1984 in music
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:YYYY music Template:Year nav topic5
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.
Specific locations
Specific genres
- 1984 in country music
- 1984 in heavy metal music
- 1984 in hip hop music
- 1984 in jazz
- 1984 in progressive rock
Events
January–March
- In January 1984, Iain Williams & the 1984 Project recorded the dance track Love Is Suicide<ref name="soundcloud.com">Template:Cite web</ref> at Trident Studios in Soho, London. The track features Hans Zimmer on Fairlight CM and Alan Murphy on guitar.
- January 11 – BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read announces on air that he will not play the single "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood because of its suggestive lyrics. The BBC places a total ban on the record at about the same time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- January 17 – The SING BLUE SILVER tour continues on to Japan and North America as Duran Duran becomes the first act to utilize live video cameras and screens in their show. They break every existing merchandise record during this tour.
- January 21 – "Relax" reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite the BBC ban; it will spend a total of 42 weeks in the Top 40.
- January 27 – Michael Jackson's scalp is burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial and he is admitted to hospital. Around this time, Jackson also releases the title track from his album Thriller as the LP's final single.
- February 14
- Elton John marries studio engineer Renate Blauel.
- Joe Perry and Brad Whitford attend an Aerosmith concert and re-join the band, which embarks on a reunion tour "Back in the Saddle" later in the year.
- February 16 – Jerry Lee Lewis surrenders to federal authorities on charges of income tax evasion. Lewis is later acquitted.
- February 25 – Thompson Twins debuts at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart with Into the Gap. The album would also top the chart the two following weeks and remain on the chart for 38 consecutive weeks until November.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- February 28
- Recovering from the scalp burns sustained a month earlier, Michael Jackson wins eight Grammy Awards out of twelve nominations at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards, breaking the record for the most Grammys won in a single year. He wins seven for the album Thriller (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Beat It") and one for his work on the audiobook for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- Hosted by John Denver, this year's Grammys ceremony receives the highest ratings in the awarding body's history, a record currently unmatched. Along with the awards received by Michael Jackson, The Police's "Every Breath You Take" wins Song of the Year, while Culture Club win Best New Artist.
- February 29 – German industrial band KMFDM is founded, and holds its first performance at the Grand Palais in Paris, France.
- March 1
- Sting plays his last concerts with The Police at the end of the Synchronicity tour; the band takes a "pause" after the tour and only play a few special events together after this, until 2007, when they would organize a reunion tour.
- Alice Cooper, who has not toured for his last two albums, parts ways with his longtime label Warner Bros. and goes on hiatus from the music industry. Cooper begins mulling over plans for a comeback, which he would carry out in 1986.
April–June
- April 1
- New York rock and roll magazine Trouser Press folds after a decade, publishing its 96th and final issue.
- In Los Angeles, Marvin Gaye is shot and killed during an argument with his father.
- May 1 – Mick Fleetwood, of Fleetwood Mac, files for bankruptcy in the United States.
- May 2 – Lionel Richie's hit "Hello" becomes Motown's first ever UK million-selling single.
- May 5
- Duran Duran achieve their second UK number 1 single with "The Reflex" and remain at number 1 for four consecutive weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde marries Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr.
- In Luxembourg, the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 is won by the Swedish entry, "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley", performed by the Herreys.
- June 8 – Billy Joel performs at Wembley Arena; the concert is later broadcast on BBC Television in two parts.
- June 16 – Frankie Goes to Hollywood begin a nine-week stay at the top of the UK singles chart with "Two Tribes".
- June 18 – At the climax of a Judas Priest concert at Madison Square Garden, fans begin ripping out the cushions from the seats and throwing them on stage. Judas Priest pay damages through insurance and are banned from Madison Square Garden for life over the incident.
- June 23 – Duran Duran earn their first US number 1 single with "The Reflex", making it their first single to top both the UK and US charts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- June 25 – Prince releases his sixth album Purple Rain; the album sells over 20 million copies and gives Prince two US number one singles with "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy".
July–September
- July 1 – During his performance at the first ever Cornerstone Festival in Grayslake, Illinois, Steve Taylor jumps off the stage, breaking his ankle. Taylor hops back on stage and finishes his show. The next few shows on Taylor's tour were performed from a wheel chair.
- July 10 – The last original member of Menudo, Ricky Meléndez, leaves the group and is replaced by Ricky Martin. Meanwhile, Menudomania reaches Asia in 1984.
- July 14
- Eddie Van Halen makes a special guest appearance at a concert by The Jacksons in Dallas, Texas, playing the guitar solo for "Beat It" live.
- Selena y los Dinos release their first album Mis Primeras Grabaciones.
- Boothill Foottappers enter the UK singles chart with their single released on the Go! Discs label.
- August 9 – Iron Maiden kicks off the World Slavery Tour in Warsaw, Poland, with shows in Hungary and Yugoslavia soon to follow. This marks the first time a Western band has ever brought a full concert production behind the Iron Curtain.
- August 10 – Red Hot Chili Peppers release their debut album The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- August 25 – Kathleen Battle makes her solo recital debut at the Salzburg Festival.
- August 31 – Canadian music video channel MuchMusic begins broadcasting. The first video played is Rush's "The Enemy Within".
- September 2 – Van Halen concludes its 1984 world tour with a show in Nuremberg, Germany as part of the Monsters of Rock festival tour. This would be the band's last concert with David Lee Roth as lead singer until 2007.
- September 7 – Janet Jackson elopes with fellow singer James DeBarge. The marriage would be annulled in 1985.
- September 11 – Country singer Barbara Mandrell suffers serious injuries in a head-on automobile collision on a Tennessee highway. She will make a comeback after spending over a year rehabilitating.
- September 14 – The first annual MTV Video Music Awards are held in New York City. Herbie Hancock wins the most awards with five, and The Cars take the highest prize of Video Of The Year for "You Might Think". Much attention is garnered by Madonna's controversial performance of her hit single "Like a Virgin" in which she rolls around on the stage, revealing lacy stockings and garters, and grinds her crotch against her veil.
- September 21 – The first compact disc manufacturing plant in North America opens in Terre Haute, Indiana. CDs have previously had to be expensively imported from Japan or West Germany. Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. is designated as the first CD ever made in the United States.
October–December
- October 1 – The Canadian music video series Video Hits premieres on CBC Television.
- October 23 – A report on the Ethiopian famine by BBC journalist Michael Buerk is broadcast in the UK and receives an unprecedented public response. Among those watching is Bob Geldof, who is inspired to release a charity record to raise money to help with famine relief.
- October 26 – Turner Broadcasting System launches Cable Music Channel, a music video channel intended to compete directly with MTV. The first video played is "I Love L.A." by Randy Newman. The channel would only last 34 days.
- November 5 – Bryan Adams releases his breakout album called Reckless, spawning multiple hit singles, achieving diamond certification in Canada and topping the charts in the United States.
- November 10 – The 13th OTI Festival, held at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico, is won by the song "Template:Lang", written and performed by Fernando Ubiergo representing Chile.
