7 of Belinda Carlisle's best ever songs
17 August 2018, 12:25
Belinda Carlisle celebrates her 60th birthday today (August 17)!
To mark the special occasion, here are just a handful of the American singer's finest songs to kickstart your ideal Belinda playlist.
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'Heaven is a Place on Earth'
Easily her most successful and famous hit, this track was a number one song in both the US and UK in 1987/88.
It was the lead single from Belinda's second solo album, and also featured backing vocals from Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas and songwriter Diane Warren. Plus, Thomas Dolby played keyboards!
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'I Get Weak'
This track was originally written by Diane Warren with Stevie Nicks in mind, but it was later given to Belinda.
It became a number two hit in the US, behind Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. It also reached number 10 in the UK.
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'Circle in the Sand'
Like the first two songs in this list, this track was also taken from Belinda's hugely successful Heaven on Earth album.
The melody borrows from Mike + The Mechanics' track 'Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)', specifically the "can you hear me calling" line.
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'Our Lips Are Sealed' (with The Go-Go's)
Before her solo career, Belinda was the lead singer in the legendary girl group The Go-Go's.
The Specials frontman Terry Hall had written this song with Jane Wiedlin for her band The Go-Go’s, but it was not a hit in the UK. However, it was a big hit in the States. Hall's next band Fun Boy Three then released their own version in 1983, scoring a top 10 hit in the UK.
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'Mad About You'
This was Belinda's debut solo single, released in 1986, after leaving The Go-Go's.
Paula Jean Brown (who took Jane Wiedlin's spot in The Go-Go's just before they broke up) co-wrote the song with Jim Whelan, while Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey sang back-up vocals. It was one of a few songs considered for a cancelled fourth Go-Go's album.
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'Leave a Light On'
This was the lead single from Belinda's third album Runaway Horses, and it peaked a number four in the UK in 1989.
Amazing fact: George Harrison played guitar on the song.
Belinda said: "Rick [Nowels] said we should get someone cool and with a distinctive style to play the lead guitar part. I thought for a moment and said 'What about George Harrison?' I had met George briefly a few years earlier in San Remo Italy and Morgan [Mason, Carlisle's husband] through his work on Sex Lies and Videotape. He knew someone who was close to [Harrison] and able to get word to him. George responded right away, saying he'd love to help out."
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'We Got the Beat' (with The Go-Go's)
This song became The Go-Go's signature song, reaching number two in the US in 1982.
Only 2 1⁄2 minutes long, the song evolved out of the group covering the song that helped become the group's name, 'Going to a Go Go' by the Miracles.