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Post by julybutterfly on Oct 11, 2019 21:19:00 GMT 10
Hello! I've been lurking on this forum for a while now (discovered through lurking on the forum InThe00s which was on its turn linked on the forum Personality Cafe) and I finally decided to create an account. I've seen that there is quite a bit of enthusiasm for music going on here which is what convinced me to register and share my opinions on music.
I've been listening to music since I was quite a young age, and I'm still not completely done yet obviously, but I've decided to discover the remaining popular songs I'm not familiar with based on era now so I can get the final thoughts on earlier decades. More than anything, this is just a repository for all of my ratings, but I also think this place could use some more musical discussion. This is my main contribution to that, for now.
First, I will say why I like music in the first place. I tend to not give as high ratings as most people (for example, I've only given 8 songs, out of 1000s or so songs I've listened to for this project, a perfect 10/10), but this is my favourite pastime and, while popular music isn't nearly what it used to be, I doubt there is any form of art that could ever beat songs from the 1960s-1980s period (aka the 'golden age'). Regardless of how groundbreaking or not the format of the songs was when they first were released, the way the songs of that era balanced lyrics, instrumentation, and human emotion (in a generally realistic and grounded way, but where the golden age departed from that it usually made up for in sheer imagination) is what made them into masterpieces. Even songs that were covers from a pre-existing work were given their own brilliance (Robert Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", for example. It is basically an American folk standard, but it was reimagined as a soul song in such a way that made it its own masterpiece).
Anyway, for my ratings, I use a scale of 10. I reserve 10/10 for my absolute favourite songs, but a 9/10 or 8/10 means it is a fantastic song as well. 7/10 is below average for the golden age, but it is way above average after that. If I give a song less than a 5, it probably means that I don't like it very much. If I give a song anything lower than 3, it has some major problems. A boring and forgettable song will probably get a 3, but a terrible and offensive song might get a 2 or a 1. 1/10 means the song is abysmally bad, and I reserve it for the absolute worst songs. There are usually at least ten songs or so each decade that gets lower than a 5, but rarely more than that in the golden age. Also, I should say that my opinions aren't necessarily set in stone. There are songs I've already rated that I'm going to go back and change because I realized that the rating isn't right. And there are also songs whose ratings could use an elaboration.
Having said all that, here are my ratings for the 1950s:
1. Ricky Nelson "Poor Little Fool" - 6/10
2. Domenico Modugno "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" - 7/10
3. The Elegants "Little Star" - 4/10
4. Tommy Edwards "It's All in the Game" - 5.5/10
5. Conway Twitty "It's Only Make Believe" - 8/10
6. The Kingston Trio "Tom Dooley" - 6/10
7. The Teddy Bears "To Know Him, Is to Love Him" - 7.5/10
8. The Chipmunks "The Chipmunk Song" - 5/10
9. The Platters "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" - 7.5/10
10. Lloyd Price "Stagger Lee" - 8/10
11. Frankie Avalon "Venus" - 5/10
12. Fleetwoods "Come Softly to Me" - 7.5/10
13. Dave Baby Cortez "The Happy Organ" - 6.5/10
14. Wilbert Harrison "Kansas City" - 6/10
15. Johnny Horton "The Battle of New Orleans" - 4/10
16. Paul Anka "Lonely Boy" - 4.5/10
17. Elvis Presley "A Big Hunk o' Love" - 7/10
18. The Browns "The Three Bells" - 5/10
19. Santo & Johnny "Sleep Walk" - 8/10
20. Bobby Darin "Mack the Knife" - 9/10
21. The Fleetwoods "Mr. Blue" - 8/10
22. Guy Mitchell "Heartaches by the Number" - 4.5/10
23. Frankie Avalon "Why" - 5.5/10
The 1950s Average: 6.30/10
Obviously, the 1950s aren't up to par with the 1960s-1980s. It is good, but none of what makes music so great has been developed very much yet. Also, the instrumentation and deliveries are very old-fashioned still, which, when one is used to the later music, is somewhat jarring (as are the themes occasionally; especially the weird, over-the-top nationalistic theme on "The Battle of New Orleans"). On the other hand, this gives the 1950s its own unique charm. It feels very antiquated, even relative to the 1960s, but this gives it nostalgic value (even if, for me, the nostalgia is pretty vague. I never listened to this era in particular when I could actively choose my own music. It does kind of remind me of what my dad used to listen to when I was a kid, though).
"Mack the Knife" is my favourite song of this decade, followed closely by "Stagger Lee". Both songs show characteristics of later decades, and thus remind me most of those decades. "Mr. Blue" also does, to a lesser extent. "The Battle of New Orleans", "Little Star", and "Heartaches by the Number" are by far this decade's weakest songs. A Southern marching band novelty song, per se, doesn't bother me, but I don't think it was done very well. Furthermore, the continuous country beat is pretty uninteresting. "The Chipmunk Song" is fine up until the final harmonics come in, after which it just grates on the ear.
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Post by SharksFan99 on Oct 11, 2019 21:38:24 GMT 10
Hello! I've been lurking on this forum for a while now (discovered through lurking on the forum InThe00s which was on its turn linked on the forum Personality Cafe) and I finally decided to create an account. I've seen that there is quite a bit of enthusiasm for music going on here which is what convinced to register and share my opinions on music. Welcome to Popedia, it's nice to have you here!  I really like the idea of us having a topic where we can rate the songs which topped the Billboard Hot 100. I'm a huge music fan myself, so this is definitely something which is right up my alley.  I agree with you that the '60s and '70s in particular were objectively the greatest era for Top-40 music. There were so many releases from those two decades which truly stand the test of time, such as all of The Beatles' albums (i'm more of a fan of their studio years though), Queen, Sex Pistols etc. To be honest though, I don't really rate '80s music overall all that highly. There are a lot of songs from the '80s which I do like, however I consider the '80s to have been a noticeable step-down in quality from the '60s and '70s. Things started to pick up again in the 1990s (which I personally consider to be my favourite decade for music). I don't really have too much knowledge of '50s music other than just the biggest defining hits such as "Johnny B Goode" and "Rock around the Clock", so i'm not familiar with most of the chart-topping hits of the decade. I might check a few of them out though, as this is definitely a topic which I want to participate in and it would be fun to discuss our own ratings for each song.
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Post by julybutterfly on Oct 11, 2019 21:55:47 GMT 10
Hello! I've been lurking on this forum for a while now (discovered through lurking on the forum InThe00s which was on its turn linked on the forum Personality Cafe) and I finally decided to create an account. I've seen that there is quite a bit of enthusiasm for music going on here which is what convinced to register and share my opinions on music. Welcome to Popedia, it's nice to have you here! I really like the idea of us having a topic where we can rate the songs which topped the Billboard Hot 100. I'm a huge music fan myself, so this is definitely something which is right up my alley. I agree with you that the '60s and '70s in particular were objectively the greatest era for Top-40 music. There were so many releases from those two decades which truly stand the test of time, such as all of The Beatles' albums (i'm more of a fan of their studio years though), Queen, Sex Pistols etc. To be honest though, I don't really rate '80s music overall all that highly. There are a lot of songs from the '80s which I do like, however I consider the '80s to have been a noticeable step-down in quality from the '60s and '70s. Things started to pick up again in the 1990s (which I personally consider to be my favourite decade for music). I don't really have too much knowledge of '50s music other than just the biggest defining hits such as "Johnny B Goode" and "Rock around the Clock", so i'm not familiar with most of the chart-topping hits of the decade. I might check a few of them out though, as this is definitely a topic which I want to participate in and it would be fun to discuss our own ratings for each song. Thanks a lot for this heart-warming welcome I'm glad that my thread's idea is appreciated! I will try to keep it regularly updated (won't be that easy haha, even with a part-time job). As for the 1980s, I admit that I might be biased due to sheer nostalgia at least to some degree. And that I have still a bunch of songs that I have yet to listen to, so my opinion might shift in some way.
