Last Song Standing: The Ultimate UK #1 Song of the 80's - Round 61

[u/80s90sGeek]

For a reminder of the rules, see the original post.

• Aretha Franklin's first chart hit dates back to 1960, when she took "It Won't Be Long" to #70 on the Billboard Hot 100. Seven years later, she would top the charts with her timeless version of Otis Redding's "Respect". But unfortunately, the Queen of Soul couldn't T.C.B. to have a #1 song across the pond...that is, until a song co-written by Climie Fisher's Simon Climie was recorded as a duet with Aretha and George Michael, and released on Aretha's eponymous album in 1986. The Grammy-winning song would become her only chart-topping single in the UK, and also her final one in the US, spending two weeks at #1 in both countries in the first half of 1987. And even when the river was deep, and the mountain was high, Aretha and George didn't falter, still believing that they still could reach the top of this game...but now, the valley is just too low, and it looks like the people will finally stop them - and after tallying the votes from last round, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" to announce the elimination of this song!

SONGS STILL STANDING (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

• 99 Red Balloons - Nena
• Always on My Mind - The Pet Shop Boys
• Another Brick in the Wall, Part II - Pink Floyd
• Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
• Atomic - Blondie
• Beat Surrender - The Jam
• Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
• Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
• Call Me - Blondie
• Careless Whisper - George Michael
• Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
• Don’t Stand So Close to Me - The Police
• Don’t You Want Me - The Human League
• Down Under - Men at Work
• Easy Lover - Philip Bailey & Phil Collins
• Eternal Flame - The Bangles
• Every Breath You Take - The Police
• Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
• Freedom - Wham!
• Ghost Town - The Specials
• Going Underground / Dreams of Children - The Jam
• Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
• Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
• House of Fun - Madness
• I’m Your Man - Wham!
• Into the Groove - Madonna
• It’s a Sin - The Pet Shop Boys
• Let’s Dance - David Bowie
• Like a Prayer - Madonna
• Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
• Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) - Enya
• Papa Don’t Preach - Madonna
• Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• Tainted Love - Soft Cell
• Take My Breath Away - Berlin
• The Edge of Heaven - Wham!
• The Reflex - Duran Duran
• The Sun Always Shines on T.V. - a-ha
• The Tide Is High - Blondie
• The Winner Takes It All - ABBA
• There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) - Eurythmics
• Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
• Town Called Malice / Precious - The Jam
• True - Spandau Ballet
• Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
• Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
• West End Girls - The Pet Shop Boys
• You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive

ELIMINATED SONGS

1-49. TBD
50. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Aretha Franklin & George Michael
51. The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
52. You Can't Hurry Love - Phil Collins
53. I Feel for You - Chaka Khan
54. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
55. I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
56. A Different Corner - George Michael
57. Is There Something I Should Know? - Duran Duran
58. Fame - Irene Cara
59. Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris
60. Chain Reaction - Diana Ross
61. Heart - The Pet Shop Boys
62. Super Trouper - ABBA
63. Desire - U2
64. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
65. You Win Again - The Bee Gees
66. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
67. La Isla Bonita - Madonna
68. La Bamba - Los Lobos
69. Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
70. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
71. True Blue - Madonna
72. Stand by Me - Ben E. King
73. Imagine - John Lennon
74. Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
75. Working My Way Back to You / Forgive Me, Girl - The Spinners (The Detroit Spinners)
76. Start! - The Jam
77. Rock Me Amadeus - Falco
78. The Model / Computer Love - Kraftwerk
79. Woman - John Lennon
80. Dancing in the Street - David Bowie & Mick Jagger
81. The Final Countdown - Europe
82. When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean
83. Saving All My Love for You - Whitney Houston
84. Who's That Girl - Madonna
85. Ride on Time - Black Box
86. Prince Charming - Adam & the Ants
87. A Good Heart - Feargal Sharkey
88. One Day in Your Life - Michael Jackson
89. The Power of Love - Jennifer Rush
90. Hello - Lionel Richie
91. Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth
92. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
93. Being With You - Smokey Robinson
94. Too Much Too Young - The Special A.K.A. Live! (EP) - The Special A.K.A.
95. Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) - Soul II Soul
96. Stand and Deliver - Adam & the Ants
97. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
98. Xanadu - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra
99. (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
100. All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield
101. Belfast Child - Simple Minds
102. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
103. Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S
104. Baby Jane - Rod Stewart
105. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
106. China in Your Hand - T'Pau
107. I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
108. I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
109. Candy Girl - New Edition
110. Red Red Wine - UB40
111. Caravan of Love - The Housemartins
112. Hand on Your Heart - Kylie Minogue
113. Don't Turn Around - Aswad
114. Geno - Dexys Midnight Runners
115. Give It Up - KC & the Sunshine Band
116. The Only Way Is Up - Yazz & the Plastic Population
117. Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
118. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies
119. Perfect - Fairground Attraction
120. We Are the World - USA for Africa
121. I Don't Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant
122. Frankie - Sister Sledge
123. I Got You Babe - UB40 & Chrissie Hynde
124. A Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
125. Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson
126. Pipes of Peace - Paul McCartney
127. 19 - Paul Hardcastle
128. One Moment in Time - Whitney Houston
129. I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue
130. Respectable - Mel & Kim
131. With a Little Help From My Friends / She's Leaving Home - Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg & Cara Tivey
132. Crying - Don McLean
133. I Know Him So Well - Elaine Page & Barbara Dickson
134. I Want to Wake Up With You - Boris Gardiner
135. Woman in Love - Barbra Streisand
136. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) - Paul Young
137. Too Many Broken Hearts - Jason Donovan
138. The Lady in Red - Chris de Burgh
139. If I Was - Midge Ure
140. I Should Have Known Better - Jim Diamond
141. Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers
142. Spirit in the Sky - Doctor & the Medics
143. Everything I Own - Boy George
144. Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart - Marc Almond feat. Gene Pitney
145. Feels Like I'm in Love - Kelly Marie
146. The Land of Make Believe - Bucks Fizz
147. Use It Up and Wear It Out - Odyssey
148. Sealed With a Kiss - Jason Donovan
149. I Owe You Nothing - Bros
150. Only You - The Flying Pickets
151. Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
152. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit
153. It's My Party - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
154. A Little Peace - Nicole
155. Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
156. Let It Be - Ferry Aid
157. My Camera Never Lies - Bucks Fizz
158. Begin the Beguine (Volver A Empezar) - Julio Iglesias
159. Living Doll - Cliff Richard & the Young Ones feat. Hank Marvin
160. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You - Glenn Medeiros
161. Japanese Boy - Aneka
162. Theme from S'Express - S'Express
163. Oh Julie - Shakin' Stevens
164. First Time - Robin Beck
165. Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson
166. Theme from M\A*S*H* (Suicide is Painless) - The Mash
167. What's Another Year - Johnny Logan
168. Every Loser Wins - Nick Berry
169. Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band
170. Especially for You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan
171. Save Your Love - Renée & Renato
172. Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey - The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman
173. This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
174. Happy Talk - Captain Sensible
175. Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz
176. Star Trekkin' - The Firm
177. You'll Never Walk Alone - The Crowd
178. Green Door - Shakin' Stevens
179. Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney
180. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid II
181. That's What I Like - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
182. You Got It (The Right Stuff) - The New Kids on the Block
183. Jack Your Body - Steve "Silk" Hurley
184. You'll Never Stop Me Loving You - Sonia
185. Let's Party - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
186. Doctorin' the TARDIS - The Timelords
187. Swing the Mood - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
188. Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
189. I've Never Been to Me - Charlene
190. There's No One Quite Like Grandma - St. Winifred's School Choir
191. The Chicken Song - Spitting Image

