THIS POST WAS EATEN BY BLOGGER, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY.
But here's the text of it. No links, though, and no pix. Apparently, someone complained. Can't imagine who.
10. Down Under-Men at Work.
I chose to use this song, rather than the paranoid "Who Can It Be Now?" to represent my favorite member of the invasion of the Aussies in my top 20. Arguably, "Who" is more appropriate because there were so many paranoid songs in the 1980s (one of the best: Norman Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me.") But ever since I heard Colin Hay rework this song acoustically, I realized that this is a very well-crafted pop song. Besides, if it weren't for this song, which topped the chart from January 15 through Feb 11, 1983, nobody would know what a fried-out Combie was. If you still don't know, go rent Prescilla, Queen of the Desert.
Versions:
Spacecake. A bizarre version--part hard rock, part woodblock.
Curtis Peoples
9. Rapture-Blondie.
This one was harder for me, because the song itself is only so-so. But I really do dig the concept, and it was such an important song because it represented the first time a female "rapper" hit #1 on the Hot 100. More importantly, it brought Fab 5 Freddie's skillz to the mainstream—a direct result of a few CBGB punks making their way to a Harlem block party one day and being blown away. Hard to believe it was as long ago as 1981. Now, rockrap has become godawful.
Versions:
None that I am aware of. But as a consolation . . .
Rappers Delight-Of Montreal
8. Beat It-Michael Jackson.
Two songs from "Thriller" are in the top 10 because, hey, even though it came out at the beginning of the decade, no record better exemplifies the excess, the nonsense, the booming pop, and the drama of the 1980s. Beat It topped the chart for three weeks (April 30-May 20, 1983), featuring an Eddie Vedder guitar solo and a young Wesley Snipes in the video. And let us never forget the best Weird Al video ever: Eat It. Two gangbangers attached by a roasted chicken, armed only with forks.
Versions:
Supergrass
The Last Dinosaur
7. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)-Phil Collins.
Younger hipsters will know the Postal Service version of this song, which was brilliant for taking an overwrought arena ballad and making it sweet and small.
Versions: Go buy the entire Postal Service record. It's all you'll need.
6. Let's Go Crazy-Prince & The Revolution.
The Purple One is one of two short African Americans to make my top 10. He's litigious, but there's no denying his genius.
Versions:
Band of Tipsys. The WTF?? version.
5. Like a Prayer-Madonna.
I wasn't a fan when the song first came out, but when all the relignuts got crazy over it, I learned to love it. Now, it's my third favorite Madonna song ever. I can't believe Maddie only made this list once. I guess I don't like "Like a Virgin" all that much.
Versions:
See this huge A to Z post.
4. True Colors-Cyndi Lauper.
Love the Cyndi. And love this song, especially when she does it live. It topped the charts in late 1986.
Versions:
See this huge A to Z post.
3. Owner of a Lonely Heart-Yes.
One of the first #1 hits in the year 1984, and the lonely Yes song ever to top the Hot 100. I'm not a huge prog-rock fan, but the opening of this song is pure adrenaline, and the drum work is simply awesome.
Versions:
See: Owner of a Lonely Post.
2. When Doves Cry-Prince.
The '80s was the time for androgyny, and Prince was the king of it all. Doves was #1 from July 7 through August 10, 1984. And it is one of the greatest songs ever.
Versions:
Ben Sollee (live, direct link)
Animal Liberation Orchestra. This is a particularly awesome version.
1. Billie Jean-Michael Jackson.
Topping the hot 100 for almost two months in 1983, Billie Jean (BJ to her friends) maliciously got pregnant and caused little Mikey so so so much pain and angst. Next time, Mr. J, put a sock on the pickle.
Versions:
I recently did an MJ covers A to Z post, so I'm not going to re-do that here. But this is a particularly good one.
Billie Jean-Chris Cornell (Live, acoustic)
Coming soon: The also rans.
WHY DO MY FUCKING POSTS KEEP DISAPPEARING???
I can't find any e-mail for blogger support, and individual posts I 've made keep fucking disappearing!!!!! ARgg!!!!!! Does any reader have any idea why, or who I could contact about it?? My top 10 songs of the '80s posts is gone, without any explanation!! And I don't keep back ups of this stupid blog.
I am so fucking aggravated.
I am so fucking aggravated.
