Last week, we made a list of our Top Ten Happy Places. This week, we are revealing our Top Ten 80's Songs. I don't know how you guys feel, but I definitely love music from the 80's. I am a total 80's baby! Music is a huge part of my life, and many of my favorite songs are from the 80's and earlier.
Without further ado, in random order, I present my top ten 80's tunes. Be sure to check out the other Blogger's favorite tunes, using the links at the bottom.
1. (This is technically a cheat. It was released in 1977, but it was HUGE in the 1980's, and I was told it was acceptable) 'One Love' by Bob Marley. This song is probably my theme song. I so believe in it. I believe in peace and unity. I believe in loving everyone. I believe in not judging. I am against racism, sexism, etc I feel like we should all live together in peace and harmony and acceptance. Love over hate, every day.
2. (I am slipping this 1977 song in under the same technicality) 'Waiting in Vain' by Bob Marley. This is MY song. My absolute favorite song. This is my ultimate favorite song, and it has been since I was a kid. I have just always loved it. I can feel it in my soul. It is amazing. Amazing.
3. (1983) 'Islands in the Stream' by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Absolutely LOVE this song. I always have. I always will. Dolly is my girl. LOL Well, I would like to think, if we ever met, we would be instant best friends. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE her.
4. (1989) 'Janie's Got a Gun' by Aerosmith. I am a massive Aerosmith fan(atic). I love 80's hair bands, and Aerosmith was my absolute favorite of them. This song is my favorite of their's. I love so many of their songs, but this will forever be my favorite. It just speaks to me on a deep level. Some songs you can just feel. Add to that the vocals and the instruments.... WOW! I just LOVE this song. In fact, I am putting it on RIGHT NOW. Just talking about it, makes me need to hear it.
(cue break to totally rock out to #4)
5. (1986) 'Walk This Way' by Aerosmith and Run DMC. Now, I do love Aerosmith's version that was released in 1975, but the Run DMC collaboration, will always be my favorite version. It was so mind blowing to me. As a kid, and once I got older, to hear rock and rap combined. It really opened my eyes to how universal music is, and how artists can cross boundaries and genres. Seriously. Now, Steven Tyler even has a country album. This song was just groundbreaking, and it is truly a wonderful song.
6. (1980) 'Sailing' by Christopher Cross. This was probably my first every favorite song. I absolutely LOVED it. I could not get enough of it, and to this day, I still love it. Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
(cue break for me to sing #6 at the top of my lungs)
I would now like to take a moment to say, I think making someone create a top ten list of favorite 80's songs, is kinda cruel. How on Earth can I just pick ten?!? I only have four spots left, and I have like a million songs left to list. *sigh*
7. (1985) 'Take On Me' by a-ha. I do not care who you are... You know this song and most likely know the video as well. How could I not put this song on my list?! I have spent HOURS dancing to this song. HOURS. Like hundreds of hours. Great memories with my cousins.
8. (1984) 'What's Love Got to do With It' by Tina Turner. This song was magic for me. I loved it. I loved it so much, I would stand in my living room for hours, singing it on my dad's microphone. (My dad is a musician.) I love it so much I choreographed a dance to it. Her voice. The music. So much perfection.
(cue break for me to dance my dance to #8)
9. (1986) 'Diggin' Up Bones' by Randy Travis. Have mercy on my soul... Randy Travis has one of the most amazing voices EVER. I love basically every single one of his songs, but this one will probably always hold a very special place for me.
10. (1987) 'She's Like the Wind' by Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser. Y'all.... Listen... Patrick Swayze was my first crush. Dirty Dancing was my first ever favorite movie, and to this day, it remains my favorite movie. This song, Patrick, that movie... So much a part of my childhood. I could not put this song on the list. It was an instrumental part of my childhood. I never stopped loving Patrick. I guess you never really forget your first crush. Plus, let's face it, he was always a handsome man.
11. 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Bonnie Tyler. I am giving eleven on my list, since my first two, were technically songs of the 1970's, and should technically count as just one entry. Even though this is not my actual favorite song, I think that it is one of the greatest songs ever recorded, hands down. It is absolutely amazing. Bonnie put her whole being into this song. She gave it her everything, and it showed. It is one of those songs that I could listen to on repeat for hours, and not get tired of it. I could not make a list of 1980's songs, and not list this one.
