New Wave Outpost Forum

I'm talking the real 80s, the 80s that most people were tuned into, not our wonderful alternate reality. In reviewing the Billboard singles charts, I'm realizing what an abject HORROR SHOW it was! I dare you to check out this crap and disagree. [xx(][xx(][xx(]

Billboard Hot 100 1981 (first 20):
1. Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
2. Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
3. Lady - Kenny Rogers
4. (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
5. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
6. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
7. Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt
9. 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
10. Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
11. Theme From "Greatest American Hero" - Joey Scarbury
12. Morning Train (Nine To Five) - Sheena Easton
13. Being With You - Smokey Robinson
14. Queen Of Hearts - Juice Newton
15. Rapture - Blondie
16. A Woman Needs Love - Ray Parker jr. & Raydio
17. The Tide Is High - Blondie
18. Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington jr.
19. Slow Hand - Pointer Sisters
20. I Love You - Climax Blues Band

1982:
1. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
2. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
3. I Love Rock N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
4. Ebony And Ivory - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
5. Centerfold - J. Geils Band
6. Don't You Want Me - Human League
7. Jack And Diane - John Cougar
8. Hurts So Good - John Cougar
9. Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
10. Hard To Say I'm Sorry - Chicago
11. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
12. Chariots Of Fire - Vangelis
13. Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
14. Rosanna - Toto
15. I Can't Go For That - Daryl Hall & John Oates
16. 867-5309 (Jenny) - Tommy Tutone
17. Key Largo - Bertie Higgins
18. You Should Hear How She Talks About You - Melissa Manchester
19. Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
20. Don't Talk To Strangers - Rick Springfield

1983:
1. Every Breath You Take - Police
2. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
3. Flashdance... What A Feeling - Irene Cara
4. Down Under - Men At Work
5. Beat It - Michael Jackson
6. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
7. Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. Baby Come To Me - Patti Austin & James Ingram
9. Maniac - Michael Sembello
10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
11. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club
12. You And I - Eddie Rabbitt & Crystal Gayle
13. Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
14. Shame On The Moon - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
15. She Works Hard For The Money - Donna Summer
16. Never Gonna Let You Go - Sergio Mendes
17. Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
18. Let's Dance - David Bowie
19. Twilight Zone - Golden Earring
20. I Know There's Something Going On - Frida

1984:
1. When Doves Cry - Prince
2. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
3. Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
4. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
5. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) - Phil Collins
6. Jump - Van Halen
7. Hello - Lionel Richie
8. Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes
9. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
10. Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
11. Missing You - John Waite
12. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
13. Let's Hear It For The Boy - Deniece Williams
14. Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen
15. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
16. The Reflex - Duran Duran
17. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
18. Jump (For My Love) - Pointer Sisters
19. Talking In Your Sleep - Romantics
20. Self Control - Laura Branigan

1985:
1. Careless Whisper - Wham!
2. Like A Virgin - Madonna
3. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
4. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
5. I Feel For You - Chaka Khan
6. Out Of Touch - Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears
8. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
9. Crazy For You - Madonna
10. Take On Me - A-Ha
11. Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young
12. Easy Lover - Phil Collins & Philip Bailey
13. Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
14. We Built This City - Starship
15. The Power Of Love - Huey Lewis & The News
16. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
17. Cherish - Kool & The Gang
18. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr
19. The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey
20. We Are The World - U.S.A. For Africa

Phew! There are some serious stinkers on that list but it beats the crap out of most of the cureent crap on radio now.

Blir,

We [i]know[/i] it sucked - that's why we retreated to the shelter of New Wave, right? If it didn't suck, we wouldn't have become the iconoclasts we are!

Thank God for crappy 80's music! It gave us something to rebel against!



-Sean
Altrok Radio
Streaming on your computer anytime, at <a href="">http://www.altrokradio.com</a>
Fridays at 10PM on your FM radio, at <a href="http://90.5thenight.org">90.5 The Night</a>

Weird on how I know every single one of the those songs, right down to the lyrics and I'm sure alot of you do too.

