Episode 15

Gen X 80s Top 20 Countdown: July 25, 1986 – Pop Icons, New Wave Bangers & A Talking AI

It’s time to rewind to July 25, 1986, where the UK charts were packed with pop legends, new wave anthems, reggae grooves, and even a few surprises.


🎧 This week’s countdown features:


 🔥 Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach

 🎸 Rod Stewart – Every Beat of My Heart

 💃 Bananarama – Venus

 🎤 UB40 – Sing Our Own Song

 🤖 Art of Noise & Max Headroom – Paranoimia (Yes, THAT Max Headroom.)


As always, we’ll dive into the stories behind the songs, test your 80s trivia knowledge, and take a nostalgic detour back to Saturday mornings in the 80s—where cereal commercials were just as entertaining as cartoons.


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🔊 Bonus: Our Patreon-exclusive series is in full swing with Episode 4 of the Top 100 Rock Songs from 1985—check it out for even more deep dives into 80s rock history.





Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay



About the Podcast

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Gen X 80s Top 20 Countdown

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Bret Carbone