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Post by julybutterfly on Oct 19, 2019 0:59:14 GMT 10
The Golden Age begins in 1960, IMO. The 1960s are one of my favourite decades, and its biggest strength how songwriting-driven the songs are. The storytelling doesn't tend to be very focused or easily summarizable, but the story isn't what is really important here. This early into pop music history, it makes sense to focus on the songwriting, because the canon of songwriters hasn't been developed very much yet. That is the strength of songwriting; it allows to explore and develop artists' pathos. This also leads to what is arguably the most down to earth and realistic decade of music. Not much decadence and escapism yet, it's self-expression at its rawest. Anyway, here are my ratings:
24. Marty Robbins "El Paso" - 8/10
25. Johnny Preston "Running Bear" - 4.5/10
26. Mark Dinning "Teen Angel" - 5/10
27. Percy Faith "The Theme From "A Summer Place"" - 6/10
28. Elvis Presley "Stuck on You" - 7.5/10
29. The Everly Brothers "Cathy's Clown" - 8/10
30. Connie Francis "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" - 7/10
31. The Hollywood Argyles "Alley-Oop" - 4.5/10
32. Brenda Lee "I'm Sorry" - 6/10
33. Brian Hyland "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini" - 5.5/10
34. Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never" - 5.5/10
35. Chubby Checker "The Twist" - 7.5/10
36. Connie Francis "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" - 6.5/10
37. Larry Verne "Mr. Custer" - 6/10
38. The Drifters "Save the Last Dance for Me" - 9.5/10
39. Brenda Lee "I Want to Be Wanted" - 7/10
40. Ray Charles "Georgia on My Mind" - 9.5/10
41. Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs "Stay" - 8/10
42. Elvis Presley "Are You Lonesome To-Night?" - 8.5/10
43. Bert Kaempfert und sein Orchester & Charly Tabor "Wunderland bei Nacht" - 6/10
44. The Shirelles "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" - 9.5/10
45. Lawrence Welk "Calcutta" - 5/10
46. Chubby Checker "Pony Time" - 5.5/10
47. Elvis Presley "Surrender" - 8/10
48. The Marcels "Blue Moon" - 8.5/10
49. Del Shannon "Runaway" - 9/10
50. Ernie K-Doe "Mother-In-Law" - 7.5/10
51. Ricky Nelson "Travelin' Man" - 7/10
52. Roy Orbison "Running Scared" - 9/10
53. Pat Boone "Moody River" - 4.5/10
54. Gary U.S. Bonds "Quarter to Three" - 8/10
55. Bobby Lewis "Tossin' and Turnin'" - 7.5/10
56. Joe Dowell "Wooden Heart" - 6/10
57. The Highwaymen "Michael" - 5/10
58. Bobby Vee and The Johnny Mann Singers "Take Good Care of My Baby" - 8/10
59. Ray Charles "Hit the Road Jack" - 9/10
60. Dion "Runaround Sue" - 9/10
61. Jimmy Dean "Big Bad John" - 5/10
62. The Marvelettes "Please Mr. Postman" - 7.5/10
63. The Tokens "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - 8/10
64. Joey Dee & the Starliters "Peppermint Twist (Part I)" - 4.5/10
65. Gene Chandler "Duke of Earl" - 8/10
66. Bruce Channel "Hey! Baby" - 7/10
67. Connie Francis "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" - 5/10
68. Shelley Fabares "Johnny Angel" - 5/10
69. Elvis Presley "Good Luck Charm" - 4.5/10
70. The Shirelles "Soldier Boy" - 5/10
71. Mister Acker Bilk "Stranger on the Shore" - 4.5/10
72. Ray Charles "I Can't Stop Loving You" - 9/10
73. David Rose "The Stripper" - 5/10
74. Bobby Vinton "Roses Are Red (My Love)" - 4.5/10
75. Neil Sedaka "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" - 5/10
76. Little Eva "The Loco-Motion" - 8/10
77. Tommy Roe "Sheila" - 5.5/10
78. The 4 Seasons "Sherry" - 8.5/10
79. Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers "Monster Mash" - 4.5/10
80. The Crystals "He's a Rebel" - 9/10
81. The 4 Seasons "Big Girls Don't Cry" - 7/10
82. The Tornados "Telstar" - 7/10
83. Steve Lawrence "Go Away Little Girl" - 5.5/10
84. The Rooftop Singers "Walk Right In" - 7.5/10
85. Paul & Paula "Hey Paula" - 5/10
86. The 4 Seasons "Walk Like a Man" - 9/10
87. Ruby and The Romantics "Our Day Will Come" - 7/10
88. The Chiffons "He's So Fine" - 8/10
89. Little Peggy March "I Will Follow Him" - 6.5/10
90. Jimmy Soul "If You Wanna Be Happy" - 4.5/10
91. Lesley Gore "It's My Party" - 8/10
92. Kyu Sakamoto "Sukiyaki" - 6.5/10
93. The Essex "Easier Said Than Done" - 5/10
94. Jan & Dean "Surf City" - 7/10
95. The Tymes "So Much in Love" - 8/10
96. Little Stevie Wonder "Fingertips - Part 1 & 2" - 7.5/10
97. The Angels "My Boyfriend's Back" - 7.5/10
98. Bobby Vinton "Blue Velvet" - 5/10
99. Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs "Sugar Shack" - 4.5/10
100. Nino Tempo & April Stevens "Deep Purple" - 4.5/10
101. Dale & Grace "I'm Leaving It Up to You" - 5/10
102. Sœur Sourire "Dominique" - 5.5/10
103. Bobby Vinton "There! I've Said It Again" - 5/10
104. The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" - 7.5/10
105. The Beatles "She Loves You" - 8.5/10
106. The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love" - 9/10
107. Louis Armstrong and The All Stars "Hello, Dolly!" - 8/10
108. Mary Wells "My Guy" - 8/10
109. The Beatles "Love Me Do" - 7.5/10
110. The Dixie Cups "Chapel of Love" - 8/10
111. Peter and Gordon "A World Without Love" - 7.5/10
112. The Beach Boys "I Get Around" - 9.5/10
113. The 4 Seasons "Rag Doll" - 7.5/10
114. The Beatles "A Hard Day's Night" - 9/10
115. Dean Martin "Everybody Loves Somebody" - 8/10
116. The Supremes "Where Did Our Love Go" - 7.5/10
117. The Animals "The House of the Rising Sun" - 9.5/10
118. Roy Orbison "Oh, Pretty Woman" - 9/10
119. Manfred Mann "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" - 7.5/10
120. The Supremes "Baby Love" - 7.5/10
121. The Shangri-Las "Leader of the Pack" - 9/10
122. Lorne Greene "Ringo" - 7/10
123. Bobby Vinton "Mr. Lonely" - 7.5/10
124. The Supremes "Come See About Me" - 7.5/10
125. The Beatles "I Feel Fine" - 8/10
126. Petula Clark "Downtown" - 8.5/10
127. The Righteous Brothers "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - 9.5/10
128. Gary Lewis and The Playboys "This Diamond Ring" - 7.5/10
129. The Temptations "My Girl" - 9/10
130. The Beatles "Eight Days a Week" - 7.5/10
131. The Supremes "Stop! In the Name of Love" - 8/10
132. Freddie and the Dreamers "I'm Tellin' You Now" - 5.5/10
133. Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders "The Game of Love" - 4.5/10
134. Herman's Hermits "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" - 4.5/10
135. The Beatles "Ticket to Ride" - 9/10
136. The Beach Boys "Help Me, Rhonda" - 7/10
137. The Supremes "Back in My Arms Again" - 7.5/10
138. Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself" - 9/10
139. The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man" - 9.5/10
140. The Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - 9/10
141. Herman's Hermits "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" - 4.5/10
142. Sonny & Cher "I Got You Babe" - 8/10
143. The Beatles "Help!" - 8/10
144. Barry McGuire "Eve of Destruction" - 5/10
145. The McCoys "Hang On Sloopy" - 8/10
146. The Beatles "Yesterday" - 10/10
147. The Rolling Stones "Get Off of My Cloud" - 8/10
148. The Supremes "I Hear a Symphony" - 8.5/10
149. The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)" - 8/10
150. The Dave Clark Five "Over and Over" - 6/10
151. Simon & Garfunkel "The Sounds of Silence" - 10/10
152. The Beatles "We Can Work It Out" - 9/10
153. Petula Clark "My Love" - 5.5/10
154. Lou Christie "Lightnin' Strikes" - 8/10
155. Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" - 9/10
156. Barry Sadler "The Ballad of the Green Berets" - 4.5/10
157. The Righteous Brothers "Soul & Inspiration" - 6/10
158. The Young Rascals "Good Lovin'" - 9/10
159. The Mamas & The Papas "Monday, Monday" - 8/10
160. Percy Sledge "When a Man Loves a Woman" - 9/10
161. The Rolling Stones "Paint It, Black" - 9.5/10
162. The Beatles "Paperback Writer" - 9/10
163. Frank Sinatra "Strangers in the Night" - 7.5/10
164. The Shondells "Hanky Panky" - 4.5/10
165. The Troggs "Wild Thing" - 8.5/10
166. The Lovin' Spoonful "Summer in the City" - 9/10
167. Donovan "Sunshine Superman" - 8/10
168. The Supremes "You Can't Hurry Love" - 8.5/10
169. The Association "Cherish" - 5.5/10
170. Four Tops "Reach Out I'll Be There" - 9.5/10
