Huey Lewis & The News - "Jacobs Ladder"

On 14th march 1987 in the U.S., it's Huey Lewis & the News who reached the first place with "Jacobs Ladder". Well, ok, I know I'm too late to publish that post... but 20 years later, 1 week too late doesn't matter anymore, does it? Well, then quickly watch the video:

This californian band is probably much more successfull there in the U.S. than on this side of the ocean, and to be honest I don't remember this song "Jacobs Ladder"... But, they do have had some big successes in Europe... for instance, I'm sure you remember songs like "Stuck With You" and "Hip to be Square" in 1986, but most of all "The Power of Love" in 1985 because it was chosen as the soundtrack of "Back to the Future", huge popular succes starring Michael J.Fox.

So, to apologize for my late posting, I can't resist the pleasure to also show in here the "The Power of Love" video... Enjoy! ;-)

Jefferson Starship "We Built This City"

Ok, let's see for once what was n°1 in the US charts...while Feargal Sharkey was entertaining the UK...

In November 1985...yes that's 20 years ago! ;-)... the number one song was "We Built This City" by Jefferson Starship, also known as Starship alone... Starship is a band formed by Paul Kantner who previously built the band Jefferson Airplane. So for his second band, he kept the name Jefferson, but today we talk about them sometimes as Jefferson Starship, sometimes as just Starship... whatever! :-))

Was "We Built This City" a big hit ? Is there any reason for it to be "famous"?

Actually there's a very "funny" reason for it to be "famous" but probably a reason that Paul Kantner doesn't like much...

In April 2004, Blender, a US music Magazine, listed the "The 50 Worst Songs Ever" and guess who hit the first place: "We Built This City" ! Not really the kind of first place singers are looking for, is it? :-)

According to editor Craig Marks "It purports to be anti-commercial but reeks of '80s corporate-rock commercialism. It's a real reflection of what practically killed rock music in the '80s."
Also sealing the song's fate were Starship's steep fall from grace as the admired Jefferson Airplane and "the sheer dumbness of the lyrics," Marks says...

Note for all of you 80's music fans, 6 songs from the eigthies are in the top 10 of 50 worst songs EVER!!! Here they are:

• Wang Chung's "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" at n°3
• Huey Lewis & The News' "The Heart of Rock & Roll" at n°6
• Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" at n°7
• Eddy Murphy's "Party All the Time" at n°8
• Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder's "Ebony and Ivory" at n°10

Note that I almost forgot that Eddy Murphy pretended to be a singer! :-))

Find more information about Starship on their official website: Jefferson Starship

Jennifer Rush "The Power of Love"

Ok, back to work! ;-)

Twenty years ago the N°1 in UK hits was "The Power of Love" performed by Jennifer Rush.

This is for sure the biggest hit of Jennifer Rush. It stayed number one in the UK charts for more than 1 month long! This was the first single by a female soloist to sell a million copies in the UK, and is among the UK's best-selling singles of all-time!

Too bad for Jennifer, she didn't hit the american top 40 with it, but the song did!!! The versions of the song by Laura Branigan and also by Celine Dion reached the american top 40. Celine Dion's version was even nominated for a 1995 Grammy Award.

There's even more to tell about the song title "The Power of Love"...

Actually, there are 3 different songs each called "The Power of Love" and the 3 of them were hits in 1985. That's for sure the only year in which three different songs of the same name have been in the UK charts...

The first was released by Frankie Goes to Hollywood a bit before 1984's Christmas.

The second, released by Huey Lewis and the News, was written for and featured in the film "Back from the Future" starring Michael J.Fox. That song was nominated for an Academy Award at the 1986 Oscars.

Then Jennifer came out with her unforgettable song.

Ok, that's it about that song... and as promised, you'll find more about Jennifer Rush on my new website, coming out soon (?) ... ;-)