The number one song of 1979, according to Billboard's Year-End Hot 100, was "My Sharona" by The Knack, a massive power-pop hit that defined the sound of the year alongside disco anthems like Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" and Chic's "Le Freak".
This is a list of Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1979. The Top 100, as revealed in the year-end edition of Billboard dated December 22, 1979. "My Sharona" by The Knack (singer Doug Fieger pictured) was the number-one song of 1979.
Best-selling singles
Art Garfunkel had the best-selling single of the year with "Bright Eyes". The single spent nine weeks in the top 10 (including six weeks at number one) and was certified platinum by the BPI.
It was an amazing year for music! What are some of your favorites from 1979?
1979, Pink Floyd released 'Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)' which rapidly topped the charts in the UK, followed by the US and a further 9 countries.
1979 Best Selling Albums Based on Worldwide Sales
1979 was the the year of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster and controversial SALT-II treaty negotiations with the Soviet Union. President Jimmy Carter promised to bring the hostages home from Iran as the dramatic situation inside the American embassy unfolded before a national television audience.
The Deer Hunter won five awards at the main awards ceremony, including Best Picture.
Party Like It's 1979
The Guinness World Records named the holiday single "White Christmas" (1942) by Bing Crosby as the best-selling single worldwide. According to Guinness, "White Christmas" sold over 50 million copies. The single is known as the "best-selling single of all time".
1979 was the year that new wave became the genre. It went from being a purely underground movement to a massive commercial success. There were so many top-notch new wave albums that came out that year, with Talking Heads, Blondie, The Police, Squeeze, and more all climbing the charts with their releases.
In 1979, the United States officially severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). This decision marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, turning to view the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of China.
Country Hits: 1979
The song appears in the film Clerks II (2006) and during the credits of the video game Gran Turismo 5 (2010). It was also released as part of a Smashing Pumpkins-themed DLC pack for the rhythm game Guitar Hero World Tour.
In "The Early Show"'s weeklong "Time Machine" series, the anchors discussed several products Monday that made their debut or were big hits in 1979: the Sony Walkman, the Burton snowboard, the McDonald's Happy Meal, leg warmers and Strawberry Shortcake. Relics of '79!
Pop Hits: 1979
The Sony Walkman was first sold in 1979 at a price of $200. Atari released Adventure and Asteroids. The Space Shuttle Enterprise was retired to Rockwell's plant in Palmdale, its final frontier.
Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" from her seventh studio album of the same name hit No 1 on the US singles chart 46 years ago on 14th July, 1979.
1979: "Superman"
Starting in 1977, The Numbers considers the "highest-grossing" movie to be whatever film earned the most during that year, regardless of release date. Which is why The Numbers counts "Superman" as its top-grossing 1979 film, despite its Dec. 15, 1978 release date.
There's no single "number one" album due to different metrics (sales, critical acclaim, cultural impact), but Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982) is consistently cited as the best-selling album worldwide and a landmark pop record, while The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) often tops US sales charts. Other contenders for "best" often include Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and recent critical favorites like Adele's 21.
1979 was one of the best years of music, thanks in no small part to Sugarhill Gang, an American hip-hop trio that released their iconic, genre-defining track, “Rapper's Delight”, in September of that year.