- November 20 – Michael Jackson receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame directly in front of Mann's Chinese Theater. Jackson leaves after only three minutes at the request of security, as the crush of 5,000 onlookers becomes a safety concern.
- November 23 – Tears for Fears releases the single Shout, from their second studio album, Songs From the Big Chair. Shout hit the US 1# Billboard Hot 100 in August 1985.
- November 25 – The Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is recorded at SARM Studios in Notting Hill, London, by a gathering of performers that includes Paul Young, Simon Le Bon, Bono, Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Sting, Boy George and Tony Hadley.
- November 28 – The Bring Me Sunshine charity concert at the London Palladium, in memory of Eric Morecambe, includes musical performances by Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, Des O'Connor and Ernie Wise.
- December – Tipper Gore forms the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) in response to the "filth" she hears on her daughter's copy of Prince's Purple Rain.
- December 1 – Frankie Goes to Hollywood become the first act to take their first three singles to the UK #1 position since Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963, when "The Power of Love" tops the chart.
- December 3 – Bob Geldof and Band Aid release the single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which becomes the fastest-selling single of all time in the UK.
- December 8
- Razzle (Nicholas Dingley) of Hanoi Rocks is killed in a car crash. Mötley Crüe member Vince Neil was the driver of the car and was drunk at the time.
- Cyndi Lauper, with the fourth single from her 1983 debut She's So Unusual, "All Through the Night", becomes the first woman in the 26-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have four singles from one album in the top five.<ref>Week of December 8, 1984: Cyndi Lauper makes history on the chart</ref>
- December 9 – The Jacksons conclude their Victory Tour with the last of six concerts at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. At the end of their final show, lead singer Michael Jackson surprises not only his fans, but also his band members with the announcement that he would be permanently leaving the Jacksons, stating that this would be the last time that they all performed together. The tour, which consisted of 55 shows over five months, has reportedly grossed $75 million, a new industry record. As for the Jacksons, they would release one more album in 1989 before splitting up, occasionally regrouping in the years afterward for reunion performances with and without Michael.
- December 11 – While on tour, Bucks Fizz's tour bus crashes. All members of the group are injured and member Mike Nolan suffers brain damage after falling into a coma.
- December 13 – George Harrison makes a rare public appearance, joining Deep Purple on stage in Sydney, Australia for their encore rendition of "Lucille".
- December 31
- Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen loses his left arm in a car wreck.
- The thirteenth annual New Year's Rockin' Eve special airs on ABC, with appearances by Jermaine Jackson, Ronnie Milsap, Night Ranger, Scandal, John Waite and Barry Manilow.
- UK singles sales this year are the second highest ever, after 1978.
Bands formed
Bands disbanded
Bands on hiatus
Bands reformed
Albums released
January
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1984 | Van Halen | - |
| 13 | Learning to Crawl | The Pretenders | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 16 | She's Strange | Cameo | - |
| 19 | Oblivion | Utopia | - |
| 20 | Defenders of the Faith | Judas Priest | - |
| 21 | Disillusion | Loudness | - |
| 23 | Bon Jovi | Bon Jovi | Debut |
| 27 | Footloose soundtrack | Various Artists | Soundtrack |
| Milk and Honey | John Lennon & Yoko Ono | - | |
| Moving | The Raincoats | - | |
| Christine McVie | Christine McVie | US | |
| 30 | Slide It In | Whitesnake | UK |
| Crusader | Saxon | - | |
| Somebody's Watching Me | Rockwell | Debut | |
| Software | Grace Slick | - | |
| ? | Fistful of Metal | Anthrax | Debut |
| Flex-Able | Steve Vai | Debut | |
| Just a Little Love | Reba McEntire | - | |
| Lady of the Stars | Donovan | - | |
| Live Europe '83 | Joan Baez | UK | |
| Mother's Spiritual | Laura Nyro | - | |
| Roll On | Alabama | - | |
| All the Rage | General Public | Debut | |
| Tour de Force | 38 Special | - |
February
March
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | This Is Spinal Tap | Spinal Tap | soundtrack |
| 5 | About Face | David Gilmour | - |
| Rising Force | Yngwie Malmsteen | - | |
| 9 | Human's Lib | Howard Jones | - |
| Stoneage Romeos | Hoodoo Gurus | - | |
| 12 | Fugazi | Marillion | - |
| Love Life | Berlin | - | |
| Heartbeat City | The Cars | - | |
| 14 | Body and Soul | Joe Jackson | - |
| 16 | Alchemy: Dire Straits Live | Dire Straits | Live |
| Café Bleu | The Style Council | - | |
| 19 | Talk Show | The Go-Go's | - |
| 21 | The Swing | INXS | Australia |
| 22 | The Dungeons Are Calling | Savatage | EP |
| 23 | Three of a Perfect Pair | King Crimson | - |
| The Icicle Works | The Icicle Works | Debut | |
| 26 | Now That's What I Call Music II | Various Artists | Compilation |
| 27 | Run-D.M.C. | Run-DMC | - |
| ? | Against All Odds soundtrack | Various Artists | Soundtrack |
| Psalm 9 | Trouble | - | |
| My War | Black Flag | - | |
| All Those Wasted Years | Hanoi Rocks | Live | |
| Burning the Witches | Warlock | - | |
| Deià...Vu | Kevin Ayers | - | |
| Meltdown (Steve Taylor album) | Steve Taylor | - | |
| Minor Threat | Minor Threat | Compilation | |
| Texas Fever | Orange Juice | - |
April
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Caught in the Act | Styx | Live |
| Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply | Slade | - | |
| 4 | Vengeance | New Model Army | - |
| 5 | Street Talk | Steve Perry | Solo Debut |
| 6 | Lament | Ultravox | - |
| 9 | Reckoning | R.E.M. | - |
| 12 | Grace Under Pressure | Rush | - |
| 16 | Bananarama | Bananarama | - |
| 25 | Variety | Mariya Takeuchi | - |
| 30 | Junk Culture | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | - |
| The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking | Roger Waters | Solo Debut | |
| The Top | The Cure | - | |
| New Sensations | Lou Reed | - | |
| ? | Jermaine Jackson | Jermaine Jackson | - |
| At War with Satan | Venom | - | |
| 99 Luftballons | Nena | - | |
| Eye for an Eye | Corrosion of Conformity | - | |
