✅ ⚠️ TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Decade lists or other year spans
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JR
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✅ ⚠️ TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by JR »

I know some other TimeOut lists were not eligible, but these are decade lists, so maybe. The 1990s one is far less mainstream, overall, than the 80s one.

Best Songs of the ’80s
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/th ... -80s-songs
50. “Super Freak” by Rick James
49. "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli
48. “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie
47. “I Can't Wait” by Nu Shooz
46. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
45. “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa
44. “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen
43. “With or Without You” by U2
42. “Drive” by the Cars
41. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
40. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
39. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
38. "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
37. "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner
36. “More than This” by Roxy Music
35. “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
34. “Close to Me” by the Cure
33. “This Charming Man” by the Smiths
32. “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
31. "End of the World as We Know It" by R.E.M.
30. “Every Breath You Take” by the Police
29. “Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order
28. “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac
27. “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates
26. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley
25. “I Think We're Alone Now” by Tiffany
24. "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners
23. “Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar
22. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” by Tina Turner
21. “Ain't Nobody” by Chaka Khan
20. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by the Clash
19. “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals
18. "Faith" by George Michael
17. “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie
16. "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry
15. “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads
14. "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League
13. "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News
12. “Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
11. "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
10. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears
9. "Africa" by Toto
8. "Down Under" by Men at Work
7, "Into the Groove" by Madonna
6. “When Doves Cry” by Prince
5. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
4. “Modern Love” by David Bowie
3. “West End Girls” by Pet Shop Boys
2. "Take On Me" by A-ha
1. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston

http://www.timeout.com/london/music/best-90s-songs
The 50 Best ’90s Songs
50. ‘…Baby One More Time’ – Britney Spears
49. ‘Undone – The Sweater Song’ – Weezer
48. ‘All That She Wants’ – Ace of Bass
47. ‘Your Woman’ – White Town
46. ‘Novocaine for the Soul’ – Eels
45. ‘Cannonball’ – The Breeders
44. ‘Loaded’ – Primal Scream
43. ‘It’s a Shame (My Sister) (Extended Mix)’ – Monie Love featuring True Image
42. ‘Killing Me Softly’ – The Fugees
41. ‘Flat Beat’ – Mr Oizo
40. ‘On a Ragga Tip’ – SL2
39. ‘Say You’ll Be There’ – Spice Girls
38. ‘You Don’t Know Me’ – Armand Van Helden
37. ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ – Saint Etienne
36. ‘Pony’ – Ginuwine
35. ‘1979’ – Smashing Pumpkins
34. ‘The Private Psychedelic Reel’ – The Chemical Brothers
33. ‘You Oughta Know’ – Alanis Morrisette
32. ‘Animal Nitrate’ – Suede
31. ‘Step On’ – Happy Mondays
30. ‘Windowlicker’ – Aphex Twin
29. ‘Rebel Girl’ – Bikini Kill
28. ‘Vogue’ – Madonna
27. ‘Enter Sandman’ – Metallica
26. ‘Stutter’ – Elastica
25. ‘Juicy’ – The Notorious BIG
24. ‘Poison’ – The Prodigy
23. ‘Inner City Life’ – Goldie
22. ‘The Boy With the Arab Strap’ – Belle And Sebastian
21. ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ – The Verve
20. ‘Killing in the Name’ – Rage Against The Machine
19. ‘Sure Shot’ – Beastie Boys
18. ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – Sinéad O’Connor
17. ‘Born Slippy.Nuxx’ – Underworld
16. ‘Midnight in a Perfect World’ – DJ Shadow
15. ‘Loser’ – Beck
14. ‘Deceptacon’ – Le Tigre
13. ‘Big Time Sensuality’ – Björk
12. ‘Paranoid Android’ – Radiohead
11. ‘Live Forever’ – Oasis
10. ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ – Massive Attack
9. ‘Waterfalls’ – TLC
8. ‘Beetlebum’ – Blur
7. ‘Soon’ – My Bloody Valentine
6. ‘Never Forget’ – Take That
5. ‘Glory Box’ – Portishead
4. ‘Da Funk’ – Daft Punk
3. ‘Rid of Me’ – PJ Harvey
2. ‘Common People’ – Pulp
1. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – Nirvana
Last edited by JR on Wed Apr 13, 2016 1:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Henrik
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Henrik »

Sure these are eligible. Thanks JR!

1980s
26. Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Bruno »

One song by artist, right?
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by JR »

Yeah, doesn't look like there's multiple songs by an act.

Henrik- those Rick Astley hits from that era were cheesetastic fun, just like SAW's work on Kylie Minogue's tracks from the same time period. :mrgreen: SAW was like the Max Martin of its time (think MM's work from the late 90s/early 2000s)- the production on many were nearly interchangeable.
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Daniel »

JR wrote:Best Songs of the ’80s
49. "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli
11. "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
1. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston

The 50 Best ’90s Songs
50. ‘…Baby One More Time’ – Britney Spears
48. ‘All That She Wants’ – Ace of Bass
39. ‘Say You’ll Be There’ – Spice Girls
:?
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by babydoll »

Henrik, I think the Milli Vanilli at #49 was worst than the Rick Astley. Be thankful none of Peter Cetera's solo hits were included.

