80's People - More Greatest Hits of the 80's Review

The 1980's just might have been the most diverse decade musically. Disco died, Michael Jackson was an acclaimed artist instead of a disgraced freak and big haired rock bands roamed the landscape, filling arenas everywhere. All the while the proclaimed "new Beatles"- "A Flock of Seagulls" turned out to be just another one-hit wonder, of which there were many, (Adam Ant, anyone?). The Boss came into his own popularity-wise and some dinosaurs (Elton John, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, etc) survived the 70's to produce some of their best music and march on toward immortality (not to mention immorality). We saw country music ride "Urban Cowboy" into renewed popularity, only to nearly die at the hands of the same fad, and then be saved by a former juvenile delinquent from North Carolina, with a little help from a Texas cowboy, an Okie and a good ole boy from Newnan, Ga.

Yep, the 80's had it all. I shared some of my favorites from that decade a little while back and, like it or not, here are some more!

1. WALK THIS WAY-RUN D.M.C AND ARROWSMITH: A mere handful of songs can claim to have changed the face of popular music. This is one of them. The video, with Steven Tyler literally breaking through the wall separating the rock band from the rap group became the first rap video ever entered into heavy rotation on MTV and the single was the first rap song to crack the Billboard top 5. Besides, it just freakin' rocks! Oh…and raps.

2. YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME-BON JOVI: A favorite of jilted significant others everywhere, this phrase has been repeated, I dare say, bazillions of time in the past 20 years. Hey, YOU give love a bad name.

3. HERE I GO AGAIN-WHITESNAKE: Two words: Tawney Kitean. Her appearance on David Coverdale's car in white lingerie propelled this song to #1 and men everywhere into cold showers.

4. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT-PAT BENATAR: Her signature song fired up women all across the land with it's "I can take anything you can throw at me" attitude. Men everywhere took more cold showers.

5. HURTS SO GOOD-JOHN MELLANCAMP: Or, as I like to call it, the "beat me, hurt me, and change my name again" song. No doubt popular among masochists, it hurt just good enough to give him a major hit and resurrect his career.

6. EVERY LITTLE KISS-BRUCE HORNSBY AND THE RANGE: We all have songs we can't really explain why we love but we do. This is one for me. The idea of a guy who's so in love with a girl the mere thought of their next kiss keeps him going makes me smile.

7. THESE DREAMS-HEART: Co-written by Elton John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, this tune was the first power ballad recorded by these normally hard-rockin' ladies and became their first #1 hit. I love the melody and Nancy's gravelly vocals.

8. CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN)-BILLY OCEAN: See first sentence in 6. 80's dance music at it's finest, this song had different titles in different parts of the world (European Queen, African Queen) and was huge everywhere. Don't sway to it. Dare ya.

9. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME-DEF LEPPARD: What has 7 arms and sucks? Oh…you heard that one already. Actually, they do NOT suck and this is the single that drove the album "Hysteria" to the top of the charts. Trivia: Mutt Lange produced this album and Shania Twain often performed it in Canadian bars before she hit the big time.

10. I CAN'T GO FOR THAT(NO CAN DO)-HALL AND OATES: Love the R&B vibe here. In fact, the song became the rare single by a white act to top the Billboard R&B chart.

11. I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES-ELTON JOHN: Plaintive story of a man extolling his woman to think happy thoughts while he's away and bemoaning the emptiness of time without her. One of my very favorite EJ songs, featuring a mesmerizing harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder.

12. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS-FOREIGNER: Foreigner's only #1 song is a genuine raise your lighters and sway along in the dark power ballad and probably Mick Jones's finest hour as a songwriter and Lou Gramm's as a singer.

13. ITS STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME-BILLY JOEL: Mr. Joel's pot-shot at musical snobs was also his very first #1 song. I can't NOT sing along with this.

14. 867-5309/JENNY: Step right up! Here's ya fad startin' song right here! If you remember the 80's you remember how much money Ma Bell made off this song! Listening closely to the lyrics reveals a dude who's just a TAD creepy, but it's catchy and you can dance to it so I give it a 79.

15. JUMP-VAN HALEN: The only Van Halen single to ever reach #1 in America just proves beyond a doubt Van Roth rules over Van Hagar! Can I get an "Amen!"?

16. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU-THE ROMANTICS: Well known now because it's been featured in everything from commercials to sporting events, it hit only #48 in 1980. Most, including me, now consider it one of the 80's great songs.

17. KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF-GEORGIA SATELLITES: Southern rock at it's finest. I still remember the video with these guys rolling down the highway in a flatbed. Sort of a hillbilly version of "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights".

18. DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT-TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: Is there anything Tom Petty CAN'T do? I didn't think so. This may be one of his most underrated songs and I can't imagine why. EVERYBODY loves Tom Petty.

19. BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG-THE PRETENDERS: Believed to be a tribute to guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, who died of a drug over-dose. Lead singer Chrissie Hynde is said to get emotional at times while singing this and it's my favorite Pretenders song.

20. WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND-LOVERBOY: Still heard countless times at 5pm on Friday at classic rock stations everywhere. Aren't we all working for the weekend?