(Finished June 29th, 2023) Part 2 of The Best Rock, Pop, Soul and New Wave Songs of 1981

Hello,

On August 1st, 1981 MTV played The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" and the music industry was forever changed. Some would argue for the worst, but I think it was for the best. I spent many a hour watching MTV back in the day. I know it's hard to believe now but hey really did play videos 24 hours a day. With YouTube and so many other options one can watch most videos any time they want. But back in 1981 watching a video was pretty damn cool. 

These are the best rock, pop, soul and new wave songs of 1981. I love listening to these old songs once again.

18) Rush "Red Barchetta":

19) The Human League "Don't You Want Me":

20) The Go-Go's "We Got The Beat":

21) Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes":

22) ELO "Hold On Tight":

23) The Rolling Stones "Start Me Up":

24) Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight":

25) Journey "Don't Stop Believin'":

26) Duran Duran "Girls On Film":

27) Quincy Jones featuring Dune and Patti Austin "Ai No Corrida":

28) Pat Benatar "Fire and Ice":

29) James Taylor and J.D. Souther "Her Town Too":

30) Styx "Snowblind":

31) Foreigner "Urgent":

32) Gary U.S. Bonds "This Little Girl":

33) Sheena Easton "For Your Eyes Only":

]34) Al Jarreau "We're In This Love Together":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 27th, 2023) Part 1 of The Best Rock, Pop, Soul and New Wave Songs of 1981

Hello,

On August 1st, 1981 MTV played The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" and the music industry was forever changed. Some would argue for the worst, but I think it was for the best. I spent many a hour watching MTV back in the day. I know it's hard to believe now but hey really did play videos 24 hours a day. With YouTube and so many other options one can watch most videos any time they want. But back in 1981 watching a video was pretty damn cool. 

These are the best rock, pop, soul and new wave songs of 1981. 

It was good to see Geddy Lee in one of my favorite shows "Murdoch Mysteries". It was a very good and whimsical performance. 1) Rush "Tom Sawyer":

I heard good things about this song, however I'm not a fan. 2) Elvis Costello "From A Whisper To A Scream":

3) The Human League "Love Action (I Believe In Love)":

4) Stevie Nicks "Edge of Seventeen":

5) Dolly Parton "9 to 5":

6) REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You":

7) Smokey Robinson "Being With You":

8) Juice Newton "Queen of Hearts":

9) Blondie "Rapture":

10) Ray Parker Jr. "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You)":

11) Champaign "How 'Bout Us":

12) Eric Clapton "I Can't Stand It":

13) Steve Winwood "While You See A Chance":

14) Ozzy Osbourne "Flying High Again":

15) Dan Fogelberg "Same Old Lang Syne":

16) Stanley Clarke and George Duke "Sweet Baby":

One of the 80s best ballads. 17) Christopher Cross "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 25th, 2023) Part 6 of Apple's Top 200 Most Streamed 80s Songs 100-81

Hello,

Holy hell I'm in an 80s mood. After seeing David Bowie and Depeche Mode tribute bands and the actual Love and Rockets I've heard a lot of great 80s music live this year. Later this year I'll be seeing the Lost 80s tour which feature bands such as Wang Chung, General Public, Naked Eyes and others. And tonight I'll be seeing Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Bastille. With all that going on I'll be doing an 80s blog, but I desperately wanted to do something different than I've done before.  Thus I Googled for the best selling 80s songs of all-time. 

I normally would go to Billboard for this kind of thing, however I didn't want to pay for access for that. I continued Googling and came across a list of the most streamed songs on Apple Music. For some reason there are only 199 songs on their Top 200, that gives me the option to provide my own song at #200. There are some very unusual songs on this list, including songs I've never heard of. But that's why I wanted a list like that to force me to include songs that I don't usually share. 

I'm considering coming up with a second set of blogs about songs that I can't believe aren't on this list.