At least my favorite song of the '90s made it in at #50! Okay, I like that song for reasons I cannot fathom. But, dear God, do we need Smells Like Teen Spirit yet again on a list?
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Bruno »

Daniel wrote:
JR wrote:Best Songs of the ’80s
49. "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli
11. "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
1. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston

The 50 Best ’90s Songs
50. ‘…Baby One More Time’ – Britney Spears
48. ‘All That She Wants’ – Ace of Bass
39. ‘Say You’ll Be There’ – Spice Girls
:?
Well, I think “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and "...Baby One More Time" are very good songs. And the others are not bad at all.
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Daniel »

Bruno wrote:
Daniel wrote:
JR wrote:Best Songs of the ’80s
49. "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli
11. "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
1. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston

The 50 Best ’90s Songs
50. ‘…Baby One More Time’ – Britney Spears
48. ‘All That She Wants’ – Ace of Bass
39. ‘Say You’ll Be There’ – Spice Girls
:?
Well, I think “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and "...Baby One More Time" are very good songs. And the others are not bad at all.
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody" isn't bad, but the best song of the '80s? There are 454 songs from the '80s that are ranked higher on AcclaimedMusic.

I suppose "...Baby One More Time" is AM's 88th highest-ranked song of the '90s. I guess I've just never enjoyed that song nearly as much as others do :P
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Henrik »

babydoll wrote:Henrik, I think the Milli Vanilli at #49 was worst than the Rick Astley. Be thankful none of Peter Cetera's solo hits were included.
I mentioned Rick Astley because the entry is missing in JR's list. I love that song!
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by JR »

Ohh- didn't pick up on that. Thanks for pointing it out, Henrik. :)

I also enjoy "Never Gonna Give You Up" (as well as "Together Forever"- those SAW productions all ran together, but what fun. hehe)
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by JR »

The 1980s list has been updated apparently, with some changes (is it updated on an ongoing basis?):

1. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston
In 1987, Whitney was still very much a fresh-faced siren with the crystal-clear voice and a world of possibilities at her feet. Her approach to this song—which, when you break it down, is more about loneliness than love—says a lot about her ability to radiate warmth and positivity through her singular sound. It's miles away from the struggles the singer would face later in her career. Always a party starter and roof-igniting karaoke jam, the song become a bittersweet rallying cry in the years since her death. You can practically hear 23-year-old smiling through the chorus, urging every last wallflower on to the dance floor. Who can resist?—Andrew Frisicano

2. “Take On Me” by A-ha
The first and biggest hit by the Norwegian electropop trio A-ha, “Take On Me,” rose to international popularity in 1985 on the strength of its groundbreaking video, a mix of live-action and pencil-drawn animation that starred dreamy lead singer Morten Harket as the hero of an escapist romance between a lonely woman and a comic-book adventurer. (It won six MTV Video Awards.) The song’s masterfully infectious synth riff, sampled back to glory by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera in 2013’s “Feel This Moment,” would be enough to secure it a spot on any list of ’80s classics. But “Take On Me” is also distinguished by Harket’s improbably octave-spanning vocals, whose seeming effortlessness has inspired countless screeching karaoke wipeouts.—Adam Feldman

3. “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey
By this point, you know where you stand on this one: You hear Jonathan Cain's piano intro, and you either swell up with joy or wince in pain. Whatever your take, you're about to get flattened by an emotional steamroller: four minutes of undiluted underdog yearning and a portrait of anonymous lost souls praying for luck and love on the streets of nonexistent South Detroit, starring Steve Perry's scarily, swoopingly elastic voice. Whether it's playing over the Sopranos finale, soundtracking a White Sox World Series run, turning up on Glee or simply blasting out of your earbuds at the gym, this song represents the apex of scream-along arena-scale pop-rock.—Hank Shteamer

4. “Modern Love” by David Bowie
Bowie was all over the place during the ’80s: duetting with Jagger, clambering into spandex for Labyrinth, getting buried alive for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and ultimately embarking on a midlife crisis that resulted in a worrying beard and Tin Machine. But before all that, he managed to lay down some of the decade’s best tracks, including this nihilistic, Nile Rodgers–assisted soul boogie from 1983. We defy your feet to stay on the floor as that cyclical, cynical, irresistible chorus hurtles on.—James Manning

5. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
We get so used to the sleek, funky side of Michael Jackson that it's easy to forget how hard "Beat It" actually legitimately rocks. And it's not just Eddie Van Halen's famous finger-busting solo; it's that perfectly formed sneer of a guitar riff—conceived by Jackson and played by session ace Steve Lukather—those exaggered downbeats that feel like medicine balls being slammed down on a concrete floor and the raw desperation in MJ's voice as he chronicles the harsh truths of the street-fighting life. As much of a dance-floor killer as it is, "Beat It" is a genuinely heavy song, psychologically as much as sonically.—Hank Shteamer

