If ever a song captured the spirit of resilience, it was I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Originally written from a female empowerment perspective, it quickly became a global anthem of strength — crossing generations, movements and dance floors. At the same time, Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now by McFadden & Whitehead felt almost prophetic — a song about momentum and optimism at a time when the world was shifting politically and socially.

Disco was still dominant, but it was evolving. Boogie Wonderland from Earth, Wind & Fire kept dance floors packed, while Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) by The Jacksons showcased a family at the height of their groove — just before the 80s would redefine pop superstardom.

Two other standout moments from this unforgettable chart? Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang and Hold the Line by Toto could not have been more different — yet both signalled massive change. Rapper’s Delight was unlike anything mainstream radio had heard before: nearly 15 minutes long in its full version, built on a funky bassline, and introducing hip-hop culture to a global audience in a way that felt playful but revolutionary. At the same time, Hold the Line delivered pure rock precision — dramatic piano stabs, soaring vocals and a hook that still demands to be sung at full volume. One was laying the foundation for an entire genre that would dominate decades to come, the other proved arena rock was alive, polished and powerful. Two very different sounds… both shaping the future.

But 1979 wasn’t only about disco sparkle. Rock was flexing its muscles. Crazy Little Thing Called Love saw Queen channel Elvis-style rockabilly flair, while Logical Song by Supertramp delivered introspective lyrics wrapped in radio-friendly hooks. Meanwhile, Roxanne from The Police was still climbing globally, proving that sometimes the slow burn becomes the brightest flame.

And then there was the future knocking loudly on the studio door. Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles practically predicted the MTV era before MTV even existed. Paired with Cars from Gary Numan, synth-driven pop was signalling that the 80s would sound very different indeed.

Did You Know?
“Video Killed the Radio Star” would later become the very first music video ever played on MTV when the channel launched in 1981 — meaning a 1979 hit literally ushered in a new television era for music. Not bad for a song that many radio programmers initially doubted!

Across the globe — and right here at home — local artists were adding their own flavour to the charts. South African favourites like Richard Jon Smith, Neville Nash, Stingray, Baxtop, Copperfield and Clout ensured that while the world was dancing to disco and experimenting with synths, we were proudly spinning homegrown hits too.

From the euphoric pulse of Boogie Wonderland to the indestructible confidence of I Will Survive, 1979 gave us songs that still feel as urgent, joyful and powerful today as they did under mirror balls nearly five decades ago.