We have been dreaming of this moment since starting Hall of Songs. It’s time to enter 1985, when the biggest names in pop music converge for charity spectacles like “We Are the World” and Live Aid, and when some of the most enduring songs of a generation hit pretty darn hard.
Come along for the ride as we select our top-12 songs from 1985. After listening, head to hallofsongs.com to vote for the songs you think deserve to be in our hall of fame for songs called the Hall of Songs.
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1985, plus tunes from 1984, ’83, ’82 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on July 29, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1985 nominees:
- “King of Rock” as performed by Run DMC
- Written by Darryl McDaniels, Jason Mizel, Joseph Simmons, Larry Smith and Russell Simmons; recorded mid-1984; released January 1985
- “How Will I Know” as performed by Whitney Houston
- Written by Geroge Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden; recorded fall 1984; released February 1985
- “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” as performed by Tears For Fears
- Written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley and Chris Hughes; recorded November 1984; released February 1985
- “Voices Carry” as performed by ‘Til Tuesday
- Written by Robert Holmes, Aimee Mann, Michael Hausman and Joey Pesce; recorded January 1985; released March 1985
- “Raspberry Beret” as performed by Prince and the Revolution
- Written by Prince; recorded September 1984; released April 1985
- “Money For Nothing” as performed by Dire Straits
- Written by Mark Knopfler and Sting; recorded December 1984; released May 1985
- “Running Up That Hill” as performed by Kate Bush
- Written by Kate Bush; recorded early 1985; released August 1985
- “Conga” as performed by Miami Sound Machine
- Written by Enrique E. Garcia; recorded early 1985; released August 1985
- “Take on Me” as performed by A-Ha
- Written by Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Pal Waaktaar; recorded late 1984; released September 1985
- “Bastards of Young” as performed by The Replacements
- Written by Paul Westerberg; recorded June 1985; released September 1985
- “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” as performed by LL Cool J
- Written by James Todd Smith and Rick Rubin; recorded early 1985; released October 1985
- “Crush on You” as performed by The Jets
- Written by Jerry Knight and Aaron Zigman; recorded summer 1985; released October 1985
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down to vote. Then, come back on July 29, 2022 to find out the voting results, and July 31, 2022 for our discussion on 1986.