100) Billy Joel "We Didn't Start The Fire":

99) The Proclaimers "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)":

98) Men At Work "Down Under":

97) UB40 "Kingston Town":

96) Depeche Mode "Just Can't Get Enough":

95) Michael Jackson "Bad":

This isn't a sentiment I share. I agree 100% that people have the right to say what they feel, no matter how heinous it is. But this is my blog and I choose not to share the video for this song. There are several other places you can hear this song if you want, you just won't hear it on this blog. 94) N.W.A. "F... The Police":

93) The Stone Roses "Fools Gold":

After two less than amazing songs, here's one of the 80s greatest songs ever. 92) Tina Turner "What's Love Got To Do With It":

91) Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart":

90) Black Box "Ride On Time":

89) AC/DC "Shoot To Thrill":

88) Bon Jovi "You Give Love A Bad Name":

87) Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana":

86) Marvin Gaye "Sexual Healing":

Alright who was the big Stone Roses fan who gamed the rankings on this list? 85) The Stone Roses "She Bangs The Drums":

84) Phil Collins "You Can't Hurry Love":

83) Abba "The Winner Takes It All":

82) Madonna "Material Girl":

I don't know if this is the sweetest, most maudlin or both song ever. I get it Moz, as us those to that are his buddies, call him is a fan of self loathing/ mocking himself. But although the lyrics are awkward I'm going to lean on the side of sweet for this song. One of the top three best songs of The Smiths. 81) The Smiths "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 24th, 2023) Part 1 of The Best of the Best- The Most Deserving Diamond Certified CDs

Hello,

These are the best of the best diamond certified CDs. I will only be focusing on original CDs and not any greatest hits collections. I'll only make an exception for Bob Marley's "Legend". I know that's a greatest hits collection, but it seems it was meant to raise awareness of the great music of Bob Marley and The Wailers. Not all Diamond CDs are equal. I'll post the six best songs from each CD.

It seems sensible to start with the greatest CD of all-time. 1) Led Zeppelin "4":

1) "Black Dog":

2) "Rock and Roll":

3) "Stairway To Heaven":

4) "Misty Mountain Hop":

5) "Going To California":

6a) Playing For Change featuring John Paul Jones "When The Levee Breaks":

6b) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss "When The Levee Breaks":

2) Michael Jackson "Thriller":

1) "Wanna Be Starting Something":

2) "Thriller":

3) "Beat It":

4) "Billie Jean":

5) "Human Nature":

6) "P,Y,T, (Pretty Young Thing)":

3) "Back In Black":

1) "Hells Bells":

2) "Shoot To Thrill";

3) "Back In Black":

4) "You Shook Me All Night Long":

5) "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution":

6) "Have A Drink On Me":

themusicaddict

(Updated June 21st, 2023) Part 5 of Apple's Top 200 Most Streamed 80s Songs 120-101

Hello,

Holy hell I'm in an 80s mood. After seeing David Bowie and Depeche Mode tribute bands and the actual Love and Rockets I've heard a lot of great 80s music live this year. Later this year I'll be seeing the Lost 80s tour which feature bands such as Wang Chung, General Public, Naked Eyes and others. And tonight I'll be seeing Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Bastille. With all that going on I'll be doing an 80s blog, but I desperately wanted to do something different than I've done before.  Thus I Googled for the best selling 80s songs of all-time. 

I normally would go to Billboard for this kind of thing, however I didn't want to pay for access for that. I continued Googling and came across a list of the most streamed songs on Apple Music. For some reason there are only 199 songs on their Top 200, that gives me the option to provide my own song at #200. There are some very unusual songs on this list, including songs I've never heard of. But that's why I wanted a list like that to force me to include songs that I don't usually share. 

I'm considering coming up with a second set of blogs about songs that I can't believe aren't on this list.

