80s0n8 Big 40 Countdown Schedule

IdRatherBeSkiing

Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
Oct 11, 2008
31,519
16,773
168
Toronto, ON
  • Like
Reactions: sadchild

Aaron

Moderator
Oct 10, 2008
16,967
11,734
168
South Louisiana
1984

40. ONE IN A MILLION - THE ROMANTICS
39. TO ALL THE GIRLS I'VE LOVED BEFORE - JULIO IGLESIAS AND WILLIE NELSON
38. A FINE FINE DAY - TONY CAREY
37. THE KID'S AMERICAN - MATTHEW WILDER
36. HEAD OVER HEELS - THE GO-GO'S
35. THE AUTHORITY SONG - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP
34. RED RED WINE - UB40
33. NOBODY TOLD ME - JOHN LENNON
32. LEAVE IT - TES
31. LET'S STAY TOGETHER - TINA TURNER
30. TONIGHT - KOOL & THE GANG
29. DON'T ANSWER ME - THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT
28. YOU MIGHT THINK - THE CARS
27. NEW SONG - HOWARD JONES
26. LOVE SOMEBODY- RICK SPRINGFIELD
25. THEY DON'T KNOW - TRACEY ULLMAN
24. COME BACK AND STAY - PAUL YOUNG
23. RUNNER - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND
22. GIVE IT UP - K.C.
21. GIRLS - DWIGHT TWILLEY
20. BACK WHERE YOU BELONG - .38 SPECIAL
19. RADIO GA-GA - QUEEN
18. NEW MOON ON MONDAY - DURAN DURAN
17. THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE - DAN FOGELBERG
16. GOT A HOLD ON ME - CHRISTINE MCVIE
15. THRILLER - MICHAEL JACKSON
14. EAT IT - "WEIRD" AL YANKOVIC
13. HELLO - LIONEL RICHIE
12. HOLD ME NOW - THOMPSON TWINS
11. 99 LUFTBALLONS - NENA
10. MISS ME BLIND - CULTURE CLUB
9. ADULT EDUCATION - DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
8. AUTOMATIC - THE POINTER SISTERS
7. AGAINST ALL ODDS - PHIL COLLINS
6. I WANT A NEW DRUG - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
5. GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN - CYNDI LAUPER
4. HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN - EURYTHMICS
3. JUMP - VAN HALEN
2. SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME - ROCKWELL
1. FOOTLOOSE - KENNY LOGGINS
 

sadchild

Dude
Mar 28, 2016
14,943
16,301
168
55
NH
www.asimplecomplex.com
Good 18
Okay 14
Bad 8

Great countdown! Not my highest number of 'goods', but it's my lowest number of 'bads' yet.

40. ONE IN A MILLION - THE ROMANTICS

Their second-highest charter. I liked it then. I like it now. Not as good as "Talking" or "What I Like", but I wish it wasn't so forgotten.

37. THE KID'S AMERICAN - MATTHEW WILDER

Dear Onederland...

27. NEW SONG - HOWARD JONES

During the ending, my son says, "Listen to dat overused 80s synth...." with an eyeroll.

23. RUNNER - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND

Haven't heard this since '84.

21. GIRLS - DWIGHT TWILLEY

Talk about your Porky's rip off!

Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

19. RADIO GA-GA - QUEEN

Lady Gaga's inspiration for her stage name, I believe.

17. THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE - DAN FOGELBERG

My friend and his brother used to goof on this video, especially his awkward stances.

Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

#54 Genesis "Illegal Alien"

Phil Collins with a big fake black mustache and wig singing with a bogus Mexican accent? Man, this wouldn't fly today.

Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

#73 Missing Persons "Give"

Surprised to learn they had zero top 40 hits. I figured at least "Words" would've made it.

