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July 18, 2006
Mudge's Favorite 134 Songs of the 80s: Video Classics
The next fivesome in the 80s list feature some all-time classic videos. (Though one of them, ironically, comes from the age before videos.)
120. Just Between You And Me, April Wine. For some reason, I'd had this pegged as a 70s song, like 1979. But Tim reminded me that it had in fact been 1981. The thing with songs from that early is that they weren't making many videos at that point. So when you go to YouTube to find links, you find not real videos but flat live versions of songs recorded years after the band's glory days. This is what happened in the case of this song by Canadian rockers April Wine. If you remember the original version of this, their only hit, you know it was much better. But - for those of you who weren't around... at this link you will find not just the song I am talking about, but also what Good Charlotte and Sum 41 will look like in 2030.
119. Take On Me, a-ha Let's face it, this song exists for just two reasons: one, to show off the amazing video, and two, to torture karaoke singers and their audiences 20 years later. The song itself is forgettable. But add in its unforgettable and groundbreaking video, and this becomes a classic. (Sadly, the cutie in the video appeared in 2004 on some MTV reunion of the video vixens, and I must tell you that time did not treat her kindly.) But during the making of this video, she -- and the band, and the song, and the direction -- was smokin'. Rotoscope still looks cool 20 years on. The song was okay; the video rocked -- enough to make my top 134 list at #119.
118. Behind The Wall of Sleep, The Smithereens This was the very first song I ever sung on stage in front of people; the first party we ever played, we opened the set with a Smithereens cover. It's also a remarkable song in that the Smithereens, who are quite obviously just "regular guys," managed to get a recording contract in the age of video superstars. I'll always have a soft spot for this song, even if it doesn't really fit the 80s genre as much (or perhaps because it doesn't). Watch the video here.
117. Centerfold, J. Geils Band Yet another song from the 80s whose image and lasting power is greatly enhanced by its video. I mean, what's not to love? Schoolgirl outifts, chicks in choreographed sync dressed in negligees and sweatshirts with no pants on, 80s makeup, and a snare drum full of milk... what more could you ask for? (Seriously, though, what was the deal in the 80s with putting stuff in snare drums during videos? Milk, glitter... everybody was putting stuff in their drums. Blue Man Group, eat your heart out.) Add in the chant-along part of the chorus -- honestly, how many of you weren't running around singing "na na, na-na na na, nuh-na-na-na-nuh-na-na na-na" when this song came on? -- and you have a memorable 80s video and song, worthy of #117. See the video here.
116. We're Not Gonna Take It, Twisted Sister Speaking of bands who wouldn't have been anything at all without MTV and video, I present you with Twisted Sister. Aided by an appearance by Niedermeyer from Animal House, tapping into the stereotypical "my parents don't get it, so the hell with them" angst and rebellion, and featuring cartoon violence worthy of Wile E. Coyote, the video for "We're Not Gonna Take It" was custom made for MTV's core audience. Better yet, it freaked out uptight prudes like Tipper Gore. And it starred a bunch of Jersey Shore types turning clown makeup into glam, led by the future voice of MSNBC. This song had everything you needed for a guaranteed hit -- telling off of parents and a generation that disapproved of us, power chordus impressivus, a sing along chorus, and sung by a band that was a dead lock cinch to both repulse and scare the snot out of parents. In other words, good band or bad, it was a guaranteed moneymaker. And it did. All in all, a classic piece of 80s Americana.
Comments
April Wine -- nice.
Centerfold deserved to be much, much higher. Its still a great song and a classic video
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at July 18, 2006 11:50 AM
Your list makes me so glad that I only lived a little over 2 years in the 80s
Posted by: Sarah at July 18, 2006 11:50 AM
"We're Not Gonna Take It" is probably my favorite F- u song ever written. I once did an a capella version of it in an improv sketch I performed in in Tompkins Square Park, accompanied by another actor who didn't actually know the lyrics. I kicked ass.
Posted by: Jill at July 18, 2006 12:14 PM
Right, Sarah -- the absolute crap that gets ClearChannel airplay these days was far superior. And college radio of 2006... yeah, there's plenty o' goodness available there. Oh wait - you're a fan of the moldy sixties -- that's right. So how about we all just fire up a little "Incense and Peppermints" and maybe have the Who sing about how they'll never sell out... yawn. The 80s were cheese, but they're MY generation's cheese, and I'd prefer having grown up then to any other time.
MU - I beg to differ re: Centerfold. The video got it up to 117 on my list, but sans video it frankly wouldn't have made my top 134.
Jill - Performing with someone who didn't know the words? Must've been a challenge. But I have no doubt that you kicked ass.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 18, 2006 07:35 PM
Did you really just insult college radio?
The only activity that makes my weeks worth surviving at school??
My radio show??
I don't think we shoudl talk anymore. :-P
Posted by: Sarah at July 19, 2006 05:02 PM
