I rarely do these blog memes, but I saw this one at Noonan's place and thought it would be amusing. You take the top 100 songs from the year you graduated high school (1985 for me) and pick out the ones that wouldn't make you instantly change the radio station if they came on. Here's the list:
1. Careless Whisper, Wham! -- uh, no.
2. Like A Virgin, Madonna -- okay, this isn't starting well.
3. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Wham! -- Wham had two of the top three songs that year? Is my age group that lame?
4. I Want To Know What Love Is, Foreigner -- wait, don't answer that. We obviously were.
5. I Feel For You, Chaka Khan
6. Out Of Touch, Daryl Hall and John Oates
7. Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tears For Fears -- okay, I'd listen to that one, but mostly because it reminds me of the movie Real Genius, which was hilarious.
8. Money For Nothing, Dire Straits -- I'll do that one too, though it's nowhere near the best song on the album. The title song, Brothers in Arms, was and is a great, great song.
9. Crazy For You, Madonna -- I don't feel well
10. Take On Me, A-Ha -- do I have to?
11. Everytime You Go Away, Paul Young -- I might listen to this one. It has a bit of a classic soul feel to it
12. Easy Lover, Phil Collins and Philip Bailey -- One of the few hit songs I never really got tired of, a definite listen
13. Can't Fight This Feeling, REO Speedwagon -- Indisputibly lame, and made far more lame by the fact that this band, at one point, was one of the truly great rock bands in the world. Hi Infidelity destroyed that forever. A truly evil song.
14. We Built This City, Starship -- Possibly even more evil than the previous one, and that's saying a lot.
15. The Power Of Love, Huey Lewis and The News
16. Don't You (Forget About Me), Simple Minds -- I'll listen to this one, but mostly because I really like the drummer from Simple Minds. Not flashy, but he really has a great feel for the groove. And this was an underrated band. The song "Alive and Kicking" is one of the great unremembered songs of this era.
17. Cherish, Kool and The Gang
18. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion), John Parr -- Annoying song from what was possibly the worst movie ever made (though Demi Moore has tried mightily to make even worse movies. See: The Scarlett Letter and Striptease)
19. The Heat Is On, Glenn Frey -- just too cutesy for me
20. We Are The World, U.S.A. For Africa -- I'd rather be a starving African than listen to this crap
21. Shout, Tears For Fears -- Not a bad song. Tears for Fears made some interesting music.
22. Part-Time Lover, Stevie Wonder
23. Saving All My Love For You, Whitney Houston -- I might listen to this because I think Whitney has the best pure voice in music. At least she did, before she became a stupid crackwhore.
24. Heaven, Bryan Adams -- Another truly evil song. Bryan Adams should thank his lucky stars that Celine Dion came along to take away the title of Canada's Lamest Singer.
25. Everything She Wants, Wham!
26. Cool It Now, New Edition
27. Miami Vice Theme, Jan Hammer -- If I'm alone I might listen to this one so I can pretend I'm Sonny Crockett. But don't tell anyone, okay? That's embarrassing.
28. Lover Boy, Billy Ocean -- Lover Boy, meet Lover Girl
29. Lover Girl, Teena Marie -- Lover Girl, meet Lover Boy
30. You Belong To The City, Glenn Frey -- See #27
31. Oh Sheila, Ready For The World
32. Rhythm Of The Night, Debarge
33. One More Night, Phil Collins
34. Sea Of Love, Honeydrippers
35. A View To A Kill, Duran Duran -- I actually like some of Duran Duran's stuff. I think it's held up much better than expected over the years.
36. The Wild Boys, Duran Duran
37. You're The Inspiration, Chicago -- Ack! Don't get me started on the Peter Cetera. He's a male American version of Celine Dion.
38. Neutron Dance, Pointer Sisters
39. We Belong, Pat Benatar -- I like Pat, but this is one of her worst songs
40. Nightshift, Commodores -- I find this song irresistable. The only hit they had after Lionel Richie left and it was a great one.
41. Things Can Only Get Better, Howard Jones -- I actually love this song, believe it or not. And I'm not sure I believe it, or understand it.
42. All I Need, Jack Wagner -- Yikes. Like Rick Springfield without the talent.
43. Freeway Of Love, Aretha Franklin
44. Never Surrender, Corey Hart
45. Sussudio, Phil Collins -- another mysteriously irresistable song.
46. Strut, Sheena Easton -- I thought Sheena Easton was just about the hottest thing on two legs. But the song sucks.
47. You Give Good Love, Whitney Houston
48. The Search Is Over, Survivor -- There was a time in my life when I was a HUGE Survivor fan. A very dark time. Only my therapist knew that until now. I feel so ashamed....hold me.
