Time for me to catch up on this great thread.
Howard Jones 'What Is Love' - Another one of what I would call an 'archetype 80's song'. I was a bit of a fan of the early Howard Jones material. Think he's always been a bit unfairly criticized.
Cyndi Lauper 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' - one of those songs that I could never stand but would still know all the lyrics! Would regard this as probably her worst single as she did release some decent stuff.
Queen 'Radio GaGa' - A great review by Gezza, but I had already lost interest in Queen by this point in their career. All the material that comprised the Greatest Hits album is fantastic. After this I rarely liked many songs they produced really until Freddie's final tragic year.
Kool and the Gang 'Joanna' - Never a fan of either the more upbeat disco material or as Gezza describes this, the more syrupy alternative. I don't mind a good love (or sentimental) song but this isn't my cup of tea.
Weather Girls 'It's Raining Men' - Another song that you could all sing-a-long too if you chose too because it has been heard so often! (although being an hetrosexual man this is perhaps not the best karaoke choice). One of them songs that you could never imagine that it was ever a 'new' song as seems to have been around forever. The video is the only redeeming feature for me as it is hilariously bad.
Thompson Twins 'You Take Me Up' - a band that were neither bad or fantastic in my eyes. Decent enough songs at the time without being anything special. Interesting to see Earl Purple is a big fan and to hear his take on them. I did download 'Sister Of Mercy' after reaquainting myself with it after reading his opinion. Would be interesting Earl Purple to read a list of your No.1's from your personal chart. The summer of '84 was when I properly started my personal chart thanks to my love of 'Two Tribes' at the time.
Phil Collins 'Against All Odds' - can never quite understand the hate towards Phil Collins. This is probably one of the best No.2's from the year but agree it has been tainted by the poor covers of it since.
Pointer Sisters 'Automatic' - a take it or leave it song. Decent enough and probably like it more now than then.
Deniece Williams 'Let's Hear It For The Boy' - another take it or leave it song. Definitely preferred her '77 No.1 'Free'.
Nik Kershaw 'I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' - don't hate this song as much as I did back in '84. Loved 'The Riddle' with it's nonsense lyrics, and also have a soft spot for 'Wide Boy' but don't know why as admittedly it's not a very strong song.
neil 'Hole In My Shoe' - grew up with The Young Ones and being a young boy loved it, although probably didn't quite understand it properly at the time. The song was a bit of fun and should be treated as such.
Black Lace 'Agadoo' - where as this is just annoying tripe and should be treated as such. Even being young at the time didn't endear me to it but did find the Spitting Image parody funny, probably as it was my favourite show in the mid 80's. Would have to agree that the 'B' side of 'Chicken Song' is even better.
Ray Parker Jnr 'Ghostbusters' - obvious to see why this was a big hit at the time without being nothing special. But again I could take it or leave it. Both this and 'Agadoo' spent 30+ weeks in the chart which back then was a huge length of time and seemed forever also. Quite regular now in the download era and that length of time goes by in a flash when you get older
Culture Club 'War Song' - this was as poor as it could get. Was also the subject of a brilliant parody at the time by Spitting Image with Boy George singing 'War is naughty, and people are naughty, and those that start it will be sent to bed early' which to be fair were just as good as the lyrics on the actual song. I think Boy George has since stated that it was his very poor attempt to sound more like FGTH.
Paul McCartney 'No More Lonely Nights' - have to disagree with the opinion of this song also. Quite liked it at the time and also loved 'Pipes Of Peace' which is also widely criticized.
Duran Duran 'Wild Boys' - amazed your review didn't include the fact that Simon Le Bon nearly drowned during the making of the video. The video was massively OTT but the song was very anthemic which makes it hard to dislike.
Wham! 'Last Christmas'/'Everything She Wants' - it appears we all pretty much agree which was the better of the tracks. Detested 'Last Christmas' at the time and still dislike it to this day. My mother, my wife, my brother all regard it as the best Xmas song but I wouldn't even have it in my Top 20 Xmas songs. Where as 'Everything She Wants' is possibly Wham's finest moment.
All in all, despite the big sellers, if it wasn't for the emergence of Frankie GTH then 1984 would have been a bit of a disappointment for me following what was a slight decline already in 1983 after the brilliant '77-'82 period.