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August 21, 2006
Mudge's Favorite 134 Songs of the 80s: 100 In Dog Years
We're up to numbers 16, 15 and 14 in my little list of my favorite 134 songs of the 1980s. 16, 15 and 14... that's 98-112 in dog years. What that has to do with anything, I don't know. But I have been milking this list for so long now that I have run out of witty intros to these entries. Moving on...
16. Rock You Like A Hurricane, Scorpions Its recent use in a Chili's commercial notwithstanding, this rocking anthem is one of metal's all time best. The guitar riff is one of the most classic and most adrenalized in rock history, 80s or otherwise. Sports teams still use it to rile up their crowds as they take the field or the ice. And it's one of those songs that just sounds increasingly better the louder you turn it up. I don't think it's possible for "Hurricane" to come on without setting off a twitch in the feet and adrenal glands of everyone within earshot. I defy you to listen without breaking into air guitar. You can't do it. I know; I've tried. The video is a prime example of mid-80s metal cheese, but that's okay... everyone needs a faux "steel" cage that bends as soon as you touch it in their lives, you know? Scorpions' biggest hit comes in at #16 on my list.
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15. Desire, U2 "Bo Diddley for the 80s" is how Edge once described what U2 was aiming for when they wrote this song. It does sound a bit like "Who Do You Love?" doesn't it? The lead single off Rattle and Hum, "Desire" was a three chord, rollicking good time with a great breakdown, and some classic Bono vocal work ("Aw, SISTER... I can't LETTTT you goooooo!"), and is one of those songs that's fun to play, fun to sing, fun to hear, fun to dance to... hell, it's just fun. U2 not only showed up 5 times in my list, they actually put three songs in the top 15. This is the first of those three. Less ponderous than much of their other songs of the time, "Desire" was just dedicated to rocking out and being fun. It still is one of my favorite rock out songs even today.
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14. 18 And Life, Skid Row Before he was VH1's de facto 80s program host... before he shook up Broadway as Dr.Jekylll/Mr. Hive, Sebastian Bach had himself a hell of a set of pipes, singing with Skid Row. And the cautionary tale of "Ricky" -- the young boy who came from the edge of town... who had a heart of stone, fought like a switchblade, and walked the streets a soldier -- well, I don't know if it actually kept anyone from getting into trouble, but who cares? It was one kick-ass song. I always loved the melodrama in the lyrics and the powerful guitar behind the chorus... unfortunately for Sebastian and his crew, I never liked another Skid Row song again. But this one was one hell of a great debut single... and Sebastian shows off a hell of a vocal range at the end, really reaching into the higher register. All in all, an 80s metal-pop classic, a great song, and #14 on my list.
Comments
16 is currently in my cd player... and my 8 year old just loves it. Looking forward to the rest.
Posted by: tweetypie at August 21, 2006 11:44 PM
tweetypie loves hair band power cords. get your kid into Megadeth, ok?
:-)
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at August 22, 2006 08:38 PM
#16 enjoys a resurgence 'round these parts by virtue of its attachment to My Carolina Hurricanes. Talk about arena rockin'. Loved it then, LOVE it now.
It makes me cry a little to see how baby faced The Edge is in that video. All of them, really, but him in particular.
Posted by: Jennifer at August 22, 2006 09:08 PM
