The past week of my life, not unlike the past twenty-six years, has had a decidedly eighties feel. I spent several evenings last week glued to the television, enjoying VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's countdown. And while I agree with most of the songs in the top twenty, there is no way "Livin' On A Prayer" is the greatest song of the 1980's.
I should know. After all, that was my decade. My slogan during the eighties? "This is the eighties and Bone is down with the ladies." OK, so I didn't really have a slogan. And no one called me Bone then. But that could have been my slogan.
Therefore, inspired by VH-1 and Lass' Thursday Thirteen, I decided to come up with my ten favorite songs of the eighties. Except I couldn't narrow it down to ten, so there's a tie. Now, without further delay, I proudly present Bone's Top Ten Songs of the 80s:
10. Rumors - Timex Social Club
(tie) Word Up - Cameo
9. Take On Me - Aha
8. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
7. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
6. When Doves Cry - Prince
5. Centerfold - J. Geils Band
4. Jack & Diane - John Mellencamp
3. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
2. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N Roses
1. Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
The interesting, and often scary, part of the VH-1 Countdown was seeing some of the singers and finding out what they're doing now. For example, I did not need to know that Jane Wiedlin is a dominatrix. For various reasons.
And did you know Wham is doing a one-time reunion concert this year? In England, I think. I'm hoping it will lead to a reunion tour. All this has almost inspired me to do a Where Are They Now: New Kids On The Block post. Any support for that?
Hello?
Continuing with our eighties theme, I played Trival Pursuit: Totally 80's Edition for the first time over the weekend. It's not often in life you're asked to recall your knowledge of Gary Hart, Martina Navratilova, Wham!, Geraldine Ferraro, and Magnum P.I. It's good to dust off those brain files once in awhile.
I think I might make this 80s week on IYROOBTY.
Later this week: The time I almost met John Stamos.
"Hold on to sixteen as long as you can. Changes come around real soon, make us women and men..."
Sometimes I get a little bummed that I only remember 1988 on.
ReplyDeleteDid I tell you that the other day at the gym, Whitney Houston's "How will I know" was on? And I totally got bummed out, because my vivid memories of Witney Houston are from The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale, neither of which did she sport a big bow and 80's hair.
(oh and there are 10 e's there, by the way)
OMG....I love the 80's!!!! I totally agree with your top ten! Wham the reunion? That's scary.....what has the other guy been doing for the last 20-something years? The music and movies of the 80's were Great!
ReplyDeleteI am in full support of Where Are They Now: New Kids on the Block. I was one of their biggest fans!
ReplyDeleteI loved the 80's as well. I believe that I may be slightly younger than you so I don't recall all the songs on your list but it's a good list nonetheless. I listen to my 80's mix cd at least three times a week.
Wait wait wait.
ReplyDeleteYou, Sir Bone, did a top ten eighties song list and included NOT ONE New Kids song? Ummm . . . is that possible??
I'm all for a Where Are They Now New Kids post AND the time you almost met Stamos (pre or post Full House????).
Oh oh oh! You could start a "Send me to England to See Wham!" charity donation thing on the blog. I mean, because, they're only reuniting for the one show. It would be a shame to miss Bananrama's singer's husband and his boyfriend sing "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go".
Great post!
Loving the comments as much as the post. I agree with your song list although I'm sure I have a lot more songs to add in there as I was truely an 80's child! Have you seen the late night infomercial for the TimeLife 80's series with Rick Springfield and some chick who looks like she might have been born in the 80's? Hate the chick, love the songs with video.
ReplyDeleteI would love an 80's week on IYROOBTY! Although I can do w/o the New Kids info. I told you my New Kids story, right? I could do a reprise on my blog in honor of your 80's week. ALTHOUGH my New Kids' story happened in the 90's... Jan 1991 to be exact.
Oh and about the Jack & Diane song lyrics...that came out the year I was 16. And then "Sexy & 17" (Stray Cats) came out the next year. I was so psyched!
Palseeeeeeeeee: Well, at least you remember Whitney before the Whitney and Bobby reality show :)
ReplyDeleteRedNeckGirl: Andrew Ridgely? He had a solo album or two, tried his hand at acting, then "retired" and lives his common law wife, who was in Bananarama. According to VH-1.
