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July 22, 2006
Mudge's Favorite 134 Songs of the 80s: #110-#106
110. Alone, Heart I kinda hate to admit that I like this song. I mean, power ballads are one thing, but embracing the Wilson sisters' sellout is another. Then again, I never liked the Wilson sisters or Heart -- in fact, this is their only song that I think is worth anything. So the hell with it: on the list it goes, at #110. See the video here.
109. Goody Two Shoes, Adam Ant New wave added an element that punk was too tough, sneering or afraid to include: dance that didn't involve slamming or spitting/gobbing. And of all the new wave dance songs, this one's among my favorites. Looking at the video, it amazes me that Adam Ant didn't get "outed" later in life. But, this is one of the very few songs in the world that will ever get my no-rhythm-having white butt onto a dance floor, not caring just how foolish I look. (Ever see a bulldozer do doughnuts? That's about what it's like watching me dance.) See the much more aesthetically pleasing visual images of this song in the video here.
108. Drive, The Cars I don't know what it is, but my favorite Cars songs all have Benjamin Orr singing lead and not Ric Ocasek. Maybe it's subconscious resentment that a tall, goony looking guy with the Adam's Apple from hell like Ocasek could land and keep a woman who looks like Paulina Porizkova.... whose mental breakdown depicted in the video might not have been all acting, judging by her choice in men. But has anyone ever made madness look so hot? Anyway, I always liked this song, even slower as it was than the rest of the Cars' body of work. Check the video out here.
107. Relax, Frankie Goes To Hollywood The most popular explicitly about gay sex song ever to chart, "Relax" is a campy classic... and admit it, how many of you had a "Frankie Say Relax" t-shirt? You did; I know you did. This song is a perfect example of the blue-noses helping make a song much bigger than it ever would have been without them; if not for all the controversy they raised, the song might not have ever hit in the States. Then again, this is one song whose lyrics, even 20 years later and in the hip-hop era of sexually suggestive blatantly crude music, still seem shockingly overt. Which of course is why we all like it.
106. Blister In The Sun, Violent Femmes Probably the female party anthem of the decade... 22 years on, the quickest way to get a roomful of women dancing and behaving like crazed Dionysian nymphs is to put the Femmes on. I know of few songs that have a similar effect (maybe "Dancing Queen," but that's about it). Gordon Gano recut the song for the "Grosse Pointe Blank" a few years ago, which is as close to self-sacrilege as when Aerosmith performed with Britney Spears at the Super Bowl a few years ago. Sadly, the only video I cound find is for the new version, not the original. Still, find yourself a girl or three, crank up this video, and watch them become wholly other people in front of you.
Comments
I think you know how I feel about Gordon Gano.
Posted by: Jill at July 22, 2006 04:05 PM
I agree with you about the Ben Orr songs by the Cars. I say "Lets Go" is my favorite Cars song.
Posted by: Hawk at July 22, 2006 07:28 PM
Drive?
WTF
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at July 23, 2006 10:15 PM
Yes, I know how you feel about GG, Jill. Given the subjects of your recent posts, I feel strangely hopeful about playing a Femmes song around you. ;-)
Hawk, I'm with you - although "Just What I Needed" would make my top 50 songs of all time list. I love it.
Yes, MU... Drive. I suppose you'd rather be listening to Dan Hartman?
Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 24, 2006 01:05 AM
Twins could take sole position of the wildcard this week...
Posted by: Cuzin Jose at July 24, 2006 07:27 AM
"Drive" is a great song. I'm already worried about the lack of "Bangles" (or better known as the chick band led by Susanna Hoffs' fine ass) songs on the list.
Posted by: Corey at July 24, 2006 03:55 PM
Dude, Bangles were meant to be seen, not heard. I hate to tip anything off, but you will not be finding any Bangles on this list.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 24, 2006 06:53 PM