120) Marc Cohn "Walking In Memphis":

119) Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters":

118) The Buggles "Video Killed The Radio Star":

117) Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet":

116) Dead or Alive "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)":

115) Queen "Who Wants To Live Forever":

I prefer this version over the Queen version. Of course it helps that Sarah Brightman has that great voice. Bonus song of Sarah Brightman's "Who Wants To Live Forever":

114) Eric Carmen "Hungry Eyes": 

113) Don Henley "Boys of Summer":

112) The Rolling Stones "Start Me Up":

There must be some very big Stone Roses fans that listen to Apple music a lot and listen to The Stone Roses a lot. 111) The Stone Roses "I' Am The Resurrection":

110) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Free Fallin'":

109) RUN-D.M.C. featuring Aerosmith "Walk This Way":

108) Earth, Wind and Fire "Let's Groove":

107) The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go":

106) Starship "Nothing's Going To Stop Us Now":

105) Madness "Our House":

104) Bill Medley "I've Had The Time of My Life":

103) Tiffany "I Think We're Alone Now":

102) Diana Ross "I'm Coming Out":

101) Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 19th, 2023) Part 1 of The Best Sexy Country Songs

Hello,

Here are some of the sexiest country songs.

1) Gene Watson "Love In The Hot Afternoon":

2) Nikki Lane "Sleeping With A Stranger":

3) Rascal Flatts "Melt":

4) James Otto "I Just Started Lovin' You":

5) Chase Rice featuring Macy Maloy "Ride":

6) Ronnie Milsap "Daydream About Night Things":

7) Alabama "There's A Fire In The Night":

8) Sammi Smith "Help Me Make It Through The Night":

9) The Kendalls "Heaven's Just A Sin Away":

10) Dierks Bentley "Come A Little Closer":

11) Jake Owen "Alone With You":

12) Josh Turner "Your Man";

13) Toby Keith "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This":

14) T.G. Shephard "War Is Hell (On The Homefront Too)":

15) Gloriana "Change Your Mind":

16) Carrie Underwood "Backsliding":

17) K.T. Oslin "Hey Bobby":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 19th, 2023) Part 1 of The Greatest Country Songs of 1984 And Counting

Hello,

Since I've been sharing countdowns from 1984 and listening to all those great songs again, I thought I'd post a series of blogs with the greatest songs of 1984. But this series of blogs will focus on the best country 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".

1) George Strait "You Look So Good In Love":

2) Alabama "If You're Going To Play In Texas":

3) The Judds "Mama's He Crazy":

4) Earl Thomas Conley "Angel In Disguise":

5) Crystal Gayle "The Sound of Goodbye":

6) Ronnie Milsap "Prisoner of the Highway":

7) John Schneider "I've Been Around Enough To Know":

8) Waylon Jennings "America":

9) Kenny Rogers "Crazy":

10) Merle Haggard "Let's Chase Each Other Around The Room Tonight":

11) John Anderson "Eye Of A Hurricane":

12) Ronnie Milsap "Still Losing You":

13) Dan Seals "You Bring Out The Wild Side of Me":

14) Mel McDaniel "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On":

15) Conway Twitty "Somebody's Needin Somebody":

16) Dolly Parton "Tennessee Homesick Blues":

17) Hank Williams Jr. "Attitude Adjustment":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 18th, 2023) Part 6 of The 208 Greatest Songs of 1984 And Counting

Hello,

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".

86) Berlin "Dancing In Berlin":

87) Tommy Shaw "Girls With Guns":

88) R.E.M. "So. Central Rain":

89) Bon Jovi "Runaway":

90) Frankie Goes To Hollywood "The Power of Love":

91) Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It":

92) Tina Turner "Better Be Good To Me":

93) The Thompson Twins "Doctor Doctor":

94) The Honeydrippers "Sea Of Love":

95) Echo and the Bunnymen "The Killing Moon":

96) Duran Duran "The Wild Boys":

Released late 1983 and was a hit in 1984. This is one of my favorite .38 Special songs. 97) .38 Special "Back Where You Belong":

98) .38 Special "Teacher Teacher":

99) Chicago "Stay The Night":

100) Animotion "Obsession":

101) Honeymoon Suite "New Girl Now":

102) Billy Squier "Another (1984)":

themusicaddict

(Started June 17th, 2023) David Bowie Live and Alive

Hello,

Capturing the legend at his most alive and live.

