A 1988 No. 1 Hit Went From Chart-Topping Smash to Being Named 'the Corniest Song of All Time'

A 1988 pop song from one of the era's best vocalists became so popular that it reached No. 1. Even though it once dominated the chart, the tide has taken an unexpected turn against the track over time. Billy Ocean's 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car' has been called "the corniest song of all time."

38 Years Ago This Week, Billy Ocean Hit No. 1

Originally released on January 18, 1988, Billy Ocean's 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car' would go on to debut on the chart on February 13. After a slow climb, the song would go on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 9, and it stayed on top for two weeks.

How Billy Ocean’s Big Hit Became Known as the Corniest Song Ever

In many ways, 1988 was a magnificent year for the entertainment industry, as a film that has been named the best action movie of all time was released that year. However, that doesn't mean that every piece of pop culture from that year that was beloved at the time is still held in high esteem.

In January 2017, a Medium article asked whether 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car' is "the corniest song of all time." While the title of the article wasn't definitive, its writer finished the piece by stating that the song deserved that dubious label due to the track itself and its music video. "This video locks in “GOMD, GIMC” as the corniest song of all time. And it’s not even close." To the article's point, the video truly is a masterpiece of corniness that has aged like milk even for a 1980s music video.

Of course, one article doesn't settle the debate, and anyone can have their own opinion about what the corniest track ever is. Still, this song has shown up on a slew of negative lists over the years, which proves that it has repeatedly been seen in a bad light.

A 2009 ABC News article named 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car' as one of the "worst love songs of all time." It was also included in a roundup of the "cheesiest songs," and a ranking of the "worst #1 songs of the 1980s," and a list of popular '80s songs that are awful now. Even when it has been included in lists of songs that people enjoy, it is framed in a way that recognizes that it is corny. In 2025, Ultimate Classic Rock included the track on its list of "classic guilty pleasures from the '80s," noting that even fans "will never admit how much they like this song."

While one of his tracks has been the subject of ridicule, Ocean's talents as a performer are virtually undeniable. In fact, he continues to tour decades after the height of his career because his smooth voice and beloved hits make fans like me still want to see him live.