Terrible Number One Songs That Topped Charts in the 80's

From synthesizer nightmares to saccharine ballads, the 1980s gave us some of the most commercially successful yet critically questionable music in pop history. In this unfiltered deep dive, we count down the 20 worst songs that somehow reached number one on the charts during this neon-soaked decade.

What makes a hit song truly terrible? We start with the universally panned "We Built This City" by Starship and work our way through musical atrocities like Falco's "Amadeus" and Christopher Cross's "Arthur's Theme." Even legendary artists weren't immune to producing questionable chart-toppers – we examine how Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and John Lennon's "Starting Over" reached the pinnacle of success despite falling far short of their creators' usual standards.

The conversation takes fascinating turns as we discover surprising chart statistics (did you know some songs spent weeks at number one in the US but barely registered in the UK, and vice versa?) and find ourselves occasionally defending certain entries. Not every song on the "worst" list deserves its place – particularly Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and Lipps Inc.'s "Funkytown," which sparked heated debate among our hosts.

Beyond just mocking these musical missteps, we explore the cultural context that allowed these songs to thrive, the technological shifts that dominated 80s production, and how many of these artists have maintained enduring careers despite (or because of) these questionable hits. Whether you're a defender of 80s pop or a critic who believes grunge saved us all, this episode offers an entertaining journey through the decade's most regrettable musical moments.

Listen now, and let us know which 80s chart-toppers you think should have never reached number one!

I apologize for the sound quality on the previous 2 shows. It is summer here and we have the a/c running in the Humble Backyard Studio and I did not properly adjust the microphones for it. That problem is fixed and we will keep right on rollin along.

Check out our new website at almostfamousradiopodcast.com where you can listen to all our episodes and learn more about the show. You can also join our email list. Contact Jeffy at JeffyMcJ@almostfamousradiopodcast.com.

Chapters

• 0:00 Show Introduction and Beverages
• 2:17 Shittiest Number One Songs List Begins
• 6:13 The Terrors of Synth-Pop Era
• 10:45 One-Hit Wonders and Regrettable Ballads
• 18:17 Hair Bands and Power Ballads
• 36:51 80s Music Legacy and Current Status
• 51:09 Wrapping Up and Website Info