49. Missing You, Diana Ross
50. Separate Lives, Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
51. Raspberry Beret, Prince and The Revolution -- I'll listen to anything from Prince, who I didn't appreciate at the time and do now.
52. Suddenly, Billy Ocean
53. The Boys Of Summer, Don Henley -- I hate the Eagles, but like almost all of their individual solo stuff. I find that odd.
54. One Night In Bangkok, Murray Head
55. If You Love Somebody Set Them Free, Sting -- For my money, the best songwriter of his generation. And this was the song that launched his brilliant solo career.
56. Obsession, Animotion
57. We Don't Need Another Hero, Tina Turner -- A surprisingly good song
58. Material Girl, Madonna
59. Better Be Good To Me, Tina Turner
60. Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears
61. Axel F, Harold Faltermeyer -- No way. It would only remind me of Eddie Murphy's irritating mugging for the camera in the movie it's from. Have I mentioned before that I think Eddie Murphy was the worst thing to happen to comedy in decades? Maybe I will someday.
62. Smooth Operator, Sade -- I liked Sade. Does that make me a Sadist?
63. In My House, Mary Jane Girls
64. Don't Lose My Number, Phil Collins
65. All Through The Night, Cyndi Lauper
66. Run To You, Bryan Adams
67. Glory Days, Bruce Springsteen -- Would not have listened to it in 1985, but would now. Springsteen has really grown on me as I get older. I get him now and I didn't then.
68. Voices Carry, 'Til Tuesday -- Decent song
69. Misled, Kool and The Gang
70. Would I Lie To You?, Eurythmics -- I Like the Eurythmics, definitely a listen.
71. Be Near Me, ABC
72. No More Lonely Nights, Paul McCartney -- I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit
73. I Can't Hold Back, Survivor -- Seriously, this is humiliating. I loved this band. I listened to this tape incessantly 20 years ago. I also owned several albums from the cast of Fame, so that gives you some idea of the level of musical geekdom I was at.
74. Summer Of '69, Bryan Adams
75. Walking On Sunshine, Katrina and The Waves -- Oh, the irony
76. Freedom, Wham!
77. Too Late For Goodbyes, Julian Lennon
78. Valotte, Julian Lennon
79. Some Like It Hot, Power Station -- A Duran Duran side project with a great drummer and the late great Robert Palmer singing. Worth a listen for sure.
80. Solid, Ashford and Simpson
81. Angel, Madonna
82. I'm On Fire, Bruce Springsteen
83. Method Of Modern Love, Daryl Hall and John Oates
84. Lay Your Hands On Me, Thompson Twins -- Can't listen to this group without laughing at the chick with the weird hats
85. Who's Holding Donna Now, Debarge
86. Lonely Ol' Night, John Cougar Mellencamp -- Excuse me, he was still little Johnny Cougar back then
87. What About Love, Heart -- Ah, the Wilson sisters, who went from some of the best rock of the 70s to some of the worst ballads of the 80s to being a pro wrestling tag team in the 90s after one of them ballooned to 480 pounds.
88. California Girls, David Lee Roth
89. Fresh, Kool and The Gang
90. Do What You Do, Jermaine Jackson
91. Jungle Of Love, The Time -- Jungle OF Love? Who the hell compiled this list and how dare they blaspheme one of the all time great songs? Saw this band live a few years ago at a little club and they're still a blast. How can you not love Morris Day?
92. Born In The USA, Bruce Springsteen
93. Private Dancer, Tina Turner
94. Who's Zoomin' Who, Aretha Franklin
95. Fortress Around Your Heart, Sting -- Another great song from the same album
96. Penny Lover, Lionel Richie
97. All She Wants To Do Is Dance, Don Henley
98. Dress You Up, Madonna
99. Sentimental Street, Night Ranger -- I actually had a guy I know try and convince me a couple years ago that Night Ranger was one of the all time great bands. Yes, he was drunk. But he'd say the same thing sober. And that tells you all you need to know about him.
100. Sugar Walls, Sheena Easton
- Log in to post comments
Didn't you mean songs that would make you change the station?
Did I get the meme reversed? Oh well. My list is of songs that would not make me change the station. The ones in bold.
