Number 1 hits of 1984
The
year opened with the original sound of the flying pickets at number
one, brilliant as this tune was its a non starter as far as an
80s party's goes today. Pipes of peace will also clear the dance
floor but the third number one of 1984 (relax) has a much more
interesting story behind it. RELAX was released in 1983 and scraped
along the bottom of the charts not really getting anywhere, Frankie
goes to Hollywood eventually got a spot on a pre christmas edition
of the tube, following this and the subsequent appearance on the
massively influential top of the pops, the track moved up to the
number 6 position in the new year charts. However at about this
time radio one DJ Mike Read decided the lyrics were inappropriate
and banned the record from his play list. It then followed that
despite having appeared on top of the pops and the track having
several air plays on radio one FGTH received a network ban. Relax
almost certainly would have ended up at number one but the ban
helped it stay there a lot longer and added to the bands hype.
Frankie says RELAX.
In
the 80's the two big slow numbers of 1984 (Hello and Careless
whisper) were often asked for as first dance records at weddings,
perhaps in 1984 nobody listened to the lyrics because the lyrics
of careless whisper are totally inappropriate. However this would
also explain why it took the BBC so long to realize the lyrics
to relax were a bit saucy.
The year finished with the Band aid
phenomenon, inspired by sir Bob and Midge Ure, the record was
produced by Trevor Horn who also had great chart success with
the frankie boys. This record set a trend of charity records that
would last till the end of the 80s. Charity records were made
for a good cause but some of the artistes appearing on them may
have hoped to restart their fading careers, not so much band aid
but band wagon. Today we have TV shows like "help! I want
to be a celebrity again, get me in the jungle".