Eye of The Tiger by Survivor
We love top ten lists here at The Great 80s, and it is time for a new one! Today we will be counting down the top ten 80s songs that have an animal in the name of the song. As always, our lists are based on the US Billboard Charts and not based on our personal preferences. Also, since this is based on US charts, it might not translate well to the 80s fans outside of the United States. With that aside, on to the Countdown!
NUMBER 10
Our number 10 song is one of the few instrumental hits to make a dent on the charts in the 80s. When released in 1987, this song became the first instrumental to reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 since the “Miami Vice Theme” by Jan Hammer (a No. 1 hit) in 1985. It’s Kenny G and “Songbird”
NUMBER 9
At number 9 is an Australian band who chose its name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River. It the Little River Band with their 1981 hit “The Night Owls”
NUMBER 8
The number 8 song is by a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ. In 1989, Neneh Cherry had an international blockbuster hit. Her song “Buffalo Stance” peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the US Dance chart.
NUMBER 7
You might know Brian Setzer from his swing revival band “The Brian Setzer Orchestra”. In the early 80s Brian fronted the rockabilly group The Stray Cats. And their big MTV video hit “Stray Cat Strut” comes in at number 7 on the countdown.
Stray Cats – Stray Cat Strut by VEVO
NUMBER 6 & 5
The next two songs come to us from one of the biggest bands of the 80s. Duran Duran must have been really big animal lovers because they have scored two hits in our countdown. At number 6 is Union of the Snake, which became one of Duran Duran’s most popular hits, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December, 1983.
The number 5 song is the hit song whose video catapulted them to super stardom (pun intended). In 1982, MTV put the video for “Hungry Like the Wolf” into heavy rotation, playing it four times a day. The exposure eventually helped propel the single into the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, and their Rio album into the top ten of the albums chart.
NUMBER 4
At number 4 is a hit song by George Michael that was released as a single in 1988 and reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. “Monkey” became Michael’s eighth #1 US single, and the fourth consecutive #1 from his Faith album.
NUMBER 3
“Karma Chameleon” comes in at number 3 on our countdown. The Culture Club song was featured on the group’s 1983 album Colour by Numbers. The single spent three weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984, becoming the group’s biggest hit and only US #1 single.
NUMBER 2
We are going back to the birds for the number 2 song in our countdown. It is from an album Time magazine ranked as it’s 15th greatest album of all time. In 1984, Prince made his film debut with the American rock musical drama “Purple Rain”. The lead single from the Soundtrack, ”When Doves Cry” was the #1 single in the U.S. for five weeks, from July 7, 1984 to August 4, 1984.
NUMBER 1
The number 1 song in our countdown was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone to be the theme song for his movie Rocky III, after he was unable to get permission for Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”. The song got tremendous MTV and radio airplay and topped charts worldwide in 1982. Here is our #1 song! “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.