6. “When Doves Cry” by Prince
As a cocksure teenager, Prince passed on four major-label record deals, demanding artistic autonomy until Warner Bros. granted it. Years later, he would infamously scrawl “slave” on his cheek, and emancipate himself from his given name, referring to himself by a proto-emoji. And yet, the sharp crack of a proverbial whip yielded some stunning results in 1984. The Purple Rain soundtrack was thought to be complete, but the director needed a power ballad to lay over a montage of domestic discord. Prince whipped up two tunes overnight, the winner being “When Doves Cry.” With such little time, he didn’t bother with a bassline. Debussy once noted, “Music is the space between notes.” Prince decked the emptiness with eyeliner and silk. It would be the pinnacle of his career. There’s something to be said for having a boss.—Brent DiCrescenzo

7. “Into the Groove” by Madonna
A song so quintessentially ’80s, from its sharp synth bass to its inclusion in her flick Desperately Seeking Susan—this popgasm has only one critic: Madonna. Years after its 1985 release, she said that she felt like a dork singing it. Fine, Madge, but you can't have looked as dorky as the millions of us who sang it into our hairbrushes.—Oliver Keens​

8. “Blue Monday” by New Order
At nearly seven and a half minutes long, "Blue Monday" is one of the longest songs ever to show up on the U.K. singles chart. With its chugging synths and stuttering drum machine beat, it was a particularly visible signpost along New Order's journey from post-punk into dancier, italo-disco-inflected terrain. Considering "Blue Monday" went on to become the best-selling 12-inch single of all time, it's safe to say the band was headed in the right direction.—Kristen Zwicker

9. “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen
The Boss pinched the title of an old crooners’ standard to write his own classic, the finest single from his massive “Born in the USA” album in 1984. Bursting with ambition, frustration and sex, “Dancing in the Dark” is also Springsteen’s dance-floor peak, with a typically stunning sax solo by the late Clarence Clemons to top it all off. And there aren’t many songs from the era that come with an important warning about fire safety in the chorus.—James Manning

10. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
We may dismiss the '80s as an era of musical cheese, light on substance and heavy on excess (turn up the treble!, more sax!, etc.). But the decade delivered some of music’s most emotional, teary moments, the more affecting for the fact that the vehicle is pop. This 1985 hit by Tears for Fears is one such a song, an existential meditation of sorts, opening with the line, “Welcome to your life—there’s no turning back.” It’s a serious pop song, as bassist-singer Curt Smith remarked: “It's about everybody wanting power, about warfare and the misery it causes.”—Sophie Harris

11. “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates
In the early-’80s subgenre of songs about surveillance—a category that includes such worthies as “Eye in the Sky,” “Somebody’s Watching Me” and “Every Breath You Take”—none is as straight-up catchy as this mid-period Hall & Oates number, the title track of their 1981 album. The Philly duo was in the process of giving its rock-and-soul sound a shiny new-wave makeover (complete with synthesizer), but the secrets to the song’s lasting pep are its backing harmonies and, especially, its good old-fashioned handclaps. We dare you to hear it and not clap along.—Adam Feldman

12. “Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
“Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
For a good decade there, it seemed as though "Born to Run" was the absolute final word in blue-collar rock & roll mythmaking—but then along came the Boss's fellow Jerseyans Bon Jovi, who slathered the old story of two hard-luck dreamers longing for escape with a thick coat of glam-era bombast. Whether you take this 1986 hit as a cheesy relic or the apex of steroidal FM rawk, Bon Jovi's tale of guitarist turned dock worker Tommy and his diner-waitress main squeeze, Gina, is essentially flawless, right down to guitarist Richie Sambora's iconic talk-box–assisted opening hook and that vertigo-inducing key change after the bridge.—Hank Shteamer

13. “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & the News
It wasn't just a souped-up DeLorean that safely spirited Back to the Future's Marty McFly home to the '80s: He was also aided by this ditty from harmonica-blowing everydad Huey Lewis, who penned the song for the 1985 blockbuster's soundtrack. It's about as sappy as they come, but Baby Huey smartly slips in a line about how love doesn't require a credit card, which, as anyone who's gone on a date in the past 50 years can tell you, is totally bull. But it's a sweet thought.—Andrew Frisicano

14. “Don't You Want Me” by the Human League
1981 was the year that a band from Sheffield named after a sci-fi board game became pop superstars, and it was “Don’t You Want Me” that sealed the deal. But it almost didn’t. The Human League’s Phil Oakey tried to stop his “nasty song about sexual power politics” becoming the last single from the band’s era-defining Dare album. Virgin ended up releasing Oakey’s sordid but potent duet with the group’s teenage backing singer Susan Ann Sulley anyway. The rest is karaoke history, baby.—James Manning

