Five Monumental Pop Hits From 1980 That Shaped Music History
In 1980, the future of pop music was fundamentally shaped by five monumental hits from Queen, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Blondie, and Diana Ross. These breakthrough tracks pointed toward new sonic directions and abandoned fading fads, setting the standard for the decade's music.
Queen Dismantles Disco Boundaries With Another One Bites the Dust
As disco rapidly declined in popularity through 1979, the genre’s final massive hit arrived in 1980 from an unexpected source. Pop rock legends Queen released “Another One Bites the Dust,” marking their final No. 1 hit in the U.S. and eventually becoming a permanent fixture as a sports stadium anthem.
According to Brian May in statements cited by Guitar Player, the band operated on a philosophy of constant reinvention. “We had this idea that we never should repeat ourselves, so we deliberately put ourselves in different situations of writing and recording just so we would keep moving and keep breaking down any barriers that might seem to be there,” May explained. Building the track almost entirely around a minimalist funky bass line and disco drum beat, the group proved they could construct an iconic track out of sparse musical elements.
David Bowie Resurrects Major Tom in Ashes to Ashes
David Bowie proved his resilience against shifting musical tides in 1980 with “Ashes to Ashes.” While the single missed the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., it secured the No. 1 spot in the U.K. and served as an official sequel to his classic track “Space Oddity,” revealing that the fictional character Major Tom had become a drug addict.
The single’s accompanying promotional clip left a massive footprint on the developing music video medium. Costing around £250,000, the project stood as the most expensive music video ever produced up to that point.
Billy Joel Rejects New Wave Labels in It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
Faced with the rising tide of new wave music in 1980, Billy Joel pushed back against shifting genre labels and press descriptions by releasing “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” which earned the artist his first No. 1 hit.
In a candid 1980 interview with Rolling Stone, Joel expressed his frustration with musical posturing. “Don’t give me any of this New Wave,” Joel said, criticizing the use of trendy organs. He maintained that complex labels and changing trends mattered far less than a simple combination of a beat and a melody.
Blondie Captures the Sound of American Gigolo With Call Me
Blondie achieved the single best-charting rock song of 1980 with “Call Me,” spending 25 weeks on the chart, including six weeks at No. 1. Composed by Giorgio Moroder for the soundtrack of the Richard Gere film American Gigolo, the track initially was intended for Stevie Nicks before contract issues intervened.
Debbie Harry noted in her memoir Face It that securing the track was a stroke of fortune that legitimized the band’s versatility. “We didn’t expect it, but it legitimized us in this country and made people realize that we were adventurous and had a vision that could transcend the styles of the day,” Harry recalled, via Billboard.
Diana Ross Launches a New Era With I’m Coming Out
Diana Ross sought to reinvent her career in 1980 by partnering with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, the founders and hitmakers behind the disco band Chic. The collaboration yielded her best-selling album ever, titled Diana, which produced the chart-topping single “Upside Down” alongside the enduring anthem “I’m Coming Out.”
Although “I’m Coming Out” peaked at No. 5 on the charts, the track evolved over time into a permanent Pride anthem and serves as Ross’s signature opening song during concert appearances.