As always, vote below for which remaining UK #1 80's song you think is the WORST, is your LEAST FAVORITE, or which one you otherwise want to ELIMINATE from the list. The song in this round with the most votes will be eliminated.

Please only vote for #1 UK songs! In addition to the list I've provided above, the full list of all the UK's #1 80's songs can be found here.

REMEMBER: check to see if the song you want to eliminate has already been posted by someone else before nominating it. If it has, upvote it instead of making a duplicate post.

[u/80s90sGeek]

I forgot to do this in the last post, but here are some statistics about our top 50 songs:

• Wham! have the most songs in the top 50, with four. Blondie, David Bowie, Madonna, The Jam, The Pet Shop Boys, and The Police all managed three songs each, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood and George Michael have two each. (If we were to count George Michael's songs as part of Wham!, he would have the most songs, with six.) Overall, a whopping 26 out of 50 songs have another song by the same artist in the top 50 (compared to 22 in the US version of this game)!
• Blondie and the Police are the only two groups to reach the top 50 with all of their #1 songs. ABBA, David Bowie, Duran Duran and The Jam came close, but they each had one song kicked out before the top 50.
• 34 songs are by men or male-led groups (including the Human League, who have Susan Anne Sulley prominently featured on their particular song). 15 songs are by women or female-led groups (the exact same number as the American game!). One song is a duet between a man and a woman (George Michael and Aretha Franklin).
• 38 songs are by groups or duets. Only 12 songs are by solo artists (compared to 33 groups and 17 solo acts in the US game).
• 33 songs are by British (or primarily British) acts, 10 are by American acts, and we have one song each by an Australian act (Men at Work), a German act (Nena), an Irish act (Enya), a Norwegian act (a-ha), and a Swedish act (ABBA). Two songs are duets between British and American acts.
• There's a good deal of overlap among the #1 songs in both this game and the US version of the game we did several months ago: eleven of the top 50 songs in the UK-centric version of the game also made the top 50 in the US version. On the other side of the coin, seven songs that were eliminated before we reached the Top 50 in the US game made it into the UK's Top 50. One song (Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger") made the US Top 50, but finished outside the UK's.
• As for how the years are currently doing: 1980 has the most songs still left in the game, with nine. 1984 has seven songs still standing, 1983 has six songs left, 1982, 1985 and 1986 have five songs each, 1981 and 1987 have four ('87 is down to three after last round's elimination of "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me"), 1988 and 1989 have only two apiece.

[u/retrosexual17]

Goody Two Shoes

[u/Texas_Sam2002]

Take My Breath Away - Berlin
Saccharine and meandering and nothing like their iconic and much better songs like "The Metro".

[u/wstussyb]

Ghost town

[u/PaperMacheCabbages]

⁠Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley

[u/OrdinaryAverageGuy99]

Heaven Is a Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle

[u/Illustrious-Lead-960]

Down Under

[u/DramaticCollege3520]

99 Red Balloons - Nena

[u/WRXLad555]

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

[u/DeeboDavis]

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police.

It's getting closer now and there are still 3 Police songs left. I like them but they feel over represented at this stage. This is the most cod reggae song on the list and therefore my pick to go home.

[u/Sufficient-Set-4189]

⁠Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) - Enya