171. ? (Question Mark) and The Mysterians "96 Tears" - 8.5/10
172. The Monkees "Last Train to Clarksville" - 7/10
173. Johnny Rivers "Poor Side of Town" - 7.5/10
174. The Supremes "You Keep Me Hangin' On" - 9/10
175. The New Vaudeville Band "Winchester Cathedral" - 5/10
176. The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" - 10/10
177. The Monkees "I'm a Believer" - 8/10
178. The Buckinghams "Kind of a Drag" - 6/10
179. The Rolling Stones "Ruby Tuesday" - 8.5/10
180. The Supremes "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" - 7.5/10
181. The Beatles "Penny Lane" - 9.5/10
182. The Turtles "Happy Together" - 8.5/10
183. Nancy & Frank Sinatra "Somethin' Stupid" - 5/10
184. The Supremes "The Happening" - 5.5/10
185. The Young Rascals "Groovin'" - 8/10
186. Aretha Franklin "Respect" - 10/10
187. The Association "Windy" - 7/10
188. The Doors "Light My Fire" - 9/10
189. The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" - 5/10
190. Bobbie Gentry "Ode to Billie Joe" - 8.5/10
191. The Box Tops "The Letter" - 9/10
192. Lulu "To Sir With Love" - 6/10
193. Strawberry Alarm Clock "Incense and Peppermints" - 9/10
194. The Monkees "Daydream Believer" - 8.5/10
195. The Beatles "Hello, Goodbye" - 8/10
196. John Fred & His Playboy Band "Judy in Disguise" - 5/10
197. The Lemon Pipers "Green Tambourine" - 8/10
198. Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra "Love is Blue (L'amour est bleu)" - 6.5/10
199. Otis Redding "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" - 9.5/10
200. Bobby Goldsboro "Honey" - 4.5/10
201. Archie Bell & The Drells "Tighten Up" - 9/10
202. Simon & Garfunkel "Mrs. Robinson" - 8.5/10
203. Herb Alpert "This Guy's in Love With You" - 6.5/10
204. Hugh Masekela "Grazing in the Grass" - 6.5/10
205. The Doors "Hello, I Love You" - 6/10
206. The Rascals "People Got to Be Free" - 7.5/10
207. Jeannie C. Riley "Harper Valley P.T.A." - 5/10
208. The Beatles "Hey Jude" - 9/10
209. Diana Ross and The Supremes "Love Child" - 8/10
210. Marvin Gaye "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - 9.5/10
211. Tommy James and The Shondells "Crimson and Clover" - 9/10
212. Sly & The Family Stone "Everyday People (Different Strokes for Different Folks)" - 9/10
213. Tommy Roe "Dizzy" - 6/10
214. The 5th Dimension "Aquarius - Let the Sunshine In" - 7.5/10
215. The Beatles "Get Back" - 8.5/10
216. Henry Mancini "Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet" - 9/10
217. Zager & Evans "In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)" - 7/10
218. The Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Women" - 8/10
219. The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" - 4.5/10
220. The Temptations "I Can't Get Next to You" - 8.5/10
221. Elvis Presley "Suspicious Minds" - 9.5/10
222. The 5th Dimension "Wedding Bell Blues" - 5/10
223. The Beatles "Come Together/Something" - 9.5/10
224. Steam "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" - 7/10
225. Peter, Paul and Mary "Leaving on a Jet Plane" - 8.5/10
226. Diana Ross and The Supremes "Someday We'll Be Together" - 8/10
The 1960s Average: 7.31/10
There are a lot of 7's and 8's, and only a couple higher than that. On the other hand, there is nothing lower than 4.5. Every other decade, I gave a bunch of songs a 4 or lower. This decade is very consistent in quality. My favourite song from the decade is "The Sounds of Silence". It is a brilliant song, and is probably what I would consider to be the pinnacle of music's ability to portray emotions like social alienation and loneliness. Of course, that is also a strength of "Yesterday". The reason I don't think "Yesterday" does as good a job as "The Sounds of Silence" is the production going from sparse to a full blown string section. People have explained this to me before, but I still think it has a bit of a jarring effect (not enough though to cancel out the fact that it is otherwise a completely flawless song with a beautiful arc). My least favourite song is "Deep Purple", but it is still a fine song if not badly sung. Another song I want to mention is "Hello, Goodbye", which is often considered among the weakest songs of The Beatles. I think it is underrated, but its appeal to me comes mostly from its atmosphere, which gives it a certain charm. In terms of lyrics, it is pretty weak. I'll also like to mention I'm really glad that the Beatles came and injected some brand new life into the charts after a string of mediocrity in 1963, despite a lot of Beatles fans not really caring for their early albums.
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Post by julybutterfly on Oct 24, 2019 1:13:33 GMT 10
This is my favourite decade. It has unfortunately quite a lot of blunders (which makes the overall rating drop), but it is otherwise consistently very good. Just about all of the songs are immensely entertaining, and the songwriting and musicianship are at their absolute best. I also think nostalgia might play a role in why I love this decade so much. It was probably the first decade I ever really have fond memories of (because we rented a vynil set when I was a kid, which was the first time I ever had an interest in music), so this is basically the decade that I consider to be what popular music is about. Slightly goofy and cheesy, but very competently executed, still fairly danceable, and melodic. In fact, the ammount and balance between fun songs and emotional ones is almost perfect, and is just right to derive the maximum amount of enjoyability and entertainment value.
227. B. J. Thomas "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" - 8.5/10
228. The Jackson 5 "I Want You Back" - 9/10
229. Shocking Blue "Venus" - 8.5/10
230. Sly & The Family Stone "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" - 9.5/10
231. Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - 10/10
232. The Beatles "Let It Be" - 9.5/10
233. The Jackson 5 "ABC" - 7.5/10
234. The Guess Who "American Woman / No Sugar Tonight" - 7.5/10
235. Ray Stevens "Everything Is Beautiful" - 5/10
236. The Beatles "The Long and Winding Road / For You Blue" - 8/10
237. Jackson 5 "The Love You Save" - 8/10
238. Three Dog Night "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" - 8.5/10
239. Carpenters "(They Long to Be) Close to You" - 8.5/10
240. Bread "Make It With You" - 6/10
241. Edwin Starr "War" - 9/10
242. Diana Ross "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - 7/10
243. Neil Diamond "Cracklin' Rosie" - 7/10
244. Jackson 5 "I'll Be There" - 7.5/10
245. The Partridge Family "I Think I Love You" - 6.5/10
246. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles "The Tears of a Clown" - 9/10
247. George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" - 9.5/10
248. Dawn "Knock Three Times" - 5/10
249. The Osmonds "One Bad Apple" - 4/10
250. Janis Joplin "Me and Bobby McGee" - 8.5/10
251. The Temptations "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" - 9.5/10
252. Three Dog Night "Joy to the World" - 7.5/10
253. The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" - 7.5/10
254. Honey Cone "Want Ads" - 6.5/10
255. Carole King "It's Too Late / I Feel the Earth Move" - 9.5/10
256. Raiders "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" - 7/10
257. James Taylor "You've Got a Friend" - 8/10
258. Bee Gees "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" - 9/10
259. Paul & Linda McCartney "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - 8.5/10
260. Donny Osmond "Go Away Little Girl" - 3/10
261. Rod Stewart "Maggie May / Reason to Believe" - 9.5/10
262. Cher "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" - 7/10
263. Isaac Hayes "Theme From Shaft" - 8.5/10
264. Sly & The Family Stone "Family Affair" - 8/10
265. Melanie "Brand New Key" - 4.5/10
266. Don McLean "American Pie" - 9.5/10
267. Al Green "Let's Stay Together" - 9.5/10
268. Harry Nilsson "Without You" - 8.5/10
269. Neil Young "Heart of Gold" - 9.5/10
270. America "A Horse With No Name" - 6/10
271. Roberta Flack "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - 10/10
272. The Chi-Lites "Oh Girl" - 8.5/10
273. The Staple Singers "I'll Take You There" - 7.5/10
