Since I've been sharing countdowns from 1984 and listening to all those great songs again, I thought I would post a series of blogs with the greatest songs of 1984.
Notable events of 1984 include the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Steve Jobs launches the Mac in a world of primitive PCs, this commercial:
"Purple Rain"- all that incredible music and a dopey movie- Geraldine Ferraro, Tetris, "Footloose", "Sixteen Candles" (which also means the lovely Molly Ringwald, "Ghostbusters", Eddie Murphy, the first MTV Video Music Awards, "Do They Know It's Christmas" and Marvin Gaye is killed.
Best movies of 1984 include those mentioned above, "The Terminator", "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom", "Gremlins", "Beverly Hills Cop", "The Karate Kid", "1984" (of course), "Top Secret", "The Natural" (still a great movie), "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Splash".
52) Madonna "Lucky Star":
53) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band "Cover Me":
54) Quiet Riot "Cum On Feel The Noize":
55) Irene Cara" Breakdance":
56) Hall and Oates "Adult Education":
57) Tracey Ullman "They Don't Know":
58) Billy Joel "An Innocent Man":
59) Bananarama "Cruel Summer":
60) Wang Chung "Dance Hall Days":
61) The Pointer Sisters "I'm So Excited":
62) Michael Jackson "Thriller":
Oh yeah that's why I love Madonna!! 63) Madonna "Holiday":
64) John Lennon "Nobody Told Me":
65) The Culture Club "Church of the Poisoned Mind":
Songs about past glories missed, reimagined, longed for and nostalgia. Not all memories are good. Not all thoughts about the past are happy, in fact many of them are quite painful. Usually the further away we get the better off we are. We may recover but those memories will nearly always be there. The songs below talk a lot about those good and bad memories, there's a lot of both pain and nostalgia here. Songs like these are some of the best and most emotional songs there are.
18) Rascal Flatts "These Days":
19) The Kinks "Come Dancing":
20) Barbra Streisand "The Way We Were":
21) Corrine Bailey Rae "Put Your Records On":
22) Bette Midler "From A Distance":
23) Simply Red "Remembering The First Time":
24) Nelly Furtado ...."s on the Radio (Remember The Days)":
Both famous and not as famous female singers that deserve more love and attention than they have received. I hope you find somebody here that you have never heard of. Let's go
1) Ella Henderson "Brave":
2) Ella Henderson "Ghost":
3) Lucy Thomas "Hallelujah":
Just such an iconic song. 4) The Human League "Don't You Want Me":
5) Joan Osborne "Right Hand Man":
Johanna and Klara Soderberg 6) First Aid Kit "Ghost Town":
Marie Fredriksson 7) Roxette "It Must Have Been Love":
8) Gin Wigmore "Black Sheep":
Hope Sandoval 9) Mazzy Star "Fade Into You":
10) Lana Del Rey "Summertime Sadness":
Leigh Nash 11) Sixpence None The Richer "There She Goes":
12) Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson "I Know Him So Well":
13) Martika "Toy Soldiers":
14) Samantha Barks "On My Own":
15) Samantha Barks "Another Suitcase In Another Hall":
Songs about past glories missed, reimagined, longed for and nostalgia. Not all memories are good. Not all thoughts about the past are happy, in fact many of them are quite painful. Usually the further away we get the better off we are. We may recover but those memories will nearly always be there. The songs below talk a lot about those good and bad memories, there's a lot of both pain and nostalgia here. Songs like these are some of the best and most emotional songs there are.
1) George Harrison "When We Was Fab":
2) Don McLean "American Pie":
3) Eric Church "Springsteen":
4) Jake Owen "The One That Got Away":
5) Yellowcard "Ocean Avenue":
6) Billy Idol "Kings and Queens of the Underground":
7) "All Those Years Ago":
8) Frank Sinatra "My Way":
9) Bruce Springsteen "Glory Days":
10) Mark Wills "19 Something":
11) Bryan Adams "Summer of '69"
12) Crocodile Rock
13) "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues":
14) Billy Joel "Italian Restaurant":
15) "The Boys of Summer":
16) Darius Rucker "Don't Think I Don't Think About It":
Since I've been sharing countdowns from 1984 and listening to all those great songs again, I thought I would post a series of blogs with the greatest songs of 1984.
