I love music, I want to talk about music, and so with the powers invested in me, I am going to talk about music. With a caveat, of course. Normally, I would go on and on about Nickelback music and the decline of the music industry, but that's not what this blog is about, so for the first time in, ever, I won't take a shot at Nickelback music.
No, today's blog is intended to get you thinking, one way or another. Everyone is subjective in their tastes, but what I want to give you, in my esteemed opinion, is the defining song of the decade known as the 80's. In other words, what songs defined the 80's as I see it; and believe me I know a lot about the 80's, which I think qualifies me as an 80's guru and scholar. So, with apologies to Lily Allen (whose CD I absolutely love right now) and Modest Mouse (who just plain rules), there won't be any discussion on them today.
Before we begin, let's get some things out of the way. First of all, this is my list and I am sure you won't agree with me, or think your songs are better, which is fine, just remember…it's not. I rule. Second of all, if you think you have a better song, or songs, feel free to leave a comment, but I might counter-point it. And thirdly, music released in the 80's doesn't necessarily make it an 80's music. It's the same thing as saying Lethal Weapon 2 is an 80's movie just because it came out in 1989; therefore, you won't see New Kids on the Block, Milli Vanilli, or Steve Winwood.
So, with that said, what defines an 80's song? Well, I came up with some criteria, and they include this:
a) Just about everyone knows the song, making it an excellent karaoke choice.
b) Song is different stylistically than others today.
c) The song is cheesy, yet you still never question your sexual orientation.
d) Song can hold multiple meanings, and, most importantly:
e) Song causes you to remember an event, or conjures up a certain memory.
With those guidelines, here is a list of songs that just missed out, on the "Top 10 Defining Songs of the 1980's".
Honorable Mention.
Everybody Want to Rule the World, Tears for Fears. With or Without You, U2. Money for Nothing, Dire Straits. Get Out of My Dreams,
Yes, I purposely left off 80's hair metal, all monster ballads, and glam rock because, frankly, that deserves a whole column, maybe next week. Also, there is no hip-hop/rap songs because, critically speaking, it wasn't accepted as a true form of music yet. Without further ado, I present to you a list of the Top 10 Defining Songs of the 80's.
(Click on song title to view music video, courtesy of youtube. Just watch and enjoy the video, they alone are worth reading the blog. )
10) Pride (In the Name of Love), U2
Some of you may have a problem with me putting this song on here, considering it's not even their best song ever, but look at it in regards to what it did. Off the Unforgettable Fire album, it ushered in everything about U2: grandeur, over the top bravado, and an unforgettable chorus, not to mention one of the best guitar intros of all-time, courtesy of the Edge. Released in 1984, this song encapsulates everything that is great about U2 and shows why, over 20 years later, they are still as relevant now as they were then…plus it's also my ringtone on my cell phone, which was done in the naaaaaame of love!
9) Dead Man's Party, Oingo Boingo.
Oingo Boingo's CD, Dead Man's Party featured two hits which were featured in movies, the title track, in Back to School and Weird Science, in song title. Even though Weird Science came out in 1985, Back to School, released in 1986, featured the band playing their song during the movie, possibly helping the movie out-gross Weird Science over $60 million dollars. One of the new wave stalwarts, Oingo Boingo had a distinct sound, featuring, synthesizers, percussion, sampling, and keyboards; it's possible they lead to ska music. They also were known to throw some hellacious Halloween concerts, probably because it's a dead man's party, who could ask for more?
This song passes just about every criterion I have to be a kick-ass 80's song. One of the ultimate bar songs ever. The song itself is about trying to hook up while your significant other is away, but the chorus is known by everyone, as soon as the first words are sung, the crowd knows exactly what song you are singing, and it doesn't matter if you can, or can't sing, everyone sings this song. Try it at a karaoke bar one time and see how many people sing with you, or ask a cover band to play it and see the response. Not exactly a new wave song per se, but it definitely is an 80's song, it's cheesy and there is no way a song like this could be released today, because who sings about arguing I don't wanna lose your love tonight, I just wanna use your love tonight.
