Close But No Cigar: The No. 2 Hits of 1989, Part 2 | Bobby Brown, Madonna and More

Second place can be a frustrating destination.

Especially when you're only one song away from chart immortality.

This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Spearsy welcomes back Chuck "Mr. Mayor" Coverly for Part 2 of our look at the songs of 1989 that reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 but never managed to claim the top spot.

As longtime listeners know, Close But No Cigar has become one of our favorite recurring series because it reminds us of an important truth about music history:

Not every great song becomes a No. 1 hit.

In fact, some of the most memorable records of the decade spent their chart lives staring up at the summit from just one position below.

This installment focuses on another batch of 1989 near-misses, including songs from Bobby Brown, who was in the middle of one of the most dominant runs of the late MTV era. The discussion also revisits the music of Jody Watley and, of course, Madonna, whose chart success throughout the decade was almost unmatched.

Along the way, Spearsy and Chuck investigate the fascinating chart battles that prevented these songs from reaching No. 1. Sometimes the culprit was another future classic. Sometimes it was a song that history has largely forgotten.

That's part of what makes these episodes so much fun.

Looking back decades later, it's often surprising to discover which songs won those battles and which songs lost them.

The episode also serves as a snapshot of a fascinating moment in music history. By 1989, the pop landscape had become remarkably diverse. Dance-pop, R&B, adult contemporary, rock and emerging alternative sounds all competed for chart dominance, creating one of the most interesting years of the decade.

Like many Stuck in the ’80s music-history episodes, the conversation combines chart trivia, nostalgia and passionate debate while highlighting songs that deserve to be remembered regardless of where they finished.

Because in the end, nobody remembers where a song peaked if the music itself stands the test of time.

If you love Billboard chart history, forgotten chart battles and revisiting the final great year of the 1980s, 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 of the best parts of hosting trivia aboard The 80s Cruise is discovering just how seriously cruisers take music history. Mention a forgotten chart battle from 1989 and somebody in the audience will immediately know which song was stuck at No. 2 and what kept it there. If that sounds like your kind of crowd, use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin and come spend a week with fellow fans who know that chart trivia is never just trivia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.