My buddy Quincy and I just had a great lunch discussion. Here was the question posed:
2 songs that are the MOST 80s. Not necessarily the most popular songs or had the most musical impact or were even the most memorable. 2 songs that you could let an alien listen to and say: 'This summarizes the decade'. Here are the songs that we decided were it:
Take on Me by Ah-Ha
Rapper's Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang.
Here's who narrowly missed:
Billie Jean/Thriller by Michael Jackson
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds
Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
It's Tricky by Run DMC
The Message by Grandmaster Flash
Don't Stop Believing by Journey
There were several others that were mentioned but were quickly eliminated. Here was the reasoning:
1) Ah-Ha, when you hear it, you immediately go to the 80s. Fact. No song is more 80s. Doesn't mean it was the best or anything, just means that nothing typifies the period better. It has all the elements you need so it covers the Tears for Fears/Duran Duran/Mister Mister type bands. It's just enough rock so that you can include the Journey/Huey Lewis and such but it has that keyboard and emo feel to it to get those first group plus a little bit of the clash in there too.
2) The most important element of the discussion was that we had to decide what genres we were going to choose. Obviously, with our selections, we lose the hair band/big ballad/cheese rock that made such a huge dent. This is regrettable. No other way to put it. But, we only get 2 selections. So, GNR, Def Leapard, Scorpion, Skid Row, Van Halen, Poison, Motley Crue and others have to sit this play out. That hurt to type but tough decisions have to be made.
3) The poppy style rock we decided was the first element represented and we felt the natural choice was Ah-Ha. The 2nd category was harder. What was next? Rap music was in its infancy. We went with Sugar Hill gang, again, not because it had the 'greatest impact' (though I could argue that it did) but nothing better typified the 'happy and upbeat' style of 80s rap. Very catchy beat, pleasant lyrics, extremely palatable and accessible to white folks (as opposed to Public Enemy for example). You get that alien in a room and tell him: 'Hey bruh...no its just an expression. OK, here it is. This was the style. It was happy, awkward dancing, and sweaters...'
I don't know if we did the right thing here...it was not easy.
2 comments:
I think Ah-Ha is clearly good call, however other songs - maybe just memories but...
Anything Bon Jovi...really anything
Walk this way - Run DMC and Aerosmith (if you want 80s rap this is it, people think of these guys before sugar hill gange)
Lionel Ritchie "All Night Long" or Whitney Houston "How Will I know" or "I wanna dance with somebody" (I feel like your leaving out a huge category of 80s music) or even "Carribean Queen" by Billy Ocean
We are the world - By anyone who was anyone in the 80s (doesn't personify the type of music but it has everyone!)
Jump - Van Halen
Wake me up before you go-go -WHAM! (covers all the Culture Club etc., category people)
Flashdance - by ?
I could go on forever
Let's see "Just Can't Get Enough" by Depeche Mode as the most 80's song. That one-finger synth intro instantly stirs up images of Thatcher, spandex at dance clubs, and Flock of Seagulls hairdos. For that matter.."I Ran."
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