15. “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads
Though it proved a surprise commercial hit for David Byrne's new-wave art-pop experimentalists, it's easy to forget just how deliciously weird this song sounded back in 1981. Serving up a heady—occasionally otherworldly—mixture of Afrobeat, funk, pop, rock, disco and psychedelia, the chorus of this existential anthem is huge enough to have stuck around for over 30 years.—Tristan Parker

16. “Buffalo Stance” by Neneh Cherry
When she strode on the scene in 1988, Neneh Cherry was one of those pop stars who made you do a double take—what the? who the?—before you ran out of the house to buy the single (on cassette, natch). The stepdaughter of jazz musician Don Cherry, Neneh was raised in Stockholm, New York and London, which explains her deliciously odd accent and assured street smarts. Decades before a very pregnant MIA performed at the Grammys, Cherry made her British-TV debut performing this hip-hop classic pregnant and proud—and delivering one of hip-hop’s freshest flows to this day.—Sophie Harris

17. “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie
It's impossible to feel bad when this tune's Caribbean-inflected rhythms start pumping from a nearby speaker. The perma-coifed Commodores frontman's 1983 single smashes any attempts to resist its groove. And that bit that sounds like made-up gibberish? It is. Richie attempted to find some suitable foreign phrases but got impatient and invented his own international party language.—Andrew Frisicano

18. “Faith” by George Michael
With jukeboxes and leather jackets, “Faith” was dressed up as old-time rock & roll, but the uptight shuffle remains gloriously modern. Michael produced the track himself with micromanaged minimalism. The guitar, claps and drums are so closely microphoned and clipped that the acoustic instruments pop and lock like the best electronic dance music. The hermetically sealed precision of the 1987 title track makes for surprising sexual tension. It’s all audio close-ups, the sonic equivalent of zooming in to a close shot of his tight denim ass.—Brent DiCrescenzo

19. “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals were so much weirder and cooler than you remember. The trio, a splinter off the English Beat, had its roots in ska, but over two albums chiseled a new pop sound that would echo onward from Massive Attack to TV on the Radio. But you could still smash faces at the roller rink to it. The arrangements on the sophomore album, The Raw & the Cooked, are spare and inflated, like punks playing to Wall Street. In this opening cut, big sloppy washes of distorted guitar crashes over a rigid drum machine, as Roland Gift lifts it to the sky with his helium falsetto.—Brent DiCrescenzo

20. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by the Clash
As the 1970s turned in the 1980s, punks and rockers (and there was a difference then) both became enamored with the sounds coming out of New York City. Even the Stones went disco and dabbled with rap. No guitar act better assimilated hip-hop than the Clash, probably because they had so much practice sponging up dub. This final single—or the last that matters, anyway—was a dry run for Mick Jones’s sampling-loving crew Big Audio Dynamite, a bit of Isley Brothers meets a Bronx boom box. Jones liked it so much he sampled the track a decade later for “The Globe.”—Brent DiCrescenzo

21. “Ain't Nobody” by Chaka Khan
Penned by Rufus keyboardist David J. "Hawk" Wolinski, this 1983 tune is pure, ecstatic funk. Restrained it ain't—and why would you want it to be? Strap in, as primo belter Chaka Khan harnesses her most primal instincts and delivers a fierce clinic on diva ad libbing.—Andrew Frisicano

22. “The Sweetest Taboo” by Sade
Sade is just so damned smooth. That honeyed voiced, the effortless beauty, it would be easy to be consumed by envy if we weren't all being lulled into a dopey, two-stepping, love-drunk stupor. The Nigerian-born U.K.-raised singer-songwriter is in top form on this hit single from her multi-platinum-selling second album, Promise. When it comes on, you've got no choice but to relax and drift off into the quiet storm.—Kristen Zwicker

23. “Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar
A firm salute, please, for veteran rock chick Pat Benatar, who commanded the airwaves with a take-charge attitude, a spandex wardrobe and the voice to back up both of them. After dropping out of Juilliard and working her way up the ladder at New York nightclubs, she broke out with swaggering songs like “Heartbreaker” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” but 1983’s “Love Is a Battlefield” finds her moving toward a softer-edged epic-pop sound. Some aspects of the production may flirt with kitsch—that spoken-word intro! That whistling in minute four!—but Benatar’s intensity hammers through them to offer a conflicted yet defiant battle-of-the-sexes anthem.—Adam Feldman

24. “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners
Maybe not surprising, coming from a band named after an amphetamine, but the U.K. group propels the juddering rhythms of its classic 1982 single like a dynamo, chugging through tempo changes while picking up steam for the big finish. The lyrics, about songwriter Kevin Rowland's youth as a sexually repressed Catholic kid, verge on dirty while remaining innocuous enough for your work-party karaoke sing-along.—Andrew Frisicano

25. “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie
Oh, that ill-fated bassline. Before Vanilla Ice famously ripped off—er, was inspired by the work of Queen bassist John Deacon, that subtle, infectious plucking heralded the meeting of two wildly influential rock icons. Considering the titanic forces at work in this tune, it's relatively understated, but it does ultimately climb to the sparkling heights that both Bowie and Mercury inhabited with such ease.—Kristen Zwicker

26. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
A sleeper hit for the English heavy-metal band in 1987 (it didn't get much play until the band recorded a promo clip for its North American release), “Pour Some Sugar on Me” is among the group’s finest efforts. The sexual innuendo is awesomely over-the-top (did any teen couple in the '80s not make out to this song?), but in reality the chorus was penned while singer Joe Elliott and his producer were sharing a cup of tea…with sugar. So there's that.—Kate Wertheimer

27. “What's Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner
In 1984, Tina Turner was 44 years old and on the comeback trail. Having finally split from her brutally abusive husband and artistic Svengali, Ike, she’d spent years in a limbo of cameos, Vegas shows and dud solo albums. But the hit album Private Dancer and its chart-topping single, “What’s Love Got to Do with It”—her first top-10 song in more than a decade—made the tough soul icon a solo superstar. The video found her strutting around New York City in a jean jacket, leather miniskirt and feather-duster hair—a bruised but defiantly happy paragon of independence. The message was clear: Turner’s career still had fabulous legs.—Adam Feldman

28. “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac
Rapture. That’s “Everywhere” in a nutshell. Sung by Christine McVie, this delectable swoon of a song appears on the band’s 1987 album, Tango in the Night (the last disc to date to feature the classic Mac lineup), and it’s the kind of track that needs to be played at least three times in a row, preferably on a roadtrip involving lots of singing along, to reach satisfaction saturation.—Sophie Harris

29. “Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order
Everything in a New Order song is a percussion instrument, from the metronomic drumming to Peter Hook’s bass lines to the synth fills to Bernard Sumner’s rhythmic sigh-singing. That’s why the band will be a dance-floor killer until a comet demolishes us. Each and every element in the song is dancing. By the middle of the decade, the band was mining house music heavily enough to join a union in Chicago though always balancing disco ecstasy with melancholy in true Mancunian fashion. A New Order single is like if architecture was flush with hormones.—Brent DiCrescenzo

30. “End of the World as We Know It” by R.E.M
“That’s great, it starts with an earthquake,” begins Michael Stipe—and the rumbling and rambling get crazier from there in R.E.M.’s punk-ironic beat poem. The lyrics pour out in a nervy jumble of apocalyptic imagery, military danger and mass-media frenzy, with pointed name-drops of pop-culture figures (Lenny Bruce, Leonid Brezhnev, Leonard Bernstein and Lester Bangs) united only by their initials. Unlike its evil twin in 1980s rock, Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” the song was not a huge pop hit; on its 1987 album, Document, R.E.M. was still emerging from the niche of college rock. But its cut-through-the-chaos message still connects with anyone aiming to clear out a polluted stream of consciousness.—Adam Feldman

31. “Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes
Is this song really about that? The opening tune on Milwaukee-buskers-turned-alt-rock-superstars Violent Femmes' self-titled debut starts with one of the more recognizable guitar licks of the modern era, and then proceeds to sing about, um, masturbation—or so everyone thought. That interpretation was disputed by frontman Gordon Gano in an interview with the Village Voice in 2013, but one thing isn't up for debate: "Blister in the Sun" is a catchy, unfettered romp that sounds just as fresh now as it did 30 years ago.—Kristen Zwicker

32. “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
Bush was discovered when barely into her teens, knocking out genius tunes on a piano in her cozy Kent, England, home. Her erudite songs referenced literature by Emily Brontë and James Joyce, resulting in knotty and outlandish pop music. But her aching sensuality allowed her strangeness to connect with a mass audience. Like Bowie, she was trained in mime, giving her singles a sense of performance and movement, even if you couldn’t see the nifty videos. “Running Up That Hill” was so huge because it was her most digestible—though still weird, with its galloping drums and a Fairlight synthesizer hook that sounds like pan pipes from deep space. Few songs from the era are so rich and perfect.—Brent DiCrescenzo

33. “This Charming Man” by the Smiths
Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was allegedly spurred to write this poppy upbeat single after jealously eyeing the radio success of labelmates Aztec Camera. Whatever the motivation, we're glad he did. Though it didn't top the charts upon release, the 1983 tune became an anthem for the ages, pairing Marr's jangly guitar runs with a delightfully hyperactive bass line and Morrissey's dandified yarn about male affection.—Andrew Frisicano

34. “I Think We're Alone Now” by Tiffany
Though this song was first recorded in 1967 by Tommy James and the Shondells, synth-pop songstress Tiffany repopularized the tune in 1987, turning it into a chart-topping teen anthem. A mall tour (remember when that was a thing?), "The Beautiful You: Celebrating the Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87," solidified both the song's and Tiffany's success, as well as a permanent spot on any best-of-the-'80s list.—Kate Wertheimer

