Waterfront "Cry"

Even with a million plays on the radio in 1989, I somehow missed "Cry" from the British duo Waterfront. The song hit #10 hit on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary Charts, but I feel like I've never heard it until today. "Cry" proved to be the band's high-water moment.

Estelle "American Boy"

Kanye West backs up British singer Estelle in "American Boy". The catchy pop song introduced Estelle to the world in 2008, but her success fizzled afterward. But it's a cheap way to work "America" into the conversation.

Rick Astley "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"

While Elton John kicked off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in 2018, Rick Astley made his comeback -- including his first tour of the United States in years. Did you know the two singers actually performed together on one of Elton's signature tunes? You can hear Astley singing backup vocals in "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" on Elton's famed Lion King Soundtrack.

R. Kelly "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time

Eight years ago, I got my first taste of the Mediterranean with stops in England, Italy, Spain, and Malta during my vacation. The trip had so many highlights, but one particular moment will always stand out from the rest. It happened on the island of Malta in Valleta--a small country off the coast of Sicily. While there, I noticed an elderly married couple pointing and looking around an outdoor coffee shop. While her husband stood raising his cane at some of the pillars, his wife surveyed the area while holding an old photograph. When we approached the duo, the woman explained that her husband was a former British soldier who was once stationed on the island of Malta during World War II. The photo she was holding happened to be a photo of her husband from 1944 standing in that very spot. Chills! This moment was the first time in nearly 55 years that the man last stepped foot there. The two were quite humble and downplayed the significance of their visit, but we would have none of that. I snapped this photo of the two of them holding the photo and thanked them for sharing their story. It was a beautiful and perfect moment of history. 

Tears for Fears "Sowing the Seeds of Love"

By today's standards, how political is "Sowing the Seeds of Love"? The 1989 tune came in reaction to the British Conservative Party's Margaret Thatcher winning her third term as Prime Minister. 

Lisa Stansfield "Change"

Please don't call British pop singer Lisa Stansfield a one-hit-wonder. Yes, most of us remember "All Around the World", but she also turned in a multi-format hit in 1991 with the upbeat song "Change". This dance club favorite was a hit across the globe and even was remixed again in 2006.

Duran Duran "Come Undone"

In heavy rotation at out quaint ranch house in Indiana during the fall of 1993 was Duran Duran's "Ordinary World". Since my brother didn't own many CDs, he played the ones he did have quite often--which is why we heard Duran Duran's ballad often. The song also was popular outside the walls of our house: charting on multiple formats and in dozen countries. With its chilling verse: "Can't keep from falling apart at the seams", the haunting ballad helped re-establish Duran Duran as the powerhouse hit-making British band that dominated the 1980s.

Elton John & Kiki Dee "Don't Go Breaking My Heart"

In a song originally intended for Dusty Springfield, Elton John teamed up with Kiki Dee in "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". While Dee never was known for much in the United States other than this duet, her musical career flourished in the UK (where she was born). Dee put out 12 albums--including one as late as 2013.

Rod Stewart "Forever Young"

"Forever Young" rates as one of Rod Stewart's personal favorites. The song pays homage to Stewart's oldest children who grew up while Rod was out on the road touring. The song reached #12 on the Hot 100 and #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1988 -- becoming a staple on Adult Contemporary radio stations for the remainder of the 20th century. The one place "Forever Young" never became a hit...is Rod's home. Strangely, the song never found success in the U.K. (only peaking at #57).

Breathe "Say a Prayer"

Originally called Catch 22, the Brit-pop band Breathe strung together a series of hits in the late-80s before ultimately breaking up in 1992. "How Can I Fall?" and "Hands to Heaven" are the bands two signature tunes, but "Say a Prayer" was another hit for the band -- it reached #3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1990.

The Escape Club "Wild, Wild West"

Can you name the only British band to have a #1 song in the US while never charting a song back home in the UK?  Hint: you're reading a blog post about the song.  "Wild Wild West" hit #1 for The Escape Club at the end of 1988 resulting in this factoid (bonus: the look on that guy's face in the video).

Fleetwood Mac "Everywhere"

Fleetwood Mac released the song "Everywhere" in 1987. At the time, it was the British super-group's 14th album.  The group recently announced plans to reunite for their farewell tour in 2018.

Cliff Richard - "A Little in Love"

Long before he became Sir Cliff Richard, British singer Cliff Richard scored a Top 10 song on the Adult Contemporary Chart with "A Little in Love" in 1981.

Breathe - "Don't Tell Me Lies"

"Don't Tell Me Lies" showed the more upbeat side from British pop group Breathe.  Originally recorded in 1985, the band re-released the ditty in 1989 after finding success with Hands to Heaven and How Can I Fall.

Gloria Estefan - "Don't Wanna Lose You"

Isn't it interesting how British performers manage to sing so clearly yet speak with a thick British accent?  In the case of Gloria Estefan, she effortlessly flips a switch in "Don't Wanna Lose You" and completely loses her Spanish accent.  She flipped that switch back in a Spanish version of the ballad called "Si Voy A Perderte".

Billy Ocean - "Suddenly"

Before Frank Ocean, we had Billy Ocean.  The British-born Billy Ocean melted hearts of those across the globe with the 1985 ballad "Suddenly".  Push aside novelty hits like "Caribbean Queen" and "Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car", and you'll see that Billy pieced together quite an impressive career during the 1980s.  Believe it or not, Billy's musical career continues today -- he released an album in 2016.

The Kinks - "Come Dancing"

Growing up, Saturday night meant it was "Flashback Night" on local Adult Contemporary radio station Z107.  The station broadcast from Merrillville, Indiana--one town over from my hometown Schererville, Indiana.  One such Saturday night introduced me to The Kinks.  While the British rock band had more well-known hits, "Come Dancing" quickly became a favorite of mine thanks to the heavy percussion and brass in the song.  It's a fun, feel-good tune that is sure to sound even better on a Saturday night.

Howard Jones - "Everlasting Love"

Let's play a game called "Name One Song by Howard Jones".  What's that?  You want to know who Howard Jones is?  I suppose that makes sense seeing as you could hear "Everlasting Love" and immediately think it was some one-hit-wonder British act.  But, no, Howard Jones actually strung together a handful of hits in the 1980s that should have considerably elevated his status.  We'll explore more from Howard Jones in the coming weeks.

Swing Out Sister - "Breakout"

Here's a song that you've probably heard a time or two in your life and wondered, "Who sang that?".  The catchy tune is called "Breakout" from the British act Swing Out Sister.  The #1 song from 1987 is the band's signature song...even if you have no idea who Swing Out Sister is.

The Thompson Twins "Doctor Doctor!"

My earliest memories of listening to the radio start around 1984 when B-96 provided the soundtrack to pool parties at our quaint Northwest Indiana home.  My brother and neighbor actually started our own band called "The Thompson Twins" because this song was all over the radio that year.  Our version of the band never lasted beyond one practice session, but the real Twins lasted much longer.  I kick off "Growing Up Adult Contemporary" with this hit from a the British duo that was neither Thompsons nor twins.