From my favorite 80's movie of all-time, The Karate Kid, this song basically paved the way for future crap all-girl groups like Wilson Phillips, the Spice Girls, and Ace of Base (who coincidentally covered the song) but don't hold that against this song. Just like the other songs, everyone you know sings this song, man or woman. It is utterly horribly-awesome, and that's what the 80's was about, bad songs that were impossibly good, which in turn made them good. The video alone is complete shit, yet, masterfully done. When you hear this song, the first thing you think of is Daniel-san, how can you go wrong with something like that? You can't! Because, it's a cruel, (cruel), cruel summer, leaving me here on my own…
6) Billie Jean, Michael Jackson
Honestly what can you say bad about this song, it has the best dance moves in all of music history and sent The Gloved One to another level. He had musical success since his days with the
5) Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order
Ok, I'll admit it: the first few times I heard this song, I thought it was crap, it wasn't just because I thought it was a dance song, but because I just thought it flat out sucked. Well, I was wrong, as I have gotten older and appreciated the 80's genre of music; this is one of the most classic 80's songs ever. Not just with the synthesizers and the dance beat, but with the lyrics, the lyrics themselves sound as if they are being spoken to over a dance beat and that's what makes this song unique. Sure, other bands, like The Killers, have tried to emulate this format, but this was the pioneer. Only during a time like the 80's could a song like this survive, even though it wasn't one of New Order's greatest hits, many feel this is one of the best 80's songs ever; I agree. Another bonus, you probably don't know the name of the song off the top of your head, but I guarantee you have heard it and know the chorus, because quite honestly, every time I see you falling, I get down on my knees and pray.
Probably most remembered from the end of Napoleon Dynamite, this song is probably the epitome of "One-Hit Wonders". The singer looked like someone misplaced from a bad 80's porn, the beat is unashamedly catchy, and the chorus is almost indecipherable, yet all of these characteristics is what made the song so great. Just like some of the other songs listed, at the time this music was fresh; it was different. If released today, this song would be so bad, Clay Aiken would outsell it. The song itself is a love song, but it's not in the context of a ballad, it's almost a dance song, I almost expect to hear this song on XM Radio's BPM as a dance song. No band can create a song like this, with the looks, the lyrics, and the beat of this song, and create a career, When in
3) Don't You Want Me, Human League
The best duet song to sing karaoke. Ever. Trust me, I've done this singing the females part and still brought the house down. The sound of the song is unique; as the synthesizers featured predominately, but what made it unique was it took two people fighting and turned it into one of the best 80's songs of the decade. This is another song all people know and different because both genders have specific parts to sing, plus if you do it at a karaoke bar, the whole bar sings their respective parts with you. It represent's 80's at their best, and for good reason, this is one of the best songs, ever. Human League was ahead of their time, you know the lead singer was boinking the two females in the group, hell, he was probably singing, to each of them, don't you want me baby, while they had a group ménage a trios…that rules. And so does this song.
Not just because the video, not just because the song, not just because it's been covered by everyone from Reel Big Fish to Me First and the Gimme Gimme's, but because this song was the 80's. The video was so horribly done it was awesome, the song really has meaning, and the words, grammatically speaking are out of whack. When you sing it, people think it's a woman singing, because no man with a pair of testicles can possibly sing that high, yet, when you sing it, you inevitably always screw up the words because no one can make them out, until you get to the chorus…again, just a conglomeration of musical madness to the extreme, yet, no one ever has anything bad to say about this song, probably because we were afraid of the threats from of hearing someone sing, I'll be gone in a day or twooooooooo. (Damn that was a long sentence)
1) Don't You (Forget About Me), Simple Minds
This was a no brainer. Every time you think of this song, you think of The Breakfast Club. It is the greatest song of the greatest movie of the 80's; there really was no other choice as to why it is the most defining song of the 80's. The title implores the listener not to forget about a person, time, place, or event, much like the movie symbolized. It has more meaning just a kick-ass song that everyone knows, the song is synonymous with the movie, it was Simple Minds' only major hit and left a snapshot of everything that represented the 80's: the movies, the music, the people, the styles, and, more importantly, how one song can define an entire decade, all within 6 minutes. No one will ever forget about this song, because as long as the movie still sticks around it signaled the rise of the Brat Pack, and with the rise of the Brat Pack, the world was introduced to John Hughes,
There are other songs I left off, namely most of Prince's work throughout the 80's, but more importantly the rise of Madonna. I know how much she means in the realm of music, especially the 80's, but other than Material Girl, and, maybe, Like a Virgin, her other music was just great, nothing stood out, unless you mention her performances on MTV or Arsenio, besides, she will probably get her own blog one day, so wait for that one, if you want. Now, if you excuse me, I gotta go watch Vh1 Classics, its Pop-Up Video, featuring Rick Astley, until next week…
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