Listening to 80 years of Billboard: Part 5: 1980s

[cnoocy]

“I sailed away to China
In a little rowboat to find ya
And you said you had to get your laundry clean”

The 1980s

I was born in 1972, so these are all solidly in childhood-to-teens memory territory for me. But because I know this music so well, I don’t have as much to say about it. I was impressed that for all I remember “Walk This Way” not ushering in the age of rock/rap fusion some thought it would, there was a continuous rap presence on the charts from that point on. Also how racism fell almost entirely away to be replaced by transphobia.

Here are some associations: Casey Kasem talking about "Endless Love" setting records for weeks at #1. Mishearing Melissa Manchester singing "You Should Hear How She Stopped The Luncheon." Learning the word "impresario" from "Take It Away." Thinking "Break My Stride" was the best song ever. Having "Can't Fight This Feeling" as the song of my first crush. Talking about "Your Wildest Dreams" with my crush the one time I was brave enough to call her on the phone. Dancing to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" at summer nerd camp. Learning all the words to "Bust A Move."

And some rediscoveries: "Other Guy" and its stick-with-me-babe 80-ness. The second-wave feminist lyrics of "Strut." Having "Who's Johnny" come up while walking to the train after a workday and listening to it three times. The run-on rhythms of "Poison."

“What You Need” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” both have nice intros that are often skipped in versions of the song you can find online.

"Upside Down" by Diana Ross: #18 in 1980
"Endless Love" by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie: #2 in 1981
"Queen Of Hearts" by Juice Newton: #14 in 1981
"You Should Hear How She Talks" by Melissa Manchester: #18 in 1982
"Hold Me" by Fleetwood Mac: #31 in 1982
"Freeze Frame" by J Geils Band: #49 in 1982
"Do You Believe in Love" by Huey Lewis and the News: #51 in 1982
"Take It Away" by Paul McCartney: #70 in 1982
"Gloria" by Laura Branigan: #75 in 1982 *
"I Know There's Something Going On" by Frida: #20 in 1983
"Come Dancing" by Kinks: #63 in 1983
"Other Guy" by Little River Band: #65 in 1983
"Break My Stride" by Mathew Wilder: #27 in 1984
"Head Over Heels" by Go-Gos: #88 in 1984
"Major Tom" by Peter Schilling: #96 in 1984
"Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon: #13 in 1985
"Strut" by Sheena Easton: #46 in 1985
"What You Need" by INXS: #55 in 1986
"Nasty" by Janet Jackson: #58 in 1986
"Who's Johnny" by El Debarge: #67 in 1986 *
"Word Up" by Cameo: #68 in 1986
"Your Wildest Dreams" by Moody Blues: #91 in 1986
"Only in My Dreams" by Debbie Gibson: #26 in 1987
"Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard: #19 in 1988
"Always On My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys: #80 in 1988
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl: #12 in 1989
"Bust a Move" by Young MC: #42 in 1989
"Close My Eyes" by Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne: #77 in 1989
"Love in an Elevator" by Aerosmith: #81 in 1989
"Promise" by When in Rome: #83 in 1989
"Poison" by Alice Cooper: #91 in 1989