It’s the songs in the upper 30’s that are the focus of the countdown today.
“Rock Me Amadeus” (35) is a song recorded by Austrian musician Falco, for his third studio album Falco 3 (1985). The single was made available for physical sale in 1985 in German-speaking Europe, through A&M. “Rock Me Amadeus” was written by Falco along with Dutch music producers Bolland & Bolland. To date, the single is the only German language song to peak at number one of the Billboard, which it did in March 1986. It topped the singles charts on both sides of the Atlantic. It was Falco’s only number one hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom, despite the artist’s popularity in his native Austria and much of Europe.
“Pass the Dutchie” (34) is a song produced by Toney Owens from Kingston and the British Jamaican regggae band Musical Youth, taken from their debut studio album, The Youth of Today (1982). The reggae song was a major hit, peaking at number one in the UK. Outside the United Kingdom, it peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United States and sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The video, directed by Don Letts, was shot partly on the southern banks of the River Thames in London, by Lambeth Bridge. It depicts the band performing the song and playing instruments, until an official appears to arrest them. Courtroom scenes (featuring Julian Firth) are interspersed with the exterior ones.
“A Girl Like You“ (33) is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Edwyn Collins from his third solo studio album, Gorgeous George (1994). The song samples the drum track of Len Barry’s single “1-2-3” (1965). It was released as a single in December 1994 and became a worldwide hit, reaching number one in Flanders and Iceland and peaking within the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In North America, “A Girl Like You” reached number 16 on Canada’s RPM Top Singles chart and number 32 on the US Billboard.
“Funkytown” (32) is a song by American disco act Lipps Inc. from their debut album Mouth to Mouth (1979). It was released as the album’s second single in 1980. Written by musician, composer, and record producer Steven Greenberg and sung by Cynthia Johnson. At least two music videos exist for “Funkytown”. In one, a black singer miming Johnson’s vocals and some women dance in a pub. In another video, Debbie Jenner, who served as the face of Lipps Inc. in the Netherlands and West Germany, dances while miming Johnson’s vocals. Johnson says on her website that she “was never asked to perform a video of ‘Funkytown.'” “Funkytown” entered the US Billboard in March 1980, and spent four weeks at number one. It also reached no. 2 in the United Kingdom, and Sweden. The song was Lipps Inc’s only American Top 40 hit.
“In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” (31) is a 1969 hit song by the American pop-rock duo of Zager and Evans. It reached number one on the Billboard for six weeks in July-August 1969. It peaked at number one in the UK for three weeks in August and September that year. The song was written and composed by Rick Evans in 1964 and picked up by RCA Records. Zager and Evans were a one hit wonder, never releasing another charting single. This occurred in both the U.S. and the UK and as of 2022, they are the only recording artists ever to have a chart-topping #1 hit on both sides of the Atlantic and never have another Billboard charting single in the US or the UK for the rest of their career.
