1985 in music


This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.

Specific locations

January–March

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Release date unknown

The following songs achieved the highest in the charts of 1985.
#ArtistTitleYearCountryChart Entries
1Tears For FearsShout1984US BB 1 – Jun 1985, Canada 1 – Feb 1985, Netherlands 1 – Jan 1985, Switzerland 1 – Feb 1985, Germany 1 – Jan 1985, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Mar 1985, Australia 1 for 1 weeks Nov 1985, France 3 – Dec 1984, Poland 3 – Mar 1985, UK 4 – Dec 1984, Sweden 5 – Dec 1984, Norway 5 – Mar 1985, KROQ 5 of 1985, Austria 6 – Mar 1985, US CashBox 13 of 1985, Australia 14 of 1985, Sweden 16 – Feb 1985, South Africa 16 of 1985, Italy 20 of 1985, RYM 27 of 1984, Scrobulate 36 of 80s, Germany 104 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 974
2USA For AfricaWe Are the World1985UK 1 – Apr 1985, US BB 1 – Mar 1985, US CashBox 1 of 1985, Canada 1 – Apr 1985, Netherlands 1 – Mar 1985, Sweden 1 – Mar 1985, Sweden 1 – Apr 1985, Switzerland 1 – Apr 1985, Norway 1 – Mar 1985, Poland 1 – Mar 1985, Australia 1 of 1985, Italy 1 of 1985, Republic of Ireland 1 – Apr 1985, New Zealand 1 for 7 weeks Apr 1985, Australia 1 for 9 weeks Dec 1985, Grammy in 1985, Austria 2 – Apr 1985, Germany 2 – Apr 1985, Global 4 – 1985, South Africa 8 of 1985, US BB 40 of 1985, POP 71 of 1985, RIAA 121, Germany 263 of the 1980s, OzNet 418, Acclaimed 1371
3a-haTake On Me1984US BB 1 – Aug 1985, Canada 1 – Aug 1985, Netherlands 1 – Oct 1985, Sweden 1 – Oct 1985, France 1 – May 1985, Switzerland 1 – Nov 1985, Norway 1 – Nov 1984, Poland 1 – Dec 1985, Germany 1 – Jan 1986, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Aug 1986, Scrobulate 1 of 80s, UK 2 – Sep 1985, Sweden 4 – Aug 1985, Austria 4 – Dec 1985, Italy 7 of 1986, KROQ 7 of 1985, RYM 8 of 1984, Australia 12 of 1985, US CashBox 15 of 1985, Europe 20 of the 1980s, POP 31 of 1985, Global 33 – 1985, US BB 36 of 1985, Germany 81 of the 1980s, Party 133 of 2007, OzNet 795, Acclaimed 2396
4ForeignerI Want to Know What Love Is1984 / UK 1 – Dec 1984, US BB 1 – Dec 1984, Canada 1 – Dec 1984, Sweden 1 – Dec 1984, Sweden 1 – Dec 1984, Norway 1 – Jan 1985, Poland 1 – Mar 1985, Republic of Ireland 1 – Jan 1985, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Feb 1985, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Oct 1985, Switzerland 2 – Jan 1985, Germany 4 – Jan 1985, Australia 5 of 1985, Netherlands 6 – Dec 1984, Austria 7 – Feb 1985, US CashBox 8 of 1985, South Africa 12 of 1985, POP 17 of 1985, US BB 34 of 1985, Europe 38 of the 1980s, OzNet 180, RYM 186 of 1984, Germany 255 of the 1980s, Rolling Stone 476, Acclaimed 659
5MadonnaMaterial Girl1985UK 1 – Jul 1985, Netherlands 1 – Aug 1985, Republic of Ireland 1 – Aug 1985, New Zealand 1 for 6 weeks Aug 1985, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Mar 1986, Sweden 2 – Aug 1985, Switzerland 2 – Aug 1985, Australia 2 of 1985, Italy 2 of 1985, Sweden 3 – Aug 1985, Germany 3 – Aug 1985, Norway 4 – Aug 1985, US BB 7 of 1985, Austria 7 – Sep 1985, France 9 – Aug 1985, RYM 9 of 1985, POP 13 of 1985, Poland 19 – Sep 1985, Scrobulate 73 of 80s, Party 193 of 1999, OzNet 200, Acclaimed 235, Germany 271 of the 1980s

Top hits

Classical music

Musical theater