De Do Do Do De Da Da Da by The Police (1980-81)
Sting wrote "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" in an effort to illustrate two things: The attraction that people have for simple songs...and (more importantly) that people can use words to manipulate others.
This is just the sort of thing you'd expect from an intellectual thinker like Sting...but as you ALSO might expect, some people didn't get it...and thought the song was silly.
Those who DID get it helped "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" (from the the album "Zenyatta Mondatta)," climb to #1 in Canada, and #10 here in the US (in late 1980/early '81).
One ohttps://youtu.be/G5CrU-r55Yof the best reviews came from the legendary Joni Mitchell, who definitely Got It...and I quote:I loved the musicality of the song: "The stops and pauses are really fun. I appreciated the rhythmic hybrids, the gaps between the bass lines,and the repetitive figures with space between them.
And here's a final quote from Sting, who said: "My son came up with it. I've never paid him– so that's another possible lawsuit." I'm Pretty sure he was kidding.
https://youtu.be/G5CrU-r55Yo
Last Dance by Donna Summer (1978)
In 1978, discos all over the world were gifted with the perfect song to end the night--every night--for the next several years. Donna Summer's "Last Dance” came from the film "Thank God It's Friday," and it won the Oscar for Best Original Song.
It also topped Billboard's Dance Club Chart...and went to #3 on the Hot 100.
The film weaved together several plot lines about the staff and patrons of a fictional Los Angeles disco over the course of a single Friday night...with a large cast that included a couple of up-and-coming actors named Jeff Goldblum and Debra Winger. The film also featured Donna and The Commodores.
Donna's character, Nicole Sims, repeatedly tries to onvince the DJ to play her new single--to no avail. Finally, she sneaks up on the stage, grabs a microphone and starts singing “Last Dance.”
On a personal note: More often than not, my nights as a Club DJ at She-Nannigans, Trader and Trapper and Wagner's (here in Eau Claire) ended with this song.The crowds never got tired of hearing it, and knowing it was literally the "last Dance," they always flocked to the floor!
https://youtu.be/G5rJunb4sIk
Time of the Season by The Zombies (1968)
In 1968, The Zombies were broke and in trouble.
In one last effort to keep things going, they recorded the album “odyssey and Oracle,” but didn't even have enough money left over to correct a misspelling of “Odyssey” on rhe alum cover.
Several singles were released from the album, but nothing caught on...so The Zombies called it a career..or so they thought.
But then Columbia Records decided to release one last track: “Time of the Season.”
The song featured unique call and response vocals by lead singer Colin Blunstone, and psychedelic organ solos by keyboardist Rod Argent—who also wrote the tune.
All of a sudden, The Zombies were climbing the charts: #1 in Canada, #2 in South Africa, and #3 here in rthe US!
That convinced the group to attempt a comeback, but it didn't last—and they called it quits again.
As time passed, however, good things started to happen: Rolling Stone Magazine listed “Odyssey and Oracle” at #100 on their list of The Top 500 Albums of All Time, and then...thanks in part of “Odyssey and Oracle, ”which critics now agree was WAY ahead of its time, The Zombies were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
I guess it proves that good things come to those who wait...and wait...and wait... :-)
https://youtu.be/6FndvMeXUgU
Let the Music Play by Shannon (1983)
By 1983, disco was dead...or was it?
It certainly didn't feel that way after college student Brenda Shannon Greene came along with her debut hit, "Let the Music Play'."
According to a number of musicologists, it was an important record in dance music history. Its combination of Latin American rhythms and melody with electro beats and a heavy syncopated drum-machine pattern produced an original sound, later known as Freestyle. It was new and refreshing...and it marked the return of dance music to the radio airwaves and record charts.
In fact, it charted in most of Europe, as well as Australia,New Zealand, Venezuela, and here in the US, where it reached #2 on The Hip-Hop Chart and #8 on The Hot 100.
Even more impressive: it sold more than 80 million copies worldwide!
(I'm guessing that generated more than enough money to pay off her student loans. :-)
Obviously, Shannon's "Let the Music Play” was a Great Song of 1983!
https://youtu.be/_-0sUuGufmw
Kodachrome by Paul Simon (1973)
This song was originally called "Going Home," but Paul wasn't very happy with the title--OR the lyrics. Before long, he started experimenting with titles that rhymed with "Going Home," which made perfect sense because he was planning to add it to his 1973 solo album, "There Goes Rhymin' Simon."
Inspiration struck when he came up with "Kodachrome." Not only did it rhyme, it triggered his lyrical creativity.
Kodachrome, of course, was a type of film developed (pun intended) by Kodak, that was known for capturing bright, vivid colors--sometimes TOO bright and vivd--according to some photographers. Paul was aware of this when he wrote the lyric, "everything looks worse in black and white."
That's what he sang on the record...but during performances, he sometimes changed WORSE to "BETTER... just because he liked the way it changed the meaning.