274. Sammy Davis, Jr. "The Candy Man" - 7/10
275. Neil Diamond "Song Sung Blue" - 5.5/10
276. Bill Withers "Lean on Me" - 8.5/10
277. Gilbert O'Sullivan "Alone Again (Naturally)" - 6/10
278. Looking Glass "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" - 6.5/10
279. Three Dog Night "Black and White" - 5/10
280. Mac Davis "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" - 6/10
281. Michael Jackson "Ben" - 6.5/10
282. Chuck Berry "My Ding-a-Ling" - 2.5/10
283. Johnny Nash "I Can See Clearly Now" - 8/10
284. The Temptations "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - 10/10
285. Helen Reddy "I Am Woman" - 4.5/10
286. Billy Paul "Me and Mrs. Jones" - 9/10
287. Carly Simon "You're So Vain" - 9.5/10
288. Stevie Wonder "Superstition" - 9.5/10
289. Elton John "Crocodile Rock" - 8/10
290. Roberta Flack "Killing Me Softly With His Song" - 9.5/10
291. O'Jays "Love Train" - 8.5/10
292. Vicki Lawrence "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" - 7.5/10
293. Dawn ft. Tony Orlando "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" - 4/10
294. Stevie Wonder "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" - 8/10
295. The Edgar Winter Group "Frankenstein" - 9.5/10
296. Paul McCartney & Wings "My Love" - 6/10
297. George Harrison "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" - 8/10
298. Billy Preston "Will It Go Round in Circles" - 8/10
299. Jim Croce "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" - 8/10
300. Maureen McGovern "The Morning After" - 4.5/10
301. Diana Ross "Touch Me in the Morning" - 5/10
302. Stories "Brother Louie" - 7/10
303. Marvin Gaye "Let's Get It On" - 8.5/10
304. Helen Reddy "Delta Dawn" - 6/10
305. Grand Funk Railroad "We're an American Band" - 7/10
306. Cher "Half-Breed" - 5.5/10
307. The Rolling Stones "Angie" - 7.5/10
308. Gladys Knight & The Pips "Midnight Train to Georgia" - 8.5/10
309. Eddie Kendricks "Keep on Truckin' (Part 1)" - 8/10
310. Ringo Starr "Photograph" - 7/10
311. Carpenters "Top of the World" - 6/10
312. Charlie Rich "The Most Beautiful Girl" - 8.5/10
313. Jim Croce "Time in a Bottle" - 9.5/10
314. Steve Miller Band "The Joker" - 5.5/10
315. Al Wilson "Show and Tell" - 6.5/10
316. Ringo Starr "You're Sixteen" - 5.5/10
317. Barbra Streisand "The Way We Were" - 8.5/10
318. Love Unlimited Orchestra "Love's Theme" - 7.5/10
319. Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun" - 5/10
320. Cher "Dark Lady" - 6/10
321. John Denver "Sunshine on My Shoulders" - 5.5/10
322. Blue Swede "Hooked on a Feeling" - 4.5/10
323. Elton John "Bennie and the Jets" - 8/10
324. MFSB and The Three Degrees "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" - 7/10
325. Grand Funk "The Loco-Motion" - 5/10
326. Ray Stevens "The Streak" - 3/10
327. Paul McCartney & Wings "Band on the Run" - 9.5/10
328. Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods "Billy Don't Be a Hero" - 4.5/10
329. Gordon Lightfoot "Sundown" - 7/10
330. The Hues Corporation "Rock the Boat" - 8/10
331. George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" - 7/10
332. John Denver "Annie's Song" - 6/10
333. Roberta Flack "Feel Like Makin' Love" - 6/10
334. Paper Lace "The Night Chicago Died" - 5.5/10
335. Paul Anka "(You're) Having My Baby" - 2.5/10
336. Eric Clapton "I Shot the Sheriff" - 5.5/10
337. Barry White "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" - 8/10
338. Andy Kim "Rock Me Gently" - 7/10
339. Olivia Newton-John "I Honestly Love You" - 4.5/10
340. Billy Preston "Nothing From Nothing" - 6.5/10
341. Dionne Warwicke and Spinners "Then Came You" - 7/10
342. Stevie Wonder "You Haven't Done Nothin'" - 8.5/10
343. Bachman-Turner Overdrive "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" - 6.5/10
344. John Lennon "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" - 8/10
345. Billy Swan "I Can Help" - 6/10
346. Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting" - 8/10
347. Harry Chapin "Cat's in the Cradle" - 9.5/10
348. Helen Reddy "Angie Baby" - 6/10
349. Elton John "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" - 7/10
350. Barry Manilow "Mandy" - 6/10
351. Carpenters "Please Mr. Postman" - 5.5/10
352. Neil Sedaka "Laughter in the Rain" - 8/10
353. Ohio Players "Fire" - 9/10
354. Linda Ronstadt "You're No Good" - 9.5/10
355. Average White Band "Pick Up the Pieces" - 8.5/10
356. Eagles "Best of My Love" - 5.5/10
357. Olivia Newton-John "Have You Never Been Mellow" - 6/10
358. The Doobie Brothers "Black Water" - 8/10
359. Frankie Valli "My Eyes Adored You" - 7/10
360. Labelle "Lady Marmalade" - 9.5/10
361. Minnie Riperton "Lovin' You" - 7/10
362. The Elton John Band "Philadelphia Freedom" - 8.5/10
363. B. J. Thomas "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" - 6/10
364. Tony Orlando & Dawn "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" - 5/10
365. Earth, Wind & Fire "Shining Star" - 9.5/10
366. Freddy Fender "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" - 6/10
367. John Denver "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" - 5.5/10
368. America "Sister Golden Hair" - 8/10
369. Captain & Tennille "Love Will Keep Us Together" - 4/10
370. Wings "Listen to What the Man Said" - 8/10
371. Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony "The Hustle" - 7/10
372. Eagles "One of These Nights" - 8/10
373. Bee Gees "Jive Talkin'" - 6.5/10
374. Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds "Fallin' in Love" - 5/10
375. KC and The Sunshine Band "Get Down Tonight" - 8/10
376. Glen Campbell "Rhinestone Cowboy" - 8/10
377. David Bowie "Fame" - 8/10
378. John Denver "I'm Sorry" - 8.5/10
379. Neil Sedaka "Bad Blood" - 5/10
380. Elton John "Island Girl" - 4.5/10
381. KC and The Sunshine Band "That's the Way (I Like It)" - 8.5/10
382. Silver Convention "Fly, Robin, Fly" - 6.5/10
383. The Staple Singers "Let's Do It Again" - 6/10
384. Bay City Rollers "Saturday Night" - 5.5/10
385. C.W. McCall "Convoy" - 5/10
386. Barry Manilow "I Write the Songs" - 4/10
387. Diana Ross "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)" - 6.5/10
388. Ohio Players "Love Rollercoaster" - 8.5/10
389. Paul Simon "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" - 8/10
390. Rhythm Heritage "Theme From S.W.A.T." - 7.5/10
391. The Miracles "Love Machine (Part 1)" - 6/10
392. The Four Seasons "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" - 8.5/10
393. Johnnie Taylor "Disco Lady" - 8/10
394. The Bellamy Brothers "Let Your Love Flow" - 6/10
395. John Sebastian "Welcome Back" - 6/10
396. The Sylvers "Boogie Fever" - 8/10
397. Wings "Silly Love Songs" - 8.5/10
398. Diana Ross "Love Hangover" - 8/10
399. Starland Vocal Band "Afternoon Delight" - 4/10
400. Manhattans "Kiss and Say Goodbye" - 7.5/10
401. Elton John & Kiki Dee "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - 8.5/10
402. Bee Gees "You Should Be Dancing" - 8.5/10
403. KC and The Sunshine Band "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" - 6.5/10
404. Wild Cherry "Play That Funky Music" - 8/10
405. Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band "A Fifth of Beethoven" - 4.5/10
406. Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots "Disco Duck (Part 1)" - 2/10
407. Chicago "If You Leave Me Now" - 6.5/10
408. Steve Miller Band "Rock'n Me" - 7.5/10
409. Rod Stewart "Tonight's the Night" - 5.5/10
410. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" - 6/10
411. Leo Sayer "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" - 6/10
412. Stevie Wonder "I Wish" - 9.5/10
413. Rose Royce "Car Wash" - 8.5/10
414. Mary MacGregor "Torn Between Two Lovers" - 4.5/10
415. Manfred Mann's Earth Band "Blinded by the Light" - 8/10
416. Eagles "New Kid in Town" - 6.5/10
417. Barbra Streisand "Love Theme From "A Star Is Born" (Evergreen)" - 6/10
418. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Rich Girl" - 8.5/10
419. ABBA "Dancing Queen" - 8.5/10
420. David Soul "Don't Give Up on Us" - 4.5/10
421. Thelma Houston "Don't Leave Me This Way" - 9.5/10
422. Glen Campbell "Southern Nights" - 6/10
423. Eagles "Hotel California" - 9.5/10
424. Leo Sayer "When I Need You" - 5.5/10
