Back to 1979: When Disco Ruled, Rock Reigned, and Hip-Hop Was Born
Back to 1979: When Disco Ruled, Rock Reigned, and Hip-Hop Was Born
Ahmed Kajee
Back to 1979: When Disco Ruled, Rock Reigned, and Hip-Hop Was Born
The Year Was 1979…
It’s the featured year on this week’s HOT Classic Countdown with Steve Bishop, taking place every Sunday from 12 to 3pm on HOT 102.7FM.
As the curtain began to close on the 1970s, 1979 delivered a seismic shift in sound, culture, and politics — and our Classic Countdown chart is a perfect snapshot of that moment in time.
Disco still held its glittering grip on the charts. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” (No. 1) was more than a hit — it became an anthem of empowerment and resilience, embraced by communities around the world. Donna Summer joined forces with Barbra Streisand on “No More Tears”, while Earth, Wind & Fire had us dancing into the new decade with “Boogie Wonderland”. But even as the disco ball spun, backlash was brewing. In Chicago, the infamous Disco Demolition Night symbolised a cultural pushback — and the dawn of something new.
New wave and punk energy were on the rise. Blondie’s “Sunday Girl” and The Police’s “Roxanne” brought edgier sounds to radio, while The Buggles foretold the future with “Video Killed the Radio Star”, ironically predicting MTV’s arrival just two years later.
Meanwhile, Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” channelled Elvis, Supertramp made you think with “The Logical Song”, and The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” introduced the mainstream to a genre called hip-hop. Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing”, The Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body”, and ABBA’s “Does Your Mother Know” kept dancefloors alive and record players spinning.
South African talent shone too. Clout’s “Save Me”, Neville Nash’s “La La La”, and Baxstop’s “Jo Bangles” were local gems that held their own alongside international giants.
🎧 Did You Know?
“Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang was the first rap single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 — marking the commercial birth of hip-hop.
Beyond the music, 1979 saw Alien redefine sci-fi, Kramer vs. Kramer bring divorce to the forefront of film, and the world strap on Sony Walkmans for the first time — giving people a soundtrack to their lives on the go.
This Sunday, we’re counting down 30 unforgettable tracks that defined the moment. Tune in and turn back time.
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