Finally, someone else that hates the Eagles. I no longer admit to hating the Eagles in public as it gets me very nasty looks.
Also, what the hell is with all the Wham! songs on the list? God that's disturbing.
Seeing as how I graduated high school in '99 I have a pretty good idea what my list would look like. That's a nightmare I can do without, thank you.
I find it odd that I don't like the Eagles because I've liked almost all of the solo work done by Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Joe Walsh (Timothy B. Schmidt, on the other hand, is one of the worst songwriters in history, but he's had the least solo success for that reason). But the Eagles stuff, for the most part, gives me anything but a peaceful, easy feeling.
I hate to admit it, but if any of those songs came on the radio, I'd turn the volume way, way up.
Followed by the collar on my pink Izod pullover....
I'd turn up the sleeves of my linen pastel Don Johnson jacket. And yes, I actually owned one of those. Yikes.
Thanks for the light diversion from all the heavy stuff this week. I graduated in 86 so your list was close enough to give me shivers; I'm too scared to look at what my list would be.
I'll buy that you may honestly dislike the Eagles, but I'm skeptical that you didn't go through an Eagles-stage. It's almost a right of passage for American male junior high youth. Hotel California remains one of only about two pop songs to which I ever knew all the words by heart. Am I doomed to a future of psychological problems?
Somewhat embarrasing revelation, my favorite pop bands of all time was and is ELO.
Cheers
My own list, from the great year 1980.
[b]1. Call Me, Blondie[/b] (Debbie Harry was one scary hot chick)
[b]2. Another Brick In The Wall, Pink Floyd[/b] We don't need no, education!....nuff said.
3. Magic, Olivia Newton-John
[b]4. Rock With You, Michael Jackson[/b] People forget what a gigantic talent MJ was before he took the loonie-toon express with a bunch of pre-pubescent boys.
5. Do That To Me One More Time, Captain and Tennille (Someone stab me in the ears now!)
[b]6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Queen[/b] (Still like the guitar solo.)
7. Coming Up, Paul McCartney (He sang after the Beatles?)
8. Funkytown, Lipps, Inc. (Techno-crap, Ltd.)
9. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me, Billy Joel
10. The Rose, Bette Midler (A hit for 169 straight fucking months!!)
[b]11. Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Rupert Holmes[/b] (God help me, but I like this song, and gettin' caught in the rain)
12. Cars, Gary Numan
13. Cruisin', Smokey Robinson
14. Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl, Spinners
15. Lost In Love, Air Supply (Air Supply or REO Speedwagon...which was crapper? You decide.)
16. Little Jeannie, Elton John
17. Ride Like The Wind, Cristopher Cross (Would have had a decent career in music if not for the fact he was butt ugly and videos meant you had to be pretty now. Even the men.)
18. Upside Down, Diana Ross
19. Please Don't Go, K.C. and The Sunshine Band
[b]20. Babe, Styx[/b] (Arena schlock-rock at its finest [not including Journey], but I like it.)
21. With You I'm Born Again, Billy Preston and Syreeta
[b]22. Shining Star, Manhattans[/b] (Sounds like the Temps or Tops)
23. Still, Commodores (What ever happened to those guys, the ones other than Lionel that is?)
24. Yes, I'm Ready, Teri De Sario With K.C.
25. Sexy Eyes, Dr. Hook
[b]26. Steal Away, Robbie Dupree[/b] (One hit wonder? Maybe, but I liked this.)
27. Biggest Part Of Me, Ambrosia
28. This Is It, Kenny Loggins (You don't see any bearded rock musicians with mullets any more. How come?)
29. Cupid-I've Loved You For A Long Time, Spinners
30. Let's Get Serious, Jermaine Jackson (Let's get serious...you suck.)
31. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer, Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
32. Sailing, Christopher Cross
33. Longer, Dan Fogelberg (The vocal equivalent of valium.)
34. Coward Of The County, Kenny Rogers
[b]35. Ladies Night, Kool and The Gang[/b] (I really grooved to these guys.)
36. Take Your Time, S.O.S. Band
37. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer (Enough is freaking enough indeed!!)
38. Too Hot, Kool and The Gang
39. More Love, Kim Carnes
40. Pop Muzik, M
[b]41. Brass In Pocket, Pretenders[/b] (Ballsy band)
42. Special Lady, Ray, Goodman and Brown
43. Send One Your Love, Stevie Wonder
44. The Second Time Around, Shalamar (Hey dude, disco died 2 years ago.)
[b]45. We Don't Talk Anymore, Cliff Richard[/b] (I'd turn the radio UP for this one.)