1) "Suffragette City":

2) "The Next Day":

3) "I'm Afraid of Americans":

4) Arcade Fire featuring David Bowie "Wake Up":

5) Ziggy Stardust":

6) "Modern Love":

7) "Jean Genie":

8) "Fame":

9) "Golden Years":

10) "Fashion":

11) featuring Queen "Under Pressure"

12) "Young Americans":

13) "China Girl":

14) "Bang Bang":

15) "1984":

16) "All The Young Dudes":

17) "Changes":

18) "Blue Jean":

19) "Let's Dance":

20) "Rebel Rebel":

21) "Space Oddity": 

I know this is the second time I have this song live on my blog. It's just one of the all-time greatest songs. 22) "Suffragette City":

themusicaddict

(Finished September 25th, 2023) Part 5 of The Best Songs of 1983

Hello,

What were the best songs of 1983? These are the best non-country songs. I have a separate blog for best country songs also happening. However some songs like Deborah Allen's "Baby I Lied" will be on both lists. 

69) Depeche Mode "Everything Counts":

70) Motley Crue "Looks That Kill":

71) Lionel Richie "Running With The Night":

72) Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack "Tonight I Celebrate My Love":

73) The Police "Wrapped Around Your Finger":

74) Duran Duran "Union of the Snake":

Singing this song with some passion. 75) Air Supply "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All":

76) Billy Joel "Allentown":

77) Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle "You and I":

78) Christopher Cross "All Right":

79) Bob Marley and The Wailers "Buffalo Soldier":

80) U2 "Sunday Bloody Sunday":

81) After The Fire "Der Kommissar":

82) Elvis Costello "Everyday I Write The Book":

83) The Human League "(Keep Feeling) Fascination":

84) Tears For Fears "Mad World":

85) Pink Floyd "Not Now John":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 13th, 2023) Part 5 of The Best of 80s British Music Alphabetically (Mostly)

Hello,

The best of 80s British music, soon getting to the song that's sweeping the world right now. That would be Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill". Thanks again to Ranker.com for this great idea. Now these are 80s musicians but songs are from their entire career. I will post as many or as few songs as I want for each band. For the purposes of this blog I will consider any band that had a hit or great song in the 80s a 80s band. Even if that band had their first hit in the 60s or 70s.

17) The next three songs are by The Cutting Crew "(I Just) Died In Your Arms":

"I've Been In Love Before":

"One For The Mockingbird":

18) The next twelve songs are by Dead or Alive "That's The Way (I Like It)":

"You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)":

"In Too Deep":

"What I Want":

"Come Home (With Me Baby)":

"My Heart Goes Bang (Get Me To The Doctor)":

"Something In My House":

"Get Out of My House":

"Lover Come Back To Me":

"Brand New Lover":

Let's check out a remix of an 80's classic. "Come Home With Me Baby":

"It's Been A Long Time":

19) Madness "One Step Beyond":

"It Must Be Love":

"House of Fun":

"Our House":

"Wings Of A Dove":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 11th, 2023) Part 4 of The Best Songs of 1983

Hello,

What were the best songs of 1983? These are songs that are the best non-country songs, I have a separate blog for best country songs also happening. However some songs like Deborah Allen's "Baby I Lied" will be on both lists. 

