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July 16, 2006
Mudge's Favorite 134 Songs of the 80s: Pure Cheese
I didn't plan on lumping a bunch of cheesy songs together on this list... it just sort of happened this way. But - here's the most embarrassing grouping of five that you'll find in my list... seems perfect to go home on, huh? We start this section of the countdown with the least embarrassing of the bunch.
125. Dancin' With Myself, Billy Idol The iconic imagery of Billy Idol came from this video. That rooftop is so cheesy, but still you cannot turn away. And of course, there's the urban legend about what "Dancin' With Myself" really meant. This is Billy's first of three appearances on my little list. Watch the video here.
124. One Night In Bangkok, Murray Head. Because every list needs a song from a Broadway muscial written by members of ABBA. Well, that and every list needs some synth-pop semi-rapped by a British stage actor who'd played Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar. Rapping about board games. And sex. And the multiple double-entendres that result from the combination. And because one town's very like another when your head's down over your pieces, brother. This is one of my biggest guilty pleasure songs ever. Catch the video here.
123. A View To A Kill, Duran Duran The Fab Five make their second appearance on my list with a song that will go down in history. First, because it was the first theme from a Bond movie ever to hit #1. And second, because Simon LeBon couldn't hit the notes to save his life at LiveAid, and it resulted in the day's worst performance. But the video's worth it if only to hear Simon at the end. "Bon... Simon LeBon." Heh heh heh. Check the video here.
122. I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Boys Don't Cry I admit it fully and without reservation; this is the cheesiest song on the list, and the biggest guilty pleasure song of the 80s for me. I still can't believe I'm admitting to it front of you all. I can't even explain why I liked it then or still like it now. I just do. This stands as one of the wonderfully cheesy 80s one hit wonders, from Boys Don't Cry. Oh, yippee! Yippee yo yo! Cheesy synth drums, cheesy 80s effects, cheesy synth rhythm line, and hilariously awful lyrics... so what's not to love? Wait... don't answer that. "My name is Ted... and one day, I'll be dead, yo yo." Gotta love it. Watch the video here..
121. Cruel Summer, Bananarama Attractive women eating bananas... gosh, 80s videos were subtle, weren't they? And getting into a police chase and eluding the cops by tossing banana peels at their windshield? But - the song stands out among the decade's Brit-Pop. The backing spurts "Aaaaah... What did they say?" "It's a cruel!" -- gotta love them. And there's actually a really good dance guitar riff behind the chorus, if you can get past the synth-heavy rhythm line. And the xylophone?! How many pop songs use xylophone??? Fun song, and it closes out my cheesiest five tracks of the list, at #121.
Comments
I LOVE Dancing with Myself. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Posted by: Jill at July 16, 2006 11:56 PM
Mudge has perfected it, Jill.
Murray Head.....I am ashamed to admit that I saw 'Chess' on Broadway during a study program I completed at the UN while an undergrad.
I am disappointed that Bananarama made your list.
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at July 17, 2006 11:41 AM
You should re-join fantasy football this year.
Posted by: Cuzin Jose at July 17, 2006 07:29 PM
It's a cruel, cruel summer to be dancing with yourself.
Posted by: thebeav at July 17, 2006 08:05 PM
Nope, Cuzin. I am permanently retired from football, fantasy or otherwise. Too many T.O.s, Romanowskis, Maurice Claretts, and other individuals of similar character. The NFL -- and especially college football -- stopped making character count... and it cost them this fan. I have no interest at all in the NFL (unless the Pats are in the Super Bowl).
Sorry, man.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 17, 2006 09:05 PM
Oh - and MU Hoop... I figure the married guy knows more about dancin with hisself than anybody.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 17, 2006 09:06 PM
