# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1989 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584 "2014-10-26T17:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/41 "2014-10-27T01:53:59Z")
An embarrassment of embarrassments. I went with “She Drives Me Crazy” as I think it held up the best over time. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/42 "2014-10-27T02:02:24Z")
I’m still tuned out of pop music at this pont, but I rather liked Biily Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Lots of allusions to what shaped America and indeed the world. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/43 "2014-10-27T02:10:55Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Also Soul II Soul’s Club Classics Vol One was this year. I forgot how much I loved that group. “Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)” was my jam. Too bad it only hit #4 in the US. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/44 "2014-10-27T15:02:10Z")
A LOT of “nice” songs, a lot of “pretty good” songs, a lot of enjoyably catchy songs. There are a dozen songs on this list I genuinely LIKE. None that I love. I LIKE Richard Marx. I LIKE Poison’s power ballads. “Hangin’ Tough” was the one New Kids song that you could like even if you WEREN’T a 14 year old girl. I liked both of those FYC songs. I even liked Mike + the Mechanics. But the catchiest song on there was “The Look.” Not a masterpiece, but a very solid piece of pop. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/45 "2014-10-27T15:11:47Z")
Absolutely nothing I could feel good about voting for here. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/46 "2014-10-27T15:12:48Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s impossible to shake the feeling that they went to Prince and offered him a zillion dollars for a Batman song, and he didn’t feel like writing one, but he did feel like getting the money, so he took parts from three or four other things he was working on, stuck them together, sampled dialogue from the movies and boom, it’s technically a Batman song. It is perhaps a testament to the huge pop culture sensation the 1989 “Batman” movie was, that you could release a song that is pretty much a totally random collection of samples, slap the “Bat” label on it, and have it hit #1. I’d be willing to agree with you but it wasn’t just one song - He wrote, performed and produced the entire soundtrack. All of which was related to the movie. This to me says that he took the time to create music about the characters, instead of taking old songs that were laying around and calling it a soundtrack. I loved the song and the entire record, because when you listen to it, you’re reminded of the movie and certain scenes come back to life. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/47 "2014-10-27T15:31:33Z")
Then, it was way overplayed and you couldn’t get away from it, now it’s completely tainted by scandal, but if you ignore all that and just take it on its own merits, _Blame it on the Rain_ is a very good song. [_Cold Hearted_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aShcmEksw&ob=av2n) is not a great song, but still one of my favorite videos. Same with [_Miss You Much_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVF0zcqr9Dg&ob=av3e). ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/48 "2014-10-27T15:39:42Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > I loved the song and the entire record, because when you listen to it, you’re reminded of the movie and certain scenes come back to life. Agreed completely. There were a number of other great tracks on the album (Trust, Partyman, Electric Chair) that were fun and very Prince-like while still being incredibly evocative of the movie. ---
**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 27, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/49 "2014-10-27T15:44:08Z")
Woohoo, I’m finally voting with the crowd! ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/50 "2014-10-27T17:20:38Z")
Tough year. Definitely not the music I was listening to at the time. I always thought “The Living Years” and “Wind Beneath Your Wings” were sentimental glurge, although other’s mileage clearly varies. For me, that leaves “Like a Prayer” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. Prayer has catchy melodic hooks and Madonna’s voice is in great form. But ultimately, it’s a rather shallow pop song – the chorus, in particular, with its poppy upbeat ditziness, doesn’t do the rest of the song justice. (And, somewhat unfairly, it sounds as though it’s “Like a Virgin” rehashed.) So I’m going to go with Billy Joel, just because, well, it’s an audio version of these polls. It takes you through time and makes you think about it, for better or worse. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/51 "2014-10-27T17:49:55Z")
I guess it is time to vote for Madonna, although other songs appealed to me more. Namely _Straight Up_ and Paula Abdul was smoking hot. But more _She Drives Me Crazy_ by the inimitable Fine Young Cannibals. That too was in a video, more or less - they played it during an episode of _Thirtysomething_. And it really fit the moment, plus it is catchy and light hearted. The rest are much of a muchness - a year with New Kids on the Block and Milli Vanilli in contention is going to be like that. Regards, Shodan ---
**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 27, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/52 "2014-10-27T18:21:11Z")
I love Roxette\*, so of course I had to vote for them. I like “The Look” a little more than “Listen to Your Heart” so that’s the one I clicked. \*I have a long-standing crush on Per Gessle. Roxette sent me on a quest which led me to Mr. Gessle’s [solo work](http://youtu.be/TKPRDWAHwiQ?list=PL05451505E3E12675) and [Gyllene Tider](http://youtu.be/d_cdAYydf50?list=PLF686BF2DD98BFD1A). ---
**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 27, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/53 "2014-10-27T18:30:01Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Nirvana - _Bleach_ (ya know, the good record) So very edgy. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/54 "2014-10-27T18:44:48Z")
**Paula Abdul** - _Straight Up_ This is one of the precious few songs that make me want to get up and dance. Cool groove, catchy chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Abracadebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f04885/32.png) [@Abracadebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abracadebra)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/55 "2014-10-27T19:00:13Z")
I began my judging by considering lyrics, video, and personal meaning. I had to go with “The Living Years” for lyrics. Very powerful. That barely edged out Roxette, for personal meaning. Also, loved “Like a Virgin”; that video was controversial when it came out. ---
**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 27, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/56 "2014-10-27T19:05:28Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > **Paula Abdul** - _Straight Up_ > > This is one of the precious few songs that make me want to get up and dance. Cool groove, catchy chorus. Though I ended up in the end not voting for it, I’m glad to see you (and at least two other posters) appreciate it perhaps as much as I do. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/57 "2014-10-27T19:10:07Z")
I guess I’m grateful for these threads because they remind me that, despite some of these songs being (IMHO) terrible, there are still people out there who like them. “The Living Years” is pure unadulterated treacle, with that hideous children’s chorus being the puke icing on a barf cake. Being absolutely sincere doesn’t stop it from being ghastly. And the Billy Joel “List historical events in meaningless sequence” is almost as bad. I like him as a songwriter but he’s doing very little of that in this turd. I voted for FYC, practically the only oasis in a miserable field. ---
**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 27, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/58 "2014-10-27T20:16:44Z")
> [@Eddie\_F](#): > > So very edgy. I dunno if you’re being ironic or not, but it’s the only record of theirs I own. I think it’s their only good record, take it for what you will. To put a finer point on it: in a series of threads where people (including me) admit to liking the most reprehensible #1 hits, you’re going to deride my taste over _Bleach_? Eh, enjoy yourself. I think they best things they did after that were Meat Puppets and David Bowie covers. Just don’t challenge me over _Wrong_. That record even humiliates Sonic Youth’s best records. Musical, sensitive, completely brutal. ---
**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 27, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/59 "2014-10-27T20:24:10Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Just don’t challenge me over _Wrong_. That record even humiliates Sonic Youth’s best records. Musical, sensitive, completely brutal. I actually looked that up last night, as I had never heard of Nomeansno. I like what I heard. ---
**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 27, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584/60 "2014-10-27T20:27:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I actually looked that up last night, as I had never heard of Nomeansno. I like what I heard. Thank you, It’s nice to have your tastes reinforced, too. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1989/702584.md?page=4)