Won't make the top 40
#46 Billy Idol "Rebel Yell" <- surprised
#54 Genesis "Illegal Alien"
#61 Adam Ant "Strip" <- surprised
#63 Roger Daltrey "Walking In My Sleep"
#69 Thomas Dolby "Hyperactive"
#73 Missing Persons "Give"
#74 Mr Mister "Hunters Of The Night"
#78 Eddie Money "Club Michelle"
#82 John Lennon "I'm Stepping Out"
#84 David Bowie "Without You"
#86 Madness "The Sun And The Rain"
#87 Motley Crue "Looks That Kill" <- surprised
#100 Rolling Stones "She Was Hot"
 

IdRatherBeSkiing

Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
Oct 11, 2008
31,519
16,773
168
Toronto, ON
@sadchild I am sensing a disturbance in the force. This is 3 countdowns this year you like more than dislike. That is 3 higher than your previous high.

Or are you mellowing in your old age?


Sent from my iPhone6S using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: sadchild

HecticArt

Administrator
Oct 19, 2008
53,939
19,922
168
Toledo, Ohio
#54 Genesis "Illegal Alien"

Phil Collins with a big fake black mustache and wig singing with a bogus Mexican accent? Man, this wouldn't fly today.
No doubt about it. I'm surprised that he hasn't had to make an apology.

#73 Missing Persons "Give"

Surprised to learn they had zero top 40 hits. I figured at least "Words" would've made it.
Walking in LA and Destination Unknown didn't break the top 40?
That's crazy!

Won't make the top 40
#46 Billy Idol "Rebel Yell" <- surprised - Me too.
#54 Genesis "Illegal Alien"
#61 Adam Ant "Strip" <- surprised - Me too.
#63 Roger Daltrey "Walking In My Sleep"
#69 Thomas Dolby "Hyperactive"
#73 Missing Persons "Give"
#74 Mr Mister "Hunters Of The Night"
#78 Eddie Money "Club Michelle"
#82 John Lennon "I'm Stepping Out"
#84 David Bowie "Without You"
#86 Madness "The Sun And The Rain"
#87 Motley Crue "Looks That Kill" <- surprised - Me too.
#100 Rolling Stones "She Was Hot"
 

IdRatherBeSkiing

Sherbert is NOT and NEVER WILL BE ice cream.
Oct 11, 2008
31,519
16,773
168
Toronto, ON
Won't make the top 40
#46 Billy Idol "Rebel Yell" <- surprised
#100 Rolling Stones "She Was Hot"

Surprised by these 2. The Stones probably was more popular on rock stations and I can understand.

Won't make the top 40
#82 John Lennon "I'm Stepping Out"

I guess releasing junk that John had the decency not to release when he was alive finally stopped generating returns.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sadchild

sadchild

Dude
Mar 28, 2016
14,943
16,301
168
55
NH
www.asimplecomplex.com
@IdRatherBeSkiing I think listening to these countdowns is what's softening me up? I'm noticing a few songs I once marked as 'bad' have crept into the 'okay' category. Pretty soon I'll be singing "Islands In The Stream" at karaoke. Doing Kenny and Dolly's lines! *shudder*

CuXvMxxUkAAl-np.jpg


@HecticArt Right?! I was shocked by this: Missing Persons

However, notice that "Give" which I listed as #73 in this week's countdown is NOT listed on Billboard's Missing Persons Chart History. Their site, as I've been saying for weeks, is broken :/

@IdRatherBeSkiing Still didn't stop 'em from digging up more Lennon home recordings and pushing them out.

"Free as a Bird" is a song originally composed and recorded in 1977 as a home demo by John Lennon. In 1995, a studio version of the recording, incorporating contributions from Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, was released as a single by the Beatles. It was released 25 years after the break-up of the band and 15 years after the death of Lennon.

