Music to My Years: 1987

The year 1987 was all about change for me. It was my last year in school and first year in college. I find change difficult at the best of times so to leave school and know that I would not see my friends every day was something I found really challenging. My parents continued to have a strained relationship. I start the fashion modelling course at The London College of Fashion and, even though I got chosen out of 3,000 applicants, I felt very uncertain and unsure of myself.

My two favourite shows were Miami Vice and Moonlighting. Over the year, my music change dramatically from Debbie Gibson (who I was sure I was actually going to be at one point!) to Guns n Roses, from U2 to anything by Stock Aitken and Waterman who were coming out with hit after hit, Whilst my loyalty to Go West was still intact and they released new music in this year, I am afraid that none of it was good enough to make my chart. There is another group – my second favourite – who flew in this year and much of their music reminds me of my college days. Again, their whole album could have made up my chart so I gave them two – much like Go West had!

As I am now a radio presenter on Radio Ninesprings, and I will be sharing my Top 10 all week and sharing 1 track from the list each day, Monday to Friday, on my show from 3pm. Plus, there is now a compilation show on Sunday’s at 6pm.

So, from the year I was born taking me right up to 2021, I am going to be sharing my top 10 chart songs from the year in question.

10. Respect Yourself by Bruce Willis

My friend, Sarah, and I absolutely loved Moonlighting and we both fancied the pants off Bruce Willis in it! So, you can probably imagine our delight when Bruce brought out an album!

Even though Under the Boardwalk was a bigger hit that year, I much preferred Respect Yourself. There was a perfect storm here in the fact that my two favourite shows – Moonlighting and Miami Vice – crossed over as this track featured in a Miami Vice episode. If the backing singer sounds familiar, then it will as it is June Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.

9. Wot’s It To Ya by Robbie Neville

Robbie Neville’s more famous track is C’est La Vie but, to my mind, this is a far better song!

It only reached number 43 here in the UK. It has a fantastic harmonica solo from Judd Landers who also provided similar for Karma Chameleon and Church of the Poison Mind by Culture Club and Say You’ll Be There by The Spice Girls.

Robbie Neville gave up singing his songs and passed them on to the likes of Jessica Simpson and Destiny’s Child instead.

8. Hourglass by Squeeze

I can remember trying to sing this song when it came out and I still do now! Not to very much success I hasten to add. It was the bands highest charting hit in the US reaching number 15, reaching number 16 here. The video was by full of optical illusions and directed by Ade Edmondson and it received substantial airplay on MTV.

It very much reminds me of another song on my chart this week – which is higher up at number three!

7. U Got the Look by Prince with Sheena Easton

For some reason, and I cannot tell you why, this has to be my favourite Prince song. It has a bit of everything and it is the type of song you could feel good walking into a club to. Getting ready for a night out, making sure you looked great and wanting to be able to turn heads! And this is the soundtrack to that.

Whilst Sheena Easton is on the track, she was never credited. It reached number 11 in the UK.

6. Labour of Love by Hue and Cry

This song is still incredible and it would be one that I sit in the car and carry on listening to even if I have arrived at my destination. The music is just great and it really does help you to feel upbeat, accepting the fact that you are not going to work hard at a relationship anymore if the other person isn’t going to do their part.

It is the only big hit from this band and it peaked at number 6 in the UK charts. It is also my number 6.

5. Faith by George Michael

When George Michael brought out this song and album of the same name, it became part of the soundtrack to my college year. He looked incredible and his music had all been taken up a notch (if that is at all possible!).

This song reached number one in the US and was their song of the year in 1988. It reached number 2 in the UK and was kept off the top by You Win Again from The Bee Gees. To my mind, this one has more staying power!

4. Need You Tonight by INXS

I think that this song shows Michael Hutchence in all his smouldering sex god glory. I think it is a fantastic song and very different to anything else on this chart.

It was the first single to be released from the amazing album ‘Kick’ and is the only INXS single to reach No. 1 in the US. It only reached number 58 on it’s first time out in the UK in 1987. It was then re-released the following year where it also achieved their highest charting position in the UK at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was one of the last songs recorded for the album, yet has probably become the band’s signature song.

3. Bridge to Your Heart by Wax

Wax were made up of Andrew Gold – who had had solo hits with ‘Lonely Boy’, ‘Never Let Her Slip Away’ and ‘Thank You For Being a Friend’ and Graham Gouldman from 10cc.

After 10cc split up, Graham got in touch with Andrew and they spent 7 months together writing songs. This became their only hit and it peaked at number 12. I still absolutely love it and it is another that I would happily sit and listen to over and over. I can recall driving along in the car and listening to it many a time!

2. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson

This is absolutely, hands down, no competition my favourite Michael Jackson song. It is one that I will always request at any disco I used to go to – and still do now if I ever get the chance. I was one I can remember dancing to when I realised I really liked Ross too!

It was the third single from his seventh studio album Bad. Written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones and Jackson, it reached number 3 in the UK and is number 3 for me too!

1. New Sensation by INXS

If anyone could write a pretty perfect pop/rock song for me then this would be it. A fantastic guitar riff, incredible drumming, outstanding vocal, pauses in all the right places and a complete ending. The lyrics are not that meaningful but hey, we can’t have everything!

INXS really did become the band of my college days. I can recall going to see them at the Hammersmith Apollo with a New Zealander who worked at our college as one of the caretakers along with my sister and my school friend Emma. Suddenly they were everywhere and the slow-burn band who I had started to love the year before became mainstream. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that! But I loved that I loved them first. I saw them live many times after that. In 1988 at Wembley Arena where we just 5 rows from the front and saw Tim Farriss skateboard, to Wembley Stadium where they were the main act at Summer XS. Just incredible live – and the loss of Michael Hutchence was a very sad one indeed.