As a single, Kodachrome climbed to #2 on both trhe Hot 100 and Easy Listening Charts...making it a Great Song of 1973.
And here's a fun fact for you: :It MIGHT have been a hit in the UK, except for one thing: The BBC banned any song that included a brand name....and Paul not only mentioned Kodachrome,he mentioned his Nikon camera!
https://youtu.be/8rlDTK6QI-w?list=RD8rlDTK6QI-w
Beginnings by Chicacgo (1969-71)
'm cheatring a bit with this one...bu only slightly.
“Beginnings” by Chicago SHOULD have been a "Great Song of the '60s," but it didn't chart until 1971.
Robert Lamm wrote "Beginnings" for Chicago's first album, (1969's "Chicago Transit Authority"), and it was the second single release after "Question 67 & 68,"
but for some reason, It didn't even crack the Hot 100!
Two years later, Columbia Records re-released the song (with a great new B-side called "Color My World"), and this “second beginning shot to #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart...as well as #7 on the Hot 100.
Chicago was back on the map with “Beginnings: a Great song of 1969 AND 1971. And here's a fun fact : Robert Lamm wrote the song on a guitar that was missing 2 strings!
https://youtu.be/TBDtqz6cgko
I Wish by Stevie Wonder (1977)
The album as a whole was an autobiographical sketch of Stevie's life up to that point, and debuted at #1 on the Album chart-- making Stevie the first American artist to achieve that honor.
"I Wish," the first of FOUR Great Singles from the album, covered his boyhood in the '50s and early '60s when he was growing up under difficult circumstances.
Stevie wrote "I Wish" after a day of fun at a Motown Company picnic that left him feeling like a kid again. It was, funky, jazzy...and a great dance tune...and in January of 1977, it skyrocketed to #1 on both The Hot 100 and Rhythm & Blues Charts.
In effect, "Wish" was a Song in the key of GREAT!
https://youtu.be/hYKYka-PNt0
Sunshine Superman by Donovan (1966)
Back in the day, there was a lot of talk about "Sunshine Superman" being a drug reference--and it was...but in this case, it was mostly a breakup song--after his wife-to-be, Linda Lawrence, temporarily called things off.
It was also an attempt to do something "Trippy"" that sounded like what The Beatles were releasing at the time.
Donovan, and The Fab 4 were friends. but even though he had originally subtitled the song "for John and Paul, he was advised NOT to play "Sunshine Superman" for them so they couldn't record something similar.
The reason for this was a contract dispute between Donovan and his record label, Pye Records, who refused to release the song until an agreement was reached--which took almost a year. By then, however The Beatles had moved on from "Trippy Pop" and it didn't matter anymore.
When "Sunshine Superman" was finally released, it became a Top 10 hit in 9 countries, including The US, where it topped the charts at both Billboard AND Cashbox Magazines.
Fun Fact: Donovan's backup band on the song included Led Zeppelins' Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones!
https://youtu.be/YsX2FhBf9nY
Shock the Monkey by Peter Gabriel (1982)
s it a song about animal rights? No.
Is it a song about shock therapy? No.
According to Peter Gabriel, the man behind 1982's "Shock the Monkey," it's about jealousy.
More specifically, Peter wrote it as a love song" that examines how jealousy can release your basic instincts."
To enhance he idea, he challenged himself to create an off-the-wall lyrical motif inspired by--believe it or not--King Kong's lightning powers in the film "King Kong vs. Godzilla" with a touch of 1960s Motown thrown in!
How could a mix like that NOT be a hit!? 
And so it was!
As a single from "Peter Gabriel (Security)," his 4th post-Genesis Album, " it became a critical darling...an MTV favorite...and a #1 hit on Billboard's Rock Chart.
All Monkey Business aside, It's no Shock that "Shock the Monkey: by by Peter Gabriel was a Great Song of 1982! - Mike Cook
https://youtu.be/CnVf1ZoCJSo
I Wish by Stevie Wonder (1977)
In late September of 1976, Stevie Wonder released "Songs in the Key of Life," an amazingly creative double album that also came with a bonus 4-song extended-play disc.
The album as a whole was an autobiographical sketch of Stevie's life up to that point, and debuted at #1 on the Album chart-- making Stevie the first American artist to achieve that honor.
"I Wish," the first of FOUR Great Singles from the album, covered his boyhood in the '50s and early '60s when he was growing up under difficult circumstances.
Stevie wrote "I Wish" after a day of fun at a Motown Company picnic that left him feeling like a kid again. It was, funky, jazzy...and a great dance tune...and in January of 1977, it skyrocketed to #1 on both The Hot 100 and Rhythm & Blues Charts.
In effhttps://www.greatesthits981.com/shock-the-monkey-by-peter-gabriel-1982/ect, "Wish" was a Song in the key of GREAT! - Mike Cook
https://youtu.be/hYKYka-PNt0