Raised by Radio

  1987: The Year the Countdown Was King  

In 1987, the countdown wasn’t background noise.

It was the scoreboard of culture.

Whether you were listening to American Top 40, Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, or watching MTV, you felt like every week mattered.

And what a year it was.

 Whitney’s Reign

In 1987, Whitney Houston wasn’t just successful — she was unstoppable.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” didn’t just climb the chart.
It exploded.

When that song hit number one, it felt joyful, celebratory — like pop music at its absolute best.

And when Casey (or Rick) would announce it, you could hear it in their voice:

This is a moment.

 Rock Owned the Arena

Meanwhile, Bon Jovi was everywhere.

“Livin’ on a Prayer” felt bigger than a hit single. It felt like a generational anthem.

You didn’t just hear it.
You shouted it.

And when it held strong in the Top 5 week after week, the suspense built. Would it hit number one again? Would something knock it off?

That was the beauty of the countdown — it turned songs into weekly cliffhangers.

 Reinvention at #1

Then came George Michael with Faith.

The leather jacket.
The guitar riff.
The confidence.

It wasn’t Wham! anymore.

It was a superstar stepping into his own.

And hearing that rise up the chart in real time? That’s why we listened every weekend.

 The Big, Bold Sound of 1987

And let’s not forget U2 and The Joshua Tree era.

“When a song like ‘With or Without You’ climbed toward the top, it felt epic.”

The 80s were loud.
But they were also emotional.

Countdown radio let you feel both.

 The MTV Factor

By ’87, MTV wasn’t new anymore — it was dominant.

The VJs weren’t just introducing videos.
They were shaping culture.

When you hear the SiriusXM Big 40 revisit a week from ’87 and the original VJs share what was happening behind the scenes, it adds depth.

You’re not just remembering a song.

You’re remembering where you were when it ruled.

 Why 1987 Still Hits

1987 sits right in that sweet spot:

• Big choruses
• Big personalities
• Big production
• Big anticipation

And countdowns made it all feel structured.

You waited to see who would fall.
Who would rise.
Who would debut.
Who would dominate.

And when number one was finally announced?

It felt earned.

 The Magic of That Year

Looking back now, 1987 feels like a highlight reel.

But living it week-to-week through the countdown?
That was something else.

It wasn’t nostalgia yet.

It was now.

And that’s what made it electric.