| History, Mystery & Prophesy | Lee "Scratch" Perry | - | |
| Self Control | Laura Branigan | - |
May
June
July
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | The Last in Line | Dio | - |
| Victory | The Jacksons | - | |
| 3 | Zen Arcade | Hüsker Dü | - |
| 6 | New Edition | New Edition | - |
| This Is What You Want... This Is What You Get | Public Image Ltd | - | |
| 7 | Icon | Icon | - |
| 9 | Ice Cream Castle | The Time | - |
| 16 | Diamond Life | Sade | UK |
| Primitive | Neil Diamond | - | |
| 21 | The Yellow and Black Attack | Stryper | - |
| 23 | Hard to Hold | Rick Springfield | - |
| VOA | Sammy Hagar | - | |
| 27 | Ride the Lightning | Metallica | - |
| Condition Critical | Quiet Riot | - | |
| Projects in the Jungle | Pantera | - | |
| 30 | Go Insane | Lindsey Buckingham | - |
| Right By You | Stephen Stills | - | |
| ? | Honour & Blood | Tank | - |
| All Fired Up | Fastway | - | |
| City of New Orleans | Willie Nelson | - | |
| Double Nickels on the Dime | Minutemen | - | |
| In Rock We Trust | Y&T | - | |
| King of the Dead | Cirith Ungol | - | |
| The Las Vegas Story | The Gun Club | - | |
| Now That's What I Call Music 3 | Various Artists | Compilation | |
| Signs of Life | Billy Squier | - | |
| Walkin' the Razor's Edge | Helix | - |
August
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Haunting the Chapel | Slayer | EP |
| 10 | The Red Hot Chili Peppers | Red Hot Chili Peppers | Debut |
| War and Pain | Voivod | - | |
| 17 | W.A.S.P. | W.A.S.P. | Debut |
| 20 | The Story of a Young Heart | A Flock of Seagulls | - |
| 21 | Warrior | Scandal | - |
| 23 | Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger | Frank Zappa | - |
| 25 | Evolución | Menudo | - |
| 27 | Soda Stereo | Soda Stereo | - |
| 28 | The Woman in Red (soundtrack) | Various Artists | Soundtrack |
| 31 | Dreamtime | The Cult | Debut |
| ? | Where the Beat Meets the Street | Bobby and the Midnites | - |
| The Best of Kansas | Kansas | Compilation | |
| The Blitz | Krokus | - | |
| L.A. Is My Lady | Frank Sinatra | - | |
| Phantoms | The Fixx | - | |
| Two Steps from the Move | Hanoi Rocks | - |
September
October
November
December
| Day | Album | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Deep Breakfast | Ray Lynch | - |
| 14 | Agent Provocateur | Foreigner | - |
| 21 | Thing-Fish | Frank Zappa | - |
| ? | Beverly Hills Cop | Various Artists | Soundtrack |
| Slip It In | Black Flag | - | |
| Live '84 | Black Flag | Live | |
| Fantastic Boney M. | Boney M. | Compilation | |
| Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac | Butthole Surfers | Debut | |
| Remission | Skinny Puppy | EP |
Release date unknown
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
- 1984 – Ebiet G. Ade
- Acousticity – David Grisman
- Aimless Love – John Prine
- Animotion – Animotion
- Akimbo Alogo – Kim Mitchell
- American Band-ages – Nash the Slash
- The Art of Defense – Nona Hendryx
- Back & Forth – Skinny Puppy
- Born in Captivity – Roy Harper
- Box of Frogs – Box of Frogs
- Cal – Mark Knopfler – Soundtrack
- Can't Wait All Night – Juice Newton
- Caribbean Sunset – John Cale
- Centipede – Rebbie Jackson
- Change Your Mind – Raf
- Cinema – Elaine Paige
- Climate of Hunter – Scott Walker
- Country Boy – Ricky Skaggs
- Dali – Dalida
- Dancin' on the Edge – Lita Ford
- A Dancing Foot and a Praying Knee Don't Belong on the Same Leg – Scattered Order
- E2-E4 – Manuel Göttsching
- E.M.F – GG Allin
- EB 84 – The Everly Brothers
- Electric Eye – Prodigal
- Every Man Has a Woman – Various Artists – Yoko Ono tribute
- Faith – H2O
- Fans – Malcolm McLaren
- Flex-Able – Steve Vai
- Folk of the 80s (Part III) – Men Without Hats
- Ghostbusters Soundtrack – Various Artists
- Gone Fishin' – Flipper
- The Grapes of Wrath – The Grapes of Wrath
- Greatest Hits – Juice Newton
- Greatest Love Classics – Andy Williams
- Guardian Angel – The Shadows
- Gum Tree Canoe – John Hartford
- Heart Don't Lie – La Toya Jackson
- Heart over Mind – Anne Murray
- Heavy Heart – Carla Bley
- Hits Out of Hell – Meat Loaf
- Honeymoon Suite – Honeymoon Suite
- Horizen – Jade Warrior
- Hostage – Rez Band
- How Will the Wolf Survive? – Los Lobos
- I Often Dream of Trains – Robyn Hitchcock
- If the Price is Right – Bonnie Pointer
- Inside the Fire – Rita Coolidge
- Intellectuals Are The Shoeshine Boys Of The Ruling Elite – Killdozer
- It's All in the Game – Merle Haggard
- The Las Vegas Story – The Gun Club
- John Parr – John Parr (debut)
- Knights of the New Thunder – TNT
- Legend – Clannad (soundtrack)
- Lights Out – Peter Wolf (debut)
- Live Bootleg – Rez Band
- Live at the Inferno – Raven
- Mama – Becket
- Mast Nazren -Ecstatic Glances Live in London, 1984 – Ghulam Ali
- Meat Puppets II – Meat Puppets
- Meeting in the Ladies Room – Klymaxx
- Nave Maria – Tom Zé
- Neil's Heavy Concept Album – Nigel Planer
- No Brakes – John Waite
- No Kinda Dancer – Robert Earl Keen
- Once in a Very Blue Moon – Nanci Griffith
- Only You – Steve Monite
- Opium – KMFDM (debut)
- Optimystique – Yanni
- Plain Dirt Fashion – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- The Politics of Time – Minutemen
- Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat – Sparks
- Reflexiones – José José
- Read My Lips – Fee Waybill
- Remote Luxury – The Church
- Riders in the Sky, Live – Riders in the Sky
- Rita Mitsouko – Rita Mitsouko
- The Rock Connection – Cliff Richard
- Scatology – Coil
- Schizophrenic Circus – Red Rockers
- Seasons – Dion DiMucci
- Sonic Death – Sonic Youth
- Songs from Our TV Shows – The Chipmunks – Soundtrack
- The Splendour of Fear – Felt
- Starchild – Teena Marie
- The Stockholm Concert, 1966 – Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington
- Straight Ahead – Amy Grant
- The Strange Idols Pattern and Other Short Stories – Felt
- These Things Happen – David Van Tieghem
- Tocsin – Xmal Deutschland
- Touch Sensitive – Bruce Foxton
- United States Live – Laurie Anderson – Live
- Velocity – The Vels
- Victim in Pain – Agnostic Front (debut)
- Vital Signs (White Heart album) – White Heart
- The Voice – Bobby McFerrin
- Youth Anthems for the New Order – Reagan Youth
- Walking in the Shadow of the Big Man – Guadalcanal Diary
- Walpurgis Night – Stormwitch
- We Hate You South African Bastards! – Microdisney
- When in Rome Do as The Vandals – The Vandals
- Windows and Walls – Dan Fogelberg
- Wired to the Moon – Chris Rea
- Wonderful World – Telex
- Work Resumed on the Tower – News from Babel
- World Shut Your Mouth – Julian Cope
Biggest hit singles
The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1984.