52) Def Leppard "Too Late For Love":

53) Rick Springfield "Affair of the Heart":

54) Lionel Richie "Penny Lover":

55) Frankie Goes To Hollywood "Relax":

56) Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band "Even Now":

57) Madonna "Borderline":

58) ZZ Top "Legs":

59) Duran Duran "The Reflex":

60) Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)":

61) Lionel Richie "Stuck On You":

62) The Police "Synchronicity 2":

63) Sergio Mendes sung by Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller "Never Gonna Let You Go":

64) ZZ Top "Gimme All Your Lovin":

65) Deborah Allen "Baby I Lied":

66) Toto "Africa":

67) The Culture Club "Do You Really Want Me To Hurt Me":

68) The Pointer Sisters "Automatic":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 10th, 2023) Part 4 of Apple's Top 200 Most Streamed 80s Songs 140-121

Hello,

Holy hell I'm in an 80s mood. After seeing David Bowie and Depeche Mode tribute bands and the actual Love and Rockets I've heard a lot of great 80s music live this year. Later this year I'll be seeing the Lost 80s tour which feature bands such as Wang Chung, General Public, Naked Eyes and others. And tonight I'll be seeing Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Bastille. With all that going on I'll be doing an 80s blog, but I desperately wanted to do something different than I've done before.  Thus I Googled for the best selling 80s songs of all-time. 

I normally would go to Billboard for this kind of thing, however I didn't want to pay for access for that. I continued Googling and came across a list of the most streamed songs on Apple Music. For some reason there are only 199 songs on their Top 200, that gives me the option to provide my own song at #200. There are some very unusual songs on this list, including songs I've never heard of. But that's why I wanted a list like that to force me to include songs that I don't usually share. 

I'm considering coming up with a second set of blogs about songs that I can't believe aren't on this list.

140) Heart "Alone":

139) Crowded House "Don't Dream It's Over":

Yet another song I've never heard of. 138) Wham! "Club Tropicana":

137) Abba "Super Trouper":

136) Phillip Bailey featuring Phil Collins "Easy Lover":

135) The B-52's "Love Shack":

134) Frankie Goes To Hollywood "Relax":

133) Prince "Kiss": 

132) Abba "Lay All Your Love On Me":

131) Prince "When Doves Cry":

130) Madonna "Into The Groove":

129) Soul 2 Soul "Back To Life (However You Want Me To Be)":

128) The Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls":

No doubt helped by "Stranger Things". 127) "Running Up That Hill":

The Queen of the 80s 126) Madonna "Holiday":

125) Dire Straits "The Walk of Life":

124) Frankie Goes To Hollywood "The Power of Love":

123) Bob Marley and the Wailers "Redemption Song":

122) Spandau Ballet "True":

121) Van Halen "Jump":

themusicaddict

(Finished June 8th, 2023) My Mix Thanks To YouTube: My Greatest Hits

Hello,

I typed "music" into the YouTube search and was going to blog about the first thing that came up. Well the first thing that came up was My Mix, which is a mix that YouTube makes for me. I guess it's like my own personal greatest hits mix, although the songs are other people's songs. Through the first few songs I'd say they've done a good job.

"Are you going to drop the bomb or not?": 1) Alphaville "Forever Young":

2) King "Love and Pride":

3) Animotion "Obsession":

4) Honeymoon Suite "New Girl Now":

5) Crowded House "Don't Dream It's Over":

6) Modern English "I Melt With You":

7) Bonnie Tyler "Holding Out For A Hero":

8) A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)":

9) The Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls":

10) The Cranberries "Linger":

11) Aerosmith "Cryin":

12) Arcade Fire "Rebellion (Lies)":

13) The Human League "Don't You Want Me":

14) Arcade Fire "Wake Up":

15) The Cure "Just Like Heaven":

16) 'Til Tuesday "Voices Carry":

17) Arcade Fire "Sprawl 2 (Mountains Beyond Mountains)":

18) Mariah Carey "Vision of Love":

19) ABC "The Look of Love":

20) Arcade Fire "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)":

21) The Police "Message In A Bottle":

22) Tiffany "I Think We're Alone Now":

23) The Wallflowers "One Headlight":

24) The Gin Blossoms "Hey Jealousy":

themusicaddict