Damn, we elected Reagan again? It's now the mid-80s, and the worldwide doldrums of recession and neo-conservatism have made everyone gloomy except for musicians, so it seems. But there's still room for some doom and gloom on this chart! It's Mixmaster 'Beam, comin' backatcha with a ten-spot of hits!
Kicking us off this year is an anthem of epic proportions, even if the signer's stature is just the opposite. Last year proved that he was a multi-media mogul, and his reign continues into 1985.
Our first new entry of the week is a tantalizing ode to sippin' the Southern River, if you catch my drift. So lap it up, wrap it up, and live it up, ya dig?
9. (NEW) The Jesus and Mary Chain- Just Like Honey
Had enough? Thought not! After that steamy number, Mixmaster 'Beam needs a cold shower and a bit of a come-down. So here's an enduring classic to warn all of you prospective lovebirds out there.
8. (4) (6 years) Joy Division- Love Will Tear Us Apart
The lovelorn theme continues, as our next new entry ponders what it would be like for lovers to swap roles. You hear that John Gray? The hounds are bustin' clouds with this one.
7. (NEW) Kate Bush- Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)
Our next chart entry comes from an artist who seems like he really would like to swap places. It's none other than the Burnt Jheri-Curl-Coiffed Gloved One, still irked by that damn floozie. Here's to hoping he gets out of the round.
Speaking of the groove, our next new entry is a delectable slice of 'Beam-approved dance pop, 'cuz music can be such a revelation.
For inspiration!
4. (NEW) Madonna- Into the Groove
Now, it just wouldn't be right to talk about 1985 without mentioning Live Aid! This huge event has brought together most of the decade's big stars to provide relief for famine.
Hear ye, hear ye! Rumor has it that our last chart artist is having a hot affair with our next artist! I sense a duet in about 4 years...
It's none other than our resident impish dwarf genius, 'lil Princey, with a song that showcases his innate skill in producing memorable pop songs in innovative new ways. Who knew you could have funk without bass? Keep pavin' the way, little guy, and we'll happily follow. Just make sure you develop a nice uppercut so that you don't get your ass pwned by your father again, k?
Now that our technical glitches are behind us, we can get to this year's first runner-up! It's a chlling, synth/goth dancefloor stomper that has been killin' it in the 12" sales department. Evidently love really did tear Barney Sumner apart, about 586 times. Let's not leave him there standing and waiting.
I hate to love you and leave you, but there's only room for one more song on this lovely chart of ours. And what a song it is. Who knew that a bunch of mopey malcontents could write such a shimmering pop song? Those who know that they're not mopey malcontents- that's who! So, Fools Dance and we'll play along.
The fitting ending for one of the greatest albums of the 80's doesn't quite have the staying power of the other songs here, but the more Prince the better I always say. (If only The Most Beautiful Girl In The World had been acclaimed in 1995! But I diverge.)
Does the rain stop when the song ends? Probably not. But better to have loved and been wet than to never have wetted your bed to that awesome bit near the end.
Nevermind. Here is Purple Rain in all its glory, again, because repetition is the heart of wit.
There is about a half-dozen of love songs you know for sure to be heartfelt and true and wonderful. Towering above them, of course, is "Wowie Zowie" by The Mothers Of Invention, that unreachable height of romance in music. But the song below comes close enough to that personified ideal too.
7. (NEWz) The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1986)
There are two ways to approach this song. One is to approach it as a dark pop song, sung by a guy who killed himself. The other is to understand it more as an anthem of jangle-pop the likes of a subdued "There She Goes". When it was the former for me, I used to like it more. But now I feel better about it, understanding it not so much as a sigh, but as a final embrace.