| # | Artist | Title | Year | Country | Chart entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Michael | Careless Whisper | 1984 | Template:Flagicon | UK 1 - Aug 1984 (21 weeks), US Billboard 1 - Dec 1984 (20 weeks), US BB 1 of 1985, US Radio 1 of 1985 (peak 1 12 weeks), Canada 1 - Dec 1984 (12 weeks), Holland 1 - Aug 1984 (14 weeks), Switzerland 1 - Sep 1984 (17 weeks), Poland 1 - Mar 1983 (44 weeks), Italy 1 for 3 weeks - Jan 1985, Eire 1 for 3 weeks - Aug 1984, Canada RPM 1 for 2 weeks - Jan 1985, Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Sep 1984, Springbok 1 - Nov 1984 (21 weeks), Top Song of 1985 of the Billboard 50th list, ASCAP song of 1984, ARC 2 of 1985 (peak 1 16 weeks), Sweden (alt) 2 - Sep 1984 (21 weeks), France 2 - Aug 1984 (3 weeks), Austria 2 - Nov 1984 (4 months), Norway 2 - Aug 1984 (16 weeks), Belgium 2 - Sep 1984 (12 weeks), Italy 2 of 1984, Canada 2 of 1985, US Platinum (certified by RIAA in May 1992), UK Platinum (certified by BPI in Sep 1984), Sweden 3 - Sep 1984 (13 weeks), Germany 3 - Sep 1984 (3 months), ODK Germany 3 - Sep 1984 (21 weeks) (8 weeks in top 10), South Africa 3 of 1985, Brazil 4 of 1985, Australia 4 of 1984, US CashBox 5 of 1985, France (SNEP) 7 - Dec 1984 (1 month), UK sales 8 of the 1980s (1,360 k in 1984), Switzerland 9 of 1984, Scrobulate 13 of soft rock, POP 20 of 1985, Europe 30 of the 1980s (1984), US Songs 2014-23 peak 33 - Jan 2017 (1 week), UK Songs 2013-23 peak 44 - Jan 2017 (2 weeks), nuTsie 94 of 1980s, France (InfoDisc) 112 of the 1980s (peak 2, 35 weeks, 585k sales estimated, 1984), OzNet 183, Germany 250 of the 1980s (peak 3 12 weeks), UKMIX 297, Acclaimed 2242 (1984), RYM 37 of 1984, Guardian Pop 67 |
| 2 | Stevie Wonder | I Just Called to Say I Love You | 1984 | Template:Flagicon | UK 1 - Aug 1984 (39 weeks), US Billboard 1 - Aug 1984 (25 weeks), Canada 1 - Sep 1984 (16 weeks), Holland 1 - Aug 1984 (17 weeks), Sweden 1 - Sep 1984 (8 weeks), Sweden (alt) 1 - Aug 1984 (23 weeks), Austria 1 - Oct 1984 (5 months), Switzerland 1 - Sep 1984 (21 weeks), Norway 1 - Sep 1984 (17 weeks), Poland 1 - Jan 1984 (26 weeks), Belgium 1 - Sep 1984 (20 weeks), Italy 1 of 1984, Italy 1 for 8 weeks - Nov 1984, Germany 1 - Sep 1984 (4 months), ODK Germany 1 - Sep 1984 (24 weeks) (6 weeks at number 1) (13 weeks in top 10), Eire 1 for 5 weeks - Sep 1984, Canada RPM 1 for 3 weeks - Oct 1984, Canada 1 of 1984, New Zealand 1 for 8 weeks - Oct 1984, Australia 1 for 8 weeks - Oct 1984, Springbok 1 - Oct 1984 (25 weeks), Europe 1 for 14 weeks - Sep 1984, Germany 1 for 6 weeks - Sep 1984, Spain 1 for 2 weeks - Nov 1984, Oscar in 1984 (film 'The Woman In Red'), Golden Globe in 1984 (film 'The Woman in Red'), France (SNEP) 2 - Oct 1984 (3 months), UK Platinum (certified by BPI in Sep 1984), Brazil 3 of 1984, UK sales 3 of the 1980s (1,780 k in 1984), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Nov 1984), Germany Gold (certified by BMieV in 1984), Australia 6 of 1984, US Radio 8 of 1984 (peak 1 12 weeks), US CashBox 9 of 1984, Switzerland 11 of 1984, ARC 12 of 1984 (peak 1 15 weeks), US BB 25 of 1984, POP 26 of 1984, France (InfoDisc) 30 of the 1980s (peak 1, 31 weeks, 926k sales estimated, 1984), Germany 52 of the 1980s (peak 1 15 weeks), UKMIX 63, Scrobulate 100 of r & b, NY Daily Love list 4 |
| 3 | Prince | When Doves Cry | 1984 | Template:Flagicon | US Billboard 1 - Jun 1984 (21 weeks), US BB 1 of 1984, US CashBox 1 of 1984, ARC 1 of 1984 (peak 1 16 weeks), US Radio 1 of 1984 (peak 1 14 weeks), Canada 1 - Jun 1984 (15 weeks), Canada RPM 1 for 3 weeks - Jul 1984, Australia 1 for 1 week - Aug 1984, Top Song of 1984 of the Billboard 50th list, Golden Globe in 1984 (film 'Purple Rain') (Nominated), US Platinum (certified by RIAA in Aug 1984), nuTsie 3 of 1980s, UK 4 - Jun 1984 (15 weeks), Holland 5 - Jul 1984 (12 weeks), Belgium 6 - Aug 1984 (9 weeks), Springbok 6 - Sep 1984 (12 weeks), US Songs 2014-23 peak 8 - May 2016 (2 weeks), Sweden 9 - Sep 1984 (3 weeks), Scrobulate 9 of funk, Norway 10 - Sep 1984 (1 week), Canada 10 of 1984, Poland 14 - Jul 1984 (10 weeks), Australia 14 of 1984, ODK Germany 16 - Aug 1984 (19 weeks), Switzerland 17 - Aug 1984 (9 weeks), Sweden (alt) 18 - Aug 1984 (2 weeks), Austria 19 - Oct 1984 (1 month), Germany 22 - Aug 1984 (2 months), UK Songs 2013-23 peak 26 - May 2016 (1 week), Holland free40 27 of 1984, KROQ 39 of 1984, Acclaimed 40 (1984), Brazil 44 of 1984, Rolling Stone 52, POP 57 of 1984, 59 in 2FM list, Vinyl Surrender 69 (1984), DMDB 81 (1984), Europe 98 of the 1980s (1984), OzNet 206, Belgium 259 of all time, WXPN 564, UK Silver (certified by BPI in Aug 1984), RYM 1 of 1984, Guardian Pop 65, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500 |
