Songs that were huge MTV "hits" in the 80's, but not on the pop charts (1 Viewer)

[Ghost Rider]

In this thread, we list songs that MTV played a ton in the 80's, yet weren't big hits on the pop charts. 

First one that come to mind: 

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
XTC - The Mayor of Simpleton
U2 - All I Want Is You

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Most things by...

Split Enz 

X

 

[rockaction]

Most things by...

Split Enz 

X

Enuff Z'Nuff were jammed down the tailpipe of many a metalhead.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Well they blew the horns...

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Enuff Z'Nuff were jammed down the tailpipe of many a metalhead.

They deserved it.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Well they blew the horns...

Love me some The Call.  I don't remember a video for it, but I Don't Wanna is a tremendous tune. 

 

[rockaction]

They deserved it.

Hmmm... I didn't?

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Hmmm... I didn't?

Yes, yes you did.

Those of us non-metalheads were forced to watch crappy metal bands on MTV and the radio for a big part of the 80s

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Haircut 100--Love Plus One

 

[rockaction]

Yes, yes you did.

Those of us non-metalheads were forced to watch crappy metal bands on MTV and the radio for a big part of the 80s

Suckaz

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Wall Of Voodoo - Mexican Radio

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Ebn Ozn - AEIOU Sometimes Y

ETA:  kind of expected this on shuke's list

 

[BobbyLayne]

First ten years of 120 Minutes (1986-96, e.g., pre-Sum 41) were pretty solid. I didn’t watch any other MTV show during that time besides The Real World.

 

[rockaction]

We have a Sum 41 reference.

Duck.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Art of Noise - Close (To the Edit)

Prince - 1999

Dire Straits - Skateaway

Peter Gabriel - Shock the Monkey

 

[shuke]

Ebn Ozn - AEIOU Sometimes Y

ETA:  kind of expected this on shuke's list

Was just going to post this.  Horrible horrible song.

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh we gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Peter Gabriel - Shock the Monkey

Fox the fox 
Rat the rat 
You can ape the ape 

I know about that
There is one thing you must be sure of
I can't take any more
Darling, don't you monkey with the monkey, hey 

Monkey, monkey, monkey 

 

[Sister Havana]

Rockit - Herbie Hancock is a perfect example. The video was played all the time on MTV and won 5 MTV Music Video Awards. Yet it only got to #71 on the Billboard Hot 100. (In fairness, it did hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club chart and #6 on the Hot Black Singles chart.)

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Rockit - Herbie Hancock is a perfect example. The video was played all the time on MTV and won 5 MTV Music Video Awards. Yet it only got to #71 on the Billboard Hot 100. (In fairness, it did hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club chart and #6 on the Hot Black Singles chart.)

Yeah because of the robot puppets etc

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Was just going to post this.  Horrible horrible song.

It’s better than Eye on the Globe or whatever.

 

[ProstheticRGK]

Art of Noise - Close (To the Edit)

Prince - 1999

Dire Straits - Skateaway

Peter Gabriel - Shock the Monkey

I had forgotten about that Dire Straits video, that was a staple of the old MTV days. I like that song. 

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Hot For Teacher and Right Now both stalled in the mid-fifties on the Billboard charts, but they were ubiquitous in the MTV rotation.  

 

[otb_lifer]

JEFFERSONS, VEGAS!

Video

Pepsi Generation

Micheal J Fox can #### right off

before Aerosmith & Run ... and better

for the poseurs

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Yeah because of the robot puppets etc

Land of Confusion also had puppets, but it made it all the way to #4.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Stryper is a good band for this thread.  They had five songs that were played to death in the later 80's:

Calling On You
Free
Honestly
Always There for You
I Believe in You

I think Honestly was the only one that broke the top 40 on the pop charts here in America.  Free, meanwhile, was a monster MTV hit, dominating the Dial MTV (the top 10 of the most requested videos) for like a month or so. 

 

[wikkidpissah]

JEFFERSONS, VEGAS!

Video

Pepsi Generation

Micheal J Fox can #### right off

before Aerosmith & Run ... and better

for the poseurs

heavy rotation......

 

[otb_lifer]

heavy rotation......

... they were, imo 

 

[zamboni]

Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh we gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher

Hit #2 on the US pop charts. 

 

[zamboni]

Accept - Balls To The Wall was all over MTV but never hit the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100: 

 

[rockaction]

Hit #2 on the US pop charts. 

Song was ubiquitous.

 

[zamboni]

Neil Young - This Note’s For You

 

[zamboni]

Missing Persons - Mental Hopscotch

 

[Herb]

Accept - Balls To The Wall was over MTV but never hit the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100: 

Also a nice mention for pride month/ weekend.

 

[Herb]

Yes, yes you did.

Those of us non-metalheads were forced to watch crappy metal bands on MTV and the radio for a big part of the 80s

FORCED, were ya? That musta  been rough. I've never experienced being forced to watch television,  I can imagine it would be unpleasant. I remember being one of the lucky kids that could switch the channel or :gasp: turn OFF the TV when something I didn't want to watch came on.

 

[higgins]

Saga - on the loose

 

[-fish-]

Enuff Z'Nuff were jammed down the tailpipe of many a metalhead.

I saw them at the Neptune in Seattle a year ago.   Exactly the same.

 

[BobbyLayne]

We have a Sum 41 reference.

Duck.

Once they started hitting the 120 Minutes rotation I knew the run was over.

 

[zamboni]

Planet P Project - Why Me

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Accept - Balls To The Wall was all over MTV but never hit the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100: 

For some reason never played a lot at traditional weddings.

 

[rockaction]

No New Tale To Tell - Love and Rockets

?

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher
Oh we gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher

Hit #2 on the US pop charts. 

Wow. I did not know.

It is a great song, so I'm glad to learn this. 

 

[Anarchy99]

I will refrain from adding anything for awhile, as I could easily take over the thread.

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

Accept - Balls To The Wall was all over MTV but never hit the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100: 

seems like this might have been a better song if they let ac/dc play with it a little.   

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

seems like this might have been a better song if they let ac/dc play with it a little.   

I've got big walls
I've got big walls
And they're such big walls
Dirty big walls
And he's got big walls,
And she's got big walls,
But we've got the biggest walls of them all!

 

[comfortably numb]

Straight outta compton.

Maybe i wasn't into rap as much, but i remeber seeing it daily on TV but can't recall ever hearing it on the radio, NYC radio anyway.

Maybe im off on this?

 

[Mister CIA]

I will refrain from adding anything for awhile, as I could easily take over the thread.

Triple-dog dare you.

 

[Mister CIA]

Video Killed the Radio Star?

 

[Man of Constant Sorrow]

Video Killed the Radio Star?

I had to watch

 

[zamboni]

I will refrain from adding anything for awhile, as I could easily take over the thread.

I'm pacing myself.