2. ( (7 years) Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
1. (NEWz) Cameo - Word Up (1986)
2. (8 (7 years) Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
3. (3) (3 years) Prince - When Doves Cry (1984)
4. (6) (5 years) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (1982)
5. (2) (4 years) New Order - Blue Monday (1983)
6. (1) (2 years) The Cure - In Between Days (1985)
7. (NEWz) The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1986)
8. (5) (6 years) The Human League - Don't You Want Me (1981)
9. (7) (2 years) Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) (1985)
10. (10) (3 years) Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
1. (NEWz) Prince - Kiss (1986)
2. (8 (7 years) Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
3. (3) (3 years) Prince - When Doves Cry (1984)
4. (6) (5 years) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (1982)
5. (2) (4 years) New Order - Blue Monday (1983)
6. (1) (2 years) The Cure - In Between Days (1985)
7. (NEWz) The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1986)
8. (5) (6 years) The Human League - Don't You Want Me (1981)
9. (7) (2 years) Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) (1985)
10. (10) (3 years) Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
Damaged during transportation:
Run-D.M.C. - Walk This Way (impossible to endure)
Beastie Boys - Fight For Your Right (To Party) (this one too)
Cameo - Word Up (too sexy for me)
Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer (poor man's "More Than A Feeling")
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (has just an okay chorus!)
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach (some songs of hers I'll never like)
Public Image Ltd. - Rise (great song, if Lydon hadn't sung it)
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer (hilarious Peter goes pop)
Misplaced in the first place:
Madonna - Into The Groove (too 80's in a bad way for me)
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Just Like Honey (too euphemistical)
Here's a hit that has become one of the highlights of this performer. Many might have thought that his best work may have already been done, but he's shocked everyone with a sprawling and amazing double album this year. But, this early hit is no slouch either. The only question is: Will this song ever get out of the back half of this list?
10. (10) (4 years) Prince - Purple Rain (1984)
Scroll up to see the other videos of this great song.
Here's a group that's made the best out of a tragic situation. Their lead singer may have died a few years ago, but they're still producing and may be better than ever now. It doesn't hurt that this tune just makes you want to dance.
After that dance groove, it's time for a change of pace. Here's a song from what I consider to be the best album of the year. We've seen potential from this group before, but that seems like so little when compared to this new album and the change that came from it. Maybe they'll stay with this style of music, but maybe they'll change styles again after this year.
8. (NEW) U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
There doesn't seem to be a real challenger to "God Only Knows" in this competition. That is, until this song came into play. How much longer can it stay in the game?
7. (2) (8 years) Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
And here's New Order with a cover (that only proves that Ian Curtis's singing really made this song a classic, not to say that New Order is bad).
Now to take out a slice of jangle pop into this game. While they've been in the game already from "Radio Free Europe", it seems like they might become even bigger. So here are the legends of American college rock with their apocalyptic song. Maybe they were signing about Reagan?
6. (NEW) R.E.M. - It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
The Cure may like to write depressing songs all the time, but this song proves that when they decide to write pop, they can be beautiful too. Here's a returnee.
5. (6) (3 years) The Cure - In Between Days (1985)
But I don't think we've gotten enough of them yet. "In Between Days" was just the beginning of a new era for The Cure. This other song may prove to be their enduring classic. Here's Robert Smith again, singing about love come true.
While The Cure may be becoming pop geniuses, this band is still one of pure cheese. This song may have cringe-worthy lyrics, but the heartfelt emotion is bare for everyone to see. And of course, who can forget the beginning guitar riff. Slash may consider the song a joke, but this joke is simply his greatest achievement. It almost makes me forget about my dislike of hair metal. Almost.
While perhaps not the most talented band, with "The Joshua Tree", they've become the biggest and possibly best band in the world at this moment. Some might complain about Bono's whiny vocals, but on this song, those vocals are perfect. Here's the highlight of "The Joshua Tree".
But while U2 may have created the best love song of 1987, it still doesn't top the best of the year before. This Smiths song transcends labels and words. Simply breathtakingly beautiful and emotional, this is their masterpiece. Morrissey and Marr are at their best with this epic, one that seems to end much too soon.
1. (7) (2 years) The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1986)
And here's a video of Morrissey doing a live version. It just doesn't have the power without Johnny Marr.