425. Stevie Wonder "Sir Duke" - 9.5/10
426. KC and The Sunshine Band "I'm Your Boogie Man" - 8.5/10
427. Fleetwood Mac "Dreams" - 7/10
428. Marvin Gaye "Got to Give It Up (Part 1)" - 8.5/10
429. Bill Conti "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From "Rocky")" - 8.5/10
430. Alan O'Day "Undercover Angel" - 5.5/10
431. Shaun Cassidy "Da Doo Ron Ron" - 3.5/10
432. Barry Manilow "Looks Like We Made It" - 4.5/10
433. Andy Gibb "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" - 7/10
434. The Emotions "Best of My Love" - 8/10
435. Meco - "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" - 6/10
436. Debby Boone "You Light Up My Life" - 4/10
437. Bee Gees "How Deep Is Your Love" - 9.5/10
438. Player "Baby Come Back" - 6.5/10
439. Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" - 9.5/10
440. Andy Gibb "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" - 5.5/10
441. Bee Gees "Night Fever" - 7.5/10
442. Yvonne Elliman "If I Can't Have You" - 8.5/10
443. Wings "With a Little Luck" - 7.5/10
444. Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" - 6/10
445. John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" - 5.5/10
446. Andy Gibb "Shadow Dancing" - 7/10
447. The Rolling Stones "Miss You" - 5.5/10
448. Commodores "Three Times a Lady" - 6/10
449. Frankie Valli "Grease" - 7.5/10
450. A Taste of Honey "Boogie Oogie Oogie" - 8/10
451. Exile "Kiss You All Over" - 6/10
452. Nick Gilder "Hot Child in the City" - 8/10
453. Anne Murray "You Needed Me" - 5.5/10
454. Donna Summer "MacArthur Park" - 6/10
455. Barbra & Neil "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" - 8/10
456. Chic "Le Freak" - 9/10
457. Bee Gees "Too Much Heaven" - 6.5/10
458. Rod Stewart "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy?" - 5.5/10
459. Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" - 9.5/10
460. Bee Gees "Tragedy" - 6.5/10
461. The Doobie Brothers "What a Fool Believes" - 9.5/10
462. Amii Stewart "Knock on Wood" - 7.5/10
463. Blondie "Heart of Glass" - 6.5/10
464. Peaches & Herb "Reunited" - 5.5/10
465. Donna Summer "Hot Stuff" - 9.5/10
466. Bee Gees "Love You Inside Out" - 6.5/10
467. Anita Ward "Ring My Bell" - 7.5/10
468. Donna Summer "Bad Girls" - 8/10
469. Chic "Good Times" - 9.5/10
470. The Knack "My Sharona" - 6.5/10
471. Robert John "Sad Eyes" - 5.5/10
472. Michael Jackson "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" - 8.5/10
473. Herb Alpert "Rise" - 7/10
474. M "Pop Muzik" - 8.5/10
475. Eagles "Heartache Tonight" - 5/10
476. Commodores "Still" - 7/10
477. Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" - 8/10
478. Styx "Babe" - 4.5/10
479. Rupert Holmes "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" - 5.5/10
The 1970s Average: 7.09/10
This decade has so many incredible songs, including many underrated ones, such as "What a Fool Believes", "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "You're So Vain", and the disco genre in general. Those are usually considered weak by this era's standards, but I find them all highly enjoyable. But nothing matches the entertainment value of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". It does push the boundaries a bit with the repetitiveness, but it does so to great effect. This is the absolute peak of entertainment value, possibly of music ever. However, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" possibly comes closer than anything else to matching it. That is a fantastic song that combines my love of emotional, borderline spiritual lyrics with my love of highly melodic music, and it seems to have a lot of the things I love about general 1970s songwriting, despite being released very early into the decade (possibly because of how Simon & Garfunkel wanted to perfect their last album, and I'm sure nostalgia has something to do with it as well). Overall, most songs of this decade are very strong.
On the other hand, it has a bunch weak spots. I strongly dislike "Disco Duck (Part 1)". The song revolves around awful gimmicks, and the production is mixed pretty badly. I mean, it basically amounts to dumb duck impressions on a disco beat. It seems like a very lazy way to capitalize on a growing genre. I have heard of some satire going on here, but, again, whatever satirical message the writers haven't isn't communicated well enough for me to notice it (disco sucks or something?). I should also mention "(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka. I gave it a very low rating because I find declaring one's love for a woman by reducing her value to her ability to bear children mean spirited, and even on a cheesy level it doesn't appeal to me very much. Not only that, but it has some strong anti-abortion connotations. It seems like not a lot of restraint was used on that song, so it comes off as relatively incompetently done.
Overall, this is an excellent decade, and easily the best one. So, unfortunately, it is all downhill from here. The next decade isn't that big of a drop, though.
SharksFan99 likes this
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Post by SharksFan99 on Oct 24, 2019 21:55:59 GMT 10
189. The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" - 5/10 Surprised to see that you have given "All You Need Is Love" a five! I take it that you don't mind The Beatles since you've spoken of them fondly and rated their other songs pretty highly, but just out of curiosity, what is it about "All You Need Is Love" that you don't particularly like? I wouldn't consider it to be among one of my favourite Beatles songs either though, so I could possibly understand the reasoning behind the low rating. It's debatable. The one thing that really works against the '80s IMO, other than how hideously many of it's aesthetics have aged, is how inconsistent the decade was for music. The period of time between 1982-1985 was generally a very innovative, creative time for pop music and rock, but 1980 and 1988 in particular were low points for music. Also, I'd argue that the advent of MTV had a few negative influences on the music industry, as the focus increasingly began to shift more towards the image/marketing angle rather than the substance of the written material. The popularisation of music videos made presentation more important than ever. There's definitely some great songs from the '80s however. It wasn't all bad.
julybutterfly likes this
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Post by julybutterfly on Oct 30, 2019 22:34:35 GMT 10
189. The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" - 5/10 Surprised to see that you have given "All You Need Is Love" a five! I take it that you don't mind The Beatles since you've spoken of them fondly and rated their other songs pretty highly, but just out of curiosity, what is it about "All You Need Is Love" that you don't particularly like? I wouldn't consider it to be among one of my favourite Beatles songs either though, so I could possibly understand the reasoning behind the low rating. The whole entire song is just a mess. It is poorly structured, the guitar solo is terrible and the lyrics and general message seem hamfisted and intolerably corny. There are some nice touches like the changing time signatures and the brass section that keep it from getting a failing grade from me. But otherwise it is pretty bad by The Beatles and general 1960s standards, at least in my opinion. It's debatable. The one thing that really works against the '80s IMO, other than how hideously many of it's aesthetics have aged, is how inconsistent the decade was for music. The period of time between 1982-1985 was generally a very innovative, creative time for pop music and rock, but 1980 and 1988 in particular were low points for music. Also, I'd argue that the advent of MTV had a few negative influences on the music industry, as the focus increasingly began to shift more towards the image/marketing angle rather than the substance of the written material. The popularisation of music videos made presentation more important than ever. There's definitely some great songs from the '80s however. It wasn't all bad. I will discuss this further in my next decade overview.
