Arguably the smoothest R&B song on this countdown is now here, and unfortunately the hits for this artist would start to slowly decline after this track. The track for a movie based on a very popular book, this song has remained an R&B hit for many such radio stations, and it showed that she still had it. At #14 it’s Exhale (Shoop Shoop) by Whitney Houston.
While this next track in the 1985 countdown might be time-capsuled in the 80s, it’s melody and chorus has managed to remain popular and continues to be heard to this day, and it’s considered an iconic 80s R&B dance song. Ironically, this title is the same of another 1995 track but that one failed to make the countdown. But this one did, coming in at #14 is Rhythm of The Night by DeBarge.
It wasn’t supposed to be a track that would define a cable tv station. But one visit by the artist Sting, and into the microphone he belted the famous words “I want my MTV,” and boom, this song would be arguably this band’s biggest hit. However, like one other artist already, this isn’t their only track in this countdown. But for now, let’s celebrate the anthem that helped define a generation – at #15 it’s Money for Nothing by Dire Straits.
The second quarter of the top 20 songs turning 30 years old this year begins with this rock track featuring a well-known guitar lick and effect. This band appeared in last year’s countdown and this track along with a couple others helped solidified them as one of the premier new hard rock acts of the 90s. Coming in at #15 is December by Collective Soul.
Our second entry by this artist in this 1995 countdown is also our last. While she may appear again in next year’s countdown, this song helped deliver a solid foundation for her career. This song would prove that she was an enduring artist to be reckoned with, and its lyric continued to be quoted today. Appearing at #16 is Hand in My Pocket by Alanis Morissette.
Rounding out the first quarter of the 1985 countdown we come to a surprising entry in this list. This artist almost hit his zenith during this year for reasons we’ll get to a little later. But somehow this song manages to find its way into this list, and when you hear it, you’ll understand why. Arguably one of the power ballads that set the template going forward, coming in at #16 is Heaven by Bryan Adams.