sound to me like that big of an advance over _The Unforgettable Fire_. In fact, my main problem with U2 is that that all their songs sound the same. No, that’s clearly an exaggeration, but it’s more true of them than of many other bands. So, while I like them and respect them, I don’t love them the way other people do. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/27 "2014-10-22T17:44:51Z")
Since the competition was too stiff for me to vote for the Bangles in the previous poll, I plumped for them this time. Otherwise I would have given it to “With or Without You.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/28 "2014-10-22T17:55:18Z")
After a decent 1986, it’s back to slim pickins it looks like. Weird thing is, there a bunch of songs here I have no recollection of. I just listened to The Huey Lewis song, and it doesn’t sound familiar at all. Anyhow, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was the fairly easy choice here. “With or Without You” would probably be my number two, and I’d probably round out my top 5 with “Bad,” “Faith,” and “Livin on a Prayer.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/29 "2014-10-22T18:46:09Z")
_Still Haven’t Foud What I’m Looking For_ is a great track and the live version on _Rattle and Hum_ is epic. Easy choice for me. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/30 "2014-10-22T19:07:36Z")
Ah, “La Bamba”…the second riff I learned on guitar after “Centerfield.” ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/31 "2014-10-22T20:12:20Z")
Had to go with Faith. It’s a damned catchy tune. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/32 "2014-10-22T20:59:09Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > my main problem with U2 is that that all their songs sound the same. No, that’s clearly an exaggeration, but it’s more true of them than of many other bands. So, while I like them and respect them, I don’t love them the way other people do. I feel the same. _War_, _Joshua Tree_ and _Achtung Baby_ are three of my favorite albums. But 25 years later, the three opening tracks on _Joshua Tree_ (Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and With or Without You) are all pretty interchangeable to me, and lead to a pretty monotonous first 15 minutes of the album. So, surprisingly to me, I voted **George Michael** , with **Michael Jackson** and **Bon Jovi** trailing. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/33 "2014-10-22T21:38:30Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I feel the same. Me three. I thought \*The Unforgettable Fire \*was fantastic, but after two more albums that were \*good \*but just never seemed to \*go \*anywhere, I was pretty much done with U2. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/34 "2014-10-22T22:30:59Z")
The year of my infancy, 1987. Seems U2 will win this poll, question remains which single? Glad to George Michael getting love, I will give him votes in 1988 his big year. Many good songs overall and albums: “Joshua Tree”, “Faith” and “Bad”. There were of course songs that were released that year that did not hit #1. This year I decided it was high time to cast a vote for Madonna, I gave my vote to “Open Your Heart” by a hair. I mistakenly thought “La Isla Bonita” was #1, but seems not. I really needed to vote for Madonna in the 80’s poll. Dopers don’t seem to give Madge much love. On a side note it’s weird that Tiffany’s song was followed by Billy Idol’s, and both are Tommy James $ Shondells’ covers. Idol had much better, iconic songs like “White Wedding”, “Eyes Without A Face”, but a cover was his only number 1. A good year overall. ---
**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 22, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/35 "2014-10-22T22:33:53Z")
This is the year I started paying attention to music, mainly due to my older sister and her many, many cassettes of hair bands. I have no idea who to vote for. I have fond memories of a lot of these songs. I love the music of the late 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/36 "2014-10-22T22:49:53Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > I really needed to vote for Madonna in the 80’s poll. Dopers don’t seem to give Madge much love. 1989 is totally Madge’s year. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/37 "2014-10-22T23:10:46Z")
> [@Eddie\_F](#): > > 1989 is totally Madge’s year. True, but I won’t vote for “Like A Prayer”, which is an iconic, classic Madge song. I would have went with Madonna in 1989 for “Express Yourself”, but it stalled at #2. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/38 "2014-10-22T23:15:12Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I feel the same. _War_, _Joshua Tree_ and _Achtung Baby_ are three of my favorite albums. But 25 years later, the three opening tracks on _Joshua Tree_ (Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and With or Without You) are all pretty interchangeable to me, and lead to a pretty monotonous first 15 minutes of the album. > > So, surprisingly to me, I voted **George Michael** , with **Michael Jackson** and **Bon Jovi** trailing. Heck even “New Year’s Day” from “War” sounds to me like “Where The Streets Have No Name”, even though songs are four years apart. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/39 "2014-10-23T00:32:07Z")
Livin on a Prayer is one of the greatest songs of all time. U2 fans can suck it. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139/40 "2014-10-23T01:11:29Z")
I’m the only one who voted for Bob Seger? The song from Beverly Hills Cop ll? Shakedown, breakdown, takedown - everybody wants into the crowded line Takedown, shakedown - you’re busted I loved Bob Seger in the '80s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1987/702139.md?page=3)