Y
1984

1984 in British Music

Band Aid, Frankie Says Relax, and the year pop found its conscience.

Key Events

  • Band Aid records 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' — the charity single is born
  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'Relax' spends 5 weeks at #1 despite a BBC ban
  • The Smiths release The Smiths — indie's golden age begins

Dominant Genres

PopIndieNew WaveSynthpop

Notable Trends

  • Charity singles become a new force in the charts
  • BBC radio bans fuel rather than kill records
  • Indie labels build a parallel chart to the mainstream

Key Artists of 1984

198319841985