Todays top countdown is a very different story, At the top of my head I can't even name three.

that's a good point!
how we listen to music has changed since the 80's - here in the UK, with no MTV, the only way to see new bands on TV was on The Old Grey Whistle Test or late night Channel 4, and with mainstream TV you had to sit through an hour of the above to maybe hear something interesting or alternative : now we have cable/sattellite and the internet - so i for one, rarely hear anything outside of my scope of interest.
alvin toffler predicted this back in the 80's, that the likes of the internet etc... wouldn't so much increase people's knowledge, only that it would fragment and compartmentalise that knowledge into ever decreasing circles.
we don't need radio's anymore, we can sit and listen to i-pods for hours on end, not a bad thing, as it means missing out on DJ's chatting with their mates or hearing the latest industry sponsored music... but it does also mean that i won't stumble across a whole new genre or artist.

<a href="http://www.sloganizer.net/en/" target="_blank" title="Sloganizer - the slogan generator"><img src="http://www.sloganizer.net/en/image,kola,white,black.png" border="0" alt="generated by sloganizer.net" title="This slogan was generated by sloganizer.net"/></a>

[quote][i]Originally posted by edisonoside[/i]
<br>Weird on how I know every single one of the those songs, right down to the lyrics and I'm sure alot of you do too.

Todays top countdown is a very different story, At the top of my head I can't even name three.[/quote]

God, SO true e-side, on all points. I do have to point out though, that there a FEW glimmers of promise. Human League, Blondie, Simple Minds.....they're in there. This is what I subsisted on in other people's cars, parties, etc.

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

At least those charts are STILL better than the Billboard charts of today![}:)]

[quote][i]Originally posted by devildog[/i]
<br>At least those charts are STILL better than the Billboard charts of today![}:)][/quote]

Definitely, MOST definitely [V][V][V][V][V]

<a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/cetaceans/index.cfm">I dig whales.</a>

edisonoside - Funny you said that. I was thinking as I was reading the lists that I could sing (poorly) every single one of those songs from start to finish (with the obvious exception of Chariots of Fire). I used to LIVE for Casey Kasem's countdown. I remember the day I knew I was out of touch with today's music. I picked up a Billboard magazine and checked out the Singles chart. I looked at who was #1 and I didn't even recognize it. I HAD NEVER HEARD THE NUMBER ONE SONG IN AMERICA. It would've been like my dad hearing "Bette Davis Eyes" during its 7th week at #1 and saying "This song is nice. Who sings it?"

Hey, does anyone remember when Billboard used to have a "Crossover" chart? I think it was mostly for R&B artists whose songs became "mainstream" hits. Kinda funny to think about now considering probably 35 of the Top 40 songs at any given time are by rap/soul/hip-hop artists.

Yikes! There is some pretty bad stuff on that list and I too know every one of them. I even remember that a guy named Joe Pizzulo sang lead on that Sergio Mendes song.[:0] It's amazing how this stuff burrows into your head and stays .... and stays.

[quote][i]Originally posted by jaybag[/i]
<br> I used to LIVE for Casey Kasem's countdown.
[/quote]

me too ! Argh, before I got into the Wave, Casey Kasem was fun to listen to. I used to write all the songs down (Top 20 or Top 40). Sure, a lot of it is embarrassing, but what did we know before we got into the best music in the Universe!

[quote][i]Originally posted by hubcity[/i]
<br> We know it sucked - that's why we retreated to the shelter of New Wave, right? If it didn't suck, we wouldn't have become the iconoclasts we are!

Thank God for crappy 80's music! It gave us something to rebel against!
[/quote]

An excellent way to put it, hubcity, well-said.[8D]

My car for the longest time only had an AM radio....so I am very familiar with all of this crap. I got into the habit of constantly hitting the buttons from one station to the next.

That Whole Entire List Is Still a billion, a trillion times better than what's in the top 40 charts today.

I always refer to the 80,s(most of)as my wilderness years for my listening pleasure.I guess for some thank God for Motley Crue and
Guns n Roses.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Grunch[/i]
<br>Let's see, Eminem, or Hall&Oates......who's songs do you think will be played another 20 years from now???
[/quote]
Both! In the SUCKASS Hall of Fame! [}:)][}:)][}:)]