1. (7) (2 years) The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
2. (NEW) U2 - With or Without You
3. (NEW) Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
4. (NEW) The Cure - Just Like Heaven
5. (6) (3 years) The Cure - In Between Days
6. (NEW) R.E.M. - It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
7. (2) (8 years) Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
8. (NEW) U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
9. (5) (5 years) New Order - Blue Monday
10. (10) (4 years) Prince - Purple Rain
Out of steam (sorry, Moonbeam):
Prince - Kiss
Prince - When Doves Cry
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
The Human League - Don't You Want Me
Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
Couldn't make the first cut:
Prince - Sign 'O' the Times
Public Enemy - Bring the Noise
M/A/R/R/S - Pump Up the Volume
Public Enemy - Rebel Without a Pause
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
While there were song weak songs, this was a strong batch of songs. Sorry to Moonbeam and rap lovers, I'm not as keen on that type of 80s pop. "Don't You Want Me" was the closest to making the list.
Great lists as usual everyone. Yeah, Penguin no worries. That looks about what my list would have been like (as you'll see when 1988 gets under way in a little bit).
1988 was another great year for music. This was probably hip hop's biggest year and though college rock had already started its slow fade into grunge and indie it crossed over into the mainstream big this year. The Beach Boys, Beatles and Dylan were inducted into the RnR Hall of Fame this year. Also Landmark albums by Public Enemy, Sonic Youth, Paula Abdul.... So let's get started:
One of the afore metioned college rock artists mentioned earlier, Dinosaur Jr. became one of the stars of the alternative nation with a rousing cocktail of punk, pop, classic rock, distortion, feedback and J. Mascis' melodic guitar solos. These guitar solos conveyed more emotion than most artist could with their words and made Mascis alternative rock's preeminent guitar hero as heard below in this story of a platonic relationship.
This next song is a voyeuristic song about, well, A BIG BIG love. Kim Deals lone bass intro and Black Francis' restrained howl gives way to Deal's haunting voice and the now familiar soft/loud song structure to form pop Nirvana. Indies resident slacker love goddess.
Gaining as much notoriety for their anti-commercial attitude as their music this post hardcore band's anti-apathy anthem showed they had the musical chops too.
And the no. 1 goes to noise rockers extraordinaire, Sonic Youth. This is one song I do agree with all the accolades it receives. Spot the alternative heros in the video
Thus concludes another year in the best of alternative rock.
1. (New) Teenage Riot - Sonic Youth 1988 2. (New) Fugazi - Waiting Room 1988 3. (6)(2 years) REM - It's The End Of the World As We Know It And I Feel Fine 1987 4. (New) Pixies - Gigantic 1988 5. (5)(4 years) The Cure - In Between Days 1985 6. (New) Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene 1988 7. (4)(2 years) The Cure - Just Like Heaven 1987 8. (1)(3 years)The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out 1986 9. (7)(9 years)Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart 1980 10. (3)(2 years) Guns and Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine 1987
the rest:
11. Prince - Purple Rain
12. Public Enemy - Don't Believe The Hype
13. U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
14. New Order - Blue Monday
15. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
16. U2 - With Or Without You
17. NWA - Straight Outta Compton
18. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
19. Nenah Cherry - Buffalo Stance
20. NWA - F*** the Police
Otisredding: It's quite simple! You go to youtub.com and search for the video you want to show and on the right side of the screen (under info) there's a bar "Embed:" with some text under it. If you copy this text into a post here on the forums, it'll automatically embed this video into your post. I'm looking forward to your top 10.
no reason to be that modest, Otis. neither linguistically nor technically. the most common and-not-so-secret recipe still echoes: basically. we all suck.
Otis, me encantaría ayudar. Yo haré 1990 mañana domingo y tú el domingo o lunes puedes enviarme por correo tu lista comentada para 1991 y yo la traduciré encantado en cuanto pueda. Si prefieres 1999 no hay problema tampoco. En cuanto a You Tube en el recuadro gris de la derecha pone “insertar”. Copia y pega ese código en el foro y yatá.
Otis, I will be glad to help. I can do 1990 tomorrow Sunday and if you send me on Sunday or Monday your list by mail including your comments for 1991 I’ll translate it gladly as soon as I can. If you prefer 1999 no problem too.