1985 (SR-71 song)

Bowling for Soup version

Background

| B-side = * "Major Denial"

• "Bipolar"
• "Make It Up to You"
• Jive
• Zomba
• Silvertone
• Mitch Allan
• John Allen

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, while Bowling for Soup's website says that Allan called Reddick to suggest recording the 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", the lines "Where's her fairytale? Where's her dream? / Where's the quarterback from her high school football team? / How many times will she ask herself, 'What happened to me?'" are changed to "Where's the mini-skirt made of snakeskin? / And who's the other guy that's singing in Van Halen? / When did reality become TV? / Whatever happened to sitcoms, game shows on the radio?", and the line "(The rubber broke!)" after "What happened?" is omitted. Bowling for Soup also added the line "And when did Ozzy become an actor?" referencing Ozzy Osbourne's reality show The Osbournes.

Release

Released on July 26, 2004, the song climbed to number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks chart, with 15,500 paid downloads.

Music video

The music video is directed by Smith n' Borin (Ryan Smith and Frank Borin). It takes place on a neighborhood street where the character of Debbie (Joey House) tidies the lawn of her house but gets distracted by Bowling for Soup performing in their garage across the street. The band parodies the music videos for Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" and George Michael's "Faith", as well as the acts Run-DMC and Mötley Crüe. At the end of the video, Debbie walks across the street to the band, lets her hair down, and in a nod to Whitesnake's video for "Here I Go Again", writhes on top of a Jaguar. She continues to do this even after the song ends, until her husband calls out to ask her what she’s doing. Mitch Allan from SR-71 appears in the video as a passerby who gives the band a look of contempt.

Track listings

UK CD1 and digital download

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

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

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

References

1. "News".
2. Kellman, Andy. "''Now That's What I Call Music 17'' (2004): Review".
3. (September 18, 2004). "'Bowling' For A Chart Breakthrough".
4. "JARED NEWSFLASH! 1985 IS HERE!". bowlingforsoup.com.
5. Wiser, Carl. (November 16, 2010). "Jaret Reddick of Bowling for Soup : Songwriter Interviews".
6. "1985 by SR-71".
7. "1985 by Bowling for Soup".
8. (September 21, 2019). "A Deep Dive Into Bowling For Soup's 1985 Video".
9. (2004). "1985". FFROE Records, [[Jive Records]], [[Zomba Group of Companies]], [[Silvertone Records (1980).
10. "1985 – Single". [[Apple Music]].
11. (2004). "1985". FFROE Records, Jive Records, Zomba Group of Companies, Silvertone Records.
12. (2004). "1985". FFROE Records, Jive Records, Zomba Group of Companies, Silvertone Records.
13. "1985 – EP". Apple Music.
14. (October 29, 2004). "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30".
15. (October 22, 2004). "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30".
16. "Bowling for Soup Chart History (Hot 100)".
17. "Bowling for Soup Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".
18. "Bowling for Soup Chart History (Pop Songs)".
19. (December 17, 2004). "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs".
20. (December 17, 2004). "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs".
21. (December 16, 2005). "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Adult Top 40 Songs".
22. (July 23, 2004). "Going for Adds".
23. "1985 – EP". Apple Music.
24. "1985 – Single". Apple Music.
25. (October 2, 2004). "New Releases: Singles".
26. "New Releases". [[BMG Australia]].
27. (July 15, 2022). "'American Pie' actor Thomas Ian Nicholas talks about the possibility of a 5th film and new music".
28. Nicholas, Thomas Ian. (July 9, 2022). "Today is the day. My song #1999 featuring #BowlingForSoup is out now! TINicholas.com/1999".
29. (September 29, 2013). "Chuck E. Cheese's September 2013 Show / Segment 4 - Wichita Falls, TX".
30. "2002 (Feat. Bowling for Soup) by DAVVN on Apple Music".
31. (September 24, 2021). "1985 by bowling for soup but make it 2002".
32. (17 February 2023). "Nashville Pop Duo davvn Turns Viral "2002" Into Collaboration with Bowling For Soup".