| 4 | Band Aid | Do They Know It's Christmas? | 1984 | Template:Flagicon | UK 1 - Dec 1984 (49 weeks), Canada 1 - Dec 1984 (8 weeks), Holland 1 - Dec 1984 (9 weeks), Sweden (alt) 1 - Dec 1984 (19 weeks), Austria 1 - Jan 1985 (2 months), Switzerland 1 - Dec 1984 (14 weeks), Norway 1 - Jan 1985 (17 weeks), Belgium 1 - Dec 1984 (7 weeks), Italy 1 for 3 weeks - Jan 1985, ODK Germany 1 - Dec 1984 (36 weeks) (2 weeks at number 1) (8 weeks in top 10), Eire 1 for 5 weeks - Dec 1984, Canada RPM 1 for 2 weeks - Dec 1984, New Zealand 1 for 4 weeks - Jan 1985, Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Jan 1985, Europe 1 for 4 weeks - Jan 1985, Germany 1 for 2 weeks - Jan 1985, UK sales 1 of the 1980s (3,550 k in 1984), Germany 2 - Jan 1985 (3 months), UK Platinum (certified by BPI in Dec 1984), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Dec 1984), Scrobulate 6 of christmas, Poland 8 - Dec 1984 (6 weeks), US Billboard 13 - Dec 1984 (8 weeks), Springbok 13 - Feb 1985 (5 weeks), Australia 19 of 1985, Italy 19 of 1985, Sweden 23 - Dec 2007 (4 weeks), KROQ 25 of 1984, Switzerland 29 of 1985, Canada 40 of 1985, Holland free40 50 of 1985, Japan (Tokyo) 62 - Dec 1988 (2 weeks), US CashBox 73 of 1985, Europe 78 of the 1980s (1984), US Radio 122 of 1985 (peak 13 4 weeks), UKMIX 183, OzNet 301, Germany 325 of the 1980s (peak 1 8 weeks), RYM 24 of 1984, Guardian Pop 68, Global 7 (10 M sold) - 1984 |
| 5 | Tina Turner | What's Love Got to Do with It | 1984 | Template:Flagicon | US Billboard 1 - May 1984 (28 weeks), Canada 1 - Jul 1984 (13 weeks), Canada RPM 1 for 3 weeks - Aug 1984, Australia 1 for 1 week - Sep 1984, Grammy in 1984, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012 (1984), US BB 2 of 1984, US CashBox 2 of 1984, ARC 2 of 1984 (peak 1 18 weeks), Springbok 2 - Sep 1984 (19 weeks), UK 3 - Jun 1984 (16 weeks), Canada 3 of 1984, Sweden (alt) 4 - Sep 1984 (12 weeks), Austria 4 - Nov 1984 (3 months), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Aug 1984), US Radio 5 of 1984 (peak 1 13 weeks), Sweden 5 - Sep 1984 (4 weeks), ODK Germany 7 - Aug 1984 (24 weeks) (5 weeks in top 10), France 8 - Aug 1984 (1 week), Switzerland 8 - Aug 1984 (17 weeks), Germany 8 - Aug 1984 (4 months), Norway 10 - Nov 1984 (1 week), nuTsie 11 of 1980s, France (SNEP) 14 - Nov 1984 (1 month), South Africa 14 of 1985, POP 14 of 1984, Holland 15 - Sep 1984 (7 weeks), Poland 20 - Aug 1984 (6 weeks), Australia 22 of 1984, Belgium 23 - Oct 1984 (2 weeks), UK Songs 2013-23 peak 35 - Jun 2023 (2 weeks), RIAA 38, Brazil 53 of 1984, Italy 100 of 1984, OzNet 221, Rolling Stone 309, Acclaimed 359 (1984), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Aug 1984), RYM 57 of 1984 |
Top 40 Chart hit singles
| Song title | Artist(s) | Release date(s) | US | UK | Highest chart position | Other Chart Performance(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "2 Minutes to Midnight" | Iron Maiden | Template:Date table sorting|August 1984 | n/a | 11 | 11 (United Kingdom) | 10 (Ireland) – 70 (Germany) |
| "Aces High" | Iron Maiden | Template:Date table sorting|October 1984 | n/a | 20 | 20 (United Kingdom) | 29 (Ireland) |
| "Agadoo" | Black Lace | Template:Date table sorting|May 1984 | n/a | 2 | 2 (United Kingdom) | 3 (South Africa) – 5 (Ireland) – 9 (New Zealand) – 16 (Australia) – 48 (France) |
| "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" | Phil Collins | Template:Date table sorting|February 1984 | 1 | 2 | (6 countries) | See chart performance entry |
| "All Cried Out" | Alison Moyet | Template:Date table sorting|September 1984 | n/a | 8 | 6 (New Zealand) | See chart performance entry |
| "All Join Hands" | Slade | Template:Date table sorting|November 1984 | n/a | 15 | 9 (Ireland) | 19 (Sweden) |
| "All Through the Night" | Cyndi Lauper | Template:Date table sorting|September 1984 | 5 | 64 | 5 (United States) | 4 (U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary) – 5 (Austria) – 5 (Chile) – 7 (Canada) – 16 (Switzerland) – 17 (Australia) – 19 (New Zealand) – 35 (Germany) – 38 (U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart) |
| "Automatic" | Pointer Sisters | Template:Date table sorting|January 1984 | 5 | 2 | 1 (Ireland) | See chart performance entry |
| "It's a Miracle" | Culture Club | Template:Date table sorting|March 1984 | 13 | 4 | 2 (Ireland) | 5 (New Zealand) – 14 (Australia) – 15 (Belgium, Netherlands) – 16 (Canada) – 41 (Germany) |
| "Original Sin" | INXS | Template:Date table sorting|January 1984 | 58 | n/a | 1 (Australia, France) | See chart performance entry 1983 overlap |
| "Out of Touch" | Hall & Oates | Template:Date table sorting|October 1984 | 1 | 48 | 1 (United States) | See chart performance entry |
Other Chart hit singles
Notable singles
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Other Notable singles
Christmas songs
- "Another Rock N' Roll Christmas" – Gary Glitter
- "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid
- "Last Christmas" – Wham!
- "Thank God It's Christmas" – Queen
Published popular music
- "After All These Years" w. Fred Ebb m. John Kander from the musical The Rink
- "The Cosby Show theme song" m. Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby
- "Cover Me" w.m. Bruce Springsteen
- "Every Time I Turn Around" w.m. Judy Hart Angelo & Gary Portnoy, theme from the TV series Punky Brewster
- "Friends" m. John Leffler, theme from the TV series Kate and Allie
- "Ghostbusters" w.m. Ray Parker Jr.