47. Heartache Tonight , Eagles (Is it country? Is it rock? It's Crock!)
48. Stomp, Brothers Johnson
49. Tired Of Toein' The Line, Rocky Burnette
50. Better Love Next Time, Dr. Hook
51. Him, Rupert Holmes (Not as good as Escape)
[b]52. Against The Wind, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band[/b] (Another gritty band with a lot of good songs.)
53. On The Radio, Donna Summer
54. Emotional Rescue, Rolling Stones
55. Rise, Herb Alpert
56. All Out Of Love, Air Supply
57. Cool Change, Little River Band (I think we have another contender for the crapiest band award!)
58. You're Only Lonely, J.D. Souther
[b]59. Desire, Andy Gibb[/b] (Always liked those Gibbs, even when it was just damn embarassing to do so.)
60. Let My Love Open The Door, Pete Townshend
61. Daydream Believer, Anne Murray (Holy shit, Anne *freaking* Murray. Blame Canada!!)
62. I Can't Tell You Why, Eagles
63. Don't Let Go, Isaac Hayes
64. Don't Do Me Like That, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
65. She's Out Of My Life, Michael Jackson
66. Fame, Irene Cara
67. Fire Lake, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
68. How Do I Make You, Linda Ronstadt
[b]69. Into The Night, Benny Mardones[/b] (One of the songs I'll sing along to in the car.)
70. Let Me Love You Tonight, Pure Prairie League
[b]71. Misunderstanding, Genesis[/b] (Phil Collins did a pretty credible job replacing Pete Gabriel.)
72. An American Dream, Dirt Band
73. One Fine Day, Carole King
74. Dim All The Lights, Donna Summer
75. You May Be Right, Billy Joel (I feel about Billy Joel the way some feel about The Eagles.)
76. Hurt So Bad, Linda Ronstadt
77. Should've Never Let You Go, Neil Sedaka and Dara Sedaka (A man with a voice so high it breaks dog eadrums.)
78. Pilot Of The Airwaves, Charlie Dore
79. Off The Wall, Michael Jackson
80. I Pledge My Love, Peaches and Herb
81. The Long Run, Eagles
82. Stand By Me, Mickey Gilley
[b]83. Heartbreaker, Pat Benatar[/b] (Proved you can dance and still be a rocker.)
84. Deja Vu, Dionne Warwick
85. Drivin' My Life Away, Eddie Rabbitt (I'd like to drive...over his tonsils.)
[b]86. Take The Long Way Home, Supertramp[/b] (Who didn't own Crime of the Century?)
87. Sara, Fleetwood Mac
88. Wait For Me, Daryl Hall and John Oates
89. Jo Jo, Boz Scaggs
90. September Morn, Neil Diamond
[b]91. Give Me The Night, George Benson[/b] Good head bobbing music.)
92. Broken Hearted Me, Anne Murray
93. You Decorated My Life, Kenny Rogers
94. Tusk, Fleetwood Mac
95. I Wanna Be Your Lover, Prince
96. In America, Charlie Daniels Band
97. Breakdown Dead Ahead, Boz Scaggs
98. Ships, Barry Manilow
99. All Night Long, Joe Walsh
100. Refugee, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
You got the meme right, Ed. Doing it the other way would take too much bolding.
The fact they got "Jungle Love" wrong is just terrible. That's the bad guy in "Purple Rain" we're talking about.
By the way, this:
60. Head Over Heels, Tears For Fears
is the best Tears for Fears song on the list.
I dissent strongly from any opinion that the Eagles' solo stuff was better than the stuff put out by the band. Have you listened to their albums, or have you just gotten tired of the 3-4 songs they repeat endlessly on the radio?
What a *great* band.
Ed, you and I are the same age, and seeing that list was a scary walk down memory lane - not to mention a precursor for the music I am likely to hear at my 20th reunion this fall. Of course, 1985 was also the year my friends introduced me to a little phenomenon called college radio, and a band called REM, which means my actual favorite songs of '85 are largely missing from that list.
I agree with nearly every one of your picks for songs you would listen to, but I would add three more:
Take on Me - A HA - The video was revolutionary, so I've always liked the song - a great one-hit wonder.
