"1985" is a song by American rock band SR-71 from their third and final studio album Here We Go Again, released on May 21, 2004. It describes a middle-aged woman who longs for her past, dwells on her boring suburban lifestyle, and reflects on the massive changes that have occurred in pop culture and music since the 1980s.

Produced by the band's frontman Mitch Allan, who co-wrote it with their drummer John Allen, "1985" was not released as a single and went largely unnoticed; just two months after its release, Allan gave it to fellow pop punk band Bowling for Soup, who recorded a cover that reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was included on their fifth studio album A Hangover You Don't Deserve.

Bowling for Soup version

Background

There are conflicting stories on how Bowling for Soup came to record a cover of the track. SR-71's website states that Bowling for Soup frontman Jaret Reddick heard the song and asked for permission to record a cover, In 2010, Reddick said that the cover materialized through the two bands' association with producer Butch Walker.

Bowling for Soup made multiple changes to the lyrics. A reference to Fast Times at Ridgemont High is replaced by St. Elmo's Fire, the line "Never knew George was gay / hoped they'd hook up one day" is changed to "Thought she'd get a hand / on a member of Duran Duran", It takes place on a neighborhood street where the character of Debbie (Joey House)

  1. "1985" – 3:14
  2. "Major Denial" – 2:36

UK CD2

  1. "1985"
  2. "Bipolar"
  3. "Major Denial"
  4. "1985" (video)

UK 7-inch single

:A. "1985" – 3:13

:B. "Make It Up to You" – 3:52

Digital EP

  1. "1985" – 3:13
  2. "Bipolar" – 2:37
  3. "Major Denial" – 2:22
  4. "Make It Up to You" – 3:52

Charts

Weekly charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2004)

!Peak<br/>position

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)

|8

|-

!scope="row"|Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)

|3

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

|23

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)

|5

|-

!scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)

|10

|}

Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2004)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)

|29

|-

!scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)

|56

|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2005)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)

|39

|}

Certifications

Release history

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|

|-

!scope="row"|United States

|July 26, 2004

|Contemporary hit radio

|

|

|-

!scope="row"|Australia

|rowspan="2"|September 20, 2004

|rowspan="2"|Digital EP

|rowspan="4"|Zomba

|

|-

!scope="row"|Australia

|rowspan="2"|September 27, 2004

|rowspan="2"|Digital download

|

|-

|October 4, 2004

|rowspan="2"|CD

|Jive

|

|-

!scope="row"|Australia

|October 18, 2004

|Zomba

|

|}

Cover versions and parodies

Christian parody band ApologetiX released a parody titled "None Too Ladylike" on the group's Wordplay album, about Jezebel from the Bible.

The Bowling for Soup version has been covered by Richard Thompson on the live album 1000 Years of Popular Music.

On July 9, 2022, Thomas Ian Nicholas released a parody cover of "1985" titled "1999", featuring Bowling for Soup.

In 2013, Jaret Reddick re-covered the song for Munch's Make Believe Band, the band featured in Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants. In the segment, one of the characters references the voice of Chuck E. Cheese being the same as Bowling for Soup's front man.

On January 27, 2023, Davvn released a parody cover entitled "2002". The song was initially a 35-second YouTube Short posted on September 25, 2021, but was re-uploaded to TikTok the following year where it gained traction after Jaret Reddick saw it and subsequently collaborated with Davvn. The song was officially released featuring Bowling for Soup.

In 2024, Kelly Clarkson covered "1985" on the 'Kellyoke' section of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

References

  • Cover Without Context by JP Timko