On this day in 1985: ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ went on general release in the U.K., the movie featured Madonna and Rosanna Arquette. The filmmakers had initially wanted Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn to play the roles of Roberta and Susan, but the director decided to cast newcomers Rosanna Arquette and Madonna instead.
On this day in 1986: Bananarama went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Venus’, the song had also been a #1 for Dutch group Shocking Blue back in 1970.
“Venus” had been a part of Bananarama’s repertoire for several years before they actually recorded it. The group’s three members had the idea of turning the song into a dance tune, but they were met with resistance from their producers at the time. After persistence by the women, their producers relented. Bananarama’s “Venus” peaked at #1 in the United States, Australia, Finland, New Zealand, Switzerland, and South Africa, while reaching #2 in Germany and the Top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and their native United Kingdom. It also topped the U.S. Hot Dance chart chart for two weeks.
Let’s take a look at the entire Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1986:
1 2 VENUS –•– Bananarama (London)-11 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 4 TAKE MY BREATH AWAY –•– Berlin (Columbia)-12 (2)
3 1 HIGHER LOVE –•– Steve Winwood (Island)-13 (1)
4 5 DANCING ON THE CEILING –•– Lionel Richie (Motown)-8 (4)
5 6 FRIENDS & LOVERS –Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson (USA Carrere)-10 (5)
6 9 STUCK WITH YOU –•– Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)-6 (6)
7 7 SWEET FREEDOM –•– Michael McDonald (MCA)-13 (7)
8 13 WORDS GET IN THE WAY –•– Miami Sound Machine featuring Gloria Estefan (Epic)-13 (8)
9 3 PAPA DON’T PREACH –•– Madonna (Sire)-11 (1)
10 15 WALK THIS WAY –•– Run-D.M.C. & Aerosmith (Profile)-7 (10)
11 14 BABY LOVE –•– Regina (Atlantic)-12 (11)
12 8 RUMORS –•– Timex Social Club (Jay)-13 (8)
13 18 DON’T FORGET ME (When I’m Gone) –•–Glass Tiger (Manhattan)-9 (13)
14 23 DREAMTIME –•– Daryl Hall (RCA)-6 (14)
15 22 LOVE ZONE –•– Billy Ocean (Jive)-7 (15)
16 19 MAN SIZE LOVE –•– Klymaxx (MCA)-10 (16)
17 24 THE CAPTAIN OF HER HEART –•– Double (A&M)-11 (17)
18 12 GLORY OF LOVE –•– Peter Cetera (Full Moon / Warner Brothers)-14 (1)
19 16 YANKEE ROSE –•– David Lee Roth (Warner Brothers)-10 (16)
20 10 MAD ABOUT YOU –•– Belinda Carlisle (I.R.S.)-17 (3)
