# Instrumentals on the pop charts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 27, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948 "2017-02-27T14:34:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948/1 "2017-02-27T14:34:22Z")

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When was the last time an instrumental song was a big hit? (Music Box Dancer in the late 70s?) Seems like ages. Of course I get that “tastes change” but what other explanations might there be?

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**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948/2 "2017-02-27T15:13:03Z")

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Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop? '84 or so.

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**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:** [February 27, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948/3 "2017-02-27T15:37:11Z")

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[Looks like a bunch of Kenny G](http://tunecaster.com/charts/music/instrumental-top-10-4.html) from the late 80s and 90s. Apparently, the last top 10 instrumental in the US was his version of Auld Lang Syne in 1999.

I seem to remember Robert Miles’ “Children” being fairly big in the mid 90s, but it looks like it only hit #21 on the Hot 100 (although it did reach #1 on the dance charts.)

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**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948/4 "2017-02-27T15:48:21Z")

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> [@Paintcharge](#):
>
> Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop? '84 or so.

That’s a good one. I was thinking “Chariots of Fire” from back in '81. But “Axel F” was a mainstream hit as well.

I’ll trust **pulykamell** ’s more data-driven answer though, you know, if I ain’t heard of it then it must not have been a big deal 😉

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**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrumentals-on-the-pop-charts/780948/5 "2017-02-27T16:06:18Z")

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Jan Hammer’s “Miami Vice Theme” hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1985. It was the last instrumental song to reach #1 until “Harlem Shake” 2013.