1980: THE 200 GREATEST SONGS. 
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Caffè Lattè presents…

1980

THE 200 GREATEST SONGS

In 1980, TV audiences tuned in for the answer to the question who shot J.R. on “Dallas”; Moscow hosted the Summer Olympic Games which were boycotted by many nations; war broke out between Iran and Iraq; Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States and the world mourned after John Lennon was assassinated outside his Dakota apartment in New York City.

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BABOOSHKA Kate Bush

The English singer / songwriter continued to wow us with her talent via this hit single. Written by her, the song peaked at #2 in Australia and went Top 5 in Britain and in various European nations.

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WHIP IT Devo

Synth-pop made greater inroads onto the world charts via hit singles such as this one by American group Devo. The disc peaked at #14 in the U.S.A.

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LATE IN THE EVENING Paul Simon

In 1980, Paul Simon starred in the film ‘One Trick Pony’. Its soundtrack album contained this major hit single. Simon wrote the song and he co-produced it with Phil Ramone. The song peaked at #6 in America and charted in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

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THE PIPER Abba

This track on ‘Super Trouper’ was inspired by the Stephen King novel ‘The Stand’. It is built around a medieval sound.

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OUT HERE ON MY OWN Irene Cara

Irene Cara starred in the 1980 hit film ‘Fame’, portraying Coco Hernandez. This ballad was written by Lesley Gore (who had scored hits of her own in the 1960s such as “It’s My Party” and “You Don’t Own Me”) and her brother Michael Gore. He also produced the recording. The song was nominated for an Academy Award and lost out to another Cara song from the film: “Fame” in the Best Original Song category. “Out Here On My Own” made the Top 20 on the US Pop and Adult Contemporary charts.

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JUST THE TWO OF US Grover Washington Jr.

The saxophonist scored a crossover hit with this jazz-flavoured pop hit. Featuring Bill Withers on lead vocals, the smooth song peaked at #2 Pop, #3 Soul and #2 AC in America. The single also charted in Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

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FUNKYTOWN Lipps Inc.

Fusing disco with funk, this irresistible smash topped charts in America, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. The single peaked at #2 in the UK. Australian pop band Pseudo Echo returned the song to the charts with its 1986 remake.

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TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL Fern Kinney

Issued in 1979, Fern Kinney finally reached #1 in Britain with this song in 1980. It also charted in Australia, Europe, New Zealand and South Africa.

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WOMAN IN LOVE Barbra Streisand

The Bee Gees were the victims of the backlash as disco fell out of favour with the public. The Gibb brothers shifted focus in the 1980s, taking on projects for other artists, writing and producing for the likes of Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick and Kenny Rogers. The first successful collaboration was with Barbra Streisand. ‘Guilty’ became her best-selling album to date. “Woman In Love” was its lead single, topping charts in the United States, Britain, Canada, Europe, Australia and South Africa.

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CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC Village People

Timing is everything. By 1980, the public had moved on from disco, growing infatuated with new trends such as new wave, synth-pop and New Romantic sounds. The film ‘Can’t Stop The Music’ struggled in most countries. The title song did, however chart high in Britain and Europe. In Australia, the disc reached #1.