Yes there are six more songs than my last blog.
35) Chicago "Hard Habit To Break":
36) Scandal featuring Patty Smyth "The Warrior":
37) Peabo Bryson "If Ever You're In My Arms Again":
38) The Pointer Sisters "Automatic":
39) Shannon "Let The Music Play":
40) Billy Ocean "Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)":
The best song about women- featuring songs with women's names in the title. It seems a man is at is most creative when he's wildly in love or had his heart broke. These songs- mostly written by men- are about women and the good and bad things they do to our hearts and spirits.
Does Bread have a love song for every letter. I guess we'll find out. A for "Aubrey" and a B song here. 1) Bread "Baby I'm A Want You":
The best song about women- featuring songs with women's names in the title. It seems a man is at is most creative when he's wildly in love or had his heart broke. These songs- mostly written by men- are about women and the good and bad things they do to our hearts and spirits.
1) Nine Days "Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)":
2) Billy Joel "Downeaster Alexa":
3) Shinedown "Her Name is Alice":
4) Elvis Costello "Alison":
5) Boston "Amanda":
6) Waylon Jennings "Amanda":
7) The Oak Ridge Boys "American Made":
8) The Guess Who "American Woman":
9) Pure Prairie League "Amie":
10) They Might Be Giants "Ana Ng":
11) Aerosmith "Angel":
12) The Counting Crows "Anna Begins":
13) Incubus "Anna Molly":
14) Walk The Moon "Anna Sun":
15) James Blunt "Annie":
16) John Denver "Annie's Song":
17) Chantal Kreviazuk "Miss April":
18) LL Cool J "Around The Way Girl":
19) Christopher Cross "Arthur's Theme (The Best You Can Do)":
3) Gary Lewis and the Playboys "This Diamond Ring":
4) Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band "Diamonds and Gold":
5) Lady Gaga "Diamond Heart":
From "Moulin Rouge" 6) "Sparkling Diamonds":
If you don't know who that is, that's Roger Staubach. He was one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. He and Troy Aikman are the two greatest quarterbacks in Dallas Cowboys history. Unfortunately the Cryptkeeper, Jerry Jones, has turned the Cowboys into a joke and a shell of its' former self. 7) Old 97s "Diamonds on Neptune":
8) Pink Floyd "Shine On You Crazy Diamond":
9) Prince "Diamonds and Pearls":
Other great songs from Prince's 1991 CD "Diamonds and Pearls":
Anytime the 49ers win is good, anytime the Cowboys lose it's a good thing. Tonight's 49ers victory was a double shot of goods. But for the 49ers to win two more games they need to score more touchdowns!!
1) Bill Conti "Gonna Fly Now":
2) MC Hammer "U Can't Touch This": 3) Survivor "Eye Of The Tiger":
4) Santana "Winning":
5) Queen "Another One Bites The Dust":
6) Queen "We Will Rock You/ We Are The Champions":
7) LL Cool J "Mama Said Knock You Out":
We built this city....on winning football. 8) Starship "We Built This City":
9) Elton John "I'm Still Standing":
10) Bachman-Turner Overdrive "Taking Care of Business":
11) Sia "Unstoppable":
12) Tina Turner "The Best":
13) Kool and the Gang "Celebration":
14) Simple Minds "Alive and Kicking":
15) Guns N' Roses "Welcome To The Jungle":
16) AC/DC "Thunderstruck":
17) H.E.A.T. "Victory":
18) Michael Jackson "Smooth Criminal":
19) Prince "Baby I'm A Star":
20) Michael Jackson "Beat It":
21) Stevie Nicks "Stand Back":
The 49ers are stayin' alive to go play in the NFC Championship Game. 22) Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive";
Since I've been sharing countdowns from 1984 and listening to all those great songs again, I thought I would post a series of blogs with the greatest songs of 1984. To add a little more variety to this blog I'll be posting the original artist singing the song live.
Yes there are six more songs than my last blog.