35. “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
Those who grew up in the '90s should know this from two awesome movie dance scenes: a sexy one in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom, and a silly one in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. But for the '80s crowd, it’s a classic slow dance that stands up as one of the strongest songs of the decade. Cyndi’s mad orange hair might be dated like lukewarm milk, but “Time After Time” still smells fresh to us.—James Manning

36. “Down Under” by Men at Work
This 1981 platinum-certified single is essentially Australia's unofficial national anthem, incorporating country pride, lots of local slang ("fried-out Kombi," "head full of zombie") and even the tune of a popular Aussie children's song, "Kookaburra," for the flute part. Insanely popular in its home country, the song also made waves internationally, shifting millions of copies and becoming an instant karaoke classic. We'll still pass on that Vegemite sandwich though, thanks.—Kate Wertheimer

37. “Pictures of You” by the Cure
The ’80s were not a time of subtlety. Eye shadow was bright, suits were powerful, and when it came to hair and emotion, bigger was always better. The Cure frontman Robert Smith had both, and wielded the latter to devastating effect in this single from the band’s 1989 masterpiece, Disintegration. Smith’s poignant songwriting was like a post-punk baptism, inviting the lovelorn to let the layers of reverb-laden guitar spill over their heads and wash their pain away.—Kristen Zwicker

38. “Sweet Child o ' Mine” by Guns N' Roses
If you're in an '80s cover band and you're not playing this song on a nightly basis—well, there's just absolutely no way you're not. Of all of the iconic guitar riffs on this list, the opening line from "Sweet Child o' Mine" takes the air-splitting cake. The third single from Guns N' Roses' shining debut, 1987's Appetite for Destruction, it was the band's first and only number one single. Nearly three decades on, it never fails to make us sing our fool hearts out on the dance floor.—Kristen Zwicker

39. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
Nobody writes grandiose heartbreak like Jim Steinman, and he’s never done it better than in this smash 1983 epic ballad for the raspy-voiced Welsh belter Bonnie Tyler. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was originally conceived as a song for a vampire—it even showed up later in Steinman’s 2002 Broadway fiasco, Dance of the Vampires—and its gothic underpinnings are front and center in the song’s lurid video (which inspired a hilarious YouTube parody). This is longing on a supernatural scale, and Tyler holds her own against the thundering arrangement as she roars out some of the least quiet desperation ever known to pop music.—Adam Feldman

40. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
You'd think that Mike Tyson air-drumming to Phil Collins's 1981 signature hit in The Hangover would've somehow sapped "In the Air Tonight" of its eerie potency. But no, the song, shot through with the Genesis drummer –turned–solo hit maker's post-divorce bitterness, still unfolds with a dramatic tension worthy of Stanley Kubrick, layering haunting guitar wisps, pillowy synth chords and Collins's ghostly vocodered lead turn over a rudimentary Roland CR-78 beat. Oh, and there's also the little matter of the greatest drum fill in pop history at the 3:40 mark.—Hank Shteamer

41. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
Turning jaunty Motown influences into icy synth pop may sound like sacrilege, but that's exactly what English duo Soft Cell did when it covered Gloria Jones's 1965 funky stomper in 1981. Ditching the original's energy for Marc Almond's cut-glass tones and unashamedly machine-driven melodies, Soft Cell's version soon became huge, paving the way for the ’80s synth-pop explosion that followed.—Tristan Parker

42. “Computer Love” by Zapp
Two decades before T-Pain fell in love with a stripper (and subsequently a bartender) and Kanye West made 808s & Heartbreak, Ohio outfit Zapp’s frontman Roger Troutman was serenading ladies with the aid of Auto-Tune’s weirder, funkier uncle: the talk box. Troutman wasn’t the first to use the mechanism (Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh and Stevie Wonder all preceded him), but he was arguably one of the best. And when the innovative funk man set it against those sparkling synths and ambling drum machine beat, there wasn’t one among us who wasn’t in the mood for a little digital love.—Kristen Zwicker

43. “Super Freak” by Rick James
Catchier than a flytrap, more sordid than a night out with Charlie Sheen, Rick James hit the summit of his career with the wild funk of "Super Freak." A global hit in 1981, the star's signature song finds him joined by the mighty Temptations on backing vocals—including James's uncle, Melvin Franklin. Neither today's changing attitudes toward gender equality nor sampling by MC Hammer can diminish its greatness.—Oliver Keens

44. “Girl You Know It's True” by Milli Vanilli
It wasn’t just the music that became synthesized in the ’80s: Everything got the imitation treatment. Food manufacturers went on an additives frenzy, everything was made out of plastic, makeup trends made humans look like robots.… So it’s little wonder it turned out that even the pop stars themselves weren’t real, as in the case of German dance-pop duo Milli Vanilli. The pair was rumbled for lip-synching along to “Girl You Know It’s True” in 1989, a year after the song (which celebrates authenticity) was released. Does it make the song any less excellent and era-defining? Absolutely not.—Sophie Harris