- "Hallelujah" w.m. Leonard Cohen
- "I Just Called to Say I Love You" w.m. Stevie Wonder
- "Let's Go Crazy" w.m. Prince and the Revolution
- "Like a Virgin" w.m. Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly
- "Lights Out" w.m. Peter Wolf & Don Covay
- "Missing You" w.m. John Waite, Chaz Sanford & Mark Leonard
- "Murder, She Wrote theme song" m. John Addison
- "No More Lonely Nights" w.m. Paul McCartney
- "Rock You Like a Hurricane" w.m. Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine & Herman Rarebell
- "Time After Time" w.m. Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman
- "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" w. Hal David m. Albert Hammond
- "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" w.m. George Michael
- "What's Love Got To Do With It?" w.m. Terry Britten & Graham Lyle
- "When Doves Cry" w.m. Prince
Classical music
- Samuel Adler – Sonata for viola and piano
- Elliott Carter
- Canon for 4, Homage to William, for flute, bass clarinet, violin and cello
- Esprit rude/esprit doux, for flute and clarinet
- Riconoscenza per Goffredo Petrassi, for violin
- Brian Cherney – Into the Distant Stillness
- George Crumb
- A Haunted Landscape for orchestra
- The Sleeper for soprano and piano
- Mario Davidovsky – Divertimento for cello and orchestra
- Peter Maxwell Davies – Symphony No. 3
- Ludovico Einaudi – Altissimo
- Lorenzo Ferrero
- My Blues
- Ombres, for orchestra and live electronics
- Frans Geysen
- A + B = A/B, for keyboard instrument
- Kataloog in grijs 1, for marimba
- Late spiegels, for flute, oboe, piano and double bass
- Omtrent a-b-c, for recorder quintet
- Tonen-Trappenhuisje voor Hanne, for keyboard instrument
- Twee orgels, for two organs
- Karel Goeyvaerts
- Aquarius-Tango, for piano
- Zum Wassermann, for chamber orchestra (14 musicians)
- De Zang van Aquarius, for 8 bass clarinets
- Daron Hagen – A Walt Whitman Requiem
- John Harbison – String Quartet no. 1
- Robin Holloway – Concerto for Viola
- Mauricio Kagel – Der Eid des Hippokrates, for piano 3 hands
- Wojciech Kilar – Angelus, cantata for soprano, mixed choir and symphony orchestra
- Ian McDougall – Concerto for Clarinet
- Elizabeth Maconchy – String Quartet no. 13, Quartetto Corto
- Ingram Marshall – Voces Resonae
- Henri Pousseur
- Chronique canine, for 2 pianos
- Cortège des belles ténébreuses au jardin boréal, for cor anglais, viola, horn, tuba and 2 percussionists
- L'étoile des langues, for narrators and 4 singers
- Litanie du cristal des fleurs, for piano left hand
- Litanie du miel matinal, for high melody instrument
- Les noces d'Icare et de Mnémosyne, for variable forces
- Patchwork des tribus américaines, for wind orchestra
- Sixième vue sur les jardins interdits, for string trio
- Sonate des maîtres viennois ('Dicté par ... no.4'), for piano
- Tango de Jeanne-la-Sibylle, for piano left hand
- Steve Reich – The Desert Music
- Wolfgang Rihm
- Vorgefühle for orchestra
- Schattenstück for orchestra
- Fusées for orchestra
- Blaubuch: String Quartet No. 6
- John Serry Sr. – Elegy for Organ
- Tōru Takemitsu – riverrun for piano and orchestra
- Robert Ward – Saxophone Concerto
- Malcolm Williamson
- A Pilgrim Liturgy – for soloists, mixed choir & orchestra
- Cortège for a Warrior for orchestra
- Hymna Titu for piano solo
- Symphony No. 7
Ballet
See List of 1984 ballet premieres
Opera
- Philip Glass
- Luigi Nono – Prometeo
- Krzysztof Penderecki – The Black Mask
- Peter Schickele – The Abduction of Figaro, attributed to P. D. Q. Bach.
- Karlheinz Stockhausen – Samstag aus Licht (produced by La Scala, Milan)
Jazz
Musical theater
- Starlight Express – Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe – London production opened and ran for 7.409 performances
- Forty-Second Street – London production
- The Rink – Broadway production opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on February 9 and ran for 233 performances
- Sunday in the Park with George (Stephen Sondheim) – Broadway production opened at the Booth Theatre on May 2 and ran for 604 performances.
Musical films
- Amadeus
- Asha Jyoti
- Beat Street
- Breakin'
- Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
- Conexión Caribe
- The Cotton Club
- Footloose
- The Girl from Moonooloo, TV starring Jacki Weaver and David Atkins
- Give My Regards to Broad Street
- Hard to Hold
- The Muppets Take Manhattan
- Purple Rain
- Streets of Fire
- Sunny
- Then Sings My Soul
- This Is Spinal Tap
Births
- January 2 – Jocelyn Oxlade, English-Filipino singer-songwriter and model (Kitty Girls)
- January 9 – Drew Brown, American pop rock musician (OneRepublic)
- January 17
- Calvin Harris, Scottish electronic musician, DJ, producer (Dated and worked with: Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, Worked with:Dua Lipa)
- Sharaya J, Hawaiian-born American female rapper and choreographer.
- January 18
- Kristy Lee Cook, American Idol finalist
- Benji Schwimmer, Winner of So You Think You Can Dance 2006
- January 20
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- Toni Gonzaga, Filipina actress and singer
- Bonnie McKee, American singer-songwriter
- January 24 – Witold Kiełtyka, Polish musician (died 2007)
- January 26 – Wu Qian, pianist
- January 27 – Davetta Sherwood, American actress and singer
- January 29 – Diana Rouvas, Australian singer-songwriter and The Voice Australia contestant, later winner
- January 30 – Kid Cudi, American rapper
- February 9 – Han Geng, Chinese singer in Korea (Super Junior)
- February 11
- Aubrey O'Day, American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress (Danity Kane, Dumblonde)
- Anushka Manchanda, Indian singer (Viva)
- February 12 – Jamie Scott, English singer-songwriter
- February 14 – Víkingur Ólafsson, Icelandic pianist
- February 15 – Dorota Rabczewska, Polish singer and model
- February 18 – Lina, South Korean singer and actress (Isak N Jiyeon)
- February 18 – Daniel Cohen, Israeli conductor, music director and violinist
- February 19 – Chris Richardson, American singer
- February 20 – Audra Mae, American singer-songwriter
- February 23 – Grieves, American hip hop artist
- February 24 – Brahim Attaeb, Belgian R&B singer
- February 25 – Lovefoxxx (Cansei de Ser Sexy)
- February 26 – Natalia Lafourcade, Mexican pop-rock singer and songwriter
- February 29
- Kiyoe Yoshioka, Japanese singer (ikimono-gakari)
- Mark Foster, American singer and guitarist (Foster The People)
- March 2 – Elizabeth Jagger, American activist, model and actress daughter of Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger
- March 3 – Tim Maddren, New Zealand entertainer (Hi-5)
- March 4 – Jeremy Loops, South African singer, songwriter and record producer
- March 6 – Chris Tomson, American drummer (Vampire Weekend)
- March 9 – Priscilla Ahn, American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
- March 12 – Shreya Ghoshal, Indian singer
- March 18 – Vonzell Solomon, US singer
- March 20
- Christy Carlson Romano, American actress and singer
- Christian Daniel, Puerto Rican singer and songwriter
- March 24
- Evan Felker, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
- Sadako Pointer, American singer (The Pointer Sisters)
- March 25 – Katharine McPhee, American Idol finalist, American singer and actress
- March 26 – Stéphanie Lapointe, Canadian singer
- March 29 – Li Martins, Brazilian singer, songwriter and actress (Rouge)
- March 31 – Jack Antonoff, American prolific musician, multi instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and record producer. (Taylor Swift (1989/ Sweeter than Fiction onwards), Lorde (Melodrama, Solar Power), St. Vincent (Masseduction, Daddy's Home), Lana Del Rey(NFR, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, DYKTATUOB), Florence And The Machine (Dance Fever)), (Member of Bleachers, Fun.)