18) Stevie Wonder "I Just Called To Say I Love You":
I could not find a good live version of this song performed by Rockwell. 19) Rockwell, with Michael Jackson on background vocals, "Somebody's Watching Me":
20) Matthew Wilder "Break My Stride":
21) Nena "99 Luftballons":
22) Dan Hartman "I Can Dream About You":
23) Sheila E "Glamorous Life":
Singing it with Journey, the band he fronted for so many years. 24) Steve Perry "Oh Sherrie":
25) Elton John "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues":
26) Cyndi Lauper "She Bop":
27) Madonna "Borderline":
The original version of "Borderline":
28) Billy Idol "Eyes Without A Face":
Acoustic. 29) The Eurythmics "Here Comes The Rain Again":
The electric version of "Here Comes The Rain Again":
Since I've been sharing countdowns from 1984 and listening to all those great songs again, I thought I would post a series of blogs with the greatest songs of 1984. To add a little more variety to this blog I'll be posting the original artist singing the song live.
This song takes me back to driving home from work from Safeways when I was 16. I still remember the green truck I drove and the hit and miss radio. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it sorta worked.1) Prince "When Doves Cry":
2) Tina Turner "What's Love Got To Do With It":
3) Kenny Loggins "Footloose":
4) Phil Collins "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)":
5) Yes "Owner of a Lonely Heart":
6) Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters":
7) Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)":
8) Deniece Williams "Let's Hear It For The Boy":
9) Bruce Springsteen "Dancing In The Dark":
10) Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want To Have Fun":
11) Duran Duran "The Reflex":
12) The Pointer Sisters "Jump For My Love":
I'm not sure why these videos are so poorly recorded. There's not really a great live video available of Van Halen during the mid 80s. 13) Van Halen "Jump":
One of the sexiest songs of the 80s. 14) Laura Branigan "Self Control":
Some songs are very much a song of their time and some songs are quite simply timeless. This and the rest of the songs from "Purple Rain" are timeless. Thanks to MTV for exposing a white teenager in Utah to the magic of Prince. 15) Prince "Let's Go Crazy":
I just don't think this mostly older, mostly white crowd even knows what The Time or Morris Day are. See how fresh this song sounded in 2017. If this song had been released in 2017 it would have been the best song released that year. Yet in 1984 it was one of many amazing songs. Long live Prince and some of the greatest music ever. Kudos to The Time, Bruno Mars and their amazing bands for their amazing Grammy performances. The Time/ Bruno Mars with "Jungle Love"/ "The Bird" and "Let's Go Crazy":
16) Hall & Oates "Say It Isn't So":
I quite simply love, love, love The Thompson Twins. 17) The Thompson Twins "Hold Me Now":
If you hadn't noticed I really enjoy making these blogs and listening to the classics of my youth. That and rediscovering songs I haven't heard in years.
What were the biggest songs 40 years ago this week. I like looking at lists like this, it reminds me of a lot of songs that I hadn't heard in years. This list comes from https://top40weekly.com/1984-all-charts/
1984 was such a great year for music. This chart includes Greatest Songs of All-Time 1) Madonna "Like A Virgin", 2) Don Henley "The Boys of Summer", 3) U2 "Pride (In The Name of Love)" 4) Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" and 5) George Michael's "Careless Whisper". There are a couple of great songs from the "Purple Rain" soundtrack, neither of which I consider GSOAT.
