The Story of 1985

1985. Spandau, Wham!, Culture Club & the Durans, have a relatively quiet year, ushering in a new generation of pop talent. TOTP is a barometer for the state of the nation as King and a-ha compete for attention with politicos Billy Bragg and The Style Council who, fired up by the miners' strike & threat of nuclear war, give their all with Between the Wars & Walls Come Tumbling Down. Electro-dance hits the mainstream, Dead or Alive are #1 with You Spin Me Round. Paul Hardcastle holds #1 for 5 weeks with 19, a spoken word single made with sampling technology & released on the 10th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. Movie tie-ins and record companies eye a housewives market with a run of power ballads, from Jennifer Rush to Tina Turner & Bonnie Tyler, Holding out for a Hero. Bob Geldof brings pop generations together for Live Aid. Shakin' Stevens marks his 50th appearance on TOTP and lands his first Christmas #1 with a song he has waited a whole year to release.