The Billboard Hot 100 is a record chart that ranks the best-performing singles in the United States. The chart is published by Billboard magazine and issued weekly; chart rankings are based primarily on each single's weekly sales and radio airplay figures. Throughout the history of the Hot 100, several alterations and additions have been incorporated to the methods by which chart data is obtained and compiled. Until 1991, sales and airplay information was compiled based on reports from record stores and radio playlists. Billboard has since utilized tracking systems such as Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems in compiling the chart.
In 1987, one-hundred twenty-three singles reached the top ten of the Hot 100. One-hundred twelve singles reached their peaks within the year, while the remaining eleven reached their peaks in preceding and succeeding years. "Walk Like an Egyptian" by American rock band The Bangles topped the 1987 Billboard year-end chart for the most successful singles of the year. American recording artist Madonna scored four top ten hits in 1987—"Open Your Heart", "La Isla Bonita", "Who's That Girl" and "Causing a Commotion"—the most for any artist in the year. Among the genres that surged in popularity during the year was hard rock, with bands such as Poison, Whitesnake and Bon Jovi experiencing massive commercial success on Billboard charts. All three acts reached the top ten of the Hot 100 in 1987, with the latter two topping the chart with their respective singles "Here I Go Again" and "Livin' on a Prayer". Urban contemporary music also reached a wider audience, with artists such as Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and Exposé scoring several top ten hits.
Top ten singles
(#) – 1987 Year-end top 10 single position and rank + List of Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles which peaked in 1987 Top tenentry date Single ArtistPeak Peak date Weeks intop ten Ref.(s) Singles from 1986 "Notorious" Duran Duran 2 6 "Shake You Down" (#3) 1 8 "C'est la Vie" (#6) 2 7 "Control" 5 6 Singles from 1987 "At This Moment" 1 6 "Is This Love" Survivor 9 3 "Open Your Heart" Madonna 1 6 "Land of Confusion" Genesis 4 4 "Someday" Glass Tiger 7 3 "Change of Heart" 3 5 "Victory" Kool & the Gang 10 1 "Livin' on a Prayer" (#10) Bon Jovi 1 7 "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" 4 4 "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" 2 5 "Will You Still Love Me?" Chicago 3 4 "We're Ready" Boston 9 2 "Jacob's Ladder" 1 6 "Ballerina Girl" 7 3 "You Got It All" 3 4 "Love You Down" Ready for the World 9 1 "Somewhere Out There" and 2 5 "Respect Yourself" 5 4 "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" Beastie Boys 7 2 "Big Time" 8 4 "Mandolin Rain" 4 5 "Let's Wait Awhile" 2 5 "Lean on Me" Club Nouveau 1 6 "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (#5) Starship 1 8 "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" Genesis 3 4 "Come Go with Me" Exposé 5 5 "" Europe 8 2 "Don't Dream It's Over" Crowded House 2 7 "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" and 1 7 "Let's Go!" Wang Chung 9 2 "Sign o' the Times" Prince 3 5 "Midnight Blue" 5 3 "" 8 4 "Looking for a New Love" 2 6 "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" Cutting Crew 1 6 "La Isla Bonita" Madonna 4 5 "With or Without You" U2 1 8 "Stone Love" Kool & the Gang 10 1 "Heat of the Night" 6 4 "" 3 6 "Big Love" Fleetwood Mac 5 5 "You Keep Me Hangin' On" 1 6 "Talk Dirty to Me" Poison 9 2 "Always" Atlantic Starr 1 7 "Head to Toe" Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam 1 7 "Right on Track" Breakfast Club 7 1 "I Know What I Like" 9 1 "Wanted Dead or Alive" Bon Jovi 7 5 "In Too Deep" Genesis 3 5 "Diamonds" featuring 5 4 "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (#4) 1 9 "Just to See Her" 8 4 "Alone" (#2) Heart 1 8 "Songbird" 4 4 "Shakedown" (#9) 1 7 "Don't Disturb This Groove" 4 4 "Point of No Return" Exposé 5 4 "Funkytown" Pseudo Echo 6 3 "Something So Strong" Crowded House 7 3 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" U2 1 7 "I Want Your Sex" 2 6 "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" 5 5 "Heart and Soul" T'Pau 4 5 "Cross My Broken Heart" 7 3 "Luka" 3 5 "Wot's It to Ya" 10 2 "Who's That Girl" Madonna 1 6 "La Bamba" Los Lobos 1 7 "Don't Mean Nothing" 3 4 "Only in My Dreams" 4 5 "Rock Steady" 7 3 "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and 1 6 "Didn't We Almost Have It All" 1 7 "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" Starship 9 1 "Can't We Try" and 6 4 "Here I Go Again" (#7) Whitesnake 1 7 "Doing It All for My Baby" 6 3 "When Smokey Sings" ABC 5 4 "I Heard a Rumour" Bananarama 4 6 "Lost in Emotion" Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam 1 6 "Touch of Grey" Grateful Dead 9 2 "Carrie" Europe 3 5 "U Got the Look" Prince 2 6 "Who Will You Run To" Heart 7 3 "Paper in Fire" 9 3 "One Heartbeat" 10 1 "Bad" 1 5 "Casanova" LeVert 5 4 "Causing a Commotion" Madonna 2 5 "I Think We're Alone Now" Tiffany 1 6 "Mony Mony" 1 6 "Let Me Be the One" Exposé 7 3 "Little Lies" Fleetwood Mac 4 5 "Breakout" Swing Out Sister 6 4 "Brilliant Disguise" 5 5 "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" and 1 6 "It's a Sin" Pet Shop Boys 9 2 "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" 1 6 "Should've Known Better" 3 5 "I've Been in Love Before" Cutting Crew 9 2 "Faith" 1 9 "We'll Be Together" Sting 7 4 "Shake Your Love" 4 7 "Is This Love" Whitesnake 2 7 "" R.E.M. 9 1 "Don't You Want Me" 6 6 "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" Pretty Poison 8 3 "Valerie" 9 1
1986 peaks
+ List of Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles in 1987 which peaked in 1986 Top tenentry date Single Artist Peak Peak date Weeks intop ten Ref.(s) "" (#8) 1 8 "Walk Like an Egyptian" (#1) 1 8 "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" Wang Chung 2 7 "Stand by Me" 9 4 "War" and the E Street Band 8 3 "Don't Get Me Wrong" 10 2
1988 peaks
+ List of Billboard Hot 100 top ten singles in 1987 which peaked in 1988 Top tenentry date Single Artist Peak Peak date Weeks intop ten Ref.(s) "So Emotional" 1 8 "Got My Mind Set on You" 1 8 "" 1 6 "Cherry Bomb" 8 3 "Need You Tonight" INXS 1 8
See also 1987 in music List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1987 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1987
References
General sources
Joel Whitburn Presents the Billboard Hot 100 Charts: The Eighties () Additional information obtained can be verified within Billboard's online archive services and print editions of the magazine.
External links Billboard website Billboard Hot 100 page