1984 in British Music

The Story of 1984

Frankie Goes to Hollywood conquered the world, and charity pop changed the game. Frankie's 'Relax' was banned by the BBC, which only made it bigger – it spent five weeks at number one and started a phenomenon. 'Two Tribes' followed, an even bigger hit. Their album 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome' was a lavish, overblown triumph. But the year's defining moment was Band Aid – Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's supergroup recording 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief. It featured virtually every British pop star, spent five weeks at number one and raised millions. It also changed pop's relationship with charity forever. George Michael's 'Careless Whisper' was a global smash. Sade's 'Diamond Life' was sophisticated adult pop. Queen and David Bowie's 'Under Pressure' was belatedly a single. The charts were eclectic, energetic and defined by the rise of the pop video. MTV was in its imperial phase, and British artists were its greatest beneficiaries. The Smiths released 'Hatful of Hollow' that year, and indie was finding its voice amid the glossy pop landscape.