(VANITY) TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS ('80S)

me | 1/25/15 | me

[the OlLine Rebel]

OK, FREEPERS, LET'S START THIS CONTEST FOR THE GREATEST SONG OF THE '80S.

The baseline for the contest is the top 7 hits of each year of the '80s, as compiled by BILLBOARD. This is not based on personal preferences, biases, prejudices, or counter-culture reactivity.

The rules in general will be to vote for everything shown. No equivocating, ties, or omissions. Votes will only be counted if the "ballot" is complete.

ROUND 1

We begin by using the #7 songs of each year and paring them from 10 songs to 4 (to set up brackets for the rest of the contest).

1980 "Coming Up" Paul McCartney
1981 "Kiss on My List" Hall & Oates
1982 "Jack & Diane" John Cougar
1983 "Maneater" Daryl Hall & John Oates
1984 "Hello" Lionel Richie
1985 "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Tears for Fears
1986 "Party All the Time" Eddie Murphy
1987 "Here I Go Again" Whitesnake
1988 "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" Belinda Carlisle
1989 "Wind Beneath My Wings" Bette Midler

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

So she gets no love for briefly being a member of The Germs?

[Larry Lucido]

From that list you’d surmise there was no good music in the 80s.

That said, Midler was awesome in Rochelle Rochelle.

[LostInBayport]

I know the tune well, but could not understand the words (thought at best it was “coming on”) and would not be able to ID the singer as McCartney.

Seems the same is true for me! I have heard this before but didn't recognize it by title or singer.

That said, it still stays at ninth place on my list. I can't believe it made it to Number One on the singles chart!

[kristinn]

Different tastes. My top four are among my favorite songs from the 80s. But I have a lot of favorite songs.

[rabidralph]

Yikes, is right. There isn’t a single song on that list that I would care to hear again.

[heylady]

1987 “Here I Go Again” Whitesnake
1982 “Jack & Diane” John Cougar
1985 “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Tears for Fears
1984 “Hello” Lionel Richie
1983 “Maneater” Daryl Hall & John Oates
1981 “Kiss on My List” Hall & Oates
1988 “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” Belinda Carlisle
1986 “Party All the Time” Eddie Murphy
1989 “Wind Beneath My Wings” Bette Midler
1980 “Coming Up” Paul McCartney

[Gamecock]

There were some catchy lyrics out there that would just get stuck in your head!

Master of the house, doling out the charm
Ready with a handshake and an open palm
Tells a saucy tale, makes a little stir
Customers appreciate a bon-viveur

[reed13k]

With input from my 15 year old daughter - she’s a metal head so keep that in mind

1987 “Here I Go Again” Whitesnake (By far according to her - lol)
1988 “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” Belinda Carlisl
1982 “Jack & Diane” John Cougar
1989 “Wind Beneath My Wings” Bette Midler
1984 “Hello” Lionel Richie
1983 “Maneater” Daryl Hall & John Oates
1981 “Kiss on My List” Hall & Oates
1986 “Party All the Time” Eddie Murphy
1980 “Coming Up” Paul McCartney
1985 “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Tears for Fear

[dfwgator]

Maybe. But she was the hottest.

Jane Wiedlin was the hottest Go-Go, but still, she's no Susanna Hoffs.

[musicman]

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[dfwgator]

1985 “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Tears for Fears
1983 “Maneater” Daryl Hall & John Oates
1980 “Coming Up” Paul McCartney
1981 “Kiss on My List” Hall & Oates
1982 “Jack & Diane” John Cougar
1987 “Here I Go Again” Whitesnake
1984 “Hello” Lionel Richie
1986 “Party All the Time” Eddie Murphy
1988 “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” Belinda Carlisle
1989 “Wind Beneath My Wings” Bette Midler

[T. P. Pole]

Hoping for better things?

Because if I didn't vote, the wrong lizard might get in.

[Gamecock]

Not a great list IMHO.

Here goes:
1982 “Jack & Diane” John Cougar
1987 “Here I Go Again” Whitesnake

Don’t care for the rest of them.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Hey, it’s your game, we play by your rules :)

Just never a big John Cougar Mellowcrap fan, but hey, the 80s was quite the time for music. Looking forward to it and thank you for the add!

[MileHi]

Wow there are a lot of crappy songs here.

In the 1980s I became a huge country music fan.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Paul McCartney on #18, here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3250477/posts?page=18#18

Also found these.

Whitesnake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTd8XtZGK_8

Murphy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDbpzjbXUZI

Richie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62XB9IbMnxQ

[Larry Lucido]

Pink Floyd and Van Halen did some excellent work during the 80s as did many other groups. Just not seeing them or much else worthwhile in that admittedly abbreviated list.

[Larry Lucido]

I will say that Belinda Carlisle was pretty easy to look at back then.

[Larry Lucido]

“Yeah, and I’m Jerry Cougar Mellencamp.”

[RansomOttawa]

1982 “Jack & Diane” John Cougar
1985 “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” Tears for Fears
1983 “Maneater” Daryl Hall & John Oates
1987 “Here I Go Again” Whitesnake
1981 “Kiss on My List” Hall & Oates
1988 “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” Belinda Carlisle
1984 “Hello” Lionel Richie
1989 “Wind Beneath My Wings” Bette Midler
1986 “Party All the Time” Eddie Murphy
1980 “Coming Up” Paul McCartney

I’d never heard the Paul McCartney song until today. Geez, what a terrible tune. McCartney had a few solid hits in the 70s with Wings, but otherwise he really founders without the other Beatles.