Close But No Cigar: The No. 2 Hits of 1989, Part 1 | Tone Loc, Taylor Dayne and Sheena Easton

As the 1980s drew to a close, the Billboard charts became one of the most competitive battlegrounds in pop-music history.

Superstars were everywhere. Genres were colliding. And some truly great songs found themselves stuck just one spot short of chart glory.

This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve returns to Close But No Cigar, our long-running series celebrating songs that reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 but never managed to capture the top position.

With the series nearing its conclusion, it's time to turn our attention to 1989, the final year of our beloved decade.

The episode examines the first four songs from 1989 that climbed to No. 2 before running out of chart runway. Among the featured artists are Tone Loc, whose unmistakable voice helped make him one of the most recognizable performers of the late MTV era.

The discussion also revisits the music of Taylor Dayne, whose powerful vocals made her one of the defining pop voices of the decade, and Sheena Easton, who spent much of the 1980s reinventing herself while consistently producing hit records.

As always, the fun comes from examining the chart battles themselves. Which songs blocked these records from reaching No. 1? Were the chart-toppers truly better? Or did history ultimately favor the runners-up?

The episode also highlights how eclectic popular music had become by 1989. Dance-pop, hip-hop, adult contemporary, rock and R&B all competed for chart dominance, creating a fascinating musical landscape that reflected a decade on the verge of transformation.

One of the enduring lessons of the Close But No Cigar series is that chart position doesn't always determine cultural impact. Many of the songs featured throughout the series remain beloved today, regardless of whether they ever reached the top spot.

Like many Stuck in the ’80s music-history episodes, the discussion combines nostalgia, chart trivia and spirited debate while shining a spotlight on songs that deserve to be remembered.

Because sometimes second place is still pretty impressive.

Especially when the competition is the entire decade of the 1980s.

If you love Billboard chart history, forgotten chart battles and revisiting the music that helped close out the MTV era, this episode belongs in your playlist.

The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.

One thing we've learned from years of hosting trivia events is that music fans love a good underdog story. Maybe that's why the No. 2 songs are often so fascinating. They came incredibly close, yet somehow remain a little overlooked. If you enjoy digging into the forgotten corners of music history, you'd fit right in on The 80s Cruise. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin and join a community that appreciates the stories behind the songs every bit as much as the songs themselves. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.