45. “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa
Complexity, be damned! Sometimes all you really need for a truly memorable hit is economy—as proved by this stone-cold classic from 1988. On "Push It," all-gal Queens hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa made pop magic via a seemingly simple combination of Casio beats; a few big, dumb keyboard stabs; and a lot of impassioned, steamy cries of "Ooh, baby baby." Job done.—Tristan Parker

46. “Back in Black” by ACDC
A white-hot tribute to late frontman Bon Scott, the title track to AC/DC's seventh studio album has been covered by Muse, Shakira, the Foo Fighters, Santana and countless others. The album, released in 1980, went on to become the second-highest-selling album in history, cementing the Aussie outfit's status as one of the biggest hard rock bands of all time.—Kristen Zwicker

47. “Drive” by the Cars
Early Cars hits were all tight leather trousers and sunglasses, but by the end of their career, they were producing records like Michael Bay makes movies, filled with special effects, perpetual sunsets and supermodels. “Drive” was their ultimate slow-dance for the end of prom and the template for every Killers song ever. Layers upon layers of keyboards and digital choir boys stack up to make a mille-feuille of gooey, ethereal new-wave.—Brent DiCrescenzo

48. “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie
Hip-hop hit its golden era in the ’80s. Biz Markie was both emblematic of the genre’s giddy charms and the man responsible for its ultimate downfall. As critics continued to peg rap as a passing novelty, this big, lisping teddy bear from Long Island thumbed his nose at such stuck-up stupidity. He overtly recycled refuse from pop’s past and amped up the humor, daring haters to resist his charms. His records were as much comedy albums and demonstrations of sampling as pretentious works of art, which made them even greater works of art. Eventually, he had the shit sued out of him, and hip-hop was forever changed. But the greater loss is Biz’s sense of self-deprecation. “Just A Friend” is the opposite of braggadocio.—Brent DiCrescenzo

49. “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
“I wanna rock right now / I'm Rob Base and I came to get down / I'm not internationally known / But...” If you were born between 1970 and 1985, there's no way you didn't finish that line in your head. Just no possible way. Unless, of course, you're alone right now, in which case you rapped it aloud. This party-igniting flip of Lyn Collins's "Think (About It)" was released in 1988, served as the intro theme to the inaugural season of Yo! MTV Raps, eventually went platinum and still makes us get stupid—we mean outrageous.—Kristen Zwicker

50. “What Have You Done for Me Lately” by Janet Jackson
You could be forgiven for thinking Janet Jackson appeared as a fully-formed superstar, but in actuality her first two albums were met with mixed reviews and achieved only modest success. All of that changed with "What Have You Done for Me Lately," the lead single from her third effort, Control. With a no-nonsense attitude and some killer dance moves (the video was choreographed by Paula Abdul), Jackson established herself as one of R&B's leading innovators, and a woman who wasn't afraid to demand what she deserved.—Kristen Zwicker
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by StevieFan13 »

Time to clear something up: that second '80s list is actually from Time Out New York, and the first from Time Out London. Or, actually, the first is an earlier version of the list that became Time Out London's. There are some minor adjustments there too.
For comparison, here's New York:
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/t ... -80s-songs
And here's London:
https://www.timeout.com/london/music/th ... -80s-songs
And I posted the Chicago one in another thread. I personally think they should all be counted separately.
There are probably some changes between the first New York version and the London version that I'll try figuring out later. Basically, you should disregard the first New York list, and count the second New York list and the London list.
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by StevieFan13 »

I'll transcribe again.
TimeOut (London): The 50 Best '80s Songs (2015)
50. ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ – Tiffany
49. ‘Girl You Know It’s True’ – Milli Vanilli
48. ‘Just a Friend’ – Biz Markie
47. ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ – Tears For Fears
46. ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ – Def Leppard
45. ‘Here I Go Again’ – Whitesnake
44. ‘With or Without You’ – U2
43. ‘Drive’ – The Cars
42. ‘The Power of Love’ – Huey Lewis & The News
41. ‘Pull Up to the Bumper’ – Grace Jones
40. ‘I Can’t Wait’ – Nu Shooz
39. ‘In the Air Tonight’ – Phil Collins
38. ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ – Bonnie Tyler
37. ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ – Journey
36. ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ – Foreigner
35. ‘More Than This’ – Roxy Music
34. ‘Time After Time’ – Cyndi Lauper
33. ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ – Rick Astley
32. ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ – New Order
31. ‘It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ – REM
30. ‘Super Freak’ – Rick James
29. ‘Every Breath You Take’ – The Police
28. ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ – Fine Young Cannibals
27. ‘Private Eyes’ – Hall & Oates
26. ‘Faith’ – George Michael
25. ‘Dancing in the Dark’ – Bruce Springsteen
24. ‘Come on Eileen’ – Dexys Midnight Runners
23. ‘Love Is a Battlefield’ – Pat Benatar
22. ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ – Tina Turner
21. ‘Ain’t Nobody’ – Rufus and Chaka Khan
20. ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ – The Clash
19. ‘Close to Me’ – The Cure
18. ‘All Night Long (All Night)’ – Lionel Richie
17. ‘Take on Me’ – A-ha
16. ‘Africa’ – Toto
15. ‘Don’t You Want Me’ – The Human League
14. ‘Tainted Love’ – Soft Cell
13. ‘Buffalo Stance’ – Neneh Cherry
12. ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ – Bon Jovi
11. ‘Running Up That Hill’ – Kate Bush
10. ‘This Charming Man’ – The Smiths
9. ‘Everywhere’ – Fleetwood Mac
8. ‘Push It’ – Salt-N-Pepa
7. ‘Into the Groove’ – Madonna
6. ‘When Doves Cry’ – Prince
5. ‘Beat It’ – Michael Jackson
4. ‘Modern Love’ – David Bowie
3. ‘Once in a Lifetime’ – Talking Heads
2. ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ – Whitney Houston
1. ‘West End Girls’ – Pet Shop Boys