Krista: OK, well I guess I'm gonna have to start researching it then. Something tells me finding information on Danny Wood might be a tad difficult :)
JordanLover: I think it was pre-Full House. It was either pre-Full House or right when Full House began.
I like the "Send me to England to see Wham!" idea. After all, it's about time I set up a paypal account. I promise to take pictures and blog about it.
Renee: Jack & Diane spoke to me. It was an anthem.
And remember, you can see Rick Springfield from time to time as Doctor Noah Drake on General Hospital :)
OMG! My friend and I were just talking about this this morning. Bon Jovi? Seriously? I mean, top 10 maybe, but number 1? I would say that, while not my favorite, Thriller has to be the best song of the 80s. It defined a generation. And your top 10 has no Duran Duran. You mean you didn't wear t-shirts that said I (heart) John Taylor? ;)
ReplyDeleteAh, this post makes me happy. Definitely make this 80s week on the blog! How about top 10 80s shows? Top 10 80s fashion fads? Legwarmers, sweatbands, perms, the desperately-seeking-susan-look... Top 10 80s movies? It was a great decade for film - Say Anything, the Breakfast Club... The cultural renaissance that was the 80s is a virtual cornucopia of blog fodder! I have to respectfully disagree with your list though. No self-respecting top 10 80s songs list can exclude Come On Eileen or Total Eclipse of the Heart ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere are four that I can agree with you on that they are great 80's tunes. Especially "Rumors." Where's the Fat Boys love?!?!? :)
ReplyDeletei love lists. that is why i love this post.
ReplyDeleteok, just one of the reasons. ;)
i am so anxiously awaiting the john stamos post. rawr!
Bon Jovi is in town today for the Good Morning America cast in Nashvegas;) Grrrrrr.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen Totally Awesome? I watched it this weekend. A spoof on all the 80's teen movies. Very funny stuff.
Carmen: I promise I had Rio at #10 at one point. But it got bumped off as I thought of a couple of other songs.
ReplyDeleteDuran Duran's Arena was the first cassette I ever owned, I think. Up until that point, it had been all vinyl.
Lizzie: Ooo, those are two good ones. Total Eclipse is one of my favorites. It would probably make the list if I redid it tomorrow. Along with Tainted Love. Remember that one?
I thought about doing my ten favorite shows of the 80's. Having trouble remembering though.
Big Man: It's very difficult to narrow them down. And at least five of the songs would probably be different if I did the list again. Even now, as I'm thinking, I wish I had found a place for Axel F.
Ms. Sizzle: Noted :)
Did you see him on Leno the other night?
Tenacious One: I haven't seen it.
I like Bon Jovi. Just didn't think that was the best song of the 80's. That's not even my favorite Bon Jovi song.
I should know. After all, that was my decade. My slogan during the eighties? "This is the eighties and Bone is down with the ladies." OK, so I didn't really have a slogan. And no one called me Bone then. But that could have been my slogan.
ReplyDeleteOkay this is the funniest paragraph you have ever written.
and do you know my personal history with JGeils? The band, not just the person? And I just knew most of them--probably spilled coffee on all of them during my week as a waitress, but knew one very very well.
This isn't like me. Bragging on my life in your comments
I think I'm feeling better
Livin' on a prayer is a rockin' song. Jawana and I went to see Bishop Black at Sammy T's the other night, but Black Eyed Susan played first and their opening number as Livin' on a Prayer. It totally rocked dude! We were at the Jazz Factory before that. I hadn't been there since you and I went there last.. which was a while ago. We'll have to get back onto the Biillards thing again here soon. I need to practice. She beat me 2x. lol dangit! Ok, I'll hollar at you tomorrow. We can all do dinner or something. Peace out.
ReplyDeleteOh, Tainted Love! How could I forget? Like, totally! (But only the one that has "where did our love go?" at the end. Hate when they cut that off!)
ReplyDeleteOh, and Toto's Africa. Love that one. Gonna take a lot to drag me away from you...
I'm 100% in favor of a New Kids on the Block post! I actually heard a song of theirs on the radio the other day... god, I was infatuated! It's sad really, how obsessed I was.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to move Rick Springfield up a few places, put Jack and Diane in first place, and throw Bon Jovi back on, though closer to #10. Just my opinion though.
I loved the 80s. There was no better decade for music.