- April 3 – Chrissie Fit, American actress and singer
- April 5 – Shin Min-a, South Korean actress and model
- April 6 – Max Bemis, American musician (Say Anything)
- April 7 – Belly (rapper), Palestinian-Jordanian-Canadian[1] rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer.
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- April 8
- Andrew Huang (musician), Canadian YouTube personality, musician, music producer, video producer and music teacher
- Ezra Koenig, American singer/songwriter (Vampire Weekend)
- April 10 – Mandy Moore, American singer-songwriter, actress and musician
- April 11 – Junior Lima, Brazilian singer-songwriter, drummer, guitarist, actor and record producer (Sandy & Junior)
- April 14 – Adán Sánchez, American-Mexican musician (d. 2004)
- April 22 – Amelle Berrabah, British singer (Sugababes)
- April 23
- Lil Eazy-E, American rapper
- Isobel Waller-Bridge, A British composer who is known for her scores for film, television, and theatre, along with her works for electronic music and contemporary classical music
- April 24 – Tyson Ritter American singer/songwriter of (The All-American Rejects)
- April 26 – Mija Martina, Bosnian singer and television host
- April 27 – Patrick Stump, American singer, songwriter and musician (Fall Out Boy)
- May 1 – Keiichiro Koyama, Japanese singer (NEWS) and actor
- May 2 – Rose Falcon, American singer-songwriter
- May 3 – Cheryl Burke, American dancer, model and TV host.
- May 4 – Little Boots, British, singer, Musician, DJ, record producer, songwriter
- May 5
- Wade MacNeil, Canadian guitarist
- Jaime Brooks, Canadian-American songwriter and musician. (Elite Gymnastics, Grimes)
- May 10 – Pe'er Tasi, Israeli singer
- May 11 – Gerald Clayton, Dutch-American pianist and composer (The Clayton Brothers)
- May 14 – Olly Murs, English, singer-songwriter, television presenter and X Factor competitor
- May 14 – Verena Rehm, German DJ (Groove Coverage)
- May 15 – Mr Probz, Dutch singer, musician and actor (Robin Schulz)
- May 17 – Passenger, English singer-songwriter
- May 20 – Naturi Naughton, American singer, songwriter and actress (3LW)
- May 25
- Marion Raven, Norwegian singer-songwriter (M2M)
- May 27 – Rachel Parris, British comedian, musician and singer
- May 29 – Ina Wroldsen, Norwegian singer-songwriter
- June 4 – Rainie Yang, Taiwanese singer
- June 11 – Zuzana Smatanová, Slovak pop-rock singer
- June 13 – Luke James (singer), American singer-songwriter and actor
- June 14 – Siobhán Donaghy, English singer (Sugababes)
- June 17 – John Gallagher, Jr., American actor, singer and dancer
- June 20 – Sherman Chung, Hong Kong singer
- June 23 – Duffy, Welsh singer-songwriter<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- June 29 – Han Ji-hye, Korean actress/singer
- June 30 – Fantasia (singer), American singer
- July 1 – Jason Reeves (songwriter), American singer-songwriter and musician
- July 2 – Eugent Bushpepa, Albanian singer, songwriter
- July 4 – Gina Glocksen, American Idol finalist
- July 5
- AJ Gil, American singer
- July 7 – Marie-Mai, Canadian singer
- July 9 – Jacob Hoggard, Canadian singer/lead singer of Hedley
- July 12
- Gareth Gates, English singer
- Jack Conte, American musician
- July 15 – Vice Cooler, American singer-songwriter (Hawnay Troof and XBXRX)
- July 17 – Asami Kimura, Japanese singer
- July 21 – Blake Lewis, American Idol runner- up
- July 24
- Dhani Lennevald (A*Teens)
- Tyler Kyte, Canadian actor/singer
- July 25 – Dong-Hyek Lim, pianist
- July 26
- Alex Parks, English singer-songwriter
- Kristina Dörfer, German singer (Nu Pagadi)
- July 30 – Gina Rodriguez, American actress, rapper, dancer, model, writer, producer and director.
- August 3
- Carah Faye Charnow, American singer for the band Shiny Toy Guns
- Whitney Duncan, American country music singer and songwriter, Survivor Contestant
- Jon Foster, American actor
- August 5
- Helene Fischer, Soviet-born German singer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Taylor Locke (Rooney)
- August 20 – Carminho, a Portuguese fado and popular music singer.
- August 21
- Alizée, French singer, dancer and voice actress.
- Melissa Schuman, singer (Dream)
- August 24 – Yesung, Korean singer (Super Junior)
- August 31 – Will Martin, New Zealand-born classical crossover singer
- September – Di Wu, Chinese-American pianist
- September 1
- Joe Trohman, American musician
- Ludwig Göransson, Swedish composer, conductor, songwriter, and record producer.
- September 3
- Garrett Hedlund, American actor, model and singer
- Lindsay Dracass, English singer
- Seo In-young, South Korean dancer, singer, model, television host and actress (Jewelry)
- September 10 – How To Dress Well, Tom Krell, American singer-songwriter
- September 12 – Petra Marklund, Swedish singer, songwriter, and television presenter
- September 16
- Sabrina Bryan, American actress and singer
- Katie Melua, Georgian-British singer, songwriter and musician
- September 18
- Jimmy Napes, English songwriter and record producer
- Dizzee Rascal, British rapper and songwriter
- September 21
- Gabriela Villalba, Ecuadorian singer and actress (Kiruba)
- Wale, American rapper
- September 22 – Theresa Fu, Hong Kong singer and actress
- September 23 – Louie Stephens, American rock keyboardist (Rooney)
- September 26 – Keisha Buchanan, English singer-songwriter (Sugababes)
- September 27 – Avril Lavigne, Canadian rock singer-songwriter, voice actress and musician
- September 28
- Melody Thornton, American singer-songwriter, dancer and television personality (The Pussycat Dolls)
- Felix White, British musician, guitarist from The Maccabees, (Date(d)(ing)Florence Welch)
- September 29 – Karen delos Reyes, Filipino actress and comedian
- September 30 – T-Pain, American singer and rapper
- October 3 – Ashlee Simpson, American singer-songwriter, actress
- October 3 – Yoon Eun-hye, South Korean singer (Baby Vox)
- October 4 – Lena Katina, Russian singer (t.A.T.u.)