TimeOut (New York): The 50 Best '80s Songs (2016)
50. “What Have You Done for Me Lately” by Janet Jackson
49. “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
48. “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie
47. “Drive” by the Cars
46. “Back in Black” by AC/DC
45. “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa
44. “Girl You Know It's True” by Milli Vanilli
43. “Super Freak” by Rick James
42. “Computer Love” by Zapp
41. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
40. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
39. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
38. “Sweet Child o ' Mine” by Guns N' Roses
37. “Pictures of You” by the Cure
36. “Down Under” by Men at Work
35. “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
34. “I Think We're Alone Now” by Tiffany
33. “This Charming Man” by the Smiths
32. “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush
31. “Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes
30. “End of the World as We Know It” by R.E.M
29. “Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order
28. “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac
27. “What's Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner
26. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard
25. “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie
24. “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners
23. “Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar
22. “The Sweetest Taboo” by Sade
21. “Ain't Nobody” by Chaka Khan
20. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by the Clash
19. “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals
18. “Faith” by George Michael
17. “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie
16. “Buffalo Stance” by Neneh Cherry
15. “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads
14. “Don't You Want Me” by the Human League
13. “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & the News
12. “Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
11. “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates
10. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears
9. “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen
8. “Blue Monday” by New Order
7. “Into the Groove” by Madonna
6. “When Doves Cry” by Prince
5. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
4. “Modern Love” by David Bowie
3. “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey
2. “Take On Me” by A-ha
1. “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston

A lot of the descriptions are the same, but some songs are replaced and a lot are switched around. Same deal with the Chicago list. I still think they should all be counted as separate lists.
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Henrik »

From New York, London and Chicago altogether, there are only 65 songs unique songs in total. Hence, I am definitely not gonna count these 80s lists as they are from separate sources.

Only 6 songs appear in just one list:

Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock (Chicago)
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Chicago)
Hall & Oates - I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) (Chicago)
The Clash - The Magnificent Seven (Chicago)
Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper (London)
Men at Work - Down Under (New York (both editions))
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by Henrik »

Henrik wrote:From New York, London and Chicago altogether, there are only 65 songs unique songs in total. Hence, I am definitely not gonna count these 80s lists as they are from separate sources.

Only 6 songs appear in just one list:

Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock (Chicago)
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Chicago)
Hall & Oates - I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) (Chicago)
The Clash - The Magnificent Seven (Chicago)
Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper (London)
Men at Work - Down Under (New York (both editions))
To clarify, I will include each of the three lists (not the first NY list) as coming from the same source, which means that the additional gain for a song for being on two or three of the lists will be small.
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by StevieFan13 »

Henrik wrote:
Henrik wrote:From New York, London and Chicago altogether, there are only 65 songs unique songs in total. Hence, I am definitely not gonna count these 80s lists as they are from separate sources.

Only 6 songs appear in just one list:

Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock (Chicago)
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Chicago)
Hall & Oates - I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) (Chicago)
The Clash - The Magnificent Seven (Chicago)
Grace Jones - Pull Up to the Bumper (London)
Men at Work - Down Under (New York (both editions))
To clarify, I will include each of the three lists (not the first NY list) as coming from the same source, which means that the additional gain for a song for being on two or three of the lists will be small.
Makes sense to me.
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by lagire »

I am not sure about these lists Today.
TimeOut New York (USA) - 50 Best '80s Songs (2016)
TimeOut New York (USA) - 50 Best '80s Songs (2015)
TimeOut London (UK) - 50 Best '80s Songs (2015)
TimeOut Chicago (USA) - 50 Best '80s Songs (2015)

All links for these lists in this thread goes to this one and only one.
Adress link have always "50-best-80s-songs" but the list was expanded to 60 songs in 2022!
https://www.timeout.com/music/the-50-best-80s-songs

The link for the chicago list is broken and i think they make a one and only list for these 4 lists.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5321&p=73600&hilit= ... ago#p73600
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Re: TimeOut: Best Songs of the 1980s and 1990s

Post by StevieFan13 »

Yeah, that’s been the weird thing. They used to all be distinct lists, but I think they all got mushed together later on.
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