1) Madonna "Like A Virgin":
2) Duran Duran "Wild Boys":
3) Hall & Oates "Out of Touch":
4) The Honeydrippers "Sea of Love":
5) New Edition "Cool It Now":
6) Pat Benatar "We Belong":
7) Chaka Khan "I Feel For You":
8) Paul McCartney "No More Lonely Nights":
One of the lesser known, and best, ballads of the 80s. I'm not sure why this song had such a short lifespan. 9) Jack Wagner "All I Need":
10) Julian Lennon "Valotte":
11) Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go":
12) Bryan Adams "Run To You":
13) Cyndi Lauper "All Through The Night":
14) Bruce Springsteen "Born In The U.S.A.":
15) Chicago "You're The Inspiration":
16) Survivor "I Can't Hold Back":
I forgot about this classic jam. 17) Jermaine Jackson "Do What You Do":
18) Lionel Richie "Penny Lover":
19) Bob Seger "Understanding":
20) The Cars "Hello Again":
21) Foreigner "I Want To Know What Love Is":
22) Philip Bailey & Phil Collins "Easy Lover":
23) Sheena Easton "Strut":
24) Rebbie Jackson "Centipede":
25) Ray Parker Jr. "Jaime":
26) Huey Lewis and the News "Walking On A Thin Line":
27) Don Henley "Boys of Summer":
28) Dan Hartman "We Are The Young":
29) Tina Turner "Better Be Good To Me":
30) Toto "Stranger In Town":
31) Billy Ocean "Loverboy":
32) Prince & The Revolution "I Would Die 4 U":
33) Rick Springfield "Bruce":
34) Sheila E. "The Belle of St. Mark":
35) John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band "Tender Years":
36) Stevie Wonder "Love Light In Flight":
37) George Michael "Careless Whisper":
38) U2 "Pride (In The Name of Love)":
39) Steve Perry "Foolish Heart":
40) The Pointer Sisters "Neutron Dance":
This Week's Drops
Down 23 spaces. 44) Corey Hart "It Ain't Enough":
Down 28 spaces. 54) Prince & The Revolution "Purple Rain":
Down 23 spaces. 59) REO Speedwagon "I Do Wanna Know":
Down 23 spaces. 62) Billy Ocean "Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)":
Power Plays
41) Giuffria "Call To The Heart":
42) Hall & Oates "Method Of Modern Love":
43) Elton John "In Neon":
45) Ashford & Simpson "Solid":
46) Kool & The Gang "Misled":
47) Midnight Star "Operator":
48) Frankie Goes To Hollywood "Two Tribes":
49) The Time "Jungle Love":
50) Culture Club "Mistake No. 3":
New This Week:
37 — CARELESS WHISPER –•– Wham! Featuring George Michael (Columbia)-1 (37) 57 — MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-1 (57) 60 — SUGAR WALLS –•– Sheena Easton (EMI-America)-1 (60) 61 — THE OLD MAN DOWN THE ROAD –•– John Fogerty (Warner Brothers)-1 (61) 65 — DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS –•– Band Aid (Columbia)-1 (65) 79 — MR. TELEPHONE MAN –•– New Edition (MCA)-1 (79) 83 — THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL –•– Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton (RCA)-1 (83) 86 — SMALLTOWN BOY –•– Bronski Beat (MCA)-1 (86) 87 — DO IT AGAIN –•– The Kinks (Arista)-1 (87) 89 — TURN UP THE RADIO –•– Autograph (RCA)-1 (89) 90 — FOOLS LIKE ME –•– Lorenzo Lamas (Scotti Brothers)-1 (90)
What were the biggest songs 40 years ago this week. I like looking at lists like this, it reminds me of a lot of songs that I hadn't heard in years. This list comes from https: https://top40weekly.com/1984-all-charts/
About 5 or 6 songs on this list are on my greatest songs of all-time. Music was so crazy good in the 80s, the mid 80s seemed to be extremely fertile. On this blog there are three of the greatest songs of all-time 1) Prince "When Doves Cry" 2) Steve Perry "Oh Sherrie" 3) Night Ranger "Sister Christian".