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Post by julybutterfly on Oct 31, 2019 1:45:56 GMT 10
Even though the typical production style is quite different, I always associate the 1980s with the 1970s because my childhood overlapped into both, so it is similarly nostalgic for me. I also think it has the same kind of outstanding songwriting, despite the shift towards image and style with the breakthrough of MTV. On the other hand, my ratings for the 1980s might be a bit controversial. I think this decade is a bit inconsistent. The amount of songs I don't like very much is quite high, and the songs I like a lot is relatively low. So, this is easily my least favourite decade of what I define as the golden age (1960s-1980s). Fortunately, it still offers enough great songs to fit into that era. Even though it is quite true that the first half strongly outshines the second half, which foreshadows the inconsistency of the next era. Anyway:
480. KC and The Sunshine Band "Please Don't Go" - 6/10
481. Michael Jackson "Rock With You" - 8.5/10
482. Captain & Tennille "Do That to Me One More Time" - 3.5/10
483. Queen "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - 8.5/10
484. Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" - 9/10
485. Blondie "Call Me" - 9.5/10
486. Lipps, Inc. "Funkytown" - 9/10
487. Paul McCartney & Wings "Coming Up" - 8/10
488. Billy Joel "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" - 5.5/10
489. Olivia Newton-John "Magic" - 7/10
490. Christopher Cross "Sailing" - 6.5/10
491. Diana Ross "Upside Down" - 8.5/10
492. Queen "Another One Bites the Dust" - 8/10
493. Barbra Streisand "Woman in Love" - 7/10
494. Kenny Rogers "Lady" - 5/10
495. John Lennon "(Just Like) Starting Over" - 8/10
496. Blondie "The Tide Is High" - 6.5/10
497. Kool & The Gang "Celebration" - 8.5/10
498. Dolly Parton "9 to 5" - 7/10
499. Eddie Rabbitt "I Love a Rainy Night" - 5.5/10
500. REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You" - 6.5/10
501. Blondie "Rapture" - 7/10
502. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Kiss on My List" - 7/10
503. Sheena Easton "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" - 4.5/10
504. Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" - 7/10
505. Stars on 45 "Medley" - 4.5/10
506. Air Supply "The One That You Love" - 4/10
507. Rick Springfield "Jessie's Girl" - 8.5/10
508. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie "Endless Love" - 5.5/10
509. Christopher Cross "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" - 5/10
510. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Private Eyes" - 5.5/10
511. Olivia Newton-John "Physical" - 4/10
512. Daryl Hall & John Oates "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" - 9.5/10
513. The J. Geils Band "Centerfold" - 7/10
514. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts "I Love Rock 'n Roll" - 9.5/10
515. Vangelis "Chariots of Fire" - 8.5/10
516. Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder "Ebony and Ivory" - 3/10
517. The Human League "Don't You Want Me" - 8.5/10
518. Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" - 7/10
519. Steve Miller Band "Abracadabra" - 6.5/10
520. Chicago "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" - 8/10
521. John Cougar "Jack & Diane" - 8/10
522. Men at Work "Who Can It Be Now?" - 9/10
523. Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes "Up Where We Belong" - 5.5/10
524. Lionel Richie "Truly" - 4.5/10
525. Toni Basil "Mickey" - 3/10
526. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Maneater" - 7.5/10
527. Men at Work "Down Under" - 8/10
528. Toto "Africa" - 7.5/10
529. Patti Austin and James Ingram "Baby, Come to Me" - 8.5/10
530. Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" - 10/10
531. Dexys Midnight Runners & The Emerald Express "Come On Eileen" - 9.5/10
532. Michael Jackson "Beat It" - 9.5/10
533. David Bowie "Let's Dance" - 7/10
534. Irene Cara "Flashdance... What a Feeling" - 7/10
535. The Police "Every Breath You Take" - 10/10
536. Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" - 9.5/10
537. Michael Sembello "Maniac" - 8/10
538. Billy Joel "Tell Her About It" - 8/10
539. Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - 6/10
540. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton "Islands in the Stream" - 8/10
541. Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)" - 8.5/10
542. Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson "Say Say Say" - 7.5/10
543. Yes "Owner of a Lonely Heart" - 8.5/10
544. Culture Club "Karma Chameleon" - 6/10
545. Van Halen "Jump" - 6.5/10
546. Kenny Loggins "Footloose" - 8/10
547. Phil Collins "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" - 6/10
548. Lionel Richie "Hello" - 4.5/10
549. Deniece Williams "Let's Hear It for the Boy" - 5.5/10
550. Cyndi Lauper "Time After Time" - 9.5/10
551. Duran Duran "The Reflex" - 6.5/10
552. Prince "When Doves Cry" - 9.5/10
553. Ray Parker Jr. "Ghostbusters" - 6/10
554. Tina Turner "What's Love Got to Do With It" - 8.5/10
555. John Waite "Missing You" - 9/10
556. Prince and The Revolution "Let's Go Crazy" - 9.5/10
557. Stevie Wonder "I Just Called to Say I Love You" - 5/10
558. Billy Ocean "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" - 5.5/10
559. Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" - 5/10
560. Daryl Hall & John Oates "Out of Touch" - 6/10
561. Madonna "Like a Virgin" - 7/10
562. Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is" - 6.5/10
563. Wham! "Careless Whisper" - 9/10
564. REO Speedwagon "Can't Fight This Feeling" - 4.5/10
565. Phil Collins "One More Night" - 5/10
566. USA for Africa "We Are the World" - 2/10
567. Madonna "Crazy for You" - 7/10
568. Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)" - 7.5/10
569. Wham! "Everything She Wants" - 7.5/10
570. Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" - 9.5/10
571. Bryan Adams "Heaven" - 5.5/10
572. Phil Collins "Sussudio" - 6.5/10
573. Duran Duran "A View to a Kill" - 7/10
574. Paul Young "Every Time You Go Away" - 8/10
575. Tears for Fears "Shout" - 9.5/10
576. Huey Lewis and The News "The Power of Love" - 6.5/10
577. John Parr "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" - 8/10
578. Dire Straits "Money for Nothing" - 9.5/10
579. Ready for the World "Oh Sheila" - 7.5/10
580. a-ha "Take On Me" - 8.5/10
581. Whitney Houston "Saving All My Love for You" - 8.5/10
582. Stevie Wonder "Part-Time Lover" - 6.5/10
583. Jan Hammer "Miami Vice Theme" - 7/10
584. Starship "We Built This City" - 1.5/10
585. Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin "Separate Lives" - 4/10
586. Mr. Mister "Broken Wings" - 6/10
587. Lionel Richie "Say You, Say Me" - 4.5/10
588. Dionne & Friends "That's What Friends Are For" - 4.5/10
589. Whitney Houston "How Will I Know" - 8.5/10
590. Mr. Mister "Kyrie" - 5.5/10
591. Starship "Sara" - 7/10
592. Heart "These Dreams" 5.5/10
593. Falco "Rock Me Amadeus" - 7/10
594. Prince and The Revolution "Kiss" - 7.5/10
595. Robert Palmer "Addicted to Love" - 6/10
596. Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" - 7/10
597. Whitney Houston "Greatest Love of All" - 3/10
598. Madonna "Live to Tell" - 7/10
599. Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald "On My Own" - 6.5/10
600. Billy Ocean "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" - 4.5/10
601. Simply Red "Holding Back the Years" - 6.5/10
602. Genesis "Invisible Touch" - 8.5/10
603. Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer" - 9.5/10
604. Peter Cetera "Glory of Love" - 4.5/10
605. Madonna "Papa Don't Preach" - 7.5/10
606. Steve Winwood "Higher Love" - 8/10
607. Bananarama "Venus" - 5.5/10
608. Berlin "Take My Breath Away" - 8.5/10
609. Huey Lewis and The News "Stuck With You" - 6.5/10
610. Janet Jackson "When I Think of You" - 7.5/10
611. Cyndi Lauper "True Colors" - 7.5/10
612. Boston "Amanda" - 6/10
613. The Human League "Human" - 6.5/10
614. Bon Jovi "You Give Love a Bad Name" - 5.5/10
615. Peter Cetera & Amy Grant "The Next Time I Fall" - 4.5/10
616. Bruce Hornsby and The Range "The Way It Is" - 8/10
617. The Bangles "Walk Like an Egyptian" - 8/10
618. Gregory Abbott "Shake You Down" - 6/10
619. Billy Vera and The Beaters "At This Moment" - 8/10
620. Madonna "Open Your Heart" - 6.5/10
621. Bon Jovi "Livin' on a Prayer" - 7/10
622. Huey Lewis and The News "Jacob's Ladder" - 5.5/10
623. Club Nouveau "Lean on Me" - 8/10
624. Starship "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - 4.5/10
625. Aretha Franklin & George Michael "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" - 7/10
626. Cutting Crew "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" - 6/10
627. U2 "With or Without You" - 9/10
628. Kim Wilde "You Keep Me Hangin' On" - 6/10
629. Atlantic Starr "Always" - 6/10
630. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam "Head to Toe" - 4.5/10
631. Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" - 8/10
632. Heart "Alone" - 8/10
633. Bob Seger "Shakedown" - 5.5/10
634. U2 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - 9.5/10
635. Madonna "Who's That Girl" - 5.5/10
636. Los Lobos "La Bamba" - 8/10
637. Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" - 6/10
