Last Song Standing: The Ultimate UK #1 Song of the 80's - Round 13

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  • Spanish music star Julio Iglesias experienced perhaps his biggest mainstream popularity in the 1980s, scoring two big Top 20 duets with Diana Ross ("All of You") and Willie Nelson ("To All the Girls I've Loved Before") in the states, both of which also made the Top 100 in Britain. But in the UK, both pale in comparison to Iglesias' biggest hit on their charts, a cover of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" (or "Volver A Empezar" in Spanish) which became the first fully Spanish-language #1 song on the UK charts. But from the looks of things, our voters don't feel such a memory evergreen when they hear this song - the orchestra playing down by the shore is now silenced on Julio's song!
  • After winning the Eurovision Song Contest and topping the UK charts in 1981, Bucks Fizz continued their success by reaching #1 on the charts two more times, the last one coming in early 1982 with an ode to covert investigation that would make any stalker blush. But the voters have been checking the song up and tracking it down, and was it any surprise, that after the votes were tallied in last round, I must apologize that the song doesn't matter anymore to them - 'cause the voters have that look in their eyes, and they've cut down to size "My Camera Never Lies"!
  • In March 1987, the British ferry MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized near Zeebrugge, Belgium, claiming the lives of 193 people on board. And later that year, a Stock Aitken Waterman-organized charity group known as Ferry Aid, which consisted of big names like Paul McCartney, Boy George, Kate Bush, Kim Wilde, Nik Kershaw, and Mark Knopfler, recorded a version of the Beatles' "Let It Be" which shot up to #1 on the UK charts. And while imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, it seems that the voters feel that in the time of darkness, they don't want this version of Mother Mary standing right in front of them - there will be an answer, but it won't be this song!

ELIMINATED SONGS

1-155. TBD
156. Let It Be - Ferry Aid
157. My Camera Never Lies - Bucks Fizz
158. Begin the Beguine (Volver A Empezar) - Julio Iglesias
159. Living Doll - Cliff Richard & the Young Ones feat. Hank Marvin
160. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You - Glenn Medeiros
161. Japanese Boy - Aneka
162. Theme from S'Express - S'Express
163. Oh Julie - Shakin' Stevens
164. First Time - Robin Beck
165. Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson
166. Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless) - The Mash
167. What's Another Year - Johnny Logan
168. Every Loser Wins - Nick Berry
169. Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band
170. Especially for You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan
171. Save Your Love - Renée & Renato
172. Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey - The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman
173. This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
174. Happy Talk - Captain Sensible
175. Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz
176. Star Trekkin' - The Firm
177. You'll Never Walk Alone - The Crowd
178. Green Door - Shakin' Stevens
179. Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney
180. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid II
181. That's What I Like - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
182. You Got It (The Right Stuff) - The New Kids on the Block
183. Jack Your Body - Steve "Silk" Hurley
184. You'll Never Stop Me Loving You - Sonia
185. Let's Party - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
186. Doctorin' the TARDIS - The Timelords
187. Swing the Mood - Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
188. Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
189. I've Never Been to Me - Charlene
190. There's No One Quite Like Grandma - St. Winifred's School Choir
191. The Chicken Song - Spitting Image

