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Post by The Curmudgeon on Oct 19, 2013 13:37:20 GMT 2
It's a common misconception that the 1980's were just SOOOO awful. The decade that taste forgot. Bis reckon the "80's probably sucked if you were't a kid". And while that may well be true, the idea that music was awful in the 80's is just flat out wrong. Here's NME's list of the 100 best songs of the 80's, proof that we really were spoiled for choice when you consider the drivel that passes as hit music now. www.nme.com/list/100-best-songs-of-the-1980s/266358/page/1Any glaring omissions? |
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Post by trashcanman on Oct 19, 2013 22:05:00 GMT 2
I tend to agree that in almost all cultural mediums, the 80's was worse than the 70's and the 90's, making it the lamest decade of our generation all around, but there was plenty to love. Hardcore punk, hip-hop, alternative rock, and thrash metal,to name a few musical delights that rose to prominence in that time. Plus some of the best mainstream hits of all time found a home in the 80's amidst all the weaksauce.
Goddamn it, Straight to Hell doesn't have even a hint of ska! They didn't even make it two entries without fucking up. They didn't make it ten more before they leaned on The Clash again, and Starship was one of those picks. Not a good sign. The fact that I've never heard of a lot of these isn't promising either. You should be able to compile a list like this without much scrounging for deep cuts and semi-obscure indie acts or putting several songs from the same artists. 10 decent hit songs a year isn't a ton. Before making it to 70, they have the third Clash song from the same album. Like A Prayer should be top 5. I was actually thinking "Paid in Full" so props on that one at 10.
One Michael Jackson song and it isn't even Thriller? Go. Fuck. Yourselves. Seriously. Little Red Corvette? Rasberry Beret? One fucking Queen song and it was a collaboration? REALLY?! How does that happen in a rock magazine? One thrash metal and one hardcore punk song? BDP? Rush? Grandmaster Flash? Heart? Black Sabbath? THE MOTHERFUCKING POLICE? What a hipster jerk-off session this list is. It's fine if they title it "My 100 Personal Favorite Songs of the 80's", but "Best" is a tall order when you obviously only really listen to one or two styles of music.
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Post by The Curmudgeon on Oct 23, 2013 22:43:28 GMT 2
Trashcanman: not likely to subscribe to NME any time soon.
I agree that the 80's sucked for a few things. Rock music took a dive in my eyes, at least. 60's? Beatles and Stones. 70's? Bowie and T-Rex. 80's? Metal aside, which I don't care for, it just seems like a bunch of poodle-haired dickheads jump kicking in unison. Indie bands like the Smiths and the Pixes were great, of course, but the 90's blew the 80's apart when it comes to rock.
As for any other medium (which is a topic for another time), the 80's limped along in the horror stakes (especially after the 70's, which still hasn't been toppled for the sheer impact of the movies created in that period), but in the family fantasy and comedy stakes, as well as action movies, it's pretty much untouchable. Again, topic for another day.
A lot of these songs are pretty UK-centric, so yeah, some of this won't travel very well. I won't lie, I fucking love that Starship song. I would never listen to it as such, but I'll always enjoy it if it's on. I'm so laaaaame.
You know, I've never been a big fan of Thriller as a song, so I'm OK with that. The video is without equal, obviously, but the song itself? Never really won me over. I've got a lot of time for New Order, even if I don't own any of their records, but TWO songs in the top ten and the Pixies are way back in the 90's? Don't think so, somehow.
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Post by trashcanman on Oct 24, 2013 20:20:16 GMT 2
Three songs from Combat Music (Th Clash's weakest record by a mile) and none from Sandinista? Do. You. Even. Punk? Never heard of Black Flag? No? The Misfits? With all of the indie hipsterness there you'd think Fugazi would at least get a mention. Master of Puppets over the likes of Fade to Black and One? Out of all the Run DMC songs, they went with their novelty cover of Walk This Way? Fuck me, I could do this all day.
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Post by The Curmudgeon on Oct 25, 2013 9:31:59 GMT 2
 Please, continue. I've been reading NME for years and I can pretty much bet the only time I've ever heard of Fugazi was from you. Possible fleeting references aside, I don't think I've ever read an article about them or a review, but then I'd never heard of them so it would probably have passed me by anyway. So, articles on Black Flag? The Misfits? Nope. Articles on what Liam Gallagher is wearing? Fuck yessss. |
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Post by trashcanman on Oct 25, 2013 20:57:21 GMT 2
Fugazi is a really remarkable band. They became million sellers in the most rigid manner possible in terms of integrity. They not only started their own label, hauled their own gear, refused to sell merchandise, deliberately titled their early releases by the number of songs on it to be as non-commercial as possible,and only charged $5 a ticket just to demonstrate how raped consumers were getting, but when they became so big that major labels were knocking on their door and all of the mainstream mags wanted interviews, Fugazi told them all to go fuck themselves just because they could. Naturally this makes them indie darlings.
Don't Stop Believin' (or any number of great Journey songs), or anything by the Ramones. Out of all of the Fleetwood Mac songs, they pick Everywhere and only that one? No Stevie Nicks? Leather and Lace, at least? Fine, fuck off. Run to the Hills is maybe the 5th best Maiden song ON THAT ONE ALBUM. Billy Joel? Joan Jett? How about Another Brick in the Wall, The Tide is High, Love Stinks, Eye of the Tiger, Money for Nothing, or Take on Me? Huey Lewis and the motherfucking News? Janet Jackson? Rebel Yell or Eyes Without a Face? Can we get some Whodini or Slick Rick up in here? No, fine, go ahead and put like 5 fucking Smiths on there, NME; you're the artistes....the uncreative, pitifully limited, boring artistes who do this for a fucking living somehow.
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