I am sorry, but I have to make a list of honorable mentions... I really could not just do ten eleven.
Honorable Mentions:
(1980) 'The Rose' by Bette Midler (the movie came out in 1979, but the song was not officially released until 1980.)
(1986) 'Master of Puppets' by Metallica
(1988) 'Fast Car' by Tracy Chapman
(1985) 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' by Dead or Alive
(1987) 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now' by Starship
(1987) 'When I See You Again' by Fleetwood Mac
(1983) 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police
(1983) 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' by Eurythmics
(1984) 'When Doves Cry' by Prince
(1981) 'Don't Stop Believin'' by Journey
(1989) 'Like a Prayer' by Madonna
(1983) 'Time After Time' by Cyndi Lauper
(1986) 'West End Girls' by Pet Shop Boys
(1982) 'Slow Hand' by Conway Twitty (cover of the The Pointer Sisters' 1981 hit)
I could go on and on and on. I won't. I just want to list one more. (1985) 'Greatest Love of All' by Whitney Houston. This song will forever and always be very special to me. Growing up, my mom was obsessed with Whitney and she played this song on repeat. My actual first ever memory of music, is this song, and that is special. I was obsessed with it. I loved her voice. I loved everything about it. I remember wanting to be a singer one day. Her voice was that amazing to me. I became obsessed with this song, and eventually obsessed with music in general. This was my gateway song.
What is your favorite song from the 1980's?!
Chad was not impressed by my list, so he has given me the following list, which includes songs he feels I am ridiculous for not including them in mine.
1. (1987) 'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns N' Roses
2. (1980) 'Ace of Spades' by Motorhead
3. (1980) 'Crazy Train' by Ozzy
4. (1989) '18 and Life' by Skid Row
5. (1980) 'Back in Black' by AC/DC
6. (1984) 'Fade to Black' by Metallica
7. (1982) 'Beat It' by Michael Jackson (this one ALMOST made my list)
8. (1989) 'Love Song' by Tesla
9. (1982) 'Run to the Hills' by Iron Maiden
10. (1988) 'Cult of Personality' by Living Colour
Let's just agree... The 1980's gave us some AMAZING songs!
Okay, okay. I have kept you all far too long. Now, go and see what songs from the 80's these other bloggers LOVE!
My list way better. Yours was OK
ReplyDeletePotato, potahto.
DeleteAlso, it only took you like 2 minutes to make your list. Mine took me days.
DeleteWhat a great post, J! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that you came up with a list of honorable mentions, and Chad is totally right, there can't be a Top Ten 80s list without Michael Jackson on it!!
I was just telling Lissa over at the Last Rain Girl that I like to believe that I was the Swiss person who discovered Whitney Houston here. I heard "all at once" while on vacation near the Italian border. I went to a couple of records stores and sang it to them, requesting the name of the artist... They all looked at me funny. Well, I guess, a couple months later they remembered the young trendsetter who told them so!!! Hahahaha!
I am also a huge fan of "total eclipse of the heart" - what an epic song! ❤
Thanks for joining me again this week! 😎
Thank you!! I love that you brought Whitney Houston to Switzerland. I love her. One of the greatest voices of our time. 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' will always be my song. It stirs my soul. Definitely epic.
Delete#7 is on my list too, the video is really a great piece of art, forgotten about #8 until you mention it but that one is great too, #10 - heard that a lot because of the movie, #11 - definitely, I remember most of your honorable mention - 'time after time' is on my list too
ReplyDeletehave a lovely day.
I think I've heard 10 a billion times, because I'm pretty sure I've watched the movie a billion times. LOL I feel like I have enough favorites to fill a top 1000 list.
DeleteSuch a great post and Chad's list really made me laugh as it's nearly identical to the songs my husband would have chosen (except Michael Jackson).
ReplyDeleteTake on me came very close to making my list, and I know exactly what you mean about Patrick Swayze.
It took me ages to write my post as, like you, I had to keep stopping and listening to the songs and be transported back to my teenage years.
Yesssssssss!! I had an 80's Karaoke dance party (with myself), while writing this. Such great songs!! I really needed to make a Top 1000 list. I struggled. So many I loved. I decided early on, my list wouldn't consist of songs that were chart toppers. I'd make it personal. Songs that genuinely meant something to ME. It's the only way I could narrow it down.
Delete