Song 159 - Two Classics by Belinda Carlisle and Tiffany

Okay, I think I am learning something about my own pop history that 1987 was a year when I started to truly follow music in my own right as nearly every song that I have pulled out to cover a song as song of the day so far in our 1980s month has come from this year. Today I am covering two hits that were back to back number ones at the start of 1988, but were released in 1987, from Belinda Carlisle and Tiffany.

Before kicking off her solo career, Belinda Carlisle had been the front singer with the American all-female rock band, The Go-Go's that formed in 1978. They were and remain the only US female rock band to write and play all their own instruments. Their success speaks for itself with over 7 million albums sold since they formed.

In the mid 1980s, the band had a period of separation between 1985 and 1990, as changes in the band's line up led to a discontentment with the original band members. This break with the band, allowed Belinda Carlise to follow a highly successful solo career, which peaked with the international hit single, Heaven is a place on earth, which reached number one across many countries in the world.

Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley, the pop video was directed by Holywood Actress, Diane Keaton and would become Carlisle's signature tune. After topping the Billboard Charts in America, it would achieve similar success in the UK chart, where it would be number one for two weeks at the start of 1988.

Here is the classic song and video to enjoy
Heaven is a place on earth

Written by Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley
Performed by Belinda Carlisle
Release: 1987
Album: Heaven is a place on earth

Heaven is a place on earth would be knocked of UK number on by Tiffany's 1988 version of I think we're alone now, written by Ritchie Cordell and a hit in 1967 for Tommy James and the Shondells. Sixteen year old, Canadian Tiffany burst onto the scene the pop scene and reached number one across several countries including the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand. Originally Tiffany hated the idea of covering the song but it became her signature tune and her biggest hit. I remember having a huge poster of Tiffany on my bedroom wall and thinking she was cool. I always wished that I could do the cross legged dance that is performed in the video, but I never had the co-ordination in my legs. I must admit that watching the video now makes me think of How I met your mother's Robin Sparks character with lets go to the mall. Perfect send up of this 1980s classic.

Enjoy another classic
Tiffany's I think we're alone now

Written by Ritchie Cordell
Performed by Tiffany
Released: 1987
Album: Tiffany