I always hate the question, “What is your favorite song?” This question always immediately brings up a host of response questions in my mind…What?! Just one? Which genre? Which decade? To listen to in the car? To sing to the Lord? To sing with my six year-old? So, basically, I can’t answer this question. And for the record, I hate the questions, “What is your favorite book?” and “What is your favorite movie?” too.
Last week I had a bucket list experience: I got to attend a Def Leppard concert!!! Tesla and Styx were there too, but…DEF LEPPARD! I have loved that band since I was about fifteen years-old. I have always wanted to see them live, but yet the opportunity always eluded me. But last Tuesday, I got to Rock, rock ’till I dropped. Okay…I promise not to include their song titles all throughout this post, as tempting as that is…
The whole experience has caused me to reminisce about my favorite 80s tunes. I tend to gravitate towards more hard rock selections, so this list is free of Madonna and Paula Abdul and Rick Astley. Sorry to all of you pop fans, but not many of those make my top ten.
So, let’s countdown…
10. “Separate Ways” by Journey
I know. I know. Everyone loves “Don’t Stop Believin'”… Yes, and that very thing has turned that song into a bit of a cliche, in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong. I still turn it up with the rest of you and sing along, but I’ve just always appreciated the hard rock riffs of this song. Plus, the message is kinda cool. Every girl would like to know that some guy that she apparently dumped, still has her back if her current guy hurts her. Yeah…well…it’s just a song. Undoubtably, Steve Perry has one of the best, most pure voices of the 80s, so any Journey song he sings is winner.
9. “When Doves Cry,” by Prince
I couldn’t find a video of this one, since apparently Prince doesn’t want his stuff played on YouTube for free. Aw, c’mon, Prince… This is one of the few pop selections that make my list, but this is a very cool tune, and Prince is basically a musical genius, so I had to include something of his.
8. “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” by Guns N’ Roses
A few GNR songs begged to be picked, but this is probably my favorite. Several years back, when my now engaged daughter got her first cell phone, I used this as a ring tone when she called me, so it’s a tad nostalgic to her early teen years as well. Plus I like Axl’s funky, wiggly legged dance he does. And then, of course, there’s Slash…
7. “Amadeus,” by Falco
Another song that probably falls into the pop category, but…but…Falco, and Wolfgang, and powdered wigs… It’s so good and a little weird, and I’ve always loved it.
6. “Here I Go Again,” Whitesnake
Again, no video. Not because they aren’t available, but because the lead singer was obsessed with a certain buxom brunette model who prances around, scantily clad, in ALL of their videos. However, you can’t deny that Whitesnake probably has one of the most classic 80s rock sounds. This song gave all of us who graduated in or near the 80s (I was c/o 1990), a great anthem to accompany packing our bags for college.
5. “Back in Black,” AC/DC
Arguably, I could list almost any of AC/DC’s tunes, as they all sound pretty much the same. Even though this one is probably one of their most recognizable, it still makes me happy every time it comes on the radio or they use a clip in a movie. AC/DC has to be the most fist-pumpiest (yeah, it’s my blog, and I’ll make up words if I want to..) groups of the 80s, and this song is one of their only ones I can listen to from start to finish without feeling awash in guilt. I mean moms driving their kids around town in their SUVs can hardly turn up the volume when “Highway to You-Know-Where” comes on.
4. “Jump,” Van Halen
Another instantly recognizable 80s rock classic! Van Halen is one of those groups that I feel were just a tad cheesy (probably thanks to David Lee Roth’s over-the-top-ness), but this song is ever-embedded in my brain as the Chicago Cubs’ theme song in the 80s, and I’m a huge Cub’s fan. So, “jump” on!
3. “Angel Eyes,” by the Jeff Healy Band
This is, perhaps, the least known song on my list. This was popular the fall of my senior year. I was living in Charleston, SC and had just experienced Hurricane Hugo. We lost power for several days after that, but I had plenty of batteries for my boombox, and without TV and phone and school, I listenened to the radio a lot, and they played this song constantly that month. The video is just slightly awkward, because Jeff Healy was legally blind, but the song references a woman’s physical appearance. Instead of getting an actor or just embracing his handicap somehow, they sort of try to imply that he is literally seeing the woman…like, you know, visually. And he obviously can’t. But anyway, if I didn’t ruin it for you with that little tidbit, give it a listen. It’s a beautiful ballad and worthy of a high spot on my list.
2. “Rock of Ages,” Def Leppard Ahem…I mean DEF LEPPARD!!!!
I’m not sure if Def Leppard ever released a song that I didn’t like. “Love Bites” is not a favorite, but everything else makes my head bob involuntarily. This is probably my favorite though. I’m not a huge fan of the video. I think it’s supposed to be creepy, and maybe in 1983 it was. Oh well…. Long live rock n’ roll!
1. “In Your Eyes,” Peter Gabriel
Not of the hard rock genre, but still one of the most beautiful songs ever written. This song gives me chills, even though I’ve probably heard it hundreds of times. At the surface, there’s the scene from the teeny-boppy movie “Say Anything.” You know John Cusack and the boombox and the car and the rain and the trenchcoat. But then the lyrics go beyond all that and can be as sincere and spiritual as any worship song. It’s actually been covered fairly well by some modern worship artists a couple of times (granted, they still don’t sound like Peter Gabriel…).
So, there they are….my ten favorite 80s songs. Are you an 80s music fans? Did I miss your favorites? Tell me what songs make you nostalgic for your jelly sandals and acrylic neon triangle earrings!