# 3 Top 40 Hits From 1984 That Every 80s Kid Still Knows by Heart Today

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/3-top-40-hits-from-1984-that-every-80s-kid-still-knows-by-heart-today/
- Published: 2026-11-07T01:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T01:21:34+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/3-top-40-hits-from-1984-that-every-80s-kid-still-knows-by-heart-today/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Three 1984 hits are revisited.
- Cara drew on local breakdancing culture.
- “Hello Again” featured on The Cars’ *Heartbeat City*.

## Summary

The article highlights three 1984 Top 40 hits that it says many people who grew up in the 1980s still remember: Billy Joel’s “Leave a Tender Moment Alone”, Irene Cara’s “Breakdance” and The Cars’ “Hello Again”. It looks back at the songs’ origins and places them in the wider success of the artists’ albums and careers.

Joel wrote every song on *An Innocent Man*; although “Leave a Tender Moment Alone” remained a fan favourite, the album also included his second No. 1 single, “Tell Her About It”. Cara co-wrote “Breakdance” with Giorgio Moroder and Bunny Hull, drawing on the breakdancing she had seen in her neighbourhood; it was her final hit single. Ric Ocasek wrote “Hello Again”, which appeared on The Cars’ successful *Heartbeat City*, alongside hits including “You Might Think”, “Magic” and “Drive”; the band’s last Top 40 single came in 1987.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.