That one hit #6, but I wasn't a fan of it. And I haven't heard it since '95...
 

sadchild

Dude
Mar 28, 2016
14,943
16,301
168
55
NH
www.asimplecomplex.com
A friend of mine who also listens to the VJ40 just passed a link along to me that lists "Illegal Alien" as one of the most politically incorrect songs of all time. Nice little write-up:

Even Phil Collins, a man who has become synonymous with political correctness and sensitivity in the music business, can't escape scrutiny with this catchy but undeniably offensive single by Genesis. He's attempting to tell the story of a Mexican reduced to sneaking across the border when his paperwork is denied, but even if he wasn't pimping out his sister in the bridge (part of the song that was edited from the single version), Collins' fake-Latino accent is worse than any Speedy Gonzales cartoon. And then there's the video, where he dons a black wig and mustache, and brings a litany of negative Mexican stereotypes to life.

Rock’s Most Politically Incorrect Songs
 

scotchandcigar

All I wanted was some steak
Feb 13, 2009
29,145
23,567
168
Vacationland
A friend of mine who also listens to the VJ40 just passed a link along to me that lists "Illegal Alien" as one of the most politically incorrect songs of all time. Nice little write-up:

Even Phil Collins, a man who has become synonymous with political correctness and sensitivity in the music business, can't escape scrutiny with this catchy but undeniably offensive single by Genesis. He's attempting to tell the story of a Mexican reduced to sneaking across the border when his paperwork is denied, but even if he wasn't pimping out his sister in the bridge (part of the song that was edited from the single version), Collins' fake-Latino accent is worse than any Speedy Gonzales cartoon. And then there's the video, where he dons a black wig and mustache, and brings a litany of negative Mexican stereotypes to life.

Rock’s Most Politically Incorrect Songs
But it's a song that tries to bring awareness to the plight of the illegal alien. He's not condemning them (as Axl Rose did), so I think that's important to note.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sadchild

sadchild

Dude
Mar 28, 2016
14,943
16,301
168
55
NH
www.asimplecomplex.com
I was saying to my friend that the list has too many "she was only 16" songs on there. Most of them were written for teens to sing along to, not meant as "I'm 49 and she's only 16" (a few actually do that, and I agree those are creepy).

But if we're going with that premise, the list is then also missing Benny Mardones "Into The Night".

"She's just 16 years old, leave her alone they say..."

And it's not really a rock song, but how about Depeche Mode "A Question Of Time" which beats out most of the other lecher tracks by a mile and half.

"I've got to get to you first, before they do. It's just a question of time before they lay their hands on you... Well, now you're only fifteen and you look good. I'll take you under my wing."

@kryptonite I can see why people might dig "Secret Garden" (though I personally don't, especially the one with the Jerry Macguire lines mixed into it). But it is a definitely Delilah song. You wouldn't hear "Born To Run" "Glory Days" or "Hungry Heart" on Delilah. The Gary one you posted, however, is a classic!
 

HecticArt

Administrator
Oct 19, 2008
53,939
19,922
168
Toledo, Ohio
But if we're going with that premise, the list is then also missing Benny Mardones "Into The Night".

"She's just 16 years old, leave her alone they say..."

That one was creepy to me even when I was 16.

There's a female DJ up here that says that she still loves that song, even with lyrics.
She has high school aged daughters, so I don't know how she reconciles that one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sadchild

sadchild

Dude
Mar 28, 2016
14,943
16,301
168
55
NH
www.asimplecomplex.com
@IdRatherBeSkiing Great song! With Sexy & 17, it's like I was saying above - the singer is saying he's still in high school too (despite how old Brian Setzer actually was at the time). So I don't find it politically incorrect (like a lot of the songs on that list).

Johnny and Eddie and me and Jimmy and Jack
Are gonna do a little number on the teacher when she turns her back
We're gonna cut out of class, meet the girls by the railroad track


Let's hope Johnny Eddie Jimmy Jack and the singer guy aren't doing this stuff at 40 years old!

MV5BMTYxMTIyOTM1MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNzQ0MTcyNA@@._V1_UX182_CR0,0,182,268_AL_.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: HecticArt