638. Whitney Houston "Didn't We Almost Have It All" - 5.5/10
639. Whitesnake "Here I Go Again" - 6/10
640. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam "Lost in Emotion" - 5/10
641. Michael Jackson "Bad" - 8/10
642. Tiffany "I Think We're Alone Now" - 5.5/10
643. Billy Idol "Mony Mony" - 6/10
644. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - 7/10
645. Belinda Carlisle "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" - 8.5/10
646. George Michael "Faith" - 8.5/10
647. Whitney Houston "So Emotional" - 8/10
648. George Harrison "Got My Mind Set on You" - 6.5/10
649. Michael Jackson "The Way You Make Me Feel" - 7.5/10
650. INXS "Need You Tonight" - 9/10
651. Tiffany "Could've Been" - 4.5/10
652. Exposé "Seasons Change" - 6/10
653. George Michael "Father Figure" - 8/10
654. Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" - 6/10
655. Michael Jackson "Man in the Mirror" - 8/10
656. Billy Ocean "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" - 4/10
657. Whitney Houston "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" - 6/10
658. Terence Trent D'Arby "Wishing Well" - 7/10
659. Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine "Anything for You" - 5.5/10
660. George Michael "One More Try" - 7/10
661. Rick Astley "Together Forever" - 5.5/10
662. Debbie Gibson "Foolish Beat" - 7/10
663. Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana" - 8.5/10
664. Cheap Trick "The Flame" - 6.5/10
665. Richard Marx "Hold On to the Nights" - 5/10
666. Steve Winwood "Roll With It" - 6/10
667. George Michael "Monkey" - 4.5/10
668. Guns n' Roses "Sweet Child o' Mine" - 6.5/10
669. Bobby McFerrin "Don't Worry Be Happy" - 7/10
670. Def Leppard "Love Bites" - 8/10
671. UB40 "Red Red Wine" - 5.5/10
672. Phil Collins "A Groovy Kind of Love" - 5/10
673. The Beach Boys "Kokomo" - 4.5/10
674. The Escape Club "Wild, Wild West" - 5/10
675. Bon Jovi "Bad Medicine" - 5/10
676. Will to Power "Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird" - 3.5/10
677. Chicago "Look Away" - 4.5/10
678. Poison "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" - 4.5/10
679. Bobby Brown "My Prerogative" - 7/10
680. Phil Collins "Two Hearts" - 6/10
681. Sheriff "When I'm With You" - 5.5/10
682. Paula Abdul "Straight Up" - 7.5/10
683. Debbie Gibson "Lost in Your Eyes" - 6/10
684. Mike & The Mechanics "The Living Years" - 5.5/10
685. The Bangles "Eternal Flame" - 7/10
686. Roxette "The Look" - 6.5/10
687. Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy" - 8.5/10
688. Madonna "Like a Prayer" - 8/10
689. Bon Jovi "I'll Be There for You" - 5/10
690. Paula Abdul "Forever Your Girl" - 5.5/10
691. Michael Damian "Rock On" - 5/10
692. Bette Midler "Wind Beneath My Wings" - 4.5/10
693. New Kids on the Block "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" - 4.5/10
694. Richard Marx "Satisfied" - 7/10
695. Milli Vanilli "Baby Don't Forget My Number" - 4/10
696. Fine Young Cannibals "Good Thing" - 8/10
697. Simply Red "If You Don't Know Me By Now" - 6/10
698. Martika "Toy Soldiers" - 8.5/10
699. Prince "Batdance" - 6.5/10
700. Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting" - 6/10
701. Paula Abdul "Cold Hearted" - 5.5/10
702. New Kids on the Block "Hangin' Tough" - 3.5/10
703. Gloria Estefan "Don't Wanna Lose You" - 6/10
704. Milli Vanilli "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" - 4/10
705. Janet Jackson "Miss You Much" - 8.5/10
706. Roxette "Listen to Your Heart" - 7.5/10
707. Bad English "When I See You Smile" - 5.5/10
708. Milli Vanilli "Blame It on the Rain" - 4/10
709. Billy Joel "We Didn't Start the Fire" - 6/10
710. Phil Collins "Another Day in Paradise" - 7.5/10
The 1980s Avarage: 6.67/10
My second favourite song of all time is in this decade: "Every Breathe You Take". My favourite songs tend to involve strong melodic progressions, and that is the best song to use that to enhance the cryptic songwriting and challenging thematic. "Billie Jean" is also way up there. I particularly relate to the character in that song when it comes to uncertainty and anxiety in a relationship, even though not to a level of involving a child of course. In fact, that is the song that has what I would consider the best ever character depiction out of all popular music. This is the last decade that contains songs that I gave a 10/10, and I gave out 7 in total. But the other song in my top 10 is also in this decade: Blondie's "Call Me". The only reason I don't give it a 10/10 is that it is lyrically a bit basic and limited. Otherwise, it is one of the most exciting songs containing a lot of bite. There is also the immensely underrated "Baby, Come to Me". Not a lot of songs succeed at romantic seduction like that song does, especially carried by Patti Austin's wonderful alto singing. I also think "Need You Tonight" is very underrated, not a lot of credit is given since its success.
Obviously, my least favourite song of the decade is "We Built the City". In addition to the horrendous overproduction, the whole premise is just inexcusably cheesy and ridiculous. I would even agree that it is one of the worst songs of all time, even with the later decades coming up with similarly terrible material. Another weak spot is "We Are the World", which feels like a overblown, corporate cash-grab instead of a genuine call-to-action. I might also say that "Don't Worry Be Happy" is down there, but I have to admit that is somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine. I usually hate songs like that (overly simplistic and fakely happy), but I've always thought that it was a very catchy jam, and, as a result, it is a nostalgic song for me, with its hook being very memorable. Another song I should probably mention is "Total Eclipse of the Heart". It is one of the hit songs with the biggest emotional distress, but I'm just not a fan of the structure-less and over-the-top production. To thoroughly enjoy a song, it helps if there is a dynamic range, and there isn't much of one there. That isn't to say I don't enjoy, just not on the same level as I would a song with a strong emotional development.
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Post by julybutterfly on Nov 26, 2019 0:57:58 GMT 10
The 1990s are the first non-golden age decade, IMO. That doesn't mean it doesn't have classic songs; I just don't think it is consistent enough to be considered part of the golden age of music. A lot of it has a different feel to the previous decades, being more daring in nature with alternative themes and advanced productions relying on modern techniques like digital beats and sampling, but it still has strong melodic progressions and songwriting. However, the progressive nature, while it sometimes worked well, made failure a bigger possibility, and that happened, sometimes spectacularly, IMO. So, my ratings for this decade will probably be a bit controversial. This is also the first decade since the 1950s not to get a 10/10 from me.
711. Michael Bolton "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" - 4.5/10
712. Paula Abdul & The Wild Pair "Opposites Attract" - 4/10
713. Janet Jackson "Escapade" - 6.5/10
714. Alannah Myles "Black Velvet" - 8/10
715. Taylor Dayne "Love Will Lead You Back" - 5.5/10
716. Tommy Page "I'll Be Your Everything" - 3.5/10
717. Sinéad O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U" - 9.5/10
718. Madonna "Vogue" - 6/10
719. Wilson Phillips "Hold On" - 7.5/10
720. Roxette "It Must Have Been Love" - 4.5/10
721. New Kids on the Block "Step By Step" - 7/10
722. Glenn Medeiros ft. Bobby Brown "She Ain't Worth It" - 4/10
723. Mariah Carey "Vision of Love" - 8/10
724. Sweet Sensation "If Wishes Came True" - 3/10
725. Jon Bon Jovi "Blaze of Glory" - 4/10
726. Wilson Phillips "Release Me" - 4.5/10
727. Nelson "(Can't Live Without Your) Love & Affection" - 4.5/10
728. Maxi Priest "Close to You" - 7.5/10
729. George Michael "Praying for Time" - 6.5/10
730. James Ingram "I Don't Have the Heart" - 5.5/10
731. Janet Jackson "Black Cat" - 6.5/10
732. Vanilla Ice "Ice Ice Baby" - 2/10
733. Mariah Carey "Love Takes Time" - 5/10
734. Whitney Houston "I'm Your Baby Tonight" - 4.5/10
735. Stevie B "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)" - 2.5/10
736. Madonna "Justify My Love" - 1.5/10
737. Janet Jackson "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" - 9/10
738. Surface "The First Time" - 5.5/10
739. C+C Music Factory "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" - 9/10
740. Whitney Houston "All the Man That I Need" - 6/10
741. Mariah Carey "Someday" - 6.5/10
742. Timmy T "One More Try" - 3/10
743. Gloria Estefan "Coming Out of the Dark" - 5.5/10
744. Londonbeat "I've Been Thinking About You" - 8/10
745. Wilson Phillips "You're in Love" - 7/10
746. Amy Grant "Baby Baby" - 4.5/10
747. Roxette "Joyride" - 5/10
748. Hi-Five "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" - 5/10
749. Mariah Carey "I Don't Wanna Cry" - 5.5/10
750. Extreme "More Than Words" - 4.5/10
751. Paula Abdul "Rush Rush" - 4/10
752. EMF "Unbelievable" - 5.5/10
753. Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" - 4/10
754. Paula Abdul "The Promise of a New Day" - 7/10
755. Color Me Badd "I Adore Mi Amor" - 3/10
756. Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch ft. Loleatta Holloway "Good Vibrations" - 5/10
757. Mariah Carey "Emotions" - 8.5/10
758. Karyn White "Romantic" - 4.5/10
759. Prince and the New Power Generation "Cream" - 6/10
760. Michael Bolton "When a Man Loves a Woman" - 2.5/10
761. P.M. Dawn "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" - 9.5/10
762. Michael Jackson "Black or White" - 6.5/10
763. Color Me Badd "All 4 Love" - 4/10
764. George Michael & Elton John "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" - 8/10
765. Right Said Fred "I'm Too Sexy" - 1.5/10
766. Mr. Big "To Be With You" - 7/10
767. Vanessa Williams "Save the Best for Last" - 5.5/10
768. Kris Kross "Jump" - 6.5/10
769. Mariah Carey "I'll Be There" - 4.5/10
770. Sir Mix-a-Lot "Baby Got Back" - 6.5/10
771. Madonna "This Used to Be My Playground" - 3.5/10
772. Boyz II Men "End of the Road" - 6.5/10
773. The Heights "How Do You Talk to an Angel" - 3.5/10
774. Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" - 7.5/10
775. Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" - 4/10
776. Snow "Informer" - 4/10
777. Silk "Freak Me" - 5.5/10
778. Janet Jackson "That's the Way Love Goes" - 6.5/10
779. SWV "Weak" - 8/10
780. UB40 "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" - 3/10
781. Mariah Carey "Dreamlover" - 7.5/10
782. Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" - 5.5/10
783. Janet Jackson "Again" - 6/10
784. Mariah Carey "Hero" - 5/10
785. Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting "All for Love" - 3.5/10
786. Céline Dion "The Power of Love" - 5.5/10
787. Ace of Base "The Sign" - 5.5/10
788. R. Kelly "Bump n' Grind" - 6.5/10
789. All-4-One "I Swear" - 5/10
790. Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories "Stay (I Missed You)" - 8/10
791. Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You" - 5.5/10
792. Boyz II Men "On Bended Knee" - 5/10
793. Ini Kamoze "Here Comes the Hotstepper" - 7/10
794. TLC "Creep" - 8/10
795. Madonna "Take a Bow" - 5.5/10
796. Montell Jordan "This Is How We Do It" - 7.5/10
797. Bryan Adams "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" - 2.5/10
798. TLC "Waterfalls" - 9/10
799. Seal "Kiss From a Rose" - 8/10
800. Michael Jackson "You Are Not Alone" - 5.5/10
801. Coolio ft. L.V. "Gangsta's Paradise" - 9/10
802. Mariah Carey "Fantasy" - 9/10
803. Whitney Houston "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" - 4.5/10
804. Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men "One Sweet Day" - 7/10
805. Céline Dion "Because You Loved Me" - 3/10
806. Mariah Carey "Always Be My Baby" - 7/10
807. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Tha Crossroads" - 6.5/10
808. 2Pac ft. K-Ci & JoJo / Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman "How Do U Want It/California Love" - 9/10
809. Toni Braxton "You're Makin' Me High" - 6.5/10
810. Los del Río "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" - 1/10
811. Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre "No Diggity" - 9/10
812. Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart" - 5.5/10
813. Spice Girls "Wannabe" - 3/10
814. Puff Daddy ft. Mase "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" - 2/10
815. The Notorious B.I.G. "Hypnotize" - 8.5/10
816. Hanson "Mmmbop" - 4.5/10
817. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans ft. 112 "I'll Be Missing You" - 4/10
818. The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Puff Daddy & Mase "Mo Money Mo Problems" - 6.5/10
819. Mariah Carey "Honey" - 5.5/10
820. Boyz II Men "4 Seasons of Loneliness" - 4/10
821. Elton John "Candle in the Wind '97/Something About the Way You Look Tonight" - 8/10
822. Savage Garden "Truly, Madly, Deeply" - 3/10
823. Janet Jackson "Together Again" - 8/10
824. Usher "Nice & Slow" - 5.5/10
825. Céline Dion "My Heart Will Go On" - 6/10
826. Will Smith "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" - 4.5/10
827. K-Ci & JoJo "All My Life" - 7/10
828. Next "Too Close" - 2.5/10
829. Mariah Carey "My All" - 4.5/10
830. Brandy & Monica "The Boy Is Mine" - 8.5/10
831. Aerosmith "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" - 3.5/10
832. Monica "The First Night" - 8.5/10
833. Barenaked Ladies "One Week" - 4.5/10
834. Lauryn Hill "Doo Wop (That Thing)" - 9/10
835. Divine "Lately" - 5/10
836. Céline Dion & R. Kelly "I'm Your Angel" - 3.5/10
837. Brandy "Have You Ever?" - 5.5/10
838. Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time" - 5.5/10
839. Monica "Angel of Mine" - 8/10
840. Cher "Believe" - 2.5/10
841. TLC "No Scrubs" - 6/10
842. Ricky Martin "Livin' la vida loca" - 7/10
843. Jennifer Lopez "If You Had My Love" - 3.5/10
844. Destiny's Child "Bills, Bills, Bills" - 6/10
845. Will Smith "Wild Wild West" - 3/10
846. Christina Aguilera "Genie in a Bottle" - 6/10
847. Enrique Iglesias "Bailamos" - 6.5/10
848. TLC "Unpretty" - 6.5/10
849. Mariah Carey "Heartbreaker" - 4/10
850. Santana ft. Rob Thomas "Smooth" - 8/10
The 1990s Average: 5.61/10
My two favourite songs here were both produced very early in the decade, but perhaps foreshadow the tone the rest of the decade would take, because they both have pretty forward thinking approaches to themselves. My favourite song here is "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", which is probably my 11th favourite song of all time. It might rely on a production heard before, but this songs adds a much more ethereal feel to it, while also contrasting it with the lyrics about romantic regrets. I admit that the subject of a "sentimental journey" interests me, and that is another thing I like about that song. And the atmosphere created by the harmonic motion on the chorus makes the listening experience much more captivating, because it increases the notion of how bittersweet the bliss of memories of a past relation might seem. Probably my favorite hip hop song of all-time, and terribly underrated at that. "Nothing Compares 2 U" simply has some of the most earnest and best emotion of the entire decade, and is reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s in that way. "How Do U Want It/California Love" also gets an honourable mention for pushing the hip hop genre at its most fun, while maintaining what is so great about golden age hip hop in the first place.
Now for the unpleasant business of "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)". Not only did I give it a 1/10, it is very close to being my least favourite song of all time (and it was until I realized that "Panda" is even worse). I've heard all the defenses of it, so don't bother with that. The song is so abysmally bad, deliberately or not, that it makes me uncomfortable, so it is difficult to sit through. Regardless of how bad the lyrics or instruments of other songs are, only one other song I can recall was bad enough to cause that kind of response in me. It takes the absolute worst tropes of dance music, coupled with a completely sophomore beat, non-existent sonic progression and mechanical-feeling syncopation. And it's so strictly formatted that you can only perform one of type dance on it, which is the incredibly stupid Macarena craze being just a boring series of hand movements and 90° turns. There's absolutely no originality involved and set a terrible precedent to dance music. I also hate this type of cheese a.k.a. being dumb on purpose which is what this song I'm sure is set for. It's basically the exact same as just being stupid to me.
"Ice Ice Baby" is kind of similar in that regard, only to a much lesser degree. It has a bigger problem with being excruciatingly uninteresting, but the fact that it is so goddamned lame doesn't help it. Vanilla Ice's flow and cadence are absolutely terrible and he can barely rhyme two words without it feeling super hamfisted. I also gave very low marks to "Justify My Love" because it feels like I'm listening to the audio of a porn video rather than an actual song.
On a lighter note, this decade is also known for being among the darkest decades in terms of themes and aesthetics. I think that the songwriters added an extra element of seriousness and directness that is a bit more pronounced than in previous decades, which is one of the decade's best characteristics. That is particularly well done in "Waterfalls" and "Gangsta's Paradise". Death is also a common theme due to unfortunate events ("Crossroads", "Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. (I'll Be Missing You)", "Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997", "Coming Out of the Dark").
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I agree with you that the '60s and '70s in particular were objectively the greatest era for Top-40 music. There were so many releases from those two decades which truly stand the test of time, such as all of The Beatles' albums (i'm more of a fan of their studio years though), Queen, Sex Pistols etc. To be honest though, I don't really rate '80s music overall all that highly. There are a lot of songs from the '80s which I do like, however I consider the '80s to have been a noticeable step-down in quality from the '60s and '70s. Things started to pick up again in the 1990s (which I personally consider to be my favourite decade for music).