Fashion, now, well, I shudder when I see clothes from the 80s. :) Not to mention mullets.
What is this vinyl you speak of?
ReplyDelete; )
Did you see this one yet?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.yetanotherdot.com/asp/80s.html
Jessie's Girl is a great song!
ReplyDeleteI think you should do a Where Are They Now: New Kids On The Block post. I've done a Where Are They Now post.
Well, since I was born in the 80's... and the 90's were more like "my" decade... NKOTB was one of my favorite bands. So much, in fact... that they were the first concert I ever went to. Screamed my freaking ass off. "JORDAN!! JORDAN!!"
ReplyDeleteTrue story.
Prince is another of my top favorites. Though I'd have to debate his top song to be Little Red Corvette.
But then again... New Kids was my favorite at one time, too.
I liked "Let's go Crazy" better!
ReplyDeletePia: As full as the 80s were of one-hit wonders, with Freeze Frame and Centerfold, J. Geils Band was a rare two-hit wonder :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you're feeling better.
Kyle: Nice of you to let her win :)
Lizzie: Yes, the full version. Baby, baby, where did our love go... And I have a Toto CD.
TravelingChica: Yes, sadly, the mullet still makes the occasional appearance, even today.
What was your favorite New Kids song? I always liked "Please Don't Go, Girl."
Naj: Oh, it was great. There was 45 and 33 1/3 rpm. And you had record players. Like, for instance, I had a Donny & Marie one. And... oh, nevermind.
Renee: I think I've done that before. Like a year or two ago. But I might have to try it again :)
Lindsy: What Where Are They Now post did you do?
Blondie: Oh no, you have a good argument. Little Red Corvette is timeless. Although I was like twenty-four before I realized it wasn't all about a car :)
Renee: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to get thru this thing called life."
"Never Say Goodbye" Bon Jovi...You Tube It...You know you want to. I love that song. I was also really into STYX.
ReplyDeleteCORRECTION....... He didn't LET me win. I beat him fair and square! So HA!
ReplyDeleteOMG! I can't believe I left Centerfold off my list! Hell yeah! Oh! And what was that song by DeBarge? Rhythm of the Night? And Cameo. Ahem. Didn't that guy wear a giganto codpiece? Hmm...
ReplyDeleteI heard Livin' on a Prayer this morning while I was getting ready for work. Hell yeah! But I agree. #1 song of the 80's? I think not. I want to know how they vote on these things.
I'm disappointed you didn't invite me to play 80's Trivial Pursuit...
just so you know, i posted my own list today. I gave you kudos for starting the discussion. :)
ReplyDeleteElectric word life
ReplyDeleteIt means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell u
There's something else
The afterworld
Dorothy: That was a good one. I always like "Wanted Dead Or Alive."
ReplyDeleteAnd Styx!!! Mister Roboto should be a top ten contender.
Jawana: That's not what he said :) I'm kidding.
Lass: Yes, he did. Larry Blackmon made the cod-piece famous.
There should be a virtual online Trivial Pursuit. For bloggers.
Carmen: Thanks for linking me. And I told you I had "Rio" in my top ten for awhile ;-)
Renee: (Haha. I had forgotten how Prince's albums and lyrics always used 2 for "to" and 4 for "for.")
A world of neverending happiness. Where you can always see the sun. Day, or night.
I'm thinking that he was 2 lazy to write the entire long word...read with dripping sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteRenee: Hmm, U may B right.
ReplyDeleteXinh: Interesting. Thanks for the inside info. Be watching for the NKOTB Where Are They Now post.
Cos in this life
Things are much harder than in the afterworld
In this life
You're on your own
"Please Don't Go Girl" and "Step by Step."
ReplyDelete*sigh*
I miss those days.
It's cool that you were watching the same shows as we were - we even had to tape the episodes that were on after bedtime so that we could make sure to see ALL 100 songs. It was great listening to the songs and seeing old videos...not that I got to see many videos back then though.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if VH1 (or anyone) has a compliation cd available of those on their list?
I love the 80's!!!
Traveling Chica: *sigh* Me too.... Wait. What?
ReplyDeleteC: I haven't heard of a CD. I'm sure they'd have been advertising it if there was one.
I liked hearing the stories about what happened to the bands and artists and what they were doing now.