Forgotten Pop Stars from the 1980s

There is a special magic required to break into the Billboard Top 10 charts. Be it a simple, infectious groove and a singalong chorus or something more nebulous, like the Muse's passing interest, producing a hit single can be tricky. Releasing a follow-up that matches the former's success, however, proves even more elusive. Some of the most notable 1980s pop stars couldn't match their earlier success, resulting in them becoming more or less forgotten.

A long list of 80s pop stars found runaway success with one song but for uncertain reasons, failed to meet expectations with follow-up attempts. Artists like Matthew Wilder or Dead or Alive wrote songs that captured something but were unable to regain that special spark. While some forgotten 80s stars found success behind the musical scenes or in overseas markets, others remain true relics of a bygone era. Let's explore 10 examples.

Formed in 1983 in Los Angeles, synth-pop band Animotion made serious musical strides within a few years of inception. It produced some of the most dramatic singles of the mid-80s including "Obsession," "Let Him Go," and "Room to Move." Though "Obsession" made global waves and reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, Animotion couldn't recapture the energy. Plus, a series of band lineup changes resulted in Animotion breaking up in the early 1990s.

Appropriately, forgotten 80s pop star Toni Basil was head cheerleader while she attended Las Vegas High School. This experience likely served her well when crafting the enduring hit song "Mickey." While she acted in some notable movies before her pop fame ("American Graffiti" and "The Rose"), her 1982 brought her superstardom. "Mickey's" infectious beat and chorus helped it reach number 1 in multiple countries. Her later songs failed to find purchase, however. Nowadays, Basil works behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

When Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round" hit the airwaves in 1985, it made serious inroads. The song hit number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a major club anthem, thanks to its throbbing beat and beguiling yet powerful vocals. The song suggested further success but Dead or Alive failed to produce a suitably compelling follow-up. The band kept at it for the next two decades but couldn't match the zest of its early recordings.

Not all one-hit-wonder makers are destined for diminishing returns. Take Matthew Wilder, for example. His 1983 song "Break My Stride" reached number five on the Billboard Charts thanks to its feel-good sentiment and reggae-inspired rhythm. While further hits eluded Wilder, he found his calling on the production side of the industry. Besides working with artists like No Doubt, he even wrote music for the "Mulan" movie.

Seemingly destined for a musical life, Toni Childs ran away from home as a teenager to become a blues musician. After seeing Pink Floyd in concert in the late '70s, she decided to fully embrace being a musician. She found some success in the American market with songs like "Don't Walk Away," which illustrated her unique, powerful voice, but somewhere down under proved more enduring. Indeed, what success Childs couldn't capture in America she found in Australia and New Zealand. There, her 1996 album "The Very Best of Toni Childs" became the 5th best-selling album of 1996.

Despite being relatively forgotten, Scottish singer and actress Sheena Easton accomplished what none had before her; she became the first and only musician in history to have a top-5 hit on each of Billboard's singles charts. This led to further success and accolades including two Grammy Awards and 20 million records sales. Easton even recorded the James Bond film theme song "For Your Eyes Only." Despite all this, Easton is hardly mentioned anymore.

In 1987, pop star Tiffany scored a smash hit with a cover of the Tommy James and the Shondells'song "I Think We're Alone Now." It reached number one on the charts and was quickly followed by other covers which broke into the top 10. Rather ingeniously, Tiffany spread her star power by touring American malls. Her second studio album, "Hold an Old Friend's Hand," charted but not like her previous release. Interest in Tiffany steadily waned in the ensuing decades until she was mostly forgotten. 80s nostalgia media like "Stranger Things," however, reignited interest in her music in recent years.

Some recording artists, like Pat Benatar, rode the 80s wave to incredible success. Her songs like "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" and "Love Is a Battlefield" became number-one hits. As the 80s progressed, Benatar became a true musical icon, winning four Grammy Awards, reaching the Billboard Top 40 15 times, and selling over 30 million records. As the 80s gave way to the 90s, Benatar sold fewer records. She was admired but mostly forgotten by the millenium. Her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, however, reignited some commercial interest in her classic songs.

Gary Numan got his start in the music industry as part of the band Tubeway Army. He recorded two albums with the band, but Numan found real success when he released his first solo album "The Pleasure Principle." This led to massive hits on the UK charts including "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars." In hindsight, many now consider Numan to be a true pioneer in the realm of electronic music. While general audiences forgot about Numan as the decades progressed, he still enjoys an ardent cult following.

As with the previous entry Gary Numan, some artists gain more respect than record sales. Take Jody Watley, for example. She scored several hits in the '70s and '80s as part of the band Shalamar (pictured above). This led to a successful solo career, with her eponymously named debut album peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 200. This led to a Grammy Award and further hits. By the mid-1990s, however, her subsequent releases failed to find the same footing as her earlier efforts. She's routinely included in music publications' Top 10 lists even today, but you'd be hard-pressed to find any person on the street who remembers her.