SONGS STILL STANDING (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

  • (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
  • 19 - Paul Hardcastle
  • 99 Red Balloons - Nena
  • A Different Corner - George Michael
  • A Good Heart - Feargal Sharkey
  • A Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
  • A Little Peace - Nicole
  • All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield
  • Always on My Mind - The Pet Shop Boys
  • Another Brick in the Wall, Part II - Pink Floyd
  • Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie
  • Atomic - Blondie
  • Baby Jane - Rod Stewart
  • Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) - Soul II Soul
  • Beat Surrender - The Jam
  • Being with You - Smokey Robinson
  • Belfast Child - Simple Minds
  • Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
  • Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
  • Call Me - Blondie
  • Candy Girl - New Edition
  • Caravan of Love - The Housemartins
  • Careless Whisper - George Michael
  • Chain Reaction - Diana Ross
  • China in Your Hand - T’Pau
  • Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
  • Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers
  • Crying - Don McLean
  • Dancing in the Street - David Bowie & Mick Jagger
  • Desire - U2
  • Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid
  • Do You Really Want to Hurt Me - Culture Club
  • Don’t Leave Me This Way - The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris
  • Don’t Stand So Close to Me - The Police
  • Don’t Turn Around - Aswad
  • Don’t You Want Me - The Human League
  • Down Under - Men at Work
  • Easy Lover - Philip Bailey & Phil Collins
  • Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
  • Eternal Flame - The Bangles
  • Every Breath You Take - The Police
  • Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
  • Everything I Own - Boy George
  • Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
  • Fame - Irene Cara
  • Feels Like I’m in Love - Kelly Marie
  • Frankie - Sister Sledge
  • Freedom - Wham!
  • Geno - Dexys Midnight Runners
  • Ghost Town - The Specials
  • Give It Up - KC & the Sunshine Band
  • Going Underground / Dreams of Children - The Jam
  • Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant
  • Hand on Your Heart - Kylie Minogue
  • He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother - The Hollies
  • Heart - The Pet Shop Boys
  • Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle
  • Hello - Lionel Richie
  • House of Fun - Madness
  • I Don’t Wanna Dance - Eddy Grant
  • I Feel for You - Chaka Khan
  • I Got You Babe - UB40 & Chrissie Hynde
  • I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
  • I Just Can’t Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett
  • I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Aretha Franklin & George Michael
  • I Know Him So Well - Elaine Page & Barbara Dickson
  • I Owe You Nothing - Bros
  • I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue
  • I Should Have Known Better - Jim Diamond
  • I Think We’re Alone Now - Tiffany
  • I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
  • I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
  • I Want to Wake Up with You - Boris Gardiner
  • I’m Your Man - Wham!
  • If I Was - Midge Ure
  • Imagine - John Lennon
  • Into the Groove - Madonna
  • Is There Something I Should Know? - Duran Duran
  • It’s a Sin - The Pet Shop Boys
  • It’s My Party - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
  • Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
  • Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
  • La Bamba - Los Lobos
  • La Isla Bonita - Madonna
  • Let’s Dance - David Bowie
  • Like a Prayer - Madonna
  • Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin’ Stevens
  • Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
  • Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson
  • Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
  • Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
  • One Day in Your Life - Michael Jackson
  • One Moment in Time - Whitney Houston
  • Only You - The Flying Pickets
  • Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) - Enya
  • Papa Don’t Preach - Madonna
  • Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth
  • Perfect - Fairground Attraction
  • Pipes of Peace - Paul McCartney
  • Prince Charming - Adam & the Ants
  • Pump Up the Volume - M/A/R/R/S
  • Red Red Wine - UB40
  • Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • Respectable - Mel & Kim
  • Rock Me Amadeus - Falco
  • Saving All My Love for You - Whitney Houston
  • Sealed with a Kiss - Jason Donovan
  • Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart - Marc Almond feat. Gene Pitney
  • Spirit in the Sky - Doctor & the Medics
  • Stand and Deliver - Adam & the Ants
  • Stand by Me - Ben E. King
  • Start! - The Jam
  • Super Trouper - ABBA
  • Tainted Love - Soft Cell
  • Take My Breath Away - Berlin
  • The Edge of Heaven - Wham!
  • The Final Countdown - Europe
  • The Lady in Red - Chris de Burgh
  • The Land of Make Believe - Bucks Fizz
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit
  • The Model / Computer Love - Kraftwerk
  • The Only Way Is Up - Yazz & the Plastic Population
  • The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • The Power of Love - Jennifer Rush
  • The Reflex - Duran Duran
  • The Sun Always Shines on T.V. - a-ha
  • The Tide Is High - Blondie
  • The Winner Takes It All - ABBA
  • There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) - Eurythmics
  • Too Many Broken Hearts - Jason Donovan
  • Too Much Too Young - The Special A.K.A. Live! (EP) - The Special A.K.A.
  • Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
  • Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
  • Town Called Malice / Precious - The Jam
  • True - Spandau Ballet
  • True Blue - Madonna
  • Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie
  • Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
  • Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
  • We Are the World - USA for Africa
  • West End Girls - The Pet Shop Boys
  • When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean
  • Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) - Paul Young
  • Who’s That Girl - Madonna
  • With a Little Help from My Friends / She’s Leaving Home - Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg & Cara Tivey
  • Woman - John Lennon
  • Woman in Love - Barbra Streisand
  • Working My Way Back to You / Forgive Me, Girl - The Spinners (The Detroit Spinners)
  • Xanadu - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra
  • You Can’t Hurry Love - Phil Collins
  • You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive
  • You Win Again - The Bee Gees

Vote below for which remaining UK #1 80's song you think is the WORST, is your LEAST FAVORITE, or which one you otherwise want to ELIMINATE from the list. The song in this round with the most votes will be eliminated. Please only vote for #1 UK songs! In addition to the list I've provided above, the full list of all the UK's #1 80's songs can be found here.

REMEMBER: check to see if the song you want to eliminate has already been posted by someone else before nominating it. If it has, upvote it instead of making a duplicate post.

Posted May 4, 2026, 5:15 PM UTC

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