Tag Archives: music

VH1’s The Greatest Songs of the 80s

The following post was written by my lovely wife, M

a_flock_of_seagulls.jpgI’m a huge fan of 80s music and countdown shows (They could have a show titled “The Most Boring Moments Ever Captured on Film” and I’d just have to know what the most boring moment was) . So when I saw that VH1 was doing the top 100 songs of the 80s I was immediately hooked.

In general I greatly enjoyed watching the show, hearing other artists’ takes on the songs, and finding out what had become of the 80s artists. For the most part, I agreed with the songs that were included, but some of my favorite 80s songs were missing.

Also, before we watched it, I told K that my prediction for #1 was Thriller by MJ. I mean, come on, that song’s an 80s classic, not to mention innovative in the story/video format. It wasn’t even on the list! The song that was selected as #1 – “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. What?! I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like me some Bon Jovi, such as “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Never Say Goodbye.” I agree that “Livin’” should be on the list, but not #1. Here’s the top ten songs on the list:

10. “You Shook Me All Night Long” AC/DC
9. “Walk This Way” Run-D.M.C.
8. “Like a Virgin” Madonna
7. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” Guns N’Roses
6. “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” Daryl Hall & John Oates
5. “When Doves Cry” Prince
4. “Billie Jean” Michael Jackson
3. “Hungry Like the Wolf” Duran Duran
2. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” Def Leppard
1. “Livin’ on a Prayer” Bon Jovi

While I agree with most of the Top 10, I would have placed these a bit lower:
“Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Like a Virgin,” (I prefer “Get Into the Groove”) and “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

There were a few songs in the top 100 that I would not have included:

  • “Only in My Dreams” Debbie Gibson
  • “Straight Up” Paula Abdul
  • “Just Can’t Get Enough” Depeche Mode
  • “Ain’t Nobody” Rufus & Chaka Khan [I would have put in “I Feel for You” by Ms. Khan].

Some of my favorite 80s songs were not included in the list. These include (in no particular order):
1. “The Warrior” Scandal
2. “Der Kommissar” After the Fire
3. “Our House” Madness
4. “Come Dancing” The Kinks
5. “If This is It” Huey Lewis and the News
6. “Summer of 69” Bryan Adams
7. “Dirty Laundry” Don Henley
8. “The Tide is High” Blondie
9. “Break My Stride” Matthew Wilder
10. “Fast Car” Tracy Chapman
11. “Centerfold” J. Geils Band
12. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” Billy Joel
13. “Abracadabra” The Steve Miller Band
14. “Always Something There to Remind Me” Naked Eyes
15. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” Queen
16. “Smooth Operator” Sade
17. “Shout” Tears for Fears
18. “Missing You” John Waite
19. “Rock of Ages’” Def Leppard
20. “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” The Police

What about you? Do you agree with the songs on the list and their order? What are your favorite 80s songs not represented here or on the VH1 list?

Links:
VH1 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s
Ultimate 80s songs (lyrics)
Bradboard- Top 733 of the 80s

Music

soad.jpgYou’ve no doubt heard of System of a Down. Now, it’s not really my kind of music, but some of it is catchy. So I bought a couple CDs.

And I have to say, I’m impressed. Their music is multi-layered, with meter changes and stylistic changes sometimes in the same song. It has so many different textures. They aren’t the best singers but musically, very creative. I hope the reason they are popular is not because of the “angry” sounding music appeals to the angsty teens but because people understand and appreciate the talent that they have as musicians.

I feel similiarly about Andrew WK. Again, not really my kind of music but I bought both of his CDs. I discovered him on SNL and couldn’t stop laughing at his arm-slinging antics. I had to buy a CD just becaue of that. Turned out that he’s a good musician.

I also discovered James Blunt on SNL. Haunting and sad and nostalgic. Good stuff when you’re in the mood.

Calling All Destroyers

The second reference to my new favorite album (iTunes Music Store and Amazon). Get it.

I have two new posts to work on. Unfortunately they both require more than me sitting down and banging them out on the keyboard. I gotta do some prep work and my free time is minimal right now.

One is an unveiling of a skill that I have been blessed with. No one has ever witnessed its greatness before and you’ll be the first to behold its glory.

The other is inspired by this post. Yes folks, it’s the second installment in the Essential Skills Instructional Video series. Hopefully you’ve mastered the first one by now. If not, watch it again and keep practicing.

So I’ve been singing my little butt off and rehearsals are going well but we’ve only got like three weeks to pull off an amazing amount of music. Wish us luck and come see the show. I’ll post more about the dates and times later.

BTW, Internet Explorer sucks. This is not news. See, it doesn’t do transparent backgrounds on PNG images. Go get Firefox if you are on Windows. Please.

Tootle-loo.

That’s All Folks

Well I’ve been terribly busy with rehearsals every night for the musical revue. It hasn’t left much time for anything else. Except breakdancin’. Yeah, I told you it was on my list. I was up until midnight trying to learn The Swipe and The Glide. Strangely, I didn’t master it in about 15 minutes like I expected I would. Looks like I might have to put some effort into it. Fair enough. Rest assured it’ll be awesome when I get these moves down. Heck, I’ll even make a second instructional video for yas.

Meanwhile, I have this to say: mustaches, in general, make me suspicious. I don’t know, they just do.

I like classical music. Big sweeping movements and that emotional build up of chords and music leading to that oh-is-it-finally-going-to-resolve moment are just lovely.

Anyway, I realized the other day listening to MPB (Mississippi Public Broadcasting) that I, and probably many of my peers’, introduction to classical music is due to Looney Tunes.

Think about it man.

William Tell, Ride of the Valkyries, Barber of Seville, etc etc etc are all recognizable for many people due to Bugs Bunny and friends. Even today, when I hear one of these pieces, images of Daffy or Foghorn Leghorn or Wile E. Coyote float up from the buried portion of my subconscious where my childhood memories live.

I plan to buy the Looney Tunes DVDs for my own enjoyment and for my future, not-yet-conceived-or-born-as-far-as-i-know children.

Poor kids today probably don’t watch Looney Toons. Surely it’s still on TV, I haven’t checked and I haven’t seen it in years. I don’t know what the cartoons are like today. When I do catch one, I don’t know what the heck is going on or when I should laugh or be scared or anything. But I bet there ain’t no classical music kickin’ it on the cartoons today. Man I hope I’m wrong.

Kathy Fong is the Bomb

I must apologize to those of you who have been relentlessly clicking the refresh button and have only been met with disappointment. Well be disappointed no longer! Or maybe a bit longer.

I’m sitting in the bed with lappy in my lappy. Dang I Love Wireless. DILW. I’m listening to the gentle sounds of gun fire outside my bedroom window. It’s possible it’s only fireworks but gun fire sounds more neater-er. I’ve taken the weekend to visit mis padres and mis padres-in-laws. I did some shopping and picked some clothes and a couple of CDs. Awesome points to those who can name one of the CDs based on today’s title. I’m all pooped out but I’ve got some new posts to work on that will be along shortly. In the mean time, go here and read everything.

Also, as is plainly obvious (and redundant), I have mad ‘shop skillz.