CHART BEATS: A JOURNEY
THROUGH POP

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Jul 29, 20174 min read

This Week In 1984: July 29, 1984

Not everyone can claim to have a song written about them; even fewer people have one that specifically names them — although if you're...

Jul 26, 20177 min read

This Week In 1992: July 26, 1992

Girl groups, it would seem, are like buses — and after waiting for the flood of American girl groups in the late '80s and early '90s to...

Jul 22, 20174 min read

This Week In 1984: July 22, 1984

Already on this blog, we've seen the solo debuts of locally based former backing singers Kate Ceberano, Jenny Morris and Wendy Matthews....

Jul 19, 20175 min read

This Week In 1992: July 19, 1992

A brand new single by a megastar performer was always a cause for excitement. What would they do this time? Could they possibly top what...

Jul 15, 20176 min read

This Week In 1984: July 15, 1984

When does a music star become a superstar? In the case of Madonna, it was with the release of Like A Virgin and her chart-dominating run...

Jul 12, 20174 min read

This Week In 1992: July 12, 1992

Extended versions and dance mixes had been around for years, but as we saw when a separate single of remixes of Michael Jackson's "Black...

Jul 8, 20173 min read

This Week In 1984: July 8, 1984

Good things come in threes — apparently — and this week a very good song debuted on the ARIA singles chart, giving its artist a trio of...

Jul 5, 20175 min read

This Week In 1987: July 5, 1987

If you're just joining us, where have you been the past five years? In 2012, I marked the 25-year anniversary of collecting my first ARIA...

Jul 5, 20176 min read

This Week In 1992: July 5, 1992

With great success can come great backlash. In November 1982, ABBA made their final appearance on the Australian top 50 after eight years...

Jul 1, 20175 min read

This Week In 1984: July 1, 1984

There are some songs that, even if you'd never heard them before, you would instantly know when they were released. This week in 1984, a...

Jun 28, 20175 min read

This Week In 1992: June 28, 1992

I've always considered any song that makes the top 50 a hit — even if it's just for one week. That's why I don't count acts like A Flock...

Jun 28, 20175 min read

This Week In 1987: June 28, 1987

Rival versions of the same song are nothing new — either now or in 1987. Back in the '60s, UK stars like Dusty Springfield and Cilla...

Jun 24, 20174 min read

This Week In 1984: June 24, 1984

Hands up who would've thought "What Is Love?" by Howard Jones was a big hit in Australia? Maybe I'm biased — we had a copy of his debut...

Jun 21, 20173 min read

This Week In 1987: June 21, 1987

It really did take ages for some songs from overseas to become successful in Australia in the '80s. For starters, there was no such thing...

Jun 21, 20173 min read

This Week In 1992: June 21, 1992

"A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)". "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?". "Let It Go". Disney animated films have been responsible for...

Jun 17, 20173 min read

This Week In 1984: June 17, 1984

A number 1 single. Another single which entered the top 10 this week. A top 5 album. The Footloose soundtrack was an unstoppable force on...

Jun 14, 20175 min read

This Week In 1992: June 14, 1992

"Relax". "Smalltown Boy". "Male Stripper". There had been quite a few hit songs in the '80s that dealt with the lives and loves of gay...

Jun 14, 20174 min read

This Week In 1987: June 14, 1987

In my time as a music journalist, I've read countless bios for new artists, hoping to find an interesting fact or two I can ask them...

Jun 10, 20175 min read

This Week In 1984: June 10, 1984

Some of music's biggest songs have come about when artists are pressured to deliver a hit single. Pop history is littered with numerous...

Jun 7, 20174 min read

This Week In 1987: June 7, 1987

What do Jody Watley, Terence Trent D'Arby, Cutting Crew, Breakfast Club and Swing Out Sister have in common? Besides all releasing...

A Journey Through Aussie Pop - green light.png

A Journey Through Aussie Pop is shining a light on classic Australian pop artists and releases from the 1980s, '90s and 2000s.

A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman is working its way through every single produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman in chronological order.

Chart Beats subscribers have access to exclusive content, including extended interviews and extra discussion we can't fit in the regular episodes. Click here for more info.

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About Chart Beats

Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop has been looking back at music from the '80s, '90s, 2000s and 2010s since 2012. Run by freelance journalist and content creator Gavin Scott in Sydney, Australia.