"Speed of Sound" is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their third studio album,X&Y (2005). Constructed around a piano and guitar riff,the song builds into a huge,synthesiser-heavy chorus. It was released by Parlophone Records as the lead single from the album. "Speed of Sound" made its radio premiere on BBC Radio 1 with Lamacq on 19 April,then was serviced to US radio on 18 April 2005. The song was released physically in Japan on 11 May with two B-sides:"Things I Don't Understand" and "Proof". In the United Kingdom,the single was issued on 23 May 2005.
"Eternal Flame" is a song by American pop rock group the Bangles for their third studio album,Everything (1988). The power ballad was written by group member Susanna Hoffs with the established hit songwriting team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Upon its 1989 single release,"Eternal Flame" became a number-one hit in nine countries,including Australia,Sweden,the United Kingdom,and the United States. Since its release,it has been covered by many musical artists,including Australian boy band Human Nature,who reached the Australian top 10 with their version,and British girl group Atomic Kitten,who topped four national charts with their rendition.
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" is a song by American pop music duo Boy Meets Girl in 1988,written by the duo's members,Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill. They wrote the song after witnessing a falling star at a Whitney Houston concert and originally offered the song to Houston,but Arista Records CEO Clive Davis rejected it. American singer Belinda Carlisle then recorded a demo of the song but denied its inclusion on her 1987 album Heaven on Earth,so Rubicam and Merrill decided to record and release the song themselves.
"I Touch Myself" is a song recorded by Australian rock band Divinyls. It was written by the songwriting team of Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg along with Christine Amphlett and Mark McEntee of the Divinyls. It was released in November 1990 by Virgin as the lead single from the band's fourth album,diVINYLS (1991),and deals with the subjects of eroticism and female masturbation. The single achieved success,reaching No. 1 in Australia and No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In January 2018,Australian network Triple M ranked the song at No. 60 in its list of the "most Australian" songs of all time. In 2023,Billboard magazine ranked it among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".
"Need You Tonight" is a song by the Australian rock band INXS,released as the first single from their 1987 album,Kick,as well as the fourth song on the album. It is the only INXS single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also achieved their highest charting position in the United Kingdom,where the song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart;however,this peak was only reached after a re-release of the single in November 1988. On its first run on the UK charts in October 1987,it stalled at No. 58. It was one of the last songs recorded for the album,yet it would arguably become the band's signature song.
"Rush Rush" is a song by American recording artist Paula Abdul,taken from her second studio album,Spellbound (1991). It was released on April 24,1991,by Virgin Records as the lead single from the album. Written by Peter Lord and produced by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith,the song achieved success in the United States,where it topped the Billboard Hot 100,and became a worldwide hit.
"The Best" is a song by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler from her seventh studio album,Hide Your Heart (1988). It was written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight. Produced by Desmond Child,Tyler's version became a top-10 hit in Norway but was a minor hit elsewhere.
"Sacrifice" is a song by English musician Elton John,written by John and Bernie Taupin,from John's 22nd studio album,Sleeping with the Past (1989). It was first released in October 1989 as the second single from the album. It achieved success in 1990,particularly in France and the United Kingdom,becoming John's first solo chart-topper in both nations. The song describes how hard it is to stay faithful and devoted in a marriage,challenging the mantra that a successful union requires sacrifice. Due to the song's success,John has played this song in various locations in the years since it was released.
"You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" is the debut single of English pop singer Sonia. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman,the song was included on Sonia's debut album,Everybody Knows (1990). The single became Sonia's only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart and reached number 10 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.
"Roam" is a song by American new wave band the B-52's released as the fourth single from their fifth studio album,Cosmic Thing (1989). The vocals are sung by Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson,making it the only vocal track on the album without any vocal involvement from Fred Schneider. It is also the only track from the album in which the B-52's worked with a co-writer,Robert Waldrop,who penned the lyrics. Released as a single in 1989,"Roam" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and entered the top 10 in Canada,Ireland,and New Zealand.
"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey from his third studio album,Your Arsenal (1992). It was released as the lead single from the album on 27 April 1992 by His Master's Voice (HMV). It was the first Morrissey single to be co-written with guitarist Alain Whyte and produced by glam rock guitarist Mick Ronson,known for his work with David Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars. The song peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 in Ireland.
"I Wish It Would Rain Down" is a song by English musician Phil Collins from his fourth solo studio album,...But Seriously (1989). The song was a chart success in early 1990,peaking at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart,No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart;in the latter country,it was the most successful song of 1990. Collins felt that it was as close as he had ever got,at the time,to writing a blues song.
"Kingston Town" is a 1970 song by Lord Creator released as a single on producer Clancy Eccles' Clandisc label. It was also recorded in 1989 by reggae group UB40 and was released as the second single from their album Labour of Love II,reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart and number one in France and the Netherlands.
"Born of Frustration" is a song written by Jim Glennie,Larry Gott,and Tim Booth and released as a single by English Madchester band James. It is the follow-up to 1991 hits "Sit Down" and "Sound",which both peaked within the UK top 10.
"Love Shack" is a song by American new wave band the B-52's from their fifth studio album,Cosmic Thing (1989). It was released on June 20,1989,and was produced by Don Was. The song was a comeback for the band,following their decline in popularity in the mid-1980s and the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985.
"Sound" is a song written by Jim Glennie,Larry Gott,and Tim Booth,recorded by Manchester band James for their fourth studio album,Seven (1992). Clocking in at over six and a half minutes on the album,the song was shortened considerably for the single version. The CD release featured both the album and the single version,along with a dub remix of "Come Home" and an original song called "All My Sons".
"Bitter Tears" is a song by Australian rock band INXS,released as the third Australian and fourth UK single from their seventh studio album,X (1990). The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as part of the sessions for the X album. It peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart and number 36 in Australia. The single was released to coincide with the band headlining the SummerXS concert at Wembley Stadium in July 1991,as documented in the Live Baby Live DVD.
"London Nights" is a song by British Europop duo London Boys,released in 1989 from their debut album,The Twelve Commandments of Dance. The single was written and produced by Ralf RenéMaué,and its cover artwork features photography from Andy Knight. It was a hit in the United Kingdom,Finland and Ireland where it was a top five hit,thus becoming the band's biggest hit single. Several formats of the single include an instrumental version of "London Nights",titled "London Days".
"Can You Dig It?" is a 1991 single by English indie rock band the Mock Turtles that was featured on their 1990 album,Turtle Soup. It was originally the B-side to the song "Lay Me Down". It was released on Siren Records in all formats except for one of the seven-inch singles released in Europe where it was released by Virgin Records.
"Licence to Kill" is a song by American singer Gladys Knight,written and recorded for the James Bond film Licence to Kill,taken from the soundtrack of the film's same name. The song was written by Narada Michael Walden,Jeffrey Cohen and Walter Afanasieff,and produced by Walden and associate production helmed by Afanasieff.