One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head - Just goofy enough to make me want to listen - IIRC, it was from a failed broadway "rock" musical idea about a chess match in Thailand.
Head Over Heels - Tears for Fears - One of my most favorite songs of all times. This song and Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes," represent what I always thought real love should feel like.
CPT:
I consider In Your Eyes to be the greatest love song of the rock era, even above Clapton's Wonderful Tonight.
Sigh...nothing there for the 80's head-banger I was.
Oh, and John Cougar had already added the "Mellencamp" to his name by '85. I believe the album with "Little Pink Houses" was the first to use it. Remember, the Reagan campaign wanted to use it? Geez, talk about not listening to the lyrics.
Remember, the Reagan campaign wanted to use it? Geez, talk about not listening to the lyrics.
Didn't the same thing happen with Springsteen's Born in the USA and Allentown by Billy Joel? Not necessarily the same administration in each case.
Ed Says:
I consider In Your Eyes to be the greatest love song of the rock era, even above Clapton's Wonderful Tonight.
Ever hear the Jeffery Gaines version of "In Your Eyes"? It's kick ass.
I've always hated that Clapton song. Always. And I do mean always. I've never liked it, not even once. Not even when I was really drunk. Not that I don't like Clapton, but damn...I just can't stand that song.
As for me instantly turning the radio...only one group/guy can make me do that.
Peter Cetera
(Damn, I just got pissed off even thinking about Peter Cetera)
One of these days I'm gonna have to tell the story of my ex-girlfriend who was obsessed with Peter Cetera. I swear her car radio could detect the strongest Peter Cetera signal and hone in on it. It was painful as hell.
LOL I'm still so busy laughing at Ed for liking Survivor that the "In your eyes" thing hasn't quite hit me yet!
I checked the 1991 list and the only song worth mentioning on it was...
52. I Touch Myself, Divinyls
(Although I thought this song was from about 1986)
I saw Amy Grant and Michael Bolton on the list and nearly thanked Jesus that I was cool enough to be into punk rock back then. I avoided the radio like the plague, and (although I don't much remember it) apparently it was with good reason. Gack!
The 85 list was much better all around. It at least had some passable things on it (still a Prince fan too) and some things that even though I think are terrible now I'm still sentimental toward. (Power station was the first concert I ever saw! But only for John Taylor...)
And the 80 list just looks like so damn much fun. Gotta love Blondie (still love Gary Numan). No HIV. Beer at 18. Horrible slasher movies. High school back then was arguably a lot more fun than when I went.
Leni wrote:
Hey, I laugh at myself for liking Survivor. But Peter Gabriel? Been a fan forever and that isn't gonna change. And that song is his best, I think. Manu Katche's drumming on it is amazing.
Yow, I share Ed's graduation year and this list does bring back lots of bad 'musical' memories. Prince was always one of my faves though. I caught his most recent tour when he came through Detroit and the guy just oozes talent. Amazing how good he is on the guitar considering he took up it up relatively recently.
For just a moment, I got the feeling that the only reason you went to the trouble of doing this was to be able to point out the irony of the 'Katrina and the Waves' song. ... But only for a moment.
I graduated the year before and don't recognize most of the songs on the '84 list. Probably because I mostly - almost exclusively - listened to 50s and 60s radio at the time ... oh, and the Dr. Demento show (currently unavailable in my 'market' <sob>).
While I agree that 'I Can't Fight This Feeling' by REO Speedwagon is probably bad, I would still listen to it because at the time, it described a lot of the dynamic between me and my then-girlfriend (now-wife), so we liked it a lot.
Also, I wrote parody lyrics for it (a la "Weird Al"). It was about fishing, and titled: "I Can't Wind This Reel In".
Class of '92 here, and I agree with Leni: that period was a musical desert. Here's a sampling:
The Bottom of the Top:
3. Kris Kross "Jump"
4. Vanessa Williams "Save the Best For Last"
9. All 4 Love "Color Me Badd"
10. Jon Secada "Just Another Day"
and of course
15. Billy Ray Cyrus "Achy Breaky Heart"
The Cream of the Crop:
39. Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" (on a technicality)
32. Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
13. Right Said Fred "I'm Too Sexy" (admit it!)
6. Eric Clapton "Tears In Heaven"
2. Sir Mix-a-Lot "Baby Got Back" (I love classical music)
I'll note that *nothing* in the bottom half the the "Top" 100 is worth listening to. No, not even Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch.