On this day in 1988: George Michael started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Monkey.’
“Monkey” became George Michael’s sixth solo single reaching #1 in the US, and the fourth single to do so from the ‘Faith’ album. George Michael joined Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston as three artists who all had four or more consecutive #1 singles during the 1987–88 years, (Michael Jackson scored five #1 hits from a single album ‘Bad’ while Whitney Houston scored seven consecutive #1 hits from two albums).
“Monkey” also reached #1 on the US Hot Club Dance Play chart for two weeks and became George Michael’s first dance #1.
The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan and choreographed by Paula Abdul. It comprises footage of George’s 1988 tour (including scenes of him performing intense choreography with a female dancer) and him performing the song in a simple white t-shirt and black hat against a white background. Some of the scenes are shown in grey scale, with the tour footage being shown with tinted blue lights all over.
Let’s take a look at the complete Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1988:
1 2 MONKEY –•– George Michael – 8 (1)
2 4 I DON’T WANNA GO ON WITH YOU LIKE THAT –•– Elton John – 11 (2)
3 6 I DON’T WANNA LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE –•– Chicago – 13 (3)
4 9 SWEET CHILD O’ MINE –•– Guns N’ Roses – 10 (4)
5 12 SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE –•– Robert Palmer – 9 (5)
6 10 FAST CAR –•– Tracy Chapman – 13 (6)
7 1 ROLL WITH IT –•– Steve Winwood – 12 (1)
8 13 PERFECT WORLD –•– Huey Lewis & The News – 7 (8)
9 11 LOVE WILL SAVE THE DAY –•– Whitney Houston – 9 (9)
10 3 1-2-3 –•– Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – 13 (3)
11 5 MAKE ME LOSE CONTROL –•– Eric Carmen – 15 (3)
12 7 HANDS TO HEAVEN –•– Breathe – 20 (2)
13 16 WHEN IT’S LOVE –•– Van Halen – 9 (13)
14 8 SIGN YOUR NAME –•– Terence Trent D’Arby – 14 (4)
15 18 IF IT ISN’T LOVE –•– New Edition – 9 (15)
16 19 I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU –•– Taylor Dayne – 12 (16)
17 20 ANOTHER PART OF ME –•– Michael Jackson – 6 (17)
18 23 NOBODY’S FOOL –•– Kenny Loggins – 8 (18)
19 24 ALL FIRED UP –•– Pat Benatar – 9 (19)
20 25 IT WOULD TAKE A STRONG STRONG MAN –•– Rick Astley – 7 (20)
