The Best Pop Music of 1979
Contents
Check out our list of the best pop songs of 1979! Featuring tracks from some of the biggest artists of the decade, this is the ultimate playlist for anyone who loves pop music.
Introduction
It would be hard to overestimate the impact of 1979 on pop music. Not only did it usher in a new decade, but it also saw the birth of MTV, which would change the way both artists and fans experience(d) music forever. It was also a year of firsts: The Police scored their first No. 1 hit, while Blondie did the same for rap music with “Rapture.” And while disco was still going strong, it was clear that things were starting to change—this was the year that both Donna Summer and The Bee Gees released what would turn out to be their last truly great albums. Join us as we look back at some of the best pop songs of 1979.
The year in pop music
1979 was a great year for pop music. Some of the biggest hits of the year were “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd, “Babe” by Styx, and “Hotel California” by the Eagles. These songs dominated the radio and were on heavy rotation on MTV. If you were a fan of pop music in 1979, you had a lot to choose from.
January-March
1979 was a transitional year in pop music. The charts were dominated by disco and R&B, but there was also a strong contingent of traditional pop, soft rock, and new wave artists who were starting to make their mark. Here are some of the best pop songs of 1979.
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
This classic disco anthem became an empowering anthem for women everywhere. It spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
“My Sharona” by The Knack
This catchy new wave song was one of the biggest hits of 1979, spending six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also named Record of the Year at the 1980 Grammy Awards.
“Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer
Another disco classic, “Hot Stuff” spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
“Le Freak” by Chic
This funky disco tune was one of the biggest hits of 1978, spending six weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also nominated for Record of the Year at the 1980 Grammy Awards.
“You’re the One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
This duet topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in 1978 and was featured in the film musical Grease. It won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
April-June
The best pop music of 1979 included a wide variety of artists and genres. In April, the Bee Gees released their album, “Spirits Having Flown,” which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time. The group Abba also released their final album, “Voulez-Vous,” in May. In June, disco superstar Donna Summer released her landmark album “Bad Girls,” which featured the hits “Hot Stuff” and “Dim All the Lights.” Also in June, the classic rock band The Who released their last studio album, “The Kids Are Alright.”
July-September
September started with the death of Elvis Presley, which sent shockwaves throughout the music world. The King of Rock and Roll was just 42 years old, and his untimely passing left a huge void in the pop music landscape. In the months that followed, many artists would pay tribute to Presley with cover versions of his songs.
The fall of 1979 also saw the release of some of the year’s biggest hits, including “Heart of Glass” by Blondie, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” by Pink Floyd, and “My Sharona” by The Knack. These songs would go on to define an era, and their timeless popularity continues to this day.
October-December
The year 1979 saw a number of great pop songs released. From October to December, there were several songs that topped the charts and remain popular today.
October-December
– “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” by Pink Floyd
– “Heart of Glass” by Blondie
– “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
– “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
The best pop music of 1979
1979 was a great year for pop music. A lot of great artists released some of their best work this year. This heading will list some of the best pop songs of 1979.
January-March
1979 started off with a bang, with several huge hits debuting in the first quarter of the year. January saw the release of “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd, which quickly rose to the top of the charts and became one of the band’s signature songs. In February, Blondie released “Heart of Glass,” which would become one of their biggest hits. And in March, disco music made a comeback with Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?”
Other notable pop songs from early 1979 include:
“Y.M.C.A.” – Village People
“Le Freak” – Chic
“We Are Family” – Sister Sledge
“Hot Stuff” – Donna Summer
“Good Times” – Chic
April-June
During the spring and early summer of 1979, a number of pop hits dominated the charts. One of the most popular songs of the year was Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks in February. It was followed closely by another big hit, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s “You’re the One That I Want,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 in April.
Other notable hits from the spring and early summer of 1979 include Chic’s “Le Freak” (three weeks at No. 1), Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (two weeks at No. 1), and disco queen Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” (six weeks at No. 1).
July-September
July-September
The summer of 1979 saw a number of huge hits, including “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer, “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward, and “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer. This was also the period that saw the rise of disco music, with hits like “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “Le Freak” by Chic.
October-December
In October-December of 1979, the following songs were released:
“Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” by Pink Floyd
“Call Me” by Blondie
“Heart of Glass” by Blondie
“I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick
“Le Freak” by Chic
“Miss You” by The Rolling Stones
“Roxanne” by The Police
“She’s So Unusual” by Cyndi Lauper
“Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees
Conclusion
So there you have it, our list of the best pop music of 1979. What did you think of our choices? Did we leave anything out? Let us know in the comments!
