Can't say for sure it was 1981but there was a singer named Robert John that recorded 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' somewhere in that time frame.
The song The Air Tonight was recorded in 1979 bya very well-known singer. The singer is British and his name is Phil Collins. The sobg was released in the United Kingdmo in 1981.
The song (actually titled 'Young Turks') was released in 1981 on Stewart's album 'Tonight I'm Yours'.
19815 January 1981 (UK)May 1981 (U.S.)wikipedia.com1981
The song debuted on their 1981 album Escape.
Early 1981
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 1-23 was released on: USA: 14 October 1981
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 1-19 was released on: USA: 8 October 1981
Musical Comedy Tonight II - 1981 - TV was released on: USA: 11 February 1981
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 28-1 was released on: USA: 8 September 2008
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 29-1 was released on: USA: 14 September 2009
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 15-9 was released on: USA: 15 September 1990
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 8-165 was released on: USA: 28 December 2012
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 Chris Aber was released on: USA: 17 February 2011
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 The Women of Twin Peaks was released on: USA: November 1990
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 2008-12-22 was released on: USA: 22 December 2008
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 2007-06-11 was released on: USA: 11 June 2007
Entertainment Tonight - 1981 2006-03-31 was released on: USA: 31 March 2006