As a UK artist, that tune was MASSIVE over here at the time. You heard it everywhere and there was hardly a day that went by when it wasn't played at least ten times. Definitely a classic that never gets old.
The thing is, he probably would have lasted a lot longer if he didn't let the success get to his head and start shytting on all the other artists that were out at the time. He shot himself in the foot by acting the way he did.