Thatcher-off: Number four

In case you've missed this so far today, we're attempting a politico-sociological experiment to decide if music was better before or after Thatcher. April 1979 is starting to look pretty good, but we've got four rounds left to play.

Number 4, April 1979: Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive



Oh, it could be game over for 1990, couldn't it? Sure, this might be the worst music video ever, with its confused use of rollerskating to depict 'freedom' (a conceit later adopted by most early sanitary product commercials) but this is just a cultural cornerstone, isn't it? If the 1979 election was being fought today, Sunny Jim would appear on TV intoning "first, I was afraid, I was petrified..." and romp home.

Number 4, November 1990: Berlin - Take My Breath Away



Between you and me, right: you know that Kelly McGillis, right? Well... let's just say, she wouldn't be interested in Tom Cruise in real life, right. Don't tell anyone, though. It's the best-kept secret in showbiz.

Yes, a decade of Thatcherism, and this is what was passing for anthemic - a big, airy nothing slapped on a movie soundtrack about fighter pilots. Top Gun didn't make the air force sound as much fun as the Village People did the navy, did it?

1979 wins. Again.

Pre-Thatcher: 5; Post-Thatcher - 2.