News 26 April 2018

ARIA Charts Throwback: 22 April 1984

34 years ago, some of the biggest hits of the 80s held pride of place in the ARIA Top Ten!

ARIA Charts Throwback: 22 April 1984

34 years ago, some of the biggest hits of the 80s held pride of place in the ARIA Top Ten!

April 1984 was the month that saw ‘Advanced Australia Fair’ proclaimed Australia’s national anthem and green and gold officially installed as our national colours; for the second time, Western Australia voted against introducing daylight saving; the tear-jerking Terms Of Endearment won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture; and the music world lost a giant when Marvin Gaye passed away at the age of 44.

On the ARIA Singles Chart, one of Germany’s biggest ever pop music exports was dominating the top spot.

10. Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride

The only hit in Australia for American singer-songwriter Matthew Wilder peaked at #6. It would return to the chart twelve years later thanks to Austrian duo Unique II, whose cover peaked at #2.

9. Paul Young - Love Of The Common People

Released as the third single from Paul Young’s debut album, No Parlez, ‘Love Of The Common People’ became the British blue-eyed soul star’s highest peak locally when it hit #8. In the UK, it was the album’s third Top Five hit.

8. Billy Idol - Rebel Yell

The lead single from the album of the same name, ‘Rebel Yell’ became the second of Billy Idol’s six Australian Top Ten singles during its 16-week run in the chart.

7. Van Halen – Jump

A #2 in Australia and Van Halen’s sole US #1, ‘Jump’ was the first single from the aptly-titled album 1984. It would be the hard rock band’s last studio album with flamboyant front man David Lee Roth until 2012.

6. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax

Banned by the BBC due to its provocative lyrics, ‘Relax’ was the first of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s consecutive #1s in the UK, all of which came from their debut album Welcome To The Pleasuredome. It peaked at #5 in Australia.

5. Marilyn - Calling Your Name

Marilyn’s only Top Ten single in Australia peaked at #3 in April 1984. A year later it would feature on his only studio album, Despite Straight Lines.

4. Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

Peaking at #3, ‘Hold Me Now’ gave British trio Thompson Twins their sole Top Ten appearance in Australia. The track later appeared in a host of films including The Wedding Singer and 10 Things I Hate About You.

3. INXS - I Send A Message

The follow-up to ‘Original Sin’ (#1 Feb. ’84), ‘I Send A Message’ became the second of three Top Three hits from INXS’ first #1 album, The Swing (#1 Apr. ’84). It was one of the band’s nine Top Tens during the Michael Hutchence era.

2. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Cyndi Lauper’s first solo single spent two weeks at #1 in March and April 1984 and went on to spend a total of eleven weeks in the Top Ten. It was the first of her six Top Ten singles.

1. Nena - 99 Luftballons / 99 Red Balloons

German band Nena scored their only #1 on the ARIA Charts when ’99 Luftballons’ spent five consecutive weeks in the top spot in April/May 1984. Released with the English version ’99 Red Balloons’ on the flipside of the single, it was the group’s only Top 50 entry locally. It was the first track sung in a foreign language to top the ARIA Charts (which had launched in July 1983).