THE #1 SONG 31 YEARS AGO TODAY WAS.....

....Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. You know, just one of those understated Jim Steinman ballads. Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler had only hit the US charts once before in 1977 with her smash hit It's A Heartache (#3) so no one expected it when she came blowing back onto the charts with one of the most iconic, dramatic power ballads of all time, Total Eclipse of the Heart. The song was written by Steinman, known for similar work with Meatloaf and Air Supply, and became the biggest career hit for Tyler when it reached #1 on the Hot 100 on October 1, 1983 and stayed there for four weeks. It was the sixth biggest hit in the US in 1983. The video, like the song, is a over-sized, nonsensical joyride of craziness. Bonnie is some sort of boys' school official at a boarding house for scantily clad artsy twinks. One of them has a nasty eye infection it appears. It really makes no sense at all, but who cares? Not I. Watch, love and eclipse something. Here is the #1 song from this day 31 years ago, Total Eclipse of the Heart. BONUS!! Watch the video and then the hysterical LITERAL VIDEO version just below. You'll laugh 'til you stop.

THE #1 SONG 30 YEARS AGO WAS.....

.....Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. Assured a place on the list of greatest power ballads of all time, Total Eclipse of the Heart was raspy-voiced Bonnie Tyler's biggest hit ever and one of the greatest over the top song/video combinations of all time, bitches. The song was written by Jim Steinman and originally intended for Meatloaf, but Meatloaf's record company said no to paying what Steinman wanted, so goodbye Meatloaf; Hello Bonnie. Tyler hadn't seen the US Top 10 since she took her classic It's a Heartache to #3 in 1977, but this time she hit the top spot. Eclipse took the crown on October 1, 1983 and wore it for four weeks. The video is a hoot-and-a-half, girl. Set in what can only be described as the gayest all-male private school since School Ties (I wish), Bonnie (who inappropriately seems to be the head mistress of said school) runs around in a slinky nightgown while half-naked jailbait dance and fence and flit around in some sort of soft-core porn musical. GOLD!!! There is also a pretty famous literal video version that you can watch HERE that will make you giggle. Not that there isn't plenty in the original version to put a smile on your pants face. Okay, so without further ado, here is the #1 song from 30 years ago, Total Eclipse of the Heart. Enjoy.

FLASHBACK: FOOTLOOSE SOUNDTRACK

Back in 1984 it was impossible to get away from Footloose. The movie was a surprise blockbuster and the soundtrack was a non-stop ass-shaker with hit after hit. Writer/Producer Dean Pitchford collaborated with about a dozen songwriters to come up with an eclectic mix of pop music that somehow formed a cohesive soundtrack with a little something for everyone. From rockabilly to R&B, hard rock to new wave, all bases were covered. The record produced two #1 songs on the Hot 100 (Footloose and Let's Hear It For The Boy), another top 10 hit (#7 Almost Paradise) a top 20 hit (#17 Dancing in the Sheets) and two more top 40 charters (#22 I'm Free(Heaven Helps the Man) and #34 Holding Out For a Hero), but I think most people who were alive and listening to pop music would agree that every song was A-MAH-ZING! If they don't agree, quite frankly, they must be destroyed. The album has gone on to sell in excess of 9 million copies in the US alone to date. Sweet! So to salute one of my fave albums of all time, here is the track listing of the original nine-song album and the videos for all the songs that were released and links on the songs that didn't have official videos. Enjoy and cut loose, bitches.
1. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
2. Let's Hear It For the Boy - Deniece Williams
3. Almost Paradise - Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
4. Holding Out For a Hero - Bonnie Tyler
5. Dancing In the Sheets - Shalamar
6. I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man) - Kenny Loggins
7. Somebody's Eyes - Karla Bonoff
8. The Girl Gets Around - Sammy Hagar
9. Never, Never - Moving Pictures