- October 5 – Naima Adedapo, American singer
- October 8 – Emily Williams, New Zealand singer, songwriter and actress
- October 10 – Stephanie Cheng, Cantopop Hong Kong singer
- October 12 – Matthew Dewey, Australian composer
- October 13 – Lumidee, American singer, songwriter and rapper
- October 15 – Jessie Ware, English singer and songwriter
- October 16 – Shayne Ward, English singer and winner of reality TV show The X Factor
- October 20 – Balqees, Emirati singer
- October 25
- Sara Lumholdt (A*Teens)
- Katy Perry, American singer/songwriter, advocate
- October 26 – Amanda Overmyer, American singer
- October 27 – Kelly Osbourne, British singer
- October 29 – Chris Baio, American musician (Vampire Weekend)
- November 2 – Anastasia Karpova, Russian singer
- November 6 – Patina Miller, American actress and singer
- November 7 – Amelia Vega, Dominician actress, model, author and singer
- November 9
- Delta Goodrem, Australian singer-songwriter, writer, musician, philanthropist and actress
- Se7en, South Korean singer
- French Montana, Moroccan-American rapper
- November 10 – Naoki Kobayashi, Japanese singer, dancer, actor, choreographer, and model (Sandaime J Soul Brothers)
- November 12
- Sandara Park, member of South Korean girl group 2NE1, previously actress
- Omarion, American. boy band (B2K)
- November 14 – Luiz Filipe Coelho, violinist
- November 14 – Marija Šerifović, Serbian singer
- November 18 – Johnny Christ, American heavy metal rock bassist (Avenged Sevenfold)
- November 21
- Lindsey Haun, American actress and singer
- Willy Mason, American singer-songwriter
- November 22 – Scarlett Johansson, American singer and actress
- November 25
- Bo Bruce (Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce), English singer-songwriter
- Peter Siddle, Australian cricketer
- Hồ Ngọc Hà, Vietnamese actress and singer
- November 27 – Sanna Nielsen, Swedish singer
- November 28 – Trey Songz, American singer
- December 3 - Jelly Roll, an American rapper, singer, and songwriter
- December 12 – Gabrielle Ruiz, American actress, Broadway performer and musician (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
- December 15
- Joshua Hayward, English rock guitarist (The Horrors)
- Murda Mook, American rapper
- December 17
- Asuka Fukuda, Japanese singer
- Mikky Ekko, American singer
- December 18 – Julia Holter, American singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and artist
- December 20 – David Tavaré, Spanish singer
- December 22 – Jonas Altberg, Swedish singer, record producer and DJ
- December 23 – Alison Sudol, American singer-songwriter, actress and writer
- December 24 – Jehnny Beth, a French musician, singer-songwriter, producer, presenter and actress (half of the duo John & Jehn and front woman of the English rock band Savages)
- December 25 – The Veronicas (Lisa and Jess Origliasso) Australian singer-songwriters, activists, musicians and advocates
- December 29 – Donisha Prendergast, Jamaican filmaker, activist and actress
- December 30
- Andra Day, American singer and songwriter
- Dalia Stasevska, Ukrainian-born Finnish conductor
Deaths
- January 1 – Alexis Korner, blues musician, 55 (lung cancer)
- January 18 – Vassilis Tsitsanis, Greek composer, 69
- January 21 – Jackie Wilson, singer, 49 (pneumonia)
- January 23 – Samuel Gardner, violinist and composer, 92
- January 30 – Luke Kelly, member of The Dubliners, 43 (brain tumour)
- February 1 – Ada "Bricktop" Smith, singer and dancer, 89
- February 15
- Avon Long, American actor and singer, 73
- Ethel Merman, singer and actress, 76
- March 9 – Imogen Holst, conductor and composer, 76
- April 1 – Marvin Gaye, singer/songwriter, 44 (gunshot)
- April 6
- Jimmy Kennedy, Irish-born British songwriter, 81
- Hryhory Kytasty, composer, 77
- April 20 – Mabel Mercer, cabaret singer, 84
- April 23 – Juan Tizol, trombonist and composer, 84
- April 26 – Count Basie, jazz musician, 79
- April 27 – Z.Z. Hill, blues singer, 48
- May 1 – Gordon Jenkins, US conductor, songwriter and pianist, 73
- May 29 – Sanford Gold, jazz pianist, 72
- June – Mohamed Mooge Liibaan, singer and instrumentalist
- June 8 – Gordon Jacob, composer, 88
- June 15 – Meredith Willson, US songwriter, 82
- June 28 – Mischa Spoliansky, Russian born composer and conductor
- July 4 – Jimmie Spheeris, American singer-songwriter, 34
- July 14
- Bill Stapleton, jazz trumpeter, 49 (alcohol-related)
- Philippé Wynne, R&B singer, 43
- July 19 – Madeleine Sibille, operatic soprano, 89
- July 25 – Big Mama Thornton, R&B singer, 57
- July 29 – Lorenz Fehenberger, operatic tenor, 71
- July 31 – Paul Le Flem, composer, 103
- August 4 – Babe Russin, saxophonist, 73
- August 5 – Tuts Washington, R&B pianist, 67
- August 12 – Margaret Sutherland, composer, 86
- August 30 – Emil Newman, conductor and composer, 73
- August 31 – Carlo Zecchi, pianist, music teacher and conductor, 81
- September 3
- Dora Labbette, operatic soprano, 86
- Arthur Schwartz, composer and film producer, 83
- September 6 – Ernest Tubb, country & western musician, 70
- September 10
- Herman Sherman, jazz saxophonist and bandleader, 61
- Trummy Young, swing trombonist, 72
- September 15 – Charles Lynch, Irish concert pianist, 77
- September 20 – Steve Goodman, singer/songwriter best known for "City of New Orleans", 36 (leukaemia)
- October 3
- Lina Bruna Rasa, operatic soprano, 67
- Harrison Potter, pianist, 93
- October 4 – Carl von Garaguly, violinist and conductor
- October 12 – Jesús María Sanromá, pianist, 81
- October 16 – Jiří Jelínek, jazz trumpeter, singer and artist, 62
- October 20 – Budd Johnson, jazz musician, 73
- October 26 – John Woods Duke, composer, 85
- November 8 – Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen, violinist and composer, 81
- November 16 – Leonard Rose, cellist, 66
- November 20 – Alexander Moyzes, Slovak composer, 78
- December 2 – Gabrielle Hunt, operatic contralto and voice teacher, 71<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- December 7 – Jon B. Higgins, American Carnatic musician, 45 (road accident)
- December 9
- Ivor Moreton, British pianist, singer and composer, 76
- Razzle (Nicholas Dingley), drummer of Hanoi Rocks, 24 (car accident)
- December 10 – Charlie Teagarden, jazz trumpeter, 71
- December 13 – Max Schönherr, conductor and composer, 81
- December 15 – Jan Peerce, operatic tenor, 80
- December 21 – José Luis Rodríguez Vélez, Panamanian composer, orchestra director, saxophonist, clarinetist and guitarist, 69
- December 25 – Ron Tabak, lead singer of Prism, 31
Awards
Grammy Awards
Country Music Association Awards
Eurovision Song Contest
Charts
List of no. 1 hits
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1984
- List of Cashbox Top 100 number-one singles of 1984
- List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1980s
- List of Oricon number-one singles of 1984
List of no. 1 albums
See also
- 1984 in heavy metal music
- 1984 in country music
- 1984 in British music
- Record labels established in 1984
- Timeline of musical events
- 1984
- Ronald Reagan in music