THIS IS ABOUT MARNIE STERN AND SHE IS GREAT AND SO IS HER ALBUM AND I AM HE THAT LIKES THE ALBUM AND IT IS ALL THAT
I showed much love to Marnie Stern when she exploded on the scene in 2007, picking “In Advance of the Broken Arm” as the Best Debut of 2007. It was alternately dissonant and shredding, muscular and intricate, and like nothing else I’d ever heard. With a sound as distinct as hers—it’s kind of like a nine-year-old choir boy at a metal nightclub, shouting in your ear that he wants a Shirley Temple with a rum chaser—it was hard for me to imagine how a sophomore release could be anything but disappointing. But it isn’t.Like most artists, Marnie Stern's follow-up is less wild and more melodious—but not much more. It starts with “Prime,” a car-alarm of sonic urgency that blasts and blasts until, in track 2, Marnie offers the first single: “Transformer.” Here, she raps. Yes, raps. But not in a stupid, white girl way. This is the most accessible Stern song I’ve ever heard, but it’s still so off-the-wall that it leaves me out-of-breath, looking for a toehold. And while I’m dangling, she rips right into “Shea Stadium,” which begins with rolling, careening drums that bash and batter. And so it continues.
The album is much like the horrendously difficult title: “This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That.” Every song is a series of quick bursts, start-stops, nothing with more than one syllable. Sounds don’t continue for very long, notes don’t sustain, and the guitars cut out rather than fade. In some ways, it’s psychotic. In other ways, it reflects our current instant, mash-up, disposable, short-term culture.
Most rock grrls try to sound sexy. But Marnie never does. Instead, every song shouts of a body on fire and a running brain back-to-back windsprints. And that’s sexy, without even trying.
Ruler
Marnie Remixed:
Absorb the Lipgloss
BONUS COVER that is about as opposite of Marnie as humanly possible:
You Will (Bright eyes cover)-Snow Patrol (live, acoustic)
RYAN ADAMS: 2006 TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Posted on the Ryan Adams Archive, a fan of 2006 compiled all of his new material and his improvs. It's a really fun album, because it was all fresh stuff at the time and many of the freestyles are hilarious. It's also very good quality.
A few tastes and a zip. And please drop a comment and let me know if you all are still interested in boots and shows. I don't get many comments on them, so I'm thinking of not doing them anymore.
1. Goodnight Rose (9-17-2006)
2. One Of Us Is The Sucker And The Other Gets To Play (10-14-2006)
3. Two (2-14-2006)
4. Blue Hotel (10-17-2006)
5. Arkham Asylum (9-19-2006)
6. Don't Get Sentimental On Me (2-14-2006)
7. She Turns It Up To Ten (10-13-2006)
8. Rip Off (7-25-2006)
9. Typecast (10-13-2006)
10. Lighthouses (9-18-2006)
11. Two Hearts (2-14-2006)
12. Robot Fuck (9-24-2006)
13. Breakdown Into The Resolve (7-22-2006)
14. 21st Century Wars (9-27-2006)
15.Everything Dies (2-15-2006)
16. Fantasy Balloon (10-5-2006)
17.Maps (2-18-2006)
18. Martian Song (7-20-2006)
19. Party Clown (9-27-2006)
20. Teeth Dissolving In Diet Coke (9-19-2006)
21. Who Were We (2-14-2006)
22. Rumble In Cambridge (9-27-2006)
23. Halloween Head (10-6-2006)
24. Funny Face (9-18-2006)
25. Hans Solo Medicine Cabinet (9-24-2006)
26. Oh My God Whatever, Et Cetera (9-18-2006)
27. Neal Casal Went To Pee Just Now (9-19-2006)
28. Tears Of Gold (10-15-2006)
29. Everybody Knows (7-22-2006)
30. Trouble On Wheels (10-17-2006)
A few tastes and a zip. And please drop a comment and let me know if you all are still interested in boots and shows. I don't get many comments on them, so I'm thinking of not doing them anymore.
1. Goodnight Rose (9-17-2006)
2. One Of Us Is The Sucker And The Other Gets To Play (10-14-2006)
3. Two (2-14-2006)
4. Blue Hotel (10-17-2006)
5. Arkham Asylum (9-19-2006)
6. Don't Get Sentimental On Me (2-14-2006)
7. She Turns It Up To Ten (10-13-2006)
8. Rip Off (7-25-2006)
9. Typecast (10-13-2006)
10. Lighthouses (9-18-2006)
11. Two Hearts (2-14-2006)
12. Robot Fuck (9-24-2006)
13. Breakdown Into The Resolve (7-22-2006)
14. 21st Century Wars (9-27-2006)
15.Everything Dies (2-15-2006)
16. Fantasy Balloon (10-5-2006)
17.Maps (2-18-2006)
18. Martian Song (7-20-2006)
19. Party Clown (9-27-2006)
20. Teeth Dissolving In Diet Coke (9-19-2006)
21. Who Were We (2-14-2006)
22. Rumble In Cambridge (9-27-2006)
23. Halloween Head (10-6-2006)
24. Funny Face (9-18-2006)
25. Hans Solo Medicine Cabinet (9-24-2006)
26. Oh My God Whatever, Et Cetera (9-18-2006)
27. Neal Casal Went To Pee Just Now (9-19-2006)
28. Tears Of Gold (10-15-2006)
29. Everybody Knows (7-22-2006)
30. Trouble On Wheels (10-17-2006)
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