Looking Back: January 1987

1987 was the year I first started listening to popular music, and in honor of that 20-year anniversary, I've decided to take a monthly look back at what was popular that year. An important caveat though is that I didn't actually start listening until August of 1987, but still, much of what was popular that year I've come to know.

January 1987

Unfortunately, this is kind of a slow start, as the two biggest songs of January '87 haven't proven to be timeless classics, although they are good songs: "Shake You Down," an R&B ballad by Gregory Abbott, and "At This Moment" a traditional pop ballad by Billy Vera and the Beaters. Albeit for a couple of minor follow-ups, it's safe to say these guys were both one-hit wonders. "At This Moment" is notable for becoming popular after serving as a love theme for Alex P. Keaton's first major romance on Family Ties.



Probably the most memorable song from January of 1987 is Janet Jackson's "Control," the title track and fourth single from Control, all of which up to this point made the top 5. "Control" was a rallying cry for female independence, and amidst the R&B balladry and hair band rock of '87, still sounds fresh today--way fresher than the music Janet Jackson records now. The video (below) plays like a short film.



Also notable was Genesis' third Invisible Touch single, "Land of Confusion." It was the album's third straight top 5 hit--two more would follow later in the year. The song has one of the '80s most memorable videos, featuring truly creepy puppets, including two that look suspicously like a former president and first lady, as well as a handful of other then-current world leaders.



Finally, there was the debut single from Robbie Nevil, "C'est La Vie," which he was never able to follow-up successfully, and Duran Duran's "Notorious," a #2 hit and their first single since their 1985 #1 single, "A View to a Kill."