1) Prince "When Doves Cry":
2) Bruce Springsteen "Dancing In The Dark":
3) The Pointer Sisters "Jump (For My Love)":
4) Billy Idol "Eyes Without A Face":
5) Duran Duran "The Reflex":
6) Laura Branigan "Self Control":
7) Mike Reno & Ann Wilson "Almost Paradise":
8) Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters":
9) Huey Lewis & The News "The Heart of Rock 'N' Roll":
10) ZZ Top "Legs":
11) Rod Stewart "Infatuation":
12) The Cars "Magic":
13) The Thompson Twins "Doctor! Doctor!":
14) Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time":
15) The Jacksons with Mick Jagger "State of Shock":
16) Elton John "Sad Songs (Say So Much)":
17) Ollie & Jerry "Breakin'...... There's No Stopping Us":
18) Wang Chung "Dance Hall Days":
19) Madonna "Borderline":
20) Dan Hartman "I Can Dream About You":
21) Lionel Richie "Stuck On You":
One of the most joyous songs ever made. 22) Deniece Williams "Let's Hear It For The Boy":
23) Tina Turner "What's Love Got To Do With It":
24) Jefferson Starship "No Way Out":
25) Peabo Bryson "If Ever You're In My Arms Again":
26) Rick Springfield "Don't Walk Away":
27) Van Halen "Panama":
28) Kenny Loggins "I'm Free (Heaven Helps The Man)":
29) Corey Hart "Sunglasses At Night":
30) Eddy Grant "Romancing The Stone":
31) Steve Perry "She's Mine":
32) Chicago "Stay The Night":
33) Ratt "Round and Round": 34) Van Stephenson "Modern Day Delilah":
35) Sergio Mendes "Alibis":
36) Tony Carey "The First Day of Summer":
37) Glenn Frey "Sexy Girl":
I can see why I had never heard of this song before tonight. 38) Robin Gibb "Boys Do Fall In Love":
39) Billy Squier "Rock Me Tonite":
40) The Go-Go's "Turn To You":
This Week's Drops:
Down 23 places. 41) Steve Perry "Oh Sherrie":
Down 13 places. 43) Night Ranger "Sister Christian":
Down 12 places. 47) Culture Club "It's A Miracle":
Down 17 places. 55) Michael Jackson "Farewell My Summer Love":
Down 19 places. 58) The Alan Parsons Project "Prime Time":
What were the biggest songs 40 years ago this week. I like looking at lists like this, it reminds me of a lot of songs that I hadn't heard in years. This list comes from https://top40weekly.com/1984-all-charts/
about 5 or 6 songs on this list are on my greatest songs of all-time. Music was so crazy good in the 80s, the mid 80s seemed to be extremely fertile.
1) Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson "Say Say Say":
2) Hall & Oates "Say It Isn't So":
3) Duran Duran "Union of the Snake":
4) Yes "Owner of A Lonely Heart":
5) Olivia Newton-John "Twist of Fate":
6) The Romantics "Talking In Your Sleep":
7) Matthew Wilder "Break My Stride":
10) Elton John "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues":
11) Billy Joel "Uptown Girl":
12) Pat Benatar "Love Is A Battlefield":
13) Culture Club "Karma Chameleon":
14) Peter Schilling "Major Tom (Coming Home)":
15) Lionel Richie "Running With The Night":
16) Culture Club "Church of the Poison Mind":
17) Kool and The Gang "Joanna":
18) Barry Manilow "Read 'Em and Weep":
19) The Police "Synchronicity 2":
20) Quiet Riot "Cum On Feel The Noize":
21) The Curly Shuffle "Jump 'n The Saddle":
22) Genesis "That's All":
23) .38 Special "If I'd Been The One":
24) Ray Parker Jr. "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You":
25) DeBarge "Time Will Reveal":
26) John Cougar Mellencamp "Pink Houses":
I just realized that Madonna and hair metal started to break out at the same time. 27) Madonna "Holiday":
28) Irene Cara "Why Me?":
29) Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton "Islands In The Stream":
30) Christopher Cross "Think of Laura":
31) Jeffrey Osborne "Stay With Me Tonight":
32) Spandau Ballet "Gold":
33) The Fixx "The Sign of Fire":
Sadly this song reviews itself with its title. I expect a bit better from Paul McCartney. 34) Paul McCartney "So Bad":
The band's original singer, Stuart Adamson, died much too young in 2001. 35) Big Country "In A Big Country":
36) Deborah Allen "Baby I Lied":
37) The Pretenders "Middle of The Road":
38) Shannon "Let The Music Play":
39) Billy Joel "An Innocent Man":
The man who was the singer for so many classic Led Zeppelin tracks. 40) Robert Plant "In The Mood":
This Week's Drops:
Down 7 places. 44) Naked Eyes "When The Lights Go Out":
Down 19 places. 49) Rufus and Chaka Khan "Ain't Nobody":
Down 27 places 51) John Cougar Mellencamp "Crumblin' Down":
Down 17 places. 53) Huey Lewis & The News "Heart and Soul":
