1984

A look back at the year. Enjoy reading while you listen to the music. (clicking on any link will open a new page, and will not interrupt your song.)

The top grossing movies of 1984 were:

1. Ghostbusters

2. Beverly Hills Cop

3. Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom *** winner, Best Visual Effects, Academy Awards
4. Gremlins

5. The Karate Kid

6. Police Academy

7. Footloose
8. Romancing the Stone

9. Purple Rain *** winner Best Original Song Score, Academy Awards

10. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

None of the top 10 movies did very well at the Academy Awards. Pat Morita was nominated for Supporting Actor, and Ray Parker Jr. was nominated for Best Music, Origianl Song. Prince won an Oscar. How did Police Academy get shut out?

OnTV: The Cosby Show and Miami Vice premiered on NBC. ABC had Who's the Boss, and CBS showed Murder, She Wrote.

Of course, the year 1984 is most famous for a little novel written by George Orwell. If you've never read it, it is available online. Here's the wikipedia write-up of the novel if you want more background information.

In politics, Ronald Reagan is re-elected 40th President of the U.S. Walter Mondale was running on the Democrat ticket with the first major-party woman Vice President nominee, Geraldine Ferraro.

Other happenings:

The Apple Macintosh is introduced on January 24.
Winter Olympic Games held in Sarajevo.
Summer Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.
Michael Jackson's scalp is seriously burned in the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
Vanessa Williams surrenders her crown as Miss America after nude pictures appear in "Penthouse" magazine.
Trivial Pursuit was introduced in 1979, but reached its peak in this year.
Football: Oakland beats Washington 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII
Baseball: Detroit defeats San Diego 4 games to 1 in the World Series.

As for the music, here is the list of songs that were on the top of the charts in 1984.

Madonna - Like A Virgin
Prince & The Revolution - When Doves Cry
Van Halen - Jump
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Lionel Richie - Hello
Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out Of Touch
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It For The Boy
Prince & The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy
Duran Duran - The Reflex
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)
John Waite - Missing You
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
Duran Duran - Wild Boys
Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Kool & The Gang - Joanna
Nena - 99 Luftballons
Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
Cyndi Lauper - She Bop
Romantics - Talking In Your Sleep
Cars - Drive
Jacksons & Mick Jagger - State Of Shock
Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now
Lionel Richie - Stuck On You
Chicago - Hard Habit To Break
Steve Perry - Oh Sherrie
Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again
Laura Branigan - Self Control
Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Elton John - I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Madonna - Lucky Star
Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride
Olivia Newton-John (with John Travolta) - Twist Of Fate
Culture Club - Miss Me Blind
Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me
Rick Springfield - Love Somebody
Night Ranger - Sister Christian
Pointer Sisters - Automatic
Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson - To All The Girls I've Loved Before

Comments? Questions? Concerns? Strike back below.

* First name (required):

* Last name (required):
* E-mail address (required):

Phone number:
* Message (required):

I want to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers

This page was last modified on Friday, January 16, 2009

Commercial Free, Streaming Music in your Browser.